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TSX REPORT: What about Belarusian athletes? Africa might also welcome Russia; Australia and New Zealand ask FIFA about Saudi sponsorship?

By
Rich Perelman
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A map of a troubled eastern Europe (Map: Family Search Wiki, under Creative Commons license)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Belarus decathlete Krauchanka asks IOC about repression there
2. Russian Minister says Africa may welcome its athletes
3. Tokyo prosecutors ask 30-month sentence in Tokyo 2020 case
4. Australia and New Zealand ask about “Visit Saudi” sponsorship
5. Is the next geopolitical sports blow-up coming in Turkey?

While the question of whether Russian athletes will be able to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games rages on, the question equally applies to Belarusian athletes, with Beijing 2008 decathlon runner-up Andrei Krauchanka – now living in Germany – asking how the International Olympic Committee squares atrocities against athletes by the Belarus government against allowing those who have kept quiet back into competition. The Russian Deputy Sports Minister said Wednesday that African competitions might also be open to its athletes, in addition to those in Asia. In Tokyo, prosecutors asked for sentences of 12-30 months for three executives of business-suit retailer Aoki Holdings in the Tokyo 2020 sponsorship bribery scandal; all three have already admitted their complicity. The football federations in Australia and New Zealand registered displeasure with reports that FIFA has agreed to a sponsorship for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in their countries from Visit Saudi, the country’s national tourism arm, in view of Saudi Arabia’s human-rights record, notably with women’s rights. The next possible political confrontation leading to non-participation could come at the 2023 European Indoor Championships in Istanbul (TUR) in early March, with the Turkish government complaining loudly about Sweden’s freedom-of-expression laws which have allowed the burning of the Quran. Turkey’s assent is required to allow Sweden to join the NATO military alliance, of which it is a long-time member.

1.
Belarus decathlete Krauchanka asks IOC about repression there

While so much focus has been on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the furor over whether Russian athletes will be allowed to compete at the Paris 2024 Games, athletes in Belarus – Russia’s ally in the Ukraine action – have also been under pressure from that government.

Andrei Krauchanka, the Beijing 2008 silver medalist in the decathlon – now 37 – wrote about the situation, reported on Monday on Twitter:

“In addition to Russian military aggression against Ukraine, the Belarusian Sports Solidarity Fund together with free athletes must pose another very difficult question to the [International Olympic Committee]: how will the rights of dozens of Belarusian athletes who suffered from political persecution be restored?

“This part of the representatives of the Olympic movement defended the rights of athletes and the Olympic Charter in Belarus, and in response received repression, mockery of propaganda, lost access to sports infrastructure and state material support.

“More than a hundred athletes and representatives of sports cannot return to their homeland, more than 30 remain behind bars. Broken destinies, sports careers, lost nerves, property, the opportunity to perform at the Olympic Games, but preserved human dignity and personal pride. At the same time, the IOC never once inquired about the fate of these athletes.

“It turns out that those athletes who defended the Olympic Charter do not get to the games, and those who refused or supported the inhumane regime will go to the competition in peace.

“How is the IOC going to solve this situation, taking into account its peacekeeping mission, which it declares in the matter of the admission of Belarusian athletes to the Olympics in Paris? How will the losses suffered by the representatives of the Olympic movement due to political persecution be compensated?

“Until the issue of the repressed part of the Belarusian Olympic movement is resolved, no participation of the group of ‘loyalists’ can be allowed, because it is exclusively the national team of the totalitarian regime, and not the national team.”

The Twitter poster, Gabby Pieraccini (GBR), wrote that “After Krauchanka was detained by the authorities for several days, he and his partner, heptathlete Yana Maksimava, moved to Germany with their baby daughter. They are safe now and settled into German life but it is a mark of their bravery that they continue to speak out.” Krauchanka last competed in 2020, and has a best of 8,617 from 2017.

While there is no doubt that Belarusian athletes are largely ignored in the continuing turmoil caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the IOC has not been inactive. The cries of the Belarusian Sports Solidarity Fund concerning athlete abuse in the country was addressed in December 2020 by the IOC, which suspended all payments to the National Olympic Committee in Belarus (except for athlete training funds, to be paid directly), barred NOC officials from the Olympic Games and prohibited Olympic-related events from taking place there.

But that has not halted the continued abuse of Belarusian athletes by the government, as Krauchanka noted.

2.
Russian Minister says Africa may welcome its athletes

“The position of the Ministry of Sports is that the athlete should be in the head and the athlete should compete with the strongest. We will make every effort for that.

“We don’t forget to look towards Asia. China is starting to open up now, I think that by March the [coronavirus] restrictive measures will not be the same as now. There’s going to be a good competitive calendar with Asian countries, we’re working towards that.

“The Association of Asian National Olympic Committees is waiting for us in March. There is the same application from African countries, which are unanimous in offering to compete at their events. We are waiting for a decision from the International Olympic Committee, international federations, what will be the criteria for admission.”

That’s Russian Deputy Sports Minister Alexei Morozov on Wednesday, opening a new front on the Russian reinstatement issue.

The possible admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes to the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou (CHN) caused the Korean Sports & Olympic Committee to send an inquiry to the Olympic Council of Asia, noting that the announcement was made without any consultation of the OCA’s member nations:

“With Russian and Belarusian athletes participating, operating knockout events at the Asian Games can pose some problems. We will ask the OCA how it will handle those situations, and also in what sports Russian and Belarusian athletes will compete at the Asian Games.”

Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova replied Wednesday to the IOC’s statement that the neutral-status sanctions on Russia were “not negotiable” (Deepl.com translation):

“This idea is driven, obviously, by demands that are unacceptable to our country. Such unsightly attempts to squeeze our country out of international sport are doomed to fail. But the problem is not even that, but that by fixating on squeezing our athletes – our sport out of the world sport – all these anti-doers are destroying the world sport movement.

“Those who are now the bureaucracy of world sport, who head the relevant Olympic committees and get paid for this not at all from the pockets of sponsors, should not forget that this is not their private business, not a private shop.”

3.
Tokyo prosecutors ask 30-month sentence in Tokyo 2020 sponsorship case

Prosecutors asked for a 30-month sentence for the 84-year-old former chair of business-suit retailer Aoki Holdings in his sentencing hearing on bribery charges related to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Hironori Aoki was described in the hearing to have “used the Tokyo Olympics for self-interest and trampled the public value of the tournament,” and called his bribery program “an extremely malicious act,” by a man who was “greedy and tenacious.”

Aoki was indicted, along with the company’s former vice-chair, Takahisa Aoki (77) and ex-executive director Katsuhisa Ueda (41) for bribes paid to former Tokyo 2020 Executive Committee member Haruyuki Takahashi, a former senior director of the giant Dentsu advertising agency. The payments totaled ¥28 million (~$217,505 today) between September of 2019 and March 2022. Kyodo reported:

“The three requested Takahashi to select their company as an Olympics sponsor and get them a contract, which would include preferential rights over providing official outfits for the Japanese team’s athletes, according to the indictment.”

The Tokyo prosecutors asked for an 18-month sentence for the younger Aoki and a year for Ueda. All three had admitted to the charges in December; the sentencing decision is expected on 21 April.

Takahashi is alleged to have received as much as ¥198 million (~$1.536 million U.S.) in bribes through five different arrangements.

4.
Australia and New Zealand ask about “Visit Saudi” sponsorship

“Football Australia understands FIFA has entered into a destination partnership agreement in respect to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023.

“We are very disappointed that Football Australia were not consulted on this matter prior to any decision being made. Football Australia and New Zealand Football have jointly written to FIFA to urgently clarify the situation.”

That’s from Football Australia on Wednesday, in response to media reports that the Saudi Arabian tourism company – Visit Saudi – has been signed as a major sponsor of this summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup that begins on 20 July.

Football New Zealand posted:

“New Zealand Football have been made aware of media reports suggesting that Visit Saudi, the official Saudi Arabia tourism authority, are set to be announced as an official sponsor of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, the largest women’s sporting event in the world.

“If these reports prove correct, we are shocked and disappointed to hear this as New Zealand Football haven’t been consulted by FIFA at all on this matter.

“As FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 co-hosts, New Zealand Football and Football Australia have jointly written to FIFA to urgently clarify the situation.”

FIFA has said nothing about the matter, but coming little more than a month after the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the reports have inflamed its critics, who are railing against Saudi involvement over “concerns over human rights in the country, women’s rights and the use of the death penalty.”

The BBC reported comments by Amnesty International Australia campaigner Nikita White, including:

“It would be quite the irony for Saudi’s tourism body to sponsor the largest celebration of women’s sport in the world when you consider that, as a woman in Saudi Arabia, you can’t even have a job without the permission of your male guardian.”

Reports note that the Visit Saudi sponsorship would provide significant new funds for women’s football development, a key FIFA goal.

5.
Is the next geopolitical sports blow-up coming in Turkey?

The Associated Press reported on Wednesday:

“Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaffirmed Wednesday that Turkey won’t allow Sweden to join the NATO military alliance as long as the Scandinavian country permits protests desecrating Islam’s holy book to take place.”

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom noted that Turkey will hold a Presidential election in May that is expected to be hotly contested, and “in election campaigns many things are said.”

Turkey has been amenable to Finland’s admission to the NATO alliance, but has had reservations about Sweden, despite the two Scandinavian countries having jointly agreed to become members. This brings up the question, noted by Olympedia.org statistician Hilary Evans (GBR) about whether Swedish participation in the 2023 European Indoor Championships, to be held in Istanbul from 2-5 March might be in danger:

“The Swedish national team may miss the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Turkey due to the political situation between the two countries.”

Nothing is easy. Stay tuned.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 2024: Paris ● Not quite final yet, but the French Senate approved on Tuesday – by 246-28 (and 64 abstentions) – a bill on Olympic security which will allow surveillance cameras to be used to alert authorities to crowd movements during the Games and into 2025 as an experimental measure.

Body scanners were also approved, but require permission of the person being scanned. Penalties were set for trespass into venues, with fines of €3,750 for the first offense and €7,500 for repeat offenses.

The law also reinforces the penalties in the event of intrusion into sports venues, with a fine of 3,750 euros in the event of intrusion committed by “a first-time offender“, but 7,500 euros in the event of a repeat offense.

● Russia ● It often takes weeks or months for athletes to get prize money from competitions and Russia is no different. Payments from last summer’s Spartakiad (August through October) still have not been made, but TASS reported that this is being resolved now.

Total prizes of RUB 620 million (~$8.87 million U.S.) are to be distributed, with 358,400 RUB to winners (~$5,125 U.S.), RUB 179,200 for silver (~$2,563) and RUB 107,500 for bronze (~$1,537). Smaller amounts were also made available for coaches.

Prizes for Russian national championships were RUB 125,000-75,000-37,500 for the top three places (~$1,787-893-447), with smaller amounts for coaches.

● Memorabilia ● The February auction from Laguna Nigel, California-based SCP Auctions includes some Olympic-sport items, notably a 1980 Olympic gold medal for ice hockey won by U.S. center Steve Christoff of the “Miracle on Ice” team.

Offered with a minimum bid of $75,000, it has already reached $258,926 with the auction closing on Saturday (4th). A Tokyo 2020 bronze medal is also on offer, with the winner’s identity only to be disclosed to the buyer. The minimum bid was $5,000 and it is currently at $6,655.

Most of the items are from Major League Baseball, the NFL and NBA, although the 1941 Heisman Trophy won by Minnesota halfback Bruce Smith is available and has drawn $177,157 so far!

● Archery ● Voting for the World Archery Athletes of the Year has begun, with fans able to cast ballots through the end of February in six categories, including the Recurve (Olympic) division.

The men’s Recurve candidates include the medal winners from the World Cup Final: Korea’s Woo-jin Kim (gold), Spain’s Miguel Alvarino (silver) and Tokyo Olympic champ Mete Gazoz (bronze). The women’s choices include the World Cup medalists San An (KOR: gold and Tokyo triple gold medalist), Mi-sun Choi (KOR: silver) and Chinese Taipei’s Chia-mao Peng (bronze).

The inaugural class of the World Archery Hall of Fame will also be selected, but by a special committee. All 10 of the initial candidates are worthy, with two to be honored. The list includes four Americans, led by Doug Easton, who founded an arrow and supply company a century ago that was turned into a sporting goods giant by his son, Jim Easton, later an important FITA (later World Archery) President who brought the elimination-round format to the sport. 

John Williams and Doreen Wilber, the two Americans who won the Munich 1972 Olympic golds in the sport’s return to the Olympic program, are nominated, along with Darrell Pace, the only two-time Olympic champion in the sport, in 1976 and 1984.

Britain’s Inger Frith, the FITA President who helped get archery back onto the Olympic program, is nominated, as is Korean Soo-nyung Kim, now 51, who won more Olympic medals than anyone else (so far), with six medals from 1988-2000 (4-1-1).

● Athletics ● The Athletics Integrity Unit posted its sanctions list for January 2023, with 22 athletes shown, including nine Kenyans, four Americans, two Chinese, two Russians, two from Kazakhstan, and one each from Brazil, Turkey and Nigeria.

The American penalties, all previously announced, were handed out to 400 m stars Gil Roberts (16 months ineligibility) and Randolph Ross (3 years) and distance runners Hassan Mead (3 years) and Lindsey Scherf (4 years).

● Modern Pentathlon ● The “UIPM Obstacle Catalogue” that sets out the options for obstacle courses to be introduced in 2023 was released on Wednesday, offering 14 different choices for the eight obstacles to be included in a 60-70 m course for U-19, U-17 and Junior (19-21) competitions only.

The listed options include Steps, Big wheel, 1.5 m wall, Over-under, Over-under-through, Rings, Balance beam, Giant steps, Lisbon steps, Wheels, Monkey bars, Swinging globes, Tilting ladders and Finish wall. For championship competitions in 2023, six obstacles are fixed and the local organizers can choose two others to complete the courses.

The instructions direct construction of the obstacles with aluminum trusses for safety and reliability and:

“Obstacles must be subject to a risk assessment created and written by a Qualified Risk Assessor [an engineer] in coordination with the competition medical team before the course is open for training and/or competition. The risk assessment must identify general hazards and hazardous obstacle elements, evaluate the probability and severity of a potential injury, and develop risk mitigation plans associated with the use of obstacles by participants.”

The variety of different courses that the instructions allow will, of course, eliminate any possibility of record-keeping since each course is likely to be unique, eliminating a promotional angle for the sport.

● Swimming ● University of California women’s swimming coach Teri McKeever, who led four teams to NCAA team titles across 29 seasons, was fired on Tuesday following the referral of a report which included 147 interviews and reviews of 1,700 documents, and found “by a preponderance of the evidence that Coach McKeever discriminated against certain student-athletes, in certain instances, on the basis of race, national origin and disability” and that her behavior “toward some, but not all, student-athletes in some instances was abuse and violated University policy.”

Reporting by Scott Reid of the Southern California News Group found that 42.6% of Cal women’s swimmers who joined the team between the 2013-14 season and 2020-21 left before their eligibility was completed. McKeever was accused by multiple swimmers of bullying on a daily basis and being pressured to practice or compete despite injuries or sickness. She had been on paid administrative leave from 25 May 2022.

McKeever, 60, the U.S. Olympic women’s coach at London 2012, said in part in a statement:

“I deny and unequivocally refute all conclusions that I abused or bullied any athlete and deny any suggestion I discriminated against any athlete on the basis of race, disability or sexual orientation. There were and should be consequences for violating team rules, not showing up for scheduled appointments, misusing resources, not giving an honest effort and behavior that was not congruent with their individual or our team goals. But those consequences were not applied because of who someone was, only for what they did or didn’t do that hurt the team and the culture we were working hard to sustain.”

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TSX REPORT: Chaos as Russia criticizes IOC, IOC rips Russia, Ukraine rips both, $307 million in Tokyo bid-rigging, IBA election bribes alleged!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Henri Vidal's Caïn venant de tuer son frère Abel (Cain, after having murdered his brother Abel), in the Tuileries Garden, Paris (Photo: Wikipedia)

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

★ Thank you to our 22 donors, who have now covered 51% of our technical expenses for the first half of 2023. Please consider a donation. Thank you in advance. ★

★ To get The Sports Examiner by e-mail: sign up here! ★

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. ROC chief says IOC’s conditions “unacceptable,” IOC slaps back
2. Ukrainian political advisor calls IOC “promoter of war”
3. Tokyo bid-rigging scandal had $307 million at stake
4. Van der Vorst alleges bribes in IBA election mess
5. Strong ratings for U.S. Figure Skating Nationals

A pretty rough day on Tuesday, as charges, criticism and replies flew between Moscow, Kyiv and Lausanne, as well as within the International Boxing Association. Russian Olympic Committee President Stanislav Pozdnyakov continued his condemnation of the sanctions imposed by the International Olympic Committee, calling the continuing sanctions “unacceptable.” The IOC shot back with a statement that the restrictions are “not negotiable.” Meanwhile, a Ukrainian political advisor harshly criticized the IOC’s comments in support to exploring a path to re-integration of Russian and Belarusian athletes under specific conditions, saying it was a “promotion of violence.” The IOC rejected the “defamatory statements.” In Tokyo, it was reported that the total value of the contracts subject to the bid-rigging program with the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee, for test events and the Games proper, was in excess of $300 million U.S.! Dutch Boxing Federation chief Boris van der Vorst, in an explosive interview in an Amsterdam newspaper, said that African federations were, in essence, bribed to vote against a re-vote for the IBA Presidency last year, that confirmed Russian Umar Kremlev as the federation’s head. And he detailed new issues in pressure being put on referees and judges to favor a specific country’s fighters. U.S. television viewership of the U.S. Figure Skating Nationals on NBC last weekend was good, led by 1.874 million who watched last Friday’s women’s Free Skate on NBC.

1.
ROC chief says IOC’s conditions “unacceptable,” IOC slaps back

The war of words between the Russian Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee over Russia’s exclusion from international sport got hotter on Tuesday, as Russian Olympic Committee President Stanislav Pozdnyakov told reporters in Moscow:

“Are Russian athletes required to condemn the [‘special military operation’ in Ukraine]? This conclusion is wrong, they are not even in the current criteria, which we continue to consider unacceptable. This is not a direct reference to welcoming or not welcoming the [‘special military operation’].

“Russians must participate on the same conditions as athletes from other countries. We do not welcome additional conditions and criteria, especially those that include some kind of political component that is absolutely unacceptable for the Olympic Movement.”

Pozdnyakov also explained that he expected the process by which Russian athletes would be able to qualify for the Paris 2024 Games to take some time:

“Now the International Federations are consulting with the IOC, on the basis of which conditions and approaches will be worked out, which later the IOC will publish. The current agenda is unacceptable for the global Olympic Movement.

“Every sports competition is unique, so a one-size-fits-all approach is impossible. This is why the IOC allocated at least a one-month long period to take care of this work.”

And he added:

“Not only the [National Olympic Committee] of China supports the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes, but also the vast majority of National Olympic Committees – which I would like to focus on– including the NOCs of those countries that, from a political point of view, are not Russia’s closest friends.

“But that’s why the role of the Olympic Movement is important in putting sport above politics. We welcome this approach from the vast majority of the world’s National Olympic Committees.”

Well, the IOC wasn’t happy with Pozdnyakov, and issued its own statement, reiterating:

“The sanctions against the Russian and Belarusian State and Governments are not negotiable. They have been unanimously confirmed by the recent Olympic Summit meeting on 9 December 2022.

“They are: No international sports events being organised or supported by an IF or NOC in Russia or Belarus. No flag, anthem, colours or any other identifications whatsoever of these countries being displayed at any sports event or meeting, including the entire venue. No Russian and Belarusian Government or State official should be invited to or accredited for any international sports event or meeting.”

The IOC statement did not refer to its 25 January statement, which included a description of the minimum conditions under which Russian and Belarusian athletes might be allowed to compete again, in Asian competitions, including the neutrality provisions above and:

“[O]nly athletes who fully respect the Olympic Charter would participate. This means in particular: first, only those who have not acted against the peace mission of the IOC by actively supporting the war in Ukraine could compete. Second, only athletes who fully comply with the World Anti-Doping Code and all relevant anti-doping rules and regulations would be eligible. There must be individual checks carried out for all entered athletes.”

In the meantime, Russia took the first, small steps in organizing a multi-sport competition with athletes from BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, Iran, China, South Africa), Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Commonwealth of Independent States, announcing the formation of a “university sports festival” organizing committee under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Chernyshenko. According to TASS:

“The International University Sports Festival with the participation of teams from the BRICS, SCO and CIS countries in Yekaterinburg. It will be held from 19 to 31 August in 15 sports. The preliminary list of educational institutions that will become potential participants in the festival includes 246 universities from 94 countries.”

2.
Ukrainian political advisor calls IOC “promoter of war”

Following up on last Friday’s remarks by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticizing the IOC’s discussions on possible re-admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions, political advisor Mykhailo Podolyak raised the temperature with an angry Saturday tweet:

“#IOC proposes to the world promotion of violence, mass murders, destruction. That’s why it insists [Russian flag] athletes should participate in contests as real ‘ambassadors of death’ … Sport doesn’t exist outside politics – sport promotes it. Thus, the IOC promotes the [Russian flag] anti-human policy.”

And he doubled down in a Monday tweet:

“#IOC is a promoter of war, murder & destruction. The IOC watches with pleasure RF destroying [Ukraine flag] & then offers [Russian flag] a platform to promote genocide & encourages their further killings.

“Obviously ru-money that buys Olympic hypocrisy doesn’t have a smell of [Ukraine flag] blood. Right, Mr. #Bach?”

Reuters reported a statement in reply from the IOC:

“The IOC rejects in the strongest possible terms this and other defamatory statements.

“They cannot serve as a basis for any constructive discussion.”

Observed: It’s an astonishing, horrible, twisted environment in which both Russia and Ukraine are hurling insults at the IOC, but here we are. And the dangerous parallels with 1980 that followed the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan are beginning to build, only this time with a potentially different outcome: no boycott in the end, but athletes, coaches and team officials from Russia (and its allies) nose-to-nose in the Olympic Village and the competition venues in Paris with those from Ukraine (and its allies).

IOC chief Thomas Bach (GER) spoke last February about “protective measures” that were needed to maintain competitor security and keep governments from deciding who could compete where. These are still in force and rather than being relaxed, may need to be reinforced in order to have the Paris 2024 Games come off peacefully.

3.
Tokyo bid-rigging scandal had $307 million at stake

Kyodo News reported that there was a lot more than vanity at stake for Japanese ad giants Dentsu, Hakuhodo and others in the Olympic test event bid-rigging scandal. The 26 contracts available to operate test events for the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee were cumulatively worth about ¥538 million (about $4.13 million U.S.), eventually awarded to nine companies and a consortium.

But the much larger prize of contracts totaling as much as ¥40 billion – or about $307.4 million U.S. – was then available to operate the same venues during the Olympic Games itself, as long as the test events were completed successfully.

Tokyo prosecutors and the Japan Fair Trade Commission are examining the conditions under which the test-event contracts and then the venue management contracts were awarded. According to Kyodo:

“[A]lmost half of the 26 open [test-event] bids only had one bidder. Prosecutors suspect that the former [Tokyo 2020] operations executive and other officials repeatedly updated a list of firms to use in arranging successful bidders” and there was concern that there would not be a sufficient number of firms to handle all of the test events, let alone the Games.

4.
Van der Vorst alleges bribes in IBA election mess

“Earlier, the opposing party in Africa had organized a special congress and bound all African countries to it with envelopes with money for boxing equipment. After that conference, some African officials were stopped at the border because they were carrying too much cash. I myself received calls from African federation chairmen who said: you have a good story, but what are you going to pay me? That’s a match you don’t want to, and can’t win.”

That’s just one paragraph from an explosive interview by Dutch Boxing Federation head Boris van der Vorst in the Amsterdam-based daily, De Volkskrant, published last Friday (27th).

In it, van der Vorst, who ran for President of what is now the International Boxing Association (IBA) and lost to Russian Boxing Federation Secretary General Umar Kremlev in December 2020, challenged again in May 2022, but was declared ineligible by an IBA committee one day before the vote. That decision was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but instead of holding another election between van der Vorst and Kremlev, IBA held a vote to decide whether there would be a vote and it failed, confirming Kremlev in office.

Van der Vorst’s comments about Africa related to the election not to have an election, held in Yerevan, Armenia, a former Soviet Republic. Van der Vorst said:

“I was visited the night before by a deputy from a former Soviet country who said: ‘We are with you, but we are not allowed to vote for you. Tomorrow the voting devices will fail and then you will have to demand paper voting.’

“I didn’t get the chance to do that. But he was right: voting started and the boxes went down. Power failure. That lasted for three quarters of an hour and then suddenly there were 26 more voting countries in the room. Needless to say, I lost. We showed our teeth. That’s all we could do.”

As for refereeing and judging, a problem for boxing for decades, van der Vorst said it’s still going on:

“Shortly before [the repeat election], there had been a European boxing championship in [May in] Yerevan where the Armenian boxing federation put enormous pressure on judges to decide in favor of Armenian boxers. Seven Western European jurors who did not follow suit were sent home, arguing that their safety could not be guaranteed. That and the ruling of the CAS prompted the IOC to come up with an ‘enough is enough statement’ in June in which they actually turned away from the international boxing federation.”

Van de Vorst believes boxing will be held at Paris 2024, and in Los Angeles in 2028, saying “Boxing is too important to the IOC.”

For its part, the IBA told the InsideTheGames Web site:

“How does IBA respond to vague accusations and baseless attacks on our organisation from within?

“By reiterating the facts regarding our governance reforms and questioning the motive of Mr. van der Vorst and the unidentified sources of these wild accusations of bribery and threats.

“It is very simple, he cannot handle losing and refuses to do so with any dignity.”

5.
Strong ratings for U.S. Figure Skating Nationals

Audience data from Nielsen showed good interest in the U.S. Figure Skating National Championships from San Jose, California, even on a weekend dominated by the NFL’s conference championship games (all times Eastern):

● Fri., 27 Jan. (8:00 p.m.): 1.874 million on NBC (women’s Free Skate)
● Sat., 28 Jan. (2:30 p.m.): 1.017 million on NBC (Free Dance)
● Sun., 29 Jan. (3:00 p.m.): 961,000 on NBC (men’s Free Skate)

On cable:

● Thu., 26 Jan. (7:00 p.m.): 274,000 on USA Network (Rhythm Dance)
● Thu., 26 Jan. (10:00 p.m.): 242,000 on USA Network (women’s Short Program)
● Fri., 27 Jan. (5:00 p.m.): 211,000 on USA Network (men’s Short Program)
● Sat., 28 Jan. (8:00 p.m.): 421,000 on USA Network (Pairs Free Skate)

This was well down from the 2022 U.S. Nationals, which served as a qualifier for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games and was held early in January, with a high of 2.338 million for the women’s Free Skate on Friday evening. The three shows on NBC averaged 1.631 million viewers, and the four shows on USA averaged 405,500.

The USA-Colombia men’s football friendly on Saturday in Carson, California drew a combined audience of 956,000, with 540,000 watching the Spanish-language broadcast on Telemundo and 416,000 taking it in on TNT in English.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Aquatics ● World Aquatics announced its fifth “Centre of Excellence,” to be housed at the University of Technology Bahrain, with the federation also opening a regional office in the country.

New facilities will be built to accommodate swimming, diving, water polo and artistic swimming, with an eye toward events that can add to Bahrain’s sports tourism program. The federation currently has Centers in Thanyapura (Thailand), Dakar (Senegal), Cape Town (South Africa) and Davie (U.S./Florida).

● Football ● In a good sign, Australia’s opening match at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup on 20 July against Ireland has been moved from the 42,512-seat Sydney Football Stadium to the iconic, 83,500-seat Stadium Australia, made famous at the 2000 Olympic Games.

The move is in response to good ticket sales for Australia’s opener in Group B; the Matildas will play their other group games in Brisbane and Melbourne.

U.S. Soccer announced the implementation of additional recommendations from the Yates Report on abuse in the National Women’s Soccer League, notably a “Safe Soccer” project which aims to review key hires before they are made, rather than disciplining malefactors after an incident.

Further, amendments to the federation’s Pro League Standards – applicable to Major League Soccer, NWSL, United Soccer League and all other affiliated with U.S. Soccer – will be offered for a confirming vote at the March USSF Annual General Meeting. These include, but are not limited to a player-safety officer for each league, dedicated human relations staff, added training, reporting of allegations and annual safeguarding reports.

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TSX REPORT: Russia angry about neutral status in proposed re-entry; Poland may lead Paris ‘24 boycott on Russia; Tokyo 2020 scandal confessions!

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. IOC’s Russia return idea sparks anger … in Russia!
2. Boycott talk spreads in nations against Russian re-integration
3. Dentsu staff admits to bid rigging of Tokyo 2020 contracts
4. FIFA sanctions four Uruguay players in World Cup fracas
5. LA28 Paralympic sports program includes 22, same as Paris

The story of Russian and Belarusian reinstatement for international competition continues to dominate the headlines, with a potential boycott of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games being suggested both from the Russian side, and from Ukraine and allies Poland, Estonia and others. In Tokyo, some employees of the Japanese ad giant Dentsu admitted complicity in the Tokyo 2020 test-event bid-rigging scheme to prosecutors. FIFA announced sanctions on the Uruguayan Football Association and four players for their protests to officials at the end of the FIFA World Cup group-stage game with Ghana, in which Uruguay ended up a goal short of being able to advance to the elimination stage. The International Paralympic Committee and the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee announced that the same 22 sports to be contested at Paris 2024 will be held in Los Angeles in 2028, with the possible addition of sport climbing and surfing, to be decided later this year.

1.
IOC’s Russia return idea sparks anger … in Russia!

One would think that the International Olympic Committee’s controversial 25 January statement that a pathway for Russian and Belarusian athletes to return – under conditions – to international competitions in Asia should be seriously explored would be popular in Russia.

Well, not totally.

The conditions for any such reinstatement clearly include a total ban on any identification of either country – on flags or uniforms and no national anthems played for gold-medal winners – have sparked comments inside Russia, including suggestions that Russia should boycott (!) Paris 2024 itself rather than submit to these conditions (not to mention others such as an anti-war stance).

Russian Olympic Committee President Stanislav Pozdnyakov wrote on his Telegram page (DeepL.com translation):

“Everyone who is now calling for us to boycott the Olympics, regardless of the arguments, should be clearly aware that this kind of demarche [initiative] is a direct path to the isolation of the entire domestic sport for at least two Olympic cycles. That is, the flag, the anthem, our athletes will not be at most competitive international competitions for 8 years. That is exactly what our opponents are trying to achieve by all means. And history knows no cases when the boycott had a positive effect on the development of sport in a particular country.”

However, two-time Olympic biathlon silver medalist (and four-time Worlds gold medalist) and former State Duma deputy Vladimir Drachev told the Russian news agency TASS:

“I am categorically against such conditions. This is a humiliation of the country, it is impossible to perform in a neutral status, without a flag and an anthem; they will surely force them to sign a declaration, according to which athletes will have to abandon their mother, father, and the country.

“If athletes want to compete in a neutral status, then you need to live in a neutral country. Naturally, such decisions can split the sports community, everything is being done for this. Theoretically, it is possible that some athletes will agree to this, the weak can always be found, even among the ranks of athletes.”

Drachev claimed a major difference in the current concept, vs. the doping sanctions which previously required Russian athletes to perform at the Olympic Games without use of their flag or anthem:

“Then the situation was completely different, now you have to perform either with a flag and an anthem, or not perform at all. All these are principles proclaimed by the West, including the action in which our hockey players must wear a sweater to promote LGBT people.”

The reference was to the 18 January promotion by the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers of “LGBTQ+ Pride Night,” in which special, rainbow-themed warm-up jerseys were worn. Defenseman Ivan Provorov (RUS) refused to participate in the salute, citing his Russian Orthodox religious beliefs, but did play in the game, a 5-2 win over Anaheim.

In a meeting of the Russian sports federations on Monday, Vassily Titov, head of the Russian Artistic Gymnastics Federations, told TASS:

“It is clear that for each sport, the international federations will develop their own admission criteria. But there are general principles that we tried to discuss today. There were different points of view, but everyone agreed that the most important thing is for the athletes to go [compete].”

As far as Russian and Belarusian participation in the Asian Games, Randhir Singh, the acting head of the Olympic Council of Asia told the Indian Express that Asian athletes are not going to give up any qualifying places for Paris 2024 to its guests:

“They won’t interfere in our medal system or Asian quota for the Olympic Games. The IOC will work out [an Olympic] quota with us at the OCA and the international federations. And there will be separate medals.”

Singh also noted that mandatory doping controls would be required for any such Russian or Belarusian athletes prior to competing in an Asian competition, and that they would not be entered in all sports:

“We are devising a philosophy where they’ll … be able to compete in [events] where we can take them on numbers. Not in combat sports like wrestling, for instance. If our wrestler from Asia gets knocked out in the first round, then we lose out on qualification. But if there is a points system like in athletics, shooting … these kinds of sports are where they’ll be able to compete. This is all being worked out.”

2.
Boycott talk spreads in nations against Russian re-integration

“On February 3, an extraordinary general assembly of the NOC of Ukraine will be held regarding a possible boycott of the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024 if Russian and Belarusian athletes are allowed to return to international sports tournaments before the end of the conflict in Ukraine. Everything goes to the fact that athletes will be returned to international tournaments, so that this event will have serious consequences.”

That’s from the Telegram page of Zhan Beleniuk, the Tokyo 2020 Greco-Roman wrestling gold medalist at 87 kg, also a member of the Ukrainian Parliament.

In Poland, the tone was also strident, with Minister of Sport and Tourism, Kamil Bortniczuk, telling a Friday news conference that Russia and Belarus should not be allowed to participate in Paris 2024:

“I can’t imagine such a scenario. … Poland and other countries may issue an ultimatum; this will depend on whether it will be possible to create an effective coalition of countries without whom the Olympic Games couldn’t go ahead.”

He cited Britain as a possible ally; the President of the Polish Olympic Committee, Andrzej Krasnicki, confirmed on Twitter that “until the end of the barbaric war in Ukraine, no Russian or Belarusian sportsman should take part in any international competitions, including the Olympic Games,” with a further reply:

“The Polish Olympic Committee was, is and will be in solidarity with Ukraine, the Ukrainian nation and athletes. Our position is consistent with the position of Poland and the Polish authorities.”

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas called the IOC’s idea “politically and morally wrong,” adding “Sport is a tool in Russia’s propaganda machine, ignoring that means siding with aggression.”

The Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF), which would be expected to simply follow the IOC’s lead, posted a carefully-worded statement on Monday, which while generally agreeing with the IOC’s stance, which “[stressed] the importance of respecting the specificity of each federation and their particular qualification process for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games,” and that the matter would be discussed further at the ASOIF Council meeting on 3 March.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Friday message opposing the IOC’s re-entry ideas, included, “I invite Mr. Bach to Bakhmut. So that he could see with his own eyes that neutrality does not exist.” Another athlete death was reported there, from Advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Anton Geraschchenko:

“Volodymyr Androshchuk, Ukrainian track and field athlete, member of the national team, died in combat near Bakhmut. RIP, Volodymyr. We keep losing our best people.”

Androshchuk was a decathlete on the national U20 team, with a best of 6,491 points, from 2019.

3.
Dentsu staff admits to bid rigging of Tokyo 2020 contracts

“Several officials of Japanese ad giant Dentsu Inc. have admitted to collusion over bid rigging for contracts related to test events for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Kyodo News reported Friday that the admissions came voluntarily in interviews with prosecutors exploring illegal contracting at the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee, adding that the scheme may have been operated by a Tokyo 2020 staff member working in coordination with some loaned employees from Dentsu working with the organizing committee. The Kyodo report added:

“In 2017, Dentsu, at the request of the games organizers, created a list of advertising agencies and other firms to categorize them into groups by their respective track records in each sport, according to the source. It is suspected that the list was used in arranging successful bidders.”

The arrangements first involved test events, held in 2018-19-20-21, which covered 26 bids for 56 events that were eventually awarded to nine different companies, with Dentsu and another large ad agency, Hakuhodo, getting multiple contracts. Following the test events, much larger contracts for venue management during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games were forthcoming in many cases to the companies which had worked on the test programs.

This is the second set of scandals being investigated and is separate from the sponsorship selection program allegedly influenced by bribes paid – directly and indirectly – to Tokyo 2020 Executive Committee member Haruyuki Takahashi, a former Dentsu senior director.

4.
FIFA sanctions four Uruguay players in World Cup fracas

Remember the ugly incident at the end of the group-stage match between Ghana and Uruguay, where Uruguayan players berated the officials for not calling one or more penalties that could have allowed Uruguay to advance into the knock-out rounds?

On Friday, FIFA announced sanctions against the Uruguayan federation and four players, noting that:

“[T]he FIFA Disciplinary Committee found that the Uruguayan Football Association was responsible for the discriminatory behaviour of its supporters as well as for the misconduct, offensive behaviour and violation of the principles of fair play of the members of its representative team.”

The sanctions included:

● “The Uruguayan Football Association – partial stadium closure (the stands behind the goals) at its next FIFA “A” international match as host association and a fine of CHF 50,000

● “Jose María Gimenez – a four-match suspension, performance of community football service and a fine of CHF 20,000

● “Fernando Muslera – a four-match suspension, performance of community football service and a fine of CHF 20,000

● “Edinson Cavani – a one-match suspension, performance of community football service and a fine of CHF 15,000

● “Diego Godín – a one-match suspension, performance of community football service and a fine of CHF 15,000″

Uruguay won the game, 2-0, but needed a third goal to advance on goal-differential in Group H vs. South Korea, which ended up second in the group despite losing to group-winner Portugal, 2-1, on the same day.

5.
LA28 Paralympic sports program includes 22, same as Paris

The International Paralympic Committee and the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee in Los Angeles announced the “initial sports program” of the 2028 Paralympic Games, with the same 22 sports to be featured at the Paris 2024 Paralympics:

● Archery
● Athletics
● Badminton
● Blind Football
● Boccia
● Canoe
● Cycling
● Equestrian
● Goalball
● Judo
● Powerlifting
● Rowing
● Shooting
● Sitting Volleyball
● Swimming
● Table Tennis
● Taekwondo
● Triathlon
● Wheelchair Basketball
● Wheelchair Fencing
● Wheelchair Rugby
● Wheelchair Tennis

These sports will offer 549 different events in 2024; the specific events for Los Angeles will be determined later.

A record number of 33 sports asked for inclusion in 2028, with the possibility of two more:

“[T]he IPC granted LA28 the opportunity to explore the potential of including Para climbing or Para surfing, sports that have not been featured before at the Paralympic Games. Should LA28 put forward any sports for consideration, a final decision will be taken by the IPC Governing Board by the end of 2023.”

Nine sports which applied for the 2028 Games but were not selected included arm wrestling, Cerebral Palsy (CP) football, dance sport, golf, karate, powerchair football, sailing, wheelchair handball, and beach paravolley.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Winter Games 2022: Beijing ● Both the World Anti-Doping Agency and the Russian Anti-Doping Agency confirmed receipt of the written opinion of the RUSADA Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee, which penalized figure skater Kamila Valieva only one day for her trimetazidine positive on 25 December 2021 due to “no fault or negligence” on her part as a minor, leaving her eligibility for the 2022 Winter Games in place. 

RUSADA told TASS, “We received the full text of the decision on the figure skater’s case from the committee. We will need some time to study the document, after which we will decide on further actions.” RUSADA had initiated a standard, four-year sanction on Valieva, but had its decision reversed by the independent review panel, and could join WADA is pursuing an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

● International Olympic Committee ● Sad news that long-time Australian IOC member Phil Coles passed away at age 91 on Saturday (28th).

Coles was a three-time Olympian in canoeing in 1960-64-68, joined the executive board of the Australian Olympic Committee in 1973 and was elected as an IOC member in 1982, serving until 2012, when he became an Honorary Member. He played an important role in getting Australia to attend the Moscow 1980 Games instead of joining the U.S.-led boycott, and helped Sydney win selection as the host of the 2000 Games. He was reprimanded – but not expelled – in the Salt Lake City bid scandal in 1999 for sharing information on other IOC members with the Utah bidders and was forced to resign from the Sydney 2000 organizing committee.

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● As in most countries, the word “Olympic” – due to its commercial value – is controlled in the United States under federal law. The USOPC works diligently to ensure that uses are appropriate, and that commercial uses must be licensed.

So, the anti-aging experiment that millionaire software developer Bryan Johnson has undertaken – spending perhaps $2 million a year to stave off the body’s natural decay – is being publicized through the Web site rejuvenationolympics.com.

The site invites you to be a “Rejuvenation Olympian” by providing your e-mail, telephone number and asking for more information.

Is Colorado Springs calling yet?

● Athletics ● A novel “Battle of the Sexes” took place in Moscow (RUS) on Sunday, pitting male and female high jumpers against each other, with the winner determined by the World Athletics scoring tables.

Danil Lysenko, the 2018 World Indoor Champion, and now back from a four-year doping ban that ended last August, claimed a world-leading mark of 2.38 m (7-9 3/4) – now no. 11 on the all-time indoor list – to win from Tokyo Olympic women’s gold medalist Mariya Lasitskene, who cleared 1.93 m (6-4). Lysenko’s jumping in the 12-athlete, men-vs-women battle was 2.31 m (7-7), good for 1,188 points to 1,150 for Lasitskene. Daria Slepova cleared 1.90 m (6-2 3/4) for 1,121 points for third.

Although on an oversized, 307 m track in Seattle, how about the men’s mile at the University of Washington Invitational on Saturday, with eight members of the Washington team – same team! – all breaking 4:00!

All eight had run under 4:00 previously, but in the same race, reigning NCAA 1,500 m champ Joe Waskom – a sophomore – won in 3:51.90, followed by Brian Fay (IRL: 3:52.03), freshman Nathan Green (3:52.76), Kieran Lumb (CAN: 3:53.83), Sam Ellis (3:53.84), junior Luke Houser (3:55.98), Aaron Ahl (3:57.94) and Aidan Ryan (3:59.55).

For Waskom, it was the third-fastest collegiate mile in history, although on a track or more than 200 m, so it won’t show in the main all-time list. Wow!

Although already provisionally suspended since last October, Kenyan distance runner Betty Lempus – a 2:23:40 marathoner – was banned for five years due to tampering.

After winning the Harmonie Mutuelle Semi de Paris (FRA) on 5 September 22021 (65:46), she was caught for the presence of a metabolite of Triamcinolone Acetonide in her urine sample. She then “produced falsified medical documents to explain an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF),” including a treatment at a Kenyan hospital before the race. The Athletics Integrity Unit, working with the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya, found the lies and Lempus admitted to the drug positive and the tampering charge, reducing the mandatory six-year ban to five for cooperation.

Now 31, Lempus will be eligible again in late 2026.

● Freestyle Skiing ● Tragedy in Japan, as 2015 Halfpipe World Champion Kyle Smaine (USA) lost his life in an avalanche near Nagano on Sunday.

He and a second skier – not yet publicly identified – were killed in the snow on east slope of Mount Hakuba Norikura, while three others were able to escape. Smaine, 31, was on a marketing effort for Ikon Pass and Nagano Tourism.

He is survived by his wife, Jenna Dramise.

● Hockey ● At a news conference on the heels of the men’s Hockey World Cup won by Germany in Bhubaneswar (IND), reporters asked about the financial sustainability of the sport. Federation Internationale de Hockey chief executive Thierry Weil (FRA), who came from FIFA in 2018, explained:

“Hockey hasn’t got the needed commercial value yet. Once we get it, our sport will become financially sustainable. Media and marketing play a key role to promote our sport at the highest level. We are trying hard with broadcasters and other stakeholders to make our sport reach out to a global audience.”

It isn’t easy. The last available FIH financial statements are from 2021, showing CHF 15.29 million in assets and CHF 7.05 million in reserves, mostly thanks to the IOC’s quadrennial television rights payment of $15.14 million (CHF 1 = $1.08), received in 2020 and 2021.

The new FIH Pro League has been a money-loser since inception in 2018, but was close to break-even in 2021.

This is another federation which, if not for its quadrennial Olympic television dividend, would be in severe financial trouble.

● Skiing ● This is a story that everyone knew was coming at some point. The International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) posted a lengthy story on Monday explaining how apparel maker Head – whose owner, Johan Eliasch (SWE) – is now the FIS President, provided clothing for FIS staff members for the 2022-23 season. In short:

“Despite repeated calls for quotes, FIS was not successful in finding an official clothing supplier for the 2022/2023 season. Facing the prospect of the season beginning without official FIS clothing being available, FIS management requested President Eliasch to ask Head to provide a quote for the clothing. President Eliasch (who is the owner of Head) was reluctant to do so because of the risk of a perceived conflict of interest. Eventually he agreed on the condition that the clothing would not bear any explicit Head branding and that the outfits would be offered at cost or below. President Eliasch made no financial gain – directly or indirectly – from the transaction.”

The story noted that the only apparel offer came for clothing for cross-country alone and not the other disciplines. The invoices – which FIS indicated were illegally obtained – showed 1,360 clothing items sold to FIS for €243,850 (about $264,735 U.S.); that’s expensive, but FIS’s statement noted the order was below the usual minimums and prices were high due to supply-chain issues.

All eyes will now be on FIS staff uniforms for 2023-24.

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For our updated, 929-event International Sports Calendar for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Asian Games invite to Russia confirmed; Zelensky promises “marathon of honesty” on Russia; Shiffrin wins 85th!

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

★ Thank you to our 21 donors, who have now covered 49% of our technical expenses for the first half of 2023. Please consider a donation. Thank you in advance. ★

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Olympic Council of Asia confirms Russia’s Asian Games invite
2. Ukraine’s Zelensky rips IOC hypocrisy, invites Bach to front lines
3. Shiffrin stars at Spindleruv Mlyn, wins 85th World Cup race
4. U.S. to host Copa America for second time in 2024
5. U.S. Soccer re-shuffle continues as Stewart, McBride leave

The International Olympic Committee’s call for a possible pathway for Russian and Belarusian athletes, under specified conditions, was echoed by the Olympic Council of Asia, which has offered to play host to them in qualifying events for Paris 2024, and other regional confederations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky lashed out at the IOC in a Friday address, promising a “marathon of honesty” against “any attempts to bring representatives of the terrorist state into world sports,” with the country possibly to boycott Paris if Russian or Belarusian athletes are allowed to compete. American skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin won her 85th career World Cup race on Saturday in a Slalom in the Czech Republic, but ended up second on Sunday, leaving her one short of tying the all-time World Cup wins record. A cooperation agreement between the South American football confederation CONMEBOL and the North and Central American and Caribbean group CONCACAF will see the Copa America organized in the U.S. in 2024 with six CONCACAF teams added to the 10 South American squads. Four South American women’s teams will be added to create a 12-team CONCACAF W Gold Cup in 2024. The U.S. Soccer Federation already has an interim men’s National Team coach, but is now also looking for a new Sporting Director and General Manager as both Earnie Stewart and Brian McBride are leaving, in unrelated developments.

1.
Olympic Council of Asia confirms Russia’s Asian Games invite

“The OCA believes in the unifying power of sport and that all athletes, regardless of their nationality or the passport they hold, should be able to compete in sports competitions. The OCA has offered to give eligible Russian and Belarusian athletes the opportunity to take part in competitions in Asia, including the Asian Games.

“The OCA remains on standby as the IOC continues to explore with International Federations the pathway for the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes’ participation in competition under strict conditions.”

Following the International Olympic Committee’s Wednesday announcement of the exploration of a conditional pathway for Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete internationally, the Olympic Council of Asia confirmed its invitation for those athletes to compete there, away from European qualifiers which would include Ukraine.

Three other continental associations – the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa, European Olympic Committees and PanAm Sports – fell right in line with the IOC, as did the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC).

Among the summer International Federations, only three – the International Gymnastics Federation, International Judo Federation and International Weightlifting Federation – confirmed support of the IOC’s position on their Web sites on Thursday or Friday.

The Chinese Olympic Committee, heavily involved in the organization of the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou in September, also parroted the IOC’s position:

“The Chinese Olympic Committee claims that athletes from all over the world should enjoy equal rights to participate in international competitions. Whether they participate or not should be determined based on their sports performance, without interference from political and war factors.”

In Paris, Mayor Anne Hidalgo (Socialist Party) told France2 television, “I think that it’s a sporting moment and we shouldn’t deprive athletes of the competition. But I think and what I’m arguing for, as is a large part of the sporting world, is that there isn’t a delegation under the Russian banner.

“I hope the war in Ukraine will be behind us by the time we host the Paris Games.”

2.
Ukraine’s Zelensky rips IOC for hypocrisy,
invites Bach to front lines

“Today we are starting a marathon of honesty, which will be aimed at clearing the leadership of international Olympic structures of hypocrisy and any attempts to bring representatives of the terrorist state into world sports.”

That was the opening of Friday remarks by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, condemning the International Olympic Committee’s search for a pathway to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to qualify for, and compete in, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Also:

“One cannot but be disappointed by the statements of the current President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach. I spoke with him several times. And I never heard how he is going to protect sports from war propaganda if he returns Russian athletes to international competitions.

“There is no such thing as neutrality when a war like this is going on. And we know how often tyrannies try to use sports for their ideological interests. It is obvious that any neutral flag of Russian athletes is stained with blood.

“I do not want to get into what exactly motivated Mr. Bach to promote such an initiative. But we will do everything so that the world will protect sports from political and any other influence of the terrorist state, which is simply inevitable if Russian athletes participate in competitions. And especially – at the Paris Olympics.

“Ukrainian athletes are forced to defend the lives of their loved ones and the freedom of our people from Russian aggression. Russian strikes took the lives of hundreds of Ukrainian men and women who could have brought their talents to world sports.

“Russia must stop aggression and terror, and only after that it will be possible to talk about Russian participation in the context of the Olympic movement. Olympic principles and war are fundamentally opposed to each other.”

Zelensky added:

“And, by the way, I invite Mr. Bach to Bakhmut. So that he could see with his own eyes that neutrality does not exist.”

The BBC quoted Ukraine Sports Minister – and head of the country’s National Olympic Committee – Vadym Huttsait from his Facebook page, “If we are not heard, I do not rule out the possibility that we will boycott and refuse participation in the Olympics. … As long as there is a war in Ukraine, Russian and Belarusian athletes should not be in international competitions.”

Kyodo News reported that Zelensky has written to multiple international federations, asking them to state their position on Russian and Belarusian participation, and their conditions.

Britain’s Culture Secretary, Michelle Donelan, said last week:

“I want to be clear that this position from the IOC is a world away from the reality of war being felt by the Ukrainian people – and IOC President Bach’s own words less than a year ago where he strongly condemned Russia for breaking the Olympic Truce and urged it to ‘give peace a chance’

“We will strongly condemn any action taken that allows President Putin to legitimise his illegal war in Ukraine – a position the IOC previously shared.”

Olympedia.org co-founder Dr. Bill Mallon tweeted that Ukrainian figure skater Dmytro Sharpar, a 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games Pairs contestant, was killed in Kharkiv on 23 January, the first Olympic-related casualty of the Russian invasion.

3.
Shiffrin stars at Spindleruv Mlyn, wins 85th World Cup race

American skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin wasted no time getting after her 85th career World Cup win with a victory in the first of two Slaloms at Spindleruv Mlyn (CZE) on Saturday, taking charge on the first run and winning the second run to total 1:33.85.

Shiffrin beat Lena Duerr (GER: 1:34.45) and Wendy Holdener (SUI: 1:35.16) to the line, with teammate Paula Moltzan (1:35.74) fifth. It was her 52nd World Cup Slalom win, extending her own record.

On Sunday she had the opportunity to tie Sweden’s Ingemar Stenmark for the most World Cup wins ever at 86, and started perfectly, posting the fastest first run in 44.66, with Duerr second at 45.33. But Shiffrin had some trouble on the second run, ending up only 14th-fastest and dropping to second as Duerr got her second career World Cup win, 1:30.91 to 1:30.97, with 19-year-old Zrinka Ljutic (CRO) third – for her first World Cup medal – in 1:31.40. Moltzan was eighth (1:32.67).

Shiffrin has now won 11 races this season, the fourth time she’s won 10 or more, also in 2017 (11), 2018 (12) and 2019 (17), when she also won the overall World Cup title. She now leads the 2022-23 standings by 1,697 to 966 over Petra Vlhova (SVK), and also wrapped up her seventh Slalom seasonal title, the most ever.

The Alpine World Championships come next, with the World Cup to resume on 25 February with a Downhill in Crans-Montana (SUI) to begin the last 11 races of the season.

4.
U.S. to host Copa America for second time in 2024

In a positive move for the U.S. men’s team in advance of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the South American confederation CONMEBOL announced that the 2024 Copa America – its highly-regarded regional championship – will be played in the United States for the second time, in 2024.

It’s part of a new collaboration with CONCACAF, the North and Central American and Caribbean confederation, revealed on Friday, to include:

● Copa America 2024: The 10 CONMEBOL teams will be joined by six CONCACAF teams, with the event to be co-organized by the two groups. The tournament was successfully held in the U.S. in 2016, with the American team coming in fourth, equaling its best finish in four participations.

Ecuador had been scheduled to host the 2024 Copa America, but could not due to internal security concerns.

● CONCACAF W Gold Cup 2024: Four CONMEBOL teams – Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and Paraguay – will join eight CONCACAF teams for a 12-team, first-time tournament. The tournament will also be played in the U.S.

CONMEBOL President Alejandro Dominguez (PAR) said: “We are determined to renew and expand our joint initiatives and projects. We want this passion to translate into more and better competitions and for football and its values to grow and strengthen throughout the hemisphere.”

This is a second major CONMEBOL cooperation initiative, after its 2021 agreement with UEFA developed after the implosion of the proposed European Super League.

For the U.S. men’s team in specific, inclusion in the 2024 Copa America is a major opportunity to play some meaningful games, since it is automatically qualified as a host of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and will not have to qualify through the regular CONCACAF process.

5.
U.S. Soccer re-shuffle continues as Stewart, McBride leave

The U.S. men’s National Team is playing with an interim coach, Anthony Hudson, as Gregg Berhalter’s contract expired at the end of 2022. Now the two people he reported to – U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Earnie Stewart and General Manager Brian McBride – have left the organization.

U.S. Soccer announced the departures on Thursday, with Stewart leaving after four and a half years with the federation to work with famed Dutch club PSV Eindhoven. A star striker for the U.S. during his playing days, he had been given a contract extension by the USSF, but was released from it.

McBride, also a National Team star forward with 30 goals scored for the U.S., had been the men’s National Team General Manager for three years. He had informed the federation that he would leave in January prior to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar last November.

U.S. Soccer has hired the New York-based Sportsology Group to lead the search for a new Sporting Director, with the existing staff to report to USSF chief executive J.T. Batson. As for the men’s coaching situation, the announcement noted, “[t]he next U.S. Men’s National Team head coach will be hired by the new Sporting Director,” with Sportsology also developing a candidate list which can include Berhalter.

Hudson will remain the men’s coach until a new one is named. In essence, the USSF is beginning the march to the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a clean start.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● The IBSF World Championships began in St. Moritz (SUI), with the first British win in men’s Skeleton in 15 seasons as Matt Weston – great during the World Cup season – won his first World title at 4:28.71, ahead of surprise silver winner Amedeo Bagnis (ITA: 4:30.50) and Korean Seung-ji Jung (4:31.17).

Where Weston had won five World Cup medals this season and Jung, three, Bagnis had won none and had a best finish of eighth this season. But he had the second-fastest time on two of the four runs and was a clear silver medalist. Austin Florian was the top American in 19th (4:35.08).

A German was a likely winner of the women’s Skeleton, but Stephanie Kreher was hardly a consensus pick to win. Kreher had two seconds and a third in the World Cup, but finished 1-3-3-2 in the four runs to total 4:33.57, just 0.01 ahead (!) of Kimberley Bos (NED: 4:33.58) and 0.84 up in Mirela Rahneva (CAN). Hallie Clark was the top U.S. finisher in 10th (4:36.35). It was sixth Worlds win in a row by a German woman.

The Mixed Team gold went to Germans Kreher and Christopher Grotheer, over Weston and Laura Deas (GBR), 2:24.91 to 2:25.04; the top U.S. sled of Clark and Andrew Blaser was eighth (2:26.66).

As they had done during the World Cup season, German Laura Nolte and Olympic champ Kaillie Humphries battled in the women’s Monobob, with Nolte just 0.27 seconds ahead after two runs. On Sunday, Nolte won the third run and although fourth in the final race, had enough of a lead to hold off Humphries, 4:44.85 to 4:45.25. German Lisa Buckwitz won the bronze (4:45.57). Humphries now has 14 Worlds medals in her career (5-4-5) with one more event to go!

The Two-Man competition had been won by a German sled seven straight times, and Beijing runner-up Johannes Lochner (with Georg Fleischhauser) and Olympic winner Francesco Friedrich (with Alexander Schueller) were 1-2 after two runs, just 0.32 apart. That’s how they finished, with Lochner winning the third run and finishing in 4:21.84 to 4:22.33 for Friedrich. Michael Vogt and Sandro Michel (SUI) finished third (4:22.34); the top U.S. sled was 18th with Geoffrey Gadbois and Martin Christofferson.

The Worlds continue with the men’s Four and women’s Two this week.

● Handball ● Two of the favorites, defending champion Denmark and five-time winner France reached the final of the IHF men’s World Championship in Stockholm (SWE), with the Danes breaking open a tight game in the second half for a 34-29 victory and a third-straight world title.

Both teams survived tough semi-finals, with Denmark edging Spain, 26-23 and France beating Sweden, 31-26, before 19,128 at the Tele2 Arena in Stockholm. In the final, it was only 16-15 for Denmark at halftime, and 25-24 with 14:02 left. But the Danes kept scoring, with three Rasmas Lauge Schmidt goals leading to a 31-27 lead and he scored once more for the 34-29 final. Lauge Schmidt ended with 10 goals and Simon Pytlick had nine for the winners. Nedim Remili had six to lead France, with the final played before 23,050!

Denmark’s Mathias Gidsel ended as the top scorer in the tournament with 60 goals, followed by Chile’s Erwin Feuchtmann (54).

The Danes’ three-peat in the first in IHF Worlds history; five others had won two straight. Denmark continued its streak of success: not just three titles in a row, but five finals in the last seven IHF Worlds and the semifinals or better in seven of the last nine.

Spain won the bronze with a 39-36 win over Sweden, its second consecutive third-place finish and fourth medal in the last eight Worlds.

● Hockey ● Two teams with gold-medal history faced off in the final of the FIH men’s World Cup in Bhubaneswar (IND), with Germany winning its third World Cup in the last six in a shoot-out with defending champ Belgium.

The teams had played to a 2-2 tie in a group match and took a precarious ride to get to the final. The Belgians beat New Zealand, 2-0, in the quarters, but needed a 3-2 shoot-out win over the Netherlands in the semi to advance (after a 2-2 tie). Germany needed penalties (4-2) to get past England after a 2-2 tie in the quarters and then beat Australia by 4-3 in the semi.

In the final, Belgium went up 2-0 within 11 minutes on goals by Florent van Aubel and Tanguy Cosyns, but Niklas Wellen cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 29th. Then the Germans scored twice to take the lead, with Gonzalo Peillat (41st) and Mats Grambusch (48th) scoring, and looking like possible winners in regulation. Belgium’s Tom Boon got a very late score off a penalty corner in the 59th minute to send the game to a shoot-out.

After five rounds, the shoot-out was tied at three, with Wellen and van Aubel then scoring for a 4-4 tie. Thies Prinz made his second penalty shot for a 5-4 lead and when Cosyns couldn’t convert, Germany celebrated the win.

Germany won back-to-back World Cups in 2002 and 2006, then lost in the 2010 final, but returned to the winner’s circle in 2023. Belgium won its 2018 World Cup title in a shoot-out with the Dutch, but lost on penalties this time.

The Netherlands won the bronze with a 3-1 win over Australia.

Australia’s Jeremy Hayward was the tournament’s top scorer with nine goals; Wellen was recognized as the Player of the Tournament.

● Luge ● The 51st FIL World Championships were in Oberhof (GER) with lots to cheer about for the home team, which won eight out of nine events!

Germany swept all four women’s events, with Anna Berreiter leading a sweep in the Singles, 1:23.991-1:24.049-1:24.107 over 2021 World Champion Julia Taubitz and 2018 Olympic runner-up Dajana Eitberger. The top American was Summer Britcher in 12th (1:24.784).

Eitberger led another sweep in the women’s Sprint, winning in 26.204, with Taubitz second (26.205 – by 1 1/000th!) and Berreiter third (26.232); Brittney Arndt of the U.S. was eighth (26.379).

The second-ever women’s Doubles championship was won by defending champions Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal (1:17.619), ahead of Austria’s Selina Egle and Lara Kipp (1:17.745) and Italians Andrea Voetter and Marion Oberhofer (1:17.806). The top American finish was sixth for Chevonne Forgan and Sophia Kirkby (1:18.472).

Degenhardt and Rosenthal also won the Doubles Sprint – the first ever at the Worlds – in 31.205, over Egle and Kipp (31.221) and Voetter and Oberhofer (31.228). Forgan and Kirkby were sixth again (31.522).

The men’s Singles was the only event not won by a German slider; instead it was Austria’s Jonas Mueller – the 2020 Worlds silver medalist – winning in 1:25.478 to 1:25.582 for Max Langenhan (GER), with David Gleirscher (AUT: 1:25.599) third. Tucker West of the U.S. was 13th (1:26.463).

The Singles Sprint was the second win in the event for three-time Olympic champ Felix Loch of Germany – previously in 2016 – in 33.544 ahead of Mueller (33.617) and Langenhan (GER: 33.666). West was the best American finisher, in 12th (33.958).

Germany’s star Doubles teams of Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken and Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt went 1-2 in 1:23.517 and 1:23.668, with Yannick Mueller and Armin Frauscher third (1:23.709). The American pair of Zachary Di Gregorio and Sean Hollander finished seventh at 1:24.312. It was the fifth straight World title for Eggert and Benecken and fourth silver in the last five Worlds for three-time winners Wendl and Arlt.

The Doubles Sprint also went to Eggert and Benecken – their Worlds gold in the event – over Wendl and Arlt in 26.248 and 26.284. Mueller and Frauscher were third (26.317) and Di Gregorio and Hollander finished 10th (26.646).

The Team Relay was a tight win for the German quartet of Berreiter, Langenhan, Eggert and Benecken, 2:22.266 to 2:22.289 for Austria, with Latvia third (2:22.666) and the U.S. fifth, with Britcher, West, Di Gregorio and Hollander (2:23.229).

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Alpine Skiing ● The men’s World Cup tour was in Cortina d’Ampezzo for two Giant Slaloms, with reigning World Cup champ – and seasonal leader – Marco Odermatt sweeping the weekend.

On Saturday, Odermatt won a tight battle with Norway’s Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, 1:25.57 to 1:25.92, with Mattia Casse (ITA: 1:26.06) third, his third career World Cup medal. Then Odermatt dominated on Sunday, winning in 1:25.13 over Dominik Paris (ITA: 1:25.89) and Daniel Hemetsberger (AUT: 1:26.16) for his eighth win of the season.

Odermatt now leads the seasonal standings, 1,386-1,073, over Kilde and is the leader in both the Super-G and Giant Slalom.

● Athletics ● The indoor season heated up big time starting on the weekend, with Britain’s women’s 800 m Olympic silver medalist Keely Hodgkinson, still just 20, setting a world best for 600 m in Manchester (GBR) at 1:23.41, 0.03 faster than the 1:23.44 from 2004 by Russian Olga Kotlyarova.

At the John Thomas Terrier Classic at Boston University, two American Records were set on Friday, as Tokyo Olympian Yared Nuguse won the men’s 3,000 m in 7:28.24, over Sam Atkin (GBR: 7:31.97) and shattering Galen Rupp’s 2013 mark of 7:30.16. Nuguse is now no. 9 on the all-time world indoor list.

Grant Fisher’s American Indoor 5,000 m record of 12:53.73 – set in 2022 – didn’t last the night, as Woody Kincaid, another Tokyo Olympian, won in a sensational 12:51.61, moving to no. 4 all-time in the event. It appeared that Joe Klecker was on his way to the win, with a 10 m lead with two laps to go, but Kincaid turned on the afterburners on the final lap and sped by for the victory and the record. Klecker was second in 12:54.99 – a lifetime best by more than nine seconds – now no. 3 all-time U.S. and no. 7 on the all-time world list.

Although not a record, U.S. sprint star Aleia Hobbs, sixth at the 2022 Worlds women’s 100 m, moved to equal-ninth all-time and become the 13th woman to eclipse seven seconds with a 6.98 win at 60 m in the Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She’s now no. 3 in U.S. history as well.

● Badminton ● At the Indonesia Masters in Jakarta, China scored two wins, but so did the home team!

Indonesian fans celebrated wins from Jonatan Christie in the men’s Singles, winning the all-Indonesia battle with Chico Dwi Wardoyo, 21-15, 21-13, and in the men’s Doubles, as Leo Carnando and Daniel Marthin sailed past Ji Ting He and Hao Dong Zhou (CHN), 21-17, 21-16.

China’s wins came in the women’s Doubles, with Sheng Shu Liu and Shu Xian Zhang edging Japan’s Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota, 22-20, 21-19, and in Mixed Doubles in an all-Chinese final, as Yan Zhe Feng and Dong Ping Huang defeated Zhen Bang Jiang and Ya Xin Wei, 21-15, 16-21, 21-19.

In the women’s Singles final, Se Young An (KOR) won a tense battle from Rio 2016 gold medalist Carolina Marin (ESP), 18-21, 21-18, 21-13.

● Beach Volleyball ● The Beach Pro Tour Finals were in Doha (QAT), concluding the first season of what used to be known as the FIVB World Tour, with a historic win for Americans Sara Hughes and Kelly Cheng (nee Claes).

The pair reunited last October after playing apart for four years; they were twice NCAA Beach champions at USC, and found new vitality that created a late-season rush with Beach Pro Tour wins in Australia in November and December. In Doha, they battled through a series of tight matches, then won impressively in the final against Brazilian stars Duda Lisboa and Ana Patricia Ramos, 21-18, 21-16, for the tour title.

It’s the first time American women have won the world beach title since Misty May and Kerri Walsh way back in 2002!

Katja Stam and Raisa Schoon (NED) won the bronze medal with a 21-18, 21-10 win over Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho (AUS).

The men’s title went to Anders Mol and Christian Sorum (NOR) for the third time – previously in 2018 and 2021 – with a 21-18, 21-18 sweep of Michal Bryl and Bartosz Losiak (POL). Mol (25) and Sorum (27) added to their Olympic golds in 2020 (2021) and the 2022 World Championship, making them one of the most dominant pairs in the sport’s history, with more years ahead.

Paolo Nicolai and Samuele Cottafava (ITA) took the bronze over former World Champions Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen (NED), 22-20, 19-21, 16-14.

● Cross Country Skiing ● The ninth stop on the FIS World Cup tour was in Les Rousses (FRA) with a first-time winner this season in Harald Oestberg Amundsen (NOR) in the men’s 10 km Freestyle on Friday, in 21:26.5, ahead of countryman Sjur Roethe (21:38.4) and Sweden’s William Poromaa (21:44.4). It was Amundsen’s first career World Cup gold, at age 24.

In the 1.3 km Freestyle Sprint, it was France’s Richard Jouve winning his second World Cup race of the season in 2:39.14, over seasonal leader Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo (2:39.23) and fellow Norwegian Pal Golberg (2:40.05).

Klaebo won his 12th race of the season in Sunday’s 20 km Classical Mass Start in 49:29.1, barely edging Finn Iivo Niskanen (49:30.3) and William Poromaa (SWE: 49:30.4). He has a 1,706-1,584 lead over Golberg in the seasonal standings with nine races left.

Sweden’s Ebba Andersson, the 2021 Worlds bronze medalist at 10 km, won Friday’s women’s 10 km Freestyle in 24:08.8, beating Delphine Claudel (FRA: 24:22.2) and American Jessie Diggins (24:29.3), who won her fourth medal of the season (2-1-1). In the Freestyle Sprint, Kristine Skistad, 24, of Norway won her first career World Cup medal – a victory – in 3:01.97, just ahead of Swedes Emma Ribom (3:02.67) and Maja Dahlqvist (3:03.75). Julia Kern of the U.S. was fifth in 3:05.42.

Andersson won again on Sunday in the 20 km Classical Mass Start in 55:37.2, well ahead of Kerttu Niskanen – Iivo’s older sister – in 55:59.3 and Astrid Slind (NOR: 56:57.6). Diggins finished ninth in 57:57.1.

● Cycling ● Who is Marius Mayrhofer?

The 22-year-old German won his first career UCI World Tour race on Sunday in the eighth Cadel Evans Great Ocean Race in Geelong (AUS), winning the final mass sprint in 4:15:11, ahead of Hugo Page (FRA), Simon Clarke (AUS) and 22 others given the same time. Mayrhofer’s all-out sprint in the final 100 m brought him his career-best result.

In the sixth Cadel Evans Great Ocean Race for women on Saturday, the 140.8 km circuit that started and finished in Geelong (AUS) was won by perhaps another, new Dutch star in Loes Adegeest, 26, who won a final sprint against Australian star Amanda Spratt, the 2016 champion.

Both timed 3:52:47, with fellow Dutch rider Nina Buijsman third, four seconds back. Krista Doebel-Hickok was the top American, in ninth (also +0:04).

● Fencing ● The Epee elite were in Doha (QAT) for Grand Prix competition, with 2019 World Champion and Tokyo silver medalist Gergely Siklosi (HUN) getting his first career Grand Prix gold with a 15-10 win over Belgium’s Neisser Loyola, the 2022 Worlds bronze medalist.

The women’s gold went to Brazil’s 2019 World Champion, Nathalie Moellhausen, who defeated Marie-Florence Candassamy (FRA), 15-8, in the final. Candassamy won her first Grand Prix silver after three prior bronzes.

● Figure Skating ● The U.S. Figure Skating National Championships were on in San Jose, with the youth movement much in evidence thanks to teenagers Isabeau Levito and Ilya Malinin.

Levito, 15, the World Junior Champion in 2022, was third in her first senior-level Nationals in 2022 and moved up to the top of the podium, winning both the Short Program and Free Skate to total 223.33 points, well ahead of two-time national champ Bradie Tennell, 24, making a nice comeback from nagging foot injuries (213.12), and Amber Glenn (207.44).

Malinin, 18, nicknamed the “Quad King” for his jumping ability and being the first to complete a Quad Axel in international competition, won the Short Program at 110.36, ahead of two-time Olympian Jason Brown (age 28; 100.25). In the Free Skate, Malinin finished second to 21-year-old Andrew Torgashev, 177.78-177.38, but took the title at 287.74, ahead of Brown (277.31) and Torgashev (256.56). Malinin’s program included four quads – with one fall – but was enough to win.

Like Levito, Malinin moved up to the top of the podium just a year after a second-place finish at the 2022 Nationals and has a bright future ahead of him. Brown earned a top-three finish for the seventh time in the last 10 years, while Torgashev earned his first U.S. Nationals medal. 

In Pairs, World Champions Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier had a huge lead after the Short Program and won their second U.S. title together with a final total of 227.97, to 196.86 for Emily Chan and Spencer Howe, and 184.01 for Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea. For Knierim individually, this was her fifth U.S. title and third for Frazier, both having medaled with other partners. Chan and Howe, fourth last season, moved up to silver this time.

Three-time Worlds medal winners Madison Chock and Evan Bates won a U.S. Nationals medal for the 11th straight year (!) and their fourth U.S. title with a dominant performance in Ice Dance. Chock and Bates scored 229.75 to finish ahead of Caroline Green and Michael Parsons (207.46) – moving up from fourth the last two seasons – and Christina Carrera and Anthony Ponomarenko (198.45). Chock and Bates have now finished first or second in five straight American national championships.

● Football ● The U.S. men’s National Team finished its January camp program with a friendly against Colombia before a big crowd of 27,000 in Carson, California that finished 0-0.

Interim U.S. coach Anthony Hudson employed a more experienced lineup, with six players with 10 appearances or more and only two debutantes. The first half had a lot of movement and speed, but no goals, as Colombia had 54% of possession and a 9-3 edge on shots, but the U.S. actually had the better chances to score.

The second half was slower, with plenty of fouls and fewer strong chances, although a free kick from defender Kellyn Acosta right at the 90-minute mark almost connected with a run from substitute striker Brandon Vazquez at the right side of the Colombian goal. Colombia ended with 55% of possession and a 12-5 edge on shots, but did not place U.S. keeper Sean Johnson in serious danger.

The U.S. is now 3-13-5 all-time against Colombia, with its last win in 2005.

● Freestyle Skiing ● The Moguls stars were in Val Saint-Come (CAN), with home superstar Mikael Kingsbury getting his second win of the season – and 75th career World Cup gold – on Saturday, scoring 85.37 to 81.69 for Beijing 2022 gold medalist Walter Wallberg (SWE) and 81.36 for Japan’s bronze winner, Ikuma Horishima.

The men’s Dual Moguls on Sunday saw Wallberg get his first-ever World Cup victory, beating Kingsbury in the final. Fellow Swede Filip Gravenfors, 18, took the bronze for his second career World Cup medal.

Japan scored its first win of the season in women’s Moguls, as 18-year-old Anri Kawamura ended the three-event win streak of Olympic champ Jakara Anthony (AUS), 82.25 to 81.88. American Jaelin Kauf, the Beijing 2022 silver winner, was third at 78.34. It’s Kawamura’s fifth career World Cup gold!

On Sunday, Kawamura completed her sweep of the weekend, winning the final from three-time World Champion Perrine Laffont (FRA), with Britain’s Makayla Gerken Schofield taking the bronze for her first career World Cup medal.

● Judo ● The Grand Prix Portugal in Almada drew a huge field of 544 judoka, with Korea taking four golds to lead the medal table.

The victories came from Joon-hwan Lee (81 kg) and Min-jong Kim (+100 kg) in the men’s classes and Mimi Huh (57 kg) and Hayun Kim (+78 kg) for the women.

Two-time Worlds medal winner Barbara Timo was one of two gold medalists for Portugal, as she won the women’s 63 kg class; Patricia Sampaio won the women’s 78 kg division. Uzbekistan also had two men’s class victors in Mukhriddin Tilovov (66 kg) and Obidkhon Nomonov (73 kg).

● Nordic Combined ● The 10th Seefeld Triple was on in Germany, with jumping off the 109 m hill and 7.5 km, 10 km and 12.5 km races to follow.

Seasonal leader Jarl Magnus Riiber (NOR) was shut out of the medals on the weekend, with countryman Jens Oftebro taking the 7.5 km final in 18:33.7 with Austria’s Johannes Lamparter second (18.41.8) and Julian Schmid (GER: 18:47.8) third and Riiber fourth. In the 10 km final, it was 2021 World Champion Lamparter with his fourth win of the season in 25:19.2, ahead of Beijing Olympic champ Vinzenz Geiger (GER: 25:39.2) and Simon (25:41.9).

And Lamparter took Sunday’s win over 12.5 km in 30:26.4, to 30:42.9 for Schmid and 30:43.8 for Oftebro. Lamparter took the seasonal lead, with 895 points to 794 for Schmid and 764 for Oftebro, as Riiber fell back to fourth.

The women’s competition had two events, both of 5 km after the jumping, with Norwegian star Gyda Westvold Hansen continuing her perfect season with her seventh win in a row (in seven events!) and 14th in the last 15 World Cups, across two seasons. Neither was close, with Westvold Hansen winning, 14:47.3 to 15:13,0 over Natalie Armbruster (GER) on Friday and 14:58.6 to 15:34.5 ahead of Annika Sieff (ITA) on Saturday, with Armbruster third (15:34.6).

● Rugby Sevens ● The fifth HSBC Sevens Series tournament for men and fourth for women was in Sydney (AUS), with an emphatic double win for New Zealand.

In the men’s event, the All Blacks were 2-1 in pool play, but then won their quarterfinal, 12-0, over Samoa, 36-5 over France in their semi and 38-0 in the final against South Africa! Fiji defeated France, 29-5, in the third-place match. Wow!

New Zealand leads the men’s seasonal standings with 85 points, following finishes of 3-2-2-1 in their last five tournaments. South Africa is second at 76, followed by Samoa and France (68).

The New Zealand women – the Black Ferns – were even more dominant, winning all three pool matches and then storming through the playoffs by scores of 33-0 over Japan, 41-0 over Ireland and 35-0 in the final against France! Yikes!

The U.S. women lost to France in their semi, then won the third-place match, 12-5, over Ireland.

In four tournaments this season, the Black Ferns have finished 2-1-1-1 and lead with 78 points to 66 for Australia and the U.S.

● Ski Jumping ● The men moved to the giant, ski-flying hill at Kulm Mitterndorf in Austria – 235 m – for two events, with seasonal leader Halvor Egner Granerud (NOR) getting his sixth win of the season, 440.7 to 431.9 for three-time World Champion Stefan Kraft (AUT) and 425.4 for Domen Prevc (SLO).

Granerud doubles up on Sunday, winning with 455.5 points to 451.4 for Timi Zajc (SLO) and 446.4 for Kraft. It’s Granerud’s seventh win this season, out of 18 competitions held so far.

The women’s jumping was off the 111 m hill in Hinterzarten (GER), with home favorite and two-time Olympic silver winner Katharina Althaus taking the first event, 258.8 to 237.6 over Ema Klinec (SLO).

Norway’s Anna Stroem won on Sunday, scoring 254.7 for her second career World Cup win – both this season – with Klinec second (249.5) and seasonal leader Eva Pinkelnig (AUT: 244.7) third.

● Snowboard ● The last Parallel events prior to the World Championships in February were at Blue Mountain in Canada, with Giant Slaloms on Thursday and Friday. Austria’s Benjamin Karl, the Beijing 2022 gold medalist, got his first win of the season, beating Sang-ho Lee (KOR) and Pole Oskar Kwiatkowski in the first race. Kwiatkowski moved up to gold on Friday, ahead of Austrian Alexander Payer – who took the seasonal lead with the silver – and Italy’s 2015 World Champion Ronald Fischnaller on Saturday.

Swiss Ladina Jenny, the 2019 Worlds bronze winner, got her first win of the season in Thursday’s race, beating Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) and Sabine Schoeffmann (AUT) to the line. Germany’s 2021 Worlds silver winner Ramona Theresia Hofmeister won the second race over Swiss star Julie Zogg and Austria’s Daniela Ulbing.

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MILLER TIME: Russia’s Demonology

By
David Miller
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/It’s a pleasure to present this guest column by one of the most knowledgeable observers of the Olympic Movement, Britain’s David Miller. For more than 50 years, the former English footballer has covered the Olympic Games and the sports within it, including 15 years as the Chief Sports Correspondent of The Times of London, with stints at the Daily Express and the Daily Telegraph. Author of books on athletics, football and the Olympics, he was Official Historian of the IOC from 1997-2018. His opinions are, of course, his own alone./

First, swallow hard. With constitutional, fine intent yet agonisingly misguided concept, the International Olympic Committee – unique global institution purporting to uphold sporting and social honour – is alarmingly blind to Russia’s magnification of Adolf Hitler‘s abominable Krystallnacht of November 1938: a comprehensive blitz of entire Jewish business premises across Germany and Austria.

Ironically coinciding with the Holocaust anniversary, the IOC has reaffirmed its wish to ‘explore’ administrative loopholes for qualification acceptance of Russia/Belarus athletes for next year’s Olympic Games in Paris. Arithmetically, Ukraine civilian casualties – murdered, tortured, impoverished – will not equate with six million or more Jews, but maybe, say, one thousand deceased for every freestyle swimmer or boxer ‘welcomed’ in Paris. Fair deal? The risk of moral surrender which the IOC does not seem ready to address is not an historic insult to every living Ukrainian willing to risk life in defence of sovereignty, but the global political danger for neighbouring democratic nations. There is evidence, across centuries, of Russia’s empire ambitions, initiated by Peter the Great, which Vladimir Putin is on record for ambition to restore.

The Ukraine atrocity has not merely crushed retail businesses, but schools, hospitals, power generators, railway stations, wholesale civic construction … and countless women and children. Acceptable part-exchange for a Russian bronze medal?

The IOC’s alleged social principle – based on the convenient camouflaged proposal from the Olympic Council of Asia – that athletes innocent of support for an invasion should not be held accountable and barred from the Olympics (an experience of IOC President Thomas Bach when denied defence of his 1976 Olympic fencing title at Moscow ’80 by West Germany’s affiliation to the USA boycott) is in this case an additional reason for exclusion, rather than inclusion. Under prohibitive Russian law, protest against fake political propaganda risks imprisonment or even execution. Russia is not a free country.

The integrity of individual athletes which the IOC seeks to uphold is itself an issue which needs repetitive attention: not least in the matter of doping infringements incurred by juniors under direction of adult coaches and/or doctors.

Face the facts. While there are many honourable legitimate Russian athletes and administrators, many of whom I’ve known over six decades, the national concept that sporting achievement is a functional objective of state administration is a long-established principle since before Joseph Stalin. You cannot be buddies with war criminals.

Way beyond the IOC’s constitutional power – in the wake of Ukraine’s minister of sport requesting French Premier Emmanuel Macron to ensure Russia/Belarus exclusion from the Paris Games – it has stated: “Governments must have no control over Olympic qualification”. The IOC controls a Games, not governments. Was the Olympic eligibility for Athens ’04 of the United States and Great Britain held in question over the regime change invasion of Saddam’s Iraq? The IOC treads a near impossible path in handling mega political powers; the only absolute non-negotiable power of Lausanne is who runs in the race.

The fringe, supportive organisation Athletes of Ukraine has claimed the IOC is in breach of the Olympic Charter in seeking Russia/Belarus inclusion, especially in the light of Russian NOC President Stanislav Pozdnyakov claiming Olympic athletes should be honoured to fight in the invasion. AOU states: “The IOC is on the wrong side of history… its objective being to promote sport for the harmonious development of human kind… the Russian team is part of the Russian state and athletes are not politically free.”

Comments are welcome here and or direct to David Miller here.

TSX REPORT: IOC confirms search for Russian war non-supporter re-entry; idea called “unacceptable” in Russia; Paris ‘24 sponsor sales advancing

By
Rich Perelman
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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. IOC confirms Russian re-entry pathway being “explored”
2. Russia slams IOC’s ideas for re-entry: “unacceptable”
3. Paris 2024 close to sponsorship goal, starts charity ticket program
4. U.S. men’s youth movement falls to Serbia, 2-1, in friendly
5. World Athletics calls for new – paid – content creators!

The International Olympic Committee posted a statement confirming its discussions with other Olympic stakeholders about a pathway to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete internationally again … if they do not support the Russian war against Ukraine. Nothing is decided yet, but the conditions proposed were rejected by Russian sports and political leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked French President Emmanuel Macron not to allow Russian athletes at Paris 2024. The Paris 2024 organizers held a news conference Wednesday, noting that their domestic sponsorship program has surpassed its original goal and will be more than 90% of the new, higher goal by the end of this year. A new program to collect an optional €2 donation from ticket buyers will allow Olympic and Paralympic tickets to be given to low-income area residents who would otherwise not be able to attend the Games. The U.S. men’s National Team played its first match since the 2022 FIFA World Cup, losing to Serbia, 2-1, in a friendly in Los Angeles that featured eight American players making their national-team debuts. World Athletics announced a fresh program to recruit content creators for Instagram, Tik Tok and YouTube – who will be paid! – and could end up joining the World Athletics social-media team at this summer’s World Championships in Budapest.

1.
IOC confirms Russian re-entry pathway being “explored”

“A pathway for athletes’ participation in competition under strict conditions should therefore be further explored.”

The International Olympic Committee Executive Board released a lengthy statement on Wednesday, confirming its discussions last week with other IOC members, International Federations, National Olympic Committees and athlete representatives concerning the continuing sanctions against Russia and Belarus.

After the usual recitals of support for Ukraine and a ban on events being organized in either country, no identification of either country at any event and no access for any state officials, then, “the vast majority of the participants in each of the consultation calls” agreed with six points, which included:

● “No athlete should be prevented from competing just because of their passport.

● “A pathway for athletes’ participation in competition under strict conditions should therefore be further explored.

● “Such strict conditions being:

“(i) athletes would participate in competitions as ‘neutral athletes’ and in no way represent their state or any other organisation in their country, as is already happening in professional leagues, particularly in Europe, the United States and Canada, and in some individual professional sports.

“(ii) only athletes who fully respect the Olympic Charter would participate. This means in particular: first, only those who have not acted against the peace mission of the IOC by actively supporting the war in Ukraine could compete. Second, only athletes who fully comply with the World Anti-Doping Code and all relevant anti-doping rules and regulations would be eligible. There must be individual checks carried out for all entered athletes.

● “In the event of any athlete failing to respect the eligibility criteria or failing to respect the strict participation conditions as set out above, the IF and/or the sports event organiser concerned should immediately remove them from the competition, suspend them from further competitions and report the incident to the IOC for its consideration for further measures and sanctions.”

Further, the statement expressly noted that the majority agreed to continue “the exploration of the above-mentioned concept by way of bilateral consultation, with each International Federation being the sole authority for its international competitions.”

This last point is critical, as some federations – World Athletics in the forefront – have had Russia on suspension since 2015, when the state-sponsored doping scandal erupted – and has been very careful to have its own standards met for reinstatement.

The statement then went on to quote supportive comments from the United Nations, a reflex especially favored by IOC President Thomas Bach (GER).

So, for now, nothing is going to happen right away and the IOC will continue to try to figure out a way to accommodate its passion of bringing the world together through sport, even during wartime.

Observed: The statement importantly thanked the offer of the Olympic Council of Asia to grant access to its competitions, but did not accept it.

Otherwise, the IOC is following up its Olympic Summit declaration from last December, along the lines suggested previously by Bach earlier in 2022. But there are considerable risks:

● The IOC’s position that re-entry should be possible for Russian and Belarusian athletes who are not “actively supporting the war in Ukraine could compete,” could create a terrible dilemma for athletes in both countries.

How is an athlete supposed to apply for such re-entry and now risk arrest or imprisonment or worse from his or her own national government? Neither the Russian or Belarusian governments would look favorably on such a declaration, and said so on Wednesday.

● The IOC’s position that not allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete “based on their passport” is discriminatory appears to be nonsense, as nearly all such athletes are state-sponsored or even government employees in the guise of being in the civil service or the armed forces. How can the IOC say “No Russian and Belarusian Government or State official should be invited to or accredited for any international sports event or meeting” and allow athletes who are essentially (if not actually) state employees, to compete?

● The continued use of United Nations references and statements as mandatory guideposts is, in itself, a violation of the Olympic Charter in that the IOC is ceding its autonomy to another body and allowing its edicts to interfere with its independence.

It’s a cafeteria-style attempt to take the proof quotes it likes and use them in support of a position which is in conflict with some of the IOC’s own precedents. Russian politicians regularly point out that Yugoslav athletes were allowed to compete in the 1992 Barcelona Games after its civil wars began in 1991 and the country broke apart.

True, although they were under U.N. sanctions and competed as individuals and not for their “new” countries. But it is also true that Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary and the Ottoman Empire were banned by the IOC from the 1920 Antwerp Games on account of World War I, and Germany and Japan were banned by the IOC from the 1948 London Games after World War II. South Africa was banned by the IOC due to its apartheid policies from 1964-88, in violation of the Olympic Charter (among other things), and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) was held out of the Games in 1968-72-76 for its internal political situation. Is the slaughter of innocent Ukrainians and the collapse of its home sports infrastructure in an unprovoked territorial aggression any less brutal – even if not on the same scale (yet) – than these IOC precedents?

In fact, the IOC already has the tools it needs to accommodate Russian and Belarusian athletes ready to recuse themselves from their governments: the Olympic Refugee Team. Created under Bach’s leadership for the Rio 2016 Games, its mission is to support who are displaced from their native lands, exactly as those Russians and Belarusians who repudiate their government’s position on the war against Ukraine will be.

Perfect.

2.
Russia slams IOC’s ideas for re-entry: “unacceptable”

There was no shortage of unhappy Russian reactions to the IOC’s statement, starting with Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin:

“The IOC, in its decision, speaks about the possibility of admitting athletes, demonstrating the political flexibility of its position. At the same time, we consider it unacceptable to determine special conditions for participation for athletes that are inconsistent with the Olympic Charter, the principles of equality and fairness. No policy can and should not interfere in sports, there is no place for speculation about the [‘special military operation’ in Ukraine].

“It is an honor and pride for our athletes to play for their Motherland, it has always been so. The main task of the state is to provide the necessary conditions for the training and competitive processes of athletes, to form the ideology of pure peacekeeping sports; external pressure has given us another opportunity to evaluate our own resources and to do everything possible to strengthen the national system of sports.”

Russian Olympic Committee President Stanislav Pozdnyakov wrote on his Telegram page:

“Today’s statement is an attempt to correct a mistake that has already resulted in groundless restrictions for Russian and Belarusian sports for almost a year and caused great damage to all international sports. The voice of common sense was heard. However, at the same time, we still categorically refuse to agree with any restrictions, additional requirements and sanctions that relate to the nationality of our athletes and are again offered to us as a condition for returning to the international arena.

“Now we will make an appropriate legal assessment of the theses that are set out in today’s information. Based on legal expertise, we will build further interaction with international sports organizations and federations. The priority for us is the same – ensuring the rights and interests of our athletes. On an equal footing, without discrimination.”

Dmitry Svishchev, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports, told the Russian news agency TASS:

“On the one hand, we can take positively the IOC’s movement towards the admission of athletes. This decision is long overdue, although our sport has suffered some damage because of the politicized recommendations previously made by the International Olympic Committee.

“But at the same time they propose to check every athlete, they deprive them of their national identity. On the one hand, the IOC declares unacceptability of discrimination based on nationality, but offers to check every athlete, depriving Russian athletes of the flag and anthem.”

Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said:

“I consider it impossible to comment before consideration. We need to see what will be adopted. So far, one thing is striking – even in the wording of the initiative there is too much politics, which should be alien to the ideas of the Olympic Family.”

Svetlana Zhurova, now a State Duma member, but also the Turin 2006 gold medalist in the women’s 500 m in speed skating, told TASS:

“We don’t know the criteria that will be presented to athletes. First they will say one thing, then they will tell them to sign a paper that they are against it. And how will our fans look at those who go to the competition? The IOC is trying to divide us with ambiguous criteria.

“It was also with our athletes before the 2018 [Winter] Olympics in South Korea. They either allow or they don’t. [Speed skater] Viktor Ahn still doesn’t understand why he wasn’t allowed to compete then.”

(Ahn was refused entry into the 2018 Winter Games over the continuing doping concerns in Russia.)

For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky chimed in Tuesday about Russians and Paris 2024. France 24 reported:

“Russian athletes should have ‘no place’ at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday as his country marked 11 months of war.

“‘I particularly emphasized that athletes from Russia should have no place at the Olympic Games in Paris,’ Zelensky wrote on Telegram following a telephone call with Macron.”

3.
Paris 2024 close to sponsorship goal; starts charity ticket program

In a “state of the Games” news conference on Wednesday, the Paris 2024 organizers noted the success of the domestic marketing program, which is expected to close in on its expanded goal by the end of 2023.

The original domestic sponsorship target was €1.1 billion (about $1.20 billion U.S.), but this was increased late last year to €1.226 billion (~$1.34 billion). Now, a total of €1.127 billion (~$1.23 billion or 92%) is expected to be raised by the end of this year, with additional opportunities to be sought in 2024 as well.

In terms of ticket sales, for which the process is just beginning, the organizers explained that 2.5 million accounts had been created by potential ticket buyers, with 10 million tickets to be available for the Olympic Games and 3.5 million for the Paralympics. Also:

● About 45,000 volunteers are expected to be used for the Games, with 10,000 of these coming from the national federations.

● Supplier contracts are expected to total €2.5 billion (~$2.73 billion U.S.), to about 1,634 vendors, 90% of whom will be from France and 85% from the Ile-de-France region.

● From July through September 2023, 17 test events are expected to take place, only three of which will be full competitions. Nine will be “operational tests” carried out by Paris 2024 and five will be events held by International Federations.

Paris 2024 also announced a program to collect funds from ticket buyers to provide tickets for those who would not otherwise be able to attend:

“Every purchaser will be invited to make a fixed donation of €2 when they pay for their tickets. The money donated will be used to pay for the tickets and travel costs of the scheme’s beneficiaries.

“The funds collected will be given to the French charity ‘Secours populaire’, which has had close links with sport and experience of charitable ticketing programmes over many years. ‘Secours populaire’ widens access to sport by covering the cost of annual registration fees, sports equipment, swimming lessons and sports holidays. It also enables thousands of people to attend major sports events, giving them the chance to make lifelong memories and discover new passions and vocations.”

Paris 2024 has already committed to providing 100,000 tickets for “disadvantaged members of society” and up to one million tickets will be made available for local authorities of areas with Paris 2024 venues to be linked to social projects.

Said three-time Olympic canoe slalom gold medalist Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024: “We want as many people as possible to be able to experience the Games and to feel the emotions and sense of togetherness that they bring. To achieve this goal, Paris 2024 has launched a number of initiatives to enable people living in low-income households, who are often excluded from major sports events, to attend the Paris 2024 Games in person.”

The first sales of ticket “packs” will begin on 15 February.

4.
U.S. men’s youth movement falls to Serbia, 2-1, in friendly

The first match by a U.S. men’s National Team since the FIFA World Cup in Qatar came Wednesday night in Los Angeles with a 46th-minute goal giving Serbia a 2-1 win in a friendly at the BMO Stadium in Exposition Park.

These were two young teams, with no club call-ups, that bore little resemblance to their World Cup teams of last November; the U.S. started eight players in their first national-team appearance and two more enjoying their second. But there was lots of speed and aggressiveness, that made for an entertaining game and a look at the future rosters of both countries.

The first half was a back-and-forth, attack and counter-attack affair, with both sides getting good chances, but failing to score early. U.S. keeper Gaga Slonina – at 18 years old, the youngest ever to start in goal for the American men – had to make an early save in the fourth minute off of Nemanja Stojic, but then the U.S. attack took hold. Serbian keeper Dorde Petrovic was under pressure from Brandon Vazquez, Cade Cowell and Aidan Morris, and then Vazquez – in his first match for the national team – scored a brilliant goal in the 29th, heading in a cross from the far right side from Julian Gressel for a 1-0 lead.

Slonina was quickly under attack in the U.S. goal and made a brilliant, back-to-back save in the 31st and another in the 36th. Serbia evened the match when Luka Ilic sent a free kick through the U.S. wall and right into the net in the 43rd minute. The half ended tied, with the U.S. enjoying 56% of possession and an 8-7 edge on shots.

Serbia struck right away in the second half, as striker Veljko Simic took charge of a loose ball above the box and raced toward the U.S. goal, sending a right-footed rocket past Slonina for a 2-1 lead in the 46th. Another Serbian score in the 51st minute was called offside as the U.S. defense looked shaky, but then Cowell hit the post twice inside of a minute in the 56th and just missed a goal in the 59th as the American offense came to life.

But the game became more static as the Serbs backed in the defense, and substitute keeper Dragan Rosic saved a 79th-minute attempt from U.S. sub striker Paul Arriola that was the best American chance in the final 30 minutes. The U.S. fell to 0-3-1 against Serbia all-time, even with 62% of possession and a 20-10 advantage on shots.

The U.S. will finish its January camp program on Saturday (28th) with a match against Colombia in Carson, California.

5.
World Athletics calls for new – paid – content creators!

Now this is pretty wild and could be a road to places where track & field hasn’t been yet. On Tuesday, World Athletics posted:

“World Athletics is looking for talented and enthusiastic individuals to create TikTok, YouTube and Instagram content for its platforms. We’re seeking out of the box ideas – unlike anything you’ve seen on World Athletics channels before – from creatives, presenters, editors, videographers, stats geeks, pundits, designers and more.”

Although no numbers were shown, the bottom line – yes, literally the last lines of the announcement – stated:

“This is a paid programme*

“*Depending on the proposal. Creators will be paid based on whether it’s a one-off piece of content or a series. Subject to contract between World Athletics and the selected creators.”

Now you know it’s serious. Some of the types of content that could be interesting were listed, including but not limited to:

“● Competition hype videos
“● Talking heads
“● Opinion pieces
“● Competition reviews
“● Athlete fan-cams
“● Memes
“● Statistical analysis”

In addition to money, it is also possible for one or more of those chosen to work with the World Athletics social-media team at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest this summer.

The post included a short hype video from world-record holders Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA) and Mondo Duplantis (SWE) and World 200 m champ Noah Lyles (USA).

In the new BCW rankings of Olympic-sport social-media followers across six top platforms in 2022, World Athletics ranked fourth at 9,975,413, up 23% from its totals in 2021. This might be a way to move up.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Handball ● The semifinals are now set for the IHF men’s World Championship being held in Sweden and Poland, with Spain to meet defending champs Denmark in Gdansk on Friday and France to play host Sweden the same day in Stockholm.

In Wednesday’s quarterfinals, Denmark hammered Hungary, 40-23, in Stockholm, with Mathias Gidsel getting nine goals for the winners and moving up to fourth in the tournament scoring rankings (and is the only one of the top four still playing).

Spain needed extra time to edge Norway, 35-34, in a game that required two extra periods. Tied at 25 at the end of regulation, the first overtime ended 4-4, with Spain winning, 6-5, in the second. Kristian Bjornsen had nine scores for Norway, but it wasn’t enough; Angel Fernandez Perez led Spain with eight.

Sweden controlled its game with Egypt, taking a 14-9 halftime lead on the way to a 26-22 win, led by Niclas Ekberg with six goals. A big crowd of 16,215 came to the Tele2 Arena in Stockholm to cheer the home team.

The final semifinal spot went to France in a 35-28 victory over Germany in Gdansk. The French won the second half by 19-12 after a 16-all tie at halftime; Ludovic Fabregas and Nedim Remili both had five goals for France.

Amazingly, these are the exact same semifinals as at the 2021 IHF Worlds, held in Egypt! Denmark edged Spain, 35-33, and Sweden beat France, 32-26, to meet in the final, won by the Danes for their second straight title, 26-24.

● Hockey ● Germany and the Netherlands advanced to the semifinals of the FIH men’s World Cup in Bhubaneswar (IND), to meet Australia and Belgium on the 27th (Friday).

The Dutch, who lost to Belgium in a penalty shoot-out in the 2018 World Cup championship match, qualified for their fourth straight semifinal appearance with a convincing, 5-1 win over South Korea, breaking open a 1-0 game at half with three goals in the third period for a 4-0 lead and cruising in.

The Germans, winners in 2002-06 and runners-up in 2010, got back to the semis only via a penalty shoot-out against England, winning 4-3 after a 2-2 game at the end of regulation time. The Germans converted all four shots in the shoot-out, by Niklas Wellen, Hannes Mueller, Thies Prinz and Jan Ruhr to advance.

The last six World Cups have been won by the semifinalists: Netherlands in 1998, Germany in 2002-06, Australia in 2010-14 and Belgium in 2018. The most impressive streak belongs to Australia, which made the semis for the 12th straight time, dating back to 1978!

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Athletics ● If there is a poster girl for the impact that Russia’s 2011-15 doping scheme and its war in Ukraine has had, it might be high jumper Mariya Lasitskene.

Now 30, she was the Tokyo Olympic champ in 2021 and won World Championships golds in 2015-17-19. But she has also has had to sit out the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, the World Championships and European Championships in 2022 and the Diamond League circuit.

She jumped 1.96 m (6-5) on Wednesday to win the Russian University title in Moscow, then told reporters:

“My long-term experience of communicating with World Athletics says that you don’t need to set yourself up for a certain date now.

“I just set myself up for what I should do to do my best and be ready for any moment to return. If I determine for myself the date of an approximate return, then this will not make it easier for me.”

Asked if she is following the results of other star jumpers:

“I don’t follow. I didn’t even know what the best result of the season in the world was until I heard what the announcer said at the tournament in Chelyabinsk. I take care of myself, my results. I go from myself.”

Her 1.96 m clearance ranks her equal-third on the 2023 indoor world list, topped by Ukrainian star Yaroslava Mahuchikh at 2.00 m (6-6 3/4). Lasitskene ranks no. 5 all-time with her 2017 personal best of 2.06 m (6-9) outdoors.

● Beach Volleyball ● The World Beach Pro Tour Finals will be held in Doha (QAT) this weekend, with a unique trophy to be awarded, that extends the recycling theme that was jump-started at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

There, the medals were principally made from materials recycled from discarded mobile phones, tablets and computers, and the awards podiums from 24.5 tons of recycled plastic.

The Beach Pro Tour trophies are also made from recycled plastics collected from beaches worldwide; according to the FIVB:

“The trophy is designed by The New Raw, a [Dutch] design firm that specialises in transforming plastic waste into meaningful products that are 100 per cent circular. Representing the dynamic nature of volleyball, the trophy is sculpted with flowing curves and a sense of movement. The colour scheme represents the natural elements of the sport the sand and sea.”

● Figure Skating ● The U.S. Figure Skating Championships are ongoing in San Jose, California, with cable television coverage starting on Thursday with the Rhythm Dance on USA Network at 7 p.m. Eastern time and the women’s Short Program at 10 p.m.

On Friday, USA will have the men’s Short Program at 5 p.m. and NBC will carry the women’s Short Program at 8 p.m. Saturday has NBC showing the Free Dance at 2:30 p.m. and USA showing the Pairs Free Skate at 8 p.m. On Sunday, the men’s Free Skate will be on NBC starting at 3 p.m.

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TSX REPORT: IOC actively discussing Russian re-entry through Asia; new issues for Russia for WADA reinstatement; FIFA has 51.4 million social followers!

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

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

★ Beautiful! Thanks to our 21 donors, who have covered 49% of our technical expenses for the first half of 2023. Please consider a donation. Thank you in advance. ★

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

+ Shiffrin gets no. 84 with Giant Slalom win in Kronplatz!
1. Russian sport re-entry through Asia in active discussion
2. UEFA and Russian Football Union to continue reintegration talks
3. New issues on Russian compliance with World Anti-Doping Code
4. FIFA leads Olympic sports in BCW’s 2022 social-media rankings
5. Ukraine wins Winter WUG Fair Play Award

Russia, Russia, Russia. Following up on December’s Olympic Summit in Switzerland, discussions are now underway with the International Olympic Committee, summer-sport International Federations and National Olympic Committees about a “pathway” to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in Paris 2024 qualifying events in Asia, rather than Europe, despite the fact that such a process will displace Asian athletes from the Games! A meeting between the Russian Football Union and UEFA in Switzerland on Tuesday about a Russian return to European competition produced no breakthroughs, but the sides agreed to meet again in February. Even though the sanctions against the Russian Anti-Doping Agency imposed by the World Anti-Doping Agency have been concluded, RUSADA has not been reinstated yet and is again threatened with non-compliance over a Russian law which does not line up with the World Anti-Doping Code. It’s a problem. The newest edition of the BCW sports social-media rankings for 2022 show FIFA continuing as the leader among Olympic sports at 51.4 million combined across six popular platforms, but the International Cricket Council is no. 1 overall at 92.2 million! The International Committee for Fair Play, in concert with the International University Sports Federation (FISU) selected the 58-athlete Ukraine delegation as the winner of the Fair Play Award at the Winter World University Games in Lake Placid (USA) for its perseverance in even getting to the event, and then winning six medals.

BULLETIN:
Shiffrin gets no. 84 with second Kronplatz win!

There’s no stopping American skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin, who won again in Kronplatz (ITA) with her 19th career Giant Slalom victory (and 84th career World Cup gold) on Wednesday.

Shiffrin stormed to the lead in the first run, finishing in 1:00.56, 0.51 up on Sara Hector (SWE), then came back in 1:02.72, third-fastest on the second run for a total of 2:03.28, a hefty 0.82 margin over Ragnhild Mowinckel (NOR: 2:04.10), with Hector third (2:04.47). It was a good day for the U.S., with Paula Moltzan seventh (2:05.25) and Nina O’Brien in 10th (2:05.48).

Shiffrin’s quest to tie Sweden’s Ingemar Stenmark for the most World Cup wins in history this weekend – 86 – continues on 28-29 January with Slaloms – her best event – at Spindleruv Mlyn (CZE). Wow.

1.
Russian sport re-entry through Asia in active discussion

At the 11th Olympic Summit, held in Lausanne, Switzerland on 9 December, the published declaration noted a startling option for the re-entry of Russian and Belarusian athletes to competition in Asia, to allow qualification for the Paris 2024 Games:

“In the course of the debate, [Randhir Singh of India] the Acting President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) stated that, on the Asian continent, the reasons for the protective measures no longer exist. The OCA offered to facilitate the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in competitions in Asia under its authority, while respecting the sanctions in place.”

This led to the following action item:

“The IOC to lead the further exploration of the OCA initiative concerning the participation of athletes who are in full respect of the Olympic Charter and the sanctions. This initiative to be discussed in the next round of IOC consultation calls with the IOC Members, the athletes’ representatives, the International Federations and the National Olympic Committees.”

Those discussions are underway. Last week, a series of online meetings were held, led by the International Olympic Committee, including President Thomas Bach (GER), and groups that included the International Federations for summer Olympic sports, and National Olympic Committees. The IOC Athletes’ Commission was also heard on the question of a pathway toward allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in Paris 2024 qualifying events in Asia, which will ramp up in the spring.

This is only about Paris 2024, and while there was what was characterized as “overwhelming support” on the calls last week, they were not unanimous.

Not only were there objections from organizations which have their own ideas about Russian and Belarusian participation – whether in Asian qualifiers or elsewhere – but observers are questioning whether these discussions are being appropriately shared with athletes from Olympic Council of Asia member federations who would potentially be displaced by Russians and Belarusians from participating at Paris in 2024.

It is not hard to see how Russian athletes, especially, would keep dozens of Asian athletes home in individual sports such as aquatics, fencing, gymnastics, wrestling and others, where Russians are strong medal contenders at the Olympic level.

Having Russia participate in Asian qualifiers would solve the problem of having to potentially face Ukrainians, or other European countries which are aiding it – such as Poland – against the Russian invasion now coming up to a one-year anniversary.

But what about those Asian athletes and teams – in basketball, football, handball, volleyball, and water polo, for example – who will have to stay home in 2024 instead of qualifying to go to Paris, and see their spots taken by Russia or Belarus?

The body which should be the most concerned about this is the Olympic Council of Asia, the regional confederation which volunteered to look into hosting Russian and Belarusian athletes in the first place!

It is currently led by Singh, who took over as Acting President after the resignation of Kuwait’s Sheikh Ahmed Al-Sabah in 2021, following his conviction for fraud in Switzerland, which is currently on appeal. Sheikh Ahmed’s 2019 term will expire this year and a new President will be elected.

Further, the first OCA Athletes Forum since 2018 will be held from 18-19 March in Bangkok (THA), against a possible backdrop of Russian and Belarusian athletes coming to compete against them in Paris 2024 qualifying events later in the year.

It will be fascinating to see what their opinion of Russian and Belarusian participation will be.

2.
UEFA and Russian Football Union to continue reintegration talks

One Russian national federation which has considered participation in Asia and rejected it is the Russian Football Union. Its governing board voted to seek reintegration into European (UEFA) soccer, where it has played for decades.

A meeting between UEFA and the RFU was held on Tuesday at the UEFA office in Nyon (SUI), with the RFU posting a statement that included:

“The key issue on the meeting’s agenda was the return of the Russian national teams and clubs to international tournaments.”

“Both sides have come to the terms of their further interaction and agreed to maintain contact. The next face-to-face meeting between the RFU and UEFA is scheduled for February.”

Both UEFA and FIFA barred Russian participation in international competitions on 28 February, four days after the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The UEFA Executive Committee will meet on Wednesday (25th), although the Russian situation is not specifically listed for discussion.

3.
New issues on Russian compliance with World Anti-Doping Code

The sanctions imposed on the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA), as modified by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, ended with the close of the calendar year 2022.

But RUSADA has not been reinstated. And now there is a new issue.

Near the end of 2022, World Anti-Doping Agency President Witold Banka (POL) made it clear that while the sanctions on RUSADA would end with the start of 2023, the Russian agency still needed to be compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code in order to be in reinstated.

That hasn’t happened, as WADA informed RUSADA in September that – according to a report from the Russian news agency TASS – “the Russian federal law ‘On Physical Culture and Sport’ had not been amended to comply with the new WADA Code.”

The RUSADA Director General, Veronika Loginova, told the State Duma:

“It’s very important for us, the sanctions that were in effect are gone. But since there is a discrepancy, unfortunately, it can lead to new consequences. We haven’t been reinstated yet, and RUSADA doesn’t agree with the WADA position; we told them about it. There was a deadline of January 7; this comment [about the law] prevented us from meeting all the requirements for the audit.”

“We sent a letter of disagreement, and WADA considered our complaint. WADA supported the audit, which is a critical requirement. The new dispute with the compliance committee will not take place until March. And the Court of Arbitration for Sport is the last instance. The CAS issue will take about a year. The question of our reinstatement, I think, can be considered [to take] at least half a year.”

Deputy Sports Minister Andrey Fyodorov told the Duma:

“The Russian Sports Ministry views Banka’s statements regarding RUSADA as discriminatory. RUSADA has no influence whatsoever over the national legislation’s amendments.”

Nevertheless, RUSADA remains suspended.

4.
FIFA leads Olympic sports in BCW’s 2022 social-media rankings

The annual social-media rankings compiled by the worldwide communications agency Burson Cohn & Wolfe (BCW) showed FIFA once again leading all Olympic-sport federations by an enormous margin.

The rankings measured followers across six major platforms – lnstagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok and YouTube – with FIFA seeing a 25% increase to 51,433,519. The top 10:

1. 51,433,519: FIFA (up 25% over 2021)
2. 15,545,303: International Basketball Federation (+12%)
3. 12,459,334: Volleyball World (+35%)
4. 9,975,413: World Athletics (+23%)
5. 7,726,078: World Rugby (+17%)
6. 6,186,323: Badminton World Federation (+20%)
7. 4,321,373: Union Cycliste Internationale (+14%)
8. 2,834,401: World Table Tennis (+18%)
9. 2,735,097: International Judo Federation (+31%)
10. 2,697,755: United World Wrestling (+27%)

Among the non-Olympic sports, the International Cricket Council saw its followings grow to 92,211,411, way ahead of everyone else. Next was the FIS (automobile) at 3,714,819.

What’s the ICC’s secret? In part, it’s frequency, as the federation was the most active on several platforms:

● 30.57 posts per day on Facebook (no. 1)
● 28.00 posts per day on Twitter (no. 1)
● 10.04 posts per day on Instagram (no. 1)

Cricket was the audience leader on Facebook (37.04 million) and Instagram (25.64 million); FIFA led on Twitter (26.67 million) and YouTube (18.50 million).

5.
Ukraine wins Winter WUG Fair Play Award

The remarkable odyssey of the 58-athlete Ukrainian delegation to Lake Placid, New York for the 2023 Winter World University Games was acknowledged by the International University Sports Federation (FISU) and the International Fair Play Committee with the Fair Play Award:

“The award was given to Ukraine for the courageous participation of its team of athletes and officials in the Lake Placid 2023 FISU Games Winter, under the difficult current circumstances. With the war raging in their country, most of Ukrainian athletes have faced enormous difficulties to train, compete, prepare and travel.

“Still, Ukraine has managed to come in Lake Placid with a strong delegation, which won six medals (gold in snowboard men’s Parallel Giant Slalom with Mykhailo Kharuk, who also won bronze in Parallel slalom, silver in biathlon single mixed relay and bronze in Nordic Combined men’s team Sprint, biathlon men’s 12.5 km Pursuit with Dmytrii Hruschak and Snowboard women’s parallel slalom with Nadiia Hapatyn).”

Vadym Stetsenko, the head of the Ukrainian Delegation and the country’s Students Sport Federation, received the Fair Play Award from International Fair Play Committee Secretary General Sunil Sabharwal (USA) and Executive Director Gabor Deregan (HUN)

A special Fair Play Award was presented to Lake Placid 2023 Executive Director Ashley Walden (USA) on behalf of the 1,600 volunteers who helped to make the Games a success.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ≡

● Hockey ● The semifinals are coming into focus in the 15th FIH men’s World Cup, being held in Bhubaneswar (IND), with Australia and Belgium through and the last two quarterfinals coming on Wednesday.

After Australia, Belgium, the Netherlands and England won the four groups and advanced to the quarterfinals, the eight second-and-third place teams played for entry into the quarters, with one rout and three thrillers.

Germany stomped France, 5-1, but the other three went to shoot-outs, with Spain eliminating Malaysia, 4-3, after a 2-2 tie; South Korea edging Argentina, 3-2, after a 5-5 tie, and New Zealand defeating host India, 5-4, after a 3-3 tie in regulation time.

On Tuesday, the first quarterfinals saw Australia get past Spain, 4-3, and defending champion Belgium dismiss New Zealand, 2-0. It’s the 11th straight World Cup for the Aussies to make it at least to the semifinals.

England and two-time winner Germany will face off on Wednesday, with the victor playing 2010-14 champs Australia in the semis, while the three-time champ Dutch will play South Korea for the opportunity to face Belgium.

With two goals in the quarterfinal win over Spain, Australia’s Jeremy Hayward is now the top scorer in the tournament with seven goals, ahead of Tom Boon (BEL) and France’s Victor Charlet, with six each.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Winter Games 2022: Beijing ● Veronika Loginova, the head of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, told reporters on Tuesday that the agency expects to receive the written decision of the independent Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee on the Kamila Valieva case this week:

“In the coming days, this week, we are waiting for the full text of the decision of the Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee. We will then make a decision. We must familiarize ourselves with the conclusions and arguments.”

The Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee reinstated Valieva in February 2022, a day after she had been suspended for a positive test for the banned substance Trimetazidine, allowing her to compete in the women’s figure skating competition at the Beijing Olympic Winter Games, where she placed fourth. More recently, the same appeals board sanctioned Valieva for her positive test for only one day – the day she took the test – finding that she was not at fault, or negligent.

The World Anti-Doping Agency is also waiting for the full opinion and expects to appeal the sanction decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Loginova has said that RUSADA may also appeal it.

● Alpine Skiing ● While Mikaela Shiffrin was making history on the women’s circuit, the men’s World Cup was also holding a mid-week competition in Schladming (AUT), with France’s Clement Noel taking Tuesday’s Slalom in 1:48.97, over Ramon Zenhaeusern (SUI: 1:49.04) and Norway’s Lucas Braathen (1:49.35).

It’s Noel’s first win of the season and second medal; he now has nine career World Cup golds. It was the second straight bronze for Braathen, who has three wins and three bronzes this season, eclipsing his career total of five coming into 2022-23!

A Giant Slalom comes on Wednesday, with the tour moving to Cortina d’Ampezzo for the weekend, with two Super-G races scheduled.

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LANE ONE: Shiffrin passes Vonn with 83rd World Cup win, could tie Stenmark by Sunday!

By
Rich Perelman
-
From the FIS salute on Twitter to Mikaela Shiffrin's record 83rd career World Cup win, in Kronplatz (ITA) on Tuesday.

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The amazing Mikaela Shiffrin won her 83rd FIS Alpine World Cup race on Tuesday in the first of two Giant Slalom races at Kronplatz (ITA), and moving to no. 2 all-time, with the most wins ever by a woman.

Only Sweden’s Ingemar Stenmark has more, with 86, and Shiffrin could tie that mark as early as Sunday, as the next three races are either Giant Slaloms or Slaloms:

● 25 January: Giant Slalom at Kronplatz
● 28 January: Slalom at Spindleruv Mlyn (CZE)
● 29 January: Slalom at Spindleruv Mlyn (CZE)

Shiffrin’s triumph on Tuesday wasn’t easy. She led after the first run, 58.72 to 58.85 over Beijing Olympic Giant Slalom bronze winner Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI), then Gut-Behrami produced a sensational second run of 1:02.21, meaning Shiffrin had to ski the second run in 1:02.23 or faster to win. She was up to the challenge, zooming to the fastest second run in the field of 1:01.89 to finish in 2:00.1 to 2:01.06 for Gut-Behrami. Italy’s Federica Brignone (2:02.04) was third.

Afterwards, Shiffrin spoke about her nerves watching Gut-Behrami – herself a former World Cup overall champ – start her second run:

“I saw her from the start and then I was thinking, ‘Why did I watch? I can’t go that fast.’

“I was a bit nervous for the second run but mostly I hate waiting. Finally when it was time to go, everything went quiet and I just pushed as hard as I could every turn. I was a little bit wild in some spots but it felt so clean. I thought I wouldn’t be faster, but I thought I could maybe be close and then somehow I got to the finish.

“It was pretty amazing to come to the finish and see that I was quite fast.

“I could hear that the other athletes were skiing well… I was like I could lose this, so I’m going to try to ski a very good run, and it was. It’s still hard for me to believe that I have the mental focus again to be strong on the second run. It’s something I don’t take for granted.”

Fellow American Lindsey Vonn, who was tied with Shrffrin at 82 wins, said:

“Reaching this milestone is an incredible accomplishment, one that I hope Mikaela is able to savor.

“Picabo Street inspired me to become an Olympian and I remember vividly how much of an impact she made on me. Throughout my career I always tried to be the role model for kids that Picabo was for me, and now it is Mikaela’s turn to carry that torch. As Americans, we have been able to produce incredible athletes, and I am excited to see who Mikaela will inspire to continue to push the limits of our sport.  Congratulations on raising the bar for all skiers to come.”

And Shiffrin now has Stenmark in her sights and barring a freak injury, will pass him sometime this season. But Shiffrin has compiled her records in a much shorter time frame:

Ingemar Stenmark (SWE):
● 86 career World Cup wins: 1973-89
● Retired at age 33
● Won 46 Giant Slaloms, 40 Slaloms

Mikaela Shiffrin (USA):
● 83 career World Cup wins: 2012-present
● Age 27
● Won 51 Slaloms, 18 Giant Slaloms, 5 Super-Gs, 3 Downhills and six others

Lindsey Vonn (USA):
● 82 career World Cup wins: 2001-19
● Retired at age 34
● Won 43 Downhills, 28 Super-Gs, 5 Combineds, 4 Giant Slaloms, 2 Slaloms

Shiffrin is in her 12th season on tour and has averaged almost seven wins a season and nine in her last seven (including this season). If she continues on the World Cup circuit through age 35 in 2030 – when the Winter Olympic Games might be in Salt Lake City – she could be at 140 or more wins!

As for chasing Stenmark, Shiffrin won her second race at Kronplatz on Tuesday, having also won there in 2019. She also has won before at Spindleruv Mlyn, also in 2019 in a Slalom.

So far this season, Shiffrin has nine wins in 25 World Cup races held so far – she has skipped a few – and has seven wins in the last 38 days, including five in a row from 18 December to 4 January.

This is not new for Shiffrin; in the 2017-18 season, she won eight races in 22 days, on the way to 12 victories that season, and 17 the next.

She is also rising quickly toward passing Vonn for the most World Cup medals by a woman, which would make her no. 3 all-time:

● 1. 155, Stenmark
● 2. 138, Marcel Hirscher (AUT: 2007-19)
● 3. 137, Vonn
● 4. 131, Shiffrin

As for the 2022-23 World Cup, Shiffrin now has a 1,417-861 lead over Gut-Behrami after 25 of 39 races, which would be her fifth World Cup overall title, which would move her to no. 2 on the women’s all-time list behind Austrian star Annemarie Moser-Proell (1969-80), who won six. The all-time mark is eight for Hirscher, trailed by Marc Giradelli (LUX: 1980-96), who won five.

Shiffrin is one of the all-time greats and on her way to – perhaps – being the best ever.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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TSX REPORT: IOC wants Milan ‘26 speed skating site moved on cost fears; Diack appeals French sentence from Senegal; UEFA in talks with Russia

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Roof cost of Milan ‘26 speed-skating track might mean move to Turin
2. Papa Massata Diack appeal verdict due 9 March
3. Tuesday talks on Russia return to UEFA competitions
4. Lake Placid Universiade closes, on to Turin 2025!
5. Iden and Duffy named Global Triathlon Athletes of the Year

The expanding cost of putting a roof on the outdoor speed skating oval in Baselga di Pine for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games has become too much for the International Olympic Committee to bear, even though they are not paying for it! The IOC has told the Italian organizers to find another venue, which could a temporary site, or possibly the 2006 rink in Turin, which itself will have to be renovated with the re-installation of ice-making equipment. In Paris, the appeal of Papa Massata Diack’s convictions for embezzlement and corruption in the IAAF (now World Athletics) was heard on Friday, with the prosecutors asking for confirmation of a prison term and a fine of €1 million; World Athletics is asking for €41.2 million in damages for sponsorship money it never received as Diack and his father, then-IAAF President Lamine Diack, siphoned it off for their own purposes. On Tuesday, the Russian Football Union will meet with UEFA in Switzerland to discuss a possible pathway back to international competitions, which the Russians hope can be expanded to include the IOC. The 31st Winter World University Games closed in Lake Placid with smiles all around, with Turin the next stop in 2025. The U.S. team set a record for its most medals ever in a Winter WUG with 19. At the first Global Triathlon Awards in France, Norway’s Gustav Iden and Bermuda’s Flora Duffy were honored as the Athletes of the Year for 2022.

1.
Roof cost of Milan speed-skating track might mean move to Turin

Critics of the International Olympic Committee point to mammoth spending by host cities and their organizing committees for facilities which are not needed as proof the IOC is out of touch.

But the IOC has been singing a different tune and The Associated Press reported Sunday that the rise in cost for the Baselga di Pine outdoor track to have a roof constructed could end up moving the speed skating events to Turin, home of the 2006 Winter Games. The AP story included:

“Costs for the roof were initially slated at 50 million euros ($54 million), according to a project announced in November. But there were concerns that actual costs could rise by at least 50%.”

Italian Olympic Committee President Giovanni Malago, also the Board chair of the 2026 Milan Cortina organizing committee, said:

“The IOC said the investment was underestimated and not sustainable for the area and the IOC reserves the right to point the way in terms of executing the Games.

“I defended the original masterplan but there comes a time when you can no longer defend the undefendable. Everything that has happened since then, from COVID to the war (in Ukraine), has gone against us. Baselga is not a victim but rather one of the issues that arise systematically during the organization of an international event like the Olympics.”

The Baselga di Pine track opened in 1986 and has hosted the ISU World Junior Championships in 2019 and the European Speed Skating Championships in 2001.

A temporary facility is possible, but there is also the Torino Oval Lingotto, site of the 2006 Winter Games speed skating events, with a capacity of 8,500. However, the ice infrastructure was taken out of the Oval Lingotto and could cost about $16 million to be reinstalled.

Malago said a move to Turin was “not automatic. We will discuss all of the different possibilities.”

Ice-making facilities were removed from the Turin oval and it would cost an estimated 15 million euros ($16 million) to reinstall the system.

This is the second time the IOC has shown concern over construction costs for Milano Cortina 2026. It is still unhappy about the renovation costs of the historic Eugenio Monti sliding track for bob, luge and skeleton – used for the 1956 Winter Games – and has noted the presence of existing, World Cup-approved tracks in Innsbruck (AUT) and St. Moritz (SUI). However, the track is part of a regional sports and amusement re-development in the area and on that basis, is still expected to go forward.

Maybe.

2.
Papa Massata Diack appeal verdict due 9 March

As usual, Papa Massata Diack of Senegal was not in the Paris courtroom where his appeal was heard on Friday concerning the September 2020 conviction for corruption and embezzlement involving the IAAF (now World Athletics).

Six defendants were convicted at that time: Lamine Diack (SEN), the former President of the IAAF (since deceased), former IAAF anti-doping head Gabriel Dolle (FRA; also deceased), Diack’s legal advisor Habib Cisse (SEN), Russian athletics officials Valentin Balakhnitchev and Alexei Melnikov (neither of whom appealed and never left Russia), and Papa Massata Diack.

Cisse was present and asked for his conviction to be overturned, but Papa Massata Diack remains in Senegal, refusing to acknowledge the French courts and – thus far – protected by the Senegalese government, which will not allow him to be extradited.

FrancsJeux.com reported that Diack’s defense team argued that all of his activities were approved by the IAAF officials in charge at the time, but the prosecutors charged once again that Diack – father and son – set up a doping cover-up and embezzlement system that, for example, took a €65.5 million ($71.2 million U.S. today) sponsorship from Russian bank VTB in 2011 and saw that the IAAF received only €13 million (~$14.1 million).

The younger Diack was accused of receiving €15 million; the World Athletics attorneys asked for €41.2 million in damages and the World Anti-Doping Agency has asked for €300,000. The verdict against Diack in 2020 was for five years in prison and a fine of €1 million and the French prosecutors asked for a re-confirmation of that sentence.

The Paris Court of Appeal indicated that its decision would come about 9 March.

3.
Tuesday talks on Russia return to UEFA competitions

The Russian news agency TASS reported that a meeting between the Russian Football Union and the European football authority UEFA will take place on Tuesday at the UEFA offices in Nyon (SUI):

“On January 24, at UEFA’s office, a meeting is planned between the representatives of the RFU and UEFA where the potential possibilities of the return of Russian clubs and national teams to international tournaments will be discussed.

The RFU will be represented by Maxim Mitrofanov and Alexander Alayev.”

Mitrofanov is the RFU General Secretary and Alayev is the President of the Russian Premier League. RFU President Alexander Dyukov – also the Chair of the Russian energy giant Gazprom – said he wants to also invite representatives of FIFA and the International Olympic Committee to join the talks, looking for a defined pathway for Russian athletes in other sports to rejoin international competitions.

Russia has been barred from UEFA competitions as a consequence of the country’s invasion of Ukraine last February. There was discussion within the RFU about moving to compete in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), but its Executive Committee voted against it and wants to an agreement to compete again in UEFA events.

4.
Lake Placid Universiade closes, on to Turin 2025!

“There can be no doubt: Lake Placid is the place of legends for winter sports. We are reminded of this, just walking into this building and seeing the reminders of the ‘Miracle on Ice.’ We knew this was and is a very special place. And we had the privilege to be part of it.

“Here, in winter, Lake Placid has brought unprecedented warmth to our Games. In a complicated world, full of conflict, this wonderful community has offered us an open heart. Let us not underestimate how lucky we are to have been able to enjoy these 11 days of joyous and peaceful celebration in sport.”

That’s the farewell message from FISU Acting President Leonz Eder (SUI) to the athletes, teams and spectators who enjoyed the 31st Winter World University Games in Lake Placid, New York that concluded on Sunday.

A total of 1,443 athletes from 46 countries attended, with a reported 516 of them winning medals! The U.S. had its best-ever showing at a Winter WUG with 17 medals (3-8-6), topping the 15 won in 1993.

Beyond the tie to the historic 1980 Olympic Winter Games through the use of the many of the same facilities, one of the two remaining speed skating track records still held by American star Eric Heiden – who won all five men’s events at that Games – was broken. Italy’s Riccardo Lorello won the men’s 5,000 m in 6:53.22, eclipsing Heiden’s mark of 7:02.29; silver medalist Daniele Di Stefano (ITA) was also under Heiden’s time, finishing in 6:55.20. Heiden still holds the Sheffield Oval mark of 14:28.13 – at the time a world record – for the men’s 10,000 m.

James McKenna, Chair of the Adirondack Sports Council, which oversaw the Games, said at the Closing Ceremony:

“New York State has shown to the world that international sporting events have the power to unite peoples and nations. Records were broken and friendships were made as the entire world watched. To all residents and businesses of Lake Placid and New York’s North Country for showing the world what wonderful hosts we are. It is impossible to relate all the comments and stories about the friendliness of our local communities and their willingness to help that have been shared.”

The traditional flag hand-over to the next Winter WUG host was made with Eder presenting the FISU flag to Stefano Lo Russo, the mayor of Turin (ITA), host of the 2025 FISU World University Games, and Lorenzo Lentini, the Italian University Sport Center delegate.

5.
Iden and Duffy named Global Triathlon Athletes of the Year

The first-ever Global Triathlon Awards were held in Nice, France, with Gustav Iden (NOR) and Olympic champ Flora Duffy (BER) taking home the men’s and women’s awards.

Iden, eighth at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic triathlon, was the 2022 Ironman World Champion. Duffy, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic champ, won her fourth World Triathlon title in 2022, following up on wins in 2016, 2017 and 2021. She also took the Commonwealth Games gold in 2022 in Birmingham, England.

Chelsea Soldero (USA) won the Rookie of the Year award for her victory at the 2022 Ironman World Championship in her first try, and France was recognized with an Extraordinary Award for its outstanding results during the season. “Lifetime Kudos” awards for special contributions to the sport were presented to Bob Babbitt, the co-founder of Competitor Magazine and the Challenged Athletes Foundation, and Swiss Nicola Spirig Hug, the London 2012 women’s Olympic gold medalist, Rio 2016 runner-up and a five-time European Champion between 2009-18.

This was not simply a World Triathlon event, but brought the entire Tri community together, with World Triathlon, Super League Triathlon, the Professional Triathlete’s Organisation, France’s Department 06 and Ekoi all as partners. That’s a lesson some other sports could learn from.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ≡

● Handball ● The playoff situation has now been set at the IHF men’s World Championship in Poland and Sweden, with Norway defeating Germany, 28-26, to win Group III and defending champ Denmark beating Egypt, 30-25, to win Group IV.

The quarterfinals on 25 January – in Stockholm and Gdansk – will feature six-time champ France (6-0) vs. Germany (5-1) and Sweden (6-0) vs. Egypt (5-1) in the top of the bracket, and Norway (6-0) vs. Spain (5-1) and Denmark (6-0) vs. Hungary (4-2) in the bottom half; seven European qualifiers and one from Africa.

The U.S. men defeated Belgium, 24-22, in Malmo (SWE) in its final game in the second round-robin group and finished 1-4 in Group IV and 2-4 overall, with its first wins ever in a World Championship! Alexandre Chan Blanco, Aboubakar Fofana and Ian Hueter each had four goals to lead the American attack, and the U.S. finished 20th overall, out of 32 teams.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Athletics ● Shock in Australia as Olympic men’s 800 m fourth-placer Peter Bol, 28, the national 800 m record holder at 1:44.00 tested positive for the banned hormone Erythropoietin (EPO).

The doping positive came in an out-of-competition test by Athletics Australia last October, and he has asked for his second sample to be tested, which will happen in February. Bol said:

“To be clear, I have never in my life purchased, researched, possessed, administered or used synthetic EPO or any other prohibited substance. I voluntarily turned over my laptop, iPad and phone to Sport Integrity Australia to prove this.

“Above all, I remain hopeful that the process will exonerate me.”

Bol was the 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medalist in the 800 m and was seventh at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene.

● Shooting ● The final day of the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Rabat (MAR) saw wins for the U.S. and Croatia.

The American women’s team of Julia Stallings, Aeriel Skinner and Rachel Tozier took the Team Trap event with a 6-0 victory over Kazakhstan in the final. The Croatian men, including 2012 Olympic champ Giovanni Cernogoraz (age 40), 2016 Olympic champ Josip Glasnovic (39) and 2013 Worlds silver medalist Anton Glasnovic (42), eased by Portugal, 7-1 in the men’s Team final.

The U.S. led the medal table with nine (5-2-2), ahead of Greece and Portugal, with three each.

● Ski Mountaineering ● The third World Cup of the 2022-23 season in Ski Mountaineering, to debut in the Olympic Winter Games in 2026 was the Comapedrosa Andorra held in Arsinal, with both Individual and Vertical races for men and women.

No doubt about the women’s Individual winner, two-time defending ISMF World Cup champ Axelle Gachet Mollaret (FRA), who won in 57:54, well ahead of countrywoman Celia Perillat-Pessey (58:24) and Spain’s Ana Alonso Rodriguez (58:47). France’s Thibault Anselmet, the 2022 overall World Cup runner-up, took the men’s race in 46:30, winning by 15 seconds over Remi Bonnet (SUI) and 48 seconds over Maximilien Drion du Chapois of Belgium.

Bonnet, the 2022 World Cup champ in the men’s Vertical race, moved up to the top of the podium in 11:34, ahead of Drion du Chapois (12:06) and Anselmet (12:09). France’s Gachet Mollaret completed a sweep in 14:30, in front of Austria’s Sarah Dreier (14:53, the 2022 World Cup runner-up) and Perillat-Pessy (15:01).

● Snowboard ● Now widely shared, two-time Olympic Halfpipe champ Chloe Kim helped a beginning snowboarder out of trouble at Mammoth Mountain in California a week ago Sunday.

The youngster was having trouble staying upright in windy conditions on a slope that was too advance for her, and Kim, 22, came to the rescue, showing her how to regain her feet and then finally just carrying her – piggyback – down to the end. She pointed out a lift that would take the beginner to an easier slope for her to continue learning to ride.

Pretty great; the video is just precious.

● Swimming ● USA Swimming named Bob Bowman and Carol Capitani as its men’s and women’s head coaches for the American team at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships this May in Fukuoka, Japan.

Bowman, forever known as the coach of superstar Michael Phelps, is the coach at Arizona State and has a recently-expanded stable of elite stars also training with him. He was the U.S. head coach at the 2007-09-13 FINA Worlds, the head coach of the 2016 U.S. Olympic men’s Team and on the U.S. Olympic staff in 2004-08-12-20.

Capitani is the women’s head coach at Texas and also has international experience as the women’s head coach of the 2013 Duel in the Pool and the 2017 World University Games. She was a member of the coaching staff for the 2022 FINA Worlds in Budapest.

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TSX REPORT: Lake Placid 1980 silver gets $86,136 at auction; $18.5 million in LA28 funds for youth sports proposed; new T&F transgender rules in review

By
Rich Perelman
-
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medal won by Cuban boxer Roniel Iglesias and sold by RR Auction last Thursday for $83,188 (Photo: RR Auction)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Two Olympic medals bring $80,000-plus for RR Auction
2. LA28 youth sports funding of $18.5 million projected for 2023-24
3. World Athletics proposing tighter transgender and DSD regs
4. U.S. women stomp New Zealand, 5-0, for two-match sweep
5. Lake Placid Winter Universiade concludes

A wide-ranging auction of Olympic memorabilia saw a Lake Placid Olympic silver medal go for $86,136 as the highest-priced item, but also $83,188 for a boxing gold from the Tokyo 2020 Games. The City of Los Angeles is planning to spend $18.5 million from the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee on youth sports programs in 2023-24, having seen a 35.5% rise in participation since the subsidies began in 2018-19. World Athletics is circulating for comment a new, tighter set of regulations for participation by transgender women and those with differences in sex development, leaving a small window open for post-pubescent males who transfer to the women’s division. In New Zealand, the U.S. women’s National Team finished a to-game sweep of the Football Ferns with a 5-0 win on Saturday, with the U.S. enjoying a 22-0 shots advantage. The 2023 Winter World University Games in Lake Placid, New York, finished up on Sunday with Japan (48) and South Korea (29) atop the medal table.

1.
Two Olympic medals bring $80,000-plus for RR Auction

Olympic medals led the way with the highest sale prices at the just-closed RR Auction of Olympic memorabilia, with two selling for more than $80,000, including the buyer’s premium:

● $86,136 for a 1980 Lake Placid Olympic Winter Games silver medal, won by Soviet defenseman Sergei Starikov, who later played in the NHL for New Jersey, and including the silver-medal diploma and a certificate of authenticity. It was only expected to sell for $15,000!

● $83,188 for a 2020 Tokyo Olympic gold medal, won by Cuban boxer Roniel Iglesias in the men’s 69 kg Welterweight class. Iglesias won a gold at Light Welterweight at London 2012 after a bronze in 2008 in Beijing. It was expected to bring $50,000.

There were 19 items that sold for more than $10,000, 15 of which were Olympic medals, with the remaining four all Olympic Torches. The other top sellers:

● $54,904 for a 1952 Oslo Winter Games gold medal, very rare.

● $44,588 for a 1988 Calgary Winter Games gold, won by Starikov. His Sarajevo 1984 gold also sold, for $20,139.

● $37,500 for a Beijing 2008 gold medal from the football competition, won by Argentina (no indication of the player to whom it was originally awarded).

● $35,851 for a Stockholm 1912 gold medal; the name of the medal winner is to be provided to the new owner only!

● $35,670 for a Lake Placid 1980 Olympic Winter Games torch, one of only 140 made.

● $25,005 for two 1952 Helsinki Olympic silver medals, won by South Africa’s Thomas Shardelow (1931-2019), from the 4,000 m Team Pursuit and 2,000 m Tandem events.

There were 19 items that sold for $125, the lowest winning price at the auction; these included two event programs from the Los Angeles 1932 Games, a Berlin 1936 ashtray, a Berlin 1936 pin, a pin set and a souvenir glass plate and a 1952 Helsinki volunteer merit medal.

A program from the Athens 1896, combined with a ticket, sold for $9,166, and two Calgary 1988 cowboy hats given to former IOC member Jim Worrall of Canada sold for $656. A Paris 1924 event program for swimming went for $250; a daily program from the 1906 Athens Intercalated Games sold for $368.

And yes, diver Greg Louganis’s swim trunks from the 1976 Olympic Games, expected to bring $1,000, sold for $6,504!

2.
LA28 youth sports funding of $18.5 million projected for 2023-24

A 200-page plan to spend $18,465,802 for the City of Los Angeles’ youth sports programming funded by the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee was submitted on Thursday (19th).

The program, approved in 2017, allocated $160 million of International Olympic Committee funds advanced to LA28 to be used for youth sports in Los Angeles, primarily to reduce costs and fees to the participants, as described in the proposal:

“Through the [Youth Sports Program], [L.A. City Recreation and Parks] is using the funding provided by LA 2028 to directly support and increase citywide youth participation in quality sport and fitness programming by removing financial barriers limiting access to participation.

“The YSP is structured to overcome these barriers to participation, including considerations to achieve gender equity and to increase access and opportunity for all young people, particularly the economically disadvantaged and physically impaired and to ensure enduring health and wellness benefits for all communities in the City of Los Angeles.”

The payment plan agreed on provides annual payments of the City’s Recreation and Parks Department of $19.2 million per year from July 2020 through June 2028. According to the proposal:

“Using FY2018-19 as our “baseline”, RAP had 61,925 youth participant enrollments in YSP programs at Recreation Centers during that fiscal year, and 31,013 youth participant enrollments in YSP programs at Aquatic Facilities. RAP projections for the 2023-24 fiscal year are for 86,695 youth participant enrollments to be enrolled in YSP subsidized programs at Recreation Centers, an increase of 40% over the baseline; and 39,244 youth participant enrollments to be enrolled in YSP Aquatics subsidized programs, representing a 27% increase over the baseline.”

League and classes programs are proposed:

● $11,362,104 for recreational leagues and classes (123 sites)
● $1,826,499 for aquatics swim classes (53 sites)
● $1,080,420 for Swim L.A. classes (10 sites)
● $432,600 for judo programs (20 sites)
● $428,792 for surfing (12 sites)
● $284.400 for tennis (20 sites)
● $256,320 for track & field (20 sites)
● $231,800 for skateboarding (10 sites)
● $214,705 for kayaking (5 sites)
● $209,000 for teqball (sites not specified)
● $144,416 for equestrian (9 sites)
● $74,432 for golf (8 sites)
● $47,082 for marathon training (sites not specified)

In addition, funds are specified for adaptive sports ($841,012), for marketing and outreach ($781,500) and $250,000 for the U.S. Center for SafeSport for “training and tools to ensure the safety of all youth participants in RAP sports and fitness programs.”

The plan is now in the hands of the Los Angeles City Council for approval or amendment.

3.
World Athletics proposing tighter transgender and DSD regs

The British newspaper The Telegraph reported that World Athletics circulated for comment last November a proposal to tighten its regulations for the participation of transgender athletes and those with differences in sex development (DSD).

The current World Athletics rules – upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport – specify a serum testosterone limit of 5 nmol/L, maintained for one year, for transgender athletes, and for hyperandrogenistic athletes competing in the women’s division in the 400-800-1,000-1,500 m and mile distances (including hurdles), for six months.

The proposed new regulations would tighten the testosterone limit to 2.5 nmol/L as World Aquatics has recently done, but for two years, and does not eliminate transgenders who have undergone male puberty as World Aquatics did. Part of the World Athletics communication to its federations includes:

“This preferred option would allow significant (although not full) reduction of anaerobic, aerobic performances and body composition changes, while still providing a path for eligibility of trans women and 46 XY DSD individuals to compete in the female category.”

The new regulations would apply to all events, not just the 400 m-to-mile events as in the current policy, adopted in late 2021. The note to the federations admits that trans women who have gone through male puberty “retain an advantage in muscle mass, volume and strength over cis women after 12 months” even with hormone reduction therapy.

The World Athletics Council could act on the proposal as early as March, depending on the reaction from its federations.

4.
U.S. women stomp New Zealand, 5-0, for two-match sweep

After losing three of their last four games in 2022, the no. 1-ranked U.S. women’s National Team ended their January advance trip to New Zealand with two dominant wins against no. 24 New Zealand, including a 5-0 shutout on Saturday (21st).

After a scoreless first half in the first game on Wednesday in Wellington, the U.S. got off to a faster start in Auckland, opening the scoring in the 22nd minute with Ashley Hatch pounding in a swerving pass from Trinity Rodman from 12 yards out. Midfield star Rose Lavelle made it 2-0 on a left-footed tap off a perfect cross from Sofia Huerta. The Football Ferns were aggressive, committing eight fouls against the U.S., but the Americans had 73% of possession in the half and an 8-0 edge on shots.

The second half was more of the same, with goals from Mallory Swanson (nee Pugh) in the 53rd, smashing a loose ball in the box into the net, and then Lavelle again in the 74th and Taylor Kornieck on a Lavelle assist in the 80th.

The U.S. ended with 70% possession and a 22-0 advantage on shots, despite 12 New Zealand fouls. Keeper Casey Murphy got credit for the shutout for the U.S., which won the two games by a combined 9-0 score.

Next up will be the SheBelieves Cup in February, against Canada, Japan and Brazil, all World Cup qualifiers.

5.
Lake Placid Winter Universiade concludes

The second Winter World University Games to be held in Lake Placid, New York finished up on Sunday after a successful, 10-day run that saw Japan run away with the medal count, ending with 21 golds and 48 total (21-17-10).

Korea finished second in total medals with 29 and in golds with 12 (8 silver and 9 bronzes), followed by France (18), and Poland and the U.S., with 17 each.

The big individual winner was Korean Short Track star Min-jeong Choi, the three-time Olympic Winter gold medalist from 2018 and 2022. In Lake Placid, she swept the women’s 500-1,000-1,500 m races and was on the winning 3,000 m relay. Four others win three golds and another medal for four total: Japan’s Sakutaro Kobayashi in Nordic Combined and Ryo Hirose in Cross Country Skiing, Pole Nicole Konderla in Ski Jumping and Czech Jan Zabystran in Alpine Skiing.

Niklas Malacinski was the top American medal winner with four (1-2-1), including a gold with Evan Nichols in the Nordic Combined Team Sprint; the other gold-medal winners were Bjorn Westervelt in the men’s 12.5 km Pursuit in Biathlon, and John Steel Hagenbuch in the 30 km Freestyle Mass Start in Cross Country Skiing.

In the final event of the Games, the Canadian men won the ice hockey gold with a 7-2 victory over the U.S. The Canadian women also won the ice hockey gold, 5-0, over Japan.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Handball ● We’re getting serious now in the IHF men’s World Championship in Poland and Sweden, with second-phase round-robin play concluding on Sunday.

France won Group I with a 3-0 mark, defeating Montenegro, Iran and Spain, while Sweden was also undefeated, beating Hungary, Iceland and Portugal.

Germany and Norway both won their first two games in Group III and will face off on Monday. In Group IV, Egypt won its first two and Denmark was 1-0-1 and will also play Monday.

The U.S., which won its first World Championships game ever in the first round against Morocco, advanced to Group IV, but lost to Bahrain (27-32), and Denmark (24-33) and will play Belgium on Monday.

The quarterfinals will be played on the 25th, semis on the 27th and medal matches on the 29th.

● Hockey ● Pool play in the FIH men’s World Cup in Bhubaneswar (IND) has concluded, with the group winners Australia (2-0-1), Belgium (2-0-1), Netherlands (3-0) and England (2-0-1) all moving to the quarterfinals. They will await the winners of play-in matches of the second and third-place teams in each group.

The quarterfinals will be on the 24th and 25th, with the semis on the 27th and finals in the 29th. The leading scorer so far in France’s Victor Charlet with six.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Alpine Skiing ● The first speed events of the women’s FIS World Cup season in Italy means it was time for Olympic Downhill champ Sofia Goggia to be back in gear. And she was!

Goggia won the first of two Downhills at Cortina d’Ampezzo for her fourth victory of the season and 21st of her career, in 1:33.47. Slovenia’s Ilka Stuhec was second (1:33.60) and Kira Weidle (GER) third in 1:33.83. American Mikaela Shiffrin was a very creditable fourth in 1:33.97 and Breezy Johnson finished an encouraging ninth in 1:34.25.

On Saturday, two-time World Downhill champ Stuhec advanced to the top of the podium for her 10th career win, in 1:04.73, ahead of Kajsa Lie (NOR: 1:04.99) and Elena Curtoni (ITA: 1:05.07. Shiffrin continued to rack up points with a seventh-place finish in 1:05.12; Johnson tied for 10th at 1:05.37.

Sunday’s Super-G was the first win in almost a year for two-time Olympic silver medalist Ragnhild Mowinckel of Norway, who timed 1:23.22 to finish ahead of Cornelia Huetter (AUT: 1:23.52) and Marta Bassino (ITA: 1:23.69). Shiffrin was seventh again (1:23.84) and now has a 1,317 to 796 lead on Petra Vlhova (SVK) in the overall World Cup race.

The schedule gets better for Shiffrin now, with three Giant Slaloms and two Slaloms – her best races – on the schedule prior to the World Championships.

The men’s tour was in Kitzbuehel (AUT) for two Downhills and a Slalom, with home favorite Vincent Kriechmayr, the 2021 World Champion, winning on Friday in 1:56.16, trailed by Florian Schieder (ITA: 1:56.39) and Swiss Niels Hintermann (1:56.47). Travis Ganong of the U.S. tied for seventh in 1:56.62.

Saturday’s Downhill was the seventh win of the season for Norway’s Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (1:56.90), who edged France’s Beijing 2022 silver winner Johan Clarey (1:57.57) and Ganong (1:57.85), who won his sixth career World Cup medal – at age 34 – in third (1:57.85).

The Slalom saw Swiss Daniel Yule win his sixth career World Cup race – all in this event – in 1:44.63, with Britain’s Dave Ryding second (1:45.03) and Lucas Braathen (NOR: 1:45.04) third.

● Archery ● The annual World Archery Indoor World Series (18 m) tournament in Nimes (FRA) had an all-French Recurve podium, with Thomas Chirault winning in a shoot-off with Baptiste Addis, 6-5, for the gold, and Clement Jacquey (FRA) winning the bronze, 6-2, over Alex Potts (AUS).

Italy’s Tatiana Andreoli, the 2019 European Games champ, won the women’s Recurve final, 7-2, over Katharina Bauer (GER). Britain’s Penny Healey took the bronze, 6-4, over Michelle Kroppen (GER).

● Athletics ● The USATF National Cross Country Championships in Mechanicsville, Virginia saw Emmanuel Bor take control of the men’s 10 km race just after halfway and surge to a five-second lead by 6 km and then 12 seconds by the 8 km mark.

He gave back most of the lead in the final 2 km, but won his first national cross-country title in 28:44, four seconds up on Andrew Colley and five seconds ahead of former champions Anthony Rotich and Leonard Korir, and then Sam Chelanga, all in 28:49.

The women’s race had six runners at the front at the half, who stayed together through the 8 km mark, then Ednah Kurgat jumped to the lead and powered away from the rest, taking a 12-second lead with one km to go and finishing in 32:07 for her first USATF national title. Makena Morley was second in 32:24, ahead of Emily Durgin (32:27) and Emily Lipari (32:32).

At the American Track League opener in Iowa City, Iowa, a couple of world-leading marks in the early season, as American C.J. Allen won the 400 m hurdles (!) in an impressive 48.88, the no. 2 performance in history, and Regan Yee (CAN) edged Molly Sughroue in the women’s mile in a world-leading 4:30.46 to 4:30.89.

In the men’s 1,000 m, Clayton Murphy won in 2:20.70, no. 2 in the world for 2023, Freddie Crittenden and Michael Dickson went 1-2 in the men’s 60 m hurdles in 7.53, the second-fastest performances this year (Crittenden is the world leader at 7.52), and Chuk Enekwechi (NGR ) won the men’s shot in 21.20 m (69-6 3/4), no. 3 on the year list.

High jump star Vashti Cunningham won the women’s competition at 1.97 m (6-5 1/2), now no. 2 in 2023.

● Badminton ● The important Yonex Sunrise Open in New Delhi (IND) saw global powers China and Japan each reach three finals, but sickness impacted the final results.

It was a tough day to be the no. 1-ranked player in the world, as Kunlavut Vitidsarn (THA) shocked Viktor Axelsen (DEN), 22-20, 10-21, 21-12 in the men’s final and Se Young An (KOR) stung no. 1 Akane Yamaguchi (JPN), 15-21, 21-16, 21-12, in the women’s title match.

In the men’s Doubles final, Wei Keng Liang and Chang Wang (CHN) overcame Aaron Chia and Wooi Yik Soh (MAS), 14-21, 21-19, 21-18, but the other two Doubles matches were canceled due to both Chinese pairs being ill.

In the women’s Doubles, Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida (JPN) were given a walkover against Qing Chen Chen and Yi Fan Jia (CHN), and Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino (JPN) were also awarded a walkover against Yi Lyu Wang and Dong Ping Huang (CHN).

● Biathlon ● The sixth and final stop on the IBU World Cup tour prior to the World Championships in February was at Antholz-Anterselva (ITA) with the question: can anyone beat Norwegian star Johannes Thingnes Boe?

Nope.

Boe won his 10th and 11th races of the season – out of 14 held so far – with victories in the men’s 10 km Sprint on Friday (22:44.1 with one penalty) and the 12 km Pursuit on Saturday (31:24.4/2).

In both cases, he finished ahead of Swede Martin Ponsiluoma and Norwegian teammate Sturla Holm Lagreid: in that order in the Sprint (23:15.5/1 to 23:21.4/0) and with Lagreid second 32:04.6/0) and Ponsiluoma third (32:26.5/2) in the Pursuit.

Despite his dominance, Boe has not yet clinched the seasonal title, as he holds a 1,049-845 lead over Lagreid.

Three-time World Champion Dorothea Wierer of Italy was a popular women’s winner in the 7.5 km Sprint (20:59.6/0) – her first win of the season – over Chloe Chevalier (FRA: 21:02.4/0) and Sweden’s Olympic silver winner Elvira Oeberg (21:08.3/0).

Germany’s Denise Hermann-Wick took the 10 km Pursuit title for her second title this season in 29:53.1 (2), ahead of Italian Lisa Vittozzi (30:04.1/0) and Oeberg (30:10.3/2), who won her sixth medal in 14 races this season! French star Julia Simon’s seasonal lead is down to 811-735 over Oeberg.

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● The second week of sliding in Altenberg (GER) looked a lot like the first one, with wins – again – for Germany’s Johannes Lohner in the Two-Man, Brad Hall (GBR) in the Four-Man and American Kaillie Humphries in the women’s Monobob.

Lochner claimed his fourth straight win this season, this time with Erec Bruckert aboard in 1:51.50, and teammate (and Olympic champ) Francesco Friedrich again third (1:51.88). This time it was Swiss Michael Vogt in second , for his fourth medal of the season (1:51.55, with Sandro Michel aboard).

Hall, who drove to a sixth-place finish in the Beijing Winter Games in 2022, won for the third time on tour this season, in 1:49.32, ahead of twice-Olympic winner Friedrich (1:49.41) and Vogt (1:49.54).

Humphries and German Two-Woman Olympic winner Laura Nolte were 1-2 in the Monobob again, 2:00.61 to 2:01.13, with Australia’s Breeana Walker third (2:01.89).

Humphries doubled her pleasure in the Two-Woman race, teaming with Kaysha Love to win in 1:54.79, ahead of Nolte (1:54.81) and Swiss Melanie Hauser (1:55.36).

The Skeleton results were also eerily similar. The top three in the men’s race were the same as last week: Matt Weston (GBR: 1:54.16), and Germans Christopher Grotheer (1:54.51) and Axel Jungk (1:54.54). Four-time women’s World Champion Tina Hermann won again for her third win in six races this season (1:56.52), beating Janine Flock (AUT: 1:57.14) and teammate Susanne Kreher (1:57.15).

● Cross Country Skiing ● A lighter schedule this week, with a single individual Freestyle Sprint at Livigno (ITA), and Norway’s Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo getting back to the top of the podium for his 60th career World Cup victory, extending his own record for the most career wins.

Klaebo won in 2:28.38, ahead of Richard Jouve (FRA: 2:28.73) and Janik Riebli (SUI: 2:29.82.

Sweden swept the women’s medals, with Jonna Sundling leading Maja Dahlqvist and Emma Ribom to the finish, in 2:45.70-2:46.75-2:47.00. It’s Sweden’s eighth win in 18 races so far this season, and the first sweep. Sundling scored her first World Cup gold of the season, and her sixth career victory. Julia Kern of the U.S. made the final and finished sixth (2:53.04).

In the women’s Freestyle Team Sprint, Sweden went 1-2, but the U.S. pair of Kern and Rosie Brennan finished third in 13:07.15, with winners Linn Svahn and Dahlqvist timing 13:06.10.

● Cycling ● The first event on the UCI men’s World Tour is the Santos Tour Down Under in Australia, with six stages that ended Sunday. It’s the first time this race has been held since 2020, before the explosion of the coronavirus, with Australian riders winning five of the prior seven editions.

The race developed with five different winners in the first five stages – a Prologue and then four stages – with the fifth on Sunday. Italy’s Alberto Bettiol won the flat Prologue, then hilly stage wins went to Paul Bauhaus (GER), Rohan Dennis (AUS), Pello Bilbao (ESP) and Bryan Coquard (FRA). Going into the Sunday finale, Australian Jay Vine was on top by 15 seconds – having finished 9-68-2-3-22 – over 2018 Vuelta a Espana champ Simon Yates (GBR) and Bilbao.

On the final, hilly, 112.5 km ride to the uphill finish at Mount Lofty, Vine and Yates battled to the line with Yates getting the stage win (2:41:16), but Vine ending up as the overall champ at 16:07:41 (now six of the last eight winners have been Australian). Yates finished 11 seconds back and Bilbao was third (+0:27). American Magnus Sheffield was fourth (+0:57), pretty impressive for a 20-year-old!

● Freestyle Skiing ● Busy weekend of action, starting with Halfpipe action in Calgary (CAN) and a win for Olympic champ Eileen Gu (CHN) on Thursday. She scored 90.00, 95.00 and 95.00 on her three runs and her best of 95.00 was a clear winner, with Beijing bronze medalist Rachael Karker (CAN: 89.00) and Hanna Faulhaber (USA: 77.25) following.

Saturday’s second event was another showcase for the Chinese star, as she scored 90.00, 93.50 and 91.75 on her three runs – all six were 90.00 or better on the weekend – to win easily over Karker (85.50) and Kexin Zhang (CHN: 81.75). Faulhaber was fourth again (79.25).

In the men’s Halfpipe, Finland’s Jon Salinen, 22, won his first career World Cup medal with a gold, scoring 96.00 to barely beat Canadians Brendan MacKay (94.50) and Simon D’Artois (93.00). Americans Alex Ferreira (the Beijing bronze winner), two-time Olympic champ David Wise, Birk Irving and Aaron Blunck finished 4-5-6-7.

Saturday was an American 1-2 as Ferreira won at 94.50, followed by Irving (93.00) and Noah Bowman (CAN: 90.50). For Ferreira, now 28, it was his fourth career World Cup gold.

Also in Canada – at Le Relais in Quebec – were the second and third Aerials events of the season, with American Quinn Dehlinger, 20, getting his first World Cup medal and victory, out-scoring Noe Roth (SUI), the 2019 Worlds bronze medalist, 122.62-121.24. Ukraine’s Dmytro Kotovskyi claimed the bronze at 120.81.

On Sunday, Roth moved up to the top of the podium, scoring 124.43 with the 21-year-old Kotovskyi taking silver (119.91) and American Chris Lillis – the 2021 Worlds silver winner – scoring 118.55 for bronze.

Home favorite Marion Thenault (CAN) took the first women’s event – with her second career World Cup gold – scoring 96.23 ahead of America’s 2017 World Champion Ashley Caldwell (92.00) and Ukraine’s Anastasiya Novosad (86.71), who won her second career individual World Cup medal.

Australia’s two-time World Champion Laura Peel won on Sunday at 109.15, ahead of Caldwell (93.06) and Novosad (90.59).

The third Slopestyle competition of 2023-23 was in Laax (SUI), with Swiss Andri Ragettli – the 2021 World Champion – scoring a 79.08-76.81 win over American Alex Hall – the Beijing 2022 gold medalist – with Olympic Big Air champ Birk Ruud (NOR) third at 75.63.

Johanne Killi (NOR) won again in the women’s competition, after taking the season opener last November. She scored 85.65 to edge 2018 Olympic winner Sarah Hoefflin (SUI: 81.53) and France’s 2017 World Champion Tess Ledeux (80.21).

Two rounds of Ski Cross for men and women were on in Idre Fjall (SWE), with the unstoppable Sandra Naeslund thrilling the home fans with her sixth straight win this season and 14th in a row over two seasons in the first women’s final, on Saturday. She finished ahead of Swiss Fanny Smith, with Germany’s Daniela Mayer third.

On Sunday, more of the same, as Naeslund winning in front of Katrin Ofner (AUT) and Canada’s Marielle Thompson.

The first men’s race also was a Swedish win, for David Mobaerg, ahead of 2022 Cross Alps Tour winner Reece Howden (CAN) and older brother Erik Mobaerg. Howden came back to win on Sunday, beating Erik Mobaerg and Tobias Mueller (GER) to the line.

● Nordic Combined ● Two races in the men’s World Cup were moved due to weather from Chaux-Neuve (FRA) to Klingenthal (GER), but while more weather difficulties scrambled the schedule, both races were held.

In the 140 m jumping and Gundersen 10 km race, Austria’s 2021 World Champion, Johannes Lamparter was the winner in 27:54.9, beating Norwegian star Jarl Magnus Rieber (28:01.9) and Franz-Josef Rehrl (AUT: 28:17.8).

Lamparter won the second event, too, a Mass Start 10 km race after the jumping, with 146.2 points to 141 for Rehrl and 139.3 for Riiber. Riiber mains in front in the seasonal standings, with 698 points to 605 for Lamparter.

● Rugby Sevens ● Argentina and New Zealand took the titles at the HSBC Worlds Sevens Series tournaments in Hamilton (NZL), with the U.S. earning medals in both.

Argentina surprised the hosts in the men’s final with a 14-12 win for its first medal of the season, with the U.S. men edging France, 15-14, for its second-straight bronze finish and moving into third place in the seasonal standings, behind New Zealand, 63-61.

The Black Ferns won their second straight women’s tourney title with a 33-7 win over the U.S. women and continued in first place with 58 points. Australia is second with 54 after a third-place win over Ireland, 33-17. The American women stand third (50) after a silver medal finish that followed bronze medals in the first two events.

● Shooting ● The Trap section of the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Rabat (MAR) concluded on Sunday,

In the men’s individual final, it was Britain’s 2019 World Champion Matthew John Coward-Holley who eked out a 32-31 win over 47-year-old Czech David Kostelecky – the 2008 Olympic winner – with Joao Azevedo (POR: 18) third and 37-year-old American Derrick Mein (13) – the 2022 World Champion – fourth.

Spain’s 2019 European Junior Champion Mar Molne Magrina won the women’s division, 29-26, over Safiye Sariturk Temizdemir (TUR), with American Rachel Tozier taking the bronze (20).

The American pair of Tozier and Mein won the Mixed Team event over Poland, 2-1 in a shoot-off after a 5-5 tie in regulation time. The World Cup ends on Monday with the men’s and women’s Team Trap events.

● Ski Jumping ● The men’s World Cup was in Sapporo (JPN) and Beijing 2022 gold winner Ryoyu Kobayashi gave the home fans what they wanted: his first win of the season – and 28th of his career – scoring 271.5 on Friday to beat Poland’s seasonal leader Dawid Kubacki (264.3) and Four Hills winner Halvor Egner Granerud (NOR: 262.6).

Austria’s Stefan Kraft, a three-time World Champion, took the win on Saturday off the 137 m hill, scoring 283.5 with Granerud moving up to second (277.9) and Kobayashi third (276.1).

Kobayashi got back on top on Sunday, scoring 280.9 to win decisively over Granerud (268.9) and German Markus Eisenbichler (256.9).

● Snowboard ● Difficult weather in Laax (SUI) wiped out the Halfpipe competition scheduled for Saturday, so the results from the qualifying round had to stand, with Ruka Hirano (JPN) winning his third career World Cup gold at 95.25, ahead of four-time World Champion Scotty James (AUS: 95.00) and Yuto Totsuka (JPN: 91.50).

The women’s title went to first-time winner Mitsuki Ono (JPN: 18), who scored 89.50 to beat China’s Shaotong Wu (89.00), who won her first World Cup medal. American Maddie Mastro scored her 10th career World Cup medal in third (82.50).

Sunday’s Slopestyle was a win for Norway’s 2021 World Champion, Marcus Kleveland, scoring 83.61 to beat American Dusty Henricksen (82.45) and Sven Thorgren (SWE: 80.23). Beijing Olympic champ Zoi Sadowski-Synnott won the women’s title at 81.30, with 16-year-old Mia Brookes (GBR) getting her first World Cup medal at 79,9 and Austria’s two-time Olympic Big Air winner Anna Gasser third (77.05).

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TSX REPORT: FIFA says five billion “engaged” with 2022 World Cup; 2024 Olympics to cost City of Paris €354 million; racist chants vs. Morocco

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. FIFA says five billion “engaged” with Qatar World Cup
2. City of Paris cost for 2024 Games: €354 million net
3. Belarusian coach Maisevich charged in Tsimanouskaya incident
4. LA28 completing Los Angeles Games Agreement consultations
5. Nasty Algerian-Moroccan political fracas at CHAN 2023

A month after the close of the highly successful FIFA World Cup in Qatar, some of the viewing statistics are available, with 550 million viewers for the opening match and about 1.5 billion for the Argentina-France final. The total viewing audience is not yet available, but total “engagement” with the tournament approached five billion. The support cost for the Paris 2024 Games from the City of Paris itself is expected to be €354 million, after netting out expected revenues, much less than the recently-predicted €500 million by the French Court of Auditors. The Athletics Integrity Unit has filed charges under three sections of the World Athletics Integrity Code against Belarusian coach Yury Maisevich related to his conduct over the withdrawal of sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya – who sought asylum rather than return home – at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021. The LA28 organizing committee is progressing on its public commitment to community-based coordination on purchasing, hiring and sustainability, according to a new report from the City of Los Angeles. Racist chants, references to slavery and a refusal to allow the Moroccan team – the defending champs – to make a direct flight into Algeria have marred the African Nations Championship football tournament for players competing on domestic clubs, with Morocco withdrawing and the Confederation of African Football now investigating.

1.
FIFA says five billion “engaged” with Qatar World Cup

The audience figures aren’t compiled yet, but FIFA released a 28-page package of facts and figures on its 2022 World Cup in Qatar, including some viewing totals:

● The dramatic final between Argentina and France was watched by almost 1.5 billion people worldwide, up from 1.15 billion for the 2018 final in Russia.

● The opening match on 20 November between Ecuador and Qatar had about 550 million watchers on over-the-air and streaming platforms.

● “Early figures suggest that around 5 billion people have engaged with the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, following tournament content across an array of platforms and devices across the media universe. On social media, according to Nielsen, there have been 93.6 million posts across all platforms, with a 262 billion cumulative reach and 5.95 billion engagements.”

The total in-person attendance was 3,404,252 with an average of 53,191 (or 96.3% of capacity) across the 64 matches of the tournament. Some 98% of the tickets sold were used a mobile (on-phone) tickets and 411,724 tickets were re-sold, just 12.1%.

The hospitality package program was a big success with 257,000 packages sold, 61% of which went to non-Qatari buyers, with the highest interest from Saudi Arabia, Mexico, the U.S., UAE, Great Britain, India, Argentina, Brazil and Switzerland.

Media interest was strong:

● 2,955: Press-photo-non-rights broadcasters
● 7,888: Rights-holding broadcasters

That’s 10,843 in total. The press-photo breakdown was 1,834 writers and 726 photographers.

FIFA was heavily engaged in a social-media “protection service” which worked to identify abusive messages across five major platforms and report them to the service providers. More than 14 million messages were scanned for “abusive, discriminatory and threatening” content, with 18,323 posts flagged and reported. Monitors on these sites “hid” 286,895 objectionable comments on 1,828 team or player accounts.

2.
City of Paris cost for 2024 Games: €354 million net

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo told the French newspaper Le Monde on Wednesday that the net cost of the 2024 Olympic Games in the city would reach about “380 million euros of investment, i.e., on average, 0.65% of our annual budget. (€1 = $1.08)

That’s considerably less than the €500 million cost for Paris suggested by the French Court of Auditors, the government watchdog agency which has worried publicly about the potential cost of the Games for years. Its projections, released last week, forecast a €500 million cost for Paris.

The City government issued even more details later, telling Agence France Presse, “the net cost for the city is now established at 354 million euros with 503 million euros in expenditure and around 150 million euros in revenue, 90% of which is now secured.

“Expenditure is spread over eight financial years, between 2018 and 2025 … allowing the cost of the Games to be recouped and a very moderate impact on the city budget with an average share of 0.65% and a peak in 2024 representing 1.4% of the city budget.”

This money, according to Hidalgo, will buy, “for example, Porte de la Chapelle, to build an arena and two gymnasiums but also all the infrastructure for cycle paths, Olympic lanes, renovation of training sites [and] the Georges-Vallerey swimming pool … which hosted the 1904 Games.”

The newest issue is concern over air conditioning in the Olympic Village, Nicolas Ferrand, the head of the government construction group Solideo, told reporters on Tuesday:

“We are building rooms where it will be six degrees cooler than the outside temperature.”

He said that if the Paris 2024 organizers required air conditioning, it would be installed, but:

“It’s a question for society. Do we collectively accept being at six degrees less and having an excellent carbon footprint, or do we say it’s not okay, and we’re ready to downgrade the carbon footprint.”

3.
Belarusian coach Maisevich charged in Tsimanouskaya incident

Remember Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya? She’s the one who criticized her coaches at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021 for entering her in the women’s 4×400 m without telling her and ended up being withdrawn from the Games and sent home, only to ask airport police to grant her protection. She eventually was granted asylum in Poland, where she now lives with her family.

The International Olympic Committee and World Athletics asked the Athletics Integrity Unit to examine the conduct of the Belarusian team officials who were with her in Tokyo. On Thursday, one of them – coach Yury Maisevich – was charged with alleged breaches of the World Athletics’ Integrity Code of Conduct:

“Maisevich, Belarus’ athletics head coach at the Games, has been charged with committing breaches of the following Integrity Standards in the Integrity Code of Conduct: Honesty (Rule 3.3.1), Dignity (Rule 3.3.10) and Protect Reputation (Rule 3.3.17). …

“The AIU alleges that, in respect of these circumstances of Tsimanouskaya’s removal from the Olympic Games, Maisevich did not act with integrity and acted in bad faith; failed to safeguard the athlete’s dignity and his actions constituted verbal and mental harassment; and that he brought athletics generally into disrepute. …

“Maisevich was one of two Belarusian officials whose Olympic accreditation was revoked by IOC regarding this situation. The other official, Artur Shumak, has not been charged.”

The AIU will now move forward with an action against Maisevich for a suspension of unknown length.

Tsimanouskaya, 26, now runs for Poland and competed in 2022, with bests of 11.31 and 23.31, well off her lifetime bests of 11.04 from 2018 and 22.78 from 2019. She did not run outside the country last year.

4.
LA28 completing Los Angeles Games Agreement consultations

City of Los Angeles staff filed an informational report with the City Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games on Tuesday (17th) concerning the progress of the LA28 Olympic organizing committee on its benchmarks for civic involvement, according to the Games Agreement signed with the City in 2022:

“LA28 notified the City on December 1, 2022 that it met the Phase 2 benchmark by identifying the organizations that will comprise the membership of each working group and invited 30 organizations to join one of the three working groups. LA28 is currently awaiting confirmations of participation from the invited organizations and will continue to evaluate additional member submissions.”

The exact membership of each group – Community Business and Procurement, Local Hire, and Sustainability – was scheduled for completion by 30 November 2022, but is still wrapping up with confirmations from the invited organizations. The first meeting dates for each group are to be finalized by the end of January, and the first meetings are to be in March.

Planning groups are also being formed; the report noted:

“[T]he City and LA28 are currently collaborating to further advance and develop the following planning groups: the 2028 Games Mobility Executives, Public Safety Cooperative, and Games Energy Council. Updates regarding the planning group activities will be presented to the City Council by April 30, 2023.”

5.
Nasty Algerian-Moroccan political fracas at CHAN 2023

The African Nations Championship football tournament for players competing on domestic clubs – known as CHAN – is ongoing in Algeria, but not without considerable controversy, including charges of racism.

Morocco is the defending champion and, of course, was a star at the recent FIFA World Cup in Qatar, becoming the first African team to reach the semifinals. But the Moroccan team was not allowed to fly on its national airline – Royal Air Maroc – from Rabat to Constantine in Algeria as Algeria cut off ties between the two countries in August 2021.

In response, Morocco withdrew from the tournament. At the opening ceremony in Algiers on 13 January, it was reported “the Algerian regime invited Nelson Mandela’s grandson Zwelivelile Mandela, who delivered an anti-Morocco political speech attacking the country’s territorial integrity.” Mandela told the crowd, “Let us fight to free Western Sahara from oppression. … Don’t forget the last colony of Africa, Western Sahara.”

In addition, spectators at the ceremony chanted – in Arabic – “Give them bananas! Moroccans are animals!”

The incidents drew a response from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) that included:

“The Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) is under an obligation and a duty, in accordance with its Regulations and Statutes and those of FIFA not to participate or get involved in politics and to be neutral on matters of a political nature. …

“CAF will investigate and look into the political statements and events at the opening ceremony of the TotalEnergies CHAN Algeria 2022 and assess whether there was compliance with the CAF and FIFA Regulations and Statutes. CAF will give an update in this regard in due course.”

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● International Olympic Committee ● The award of rights to the European Broadcasting Union and Warner Bros. Discovery for the Olympic and Winter Games from 2026-32 did not include Russia or Belarus.

Russia has often negotiated separately, but now Belarus is also impacted as part of the sanctions involving the invasion of Ukraine. The Russian news agency TASS noted:

“The rights to broadcast the Olympics on the territory of Russia previously belonged to Telesport, a major operator in sports marketing, and it had already inked a contract to air the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

“In September 2022, Telesport President Pyotr Makarenko told TASS that his company had purchased a package of rights to air the 2026 Winter Games in Italy.”

● World Anti-Doping Agency ● For those who remember recent history between the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy and WADA, it was fascinating to review the announcement of the membership of the WADA Executive Committee and the Foundation Board.

These are the two bodies which control the agency, and neither lists an American member for 2023. There are two possible openings that could be filled on the Executive Committee by an American: an independent member – to be announced in March or April – and an Americas representative still to be named.

During the Trump Administration, the USONDCP refused to pay its agreed-upon WADA dues, asking for more representation on the ExCo and the Board; among the replies from WADA President Witold Banka (POL) was that at the regional (Americas) meetings where nominations were sought, no one from the U.S. attended.

The dues issue was smoothed out in 2021, but it is remarkable that no one from the U.S. is on either body, especially as an American has usually been on at least the Foundation Board.

● Athletics ● The woman who blew up the IAAF’s worldwide hyperandrogenism regulations in 2015 has now been provisionally suspended by India’s National Anti-Doping Agency for the presence of steroid-style drugs in an out-of-competition sample taken in December.

Dutee Chand, 26, the 100-200 m silver medalist at the 2018 Asian Games with bests of 11.17 (2021) and 23.00 (2018), tested positive for Andarin, Ligandrol and Enobosarm (Ostarine) – which are Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators that provide steroid-type benefits, but do not create male physical characteristics in the user – in a 5 December test in Bhubaneswar.

She was informed of the results on 3 January, facing a penalty of four years. She can challenge the finding, admit guilt and get a year off of the suspension or fight it and lose and be suspended for four years.

Chand was dropped from India’s 2014 Commonwealth Games team due to hyperandrogenism – testosterone levels outside the normal female range – and appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. In a 2015 ruling, the Court ruled that the IAAF rules were overly broad and required new regulations more narrowly targeted to impact only those athletes who had a demonstrable advantage due to their heightened testosterone levels.

Chand was then free to compete, and the IAAF’s new rules in 2018 did not impact her, as they related only to the 400-800-1,000-1,500 m and mile distances. She competed at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games, but did not make it out of the first round.

● Basketball ● The FIBA men’s World Cup is coming this summer, to Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines, but a tremendous warm-up tournament will be held in Spain just two weeks prior.

The Spanish federation announced that no. 1-ranked Spain, the U.S. and Slovenia – with Luka Doncic – will play in a warm-up tournament on 11-12-13 August, in Malaga. The World Cup opens on 25 August, and the U.S. – which has yet to formally qualify – has been assigned to play in the Philippines and Slovenia in Japan.

● Figure Skating ● The International Skating Union Council met online on Monday and among other decisions, confirmed that “no ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating event can take place in Russia during the 2023/24 Season.”

With the French figure skating federation now unable to host the 2023 ISU Grand Prix Final, new locations will be needed for the 17-19 November Grand Prix event and the 7-10 December Grand Prix Final.

● Shooting ● The ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Rabat (MAR) is continuing with the U.S. having scored three wins in the Skeet competitions, with Trap to follow.

Kim Rhode, the six-time Olympic medal winner in 1996-2000-04-08-12-16 – and 2012 Olympic Skeet champ – is hardly slowing down at 43, winning the Skeet final in Morocco, 37-36 over Greece’s Emmanouela Katzouranki. She added a silver in the women’s Team final, with 16-year-old Katharina Jacob and 2017 World Champion Dania Jo Vizzi, losing to Kazakhstan, 11-9, in a shoot-off after a 5-5 tie in regulation.

Jacob did get a gold, however, in the All-American Mixed Team final. She and Conner Prince defeated Vizzi and Christian Elliott, 7-3.

The men’s Skeet title went to Greece’s 42-year-old European silver medalist Nikolaos Mavrommatis, 38-37, over Egypt’s Azmy Mehelba, 31, the 2022 World Champion. The Team title went to the U.S. trio of Prince, Elliott and Dustan Taylor, which beat Kuwait, 6-4, in the final.

The Trap events continue through the 24th.

● Wrestling ● Money! United World Wrestling announced prize money for its Ranking Series tournaments of CHF 390,000 for 2023, about $425,725 U.S.:

“The gold medal winners at the four Ranking Series tournaments in 2023 will receive 1500 Swiss Francs with the silver medalists getting 750 Swiss Francs. The two bronze medalists will receive 500 Swiss Francs each.”

The Ranking Series is as close to a Grand Prix circuit as wrestling has, with the tournaments growing in popularity.

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TSX REPORT: Pricey Paris 2024 hospitality program unveiled; WADA says testing levels rebounded in ‘21; Bob Hersh passes at 82

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. OnLocation’s Paris 2024 hospitality packages announced
2. IOC picks joint EBU-WBD bid for 2026-2032 Games
3. WADA report shows 2021 testing levels heading back up
4. More than 500,000 tickets sold for ‘23 FIFA Women’s World Cup
5. Track & field’s Bob Hersh – “The Commissioner” – passes at 82

The Paris 2024 hospitality packages by OnLocation are now on sale, with a variety of programs available. They aren’t cheap, but the project will bring millions to the International Olympic Committee that might have gone to high-end tour operators previously. The IOC agreed to a joint proposal from the European Broadcasting Union and Warner Bros. Discovery that allows both to have rights to the Olympic and Winter Games from 2026-32. The World Anti-Doping Agency released its testing report for 2021, showing that testing volumes have not quite returned to pre-pandemic levels, but pretty close. FIFA announced that it has sold more than 500,000 tickets so far for July’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, and expectations are high to surpass the all-time attendance record set in France for the 2019 edition. Bob Hersh, an American lawyer who made enormous contributions to the sport of track & field and rose to Senior Vice President of the IAAF (now World Athletics), sadly passed away on Wednesday at age 82.

1.
OnLocation’s Paris 2024 hospitality packages announced

“Guests will have a chance to select from up to three different levels of service; availability will depend on the sport session and/or venue.

“● Gold (€€€): A prime location within the venue featuring a gourmet tasting menu and exclusive sports moments, with the opportunity to upgrade to a seated dinner in certain venues

“● Silver (€€): First-class hospitality with a gourmet buffet

“● Bronze (€): Informal and relaxed hospitality experience”

That’s some of the detail now available from the International Olympic Committee’s new hospitality program for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, being run by OnLocation, a veteran, New York-based company owned by the entertainment conglomerate Endeavor. OnLocation has been involved with the National Football League and other high-profile events for years and now has the Olympic project for Paris and beyond.

The initial offer site is now up and has event hospitality as well as accommodations-and-tickets programs available on a dedicated site. What does it cost? It costs quite a bit; some examples (€1 = $1.08 today):

● Athletics/03 August: This session includes the final of the women’s 100 m, with costs of €6,500 per person (plus tax) for Gold Level hospitality and a Category A ticket, €3,750 per person (plus tax) for Silver Level (and a Category A ticket) and €1,500 (plus tax) for Bronze Level and a Category B ticket, or €995 (plus tax) for Bronze and a Category C ticket.

For the men’s 100 m final on 4 August, the prices go up to €8,500 (A ticket), €4,900 (B ticket), €1,850 (B ticket) and €1,350 (C ticket).

The final two days with the 4×100 m and 4×400 m relays are less: €3,500-1,350-900-575 for 9 August and €4,900-1,850-1,350-750 for 10 August.

● Basketball/11 August: The women’s final has on-site options of €880 or €600 for Bronze hospitality and Category B or C tickets. No offer yet on the men’s final on the 10th.

● Football/09 August: This is the men’s final, with €950 for Bronze level hospitality and a Category “1st” ticket; no offer on the women’s final yet.

● Gymnastics/30 July: For the women’s Team final, the offers are €3,995 for Gold and a Category A ticket and €1,550 for Bronze and a Category B ticket at the Bercy Arena.

No on-site package is yet available for the women’s All-Around final, but for the three days of men’s and women’s apparatus finals, on-site programs go for €3,400 for Gold hospitality and a Category A ticket on 3 August, but €1,400 for 4 August (only Bronze-Category B offered) and back to €3,400 for 5 August.

● Swimming/28 July: The second day of swimming has a €2,950 package with Silver hospitality and a Category A ticket. Same for the 30th and 1-3-4 August, but the 31st is up to €4,250 for Silver and a Category A ticket! No on-site packages are shown for the 27th, 29th and 2nd.

● Closing Ceremony/11 August: This is at the Stade de France, with options of €4,750-2,150-1,500 for Gold (A)-Silver (B)-Bronze (C).

No offers are available – so far – for sailing or shooting, or surfing, which will take place in Tahiti.

Interestingly, none of these high-profile sports had a “season ticket” available for someone to take in all of the days of a single sport. Perhaps that will come later. No option for the Opening Ceremony has been posted yet.

The program is reportedly offering about 5,000 packages in total, incorporating about 750,000 tickets or only 7.5% of the total of 10 million Olympic tickets available. A less expensive off-site hospitality program is also available, centered at the Club House 24, at the Palais de Tokyo, in the middle of Paris, not far from the Eiffel Tower.

A separate group of accommodations-and-tickets packages are also available in 3-star and 4-star levels, mostly for three nights.

Observed: These are expensive packages and, of course, do not include airfare or – for the most part – accommodations. The IOC’s goal is to try and remove – as much as possible – independent tour packagers from the Olympic business and it will succeed to a large extent, but not completely. What this program will do is collect for the IOC and the Paris 2024 organizers millions of euros that previously went to high-end tour operators; more popularly-priced tours will continue on without much change.

As this is a first-time venture, how well these programs are managed will have a major impact on their future success.

2.
IOC picks joint EBU-WBD bid for 2026-2032 Games

After working with the European Broadcasting Union of public entities to air the Olympic Games in Europe beginning in 1956 and then moving to the completely private Discovery for 2018-24, the IOC chose a middle path by accepting a joint proposal of EBU and Warner Bros. Discovery for the Olympic and Winter Games from 2026-32.

The agreement gives both groups wide access to the Games. The EBU public broadcasters will be back in the Olympic business for “free-to-air rights on television and digital platforms.” As for Warner Bros. Discovery, “it will continue to be the only place to present ‘every moment’ of the Games on its streaming and digital platforms, such as its leading sports and entertainment streaming service discovery+, and hold full pay-TV rights, including for its owned and operated Eurosport channels.”

The announcement noted that EBU’s rights were for 39 territories in Europe, while Warner Bros. Discovery has exclusive rights in 43 territories and non-exclusive rights in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Norway and Sweden.

No terms were disclosed; the contract for 2018-24 was for €1.3 billion (about $1.4 billion U.S.).

3.
WADA report shows 2021 testing levels heading back up

After the pandemic wiped out most of the worldwide competition schedule – and the accompanying drug testing – in many sports, the World Anti-Doping Agency saw testing levels in 2021 that approached pre-pandemic levels.

The new report showed testing numbers returning, but not at 2019 levels in 2021, but pretty close:

Olympic-sport tests:
● 2019: 227,032
● 2020: 127,483
● 2021: 207,008

Total tests:
● 2019: 278,047
● 2020: 149,758
● 2021: 241,430

Olympic-sport Adverse Findings:
● 2019: 0.67%
● 2020: 0.48%
● 2021: 0.49% (222)

Despite the advances in other forms of testing, urine specimens constituted 80.5% of all samples collected.

The largest sports by number of tests:

● 31.671 ~ Football (68 or 0.2% adverse findings)
● 31,178 ~ Athletics (184 or 0.6%)
● 20,617 ~ Cycling (146 or 0.7%)
● 16,263 ~ Aquatics (88 or 0.5%)
● 10,002 ~ Weightlifting (100 or 0.9%)

All of the summer Olympic sports had at least one adverse finding in 2021; the winter sports of bobsleigh & skeleton, curling and luge all had zero!

The worst sports for adverse findings were, not surprisingly, bodybuilding at 14.0% (97 out of 676) and arm wrestling: 9.0%, with 16 out of 177.

4.
More than 500,000 tickets sold for ‘23 FIFA Women’s World Cup

FIFA announced that ticket sales for the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand surpassed the 500,000 mark, with the 64-match tournament to start on 20 July.

This will be the first Women’s World Cup with 32 teams and the record attendance of 1.131 million from the 2019 tournament in France – in 52 matches – is expected to be passed.

Fans from 120 countries have purchased tickets, led by Australia and New Zealand – of course – but then also the U.S., England, Qatar, Germany, China, Canada, Ireland and France among the top 10.

The tournament will get a dress rehearsal in New Zealand from 17-23 February as FIFA stages a play-in tournament for 10 teams with three spots available in the Women’s World Cup to come from: Portugal, Cameroon, Thailand, Chile, Haiti, Senegal, Chinese Taipei, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay or Panama.

5.
Track & field’s Bob Hersh – “The Commissioner” – passes at 82

One of the most influential individuals in track & field in the 20th century and into the 21st, Bob Hersh, passed away on Wednesday at age 82 after a lengthy battle with cancer at Long Island, New York.

Starting as a team manager in high school and then at Columbia University, Hersh went on to become a prolific writer, announcer, statistician and critic of the sport and eventually part of its power structure, rising to Senior Vice President of the IAAF.

Among the U.S. track & field cognoscenti, he was universally known as “The Commissioner.” Why? He explained it in a 2018 interview with USA Track & Field on his induction into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame:

“[I]n the 1980s I developed the USA/Mobil Indoor Grand Prix. That was a program that brought together the meets on the North American indoor circuit, and there were more than a dozen of them at that time. I designed the Grand Prix, I wrote the rules, and I was the scorer and administrator; they actually at one point gave me the title of Commissioner.”

Hersh was a lawyer by trade, graduating from Harvard Law School and was a long-time counsel for the Equitable Life Assurance Society in New York. But he found plenty of time to immerse himself in his favorite sport.

He served the U.S. federation – as The Athletics Congress, then USA Track & Field – as Records Committee Chair (1981-88), Rules Committee Chair (1989-2001) and General Counsel (1989-97); he was an indispensable board member from 1981-2015.

Hersh served as the U.S. representative on the IAAF Council from 1999-2015, and was elected as Senior Vice President in 2011, the highest position in the federation ever held by an American. He was awarded the IAAF Silver Order of Merit in 2015 and until fairly recently was the head of the World Athletics Doping Review Board, which reviewed the eligibility of Russian athletes asking to compete as neutrals.

He was also the public address announcer for six Olympic Games – beginning in 1984 – and nine World Championships, but he was much more fun to talk to when he could express his opinions on many subjects, not just track & field.

Hersh was serious about the sport, but was a wonderful friend to so many who were involved in any capacity: athlete, coach, journalist, commentator, statisticians and fans. His staggering contribution to the sport, at times boisterous but over time more subtle and targeted, demonstrates the importance for every sport to attract people of integrity, talent and devotion to help make it better. Sometimes, it’s not all about the athletes.

He is survived by his wife Louise, who was with him for so many great moments they shared together at meets, and with friends from around the world.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Handball ● The IHF men’s World Championship in Poland and Sweden has moved into the second round, with 24 of the 32 teams advanced to more round-robin play.

Spain (Group A), France (B), Sweden (C), Germany (E), Norway (F), Egypt (G) and defending champ Denmark (H) all went 3-0 in their matches. The U.S. lost its last group-play game to Egypt, 35-16, but advanced to the second round-robin in Group IV.

The second group matches will conclude on the 23rd and the quarterfinals will start on the 25th; the medal matches will be on the 29th.

● Hockey ● The 2023 FIH Men’s World Cup continues in Bhubaneswar (IND), with only the Netherlands still undefeated at 2-0 among the four groups and one more match to go. The top 12 teams will advance to knock-out rounds that begin on the 22nd.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Winter Games 2026: Milan Cortina ● The Lombardy Region President, Attilio Fontana, had reassuring comments on the organization of the 2026 Winter Games after a Monday meeting on the progress of the project:

“I feel like I can say that even those concerns that had been highlighted for some works will definitely be overcome.

“We certainly do not fear the Cassandras who, even in these hours, inexplicably, seem to hope that ‘everything will go wrong’: sportingly speaking, given that the theme is the Olympics, I can only confirm how our team is close-knit and compact and that, through a team game, it will get to the finish line by centering the goal of making itself ready for the 2026 Games.”

● World University Games ● The Winter World University Games in Lake Placid is heading toward the close on Sunday, with Japan the big winner through the first seven days.

The Japanese squad has won 31 total medals, way out in front, with France second at 11, Poland with 10 and the U.S. with eight. In fact, Japan has more golds – 15 – then France had total medals! Japan dominated the Nordic Combined, with eight total medals (4-3-1) and has won eight in Speed Skating (3-2-3): that’s more than half of their total.

The host U.S. (1-5-2) has won one gold, with Evan Nichols and Niklas Malacinski taking the Nordic Combined Team Sprint (Normal Hill).

● Athletics ● The University of Southern California announced Wednesday that it has renamed its track and field facility as Allyson Felix Field, replacing the long-time name of Cromwell Field.

The seating facility surrounding the track remains Loker Stadium, named after donor Katherine Loker, which opened in 2001. The field had long been named for legendary USC coach Dean Cromwell, who won 12 NCAA Track & Field Championships at USC during his tenure from 1909-13 and 1916-48. He was an assistant coach of the U.S. Olympic team in 1936 and has been identified as responsible for removing Jewish sprinters Sam Stoller and Marty Glickman from the U.S. 4×100 m relay team, possibly on anti-Semitic grounds; he never apologized for the incident. He was also the head coach for the 1948 U.S. Olympic track & field team.

USC announced in 2019 that it was reviewing the naming of the field for Cromwell in 1984 in view of his racial views. The news release of the field being named for Felix does not mention Cromwell. Felix graduated from USC, but never ran for the track team as she turned professional out of high school. Now retired, she won 11 Olympic medals (7-3-1) and 20 World Championships medals (14-3-3) in the 200 m, 400 m and relays.

● Cycling ● The road cyclists are back, with the finish of the UCI Women’s World Tour Santos Tour Down Under in Australia on 15-16-17 January.

Only the second of the three stages was even moderately hilly and the top eight riders were within 15 seconds of each other going into the final ride from Adelaide to Campbelltown. Australian Grace Brown – the 2022 Worlds Time trial runner-up – outleaned countrywoman (and three-time winner) Amanda Spratt at the tape and took the overall title at 8:03:29 to 8:03:39, with fellow Australian Georgia Williams third (+0:19). American Krista Doebel-Hickok was fifth (+0:29).

It’s Brown’s first win – and first medal – in this race!

● Football ● The U.S. women will play this summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup group-stage matches in Auckland and Wellington, New Zealand and so they are on tour there now, playing friendlies against the Football Ferns.

On Wednesday in Wellington, the U.S. claimed a 4-0 win, with all of its goals coming in the second half. Mallory Swanson (nee Pugh) got the first goal of the match in the 52nd minute on a header, followed quickly by an Alex Morgan goal in the 60th, Swanson again in the 62nd and finally a Lynn Williams score in the 72nd.

The American women controlled the match with 74% of possession and a 15-2 shots advantage. U.S. keeper Alyssa Naeher recorded her 51st career shutout.

The U.S. now holds an 18-1-1 record all-time vs. New Zealand and they will play again on Saturday (21st) in Auckland.

● Swimming ● A modest audience for NBC’s delayed highlights package of the Tyr Pro Swim Series aired on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Eastern time, up against live NFL playoff action, with an average of 345,000 viewers.

The Miami at Buffalo game against it drew 30.87 million viewers for CBS.

You can receive our exclusive TSX Report by e-mail by clicking here. You can also refer a friend by clicking here, and can donate here to keep this site going.

For our updated, 929-event International Sports Calendar for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

LANE ONE: Valieva clearance by RUSADA appeal board brings U.S. skaters a step closer to their medals

By
Rich Perelman
-
The Court of Arbitration for Sport

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

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As the one-year anniversary of the revelation that Russian figure skating star Kamila Valieva had returned a positive doping test comes up on 8 February, the endless inquiries and appeals appear to finally be coming to a close.

The World Anti-Doping Agency’s announcement last Friday that the Russian Anti-Doping Agency’s Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee had returned a decision holding Valieva – now 16 – to be at “no fault or negligence” for the positive test is an important step forward.

WADA had already filed, under its authority in the World Anti-Doping Code, to remove the cases from the Russian Anti-Doping Agency after months of waiting for a resolution to the case. Now it has one, so the next steps are clearer.

Based on the WADA statement, and statements made by others, what we know is:

● The RUSADA Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee found that Valieva had, in fact, committed a doping violation. This is critically important.

● It found “no fault or negligence” on her part, which allowed the Disciplinary Committee – under the World Anti-Doping Code – to let her essentially skip any penalties; she was sanctioned with only a suspension of one day’s ineligibility for 25 December 2021, the day she took the test.

● The RUSADA Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee is separate and independent of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency. This may sound strange given the names, but the Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee is, essentially, an appeals panel for decisions made by RUSADA. And the main agency and the Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee have not been on the same page for a long time on this case.

● The Russian Anti-Doping Agency itself says it may appeal the decision of the Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee in the Valieva case! Said RUSADA chief Veronika Loginova:

“After reviewing the reasoning part of the decision of the disciplinary committee in this case, RUSADA will consider the possibility of appealing it. We expect to receive the full text of the decision in soon and without any delay.”

Strange? Not really. Consider the timeline a year ago:

● On 7 February 2022, during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, Valieva’s positive test for trimetazidine – a prohibited substance – was confirmed by the Swedish laboratory doing the test, at a very low level of 2.1 ng/mL.

● On 8 February 2022, the Russian Anti-Doping Agency notified Valieva that she was provisionally suspended. Valieva immediately appealed.

● On 9 February 2022, the Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee appeals board reversed the suspension and lifted the provisional suspension, allowing Valieva to compete in the women’s figure skating competition in Beijing.

So, RUSADA and its appeals division were not in agreement on the Valieva case a year ago and they aren’t now.

There’s all kinds of speculation about what will happen next and how Valieva’s status as a “Protected Person” – a minor – under the World Anti-Doping Code will help her. Based on what we know now, the case appears to be rather straightforward, but will surely be complicated by the full opinion of the Russian Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee.

Let’s try to sort this out:

(1) Based on the WADA announcement last Friday, even the Russian Disciplinary Committee agrees that there was a doping violation by Valieva as shown by her 25 December 2021 test that showed trimetazidine in a low concentration of 2.1 ng/mL. This would suggest that Valieva’s B-sample also tested positive for the drug.

She tested negative on 30 October 2021, 13 January 2022 and 7 February 2022.

(2) The Court of Arbitration for Sport’s 41-page opinion in Beijing, issued on 17 February 2022, concerned only Valieva’s provisional suspension and her ability to compete in Beijing, and not whether a suspension after a full investigation should be imposed. However, that CAS decision provides a roadmap for what happens now, a year later.

(3) For athletes who are not “protected” – that is, adults aged 18 or older – the World Anti-Doping Code imposes suspensions for use of banned substances such as trimetazidine, usually of four years. Showings that a doping positive was caused by the ingestion of contaminated food or drink has sometimes caused suspensions to be lifted, but the contamination process must be specified in detail: what was ingested, where and how and with proof. For example, American sprinter and long jumper Jarrion Lawson successfully ended a suspension in 2020 with proof of contaminated beef he ingested from a specific restaurant.

(4) However, for a “Protected Person” such as Valieva – due to her age – the standard of proof for contamination is lower. In the World Anti-Doping Code, section 10.6.1.3:

“Where the anti-doping rule violation not involving a Substance of Abuse is committed by a Protected Person or Recreational Athlete, and the Protected Person or Recreational Athlete can establish No Significant Fault or Negligence, then the period of Ineligibility shall be, at a minimum, a reprimand and no period of Ineligibility, and at a maximum, two (2) years Ineligibility, depending on the Protected Person on the Protected Person or Recreational Athlete’s degree of Fault.”

(5) So now the question turns to the level of proof for Valieva to “establish” that she had “no significant fault or negligence,” permitting just a day’s sanction instead of a suspension of a few months.

WADA is hardly convinced that Valieva somehow drank – once – from the same glass that her grandfather (who apparently takes trimetazidine for a heart condition) used, or touched the glass in a way that would innocently introduce the drug into her body. WADA contended during the Beijing hearing:

“The position of the two [Russian] scientific experts was, in essence, that the concentration in the Athlete’s sample was compatible with contamination. The experts conceded, however, that the [positive doping finding] was also compatible with the end of the excretion period after a full dose of Trimetazidine. …

“The Athlete failed to provide evidence that her explanation is ‘most likely’: a) First, there is no independent and/or documentary evidence that the Athlete’s grandfather used Trimetazidine. There is, without limitation, no proof of purchase, no underlying medical records, and no prescription; b) Second, there is no scientific evidence as to whether the specifics of the AAF (in particular the concentration of Trimetazidine) are compatible with the athlete’s explanation of the accidental exposure.”

(6) What did the RUSADA investigation show and how did the Disciplinary Committee consider the evidence on appeal? This is why the opinion of the Disciplinary Committee is needed, in that it handed down a penalty at the absolute low end of the scale – a one-day sanction – while a suspension of up to two years is also possible for “Protected Persons.”

(7) WADA may actually be in a better position now than it was in November, when it removed the case from RUSADA to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, under section 13.3 of the World Anti-Doping Code. In that circumstance, “WADA may elect to appeal directly to CAS as if the Anti-Doping Organization had rendered a decision finding no anti-doping rule violation.”

It appears that now, even the new Russia Disciplinary Committee decision found that there was a doping violation by Valieva. If so, the burden is now on her to “establish” her lack of fault and not on WADA to prove that there was a violation and that she was at fault.

So, with WADA appeal coming, a Court of Arbitration for Sport panel – yet to be assigned – will have to weigh the level of fault that Valieva had in ingesting enough trimetazidine to create the doping positive.

With a normal suspension for a “Protected Person” of up to two years (24 months), if the CAS panel found her just 6.2% responsible, she could be assigned a ban of 45 days (6.2% of 730 days is 45) from the date of the positive test – 25 December 2021 – that would include 7 February 2022, when she finished competing in the Team Event in Beijing.

A more likely – and less pointed – ban would be three months, which would make Valieva ineligible for both the Team Event and the women’s Singles, disqualifying the winning Russian team and nullifying her fourth-place finish in the women’s competition.

All of this is really about Valieva’s eligibility to skate in the Team Event and whether Russia should be awarded the gold medal, or be disqualified. There is another inquiry into any mischief by the entourage around Valieva, but this is separate.

The Russian Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee found a way to give Valieva a free pass for her doping violation prior to the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, in February of 2022 and now in January of 2023. It’s far from sure that she will get the same lenient treatment in front of a non-Russian panel at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

In the meantime, however, everyone – including the American, Japanese and Canadian skaters that went 2–3-4 in the Team Event – have to continue to wait.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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TSX REPORT: Russian anti-doping agency says Valieva at “no fault” for doping; FIFA inquiring into Argentina’s behavior after win; U.S. handball history!

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. RUSADA found Valieva at “no fault” in doping probe
2. Six more Moscow Lab Russian doping positives!
3. FIFA opens inquiry into Argentina’s conduct during final
4. Papa Massata Diack corruption appeal opens in Paris
5. Japan takes first medals at Winter Universiade in Lake Placid

The Russian decision on the Kamila Valieva doping situation from the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games was disclosed Friday by the World Anti-Doping Agency, which said the Disciplinary Committee of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency found she was not at fault and penalized her only one day as a sanction. The matter is now turning to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, with WADA expected to appeal, along with others. The Athletics Integrity Unit announced six more Russian doping positives, including a new positive from the London 2012 Games, all based on data from the infamous Moscow Laboratory database, in which data was manipulated as part of a state-sponsored scheme from 2011-15. FIFA announced a series of sanctions from the FIFA World Cup in Qatar and opened an inquiry into the antics of the winning Argentinian team following their victory over France in the final. In Paris, an appeal of a corruption conviction against Senegalese middleman Papa Massata Diack has begun; he was convicted of working in cooperation with his father, the late IAAF President, Lamine Diack, to cover up Russia doping positives and to secure bribes to influence the selection of Olympic host cities for 2016 and 2020. At the Winter World University Games in Lake Placid, New York, Japan won the first medals of the Games last Friday in the Mixed Classical Team Sprint in cross-country skiing.

1.
RUSADA found Valieva at “no fault” in doping probe

“The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has been informed by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) that its disciplinary tribunal has now rendered a decision in the case of Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) figure skater, Kamila Valieva. The tribunal found that although the athlete had committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation, she bore ‘no fault or negligence’ for it. As such, the tribunal imposed no sanction except for the disqualification of her results on the date of the sample collection (25 December 2021).”

WADA posted its statement on Friday, publicly disclosing the finding of the independent Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, which the Russians had said previously they would not announce publicly.

This is not a great surprise, since the RUSADA Disciplinary Committee is the same group that reversed her suspension by RUSADA’s administration and allowed her to compete at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games last February. The question is, what happens now.

WADA’s statement noted:

“The decision in this case comes in the wake of WADA’s announcement on 8 November 2022 that following an unacceptable delay by RUSADA in rendering a decision in this matter, the Agency had referred it directly to CAS. In that referral, WADA sought a four-year period of ineligibility for the athlete. Following a full review of the RUSADA decision, WADA will consider what its next steps will be so that the matter is dealt with as quickly as possible and without further undue delay.”

The Court of Arbitration for Sport matter is still in its early stages, so there may not be much additional delay, although the parties will now wait for the acquisition of the full decision from the RUSADA Disciplinary Committee.

U.S. Anti-Doping Agency chief Travis Tygart told USA Today that “WADA and the [International Skating Union] have to appeal this decision for the sake of the credibility of the anti-doping system and the rights of all athletes. The world can’t possibly accept this self-serving decision by RUSADA.”

They might not be the only ones. Veronika Loginova, the head of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency told TASS:

“RUSADA has not yet received the full text of the decision of the Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee, namely its reasoning part. We will conduct a legal assessment of the rationale for the decision taken by the committee. After reviewing the reasoning part of the decision of the disciplinary committee in this case, RUSADA will consider the possibility of appealing it. We expect to receive the full text of the decision in soon and without any delay.”

Russian politicians were, of course, pleased. But State Duma member Svetlana Zhurova told TASS:

“These are intermediate decisions, everyone understands this, and, most likely, in the end everything will be decided in court. But, if earlier foreign lawyers could defend us, and this led to good results, now it will be more difficult – many of them have been banned from doing this.

“On the other hand, it is important that the Disciplinary Committee made just such a decision. The position is clear, and it is formulated on an evidence base. Further, most likely, WADA will consider this, and we understand that they will try to play this situation in their own way.”

The International Olympic Committee told TASS:

“The IOC welcomes WADA’s announcement to conduct a full review of RUSADA’s decision in order to consider further action and the possibility of resolving the case as soon as possible without further undue delay.

“Since this concerns a test that was conducted outside the Olympic Games, but which has an impact on the results in the team tournament and individual competitions at Beijing Winter Olympics, the IOC hopes that the case will be resolved as soon as possible. This is also in the interests of all participants, especially athletes who have not yet been able to receive their medals from the Games in 2022.

“Only the completion of the case will allow the International Skating Union to establish the final results of the team tournament and the IOC to decide on the distribution of medals.”

2.
Six more Moscow Lab Russian doping positives!

The hits just keep on coming. Even after the International Testing Agency closed its books on doping re-analysis from the London 2012 Olympic Games, the independent Athletics Integrity Unit posted more 2012 doping sanctions on Friday, based on information from the manipulated (LIMS) database of the infamous Moscow Laboratory from 2011-15:

● “Russian athlete Yelena Churakova has been banned for 2 years from 11 January 2023 for the use of a Prohibited Substance/Method. DQ results from 20 June 2012 until 28 February 2013.”

This is London doping positive no. 74, the most of any Games in history. Churakova was a 2012 semifinalist in the women’s 400 m hurdles and had a lifetime best of 54.78 from that year. She was caught for doping six different times between 20 June and 1 August of that year, but the database showed no positives. Now 36, her personal best reverts to 54.79 from 2011; she last competed in 2015.

● “Russian athlete Yevgeniya Kolodko has been banned for 2 years from 11 January 2023 for the use of a Prohibited Substance/Method. DQ results from 4 July 2012 until 2 July 2016.”

Kolodko and doping were old friends, as she had previously been disqualified for doping and lost her bronze medal in the women’s shot (20.48 m/67-2 1/4). The new data showed two more positive samples for steroids during 12 days in July 2012, adding to her suspension. Now 32, she last competed in 2014, and her lifetime best reverts to 20.22 m (66-4 1/4) from 2012 and she loses her 2014 European Championships silver medal.

● “Russian athlete Yekaterina Strokova has been banned for 4 years from 11 January 2023 for the use of a Prohibited Substance/Method. DQ results from 20 June 2012 until 11 January 2023.”

A discus thrower, Strokova had four non-recorded positives from tests in 2012-13-14, but did not compete in London 2012. Now 33, she competed in 2022 and is now likely done. Her lifetime best reverts to 63.52 m (208-5) in early 2012 from 65.78 m (215-10) in 2014.

● “Russian athlete Anton Luboslavskiy has been banned for 4 years from 11 January 2023 for the use of a Prohibited Substance/Method. DQ results from 20 June 2012 until 11 January 2023.”

A 2008 Olympian as a men’s shot putter, he last competed in 2017 and his lifetime best remains 20.78 m (68-2 1/4) from 2012. Now 38, he tested positive for steroids in June and July of 2012, neither of which was recorded.

● “Russian athlete Anastasiya Kapachinskaya has been banned for the use of a Prohibited Substance/Method.”

The 2003 World Champion in the women’s 200 m, she’s a three-time loser now, having previously been sanctioned in 2004 and 2011. Now 43, she last competed in 2013; due to her prior penalties and loss of results, no sanctions were added.

● “Russian athlete Yevgeniya Polyakova has been banned for 4 years from 11 January 2023 for the use of a Prohibited Substance/Method. DQ results from 20 June 2012 until 11 January 2023.”

Now 39, she last competed in 2017 and was a 2008 Olympian, reaching the women’s 100 m semis and running on the winning women’s 4×100 m that was later disqualified for doping by others. She had a best of 11.09 from 2007.

Olympic statman Hilary Evans (GBR) tweeted:

“So with the news of the disqualification of hurdler Yelena Churakova from the 2012 Olympics, 46 Russian athletes have now been disqualified from an event at the those games.

“Although I should point that 4 of the disqualified owe their DQs to team mates doping rather than their own deeds”

3.
FIFA opens inquiry into Argentina’s conduct during final

“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has opened proceedings against the Argentinian Football Association due to potential breaches of articles 11 (Offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play) and 12 (Misconduct of players and officials) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, as well as of article 44 of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Regulations in conjunction with the Media and Marketing Regulations for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, during the Argentina v. France FIFA World Cup final.”

That from a FIFA statement posted last Friday, which summarized multiple actions by the federation from the recent FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The International Sports Journalists Association (AIPS) explained in a Saturday post:

“Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez made a lewd gesture with his goalkeeper of the tournament trophy after the match, before being filmed in the dressing room mocking France star Kylian Mbappe.

“Argentine players and officials also sang an offensive song about the media while celebrating at the mixed zone, one of the press areas, after their victory over France [at] Lusail Stadium in Doha.”

FIFA also handed out penalties to three member associations:

● Ecuadorian Football Association: A fine of CHF 20,000 and a “partial stadium closure” – the spectator areas behind the goals – for its next home match due to an offensive “chant” by Ecuador fans during the Ecuador-Qatar World Cup opener on 20 November 2022.

● Mexican Football Association: A fine of CHF 100,000 and one home match to be played without spectators due to anti-gay chants by Mexican fans during group matches with Poland (22 November) and Saudi Arabia (30 November). This is just the latest in a long line of sanctions due to the actions of Mexican fans.

● Football Association of Serbia: A fine of CHF 50,000 and a 25% stadium closure for its next home match due to chants by its fans during the Serbia vs. Switzerland group-stage match on 2 December.

An inquiry was also opened against Croatia for its aggressive actions against the referees following the end of the Croatia-Morocco third-place game.

4.
Papa Massata Diack corruption appeal opens in Paris

Although Lamine Diack, the former head of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) died in 2021, the convictions for corruption, fraud and extortion for hiding Russian doping positives reached in Paris from 2020 included his son, Papa Massata Diack, who is very much alive and continuing to live in Senegal, far away from French jurisdiction.

Reuters reported on Friday that the Papa Massata Diack’s appeal of those convictions has started, with the younger Diack’s lawyers saying that he is under “legal supervision” in Senegal. Their request for a further postponement was rejected by the French court. Per Reuters:

“French prosecutors have argued Papa Massata was at the centre of a corruption probe that spanned Europe, Asia and the Americas, and that included the awarding of the 2020 Olympic Games to Tokyo and the 2016 Games to Rio de Janeiro.”

Lamine Diack was head of the IAAF from 1999 until being forced to resign due to the corruption allegations, in 2015, after which he was under house arrest in Paris until his trial finished in 2020. In failing health, he was allowed to return to Senegal and died there in December 2021 at age 88. Diack was a member of the International Olympic Committee from 1999-2013 and during that time was accused of buying votes on behalf of bid cities in the elections for the hosts of the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games.

5.
Japan takes first medals at Winter Universiade in Lake Placid

The 2023 Winter World University Games is underway in Lake Placid, New York, with weather delaying some of the first events on the schedule last Friday, but Japan claiming the first medal of the Games.

While the Alpine Super-G had to be postponed, the 8.1 km Mixed Classical Sprint Team event in cross-country skiing took place in snow and concluded at 10:57 a.m. Eastern time (Friday) with Ryo Hirose and Rin Sobue winning in 20:42.85, just ahead of Americans Finn Sweet and Ranae Anderson (20:51.87).

Event no. 2 was the men’s Snowboard Cross final at Gore Mountain, with Benjamin Gattaz (FRA) taking the gold over Jakub Zerava (CZE) and Leon Beckhaus (GER) at about 1:45 p.m. That was followed by the women’s final, with Swiss Sophie Hediger winning almost wire-to-wire over France’s Chloe Passerat and Kim Martinez over the 965 m course at 1:52 p.m.

The Winter WUG continues through the 12th, with 1,443 athletes from 46 countries competing in 85 events across 12 sports. The International Fair Play Committee is on site and will recognize acts of sportsmanship from Lake Placid during the Closing Ceremony; nomination information is here.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Handball ● Some history at the IHF men’s World Championship in Poland and Sweden, with the first-ever win by a U.S. men’s team at the Worlds in 26 tries.

Prior to its opening Group G match against Morocco, the U.S. men had been 0-25 in their six prior World Cup appearances – the last was in 2001 – and had been out-scored by a staggering 778-377 (31-15 average).

But against Morocco on Friday in Jonkoping (SWE), the game was 12-12 at half, but the U.S. built up a 25-22 lead with eight minutes left. But Morocco scored three straight to tie it and after Alexandre Chan Bianco scored his fifth goal with 1:51 left put the U.S. up, 27-26, Rezzouki Reida scored his second goal with 1:10 left to tie it again for Morocco. It was up to Aboubakar Fofana of the U.S. to get the game-winner with 43 seconds left – his sixth goal of the game – and when Morocco could not score, the Americans celebrated a historic victory.

The U.S. men were brought down to earth on Sunday, as they lost to Croatia, 40-22. They have one more in the group, against Egypt (2-0).

Group play continues to the 17th, with a second round-robin before the playoffs begin on 25 January.

● Hockey ● The 15th FIH men’s World Cup has started in Bhubaneswar (IND), with 16 teams in competition, led by defending champion Belgium. The top seeds are host India, Australia, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Group play will continue through the 20th, with the playoffs beginning on the 22nd.

● Ice Hockey ● For the first time since 2018, the IIHF Women’s U18 World Championship did not feature a Canada vs. U.S. final. Instead, it was home favorites Sweden facing Canada for the title in Oestersund (SWE) on Sunday, with Canada winning its seventh title via a 10-0 rout.

The Canadian women won Group A with a 3-0 record, beating the U.S., 3-1, and defeating Sweden, 4-2. Canada’s semifinal was a tight, 3-2 overtime win against Finland, while the Swedes surprised the U.S., 2-1.

But in the final, the Canadians jumped on top, out-shooting Sweden by 14-3 in the first period and piling up a 5-0 lead. Forward Caitlin Kraemer opened the scoring with goals at 5:16 and 5:41 of the opening period and got a third at the 12-minute mark to make it 5-0 and the rout was on. She scored a fourth in the third period on a power play, as Canada out-shot the Swedes, 40-21. Canadian keeper Hannah Clark got the shutout.

The U.S. took the bronze medal with a 5-0 shutout of Finland, continuing its streak of having won a medal in every edition of this event (7-7-1).

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Alpine Skiing ● The first of three straight Super-G races on the FIS women’s World Cup tour was in St. Anton (AUT) on Saturday with Italy’s Federica Brignone getting her first win of the season – and 21st of her career, on a shortened course due to heavy snow – in 1:00.21. That was a clear winner over Swiss Joana Haehlin (1:00.75) and Beijing 2022 Olympic champ Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI: 1:00.87.

Sunday’s second Super-G was Gut-Behrami’s second win of the season and 36th of her career, with Brignone second, 1:17.26 to 1:17.41, and fellow Italian Marta Bassino third (1:17.45).

Seasonal leader Mikaela Shiffrin of the U.S. sat out, but is expected to be back in action on the 24th in Kronplatz (ITA), with two Giant Slaloms scheduled.

Norway’s Aleksander Aamodt Kilde was dialed in on the course in Wengen (SUI), winning Friday’s Super-G and then Saturday’s Downhill for his fifth and sixth wins of the season. He finished 0.27 ahead of Swiss Stefan Rogentin, 1:47.84-1:48.11 in the Super-G with seasonal leader Marco Odermatt (SUI: 1:48.50) third, and then out-raced Odermatt in the Downhill in 1:43.14 (to 1:44.02). American Ryan Cochran-Siegle was sixth in the Super-G.

Sunday’s Slalom saw Norway win its fourth World Cup race in a row and 11th out of 20 this season with Henrik Kristoffersen logging his 30th career World Cup victory, 1:51.18 to 1:51.38 over Swiss Loic Meillard, with fellow Norwegian Lucas Braathen third (1:51.67).

● Athletics ● Sunday’s Chevron Houston Marathon winners were Kenyan Dominic Ondoro (2:10:36) by a second over Tsedat Ayana (ETH: 2:10:37) in the men’s race and Japan’s Hitomi Niiya in the women’s race, in 2:19:24.

Now let’s talk about the Half Marathon.

Another close men’s race saw Ethiopian Leul Gebresilassie – the London and Rotterdam Marathons runner-up in 2022 – edge Wesley Kiptoo (KEN) by 60:34 to 60:35 in a final sprint, but the women’s race had a record moment.

The women’s race was two impressive runaways. Ethiopian Hiwot Gebrekidan – the 2021 Berlin Marathon runner-up and Milan Marathon winner, listed as Hiwot Gebremaryam – ran away from the field almost from the gun, winning in 66:28. Her primary chaser after 15 km was American Emily Sisson, who finished well back, but in 66:52, shattering her American Record of 67:11 from 2022. Britain’s Jessica Warner-Judd was further back in third at 67:19. American Molly Huddle was fifth in 70:01.

Sisson, 31, was 10th at the Tokyo Olympic 10,000 m and scored American Records in the Marathon (2:18:29) and Half Marathon in 2022, and now owns four of the top six Half times in U.S. history.

Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw scared her own world mark of 29:14 – from 2022 – in the women’s 10 km road race with a 29:19 win at the Valencia 10K Ibercaja on Sunday in Spain. It’s the no. 2 performance in history; she won by 42 seconds.

Defending champions Nick Christie and Miranda Melville repeated their wins at the USA Track & Field 35 km Walk Championships on Sunday at Santee, California.

Christie won his third straight national title in 2:44:16, the no. seven performance in U.S. history (he has four of them) and won by 3:32 over Dan Nehnevaj (2:47:48), who moved to no. 6 on the all-time U.S. performer list.

Melville moved into the lead just past halfway and widened her lead over fellow walk star Maria Michta-Coffey to win in 2:57:22 to move to no. 2 on the all-time U.S. performer and performance lists. Michta-Coffey was a clear second in 2:58:39, a lifetime best at this new distance and the no. 3 performance in U.S. history. Stephanie Casey was third in 3:00.05, making her the no. 4 U.S. performer ever.

● Badminton ● The BWF World Tour $1.25 million Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur had all five leaders in the world rankings, and all five won!

Viktor Axelsen (DEN) defeated Kodai Naraoka (JPN), 21-6, 21-15 to win the men’s Singles, and Akane Yamaguchi (JPN) came from behind to defeat Se Young An (KOR), 12-21, 21-19, 21-11 in the women’s Singles.

Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto (INA) won the men’s Doubles over Wei Keng Liang and Chang Wang (CHN), 21-18, 18-21, 21-13, but China won the women’s Doubles behind Qing Chen Chen and Yi Fan Jia (CHN), over Ha Na Baek and Yu Lim Lee (KOR), 21-16, 21-10.

In the Mixed Doubles final, top-ranked Si Wei Zheng and Ya Qiong Huang (CHN) struggled past Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino (JPN), 21-19, 21-11.

● Biathlon ● Norway’s Johannes Thingnes Boe came into the fifth stop on the IBU World Cup tour in Ruhpolding (GER) having won seven of the last nine races, and no one could stop him in Wednesday’s 20 km Individual, as he skied away from countryman Vetle Christiansen, 48:48.4 (2 penalties) to 48:58.3 (1).

On Sunday, the 15 km Mass Start, Boe racked up three penalties, but still won in 36:12.0 to 36:31.3 for Christiansen (two penalties), as Norway went 1-2-3-4. That’s 9 of 11 for Boe now.

The women’s 15 km Individual on Thursday was a win for Lisa Vitozzi (ITA), her first since 2019-20 and her seventh career World Cup gold.. She beat France’s Lou Jeanmonnot, 40:05.9 (0) to 40:44.9 (0), with Julia Simon (FRA) winning a medal in her fifth straight race! (40:51.1/1).

The 12.5 km Mass Start finally saw a won for Simon, who had medaled in five straight races, but without a victory. She finished in 32:52.0 (3) to 32:54.6 for Vitozzi (1). France’s Anais Chevalier-Bouchet claimed the bronze in 32:58.7 (1).

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● Olympic women’s Monobob champ Kaillie Humphries scored her second win of the season in the first of two weeks of competitions at Altenberg (GER), beating Two-Woman Olympic winner Laura Nolte (GER), 1:57.92 to 1:58.47.

German Lisa Buckwitz, the 2018 Olympic gold medalist took the Two-Woman victory with Kira Lipperheide in 1:53.17 – their first win of the season – ahead of teammate Kim Kalicki (1:53.29) and Nolte (1:53.55), who tied for third with Humphries and Jasmine Jones.

Germany’s Johannes Lochner, the Beijing Two-Man and Four-Man silver winner, took his third straight World Cup win in the Two-Man, 1:49.20 to 1:49.63 over Britain’s Brad Hall, who won his third silver in five races this season. Olympic champ Francesco Friedrich was third (1:50.26).

In the Four-Man, it was Hall with his second win of the season in 1:48.22, ahead of Christoph Hader (GER: 1:48.31) and Lochner (1:48.48).

Britain scored a third win this season in the men’s Skeleton with Matt Weston getting his second victory in 1:52.44, over Olympic champ Christopher Grotheer (GER: 1:52.58) and teammate Axel Jungk (1:52.94). Four-time World Champion Tina Hermann (GER: 1:56.23) took her second win of the season, 1:56.23 to 1:57.27 over teammate Susanne Kreher, with European champ Kimberley Bos third (1:57.45).

● Curling ● The fourth of six events on the Grand Slam of Curling was the Canadian Open in Camrose, Alberta (CAN), with Beijing Olympic champ and six-time World Champion Niklas Edin (SWE) suffering a rare defeat in the men’s final.

Instead, it was three-time Grand Slam tournament winner Brendan Bottcher (CAN) – the winner of this tournament in 2019 – who got up by 3-2 after the third end and added points in the fourth and fifth and hung up for a 5-3 victory.

On the women’s final, it was Beijing Olympic silver medalist Satsuki Fujisawa (JPN) who took the early lead and never lost it, defeating 2022 Worlds bronze medalist Kerri Einarson (CAN), 5-3. Fujisawa’s rink went up 3-0 after two ends and got points in the fifth and seventh ends to clinch the title.

● Fencing ● The FIE World Cup circuit resumed in Paris with men’s and women’s Foil competitions and a fourth career World Cup victory for American star Alexander Massialas, the Rio 2016 Olympic silver medalist.

Massialas defeated Hong Kong’s Ka Long Cheung, the Tokyo Olympic gold medalist, 15-13 in the semifinals and then took the gold with a 15-5 finals triumph over Italian Guillaume Bianchi, in his first World Cup final.

Italy won the team title, however, 45-42, with the U.S. squad of Massialas, Miles Chamley-Watson, Nick Itkin and Gerek Meinhardt.

In the women’s final, Alice Volpi, Italy’s 2018 World Champion, defeated American Lee Kiefer, the Tokyo Olympic champ, 15-13, in a thrilling final. It was Volpi’s seventh World Cup gold and 16th career medal. Kiefer won her 5th career World Cup silver and 19th career medal.

Italy defeated the U.S. in the women’s team final as well; Kiefer teamed with Jacqueline Dubrovich, Zander Rhodes and Stefani Deschner for the silver.

In the FIE Sabre Grand Prix in Tunis (TUN), Sandro Bazadze of Georgia was the men’s winner over Tokyo silver medalist Luigi Samele of Italy, 15-9, for his first career Grand Prix title. American Eli Dershwitz, the 2018 Worlds silver winner, was one of the two bronze medalists.

Greece’s 2022 Worlds bronze medalist Delpina Georgiadou won the women’s final, 15-10, over Lucia Martin-Portugues of Spain.

● Luge ● Stage five on the FIL World Cup tour was in Sigulda (LAT) for the second week in a row, with lots of medals for the home teams, but most of the wins for Germany.

Germany’s Max Langenhan won the men’s Singles from two-time Olympic champ Felix Loch (GER), 1:32.588 to 1:32.646, and three-time Olympic gold medalists Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt won the men’s Doubles over Martins Bots and Roberts Plume, 1:24.022-1:24.084.

The women’s Singles winner was 2018 Olympic silver medalist Dajana Eitberger (GER), 1:22.999-1:23.093 over Elina Vitola (LAT), with 2021 World Champion Julia Taubitz (GER: 1:23.143) third. The women’s Doubles was the third win this season for Italy’s Andrea Votter and Marion Oberhofer, 1:26.281 to 1:26.782 ahead of Anda Upite and Sanija Ozolina (LAT).

● Ski Jumping ● The men’s World Cup tour resumed after the Four Hills Tournament in Zakopane (POL), jumping off a 140 m hill at night, with Norway’s Halvor Egner Granerud continuing his hot streak with his fourth win in the last five events.

Granerud scored 287.7 for the win over home favorite (and 2019 World Champion) Dawid Kubacki (286.6) and three-time World Champion Stefan Kraft (AUT: 278.5).

The women’s tour was in Japan for two competitions in Zao (102 m hill), with Canada’s Alexandria Loutitt, 19, getting her first medal and her first win (!), scoring 240.3 points. Austria took the other medals, with seasonal leader Eva Pinkelnig (231.8) and Chiara Kreuzer (228.6).

On Sunday, Pinkelnig won her fifth event of the season, 230.1 to 228.8 over German Selina Freitag; Norway’s Anna Odine Stroem was third (220.1).

● Snowboard ● The final competition in the FIS Big Air World Cup was in Kreischberg (AUT), with Japan sweeping the men’s podium and getting the women’s seasonal winner.

The men’s winner was Taiga Hasegawa, in a tight battle with teammates Ryoma Kimata and Kira Kimura, 186.00-182.50-181.75. The seasonal winner was Valentino Guseli of Italy, with 214 points, ahead of American Chris Corning (196).

The women’s winner was two-time Olympic champ Anna Gasser (AUT), who got her first win of the season, 179.75 to 176.50 over Olympic silver winner Zoi Sadowski Synnott, with Kokomo Murase (JPN: 174.50) third. The seasonal title, however, went to Japanese veteran Reira Iwabuchi, over Murase, 192-182, with Gasser third (180).

In Scuol (SUI), Poland’s Oskar Kwiatkowski won his first World Cup gold in the men’s Parallel Giant Slalom, defeating Mirko Felicetti (ITA) in the final, with veteran Andreas Prommegger (AUT) third.

Germany was 1-2 in the women’s Parallel Giant Slalom, with Carolin Langenhorst getting her first World Cup gold by beating 2018 Olympic bronze medalist Ramona Theresia Hofmeister in the final; Swiss star Julie Zogg was third.

● Swimming ● Four different women each won three events to highlight the Tyr Pro Swim Series in Knoxville, Tennessee that concluded on Saturday.

American Freestyle superstar Katie Ledecky was an easy – but impressive – winner in the 200 m, 400 m and 1,500 m events, winning in 1:55.47, 4:00.20 and 15:37.99, the latter the no. 14 performance in history … all of them hers.

Ledecky was second in the 400 m Medley, losing to 17-year-old Katie Grimes, 4:35.92 to 4:36.09. Grimes also won the 800 m Free (8:27.73) that Ledecky did not contest, and the 200 m Butterfly in 2:09.58.

Ireland’s Mona McSharry, who swims for Tennessee, took a triple victory in the 50-100-200 m Breast and Canada’s three-time Backstroke World Champion, Kylie Masse, won the 50-100-200 m Back events.

The big sprint winner was four-time Olympic relay medal winner Abbey Weitzeil of the U.S., taking the 50 m Free in 24.74 and the 50 m Fly in 26.50. Rio co-Olympic 10 m Free champ Simone Manuel returned to competition after a year odd and finished a creditable third in the 50 m Free (25.19) and 100 m Free (54.81).

The men’s events saw a great competition between Olympic 800–1,500 m Free gold medalist Bobby Finke of the U.S. and Tunisia’s Ahmed Hafnaoui, the Tokyo 400 m Freestyle winner. Hafnaoui won the 400 m Free in 3:47.71 with Finke third, and the 800 m Free in 7:53.10, with Finke second. Finke took the 1,500 m Free with a final-lap surge to overtake Hafnaoui, 15:06.53 to 15:07.07. Finke also won the 400 m Medley in 4:17.64, beating Tokyo Olympic silver winner Jay Litherland (4:17.97).

American Justin Ress, the 50 m Back World Champion, won that event in 24.49, over world-record holder Hunter Armstrong (24.70), but Armstrong won the 100 m Back in 52.68 over Rio 2016 Olympic champ Ryan Murphy (53.47). Bulgarian Lyubomir Epitropov, who also swims for Tennessee, won the 100 m (1:01.35) and 200 m (2:12.15) Breaststroke events.

The second installment of the Tyr Pro Swim Series comes 1-4 March in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

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TSX REPORT: Winter Universiade opens in Lake Placid; Litvinov admits doping, loses medal; Gold Coast playing politics vs. Brisbane on 2032 costs

By
Rich Perelman
-
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul opening the Winter World University Games in Lake Placid, with FISU Acting President Leonz Eder (l) and Adirondack Sports Council Chair James McKenna (r). (Photo: Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games Organizing Committee)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Winter World University Games open in Lake Placid
2. IPC to hear Russian suspension appeal in spring
3. Russia’s Litvinov admits doping, loses 2014 Euro hammer bronze
4. Gold Coast looking to upstage Brisbane in 2032
5. Morgan, Messi, Mbappe nominated for FIFA awards

The 31st Winter World University Games opened in Lake Placid, New York on Thursday evening, with New York Governor Kathy Hochul declaring the Games open, although the ice hockey tournament actually began on Wednesday. The appeals board of the International Paralympic Committee will hear the appeal of the Russian Paralympic Committee to be reinstated in the spring, after the IPC suspended it last November, something the International Olympic Committee has been loath to do with the Russian Olympic Committee. Russian hammer thrower Sergej Litvinov, 36, and son of the 1988 Olympic gold medalist of the same name, admitted to doping in 2012 on a Facebook post, and was promptly slapped with a suspension of two years by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency and a nullification of his results that will take away his 2014 European Championships bronze medal. Politics over public spending is in full swing in Australia regarding the 2032 Olympic Games, where the Mayor of Gold Coast – the successful host of the 2018 Commonwealth Games – is campaigning for more events to be moved there from Brisbane, which is facing a possible multi-billion-dollar cost to revamp the Brisbane Cricket Ground (“The Gabba”) for future use as a world-class facility. FIFA’s nominations for its Players of the Year in 2022 were announced Thursday, including American Alex Morgan on the women’s side and men’s World Cup heroes Lionel Messi of Argentina and Kylian Mbappe of France.

1.
Winter World University Games open in Lake Placid

“Let the 2023 Winter World University Games begin!”

New York Governor Kathy Hochul opened the second Winter World University Games to take place in Lake Placid – after a 51-year hiatus – on Thursday evening inside the Olympic Center during a festive, two-hour Opening Ceremony.

Held in the famed Herb Brooks Arena where the “Miracle on Ice” took place during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games, the ceremony began with a reading and performance from members of the Oneida Indian Nation and the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe.

The parade of nations – 46 are participating in Lake Placid – took about 48 minutes, with the biggest cheers for the U.S. team, for Ukraine and for cross-country skier Theo Mallett from Haiti, its first-ever Winter WUG participant.

International University Sports Federation (FISU) Acting President Leonz Eder of Switzerland told the teams and spectators that “Lake Placid is a special city that has created both legends and a legacy that endures.” Referring to the chaos of the coronavirus pandemic, he noted:

“To see so many of you gathered here today is a proud and emotional moment, which should make these World University Games a truly festive occasion, especially after the cancellation of Lucerne 2021.”

Eder also asked for a moment of silence to honor the victims of the terrible recent weather in upstate New York and for those who have lose their lives to “senseless wars.”

Hochul noted in her remarks:

“After more than $550 million in state-supported renovations and investments in the North Country to prepare for the games, New York is ready to welcome athletes and spectators from all over the world to our state. I wish the best of luck to the athletes competing, and I thank FISU, the organizing committee and partners at every level of government for ensuring that this event is a resounding success.”

The unique Lake Placid 2023 “torch” – actually an LED display – was brought into the arena and then traveled to Brewster Park a short distance away where the Games cauldron was “lit.”

The competitions actually started on Wednesday, with Slovakia defeating Hungary, 4-0, in the first event. The U.S. men’s team was also in action and whipped Great Britain by 18-0 (not a typo!). The first medals will be determined on Friday morning, with the first ceremony likely for the women’s Alpine Super-G.

2.
IPC to hear Russian suspension appeal in spring

Unlike the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee suspended the Russian Paralympic Committee from membership last November.

This was opposed by the Russians, of course, who filed an appeal, according to RPC President Pavel Rozhkov:

“The Russian Paralympic Committee has received a letter confirming that the IPC Appeals Tribunal received a motion, filed by the RPC and three Russian Para-athletes contesting the decision by the IPC General Assembly to suspend the RPC’s membership with the IPC. The letter states that the hearings will take place either in April or May, 2023.

“The Appeals Tribunal is also set to soon consider at its closed session the RPC’s motion to temporarily lift sanctions previously imposed in regard to Russian Para-athletes.

“In the event of a positive decision on this matter, Russian athletes will have an opportunity to participate in the qualifiers for the 2024 Paralympics in Paris as well as in other major sports tournaments before the appeal of the RPC’s membership status with the IPC is considered.”

3.
Russia’s Litvinov admits doping, loses 2014 Euro hammer bronze

A fascinating post this week from Russian hammer thrower Sergej Litvinov, a three-time national champion, 2014 European bronze medalist and son of the 1988 Olympic gold medalist and 1983 and 1987 World Champion of the same name.

Russian-born data scientist Elena Dyachkova – a long-time U.S. resident – shared a Litvinov (the son) Facebook post on Wednesday that included (as posted in English):

“I took doping in 2012 and took profit from the coverup system in Russia.

“2012 in end of April till end of May i took Oral-Turinabol and Oxandrolon.

“Before this I threw 79m [259-2] in February, I improved almost 2 meter with Doping. The hammer was going further without a good feeling, or a good technique. I felt it was wrong at that time. I lost all my technique feelings, [which I] was working so hard before and the hammer was still going far.”

He noted that he failed to make the Russian Olympic Team that year because of three fouls in the Russian championships. Then:

“After this year I didn’t took anything cause I understood that this isnt the sport I like. My motivation in my sport was to getting better and improve in a very hard technical event. I was interested in training methods, in technique and physiology of this sport. To improve without improvement in this 3 things, but with doping, makes no fun and [sense].

“I had pressure from the federation at that time, but at the end this was my decision and my fault.”

Litvinov got his lifetime best of 80.98 m (265-8) in June 2012 in Moscow, while he was doping. He did reach 80.89 m (265-4) the next year, apparently after his doping program was over. He retired after the 2019 season.

Noted Dyachkova, “Refreshing to see a public admission.”

The Russian Anti-Doping Agency announced on Thursday that, based on his admission, Litvinov is suspended for two years from 8 November 2021, and more importantly, his results will be nullified from 14 July 2012 to 25 February 2016, including his European Champs bronze, but maintaining his lifetime best of 80.98 m in June 2012.

4.
Gold Coast looking to upstage Brisbane in 2032

Although the Games of the XXXV Olympiad is labeled the “Brisbane Games,” Australian politics are already in play to shift more of the focus to the second-largest metropolis in Queensland, Gold Coast.

While much smaller than Brisbane by 2.47 million to 722,000, Gold Coast was the very successful host of the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and third-term Mayor Tom Tate is campaigning to move more events there.

Already slated to host all or parts of beach volleyball, football, golf, judo, wrestling, open water swimming, triathlon, volleyball weightlifting and wrestling, Tate told Daily Mail Australia:

“Look at The Gabba [Brisbane Cricket Ground]. They want to spend A$2.5 billion [~$1.74 billion U.S.] to put an extra 8,000 seats in. That simply doesn’t make sense when you cannot deliver affordable housing.

“They should only refurbish it because this is taxpayers’ money and there are hard times right now so it’s not the time to rebuild. If you are going to burn dollars left, right and centre, people will look at you with disdain.

“I say they need to be respectful of taxpayers’ money. We already have a lot of the facilities such as Olympic pools, hockey fields and BMX, to name a few. Let’s focus on value-for-money and legacy for the whole of South East Queensland. After all, this all started out as a southeast Queensland bid.”

The Gabba project includes not only a seating expansion, but a renovation of the transportation to the area, to make it a centerpiece of a larger commercial sector. However, in the IOC’s 2021 feasibility study of the Brisbane bid, its review of the venue plan included “Consider using existing Carrara Stadium (40,000) in Gold Coast for Athletics” and limit The Gabba to ceremonies. Similar suggestions were made for the existing Optus Aquatics Centre instead of the planned, new Brisbane Arena for swimming and water polo, and the Gold Coast Hockey Centre for field hockey.

The Australian national government and the Queensland government agreed on a 50-50 split on infrastructure spending for the Games during the bid process, but with a change from the Liberal Party to Labor in 2022 elections, no formal agreement on spending has yet been concluded.

5.
Morgan, Messi, Mbappe nominated for FIFA awards

FIFA announced its Player of the Year award candidates for 2022, with the biggest stars of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar at the top of the list, including Argentina’s Lionel Messi and France’s Kylian Mbappe.

The women’s Player of the Year list has 14 options, including U.S. star Alex Morgan and two members of the European Champion English team: scoring star Beth Mead and midfielder Keira Walsh.

The men’s list also has 14, including Mbappe and Messi, plus Brazil’s Neymar and Vinicius Junior, Croatian star Luka Modric and Egyptian scoring whiz Mohamed Salah from Liverpool FC.

The top goalkeepers list for women has six candidates, including American Alyssa Naeher and England’s Mary Earps. The men’s goalie list includes Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez, Brazil’s Alisson Becker and Morocco’s Yassine Bounou.

There are 11 candidates for the top goal of the year, with Brazilian star Richarlison’s flying score against Serbia in the World Cup sure to be one of the top options. That and an Mbappe score against Argentina in the championship match are the only two World Cup goals on the list.

Public voting is open now on FIFA+ through 3 February, with the three finalists to be announced shortly thereafter.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Handball ● The 28th IHF men’s World Championship in Poland and Sweden opened on Wednesday with a 26-24 win for six-time champion France over Poland, in Katowice (POL).

The tournament features 32 teams, playing in a first round of eight groups of four. Two-time defending champ Denmark is in Group H; the U.S. is in Group G – in Jonkoping (SWE) – in the Worlds for the first time since 2001!

The Americans will start play on Friday against Morocco, followed by matches against Croatia and Egypt. The top three teams in each group will continue into a second pool-play round, leading to the quarterfinals on 25 January. The medal matches will be on the 29th.

● Ice Hockey ● The IIHF Women’s U-18 Championship has reached the playoff round in Oestersund (SWE), with Canada and the U.S. possibly on the road to another showdown in the finals.

Canada won Group A by defeating the U.S., 3-1, in the final round of group play, to finish 3-0, with the Americans at 2-1. Both advanced directly to the semifinals.

In the play-in quarters, Sweden defeated Slovakia, 6-1, and Finland edged the Czech Republic, 3-2, on Thursday. So, the U.S. will play Sweden in the second semi in a re-match of a group match, won by the U.S., 6-3, on 8 January. Canada will face Finland, which it defeated, 8-0, in group play.

The semis will be on the 14th and finals on the 15th.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● The Los Angeles Times reported that Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore, up for a second, five-year term, would serve only 2-3 years and resign prior to the 2028 Games.

Moore, made chief in 2018, told The Times he wanted to continue his reforms of the department with a re-appointment in 2023, but wanted to avoid a “haphazard” transition to a new chief just prior to the Games in 2028.

“Succession planning is obviously meant to provide for consistency, anticipated needs and capabilities and delivery that the public can trust. It’s such a critical role, and, in my view, it would be inappropriate for me to stay.”

● International Olympic Committee ● Olympic sailing gold medalist and former International Olympic Committee member King Constantine II of Greece passed away on Tuesday (10th) in Athens.

As Crown Prince Konstantinos, he teamed with Odysseus Eskitzoglou and Georgios Zaimis as helmsman of the keelboat “Nireus” which won the Dragon class in sailing at the 1960 Rome Games. Constantine became a member of the IOC in 1963, later resigning in 1974 but maintained as an Honorary Member until his death.

Although only 23 at the time, Constantine became the Greek King on the death of his father, King Paul, in March 1964. He ruled during a turbulent period in Greek politics, during which the military took over the government and Constantine tried – and failed – to win back power. He left Greece in December 1967 for London, and while he was technically still king into 1973, a referendum declared the country a republic, confirmed in 1974, with the military displaced.

He remained in exile until 2013, except for brief visits to Greece, including for the 2004 Olympic Games as an IOC member. He lives quietly until his death, due to a stroke, on Tuesday.

● Snowboard ● The fourth event in the FIS World Cup Parallel racing schedule was on Tuesday (10th) in Bad Gastein (AUT), with home favorite Daniela Ulbing delivering a victory in the women’s Parallel Slalom.

The 2017 World Champion, Ulbing, 24, defeated fellow Austrian Claudia Riegler by 0.72 seconds in the final, with Swiss Ladina Jenny winning over countrywoman Jessica Keiser for the bronze medal. It was Ulbing’s fifth individual World Cup gold.

The men’s Slalom was something of a shocker, as 28-year-old Maurizio Bormolini won his first World Cup medal in three years and got his first career World Cup gold! He defeated Austria’s Alexander Payer in the final; four of Bromolini’s five individual World Cup medals have come at Bad Gastein! German vet Stefan Baumeister won the bronze.

● Swimming ● The first full day of the Tyr Pro Swim Series in Knoxville, Tennessee saw U.S. Freestyle superstar Katie Ledecky win one race, and just miss another win in an off-event.

Ledecky powered to an impressive win in the women’s 200 m Free in 1:55.47, a time that would have ranked her no. 6 in the world in 2022! She was a dominant winner over 2022 Worlds 4×200 m Free gold medalist Bella Sims (1:57.87). In the 400 m Medley, Ledecky was 5.31 seconds behind 2022 Worlds silver medalist Katie Grimes of the U.S. – age 17 – at the halfway mark (!), but closed hard to finish second by just 0.17, 4:35.92 to 4:36.09.

Another 17-year-old, Henry McFadden of the U.S. won the men’s 200 m Free in 1:47.23, ahead of Tokyo Olympic 400 m Free bronze medalist Kieran Smith (1:47.33). Smith was third in the 400 m Medley, which saw Olympic 800-1,500 m Free champ Bobby Finke of the U.S. overtake Tokyo silver medalist Jay Litherland on the final length, 4:17.64-4:17.97.

Women’s 50 m Back World champ Kylie Masse (CAN) was the winner in a tight battle with American Katharine Berkoff, 27.38-27.80, repeating their 1-2 finish at the 2022 World Championships in Budapest.

Same in the men’s 50 m Back, as 2022 Worlds gold medalist Justin Ress held off fellow American and 2022 Worlds silver medalist Hunter Armstrong once again, 24.49-24.70.

Bulgarian Lyubomir Epitropov – who swims for Tennessee – and Ireland’s Mona McSharry – also a Volunteer – won the men’s and women’s 100 m Breast events in 1:01.35 and 1:06.80. The 100 m Fly finals were wins for Ella Jansen (CAN: 58.92), and American Luke Miller (52.24), with Backstroke star Ryan Murphy of the U.S. second in 52.41.

The meet continues through Saturday.

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LANE ONE: North Carolina awarded 2029 Universiade; is a Salt Lake City 2030 Olympic Winter Games next?

By
Rich Perelman
-
Award of the 2029 World University Games to North Carolina, from left: FISU Interim President Leonz Eder, North Carolina bid chief Hill Carrow, US-IUSF head Dan Guerrero and FISU Secretary-General Eric Santroid (Photo: FISU)

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In a decision that surprised absolutely no one, the International University Sports Federation (FISU) handed the 2029 World University Games to the U.S. bid from North Carolina at an Executive Committee meeting in Lake Placid, New York on the eve of the Winter World University Games that starts Thursday.

Unlike the contested vote held last November that saw the Korean Chungcheong Megacity bid selected by 14-7, the FISU Executive Committee simply “voted today to confirm” the award of the 2029 WUG to North Carolina, which had made it clear that it would not go through another bid process.

Asked after the November vote about the possibility of taking the 2029 Universiade, North Carolina bid chief Hill Carrow explained:

“They’re working on that as a possibility, and by they, I mean FISU.

“That wasn’t our preferred year, but we told them we absolutely would consider that. That’s something that, you know, we know we have what it takes, we would like to demonstrate that and like the opportunity to demonstrate that, [so] that’s not off the table at all.”

On the table was $25 million which the North Carolina legislature previously approved as start-up funding for an organizing committee for the WUG. That should still be available and after the disappointment of just two months before, Carrow was all smiles this time:

“The award of the 2029 FISU World University Games to our state and country is the culmination of an extensive, five-year effort by more than 1,000 individuals, 13 universities, five cities, five counties, the State of North Carolina, and 53 corporate and organizational sponsors to land this amazing event.

“As an event that features the best collegiate athletes from around the world, it is a natural fit for a state with 130 colleges and universities and more than 350,000 university students. North Carolina’s landing these Games is similar to a major corporate relocation as the FISU Games will deliver a local economic impact of over $150 million, but with the added benefits of significant international tourism and worldwide branding exposure for our state and local communities.”

The North Carolina bid is impressive. No construction is contemplated and 13 of the area’s universities are expected to be involved as venue and/or village hosts, including the University of North Carolina, Duke University and North Carolina State University.

In his November interview, Carrow added:

“Our expense budget was $136 million and we were showing $140 million in revenues, and that didn’t count contingencies that were built in, so I believe that if we’d adhere to our budget, we’d come out better than that margin.

“I already came to the table with two private sponsorships that would total probably at least $3.5 million, plus the counties and cities were working on a plan to put in another additional $5 million that would be a combination of cash and in-kind, and then we had $25 million from the state. So we were actually well along the way, and that was already cutting in to the $50 million or so that we had targeted to raise from sponsorships and broadcast rights. We were really good with that.”

He can reignite those now. It’s only the second time in the U.S. for the World University Games, previously in Buffalo, New York in 1993. With the Winter WUG in Lake Placid, the decade continues as a big one for the United States in international sport:

● 2022: World Athletics Championships in Eugene
● 2023: Winter World University Games in Lake Placid
● 2025: ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Boston
● 2026: FIFA World Cup in Canada-Mexico-USA
● 2028: Games of the XXXIV Olympiad in Los Angeles
● 2029: World University Games in North Carolina

Carrow and U.S.-International University Sports Federation chief Dan Guerrero – the former UCLA athletic director – can also use the 2029 WUG as the launch point for a team-sports-only rules change by FISU that could be a game-changing catalyst for wider interest in the WUG mopving forward.

Instead of the current FISU requirement for national teams in the Universiade, why not allow to allow actual university teams to compete based on the location of the school (and include their foreign-born players)?

You could see Kentucky play Oxford or the University of Melbourne, or UCLA against Shanghai’s Fudan University, or Kansas vs. Montreal’s McGill University, and so on. The opportunity to involve major university “brands” in the University Games would increase its value immensely – and not only in the U.S. – for sports such as basketball and volleyball.

That FISU took only 59 days to correct its error in not awarding North Carolina the 2029 Games back in November will not be lost on other sports organizations seeking to find quality hosts for their events.

Among these is the International Olympic Committee and its Future Host Commission for the Winter Games, which is suddenly facing a crisis as three of its four potential hosts for 2030 have either imploded … or are about to.

Embed from Getty Images

The Barcelona-Pyrenees concept in Spain died when the regions of Aragon and Catalonia could not agree on the division of sports to be held in each. The Canadian bid from Vancouver collapsed when the Province of British Columbia decided not to provide partial funding for the Games, which also ended any possibility of national government funding support.

Now, a mid-December poll by the Hokkaido Shimbun showed that 67% oppose of Sapporo residents oppose the bid for 2030 Winter Games, moving from tepid support in prior surveys to simply being against the bid altogether.

Resistance to a possible Winter Games in Europe for 2030 remains an issue, as a concept floated last week for a tri-national bid in the Mont-Blanc region from France, Italy and Switzerland was immediately torpedoed by the city of Chamonix in France, whose mayor said there was no interest in the plan at all.

That leaves Salt Lake City, which like North Carolina, has no construction requirements at all and would use the venues from the 2002 Winter Games and the University of Utah’s student residences as the Olympic Village. Although the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee has been clear that it prefers a 2034 designation to clear domestic marketing space after the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, that’s not the vibe from the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games, which wants 2030, and is backed by wide public support across the state.

If the marketing issues with Los Angeles can be worked out – and these have been under discussion for a while now – the IOC, despite announcing a delay to naming the 2030 host until 2024, might do well to reverse course and grab Salt Lake City while it can.

The IOC used this reasoning to name Brisbane, Australia as the 2032 host, recognizing the long-term stability this would bring, while more tinkering with reducing the costs of the Games continues. In the Winter Games scenario, naming Salt Lake City now would give the Future Host Commission for the Winter Games more time to figure out its possible permanent-rotation scenario.

And the new USOPC Chair, Gene Sykes, is perfectly positioned to help, as both a brilliant financier at Goldman Sachs and past chief executive of the Los Angeles bid committee for 2024 that was awarded the 2028 Games.

The IOC would be wrong to simply assume that Salt Lake City is a permanent bidder that it can take for granted. What could change its mind? A coming recession is one possibility, although the Salt Lake City bid envisions no public financial support. How about an already-contemplated procedure to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete at Paris in 2024 while the war against Ukraine rages on?

That could sour Utah public opinion against the IOC and a future Games quite quickly. And there are other such scenarios.

The expression in English, “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush” has been around since at least the 15th Century. The time might be right for the IOC to use it in the 21st.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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TSX REPORT: Shiffrin misses win no. 83 by 0.43; French auditors still worried about Paris 2024 budget; 2024 Olympic T&F schedule released

By
Rich Perelman
-
Could Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone win four gold medals at Paris 2024? (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images for World Athletics)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Shiffrin second at Flachau, still at 82 World Cup wins
2. French government report echoes familiar Paris 2024 worries
3. All evening finals for track & field at Paris 2024
4. Modern Pent federation to roll out new obstacle format for juniors
5. Ledecky, Murphy, Manuel, Finke and more in Tyr Pro Swim

U.S. skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin was close, but finished second in the Slalom in Flachau, Austria on Tuesday, missing out on an 83rd women’s World Cup victory. She’s still tied with fellow American Lindsey Vonn at the halfway point of the season at 82. The French Court of Auditors told the national Parliament that worries continue over Paris 2024 security staffing, transport infrastructure and the budget, especially as 36.5% of the contingency fund has already been used. The track & field schedule for Paris 2024 has been released, with all evening finals this time, but no major changes in format. It is possible that hurdles superstar Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone could compete in the 400 m and 400 m hurdles with not more than one race per day, and there is even a path to four gold medals for her! The Modern Pentathlon federation announced the first competitions to include obstacle-course racing, but only for the U17, U19 and Junior World Championships in 2023, with no prior trial events scheduled so far. The courses will be 60-70 m in length, with eight obstacles included, although what they will be has not been announced yet. Lots of big swimming stars are lined up for the first major U.S. event of 2023, the Tyr Pro Swim Series in Knoxville, Tennessee. Of special interest will be the return of Rio 2016 co-women’s 100 m Freestyle gold medalist Simone Manuel, who skipped competition in 2022 altogether.

1.
Shiffrin second at Flachau, still at 82 World Cup wins

Alpine skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin will have to wait a little longer to break the tie between her and fellow American Lindsey Vonn for the most career women’s World Cup wins (at 82), as Shiffrin finished second in the night Slalom at Flachau (AUT) on Tuesday.

Beijing 2022 Olympic Slalom gold medalist Petra Vlhova had the fastest first run at 55.90, with Shiffrin close behind at 56.07. Germany’s Lena Duerr authored the best second run at 55.94, with Vlhova close behind at 56.04 for a two-run total of 1:51.95.

Shiffrin tied with teammate Paula Moltzan for the fourth-fastest second run (56.31) and ended up at 1:52.38, just 0.43 behind. Duerr won the bronze at 1:52.80 and Moltzan was fifth at 1:54.10.

The women’s World Cup circuit now focuses on speed racing prior to the break for the FIS Alpine World Championships that starts on 6 February. Next up:

● 14-15 Jan.: Downhill & Super-G at St. Anton (AUT)
● 20-22 Jan.: Super-G (2) & Downhill at Cortina d’Ampezzo (ITA)
● 24 Jan.: Giant Slalom at Kronplatz (ITA)
● 28-29 Jan.: Giant Slalom & Slalom at Spindleruv Mlyn (CZE)

Shiffrin is no slouch in the speed events, with three career Downhill wins and five Super-G victories in her career, including a Super-G win this season at St. Moritz (SUI) on 18 December. She won a Super-G at Cortina in 2019.

Now at the halfway point of the season – 19 races out of 38 – Shiffrin has a 1,195-796 lead over Vlhova in the race for the overall World Cup title, with Shiffrin the defending champion and trying for a fifth career title.

2.
French government report echoes familiar Paris 2024 worries

The French Court of Auditors presented a report to the Parliament on Tuesday, with 15 recommendations concerning the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, repeating concerns it has noted for some time.

Former French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici, told reporters: “We’re asking that the global security plan is finalised in the first trimester of 2023 so the reinforcement by internal security forces can be planned. We also recommend that the transport plan be finalised site by site.”

The report insisted on attention to “stabilizing private security needs and establishing alternative measures to remedy its probable shortcomings,” a concern long expressed. Moscovici added, “It’s doable but what the Court wants to say is that it is high time to get into the operational phase. It’s not too late but it’s tense.”

And on transport, the report pointed out: “Several infrastructure operations [in the Ile-de-France region] … present major risks due to already tight schedules with no real room for maneuver. If they were not completed for the Games, the result would be an unsustainable tension on the heavily used lines, with the associated risks of incidents and congestion for daily users.”

On the organizing committee front, the report worried:

“At the beginning of November 2022, only eleven of the 80 planned user agreements had been signed. … These successive delays now expose the committee to a proven risk, due to the resulting chain consequences on the preparation of the Games and, in particular, for the conclusion of the negotiations on the outsourced model of delivery of the Games.”

And concern continues on spending, with the Paris 2024 organizers under pressure from inflation and supply-chain issues. The report noted “substantial uncertainties about the final balance of the [Paris 2024] budget” and warned about having spent €115 million from the contingency of €315 million (36.5%); essentially “deferring savings measures likely to be taken later.”

3.
All evening finals for track & field at Paris 2024

The track & field schedule for Paris 2024 was released on Monday, with a change from recent Games in that all of the in-stadium finals will take place in the evenings.

Thanks to a more favorable time zone for European and American broadcasters, no more morning-session finals to allow prime-time viewing on those continents. Instead, finals at the Stade de France will be held in session starting between 6:05 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. local time, or 12:05 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. Eastern time.

The road events will all be held in the mornings, with the walks at 7:30 in the morning and marathons on the last two days (10-11 August) at 8 a.m.

World Athletics noted in the schedule release:

● “Athletes looking to double up in the 100m & 200m, 800m & 1500m, 1500m & 5000m, or 5000m & 10,000m will be able to do so, without having to compete in more than one discipline on any given day.”

● “As announced last year, a repechage round in all individual track events from 200m to 1500m in distance, including the hurdles events, will be introduced at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. In the new repechage format, athletes who do not qualify by place in round one heats of the 200m to 1500m will have a second chance to qualify for the semifinals by participating in repechage heats.”

The schedule maintains the usual rhythm of events, with the 100 m finals on day two (women) and day three (men), with the 200 m heats starting the day after. The Mixed 4×400 m is on days 1-2, with the 4×100 m and men’s and women’s 4×400 m on the final days. The distance races have the men’s 10,000 m and women’s 5,000 m early, the Steeplechase finals in the middle and the women’s 10,000 m and men’s 5,000 m at the end of the program.

The decathlon will be on the first two stadium days (Friday and Saturday) and the heptathlon on the final Thursday and Friday of the Games.

The morning sessions generally run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day.

An interesting possibility for women’s 400 m hurdles superstar Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of the U.S. is available as well: she could run both the 400 m and 400 m hurdles and not have more than one race per day. The events run concurrently, with the 400 m hurdles rounds on the 4th-6th-8th and the 400 m flat rounds on the 5th-7th-9th. The final of the 4×400 m relay is on the 10th; might she be interested – or be allowed – to run in the Mixed 4×400 m final on the 3rd, in a possible attempt for four golds in a single Games?

4.
Modern Pent federation to roll out new obstacle format for juniors

The Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) announced its first competitions to include the UIPM Congress-approved obstacle course events to replace riding, to take place later in 2023:

● 12-16 Jul.: World U17 Championships in Alexandria (EGY)
● 26-30 Jul.: World U19 Championships in Istanbul (TUR)
● 12-17 Sep.: World Junior Championships in Druskininkai (LTU)

Oddly, no events prior to these junior-level championships have been announced for young pentathletes to get acclimated to the new event. There are no obstacle-included competitions at all for senior athletes, who will be qualifying for Paris 2024, in which riding will continue to be included.

Modern pentathlon is not on the initial sports program for Los Angeles 2028 and the federation is hoping that a change from riding to obstacle will make the sport more appealing. It has had the lowest interest and impact of any sport on the program, according to the International Olympic Committee’s data report from prior Games.

The announcement also clarified the order of events: Fencing first, followed by Obstacle, Swimming and Laser Run. Competition guidelines were also produced, with actual competition rules not expected to be approved until 2024. Riding had been the third event, after fencing and swimming, another change in the event format.

The guidelines specify obstacle courses of 60-70 m in length, with eight obstacles; six to be fixed in the rules and two to be selected by the local organizers from a list of approved options (yet to be published). Failure of a second try at an obstacle means disqualification.

The points table shows scoring for times of 20.0 seconds (340 points) up to 190 seconds (3:10.0) and above, worth zero.

5.
Ledecky, Murphy, Manuel, Finke and more in Tyr Pro Swim

The first major U.S. swim meet of 2023 starts on Wednesday with the first Tyr Pro Swim Series event in Knoxville, Tennessee, with a number of big-name stars on the entry lists.

Perhaps most interesting is Simone Manuel, 26, the Rio 2016 co-gold medalist in the 100 m Free, who dropped out of competition after a disappointing 2021 in which she failed to make the U.S. team in the 100 m Free, but did in the 50 m Free. Overtraining syndrome was the apparent cause and Manuel moved to Arizona to train with Arizona State coach Bob Bowman and this will be her first time in competition since. She’s entered in the 50-100 m Frees, plus the 50 m Backstroke and 100 m Butterfly.

Then there is Freestyle distance superstar Katie Ledecky, who has produced some amazing January times in past seasons, entered in the 200-400-1,500 m Frees and the 400 m Medley.

Regan Smith, the 2019 200 m Back World Champion and 2022 100 m Back Worlds winner is also training at Arizona State, and will skip those events in favor of a huge program: 100-200-400 m Frees, 50 m Back, 100 m Fly and 200 m Medley.

Bobby Finke, the Tokyo Olympic 800-1,500 m gold medalist, will contest the 400-800-1,500 m frees and the 400 m Medley, and will face surprise Tokyo Olympic 400 m Free winner Ahmed Hafnaoui of Tunisia in the Freestyle events. Backstroke star Ryan Murphy, fresh off World 25 m Champs wins in the 50-100-200 m Backstrokes, is in the 100-200 m Back events.

The meet will not be shown live on television; U.S. Swimming will have a live stream of finals on Wednesday and Saturday, and NBC’s Peacock streaming service will show Thursday and Friday finals. CNBC will have a highlights package on Saturday (14th) at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Eastern and NBC will show highlights at 3 p.m. on Sunday (15th).

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Deaflympics ● No result is – apparently – ever really final.

At the 2005 Deaflympics in Melbourne (AUS), Russians Rushan Dayanov and Stanislav Ivanov won the men’s beach volleyball title. But in September, an anonymous letter sent to the International Committee for Sports for the Deaf insisted that Dayanov can actually hear and the pair should be retroactively disqualified.

Ivanov is the current head of the All-Russian society of the Deaf and there is speculation that the move is really aimed at Ivanov, in order to deprive him of his 2005 beach gold. The accusation was made on the All-Russian Television for the Deaf by former (2013-18) ICSD President Valery Rukhledev (RUS), both of whom are now being sued for slander by Dayanov.

At stake is more than a gold medal from 18 years ago; in another demonstration of the importance which Russia has always placed on international sports success, Dayanov receives a pension from the Russian government for the victory in Melbourne, which would be taken away if the accusation was true.

● Modern Pentathlon ● Sad news from Hackettstown, New Jersey, of the death of Jeanne (Picariello) Murphy, 70, on Sunday morning from a hit-and-run driver who was later arrested.

A retired U.S. Army colonel, she was married to Centenary University President Bruce Murphy and the school noted in an announcement:

“During her 30-year career in the military, Mrs. Murphy served with distinction in many leadership roles. She was a member of the United States Olympic Committee Board of Directors and chaired the USOC Multi-Sport Organizations Council for 10 years. For the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, she was designated Chef de Mission for the U.S. Paralympic Team. A former competitive runner and swimmer, Mrs. Murphy was the first woman ever selected to the U.S. Modern Pentathlon Team in 1975.”

Picariello Murphy was a member of the U.S. national team from 1975-78 and was a U.S. Army nurse for 10 years. She later served as chief of health promotion for the U.S. Southern Command in Panama and spearheaded Army health, wellness and support programs in Germany, Virginia, in the Pentagon and at the Army War College. During and after the Gulf War, she worked with combat troops in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq. In 2005, she worked with the American Red Cross in Gulfport, Mississippi, during Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

A tragedy for a true pioneer.

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TSX REPORT: Sydney pushing to be seventh World Marathon Major; Russian doping receding? World Aquatics wins vs. ISL in court

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Sydney seeing gold in becoming a seventh World Marathon Major
2. RUSADA chief says Russian doping down due to education
3. Anti-Doping Kenya suspends 20 (!), with first-time public naming
4. U.S. District Court rules against ISL in suit vs. World Aquatics
5. NWSL hands down big sanctions in abuse cases

The World Marathon Majors circuit is looking to expand to a seventh race and Sydney, Australia is among the three cities identified as a possibility. Its motivation: money and prestige and it will try to lure Kenyan superstar Eliud Kipchoge to its 2025 race to show it is ready. The head of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency says that educational programs are starting to reduce the incidence of doping in sport there. In Kenya, however, the anti-doping agency publicly posted a list of 20 more doping disqualifications, now allowed under a new law. The long-running lawsuits by the International Swimming League and three swimmers against World Aquatics were dealt a likely death blow when both actions were dismissed in a summary judgement by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, declaring that there was no basis for a trial on either anti-trust or damages grounds in the plaintiff’s filings. The National Women’s Soccer League handed down sharp disciplinary measures in its player-abuse investigations, including lifetime bans on four coaches and fines of up to $1.5 million against several clubs.

1.
Sydney seeing gold in becoming a seventh World Marathon Major

What motivates companies and governments to spend money on bringing, or mounting, major sporting events to their communities?

Money, for one. Exposure for another.

Take the Sydney Marathon, created in 1999 and which hosted 4,484 finishers in the last pre-Covid year of 2019 and 3,451 in its return in 2022, and now a candidate to be added as the seventh World Marathon Major. Race Director Wayne Larden told the Sydney Morning Herald:

“It’s a big deal for a number of reasons. The main one is just the sheer volume of runners that take part in these events. Every single one of the Abbott World Marathon Major events is oversubscribed by between 250,000 and 400,000 runners.

“Which means when we become a major, our numbers are going to leap, with people wanting to get that seventh star. We are expecting a huge boost in numbers, a massive increase in economic impact.”

The “seventh star” refers to runners who have completed all of the World Marathon Majors – six so far – with the idea that Sydney would have thousands of runners coming to the race to get their status updated to include the new, seventh race.

The World Marathon Majors group announced in mid-2022 that it was looking to expand. But it won’t be easy.

The requirements include an expansion of the number of finishers to 15,000, spectator interest in the event and the entertainment and festival programming. And Sydney is not alone, with Chengdu (CHN) and Cape Town (RSA) also in the running.

Larden thinks that attracting Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge, the greatest marathoner in history and the world-record holder at 2:01:09, could be the catalyst for turning the race into a spectator event:

“We are talking to Kipchoge’s management and have been since we got nominated. He wants to finish the six next year, so our goal is to try and get him to Sydney in 2024, as that big drawcard.”

Kipchoge is 38 and has said he wants to complete his own tour of the Majors and has yet to run either the Boston Marathon or New York City Marathon. He has won at Berlin and London four times each, once in Tokyo and in Chicago in 2014.

Larden is not alone in all this; he has the backing of state government tourism group Destination NSW [New South Wales] in its quest to be added to the Majors list in 2025.

2.
RUSADA chief says Russian doping down due to education

“Is the anti-doping culture changing in our country? This question worries many people, including those abroad.”

That’s Russian Anti-Doping Agency chief Veronika Loginova, speaking to the Russian news agency TASS on Sunday. She was optimistic.

“The sociological surveys that have been conducted suggest that it has changed considerably.

“At the last anti-doping forum held by RUSADA a month ago, more than 500 people registered, this never happened at all. Some athletes, while under suspension status, started participating in our anti-doping programs. I would take tennis player Teimuraz Gabashvili as an example, the banned thorasemide was found in his sample. He decided to tell everyone what led him to make the biggest mistake in his life.”

Loginova emphasized that preventing doping in the first place is now the focus of the agency’s work, while the testing and analysis efforts continue:

“When we find prohibited substances, we analyze almost every case of violation. It is very important to understand the reasons, whether the use of a prohibited substance was accidental, whether the violator had been previously trained in anti-doping. Each case is individual, it even happens that we then adjust our educational programs.”

The biggest target for testing so far has been athletics:

“We have about 20 percent of the total number of samples taken are athletics.

“When preparations were underway for the audit of the All-Russian Federation of Athletics, the question arose about the number of anti-doping rule violations in domestic athletics in recent years. is declining, which cannot but rejoice us.

“And I can say with all responsibility that testing is flawless. This applies to both planning and the process of doping sampling. We have very strict rules, everything happens in accordance with the standards of the World Anti-Doping Agency.”

Although the sanctions imposed by WADA technically ended in December, Russia’s re-admittance still remains in limbo, with WADA continuing to evaluate whether RUSADA is in compliance with its rules. As for athletics, Russia has been suspended since 2015 by World Athletics, but reports from the federation’s Russia Task Force indicate it is improving its procedures and will be evaluated again in March.

Even if approved for reinstatement – by WADA or World Athletics – the measures against the participation of Russian athletes due to the invasion of Ukraine remain in place.

3.
Anti-Doping Kenya suspends 20 (!), with first-time public naming

Thanks to a 2021 change in the Kenyan anti-doping laws, the names of 20 athletes provisionally suspended for doping offenses – prior to their appeals – were published by the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK), stretching from November 2021 to December 2022.

The list includes 15 track & field athletes, three bodybuilders, one football player and one judoka, with some notable names:

● Alice Aprot (29, women’s 10,000 m): twice national champion, best of 29:53.51 in 2016, fourth at Rio 2016′ for Letrozole.

● Michael Kibet (23, men’s 5,000 m): best of 13:11.08 in 2019; for erythropoietin (EPO).

● Michael Saruni (27, men’s 800 m): NCAA Indoor Champion 2018, Tokyo Olympian in 2021, best of 1:43.25 from 2018; suspended for refusing a test.

● Matthew Sawe (34, men’s high jump): national record holder at 2.30 m (7-6 1/2) from 2018; for the steroid Triamcinolone.

● Kumari Taki (23, men’s 1,500 m): World Junior Champion in 2016, best of 3:34.14 in 2020; for erythropoietin (EPO).

The rash of doping positives in Kenya – 58 are on the Athletics Integrity Unit’s Global List of Ineligible Persons as of 31 December 2022 has led to consideration of a suspension of the federation. However, a promise to pump $5 million a year for five years into ADAK has staved off such action by World Athletics, at least for now.

As in Russia, more athlete education is seen as the key to reforming the doping situation there.

4.
U.S. District Court rules against ISL in suit vs. World Aquatics

A pair of lawsuits filed in 2018 against World Aquatics – then known as FINA – by the International Swimming League and star swimmers Tom Shields and Michael Andrew of the U.S. and Katinka Hosszu of Hungary was dealt a likely mortal blow by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on Friday.

Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley granted summary judgement to World Aquatics on all counts in both suits, essentially holding that ISL and the swimmers had not stated a case sufficient to even go to trial. They can appeal, but as the holdings were on technical grounds, their chances of success are poor.

The complaints alleged that FINA – as then known – interfered with the right of ISL and the swimmers to compete and earn money in competitions not authorized by FINA directly, and that FINA had interfered with ISL’s attempt to put on a prize-money meet in Turin in 2018.

Initially-threatening messages from FINA to its national federations in June 2018 that ISL should not be recognized and that federations could be suspended for doing so were rendered inoperative by a January 2019 directive that “[S]wimmers are free to participate in competitions or events staged by independent organisers, namely entities which are neither members of FINA nor related to it in any way.”

The lawsuits, however, continued, as ISL and the swimmers pursued an injunction against FINA for anti-trust violations and damages for the inability to compete in the 2018 meet that never happened. ISL put on full seasons of meets in 2019, 2020 and 2021, but as it is supported by Ukrainian businessman Konstantin Grigorishin, suspended operations in February 2022 due to the Russian invasion.

The Court found:

● On anti-trust grounds, “a reasonable trier of fact could find FINA and its member federations are separate economic actors capable of conspiring and that they actually conspired on a restraint of trade.”

However, the evidence did not show that ISL or the swimmers were kept from competing in a meet, but that FINA was well within its rights to control meets organized by its member federations. And:

“It is undisputed that top-tier swimmers are not bound by contract to swim only in FINA-sanctioned competitions. Indeed, the undisputed evidence is that ISL can and does sponsor top-tier swimming competitions without any affiliation with member federations. For example, in 2019, ISL hosted a swimming competition in Naples, Italy without affiliating with FINA or any member federation. And, ISL admits it does not need FINA to conduct its swimming competition business.”

● Further, the Court scolded ISL and the swimmers for not defining the “market” which FINA is said to control and prevent access to:

“FINA’s rules prohibited its member federations from affiliating with an unapproved entity, and a trier of fact could find that, for a brief time, FINA threatened suspension of any swimmer who participated in an unsanctioned event involving a FINA member federation. There is no rule (and never was) that allows FINA to penalize a swimmer who participates in a competition that is not affiliated with a member federation, and no evidence that FINA ever did, or even threatened to do so.”

And:

“The Court acknowledges the record is replete with evidence of FINA’s concern about
competition from ISL. But, so what? The antitrust laws do not require one competitor to help another compete with it; instead, they prohibit only unreasonable restraints of trade.”

● As to the requests for damages, the Court noted that ISL’s demand for damages was based on anti-trust violations which it found non-existent. As for the swimmers not being able to compete in Italy in 2018 and earn money there, there was no identifiable link between a foreign meet and anti-trust conduct in the United States. Game over.

Said World Aquatics President Husain Al-Musallam (KUW), “We are pleased that it brings an end to a period of uncertainty. And we are thankful for the clarity that the Court’s decision provides. This is an important decision and also a good decision, not just for World Aquatics, but for the Olympic Movement and beyond.”

The suit, when filed in 2018, had a chance of success, but with FINA’s change of stance a month later and the fact that ISL staged three seasons of events without interference from FINA, it had little chance of success going forward.

5.
NWSL hands down big sanctions in abuse cases

The National Women’s Soccer League handed down some serious sanctions on Monday – called “corrective actions” – against teams and individuals involved in abuse cases across the league. Commissioner Jessica Berman said:

“Those actions are fundamental to the future of our league, especially as we build a league that strengthens our players’ ability to succeed and prosper on and off the pitch. As part of our commitment to accountability and deterrence, the league has determined that further corrective action with respect to certain organizations and individuals identified in the Joint Investigative Report is appropriate and necessary.”

Four individuals were banned from the league for life:

● Richie Burke (ENG), former coach of the Washington Spirit;
● Rory Dames (USA), former coach of the Chicago Red Stars;
● Christy Holly (NIR), former coach of Racing Louisville;
● Paul Riley (ENG), former coach of the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage.

Eight other individuals were either banned for two years (2) or whose employment is conditional (6). Six clubs were fined:

● $1.5 million: Chicago Red Stars
● $1.0 million: Portland Thorns
● $200,000: Racing Louisville
● $100,000: North Carolina Courage
● $50,000: OL [Seattle] Reign and Gotham FC

The Washington Spirit was not penalized as the club was sold, under pressure from the league.

Berman noted, “The league and its clubs have taken meaningful steps to begin this structural reform, and understand and accept the continual commitment to enhancing league standards that are necessary to build a safe and positive environment for our players, staff, fans and partners.”

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Alpine Skiing ● American skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin will go for her 83rd career FIS World Cup win in Flachau (AUT) in a night Slalom on Tuesday (10th) at 6 p.m. local time (noon Eastern).

She’s won this race four times previously, and is on a hot streak, having won six of the last seven World Cup races. She is listed, of course, as no. 1 on the start list for the first run, and has won four of the six Slaloms held this season on the women’s World Cup tour.

Shiffrin is tied with fellow American Lindsey Vonn for no. 2 all-time in World Cup wins at 82, behind only Swede Ingemar Stenmark, with 86.

● Athletics ● Kenyan Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba said that the country would aim to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships:

“Having lost the bid for 2025, we will prepare for 2029 and we believe we will be in a very strong position to put in a compelling bid. We cannot be such a major athletics powerhouse and we can’t bring world athletics to Nairobi. We will be banking on the goodwill from World Athletics, we will come up with a much stronger bid.”

Kenya’s 2025 bid for Nairobi scored poorly on its facilities compared to the new Tokyo 2020 stadium, and there are the doping issues that have plagued Athletics Kenya. A bid for 2027 is complicated by the country’s bid for the 2027 African Cup of Nations football championship.

● Short Track ● This has been a good season for American Kristen Santos-Griswold, with medals in all four ISU World Cup events, and swept to victory in both races of the 500 m, 1,000 m and 1,500 m at the U.S. national championships at the Olympic Oval in Kearns, Utah.

Fellow Olympian Corinne Stoddard finished second to Santos-Griswold in all six races and finished second to her in the overall women’s classification.

Brandon Kim won the men’s overall classification, ahead of Clayton DeClemente and Marcus Howard. Kim won both of the 500 m races and both 1,500 m races (four total). Howard and Caleb Park won the two 1,000 m races, with Kim and DeClemente second.

● Speed Skating ● New star Jordan Stolz, 18, dominated the U.S. Championships held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin over the weekend, winning all three of his events in the 500 m, 1,000 m and 1,500 m

A Beijing 2022 Olympian, Stolz set track records at the Pettit National Ice Center in all three events, winning by 0.69 (500 m), 1.71 m (1,000 m) and 3.19 (1,500 m). Stolz also finished third in the 5,000 m.

The second 500 m race was won by Beijing Olympian Austin Kleba in 35.09, the same time in which he was second to Stolz in race one. Olympic Team Pursuit bronze medalist Ethan Cepuran won the 5,000 m in 6:19.00, to 6:19.05 for fellow medal winner Casey Dawson. Cepuran won the 10,000 m in 13:09.04, with Dawson second at 13:14.33.

Conor McDermott-Mostowy won the first Men’s Mass Start with a time of 7:57.87, with Cepuran second by 0.18 seconds; Cepuran won the second Mass Start, with McDermott-Mostowy second.

Olympic medal winners Erin Jackson and Brittany Bowe starred in the women’s events. Jackson, the Olympic Champion, won both 500 m races in 37.48 and 37.76. Bowe, the Beijing ‘22 1,000 m bronze winner, took that event in 1:14.33, with fellow Olympian Kimi Goetz second in 1:14.73 after being second to Jackson in the first 500 m race (37.63). And Goetz took the national title in the 1,500 m in 1:55.99 for her third medal.

Olympian Mia Kilburg won the 3,000 m in 4:08.23 and Greta Myers won the 5,000 m (7:21.60). Kilburg won both Mass Start events for three wins in the event.

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LANE ONE: Parliament report says ₤1.9 billion bought little increase in post-London 2012 public fitness

By
Rich Perelman
-
The Union Jack (r) and the Cross of St. George, the English national flag (Photo: Thor via Wikipedia)

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One of the announced legacy goals of the London 2012 Olympic Games was to get more people involved in physical activity. That concept has become a popular rallying cry for other sports mega-events, but new disclosures in a report from the British Parliament underscore the realities of trying to get people to exercise.

A 19 December 2022 report titled Grassroots participation in sport and physical activity from the British House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts included this unhappy summary of the most recent efforts:

“The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London were a success in many ways. But ten years on, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has fallen short of the increase in grassroots sports and physical activity participation promised as part of the long-term legacy of the Games.

“The Department recognises that it relied too heavily on a national event to deliver increased participation and since 2015 has focused on local based approaches and encouraging the least active to become more active. While this shows some signs of working, disappointingly it has not translated into meaningful national level change.

“Despite Sport England spending an average of £323 million of taxpayers money each year since 2015 to increase participation in sport and physical activity and to support the sports sector, the percentage of active adults increased by only 1.2 percentage points between November 2016 and November 2019. Nearly two in five adults in England still do not meet the Chief Medical Officer’s guidelines for recommended activity.”

In fact, due in part to the pandemic, adult physical activity participation has regressed since the 2012 Games.

The Sport England agency, formed in 1996, measured adult physical activity in England from 2006-2016 according to a survey which measured participation in sport at least once per week. The percentage rose from 34.6% in 2006 to a high of 36.9% in 2012 – the year of the Games – and then declined to 36.1% by October of 2016.

A new measurement was introduced a month later – in November of 2016 – asking what percentage of the adult population in England was “active” for 150 minutes or more per week, regardless of the number of days. This yielded a higher number, with 62.1% in 2016, rising slightly to 63.3% – +1.2% – by November of 2019. Then came Covid-19 and the rate decreased somewhat, to 61.4% in 2020 and 2021.

Against these middling results was ₤1.938 billion in spending (~$2.34 billion U.S.) from the 2015-16 to 2020-21 fiscal years, an average of ₤323 million a year (~$390.35 million U.S.). The report further noted, with considerable worry:

“[T]he Department and Sport England have made little progress in tackling inequalities and barriers to people participating in sport and physical activity and Sport England’s spending data is not sufficiently granular to assess how well it targets spending at the least active. For example, it distributed £1.5 billion in grants in the five years starting 2016–17, but only knows which local authorities this funding went to for £450 million of this spending.”

Among those who were active, walking for exercise continued to grow, while the pandemic wiped out almost everything else. Comparing participation in November 2016 to November 2021:

● Walking: Up from 18.3 million (2016) to 24.0 million (2021)
● Active Travel: Down from 15.9 million to 11.9 million
● Fitness Activities: Down from 13.2 million to 11.4 million
● Running: Down from 6.9 million to 6.2 million
● Cycling: Up from 6.4 million to 6.5 million
● Swimming: Down from 4.9 million to 2.0 million
● Team Sports: Down from 3.5 million to 2.2 million

What did Sport England do, exactly, to get people to exercise? According to the report:

“The strategy promised to target funding at less active groups of the population, believing this would deliver the biggest gains for public spending. Sport England told us that, since 2015, it had adopted a variety of approaches to increase activity levels, from national media campaigns to working with local partners in 12 different UK cities as part of a pilot program to understand and address the barriers to getting people active.

“It explained that there had been some positive signs from this work and that insight from the pilots is helping it to make decisions at a national level. Its evaluation of the community pilots showed that, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, inactivity reduced at a faster rate in local delivery pilot areas than in areas without the pilots.

“However, Sport England conceded it had found it hard to translate successes at local level and with specific groups into gains nationally. It explained that it expected that this will take time, particularly if tackling some of the most stubborn inequalities in society.”

And the proposed programs going forward did not inspire confidence:

“We asked Sport England how it can spark activity among the least active. It told us the answer was a combination of three key characteristics: motivation, confidence and opportunity. It noted that in the past government had over-relied on opportunity side, with a focus on building facilities and opening up clubs, assuming that people will then take up that provision.

“Sport England told us its new 2021 strategy had started to look at how to build people’s confidence and motivation to participate in sport by showing the public the benefits of being active and that ‘people like them’ can take part. Sport England said it intended to work within local communities to ensure initiatives were delivered through providers that were recognised and trusted in that community, because not everyone trusted a top-down programme from central government.

“However, when pressed, Sport England struggled to provide a tangible example of putting its motivation theory into practice.”

In polite language, the House of Commons report said that the efforts of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and Sport England have been a failure.

That’s not entirely surprising, since the goal – highly worthwhile – of getting people to be more fit is extraordinarily difficult to achieve today, against the backdrop of games, notifications and messages on one’s mobile phone, tablet and/or computer, and more (sedentary) entertainment options than in all of human history.

In Britain, the new report has created plenty of critical headlines:

● BBC: ‘Little progress’ in tackling barriers to participation in sport – MPs

● SkySports: Government accused of wasting sports participation money after London 2012 Olympics: ‘Precious little to show’

● The Guardian: Government has broken pledge to get UK fitter after 2012 Olympics, says report

Let’s start by noting this is about the British government’s post-Games efforts to get people active, and has nothing to do with the long-disbanded 2012 Olympic organizing committee. And the government has not been able to leverage the Games into any lasting change in the public’s attitude towards physical activity – let alone physical fitness – since.

And the report states, quite clearly:

“Sport England acknowledges it relied too heavily on a national event to deliver increased participation and that elite sports success doesn’t necessarily inspire activity at a grassroots level.”

For those looking to use future increased public interest in fitness as a reason for bringing an Olympic Games or something similar to a community, the new Parliamentary report leaves no doubt that any suggestion that a major event will get people to exercise should be met with skepticism. Or just outright rejection.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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TSX REPORT: Shiffrin ties Vonn for most women’s World Cup wins; Paris ‘24 Opening tickets from €90-25,000! WTA still wants to meet with Peng

By
Rich Perelman
-
Defending World Cup overall champ Mikaela Shiffrin (USA)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Shiffrin wins in Kranjska Gora, ties Vonn as no. 2 all-time
2. Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony prices: €90 up to €25,000!
3. Chamonix not interested in 2030; Sapporo support at 33%!
4. Politics in play as Brisbane 2032 infrastructure deal stalled
5. WTA return to China needs “resolution to the Peng situation”

The amazing Mikaela Shiffrin scored her 82nd career FIS Alpine World Cup win on Sunday in a Giant Slalom at Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, tying fellow American Lindsey Vonn for the most wins ever by a woman in World Cup history. Shiffrin, still just 27, is only four behind Swede Ingemar Stenmark for the most World Cup wins ever, at 86. A French newspaper report says that tickets for the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony will go for as low as €90 for seats on platforms on the side of the River Seine and for as much as €25,000 for a spot on the river itself on a cruise ship! Most spectators – perhaps 500,000 more – will be able to watch for free from the roadsides above the river. The mayor of Chamonix, France said the town is not interested in being part of a tri-nation bid for the 2030 Olympic Winter Games suggested last Friday. A new poll in the Hokkaido Shimbun said that 67% of area residents are opposed to a Sapporo bid for the 2030 Winter Games, leaving Salt Lake City as the only viable 2030 option for the International Olympic Committee at present. In Brisbane, Australia, no agreement has been made between the Queensland government and the national government on funding for infrastructure programs related to the 2032 Olympic Games, notably the renovation of the Brisbane Cricket Ground, known as “The Gabba.” Opposition party leaders are calling for the state and national governments – who are both governed by the Labor Party – to get going. The Women’s Tennis Association repeated its demand that the sexual assault allegations made by former women’s Doubles star Peng Shuai be investigated before any discussion can be had on reinstating tournaments in China.

1.
Shiffrin wins in Kranjska Gora, ties Vonn as no. 2 all-time

“I can’t believe it.

“I was so nervous this run, I have a rash on my face because I was so nervous. I don’t know why, maybe a little bit was because of 82. I really wanted to ski it well, and I did.

“I hope some day I can ski like that again because it was maybe the best thing I ever did in a GS.”

That’s American skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin, who won the second Giant Slalom race at Kranjska Gora (SLO) on Sunday for her 82nd career World Cup win, tying her with fellow American Lindsey Vonn for the most ever by a woman and no. 2 all-time behind only Sweden’s Ingemar Stenmark (86).

Shiffrin had a five-race win streak snapped on Saturday as she finished sixth in the first Giant Slalom race, behind winner Valerie Greiner (CAN: 1:55.01) – who scored her first World Cup victory – then Italian star Marta Bassino (1:55.38) and Slovakia’s Petra Vlhova (1:55.41).

On Sunday, Shiffrin was on fire from the start, posting the fastest first run at 55.30, up by 0.24 over Federica Brignone (ITA), then won the second run at 57.23 for a 1:52.53 total. Brignone, the Beijing 2022 silver medalist in this event, was second at 1:53.30 and Swiss Lara Gut-Behrami came from fifth to third on her second run with a 1:53.50 total.

Shiffrin’s 82 wins came come mostly in the technical events – Slalom (51), Giant Slalom (17), Parallel Slalom (2) and City Events (3) – but also in the Super-G (5) and Downhill (3), along with one in the Combined. The FIS report also noted Shiffrin’s amazing win rate:

● Shiffrin won her first World Cup race at age 17 in December 2012 and has taken only 233 starts to reach 82 wins: one victory for every 2.84 starts.

● Vonn won her first World Cup race at age 20 and her last at age 33, winning once per 4.82 starts over her 395-race career.

Shiffrin, still just 27, will be the favorite for win no. 83 on Tuesday (10th) in a Slalom at Flachau (AUT), where she has won in 2013, 2014, 2018 and 2021! As for Stenmark’s all-time record of 86, it’s clearly in danger this season, with 21 more races remaining. In the run for a fifth overall World Cup title, Shiffrin has built a 1,115-696 lead over Vlhova after 17 of 38 races.

2.
Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony prices: €90 up to €25,000!

The French daily Le Parisien reported Friday on pricing for tickets to the unique Paris 2024 opening ceremony to take place on a six km (~3.6 mile) route along the River Seine:

● €90 to €2,700 (~$96 to $2,874 U.S.): reserved seats on riverside platforms

● €4,250 to €5,500 (~$4,524 to $5,908 U.S.): reserved VIP seats on platforms

● €9,500 (~$10,112 U.S.): reserved seats on a bridge

● €25,000 (~$26,611 U.S.): seats on a cruise ship on the river!

The exact pricing will depend on the locations and position within the seating areas. The vast majority of viewing will be free, from the roadsides above the river.

The Paris organizing committee has said that about 10 million tickets will be available for the 2024 Games, with one million at €24 (~$26 U.S.) and about half available at €50 (~$52 U.S.) or less. In a ticket catalog provided to National Olympic Committees last September, the most sought-after final sessions had best-section prices of:

● €950 (~$1,011) Athletics
● €950 (~$1,011) Swimming
● €600 (~$639) Artistic Gymnastics
● €520 (~$554) Boxing (if held?)
● €390 (~$415) Beach Volleyball and Volleyball
● €390 (~$415) Diving
● €390 (~$415) Tennis
● €350 (~$373) Track Cycling
● €350 (~$373) Judo

No word yet on the Closing Ceremony, scheduled to be held at the Stade de France, also the home of athletics during the Games.

3.
Chamonix not interested in 2030; Sapporo support at 33%!

The concept of a French-Italian-Swiss combo bid for the 2030 Olympic Winter Games imploded the same day it was floated in a report in the Swiss Le Temps newspaper. The city of Chamonix (FRA), one of the key elements of the concept issued a statement that included:

“Following up on the many articles in the Swiss and French press this morning, Mr. Eric Fournier, Mayor of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, indicates that while cross-border cooperation with our Valais neighbors is at the heart of the concerns of the Chamonix-Mont-Blanc Valley, Mont-Blanc, the project of a common candidacy for the Olympic Games as relayed by certain media is not on the agenda.

“This comes from a private initiative and not from the political authorities of the Espace Mont-Blanc, which are currently actively working on the roadmap linked to the next European program with the central subject of adapting our economy to climate change.”

The idea had been to couple Chamonix – site of the first Winter Games in 1924 – with sites in Italy’s Aosta Valley and the Swiss canton of Valais (which includes prior Winter Games bidder Sion). That looks dead now.

The Sapporo (JPN) bid for the 2030 Winter Games is also in significant trouble as a new poll from the Hokkaido Shimbun showed only 33% in favor of the idea and 67% against:

● 12% support
● 21% somewhat support

● 15% somewhat opposed
● 52% opposed

That’s bad. The responses, from a telephone poll in December taken before officials said they were “pausing” the bid, showed that 48% of those against preferred spending on Covid-19 prevention and snow removal. Importantly, 23% said the expanding sponsorship sales and bid-rigging-for-test-events scandal from the Tokyo 2020 Games has soured them on another Olympic event.

Observed: This leaves only Salt Lake City as a viable bidder for 2030, with all existing venues, an existing Olympic Village at the University of Utah, a willing organizing committee-in-waiting and excellent city, county and state government support. With two other bids for 2030 already imploded (Barcelona-Pyrenees, Vancouver) and Sapporo on the way, it will be fascinating to see whether the International Olympic Committee’s Future Host Commission changes its mind and designates Salt Lake City for “targeted dialogue” and selection in 2023 before anything else happens.

4.
Politics in play as Brisbane 2032 infrastructure deal stalled

The excitement of Brisbane’s selection as the host for the 2032 Olympic Games has settled down to political infighting, as the new, Labor government elected last May has not yet reached an agreement with the Queensland state government on funding for redevelopment and transportation projects related to the Games.

None of this directly impacts the delivery of the 2032 Games, as the International Olympic Committee specifically questioned whether a potential A$1 billion program to redevelop the Brisbane Cricket Ground (“The Gabba”) and the area surrounding it was actually needed. But the prior national government of Prime Minister Scott Morrison (Liberal Party: center-right) made a 50-50 funding commitment with Queensland and premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (Labor: center-left) on infrastructure programs, which have not been confirmed by Anthony Albanese’s administration.

So, the recriminations have started, with Queensland opposition leader David Crisafulli (Liberal) telling SkyNews Brisbane last Thursday:

“If you remember, before the election, the election of a Labor government in Canberra was going to create this land of milk-and-honey, where everybody was happy and play nicely and 50-50 funding would be delivered for health and infrastructure and we wouldn’t have any arguments. Well, it hasn’t, and as a Queenslander who wants to see the Olympics as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver infrastructure, we are deeply concerned.

“We are now well into the election of the Albanese government. The State [Queensland] government still hasn’t been able to broker a deal to develop an organizing committee – effectively a coordination body for infrastructure – and I suspect the reason why is that the State government in Queensland see the Olympics as a vanity exercise, a red carpet, champagne – froth and bubbles – that’s not what it’s about.

“It’s about an opportunity to bring three levels of government together to create a dedicated infrastructure plan to make life better for Queenslanders, before, during and after the Games. It’s not just about the window of the Games, it’s about infrastructure delivery. …

“I want to see a 20-year tourism vision – before, during and after the Games – I want to see an infrastructure delivery strategy, I want to work out how we get small and family businesses to benefit from it, not just the multi-nationals. …

“I’m talking about not the Games themselves. I’m talking about the infrastructure to deliver and prepare for the Games. I’m talking about making sure we have the kind of rail and road network that Queenslanders can be proud of, I’m talking about a tourism infrastructure strategy where we unlock our natural environment to create world-class tourism that will drive for the nation.”

Observed: Crisafulli’s comments are not important in the blame game, as either the funding will get worked out or it won’t, and the Games will go on. But the discussion is instructive into how governments see events like the Olympic Games as a way to get infrastructure projects funded and built where they otherwise might not be. The then-mayor of London, Ken Livingstone (Labour), wanted to get the 2012 Games in order to infuse huge amounts of money into the re-development of East London, which was achieved under the Conservative government that followed him in 2008. The question of how Brisbane and Australia use the Games to advance the quality of life there appears to be the true legacy issue ahead of the Games of the XXXV Olympiad.

5.
WTA return to China needs “resolution to the Peng situation”

Retired Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, now 37, was all the news prior to the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, as she accused former Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli of sexually assaulting her years earlier in a 2 November 2021 post on the Weibo social media site.

The post was removed and Peng, a Doubles champion in the French Open in 2014 and at Wimbledon in 2013, was out of public view for a couple of weeks after the accusation was posted. Inquiries about her safety were made by multiple groups, including the International Olympic Committee, which visited with her during the Winter Games.

The Women’s Tennis Association, in response to the incident, eliminated its tournaments in China – losing millions in broadcasting and sponsorship fees – insisting that her allegations be legitimately investigated. And that stance was confirmed on Friday, as Reuters reported a WTA statement that included:

“A return to the region will require a resolution to the Peng situation in which she took a bold step in publicly coming forth with the accusation that she was sexually assaulted by a senior Chinese government leader.

“As we would do with any of our players globally, we have called for a formal investigation into the allegations by the appropriate authorities and an opportunity for the WTA to meet with Peng – privately – to discuss her situation.”

“We continue to hold firm on our position and our thoughts remain with Peng. The WTA continues to work towards a resolution.

“While we have always indicated we are hopeful we will be in a position to again operate WTA events in the region, we will not compromise our founding principles in order to do so.”

The WTA did confirm it had received information that Peng was “safe and comfortable,” but has not been able to meet with her. She was also invited to Lausanne to visit the IOC and the Olympic Museum, but that has also not taken place.

Peng’s story as overshadowed by the ruckus over the Team Event in figure skating and the Kamila Valieva doping situation, but her situation has not been forgotten by the WTA.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Alpine Skiing ● Norway got its eighth win in 17 races on the men’s World Cup circuit as Lucas Braathen took his third victory of the season in the Slalom at Adelboden (SUI) on Sunday, ahead of teammate Atle McGrath, 1:49.31-1:50.02, with Linus Strasser (GER) third in 1:50.23. It was Braathen’s fifth career World Cup victory.

Seasonal leader and reigning World Cup overall champ Marco Odermatt won Saturday’s Giant Slalom for his sixth win of 2022-23, timing 2:30.68 to 2:31.41 for Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen and 2:32.34 for Swiss Loic Meillard.

● Athletics ● Very sad news from Southern California, where Don Ruh, the long-time head of the Mt. San Antonio College Relays, passed away on Friday, at age 90.

As its cross country and track & field coach Ruh shepherded the Mt. SAC Relays and the Mt. SAC track & field program through some of its greatest days, including hosting the U.S. national track & field championships in 1979 and 1980. He came to Mt. SAC in 1963 and took over the Relays from founder Hilmer Lodge and continued for 30 years until retiring in 1993.

Ruh also continued to expand the iconic Mt. SAC Cross Country Invitational held each fall, bringing more than 10,000 runners to the campus in Walnut, California for dozens of races for runners from elementary school up to the collegiate level.

During that time, Mt. SAC’s role in youth sports continued to grow and Ruh was a key player in the creation of the annual Mt. SAC LA84 Foundation Youth Days – beginning in 1986 – one of the first post-Games programs supported with the financial legacy of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee following the 1984 Olympic Games. More than half a million athletes have benefitted from this program through clinics and competitions.

Said Patrick Escobar, then the lead program officer for the Foundation, working with Ruh for many years, “Through his commitment and passion he was instrumental in introducing hundreds of thousands of youngsters to the sport through the Mt. SAC LA84 Foundation Youth Days. Most importantly, he was an amazingly kind person who always took the time to mentor young people and to help where needed. He will be greatly missed.”

Ruh is survived by his wife of 61 years, Sandi, four children and six grandchildren. A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, 5 February at 11 a.m., in the Ruh Family Education Center at Heritage Hall, on the Mt. SAC campus.

● Biathlon ● Five-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time World Cup champ Johannes Thingnes Boe continued to dominate the men’s IBU World Cup with two more wins at the Pokljuka (SLO) stop on Friday and Saturday.

Boe won his sixth race of the season – out of nine held – in Friday’s 10 km Sprint in 23:55.9 (1 penalty) to 24:44.0 (0) over older brother Tarjei Boe and countryman Sturla Holm Laegreid (24:51.5/1) for a Norwegian sweep. In the 12.5 km Pursuit, J.T. Boe posted another dominant win in 31:43.2 (2) to 32:48.1 (1) for French star Quentin Maillet Fillon, with Tarjei Boe third (32:49.8/1).

The women’s racing in Pokljuka also had a double winner: Sweden’s three-time Beijing 2022 medal winner Elvira Oeberg. She won the 7.5 km Sprint in 20:25.2 (0) to 20:32.1 (0) for France’s Julia Simon and 20:43.9 (0) for three-time World Champion Dorothea Wierer (ITA).

Oeberg won the 10 km Pursuit more easily, in 29:41.6 (0) to 29:59.2 (1) for Wierer with Simon third in 30:04.0 (2).

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● German sleds swept all four Bob events at the famed track at Winterberg (GER), with Olympic Two-Woman gold medal driver Laura Nolte taking both women’s events and Germans winning five of six medals.

Nolte won the Monobob from Olympic champ Kaillie Humphries of the U.S., 1:59.54 to 1:59.72, with German Kim Kalicki third (1:59.73). Nolte teamed with Neele Schuten for the Two-Women victory in 1:53.74, ahead of sleds driven by Germans Lisa Buckwitz (1:54.09) and Kalicki (1:54.20). Humphries and Kaysha Love were fourth (1:54.43).

German stars Johannes Lochner and Francesco Friedrich won the Two-Man and Four-Man events. Lochner took his second straight Two-Man World Cup win with Georg Fleischhauer aboard, with Swiss driver Michael Vogt getting his third medal of the season in second, 1:51.17 to 1:51.31. Britain’s Brad Hall was third for his third medal as well, in 1:51.44.

Friedrich, the two-time Olympic champ, won the Four-Man in 1:49.07, ahead of Hall (1:49.25) and Lochner (1:49.27).

Olympic champ Christoph Grotheer of Germany took the men’s Skeleton in 1:54.32 ahead of countryman Axel Jungk (1:54.71) and Britain’s Matt Weston (1:54.72), while Dutch star Kimberley Bos – Beijing ‘22 bronze medalist – won the women’s division in 1:57.18, ahead of Canada’s Mirela Rahneva (1:57.24) and Olympic champ Hannah Niese (GER: 1:56.34).

● Cross Country Skiing ● Not quite. In the seven-stage Tour de Ski finale in Val di Fiemme (ITA), Norway’s Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo won had the first six legs going into Sunday’s final race, a 10 km Freestyle Mass Start event.

That was already a record, but Klaebo did not get the sweep as he finished sixth, and countryman Simen Hegstad Krueger – a two-time Olympic gold medalist from Beijing – got his second victory of the season, finishing in 31:20.4, ahead of teammate Hans Christer Holund (31:25.2).

Klaebo won Friday’s Classical Sprint in 2:43.85 over Calle Halfvarsson (SWE: 2:44.11) and then Saturday’s 15 km Classical Mass Start in 39:59.2, ahead of countryman Pal Golberg (39:59.6).

Klaebo defended his Tour de Ski title from last season and now has three career Tour de Ski victories, one short of the record, winning with a combined time of 2:44:28.9 to 2:45:28.4 for Krueger and 2:45:50.2 for Holund.

The women’s Tour de Ski title went to Swede Frida Karlsson, who scored four medals in the seven races (2-1-1). The Classical Sprint was a Norwegian sweep, with sisters Lotta Weng and Tiril Weng 1-2 in 3:06.04 and 3:06.39, and Mathilde Muhrvold third (3:06.71).

Karlsson was second in Saturday’s 15 km Mass Start to German Katharina Henning, 44:26.7-44:27.4, with Kerttu Niskanen (FIN: 44:27.5) third and American Rosie Brennan fourth (44:27.7).

Karlsson’s total time of 3:09:31.4 edged Niskanen by 33.2 seconds (3:10:04.6), with Tiril Weng third and Brennan fourth (3:11:13.5). American star Jessie Diggins was 11th.

● Ice Hockey ● Canada won its 20th title in the IIHF World Junior Championship, held in Halifax and Moncton (CAN) with a 3-2 overtime win against the Czech Republic.

The Canadians lost to the Czechs, 5-2, in pool play, but came back to beat Slovakia in the quarterfinals (4-3 in overtime), stomped the U.S., 6-2, in the semis and then taking a 2-0 lead in the final into the third period. However, the Czechs scored twice to tie it and send the game to overtime. Forward Dylan Guenther scored the game-winner at 6:22 of the overtime on a pass from forward Joshua Roy on a 2×1 break.

It’s the second consecutive World Junior title for the Canadians, with the Czechs winning their first medal in the event since 2005.

The U.S. ended up third after a wild, 8-7 overtime victory against Sweden that saw nine goals in the second period! Forward Chaz Lucius got the medal-winner at 2:06 of the overtime on a rebound off Swedish keeper Carl Lindbom.

Canada’s Conner Bedard was the scoring leader with 23 points (9+14) and the goals leader and was named Most Valuable Player.

● Luge ● The FIL World Cup tour was in Sigulda (LAT) for the first of two weeks of races, with the home team scoring wins in both men’s competitions.

Kristers Aparjods, the 2022 European Champs runner-up, won the men’s Singles in 1:35.228, just ahead of Max Langehan (GER: 1:35.481) and seasonal leader (and Beijing bronze medalist) Dominik Fischnaller (ITA: 1:35.495).

Martins Bots and Roberts Plume teamed up for the men’s Doubles win (1:22.42) for their second World Cup medal of the season, beating three-time Olympic champs Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt of Germany (1:22.798).

Latvia got a third win in the women’s Doubles – a new World Cup event this season – with Anda Upite and Sanija Ozolina taking their second medal of the season in 1:24.926. That was a clear winner over first-time medalists Chevonne Forgan and Sophia Kirby of the U.S. (1:25.138) and Germans Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal (1:25.261).

The only event Latvia didn’t win was the women’s Singles, the second win of the season for Dajana Eitberger, the 2018 Olympic runner-up, who won in 1:22.999. However, Latvia’s Elina Ieva Votola was second (1:23.093, ahead of 2021 World Champion Julia Taubitz (GER: 1:23.143).

● Nordic Combined ● The FIS World Cup was back in action, in Otepaa (EST), jumping off a 97 m hill.

The two men’s races had a 10 km mass start race, with 2021 Large Hill World Champion Johannes Lamparter (AUT) winning his first gold of the season with 133.8 points – third in the cross-country race – to 124.1 for Ilkka Herola (FIN). The second event was a more conventional Gundersen-style race, with Germany’s Julian Schmid taking his third win of the season in 24:39.5 over Lamparter (24:41.1).

The first women’s event had to be canceled due to winds that made jumping impossible. On Sunday, Norway’s Gyda Westvold Hansen continued her stranglehold on the event, winning in 14:34.8 for her fifth time– without a loss – this season. German Natalie Armbruster finished second (15:01.4).

● Ski Jumping ● The finale of the 71st Four Hills Tournament in Bischofshofen (AUT) ended the way two of the first three did, with a win for Norway’s Halvor Egner Granerud.

Granerud won the first two legs, then finished second to Pole Dawid Kubacki in Innsbruck (AUT), but came back to win on Friday, 313.4-305.5-303.7 over Anze Lanisek (SLO) and Kubacki.

Those three won 11 of the 12 medals in the Four Hills, with Granerud taking the title with 1,191.2 points to 1,158.2 for Kubacki and 1,129.0 for Lanisek. It’s a historic win for Granerud, the first Norwegian to win since Anders Jacobsen in 2006-07.

The women’s World Cup tour resumed in Sapporo (JPN), on a 137 m hill, with veteran stars claiming the golds. German Katharina Althaus, a two-time Olympic medal winner, took Saturday’s event at 263.8 points, ahead of Ema Klinec (SLO: 256.3) and seasonal leader Eva Pinkelnig (AUT: 249.7). On Sunday, it was Norway’s Silje Opseth with her third win of the season (232.1), with Klinec and Pinkelnig placing 2-3 once again, 227.3-225.7.

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MILLER TIME: A Paris Olympic Boycott Threat

By
David Miller
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The Paris 2024 flag flying atop the Eiffel Tower in June 2021 (Photo: Paris 2024)

/It’s a pleasure to present this guest column by one of the most knowledgeable observers of the Olympic Movement, Britain’s David Miller. For more than 50 years, the former English footballer has covered the Olympic Games and the sports within it, including 15 years as the Chief Sports Correspondent of The Times of London, with stints at the Daily Express and the Daily Telegraph. Author of books on athletics, football and the Olympics, he was Official Historian of the IOC from 1997-2018. His opinions are, of course, his own alone./

The renewed aspiration of the International Olympic Committee for maintaining ‘universality’ with ideological integration at the Paris Olympic Games 2024 – embracing drug-free athletes from Russia and Belarus uninvolved in Ukraine atrocities – could be spectacularly counter-productive. Evidence is accumulating that IOC imagined ethics will become not peaceful leadership but fatal cancer of Paris’s long-awaited third Games next year.

Aware that not only much of NATO – Ukraine themselves anxious candidates – but indeed world equilibrium is under threat from Putin’s demonic empire lust, Western nations are known to be considering a boycott of Paris rather than competing against an alien state. Fourteen effective neighbours of Ukraine were among the top 45 medal-winning nations at Tokyo’s suspended Summer Games of 2021. Their absence from Paris would be catastrophic: winners of a third of 900 medals at Tokyo.

“The plan to devise acceptable conditions for inclusion of Russian athletes is far too early, Ukraine’s allies indeed all of Europe, is wholly justified in their concern,” affirmed Gerhard Heiberg, veteran retired Norwegian IOC Member and industrialist who masterminded Lillehammer’s Winter Games of 1994; subsequently IOC financial director.

“More information is needed on Putin and his military leaders, still formidably aggressive. It is much too soon for leaders of the Olympic Council of Asia to be investigating possible loopholes for Russian integration. Yes, neighbours of Ukraine may well resort to boycott. The West should lie low for the moment and not venture in this false direction. Putin is obsessed with sporting triumph that Russia’s exclusion from Paris might force his hand in concluding rampant terrorism.”

The purported ‘Olympic Summit’ called by President Bach, on the contrived initiative by the Olympic Council of Asia to extend ‘investigation’ of IOC’s bureaucratic yet morally fraught compromise would make founder Pierre de Coubertin of France wince in his grave. Norway has conspicuously been the contemporary ethical flag of Olympism, seeking financial rationality of any Games, yet sadly self-destructed – through internal political confusion – when being the outstanding bid for the Winter Games of 2022, thereby opening the door for Beijing’s technically excellent but socially corrupt Chinese festival.

Alarm in Paris is on full alert. Alain Lunzenfichter, doyen Olympic commentator for French sports daily L’Equipe, is shrill in his condemnation. “The IOC’s attitude is not intellectual… it’s crazy, this plan would kill the Paris Games. Our ambition could instead become not the Olympic Games, but The War Games. The Olympics do not need Russia, not when we consider the horrors in Ukraine.” Lunzenfichter speaks for de Coubertin.

European wisdom is uniform. For the moment, Tony Estanguet, multiple canoe Olympic champion and maitre’d of the Paris 2024 festival, is holding his tongue, awaiting IOC reconsideration. Craig Reedie, chairman of the British Olympic Association for London’s third Games in 2012 – when Russia was hell bent on drug abuse – subsequently became head of World Anti-Doping Agency, WADA’s prolonged pursuit of Russia’s doping evils, added his disapproval for IOC ‘sanitation’, shortly before leaving for his winter retirement golfing holiday in California. “[President] Thomas [Bach] is well aware of my view on what is not a wise direction.” Several months ago, fellow IOC senior retiree from Canada, Dick Pound, emphasised this principle: that illegal nations are unwelcome. Thomas Bach’s initiatives for fundamental revision of the host city election process and introduction of new sports has been overdue and welcome: not so liaison with gangsters.

Following the World Wars, Germany and Austria were suspended from Antwerp’s Olympics of 1920, likewise Germany and Japan from London ’48. The symbol of Greece’s ancient wartime truce during a Games was admirable in an era of spears, not now with exploding drones and missiles. Beijing ’22, with Ukraine’s invasion imminent, exposed Putin as a lying criminal… hardly someone we need as an honourable sporting companion. One International Federation remains entrenched: World Athletics, led by Britain’s Sebastian Coe, rootedly excludes Russia/Belarus from any competition.

Comments are welcome here and or direct to David Miller here.

/David Miller’s biographical account of Thomas Bach’s presidency, ‘Igniting the Games’ is available from Pitch Publishing, £12.99/

TSX REPORT: New European host idea for 2030 Winter Games; Shiffrin stopped by race cancellation in Croatia; new California law could impact LA28

By
Rich Perelman
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The famed "Planet Ocean" mural on the exterior of the Long Beach Arena (Photo: Alanraywiki via Wikimedia Commons)

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

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. A new, French-Swiss-Italian bid for 2030 Winter Games?
2. Shiffrin stalled as second Zagreb Slalom cancelled
3. California anti-oil bill could impact LA28 venues in Long Beach
4. Tokyo Olympic Stadium could see track removed after 2025
5. Winter Universiade in Lake Placid opens 12 January

A wild, late-blooming idea for the 2030 Olympic Winter Games has popped up from the Mont-Blanc region that includes France, Italy and Switzerland. The area has plenty of snow, lots of World Cup venues and even the original Winter Games site of Chamonix, France. But it will take a lot of fast work to get the International Olympic Committee to take it seriously, not to mention potential referendums in one or more of the regions. Mikaela Shiffrin didn’t get a chance to equal Lindsey Vonn’s career women’s record for World Cup wins as the second Zagreb Slalom was canceled due to weather. Shiffrin can try again on the seventh in Croatia. A new California law to cut oil production in the state could impact funding the City of Long Beach expected to use to fix up two LA28 venues, the Long Beach Pier (for sailing) and the Long Beach Arena (handball). But an initiative effort to reverse the bill in a 2024 election is also underway. The Tokyo Olympic Stadium is expected to eventually be leased out to a private operator, but the track could be removed after the 2025 World Athletics Championships and a government subsidy may still be required. The first World University Games to be held since 2019 will open on the 12th in Lake Placid, New York; the 30th Winter World University Games has 1,443 athlete registrations from 43 countries, getting ready to compete in 12 sports.

1.
A new, French-Swiss-Italian bid for 2030 Winter Games?

The Swiss newspaper Le Temps reported Wednesday on a bid concept – that’s all so far – for the 2030 Olympic Winter Games that would involve the Mont Blanc region, with France, Italy and Switzerland all involved.

As the International Olympic Committee is taking more time to consider the future of Winter Games bidding, it has postponed its selection timetable for the 2030 Winter Games past 2023, opening the door to new concepts.

The Espace Mont-Blanc is a tri-nation initiative that began in 1991 and includes the Savoie and Haute-Savoie regions of France, the Italian Aosta Valley and the Swiss Valais region. Together, they offer a formidable combination of winter-sport venues, including original Winter Games host Chamonix (1924) in France, many well-known skiing venues in the Aosta Valley and former Winter Games bidder Sion in Switzerland.

There would be a lot of work to be done quickly to get a viable bid ready for the IOC’s Future Host Commission to review in time for 2024 selection of the 2030 host. But the door might be open.

The four bidders expected to vie for 2030 all have issues. Spain’s bid for Barcelona and the Pyrenees imploded as the regional governments of Catalonia and Aragon could not agree on a division of the sports among venues in their areas. Vancouver’s bid was essentially closed when the Province of British Columbia refused to fund the Games, also foreclosing any national government support. Sapporo, host in 1972, is dealing with the blowback of the Tokyo 2020 sponsorship bribery and test-event big-rigging scandals and has been flagging public support.

Salt Lake City, host in 2002, is ready to go and requires no construction, but would follow the Los Angeles 2028 Games and domestic sponsorship marketing is a concern. The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee would prefer to wait for 2034, with hopes for a stronger American economy.

In the Mont-Blanc region, how the bid would move forward is also problematic. France has the Paris 2024 Games coming up and all of the focus is there, not on a 2030 project. Italy has the next Winter Games in 2026 and domestic sponsorship marketing has already been a severe challenge that required a new chief executive to be installed. And in Switzerland, memories are still fresh of the 54-46% defeat of a 2018 referendum on what looked to be a winning candidature from Sion for 2026.

Such a concept works well with the IOC’s ideas for future bids, to use existing venues, especially those which already host World Cup events in their sports. Although a 2030 bid might not work – and a referendum will certainly be called in Valais – the region is well positioned for the future and could be a boost for winter-sport tourism in the Espace Mont-Blanc region.

2.
Shiffrin stalled as second Zagreb Slalom cancelled

Only nature can apparently stop American skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin, as the second Slalom scheduled for Zagreb (CRO) on Thursday was canceled. The International Ski Federation tweeted:

“Due to high temperatures and wind, today’s race in Zagreb was cancelled”

Shiffrin has won five World Cup races in a row – also achieved in the 2017-18 season – and is just one short of the all-time women’s World Cup wins record of 82 by fellow American Lindsey Vonn. But there are more technical races to come over the next week:

● 07 Jan.: Giant Slalom in Kranjska Gora (SVK)
● 08 Jan.: Giant Slalom in Kranjska Gora (SVK)
● 10 Jan.: Slalom in Flachau (AUT)

Shiffrin is familiar with both sites, having scored wins in both. She won a Giant Slalom and a Slalom at Kranjska Gora in 2018 and has four wins in Flachau, in 2013, 2014, 2018 and 2021!

After Flachau, the World Cup will feature Downhill and Super-G racing at St. Anton (AUT) and Cortina d’Ampezzo (ITA), before a Giant Slalom at Kronplatz (ITA) and a Giant Slalom and Slalom at Spindleruv Mlyn in Czechia before breaking for the Alpine World Championships in France from 6-18 February.

Shiffrin is also looking for a fifth overall World Cup title and is up, 975-586, over Slovakian star Petra Vlhova after 16 of 38 races. Only Austrian Marcel Hirscher (8), Annemarie Moser-Proell (AUT: 6) and Marc Giradelli (LUX: 5) have won five or more.

3.
California anti-oil bill could impact LA28 venues in Long Beach

The State of California adopted Senate Bill 1137, which went into effect on 1 January – maybe – and could have consequences for the City of Long Beach and two venues which are slated to host Olympic events in 2028.

The Long Beach Press-Telegram reported that the bill, which is designed to reduce oil production within 1,066 yards (3,200 ft.) of homes immediately, will significant impact City of Long Beach oil revenues which go into a Tideland Operating Fund that supports projects close to the production sites.

This includes planned upgrades for the Long Beach Arena – slated to host handball – and the Long Beach Pier, the planned site for sailing. The story quoted City Manager Tom Modica, who explained that the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier – its formal name – will likely not be upgraded under a planned $100 million program, due to the lack of funds:

“‘We’re cutting costs now,’ Modica said. ‘It likely will be more of a cosmetics fix, with pier use the next step. This is a no-build Olympics, with no new facilities, so there’s no plan for investments from there [LA28].’”

As for the Arena and the surrounding Long Beach Convention Center, about $80 million in improvements were planned, including new seats. Modica noted, “The [Convention Center] air chillers are on their last legs. We pay the electricity bill there too. We might be able to find some grants for energy efficiency there.”

Neither venue should be impacted so badly that the Games could not be held there, but it’s another situation that was not foreseen when the 2028 Games plan was created. And while the Long Beach area is clearly the best for sailing, handball could easily be moved to the new Intuit Dome arena in Inglewood, now being built by the Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA, which is expected to open in 2024. That would be a loss for Long Beach.

The lack of Tideland Operating Fund resources will also impact the famed Belmont Plaza aquatic complex that was torn down in 2013, with a new project repeatedly stalled. Plans for a new swim center – quite important to the local community – were ready for approval, but the passage of SB 1137 is threatening the $119 million project. The pool was not part of the competition plan for 2028.

Long Beach had announced that it planned to end oil production in the city by 2035 and had been planning for the costs of closure. Now, however, it could face very significant costs in this decade. But: the effective date of SB 1137 is uncertain due to an initiative petition drive by the oil industry to place a statewide proposition on the March 2024 ballot that would overturn SB 1137.

4.
Tokyo Olympic Stadium could see track removed after 2025

The future of the new National Stadium in Tokyo is being discussed in a revised policy for private operation of the facility by the Japan Sports Agency.

Kyodo News reported:

“Previously planned for the second half of 2022, the agency now hopes to commence the privatization of the stadium from fiscal 2024 under a 30-year arrangement.”

Tokyo has been awarded the World Athletics Championships for 2025, but in the discussions with potential private operators, a change afterwards to remove the track and convert the facility to feature football and rugby is possible.

Further concern was noted about a continuing government subsidy on annual ground rent of ¥1.1 billion (~$8.25 million U.S.) and annual maintenance costs of ¥1.0 billion (~$7.50 million U.S.) that may not be covered by a private operator. The costs for the stadium in 2022 were ¥1.84 billion (about $13.79 million U.S.).

The facility was a central feature of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and replaced the National Stadium that hosted the 1964 Tokyo Games, as well as the 1991 IAAF World Championships.

5.
Winter Universiade in Lake Placid opens 12 January

The third World University Games to be held in the United States will open next Thursday in Lake Placid, New York, as the first Universiade to be held since 2019, thanks to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic.

Originally expected to host about 2,500 athletes, the final registration totals announced by the International University Sports Federation (FISU) were 1,443 athletes from 595 universities in 43 countries. If confirmed, this would be the smallest athlete total at a Winter WUG since Turin (ITA) in 2003 (1,266). The largest delegations:

● 150: United States
● 139: Japan
● 121: Canada
● 94: Czech Republic
● 85: Korea

The sports program includes 86 events in 12 sports, and the competing athletes must be not less than 17 and not older than 25 years of age during 2023. Registrations showed 832 men and 611 women ready to compete. The biggest sports in terms of registrations were ice hockey (488), alpine skiing (194), cross-country skiing (161), snowboard (118) and short track skating (108).

The opening and closing ceremonies will be held in the Lake Placid Olympic Center’s Herb Brooks Arena, home to the “Miracle on Ice” victory for the U.S. over the USSR at the 1980 Olympic Winter Games.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Alpine Skiing ● Two-time Olympic champion Rosi Mittermaier (GER) passed away at 72 on 4 January 2023 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

A popular skier for 10 years on the FIS World Cup circuit, she claimed 10 victories – mostly in Slalom – and won the 1976 World Championships gold in the Combined.

But she gained everlasting fame with gold medals in the 1976 Olympic Downhill and Slalom, and a silver in the Giant Slalom.

She married fellow German skier Christian Neureuther in 1980, and the couple had two children: Felix (also a World Cup skier) and Ameli, a fashion designer.

● Athletics ● Sad news that Evelyn Lawler Lewis, the co-founder of the Willingboro Track Club with her late husband Bill, and the mother of stars Carl and Carol Lewis, passed away on Tuesday (3rd) at 93.

As Evelyn Lawler, she was a sprint star herself at Tuskegee Institute, winning the U.S. women’s title in the 80 m hurdles in 1950 and placing sixth at the inaugural Pan American Games in 1951. Son Carl, now the head coach at the University of Houston, tweeted Tuesday:

“It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of our mother Evelyn L. Lewis’s passing this morning. She has received her wings and joined our father. She leaves a long-lasting memory and changed the world one student and athlete at a time.”

A stunning sanction totaling 36 years has been levied against Italian distance runner Alessandro Braconi, that will keep him ineligible until March of 2058!

Braconi was originally suspended for possession, use and trafficking offenses in April of 2016. But he violated the prohibition against participation while on suspension at the Lago Maggiore Half Marathon last May and was suspended for 12 years by the Athletics Integrity Unit and 24 more by the Italian national anti-doping agency. He can compete again when he’s 72.

● Cross Country Skiing ● The 17th Tour de Ski tour continues with Norway’s five-time Olympic gold medalist Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo heading to the final stop in Val di Fiemme (ITA) having won all four men’s races so far.

After winning the Freestyle Sprint and 10 km Classical Pursuit in Val Mustair (SUI), Klaebo aced the two races in Obertsdorf (GER) with victories in the 10 km Classical and 20 km Freestyle Pursuit. In both cases, Norway scored 1-2 finishes with Simen Hegstad Krueger and Sindre Skar winning silvers. Didrik Toenseth of Norway completed a sweep in the 10 km Classical, but Italy’s Federico Pellegrino – a two-time Olympic Sprint silver winner – won his third medal of the Tour with a third in the 20 km Pursuit. He’s the only non-Norwegian to finish in the top three so far.

Klaeblo will try for the Tour de Ski sweep with a Classical Sprint, 15 km Classical Mass Start and 10 km Freestyle Mass Start Climb agenda ahead of him. He’s already won eight of the 14 races held this season.

The women’s Tour de Ski has been taken over by Swede Frida Karlsson, who won the two races in Obertsdorf and now has a 1:28 lead over prior leader Tiril Weng of Norway. Finnish star Krista Parmakoski – also a five-time Olympic medal winner – was second in both races, with Norwegians Anne Kalva third in the 10 km Classical and Weng third in the 20 km Freestyle Pursuit.

Rosie Brennan has been the top American in the women’s Tour de Ski, standing eighth, 2:36 behind Karlsson, with three legs remaining.

● Ice Hockey ● On the sidelines of the men’s World Junior Championship finishing up in Canada, International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) President Luc Tardif (FRA) spoke with reporters.

Beyond praising the strong attendance and competition in Halifax and Moncton, Tardif also spoke about the political issues in the sport. On Russia and Belarus, he explained:

“For us the most important thing is whether we can play in a safe environment. This tournament here was supposed to be played in Novosibirsk and Omsk [in Russia]. Was it possible to play this tournament in Novosibirsk, travel there, safety of the teams, officials, staff, media, fans, also safety for the Russian and Belarusian teams at IIHF events? Would it be possible to play the World Championship in St. Petersburg in May? It was not possible.

“We will re-evaluate the situation with Russia and Belarus every year at the Congress in May and whether we can have a tournament with Russia and Belarus in a safe environment. But I can’t say now what the outcome will be. The IIHF is a democratic institution. The IIHF Council will do a recommendation and the Congress will decide.”

He was more optimistic about having National Hockey League players in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy:

“Last time [in Beijing 2022] it was missed because of Covid, but we started the discussions. It seems that the NHL and NHLPA are more open to come. The IOC seems also more open to accommodate the needs.

“Last year it was really difficult to organize it, have the players travel there with all the Covid countermeasures, also have more players from Europe than expected there, but we found solutions with the European leagues and clubs. Having a decision with the NHL by spring 2024 would allow us to properly prepare for it. I’m optimistic but everybody has to do an effort to be there.”

● Ski Jumping ● The prestigious 71st Four Hills Tournament will not see a one-man sweep in 2022-23 as Poland’s 2019 World Champion, Dawid Kubacki, won the third leg in Innsbruck (AUT) on Wednesday over Norway’s Halvor Egner Granerud, who took the first two legs in Germany.

Kubacki (1-2-0) and Granerud (2-1-0) have won medals in all three events so far, with the finale coming on the 6th in Bischofshofen (AUT) off a 142 m hill. Granerud is still the leader, 877.8 to 8.54.5 over Kubacki, with Anze Lanisek (SLO) – second and third in the last two events – standing in third with 823.5 points.

Kubacki won the Four Hills in 2019-20; Granerud is trying to be the first Norwegian champ since Anders Jacobsen in 2006-07!

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For our updated, 929-event International Sports Calendar for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Shiffrin skis to fifth straight World Cup win; Ukraine points to bombed arena to keep Russia suspended; big-time T&F returning to L.A.?

By
Rich Perelman
-
The bombed-out Altair Arena in the Donetsk region of Ukraine (Photo: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Twitter)

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

★ Enjoying our coverage? If so, please consider a donation to help cover technical costs for 2023. Thank you for your support. ★

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● Sponsored post: All about the RR Auction on now: An Athens 1896 medal in its original box, 38 Olympic torches and 40 Olympic medals, ending 19 January ●

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Unstoppable: Shiffrin wins fifth straight, within one of Vonn
2. Ukrainian Foreign Minister invites Bach to see destroyed arena
3. USATF announces “LA Grand Prix” meets in May
4. U.S. Soccer investigating Berhalter “blackmail” threat
5. Pele laid to rest in Santos; Infantino calls for stadium namings

Four-time women’s World Cup champ Mikaela Shiffrin of the U.S. is on a tear, winning her fifth World Cup race in a row and moving to within one victory of fellow American Lindsey Vonn’s women’s career record of 82 World Cup wins. And Shiffrin has four more technical races coming over the next week, including a second Slalom in Zagreb, Croatia on Thursday! Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted a message to those considering a pathway for Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete internationally once again: photos of a popular but now bombed-out ice arena in the Donetsk area, the fifth arena to be destroyed by Russian attacks during the war. USA Track & Field provided some details on a two-day “LA Grand Prix” meet at UCLA’s Drake Stadium on 26-27 May, with distance races on Friday and the rest of the meet on Saturday, echoing Al Franken’s famed Pepsi Invitational held there from 1978-87. An ugly situation is being investigated by U.S. Soccer, in which a decades-ago incident between now out-of-contract men’s National Team coach Gregg Berhalter and his then-girlfriend – and now wife of 25 years – was exposed to the federation’s senior management, causing Berhalter and his wife to describe it in detail in a Twitter post. The disclosure was apparently caused by the lack of playing time for midfielder Gio Reyna at the FIFA World Cup. Brazilian football legend Pele was laid to rest in Santos, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino calling all 211 member federations to name a stadium in their country in his honor.

1.
Unstoppable: Shiffrin wins fifth straight, within one of Vonn

American skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin isn’t on a roll, she’s on a sleigh, winning her fifth straight Alpine World Cup race, a Slalom, in Zagreb (CRO) on Wednesday, taking the lead in the first run and never looking back.

She had a healthy 0.23-second lead after the first race and then extended her advantage with the fourth-fastest second run, finishing in 1:36.42 to 1:37.18 (+0.76) for Olympic champ Petra Vlhova (SVK) and 1:37.63 for Swede Anna Swenn Larsson. Said the winner:

“I’m really happy with how my skis felt in these conditions. I think that was the most exciting thing of the day, that I felt so good skiing when it’s a bit softer. …

“Nothing less than the best is going to work and I was taking all the risks I needed and then nailed it on the finish.”

The victory is Shiffrin’s seventh of the season and fifth in a row – now two Slaloms, two Giant Slaloms and a Super-G – with more technical races coming up:

● 05 Jan.: Slalom in Zagreb (CRO)
● 07 Jan.: Giant Slalom in Kranjska Gora (SVK)
● 08 Jan.: Giant Slalom in Kranjska Gora (SVK)
● 10 Jan.: Slalom in Flachau (AUT)

Shiffrin has been on a streak like this before – at many of the same sites – in the 2017-18 season, when she won eight races out of nine (and was third in the race she didn’t win) in December and January. She won five in a row then, too, in Oslo (NOR), Zagreb, Kranjska Gora and Flachau!

She now has 81 career World Cup wins, one behind fellow American Lindsey Vonn for the most all-time by a woman and just five behind Swede Ingemar Stenmark’s all-time victory total of 86.

Shiffrin could make more history on Thursday.

2.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister invites Bach to see destroyed arena

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER) has said again and again that while sanctions against Russian and Belarusian athletes must continue in view of the invasion of Ukraine, he would like to find a way to have some participation by athletes from those countries, perhaps those who do not support the war.

On Tuesday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, referring to Bach’s comments, tweeted:

“I invite all sports officials who want to allow Russian athletes to compete in international events because, as they say, ‘politics should be kept out of sports’, to visit the Altair ice arena in Druzhkivka ruined by Russia’s ‘politically neutral’ shelling.”

On Instagram, he added:

“It was not just a sports facility, but one of the key arenas for the development of Ukrainian sports and the largest hockey and figure skating school in Ukraine. The only strikes that ever took place here were hockey bullies, until ‘politically neutral’ Russian bombs landed at the arena.”

An AIPS story from Ukrainian journalist Dmitry Klymenko quoted the Ukrainian ice hockey federation’s report:

“Since the beginning of the war, the Russian occupiers have already destroyed five ice stadiums: the Donetsk ‘Druzhba’, the arenas in Mariupol and Melitopol, the Ice Palace in Siverskodonetsk, and now ‘Altair’.”

There was only one positive note, from Oleksandra Pakhomova, the deputy head of the Druzhkivska city military administration:

“The ice arena guard was saved by the fact that he went outside to smoke. If he hadn’t gone out to smoke, the epicenter of the explosion would have fallen on his guardhouse.”

3.
USATF announces “LA Grand Prix” meets in May

Although already on the schedule, some of the details of two May track & field meets to be staged in Los Angeles were announced on Wednesday, with superstar coach Bobby Kersee helping to coordinate the program.

The “LA Grand Prix” will be staged at UCLA’s Drake Stadium on 26-27 May, with the USATF Distance Classic on Friday evening and the LA Grand Prix meet itself on Saturday from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Pacific time, to be shown live on NBC (4:30-6 p.m. Eastern).

The primary financial backer appears to be Internet Brands/WebMD Impact Fund, with USATF chief executive Max Siegel stating, “Partnering with Bob Brisco from Internet Brands and others, we’re viewing the LA meet as an incubator of exciting new approaches for engaging our athletes, fans, and communities. We’re back in LA to stay in a big way.”

Kersee is, of course, more than familiar with the 11,142-seat facility, having served as the UCLA women’s head coach from 1985-93 and for many years since as a UCLA assistant and more recently for his own training group, headlined by the iconic Allyson Felix. He currently coaches Olympic champions Athing Mu (800 m) and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (400 m hurdles), among others.

A “USATF Legends Jam” is slated to follow at UCLA in the evening, with music and salutes to track & field stars of past and present.

The USATF Distance Classic has been held in the Los Angeles area since 2011, mostly at Occidental College, as a developmental meet and a setting to get qualifying marks for the national championships.

Staging a world-class invitational meet at Drake Stadium harkens back to some of the halcyon days of track & field in Los Angeles and the Pepsi Invitational staged by Al Franken beginning in 1978. Franken, who passed away at age 96 in December of 2021, was the driving force behind the Sunkist Invitational (Los Angeles) and Jack in the Box (San Diego) indoor meets and created the Pepsi meet at UCLA after a couple of tries at a meet at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum had only tepid success.

The first Pepsi meet on 7 May 1978 drew 10,009 – close to a sell-out – and featured an American Record in the men’s triple jump by James Butts at 56-5 1/2 (17.20 m) and Patty van Wolvelaere in the women’s 100 m hurdles (13.21). The next year, Franken somehow arranged for the first U.S. appearance of double Olympic gold medalist Alberto Juantorena of Cuba, but high hurdles star Renaldo Nehemiah stole the show with a 13.00 world record. In 1983, American javelin star Tom Petranoff set a world mark of 327-2 (99.72 m) with the old-style implement. The meet ended with the 1987 edition.

The most recent high-profile, nationally-televised meet in the L.A. area was The Home Depot Invitational in 2003 and 2004 at what is now the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. Adidas bought the meet in 2004 and continued it through 2007 as the Adidas Track Classic.

4.
U.S. Soccer investigating Berhalter “blackmail” threat

U.S. Soccer announced that it had commissioned an independent investigation of Men’s National Team Head Coach Gregg Berhalter following an 11 December incident which Berhalter – whose contract as coach has expired – explained on Twitter:

“During the World Cup, an individual contacted U.S. Soccer, saying that they had information about me that would ‘take me down’ – an apparent effort to leverage something very personal from long ago to bring about the end of my relationship with U.S. Soccer.”

Berhalter further explained that, as an 18-year-old, after meeting his future wife Rosalind in 1991, they had an altercation that ended their relationship:

“One night, while out drinking at a local bar, Rosalind and I had a heated argument that continued outside. It became physical and I kicked her in the legs.”

Seven months later, they reconciled and eventually married and recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. They jointly decided to detail the situation and are cooperating in the inquiry.

The federation statement included:

“Through this process, U.S. Soccer has learned about potential inappropriate behavior towards multiple members of our staff by individuals outside of our organization. We take such behavior seriously and have expanded our investigation to include those allegations.”

Multiple reports have cited Danielle Reyna, mother of current U.S. National Team midfielder Gio Reyna and wife of former U.S. star Claudio Reyna – as having contacted U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Earnie Stewart and informing him of the 1991 incident involving the Berhalters. Goal.com summed up the situation:

“What was once a World Cup feud about on-field friction has now become a tale of betrayal, friendship and, ultimately, heartbreak

“The Reyna family, one of the most beloved in American soccer, dug up 30 years of trauma and grief because U.S. men’s national team head coach Gregg Berhalter didn’t play their son enough at the World Cup.”

On Wednesday, U.S. Soccer named Men’s National Team assistant Anthony Hudson to lead the team’s January training camp. The U.S. men will play friendlies against Serbia on 25 January and Colombia on 28 January, both in the Los Angeles area.

U.S. Soccer stated that it will make the results of the investigation public once completed.

5.
Pele laid to rest in Santos; Infantino calls for stadium namings

The world’s greatest football player, Brazil’s Pele, was laid to rest in Santos in a private ceremony after thousands of people visited him for a final time at the Urbano Caldera Stadium, where he played for Santos FC, on Monday and Tuesday.

Pele, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, passed at 82 on 29 December and was buried on the ninth floor of the Memorial Necropole Ecumenical, a 14-story vertical cemetery in Santos, with a clear view of the stadium from his final resting place.

The memorial service at the stadium was attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI); the FIFA report included:

“Gianni Infantino said that FIFA had asked each of the 211 Member Associations around the world to hold a minute’s silence at every game in Pele’s memory. He said he would also suggest that FIFA ask every MA to name at least one stadium in their country after Pele:

“I think the young people around the world, the future generations, have to know and remember who Pele was, and the happiness he gave the world.

“In 20, 30, 50, or 100 years’ time, when goals are scored in the Pele stadium in any country in the world, and people ask who he was, [they will hear] he was a great, great player who brought excitement to us all.”

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Errata ● Thanks to Tom Kelly of the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games (and others, but Tom was first), who corrected a note in yesterday’s Lane One about the selection of a host for the 2030 Olympic Winter Games. In fact, the International Olympic Committee will not select a host in 2023, but likely now in 2024.

● Alpine Skiing ● Finally, a win for Norwegian star Henrik Kristoffersen in the FIS World Cup men’s Slalom in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER) on Wednesday.

Kristoffersen had been second in three straight races in late December, but got his first win of the season – and 29th of his career – in 1:48.37, ahead of Austria’s Manuel Feller (1:49.59) and France’s 2022 Olympic Slalom gold medalist Clement Noel (1:49.83).

Austrian star Matthias Mayer, a three-time Olympic gold medalist in the Downhill (2014) and Super-G (2018-22) suddenly announced his retirement last Thursday in Bormio (ITA) just prior to the World Cup Super-G race that ended the year’s schedule. He said:

“Last season was fantastic with the third Olympic gold medal and I have started well in the new season and I’m satisfied. But it’s enough.

“I’ve done my last course inspection today and that’s it. I don’t have that fire anymore. The sport is very important for the people and it should go on, but for me it’s OK.”

Mayer, 32, finishes with 11 World Cup wins and 45 World Cup medals over 13 seasons.

It’s the second announcement of a mid-season retirement as Beijing 2022 Olympic Downhill winner Beat Feuz (SUI) said he would close his career at 35 – after 14 World Cup seasons – following the racing in Wengen (SUI) on 13-14-15 January:

“Pushing limits and risk has been my passion in skiing for years. My emotion has often been the key to success. Now my feeling tells me: the physical limits have been reached.”

● Archery ● Montreal Olympic women’s gold medalist Luann Ryon of the U.S. passed away at age 69 on 30 December. She virtually came from nowhere to win the Pan American Games women’s gold in 1975 and then set an Olympic Record of 2,499 in the Double FITA Round (144 arrows) in 1976.

She won the FITA World Championships gold in 1977 as well and was a Team gold medalist at the 1983 Pan American Games, but did not get back to the Olympic Games a second time.

● Athletics ● Sad news from Turkey, as Nejat Kok, one of the world’s foremost track & field statisticians, passed away at 83 in Aydin in late December.

The President of the Turkish Athletics Federation in 1974-75, Kok was by trade a professor of civil engineering at the Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara, where he lived for much of his adult life.

His reputation as a statistician was so outstanding that he was recruited by the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee to come to Los Angeles for nine months in December 1983 to head up the first-of-its-kind biographical database for the 1984 Olympic Games. Kok and a small team produced detailed biographies for more than 2,400 of the highest-profile athletes that accredited media could retrieve themselves on AT&T’s Electronic Messaging System.

Kok contributed to his beloved sport of track & field as a journalist, technical advisor and especially as a statistician; he was an Executive Board member of the worldwide Association of Track & Field Statisticians for decades.

● Boxing ● A tragic death in Greece, of 16-year-old Vassilis Topalos, the European Junior Lightweight (60 kg) Champion in 2022, from injuries suffered during sparring and then from a fall in a nearby restroom.

Topalos was training at a gym in Tavros on 16 December, but felt sick, went to wash his face and then apparently fainted and fell to the floor, hitting his head again. He was taken to a nearby hospital and underwent surgery, but passed away on Monday (2nd).

As American fans watching NFL Football can attest, sports is not always safe.

Russian Umar Kremlev, the President of the International Boxing Association, has reinforced his status with the appointment of former Russian Abdulmutalim Abakarov as a Vice President of the federation.

Under the new IBA Constitution passed at the recent Congress, the IBA President may appoint up to four Vice Presidents, who will not have the status of a Director. Abakarov, 49, was a Vice President of the Russian Boxing Federation from 2011-17, but became a Serbian citizen and the Chair of the Supervisory Board of the Serbian Boxing Federation in 2021.

He is listed as having been sanctioned by Ukraine since May of 2021, relating to the Russian invasion.

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MEMORABILIA: Athens 1896 medal in original box, 38 Olympic torches and 40 Olympic medals on auction, ending 19 January

By
Rich Perelman
-
A rare Athens 1896 second-place medal on offer in RR Auction's Olympic Memorabilia program, through 19 January.

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

A sponsored post by RR Auction.

It’s not every day that you have a medal from the first modern Olympic Games, an Olympic Torch from the very first torch relay and both from the most recent Olympic Games all available at the same time, but that’s only part of an impressive, 395-lot offering by RR Auction of Amherst, New Hampshire that will end on 19 January.

It’s the company’s biggest auction yet, with an original, second-place medal from the 1896 Athens Games the featured lot:

“The front depicts a relief portrait of Zeus holding Nike, the goddess of Victory, in the palm of his hand, with text along left side, ‘Olympia’; the reverse bears a detailed view of the Acropolis of Athens topped by the Parthenon, with raised Greek characters to upper and lower portion (translated), ‘International Olympic Games in Athens, 1896.’ Stamped ‘Bronze’ on the edge. Complete with its original case lined in deep red velvet.”

Only the first and second-place winners received medals in Athens in 1896, with the victors awarded a silver medal and bronze for the runners-up. The condition is amazingly good after 126 years, including the original box. It’s expected to bring $70,000.

Five medals from Paris 1900 are on offer, as well as medals from the 1906 Intercalated Games in Athens, Stockholm 1912, Paris 1924, Amsterdam 1928, Los Angeles 1932, London 1948, Melbourne and Stockholm 1956, Rome 1960, Tokyo 1964, Munich 1972, Montreal 1976, Moscow 1980, Los Angeles 1984, Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992, Beijing 2008, and Tokyo 2020.

The 2020 Tokyo gold came from Cuban superstar boxer Roniel Iglesias, who won the men’s Welterweight class. The entire awards package is included: medal, ribbon, wooden presentation case and the framed diploma documenting his victory. It was Iglesias’ second Olympic gold – he won the Light Welterweight Class in London in 2012 – and is expected to bring $50,000 or more.

Cuban boxing star Roniel Iglesias’ Tokyo 2020 gold medal, now on auction through 19 January.

Two exceptionally rare Winter Games medals are being offered, both expected to bring $40,000 or more: a gold from the 1952 Oslo Games – one of just 48 made – and a massive Turin 2006 gold, weighing 1.05 pounds and in its original display case.

The medals are not the only big-ticket items in the catalog, with eight Olympic torches expected to sell for $10,000 or more. At the top of the list is an Albertville 1992 Winter Games Torch, hard to find and expected to bring $50,000+. A torch from the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Games – in excellent condition – is expected to bring $30,000, and a Sapporo 1972 model is estimated to sell for $25,000 or more.

There are torches with expected sale prices as low as $1,000, for those who want to get a collection started, and a Berlin 1936 torch – from the first Olympic Torch Relay – is offered with an expected sale price of $5,000.

Auctions of this type always include at least one lot of hard-to-find badges that used to be used as credentials before the modern accreditation badge was introduced. A set of 10 badges from the Tokyo 1964 Games, including Competitor, N.O.C., Press, Photo-Film, Radio-TV, Technical Official and so on are available, including the original presentation boxes, and expected to go for $10,000 or more.

For those new to Olympic memorabilia, one of the best ways to start is with the “participation medals’ which are given to all of the competitors at the Games as a souvenir of their achievement. These go back to the beginning of the modern Olympic Movement and the auction includes a large selection going all the way back to 1896! Some have opening bid prices as low as $100. A huge lot of 20 participation medals from every summer Games from 1936 to 2016 is available, with an expected sale price of more than $6,000.

The most unusual lot? It might be no. 6117, the actual competition swim trunks worn by then-16-year-old Greg Louganis of the U.S. in Montreal in 1976, on his way to the 10 m Platform Diving silver (size 30 by the way). The minimum bid is $200, but it’s expected to sell for $1,000 or more.

Or perhaps a 1984 U.S. Olympic Team ring from field hockey goalkeeper Diane Moyer, already receiving a $200 bid, but expected to sell for $500 or more.

RR Auction chief executive Bobby Eaton noted, “RR Auction is proud to open 2023 with our biggest Olympic auction yet!

“A number of scarce and sought-after Winter Olympic relay torches are featured as well, including those from Cortina 1956, Innsbruck 1976, Lake Placid 1980, Calgary 1988, and Albertville 1992—all of which are quite difficult to find in the marketplace. These key pieces are bolstered by an unprecedented variety of Olympic ephemera, IOC badges and pins, participation medals, and souvenirs from the Games.”

The auction began on 22 December, with many bids already recorded, and will continue to Thursday, 19 January 2023. The auction catalog and additional details are here.

A sponsored post by RR Auction.

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LANE ONE: The top stories in 2023 II: Will Salt Lake City get 2030? Which sports for LA28? And then there is Russia …

By
Rich Perelman
-

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The top half of our list of the – projected – biggest stories for 2023, following nos. 10-6 from Tuesday, with the International Olympic Committee right in the middle of the action:

5.
Is the 2030 Winter Games coming to Salt Lake City? Sapporo?

/Updated/The International Olympic Committee’s new, discussion-based process for choosing future host cities for the Olympic and Winter Games is not designed to run on a strict timetable. That was underlined in 2022.

By this point, one candidate was expected to have been identified for “targeted dialogue” to be selected as the 2030 Winter Games host. But that didn’t happen.

Instead, the IOC’s Future Host Commission for the Winter Games wanted to consider a possible future rotation of cities which appear to be offer consistent, dependable snow for competitions amidst continuing climate concerns. Further, the four contenders for the 2030 Games all took steps back in 2022.

The Spanish bid for Barcelona and the Pyrenees collapsed due to infighting between the regions of Aragon and Catalonia. Vancouver’s bid imploded when the Province of British Columbia said it would not fund the Games, also foreclosing national government funding support.

Sapporo, which hosted the Games in 1972 and held the track & field endurance events for the Tokyo Games in 2021, suffered from only modest public support, a moving budget and now a series of sponsorship and bid-rigging scandals from the Tokyo Games that is further eroding support. Local officials are talking about a referendum on the bid.

That leaves 2002 host Salt Lake City, with a detailed budget and a venue and village plan that requires no construction at all. And while the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games enjoys overwhelming support from the local community, the state of Utah and local and regional governments, it has a potential difficulty in domestic sponsorship sales due to the proximity of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee has stated that, if possible, a Winter Games in Salt Lake City in 2034 would be best, but that 2030 could work. The locals are ready to go for 2030.

The IOC is not targeting a decision at the 140th IOC Session in Mumbai (IND), so the story will continue into 2024. If the decision had to be made today, Salt Lake City offers the best option for success.

(Thanks to Tom Kelly of the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games for a reminder of the IOC’s change of schedule from December.)

4.
Which sports will join the LA28 program
(and who will be left out)?

The IOC shocked many in the Olympic world with the confirmation last February that boxing, modern pentathlon and weightlifting were off the Los Angeles 2028 sports program, and that surfing, sport climbing and skateboarding were in.

For the rest of 2022, the turmoil within the International Boxing Association, Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne and the International Weightlifting Federation was almost non-stop, as all three tried to get back in.

The IOC has said that the final decision on the LA28 sports program will be made at the IOC Session in Mumbai (IND) in September or October, with a prior recommendation by the IOC Executive Board in the summer.

Boxing appears to be on the way out for 2028 altogether (more on this below), while comments from IOC Sports Director Kit McConnell (NZL) concerning weightlifting have been quite positive since its elections in June.

The modern pentathlon situation is confused. The UIPM decided to replace equestrian (jumping) with obstacle-course racing, changing modern Olympic Games founder Pierre de Coubertin’s original formula for the sport, which debuted in 1912. An activist athlete group – Pentathlon United – which includes Tokyo 2020 men’s champion Joe Choong (GBR) has been fighting tooth and nail to retain riding, but with significant changes in the way the discipline is handled.

McConnell has stated that when considering modern pentathlon for 2028, not only will be the UIPM’s proposal be reviewed, but also the civil war inside the sport. It could be in, it could be out, or a third way could be considered, perhaps funding the federation as if it were in LA28 (to allow world championships to continue), but with a mandate to resolve all of its differences with its athlete base by 2026 in order to be considered for 2032.

That does not account for any added sports that the LA28 organizers would like to add. The organizing committee and the IOC’s Olympic Program Commission have been opaque about their discussions, but nine sports have been reported as under consideration: baseball and softball, breaking, cricket, flag football, karate, kickboxing, lacrosse, motorsport and squash.

These too will be considered this year, with the selections (if any) to be approved by the IOC Session in Mumbai in the fall.

Not to be overlooked: the IOC is committed to a hard cap of 10,500 athletes for Paris 2024, LA28 and beyond. Any sports that come into the program now – already at 28 sports – will impact the number of athletes in all the sports.

3.
Boxing’s Olympic future

What used to be known as AIBA – the international federation for boxing – got into a lot of trouble under former President C.K. Wu of Chinese Taipei. Bad organizational and financial decisions led to corruption, major governance failures and debts of at least $16 million.

The federation got rid of Wu in 2017, then got lost in an aimless series of interim officers and elections that finally saw Russian Boxing Federation Secretary General Umar Kremlev elected in December 2020 to finish a term that would end in 2022. Things changed quickly.

The federation name was changed to the International Boxing Association (IBA). Kremlev turned to Russian energy giant Gazprom and got $50 million over two years to clean up the debt and commissioned McLaren Global Sport Solutions to document who did what to get the federation into so many problems. A series of governance reforms were recommended and instituted, overseen by an independent group of experts.

But Kremlev’s actions also raised new concerns at the IOC. The reliance on Gazprom as essentially a sole sponsor indicated sustainability issues for the federation. Kremlev announced that Russian and Belarusian fighters would be able to compete with national uniforms, flags and anthems, in contravention of the IOC’s request to ban them. Kremlev was elected in the fourth round of voting in 2020, but in the campaign for a full term in May 2022, his opponent – Dutch Boxing Federation chief Boris van der Vorst – was declared ineligible, along with several Board candidates, a day prior to the scheduled vote.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport held that van der Vorst should not have been disqualified and another electoral Congress was held last September, with the majority elected not to have another election and confirming Kremlev in place for a full term.

Letters from the IOC asking more questions were dismissed by Kremlev, who said of the IOC’s concerns in December, “I think it’s only P.R. for the mass media.”

All of this was too much for the IOC. On 23 December, it issued a statement that included:

“The recent IBA Congress has shown once more that IBA has no real interest in the sport of boxing and the boxers, but is only interested in its own power. … The IOC will have to take all this into consideration when it takes further decisions, which may – after these latest developments – have to include the cancellation of boxing for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.”

All the indications point to boxing being excluded from Paris 2024; boxing has been a part of the Games continuously since 1920. There is a possibility of a challenger federation being organized, but at this point, the IOC seems ready to simply exclude the sport.

If so, it’s unlikely that the IOC’s issues with the IBA would be settled by the fall and boxing would then be likely to be skipped in 2028 as well.

Maybe that’s what Kremlev has in mind anyway, as he recently made an agreement with the World Boxing Association (WBA) to create a joint pathway to professional boxing. In that case, a new Olympic-focused boxing federation could emerge, despite Kremlev’s insistence that the IBA is the owner of worldwide amateur boxing.

2.
The Valieva doping case and the last Beijing medal ceremony

The story of Russian teen figure-skating star Kamila Valieva and her doping positive from Christmas Day 2021 is well known. But what happens next is unknown.

There were 109 events at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games and medal ceremonies were held for 108. Only the Team Event in figure skating – in which Valieva won the women’s Short Program and Free Skate and Russia won the competition – remains open.

The World Anti-Doping Agency removed, under its authority in the World Anti-Doping Code, the hearing on Valieva’s doping case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in November, after losing patience with the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, which said it had completed its inquiry into the matter last September.

Valieva’s hearing will begin with the presumption that she has been cleared of doping by RUSADA, with WADA trying to prove otherwise. This is going to take a while.

In the meantime, the skaters from the U.S., Japan and Canada – placed 2-3-4 in Beijing – are waiting and waiting and waiting. If Valieva’s 2021 positive for trimetazidine, a prohibited hormone modulator, is upheld, the U.S. will advance to the gold medal, with Japan getting silver and Canada the bronze. If not, Russia will remain the winners, with the U.S. second.

So everyone is still waiting. The Russians have been clear that they prefer to have as little notice or publicity about the hearing as possible. But the result will eventually be announced and then the question is about the medal ceremony.

One ceremony? Three separate ones? Our idea: bring them to Paris 2024 and let the medalists be decorated in front of live fans – largely absent in Beijing – and enjoy the atmosphere that only an Olympic Games can bring.

1.
Russia’s war in Ukraine grinds on, and so does its sports isolation

Just as the no. 1 story in international sport in 2022 was Russia, so it will be the story in 2023 and as long as its war against Ukraine continues.

IOC chief Thomas Bach (GER) said in his year-end message:

“Only three days after the Closing Ceremony of Beijing, Russia invaded Ukraine in a blatant violation of the Olympic Truce and the Olympic Charter.

“The IOC immediately condemned the war and sanctioned the Russian and Belarusian states and governments in an unprecedented way. These sanctions include:

“● No international sports events being organised or supported in Russia or Belarus.

“● No national symbols whatsoever of these countries being displayed at any sports event or meeting.

“These sanctions against the Russian and Belarusian states and governments must and will remain firmly in place. …

“On the other hand, following the outbreak of the war, many athletes, National Olympic Committees, International Federations and the IOC were exposed to political pressure and interference. Some governments started to decide which athletes would be allowed to participate in international sport competitions – and which athletes would not.

“This is why, in addition to the sanctions, we had to take protective measures to ensure the integrity of international sport competitions. This led the IOC to act against our mission to unify the entire world in peaceful competition, since we had to prohibit athletes from participation because of their passport only.”

Nothing is going to happen. Russian officials have protested mightily, but with qualifying events for Paris 2024 coming up soon, there is also some resignation that Russian athletes may be few – or none – in Paris, so long as the invasion of Ukraine continues.

Bach has floated the idea that perhaps a pathway back might be available for Russian and Belarusian athletes who are not in support of the war, but in fact any such declaration would put them at risk of their personal safety in their home countries.

In fact, the Ukrainian legislature adopted a measure in December calling for sanctions against 55 Russian athletes and sports officials who have supported the war, including Valieva.

And Russia has not only called for a new international sports organization to rival the IOC, it also took extraordinary measures against two-time Olympic basketball gold medalist Brittney Griner of the U.S., imprisoning her on an overstated drugs issue from mid-February into December.

Russia isn’t going away and the future of the war in Ukraine is impossible to predict, other than the certainty of more senseless bloodshed. We can hope that in 2023, the conflict will end, but until it does, an unrepentant Russia and its continuing sports isolation will be the top story in international sports.

It’s going to be quite a year.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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LANE ONE: The top stories in 2023 I: Track’s future in the U.S.; catalyst events in cycling, football and running; the USOPC to be examined

By
Rich Perelman
-
World record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images for World Athletics)

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It’s 2023 and the coronavirus has become – in many places – something to be lived with instead of hidden from, so look for fans to come back and competitions to heat up as the qualifying process begins for Paris in 2024. A look ahead at stories to look for this year:

10.
Can USA Track & Field expand the sport’s U.S. fanbase?

The World Athletics Championships in Eugene have come and gone. Now the comments from USA Track & Field chief executive Max Siegel at a pre-Worlds news conference have center stage. Wrote Andrew Greif of the Los Angeles Times back on 18 July:

“USA Track & Field will begin a circuit of meets in five U.S. cities next summer [2023] that its chief executive, Max Siegel, likened to the Diamond League in the quality of its international fields. Los Angeles will host one meet, Siegel said, adding a desire to reach fans particularly in hotbeds such as Florida, Texas and California.

“The series is part of a strategic plan formed by USATF and backed by World Athletics to take advantage of what it has called a critical six-year window in hopes of making track and field the country’s fifth-most-followed sport by the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

“‘Whether you think we’re crazy or not,’ Siegel said, ‘it gives us something to shoot for in terms of how they measure where track and field is in the ecosystem.’ …

“Siegel spoke cautiously that it can take years and capital to build awareness and promotion. In hopes of avoiding the fate of other domestic-meet circuits that have fizzled entirely or failed to reach relevancy, he said the new version would take pre-existing events with built-in fanbases and create a ‘festival-type atmosphere’ around them, perhaps including a road race, to tap into its largest possible audience of casual runners.”

USATF released its 2023 meet schedule on 1 December, explaining:

“As a part of the Journey to Gold, USATF will introduce the Grand Prix Series of elite gold-label events. Fans will not only get to see exciting competition from the best athletes in the world, but they will also have the opportunity to participate and engage in the sport in various events during this multi-day series. The goal is to shine a spotlight on USATF athletes, brand, sport, and culture globally.”

The schedule includes the U.S. indoor national championships in Albuquerque in mid-February and the outdoor nationals in Eugene in early July. The other meets:

● 28 Jan.: Indoor/Dr. Sander Invitational (New York)
● 04 Feb.: Indoor/New Balance Grand Prix (Boston)
● 11 Feb.: Indoor/Millrose Games (New York)

● 21 May: Outdoor/Bermuda Grand Prix (Devonshire)
● 26 May: Outdoor/Distance Classic (Los Angeles)
● 27 May: Outdoor/LA Grand Prix (Los Angeles)
● 24 Jun.: Outdoor/NYC Grand Prix (New York)

The outdoor schedule also includes a throws festival at a date to be determined in Tucson, Arizona; the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene will be the Diamond League Final for 2023, to be held on 16-17 September.

All of these meets have been held before, in some form. Will this be the start of a U.S. revival of the sport as a spectator magnet? Or more of the same?

9.
Will the new mega-events in cycling and running pay off?

Is bigger better? Two federations will find out in 2023 as the Union Cycliste Internationale and World Athletics created new events that could be catalysts for their sports … or expensive duds.

The UCI is bringing together all eight of its disciplines into a massive, new, 11-day celebration of cycling to be held in Glasgow (GBR) from 3-13 August:

● BMX Freestyle
● BMX Racing
● Gran Fondo
● Indoor Cycling
● Mountain Biking
● Road Cycling (including Para)
● Track Cycling (including Para)
● Trials

The World Road Championships have been enormously popular and now the program will include 190+ World Champions in all, with 2,600 competitors in all, not to mention as many as 8,000 in mass participation events.

The budget is anticipated at ₤45 million-plus (~$54.2 million U.S.), with direct financial support from the Scottish Government, the Glasgow City Council and UK Sport. Lots and lots of visitors are expected.

World Athletics is putting together a small project, a two-day program in Riga (LAT), the first World Road Running Championships with six events:

● 30 Sep.: Road Mile for men and women
● 30 Sep.: 5 km for men and women
● 01 Oct.: Half Marathon for men and women

In addition to the elite competition, public participation will be available in all of the events, with modest entry fees from €9 for the mile to €79 for the half (~$9.60 to $84 U.S.).

Tens of thousands of runners are expected to contest the public events from as many as 100 countries. Two ministries of the Latvian government, the City of Riga and the Riga Marathon organizers are all involved in the project.

Both the UCI and World Athletics have potential blockbuster events here, but their success is hardly assured. Their success or failure will be one of the key results for both sports in 2023.

8.
FIFA Women’s World Cup comes to Australia and New Zealand

The 2019 Women’s World Cup in France was a huge success and established the tournament as a stand-alone mega-event and the flagship of FIFA’s women’s development efforts. Now comes the 2023 edition – from 20 July to 20 August – with the U.S. women trying for a third straight World Cup title.

The 2019 Women’s World Cup drew 1.13 million live spectators and the television audience reached 1.12 billion worldwide and the hope is for much more in 2023. The tournament has expanded from 24 to 32 teams, same as the men in 2022 in Qatar, with 64 total matches.

The qualifying is almost complete, with three positions still to be decided in playoffs. The eight groups are headed by hosts Australia and New Zealand, plus the top six-ranked teams in the world: the U.S., Sweden, Germany, England, France and Spain. Crucially for the worldwide television audience, China has qualified and will play in Group D.

Will the tournament be an even bigger success than 2019, continuing to propel FIFA’s women’s program forward? Everyone expects so, especially given the wild popularity of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. But while the time zones will be difficult, the football should be great.

7.
Who will be the world-record setters of 2023?

Beyond the questions of politics and money are the competitions and who will be the stars of the year. The new stars that no one knows about yet will be discovered, but there are some old friends who are out for more glory.

In athletics, you have to start with the athletes of the year in 2022 – Swedish vaulter Mondo Duplantis and American 400 m hurdles star Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, both of whom set world marks at the World Championships in Eugene last year at 6.21 m (20-4 1/2) and 50.68, the first time a woman broke 51 seconds in the event.

Duplantis can clearly go higher and based on some of his clearances, is 21 feet (6.40 m) a possibility?

McLaughlin-Levrone has taken the women’s 400 m hurdles to a place no one has ever been, so does she stay with the event, or perhaps take a shot at the flat 400 m, in which the world mark was set by East German Marita Koch at an unbelievable 47.60 from way back in 1985. Since then, the closest was 48.14 from Salwa Eid Naser (BRN) in 2019. McLaughlin-Levrone ran the anchor on the women’s 4×400 m at the Worlds in Eugene, timed in 47.91 (with a running start). This could be epic.

American sprint star Noah Lyles moved to no. 3 on the all-time list in the men’s 200 m, winning the Worlds in 19.31. Is Usain Bolt’s 19.19 standard from 2009 in jeopardy?

In swimming, the 2022 season was a little strange, with a re-scheduled World Championships in Budapest (HUN) in June, followed by the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham (ENG) in July and then the European Championships in Rome in August, with athletes making choices about which, if any, they would contest.

In 2023, the World Championships in Fukuoka (JPN) will be the focus, from 14-30 July. Once again, American Freestyle superstar Katie Ledecky will duel with Australia’s Ariarne Titmus, the women’s 400 m Freestyle Olympic champ and now, world-record holder at 3:56.40 from last May. Titmus won the Tokyo 200 m and 400 m Frees, with Ledecky winning the 800 m and 1,500 m Frees. Both will be challenged by Canadian teen star Summer McIntosh, 16, who won the 200 m Butterfly and 400 m Medley at the 2022 Worlds and was the runner-up to Ledecky in the Worlds 400 m Free and to Titmus in the Commonwealth Games 400 m Free.

One of the stories of the Budapest Worlds was American star Caeleb Dressel, the five-time Tokyo Olympic gold medalist, who won Worlds golds in the men’s 50 m Fly and the men’s 4×100 m Freestyle, then contested the men’s 100 m Free heats before withdrawing from the meet.

Will he come back in 2023? When? And while he was the Tokyo men’s 100 m Free gold winner, he will now face a new challenge from Romanian David Popovici, 18, who won the Worlds gold in the 100 and 200 m Frees in Budapest and then set the world record at 46.86 at the European Championships.

And then there is American skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin, who has now won 80 career Alpine World Cup races, two behind Lindsey Vonn (USA: 82) on the all-time list and within striking distance of Swede Ingemar Stenmark’s all-time record of 86!

6.
Commission on the State of U.S. Olympics & Paralympics starts up

The Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and Amateur Athletes Act of 2020 formed the Commission on the State of the U.S. Olympics & Paralympics, a 16-member panel asked to review the structure, diversity, finances, goals and more, with subpoena power.

The initial bill had no funding attached and it took months to finally get an appropriation through, but that was settled in 2022 and the Commission has been sworn in and is getting to work. The members:

● Olympians (7): John Dane (sailing); Benita Fitzgerald Mosley (track & field); Nancy Hogshead Makar (swimming); Edwin Moses (track and field); Brittney Reese (track and field); Jordyn Wieber (gymnastics); Han Xiao (table tennis);

● Paralympians (3): Patty Cisneros Prevo (Para basketball); Karin Korb (Para tennis); Melissa Stockwell (Para swimming and triathlon);

● Others (6): Robert Cohen (USOPC Foundation Board of Directors); Mitch Daniels (Purdue University President); Bill Hybl (U.S. Olympic Endowment Chair and President Emeritus of USOPC); Dionne Koller (University of Baltimore law professor); Rob Mullens (University of Oregon Director of Athletics); and Joe Schmitz (former Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Defense).

At least one hearing is required by the statute; Koller and Xiao are the Commission co-chairs and will be responsible for guiding what could be a contentious discussion among members whose backgrounds include former USOPC Board members and staff members, and all-out critics of the organization.

Expect a significant look by the Commission at the activities of the U.S. Center for SafeSport, which receives $20 million in funding annually from the USOPC, and has been criticized as ineffective by some.

At the USOPC, Gene Sykes takes over as the Chair of the Board of Directors. A partner in the Goldman Sachs investment firm, Sykes earned high marks as the chief executive of the Los Angeles 2024 Olympic bid committee that ended up winning the right to host the 2028 Olympic Games. He will have his hands full right away, continuing with the USOPC’s reform initiatives, but also trying to figure out how to raise more money for an organization that has plenty of National Governing Bodies asking for additional support.

Coming tomorrow: the top five stories we’re looking for in 2023 will be familiar, with a lot of the unfinished business of 2022 that needs to be settled.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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For our updated, 929-event International Sports Calendar for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Shiffrin making Alpine World Cup history; Bach says no sanctions change; Russia continues IOC criticism

By
Rich Perelman
-
American skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin (USA)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Shiffrin’s Semmering sweep leaves her two short of Vonn
2. Bach confirms Russian sanctions must stay in place
3. Russia continues criticism of IOC; gymnastics fed likes Asiad idea
4. India will use upcoming IOC Session to showcase a 2036 bid
5. Brazil declares three days of mourning for Pele

American ski star Mikaela Shiffrin is making history again, winning four straight FIS Alpine World Cup races in a row, taking a commanding lead in the seasonal standings, but also on the verge of becoming the winningest World Cup racer in history … men or women! It could happen this season. In his year-end message, International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach (GER) confirmed no movement on sanctions for Russia and Belarus. A lengthy comment from the Russian news agency TASS strongly criticized the IOC for keeping Russian athletes out of competition, insisting that its “numerous statements concerning the suspension of Russia were dotted with contradictions and double standards.” India will host the annual meeting of the IOC late in 2023 and is readying a major push for the 2036 Olympic Games, possibly in the state of Gujarat in western India, with Ahmedabad as the center. A presidential proclamation called for three days of mourning for Brazil’s beloved football hero Pele, who died at 82 last week. He will be remembered with services on Monday and Tuesday at the stadium where he played for Santos FC for 19 seasons from 1956-74.

Our exclusive, updated, 929-event International Sports Calendar for 2023 and beyond is now available – by date and by sport – by clicking here!

1.
Shiffrin’s Semmering sweep leaves her two short of Vonn

American skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin had a mixed start to 2022, winning the World Cup overall title, but no Olympic medals in Beijing, but she ended it with a roar.

With four straight wins at the end of the year – in a Super-G, two Giant Slaloms and a Slalom, with the last three in Semmering (AUT) – she not only is streaking away from the pack on the way to a possible fifth World Cup overall title, she also is closing in on the most wins in World Cup history.

Still just 27, Shiffrin now has 80 career victories, including 50 in Slalom, 16 in Giant Slalom, five Super-Gs, three Downhills and six in other formats. That puts her no. 3 all-time:

● 1. 86, Ingemar Stenmark (SWE: 1973-89)
● 2. 82, Lindsey Vonn (USA: 2001-19)
● 3. 80, Mikaela Shiffrin (USA: 2012-present)

There are 24 more races to go this season, including the next five in Slalom and Giant Slalom, her best events:

● 04-05 Jan.: Slalom x 2 in Zagreb (CRO)
● 07-08 Jan.: Giant Slalom x 2 in Kranjska Gora (SLO)
● 10 Jan.: Slalom in Flachau (AUT)

Shiffrin had a run like this before, in the 2017-18 season, winning eight races in 22 days, including victories at Zagreb, Kranjska Gora and Flachau; she won 12 races that season, and 17 the next.

This is Shiffrin’s 12th season on the World Cup tour, beginning in 2011-12, and she could take over the wins record quickly compared to the 19 seasons for Vonn and 17 for Stenmark. That’s incredible.

Moreover, Shiffrin is on target for the all-time record for most career World Cup medals, possibly next season:

● 1. 155, Stenmark
● 2. 138, Marcel Hirscher (AUT: 2007-19)
● 3. 137, Vonn
● 4. 127, Shiffrin

Shiffrin owns four overall World Cup titles and is now ahead in her race for a fifth, 875-506, over Slovakian Slalom star Petra Vlhova, who won that title in 2020-21. A fifth for Shiffrin would move her to no. 2 on the women’s all-time list behind Austrian star Annemarie Moser-Proell (1969-80), who won six. The all-time mark is eight for Hirscher, trailed by Marc Giradelli (LUX: 1980-96), who won five.

We’re seeing history here. Stenmark retired at 33, Vonn at 34, Giradelli at 33, Hirscher at 30, Moser-Proell at 27, the same as Shiffrin is now. She could – barring injury – set records that will stand for a long time.

2.
Bach confirms Russian sanctions must stay in place

Just to avoid any doubt at all, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER) said in his year-end message that no change in the sanctions against Russia and Belarus are coming any time soon:

“Only three days after the Closing Ceremony of Beijing, Russia invaded Ukraine in a blatant violation of the Olympic Truce and the Olympic Charter.

“The IOC immediately condemned the war and sanctioned the Russian and Belarusian states and governments in an unprecedented way. These sanctions include:

“● No international sports events being organised or supported in Russia or Belarus.

“● No national symbols whatsoever of these countries being displayed at any sports event or meeting.

“These sanctions against the Russian and Belarusian states and governments must and will remain firmly in place. …

“On the other hand, following the outbreak of the war, many athletes, National Olympic Committees, International Federations and the IOC were exposed to political pressure and interference. Some governments started to decide which athletes would be allowed to participate in international sport competitions – and which athletes would not.

“This is why, in addition to the sanctions, we had to take protective measures to ensure the integrity of international sport competitions. This led the IOC to act against our mission to unify the entire world in peaceful competition, since we had to prohibit athletes from participation because of their passport only.”

Bach called 2022 “an Olympic year that was as successful as it was turbulent,” and also noted the success of the Beijing 2022 Winter Games, the coming qualifying competitions for Paris 2024 and the new, Olympic Esports Week coming in Singapore in June.

3.
Russia continues criticism of IOC; gymnastics fed likes Asiad idea

“The outgoing year saw Russian sports ending up caught between the grinding wheels of the geopolitical standoff with the West.

“Starting in March, national pro athletes were consistently deprived of their right to participate in international tournaments, and no one was spared, not even the top stars of the sports world. The Olympic Movement has throttled their careers while turning a blind eye to its own declarations on the inadmissibility of discrimination based on nationality.”

That’s the opening of a long commentary from the Russian TASS news agency, which reviewed the difficult year for Russian athletes, removed from international competition following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The comment also had some other, interesting points:

● “Russia’s executive sports management has no plans of pursuing a policy of isolation or to publicly boycott the Olympic Games.”

● “The owner of the rights to the Olympic Games [IOC] is in control of the majority of sports federations and they risk ceasing to exist without its financial support.”

● “While carrying on a balancing act between promoting Olympic values and gaining commercial benefits, the IOC came up with an original interpretation on the need to suspend athletes from Russia and Belarus. It issued a recommendation, which in fact turned out to be obligatory for many international federations, calling for imposing ‘protective measures’ regarding these countries’ athletes.”

● “The IOC’s numerous statements concerning the suspension of Russia were dotted with contradictions and double standards, particularly in view of the fact that the ‘protective measures’ were never enforced with regards to athletes representing countries involved in armed conflicts. Such rhetoric was handy to stall for time, which was necessary to solve the unfolding dilemma.”

● “Russian Paralympians were deprived of any chance to fight for the medals in China. Under a pressure on behest of Western politicians and previously voiced threats of imposing a boycott, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced on March 3, a day before the Paralympics, a decision to reverse its previously issued permission to clear athletes from Russia and Belarus to the Paralympics.”

The post also referred to the doping allegations against figure skater Kamila Valieva as “mysterious.”

The Russian Football Union has been investigating a move to the Asian Football Confederation from Europe (UEFA), but on Friday, the RFU Executive Committee decided to seek reinstatement within UEFA instead. A working group was formed to explore options with FIFA and UEFA, per ExComm member Leonid Fedun:

“I feel the same way about this decision as the entire Executive Committee. We decided to create a working group to look into this issue again and to decide how realistic a hypothetical transfer to Asia would be. Also, this is the last chance to negotiate with Europe. Trying to rush things would be wrong.”

However, Russian Gymnastics Federation chief Irina Viner continues to be highly interested in competing in Asia, saying on Wednesday:

“We can organize [competing at] the Asian Games, which should be viewed as an alternative to the Olympic Games… We can make history there as well, on par with the Olympic Games.”

4.
India will use upcoming IOC Session to showcase a 2036 bid

Despite the governance issues plaguing the Indian Olympic Association – its National Olympic Committee – the country is readying a bid for the 2036 Olympic Games which it plans to showcase at the 140th IOC Session to be held in Mumbai next September or October.

Indian Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said in an interview: 

“We have hopes and I am sure India will fully prepare and bid for the Olympics.

“Gujarat has several times expressed interest in hosting the Olympics. They have the infrastructure – from hotels, hostels, airports and sports complexes. They are serious about the bid. It’s also part of the state government’s manifesto to host the Olympics in Gujarat.”

Located on India’s west coast, the State of Gujarat features Ahmedabad – metropolitan population of 6.4 million – as its largest city and the hub of a proposed Games project.

India hosted the 1951 and 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi, but the 2010 Commonwealth Games held there was widely seen as a disaster, including corruption issues.

Attitudes towards an Olympic Games in India could be impacted by the Tokyo 2020 experience in Japan, where the final cost of the Olympic and Paralympic Games was listed at $10.8 billion U.S. by the organizing committee or $12.9 billion by the national Board of Audit, both much higher than the bid estimate of about $6.8 billion.

Prof. Yoko Tsukamoto of the Health Sciences University of Hokkaido said last week:

“Different generations think about it differently. When I talk to younger people and young parents with children, they are very much in favor as it gives us something to look forward to and encourages children to take part in sport. For them, the Winter Olympics would be a dream come true.

“But older people feel very differently. The high costs and the possible impact on their lives are their biggest fears.”

(Thanks to reader Phil Minshull for catching the typo on the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi: 2010, not 2020!). 

5.
Brazil declares three days of mourning for Pele

The greatest player in the history of football, Brazil’s Pele, was remembered with three days of mourning from last Friday through Sunday, according to a decree signed by outgoing Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.

It’s a tribute to not only how beloved Pele was as a player, but as a Brazilian icon, who remained immensely popular throughout his life, which ended last Thursday (29th) at age 82 after a long battle with cancer.

Funeral services are being held at the Estadio Urbano Caldeira – the Santos FC stadium where Pele played from 1956-74 – on Monday and Tuesday.

Pele played in Brazil – for Santos – until he retired (more or less) in 1974, then came out of retirement to sign with the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League in 1975 and played there through 1977. His presence created enormous momentum for soccer in the U.S., the first time that the game drew a national following, although it took another 19 years – and the hosting of the 1994 FIFA World Cup – for the start of Major League Soccer in 1996 that created a permanent, top-level league in the U.S.

But it was Pele’s play in the World Cup that made him an icon. He played on winning Brazilian teams in 1958, 1962 and 1970, scoring 12 goals in just 14 matches. At just 17, he scored twice in the 1958 final against Sweden, but played only one game in 1962 before suffering an injury.

Fouled repeatedly in 1966, Brazil was eliminated in the group stage, but in 1970, he scored four goals in the tournament as the Brazilians outscored their opponents, 19-7 on the way to its third title with Pele. He is the only man to play on three World Cup champions.

Following his football career, Pele was deeply involved with humanitarian causes, and in 1992, he was appointed a United Nations ambassador for ecology and the environment.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Cross Country Skiing ● Norway continued its domination of the FIS World Cup circuit over New Year’s, as the prestigious, seven-stage Tour de Ski started in Val Mustair (SUI) with wins for five-time Olympic gold medalist Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo.

Klaebo won his fifth and sixth races of the season in the men’s 1.5 km Freestyle Sprint (over Italian star Federico Pellegrino, 3:00.98 to 3:01.16) and the 10 km Classical Pursuit, over teammate (and seasonal World Cup leader) Pal Golberg, with Pellegrino third, 25:55.0-25:28.2-27:05.2.

Swiss Nadine Faehndrich won her fourth career World Cup race in the women’s 1.5 km Freestyle Sprint in 3:23.56, with Swede Maja Dahlqvist second (3:24.03). Norway’s Tiril Undes Weng took the 10 km Classical Pursuit for he first win (and fifth medal) of the season in 28:51.3, ahead of Kerttu Niskanen (FIN: 28:51.7).

Golberg and Weng maintained their seasonal leads, with the next two legs of the Tour de Ski in Obertsdorf (GER) on 3-4 January.

● Ice Hockey ● The IIHF men’s World U20 Championship has concluded pool play in Halifax and Moncton (CAN), with Czechia (3-1, with an overtime loss) and the U.S. (3-1) winning the two pools.

The American team beat Latvia and Finland, but lost to Slovakia. In the playoff quarterfinals on Monday, the U.S. will face Germany (1-3) and will play the winner of Canada (3-1) and Slovakia (2-2 with one overtime loss).

● Ski Jumping ● The 71st edition of the famous Four Hills Tournament started on Thursday (29th) in Obertsdorf (GER) with jumping off of the 137 m hill and a win for Halvor Egner Granerud of Norway, 312.4-299.0-294.9 over Poles Piotr Zyla and Dawid Kubacki.

Granerud, the 2021 Worlds fourth-placer on the Normal Hill, won again on New Year’s in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER: 142 m), scoring 303.7 to best Anze Lanisek (SLO: 297.3) and Kubacki (294.4). The show moves to Austria, for jumping on Wednesday in Innsbruck (128 m) and then Bischofshofen (142 m) on Friday night. The last man to win all four stages: Japan’s Ryoyu Kobayashi in 2018-19.

In women’s jumping, a similarly-styled program to the Four Hills – the Sylvester Tournament, in Austria and Slovenia – completed its second edition on New Year’s, with Austrian star Eva Pinkelnig winning three of the four stages to take the crown.

Pinkelnig won the first two competitions at home in Villach (98 m hill), over Norway’s Anna Odine Strom on 28 December and Katharina Althaus (GER) on the 29th. Strom took Saturday’s event at Ljubno (SLO) off the 94 m hill over Pinkelnig and then the Austrian star won on Sunday, with Strom second.

Pinkelnig, a two-time Worlds Team silver winner, took the Sylvester overall title with 1,030.3 points to 1,004.0 for Strom, and Nika Kriznar (SLO: 980.3) third.

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For our updated, 929-event International Sports Calendar for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

SPECIAL: Updated! Our revised, 929-event International Sports Calendar for 2023 now posted!

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

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The Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine continue to cause chaos, including in the international sports calendar. But sport goes on, and as your guide, here’s our exclusive 929-event listing for the remainder of 2022 and into 2023, with a few of the larger events beyond to 2028.

Our updated International Sports Calendar focuses on sports and events on the Olympic and Winter Games program for 2024 and 2026, plus a few other meetings and multi-sports events.

Please note: this listing will change, and some federations have still not posted their complete events list for 2023! However, this edition is a good place to start for following many of the events coming up in a very busy year ahead.

Two calendars are included in the single PDF download: an 20-page listing in chronological order and a 21-page listing by sport (and in date order within each sport).

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

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LANE ONE: The top stories of a turbulent 2022, nos. 5 to 1: Beijing and Qatar were wild, but Russia dominated the headlines this year

By
Rich Perelman
-
Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva, in the middle of the final event to be decided at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games! (Photo: Ttckcv21 via Wikipedia)

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★ Enjoying our coverage? If so, please consider a donation to help cover technical costs for 2023. Thank you for your support. ★

★ To get The Sports Examiner by e-mail: sign up here! ★

// SHIFFRIN ALERT: Sweep! American ski star Mikaela Shiffrin won Thursday’s Slalom in Semmering, Austria to take all three races there and run her career World Cup win total to 80, now just two behind fellow American Lindsey Vonn for the most ever by a woman! Shiffrin stormed the first run in 49.82 and had a big 0.72-second lead on the field and cruised home in 1:43.26, leading a U.S. 1-2 with Paula Moltzan winning silver in 1:43.55 for her second career World Cup medal! //

This year started with the coronavirus still shredding the international schedule, but the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing came off pretty well, with plenty of magical performances. But just four days after the closing ceremony, everything changed as Russia invaded Ukraine again and set off a conflict that has continued unabated.

Continuing the countdown of our top stories of 2022: nos. 10 to 6 are here, and let’s check out the top five:

5.
World Athletics Champs finally come to U.S., in Eugene

The United States has long been the top nation in track & field, but the World Athletics Championships – which debuted in 1983 – finally came to America only in 2022, at the new Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

The competition was brilliant, with world records in the men’s vault by Mondo Duplantis (6.21 m/20-4 1/2), in the women’s 100 m hurdles by Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan (12.12) and a sensational 50.68 for Sydney McLaughlin of the U.S. in the women’s 400 m hurdles, the first performance ever under 51 seconds in the event.

The U.S. dominated the medal count with 33 (13-9-11), way ahead of Ethiopia, Jamaica and Kenya, with 10 each, with a sweep in the men’s 100 m from Fred Kerley, Marvin Bracy and Trayvon Bromell, an American Record from Noah Lyles in the men’s 200 m (19.31), leading another sweep ahead of Kenny Bednarek and Erriyon Knighton and a third sweep in the men’s shot by Ryan Crouser, Joe Kovacs and Josh Awotunde.

Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Price won the women’s 100 m for an astonishing fifth Worlds gold, leading a sweep with Shericka Jackson and Tokyo Olympic champ Elaine Thompson-Herah. Jackson and Fraser-Pryce went 1-2 in the 200 m and Peru’s Kimberly Garcia won both the 20 km and 35 km women’s walks.

Drama? How about American Kara Winger, who had announced that she would retire at the end of the season, coming from sixth to second on her final throw, the first-ever American medalist in the women’s javelin at the World Championships.

In many ways, however, the story of the 2022 Worlds was its debut in the U.S., at the smallest venue ever to host the event – with about 15,000 seats available for sale – and ticketed attendance averaging just 10,506 on average across all sessions.

U.S. television viewing averaged 1.993 million for the weekend sessions on NBC, down 37% from the NBC average of 3.183 million viewers for the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials. Most sessions were on cable, with an average of 403,000 U.S. viewers, down 30% from the cablecasts of the 2021 Trials.

Said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe (GBR): “We need to be in this market. It’s important. It’s not punching its weight.

“We want to be back here. It won’t be Eugene. I want to be back into L.A. or Miami or Chicago.”

The Worlds move to Budapest, in a new stadium that will seat 36,000 in 2023 and then to Tokyo’s magnificent, 68,000-seat National Stadium that hosted the 2020 Olympic Games.

4.
Tight Covid controls allow Beijing to host Olympic Winter Games

While the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games was held with tight controls against the coronavirus, China implemented an air-tight policy, placing the Olympic participants inside a cocoon to ensure not only their health, but sealing off any contamination of the local population.

It worked. The Winter Games was held very successfully, with Norway topping the medal table for the second consecutive Games, with 37 total medals and a record 16 golds. The Russian Olympic Committee – with Russia itself suspended – fielded a team of 212 athletes and won 32 total medals (6-12-14). Germany was third with 27 medals (12-10-5), Canada fourth at 26 (4-8-14), and the U.S. fifth at 25 (8-10-7).

The event was held against a backdrop of protest against Chinese treatment of the Uyghur minority in the Xinjiang Province, and an occasional political statement was offered by the organizing committee’s team during the daily news conferences. Only a few, carefully-screened spectators were allowed at most events.

On the snow, Norwegian stars Johannes Thingnes Boe and Marte Olsbu Roeiseland each won two individual golds in biathlon, and Boe got two more on relays and Roeiseland won a third. Teammate Therese Johaug dominated women’s cross-country skiing with three individual golds and Russian Alexander Bolshunov won two men’s individual golds and a third on a relay. China’s Eileen Gu – born in the U.S. – starred with two Freestyle wins in Big Air and Halfpipe, plus a silver in Slopestyle. American Chloe Kim spectacularly defended her Snowboard Halfpipe gold.

On the ice, German bobsled driver Francesco Friedrich repeated his Two-Man and Four-Man double from 2018, and Germany swept all four luge events. American Nathan Chen and Russian Anna Scherbakova won the men’s and women’s titles in Figure Skating. Sweden’s Nils van der Poel dominated the men’s 5,000 and 10,000 m Speed Skating events, and Dutch star Irene Schouten took the women’s 3,000-5,000-Mass Start wins.

This was the final leg of the Olympic “pivot to Asia” after the 2018 Winter Games in Korea, 2020 (2021) Olympic Games in Japan and 2022 in China. U.S. television ratings sunk to new lows, with the NBC primetime show averaging only 11.4 million viewers across all platforms, a decrease of 42% vs. the PyeongChang Games in 2018 (19.8 million average).

3.
Valieva’s doping positive roils Beijing Games, still not resolved

Russian teen figure skating star Kamila Valieva stands only 5 feet, 3 inches, but she was the biggest story of the Beijing Winter Games. And she still is, months later.

Then 15, Valieva won the European Championships women’s title in January and was the favorite for Beijing. She competed in the Team Event, winning both the Short Program and the Free Skate, with Russia winning the event over the U.S., Japan and Canada on 7 February.

But in the hours following the Team Event came a report that she had tested positive at the Russian nationals on 25 December 2021 for trimetazidine, a prohibited hormone modulator, and the medal ceremony for the Team Event was postponed. Valieva was initially suspended by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, but the suspension was reversed by a RUSADA Appeals tribunal, clearing her to compete in the women’s Singles, to begin on 15 February.

An appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Beijing was made, but the panel held that Valieva should be allowed to compete, essentially saying that the doping inquiry should continue, but that if she was cleared, she would be “irreparably harmed” by not having been able to compete.

Valieva won the Short Program in Beijing, but had trouble in the Free Skate, finishing fifth and ending up in fourth place.

After the Games, the controversy has continued. The Russian Anti-Doping Agency undertook a months-long inquiry, said it had competed its work in September, but no hearing was held.

In November, the World Anti-Doping Agency – which had been monitoring the RUSADA process – complained that the investigation had gone on far too long and, under its rules, removed the case from Russia and brought it to the Court of Arbitration for Sport itself, with Valieva assumed to be cleared. That’s still ongoing.

Meanwhile, no medal ceremony was ever held for the Team Event, as the results are still not finalized, pending a final disposition of the Valieva doping case. Now 16, Valieva has competed domestically, but not internationally as Russian skaters have been banned by the International Skating Union over the invasion of Ukraine.

The Valieva story completely changed the focus of the Beijing Games and nearly silenced the recurrent questions about whether China should be hosting the event in view of its human-rights record. And the resolution of the case will be one of the leading stories of 2023, along with how and when the Team Event medals will be awarded.

2.
FIFA holds brilliant first World Cup in winter and the Middle East

Human rights was again a theme at a sporting mega-event as the crescendo of criticism of FIFA’s choice of Qatar as the host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup reached its climax in the months prior to the first match on 20 November.

Seven stadia were built for the event, along with roads and other infrastructure that saw reports of $220 billion in total costs. The event was held in the winter for the first time in order to avoid the stifling summer heat in the Gulf region, causing a contraction of national team training times and problems for many club teams which lost players to national teams competing at the World Cup.

These turned out to be minor compared with the torrent of complaints about migrant-worker rights in Qatar from foreign governments and human rights and labor organizations, as well as Qatari law which bans homosexuality. However, significant changes were made following the award of the World Cup in 2010, including the abolishment of the employer-controlled sponsorship system for workers, a government oversight agency for worker protection and other improvements. Qatari authorities said everyone would be welcome at the event, including gays.

This was hardly enough for the critics, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) made a hour-long address to news media on the eve of the tournament, saying, “Today, I feel Qatari. Today, I feel Arab. Today, I feel African. Today, I feel gay. Today, I feel disabled. Today, I feel a migrant worker.”

He then castigated the unrelenting negative media coverage, saying “This moral lesson-giving, one-sided, it’s just hypocrisy.”

Once the tournament started, it was spectacular. The group stage was one of the best ever, with not a single team winning all three of its games and the determination of which teams would advance to the knock-out round coming down to the final match day of each group. In the eliminations, Morocco became the first African (and Arab) nation to advance to the semifinals by beating Portugal and then Spain. Argentina overcame an opening loss to Saudi Arabia (!) to advance past the Netherlands in the quarters on penalty kicks and then beat Croatia, 3-0, in its semi.

Defending champion France got past a very tough England team, 2-1, in the quarters and then handled Morocco, 2-0, in its semis. That set up a classic final, with Argentina taking a 2-0 halftime lead, but French star Kylian Mbappe scoring twice in the final 10 minutes to send the game to extra time. Each side scored once – Mbappe getting a hat trick and Argentina’s Lionel Messi getting a second goal – and the game was decided by penalties for Argentina, 4-2.

Early in the tournament, there were issues with security guards asking fans or even journalists not to wear pro-gay T-shirts or display rainbow flags. But these calmed down as the matches continued. Qatari authorities prevailed and banned beer sales to spectators just a couple of days prior to the start of the tournament (although non-alcoholic beer was sold).

The stadiums were essentially all sold out, and the worldwide television audiences were strong. There were a few deaths during the month-long tournament, including three accredited media, with noted American soccer writer Grant Wahl, 49, suffering an aneurysm in his press section seat near the end of the Argentina-Netherlands quarterfinal and unable to be revived by the medical staff that attended him quickly.

1.
Russia

The Beijing Winter Games and the FIFA World Cup were enormous, worldwide stories that dominated weeks of coverage in 2022, but neither was close to being the biggest story of the year – in sports and elsewhere – the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Russian autocrat Vladimir Putin had invaded Ukraine before, taking control of the Crimea in February 2014 just four days after the close of the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. On 24 February 2022, four days after the close of the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, Russian forces invaded Ukraine again, with the intent of taking over the entire country.

This was during the period of the “Olympic Truce” endorsed by the United Nations in December 2021 and stretching past the end of the Winter Paralympic Games, scheduled to close on 13 March 2022.

On 28 February, the International Olympic Committee Executive Board announced:

“The IOC EB has therefore today carefully considered the situation and, with a heavy heart, issued the following resolution:

“1. In order to protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all the participants, the IOC EB recommends that International Sports Federations and sports event organisers not invite or allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in international competitions.

“2. Wherever this is not possible on short notice for organisational or legal reasons, the IOC EB strongly urges International Sports Federations and organisers of sports events worldwide to do everything in their power to ensure that no athlete or sports official from Russia or Belarus be allowed to take part under the name of Russia or Belarus. Russian or Belarusian nationals, be it as individuals or teams, should be accepted only as neutral athletes or neutral teams. No national symbols, colours, flags or anthems should be displayed.”

Most federations have followed this plan, with Russian athletes being allowed to compete as neutrals as members of road cycling teams, in judo (Russians entered one tournament only) and tennis.

As the war has raged on and on, with Ukraine making a stiff defense of its homeland, aid for Ukrainian athletes has been organized by the IOC, by individual federations and by National Olympic Committees and national federations around the world, but especially in Europe.

Russian sports officials, have consistently declared that sport is separate from politics and their athletes should be allowed to compete without restrictions, that international competitions without Russia are incomplete and degraded, and exploring the possibility of organizing a new governing body to challenge the IOC.

Through the end of 2022, Russian and Belarusian athletes are still banned and while IOC President Thomas Bach (GER) has talked about eventually finding a way to re-admit them, he has stated that, at present, the bans must continue.

Asked about the best way for Russian athletes to be reinstated, World Athletics chief Coe told reporters in December that Russia should “get out of Ukraine.”

That hasn’t happened yet and despite Russian protests to the contrary, there is no imminent prospect of their return. As the months pass and qualification events for the 2024 Olympic Games are held, more and more windows of opportunity for Russians and Belarusians to get to Paris will close.

This was a hard year in sport; wars do that, as do clashes of culture, and there is no end in sight for either.

Coming after the New Year: picks for the top stories to come in 2023!

Rich Perelman
Editor

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LANE ONE: The top stories of a turbulent 2022, nos. 10 to 6: confusion, doping, federations in trouble and sensational world records!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Three world records in 2022 for Sweden's Mondo Duplantis ( Photo: World Athletics)

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// SHIFFRIN ALERT: She did it again! American alpine ski star Mikaela Shiffrin won the second Giant Slalom race in Semmering, Austria on Wednesday, giving her 79 career World Cup wins, three behind Lindsey Vonn for the most in women’s history. She came from second after the first run to finish in 2:03.51, just ahead of Swiss star Lara Gut-Behrami (2:03.61) and Italy’s Marta Bassino (2:03.98). She contests the Slalom in Semmering on Thursday. //

In 2022, the year began with a difficult, but ultimately successful Olympic Winter Games in Beijing and ended with perhaps a more strenuous, but also historic FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

In between, there were issues everywhere that went well beyond the continuing coronavirus pandemic and challenged the Olympic Movement to find solutions to new problems and recalcitrant stakeholders. But there was also sensational competition on the fields of play; our look back at the top stories of the year, counting down from no. 10 to no. 6:

10.
Ball of confusion: bidding for the 2030 Olympic Winter Games

What the bid committees in Canada, Japan, Spain and the U.S. thought would be the process to select the host for the 2030 Olympic Winter Games was turned inside out. Now, nothing is sure.

In June, Spain’s bid to stage the Games in Barcelona and the Pyrenees fell apart as the two host regions, Catalonia and Aragon, could not agree on a division of what would be played where. In October, the Province of British Columbia told the Vancouver organizers and the Canadian Olympic Committee that it would not help fund the Games, also eliminating any federal support, effectively killing that bid.

Meanwhile, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee Chair Susanne Lyons said that while Salt Lake City is ready, willing and able to host the 2030 Winter Games, it would prefer 2034 in order to give the domestic marketing effort some breathing room after the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

That left Sapporo, where interest had been good, but hardly overwhelming. Then came a still-unraveling scandal from last year’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, in which Tokyo prosecutors alleged that nearly $1.5 million in bribes were paid to organizing committee Executive Board member Haruyuki Takahashi by at least four companies wishing to be selected as sponsors or licensees – at a discounted rate – as well as an advertising agency looking for sponsor marketing work.

The scandal expanded to include big-rigging for contracts to operate the test events for the organizing committee and then venue management contracts for the Games. So, Sapporo announced in December that it was lowering its promotional efforts until more is known.

For its part, the International Olympic Committee’s Future Host Commission suggested to the IOC’s Executive Board that perhaps a rotation of pre-approved cities for future Winter Games might work best and is holding off naming either Sapporo or Salt Lake City as the preferred bidder for 2030. And yet, the decision is still expected in the fall of 2023 at the IOC Session in Mumbai, India. Wow.

9.
Doping, transgenders and more under the microscope

The International Testing Agency concluded its re-analysis of stored samples from the London 2012 Olympic Games, ending with a total of 73 positives, the most of any Games ever. In all, the IOC withdrew 31 medals won at the Games and re-allocated 46, with Russia (21), Belarus (11) and Ukraine (7) leading the list of doping nations.

But the lessons have apparently not been learned, as doping positives continued to pop up in 2022. In track & field, there was an alarming outbreak of doping by Kenyan distance runners, with 49 listed by the Athletics Integrity Unit on provisional suspension, pending suspensions, suspensions and failed appeals in the calendar year of 2022 alone.

World Athletics considered suspending Kenya from international competition, but a government commitment to clean up the doping, backed by $25 million in added funding for the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya has stayed its hand for now.

Meanwhile, the discussion over eligibility to compete in the women’s category for transgenders and individuals with differences in sex development (DSD) raged on. In response to the IOC’s Framework on Fairness, Inclusion and NonDiscrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity and Sex Variations – adopted in 2021 – that was seen as more interested in human rights than competitive equity, the international aquatics federation – now re-named as World Aquatics – issued detailed regulations in June that prohibit male-to-female transgender participants who have experienced male puberty.

Further criticism of the IOC’s Framework document led to the December release of a commentary in the British Journal of Sports Medicine that specifically included:

“The Framework does not preclude the possibility that certain individual athletes could be subject to participation restrictions or exclusions where an unfair and disproportionate advantage and/or unacceptable safety risk is clearly demonstrated and cannot be mitigated via reasonable accommodations.”

This discussion has only started; look for much more in 2023 as more scientific inquiries are conducted.

8.
Modern Pentathlon: Can a house divided against itself still stand?

While Modern Pentathlon has long been considered the smallest sport on the Olympic program in terms of attention, popularity and participation, it made a lot of headlines in 2022.

Not included by the IOC in the “initial sports program” for Los Angeles in 2028, a furious debate has raged between the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) Executive Board and an activist athlete group – Pentathlon United, including Olympic champion Joe Choong of Great Britain – about the future of the sport.

The UIPM Executive Board convened an expert panel, considered dozens of options and agreed in May to test two different kinds of obstacle racing to replace riding (show jumping) following the Paris 2024 Games (where riding will be included again).

The Pent United folks protested, posted polls, challenged the UIPM at every turn and put forward a highly-revised riding program with horse-care controls modeled after the Federation Internationale de Equestre (FEI).

In November, the UIPM Congress approved the addition of obstacle racing as a possible discipline within the sport – created by modern Olympic Games founder Baron Pierre de Coubertin of France for the 1912 Stockholm Games – in advance of a formal application for a modified Modern Pentathlon in 2028.

However, the IOC said publicly that it has taken note of the discordant voices within the sport, which it said would be considered in determining whether it returns to the Games program, echoing Abraham Lincoln’s famed “A house divided against itself cannot stand” speech from his 1858 Illinois Senate campaign that presaged the American Civil War three years later.

The decision on whether Modern Pentathlon is included for 2028 will be made in 2023. One of the other in-trouble sports, weightlifting, has been getting good marks from the IOC for cooperation with its new Board and staff. Its future looks fairly bright right now.

7.
Boxing on the brink of elimination from Paris 2024

In even more trouble is boxing, now governed by the International Boxing Association (IBA), whose President is Russian Umar Kremlev.

Given decades-old problems with refereeing and judging and more recent trouble with finances and governance, boxing was also not included in the initial Los Angeles 2028 sports program. But the sport was much worse off at the end of 2022 than at the start.

Kremlev and Dutch federation chief Boris van der Vorst were the candidates for President at the IBA Congress in May, but van der Vorst was disqualified by an IBA Ethics Committee a day before the vote was scheduled. Kremlev won in a walk-over. Then the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that van der Vorst should not have been disqualified, and a special Congress to decide on a re-vote was held. The result was a vote to not have a re-vote, confirming Kremlev as President.

The IOC took notice and having already included boxing on the Paris 2024 program, stripped the IBA of its responsibilities to manage the qualifications or the Olympic tournament in June, just as it had done for the Tokyo 2020 Games.

This hardly impressed Kremlev, which crossed the IOC again in October, announcing that Russian and Belarusian boxers would be allowed to compete in future IBA events, with full colors, flags and anthems.

At the IBA’s Global Boxing Forum in Abu Dhabi in December, Kremlev insisted that there were no facts backing the IOC’s complaints and said “I think it’s only P.R. for the mass media.” The next day, at the IBA Congress, there was no agenda item or vote on a renewal of the IBA’s $25 million-a-year sponsorship contract with the Russian energy giant Gazprom, the IBA’s primary source of funding; Kremlev raised it in his closing remarks and declared the matter approved without so much as a comment from the delegates.

On 23 December, the IOC issued its strongest statement yet, saying “The recent IBA Congress has shown once more that IBA has no real interest in the sport of boxing and the boxers, but is only interested in its own power. … The IOC will have to take all this into consideration when it takes further decisions, which may – after these latest developments – have to include the cancellation of boxing for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.”

The decision on Paris will have to come by the spring, as qualifying events begin in June. The question about 2028 will also be decided in 2023. Boxing has been on the Olympic program continuously since 1920; that could have ended in Tokyo.

6.
A record-breaking year for Duplantis, McLaughlin,
Kipchoge, Ledecky

There was more than politics in 2022; happily, there were also great performances, especially from Swedish vaulter Mondo Duplantis, American 400 m hurdles star Sydney McLaughlin, the greatest marathoner of all time, Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge and U.S. swimmer Katie Ledecky.

Duplantis was the star of the indoor season, raising his absolute world record twice, to 6.19 m (20-3 3/4) in Belgrade in early March and then again at the World Indoor Championships – also in Belgrade – to 6.20 m (20-4).

It was clear there was more to come and while he had opportunities to raise his record further, he saved his efforts for the World Championships in Eugene, winning with a fantastic 6.21 m (20-4 1/2) vault, giving him the top five vaults in history and seven of the top nine. He also claimed a $100,000 bonus for a world record in addition to the $70,000 first prize.

McLaughlin was also a multi-world-record setter, having come into 2022 as the Olympic champion from Tokyo and the world-record holder at 51.46. After opening with the third-fastest performance of all-time on 5 June at 51.61, she won the U.S. nationals with another brilliant run and her third world record of 51.41.

But that was just a warm-up compared to her masterpiece in the final of the World Championships in Eugene, where she ran away from the field and crossed in an astounding 50.68, the first woman ever under 51 seconds and a winning by more than a second and a half.

McLaughlin, who also found time to get married in 2022 and now goes by McLaughlin-Levrone, owns the top three times in history and seven of the top 10. Encore?

Kipchoge simply kept going, continuing his mastery of the marathon. Following his Tokyo triumph in 2021, he won the Tokyo Marathon in March in 2:02:40, then returned to the Berlin Marathon for the fifth time, having set the world record at 2:01:39 in 2018.

He was steady and brilliant and even surprised himself a little with a victory in another world record, this time in 2:01:09. His career record is almost incomprehensible: in 17 career marathons, he has won 15, set two world records and has four of the top six times ever run.

Those weren’t the only track & field world-record setters in 2022, as Venezuelan triple-jump sensation Yulimar Rojas claimed the furthest jump in history with her 15.74 m (51-7 3/4) winner at the World Indoor Championships in March and then Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan ran a surprise 12.12 to win her semifinal at the World Championships in Eugene to take the women’s 100 m hurdles mark. She proved it was no fluke either, coming back to win the final in a windy 12.06 (+2.5 m/s).

Ledecky, the American Freestyle superstar, won four golds at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan in June, taking the 400-800-1,500 m Free events, plus the fastest leg of the meet in the women’s 4×200 m Free Relay. She made a rare appearance in short-course (25 m) competition at the FINA World Cup, setting world records in the 1,500 m Free (15:08.24) in Toronto and then 7:57.42 in the 800 m Free in Indianapolis, the 15th and 16th world marks of her amazing career.

Best of all, none of these stars are done yet.

Next up, a look at the top five stories of 2022, and, yes, China, Qatar and Russia figure prominently.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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For our updated, 951-event International Sports Calendar for 2022-23 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Shiffrin gets 78th World Cup win in Austria; Belarus gives Olympic medalist Herasimena 12 years; remembering Manolo Romero

By
Rich Perelman
-
American skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin (Photo: Reese Brown/U.S. Ski & Snowboard)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Shiffrin takes 78th World Cup win in Semmering
2. Takahashi allowed ¥80 million bail in Tokyo 2020 scandal
3. Belarus sentences Olympic medalist Herasimenia to prison
4. Int’l Testing Agency reports 30,000 tests in 2022
5. Remembering Olympic broadcast giant Manolo Romero

American skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin took her 78th career World Cup win in a Giant Slalom in Semmering, Austria on Tuesday and enters a stretch of seven straight races in her specialties, the Slalom and Giant Slalom. She’s closing in on former teammate Lindsey Vonn’s women’s career record of 82 World Cup wins. In Tokyo, bribery suspect Haruyuki Takahashi was granted bail as the Tokyo 2020 sponsorship-selection scandal continues. In Belarus, a criminal court in Minsk sentenced three-time Olympic swimming medalist Aliaksandra Herasimenia to 12 years in prison, in absentia, and ordered his apartment, car and bank accounts confiscated. She and Aleksander Opeykin campaigned against the Lukashenko regime in 2020 and 2021 through the Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation, which supported athletes who alleged widespread fraud in the 2020 election for President. The International Testing Agency reported that it carried out more than 30,000 tests in 2022, and followed up on more than 1,000 “whereabouts” failures; some 280 doping positives were noted. One of the most influential executives in Olympic television production, Spain’s Manolo Romero, passed away at 81 on Saturday, just 11 days after being inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

1.
Shiffrin takes 78th World Cup win in Semmering

Already the leader in the women’s Alpine World Cup standings, American star Mikaela Shiffrin entered a potentially historic two weeks in which she could set herself up for a fifth seasonal World Cup title and even pass Lindsey Vonn for the most women’s World Cup wins.

And she delivered in the first of three events in Semmering (AUT), winning Tuesday’s Giant Slalom in 2:07:18, just ahead of 2021 World Cup champ Petra Vlhova (SVK: 2:07.31) and Italian star Marta Bassino (2:07.49).

Shiffrin led after the first run, 1:05.49 to 1:06.21 over Vlhova and while Vlhova had the fastest second run, Shiffrin was close enough (-0.59) to maintain a winning margin. She knew it was going to be tight:

“I was pushing really hard. Sometimes when I start bib 1, I am holding back on my skiing but today I said ‘no, we are not doing that, I am going full gas every time. I don’t care how it feels, every turn I am pushing’.

“The second run a little bit wild sometimes but I felt like the skis were running. I really enjoy racing here. I was being pushed around sometimes but overall my skiing felt good.”

It’s World Cup win no. 78 for Shiffrin – still just 27 – which brings her within four wins of fellow American Vonn (82) with the next seven races in her favored events: Slalom and Giant Slalom:

● 28 Dec.: Giant Slalom in Semmering
● 29 Dec.: Slalom in Semmering
● 04 Jan.: Slalom in Zagreb (CRO)
● 05 Jan.: Slalom in Zagreb (CRO)
● 07 Jan.: Giant Slalom in Kranjska Gora (SLO)
● 08 Jan.: Giant Slalom in Kranjska Gora (SLO)
● 10 Jan.: Slalom in Flachau (AUT)

Shiffrin has won in all these places before: Tuesday was her fifth career win in Semmering, and she has won four times in Zagreb, twice at Kranjska Gora and four times in Flachau. And she won all three races in Semmering once before, in 2016!

After 13 of 39 races on the women’s World Cup circuit for 2022-23, Shiffrin now leads speed superstar Sofia Goggia (ITA) by 675-470, with Vlhova third at 420.

2.
Takahashi allowed ¥80 million bail in Tokyo 2020 scandal

The man at the center of the Tokyo 2020 sponsorship scandal, former organizing committee Executive Board member Haruyuki Takahashi, was granted bail – at ¥80 million, or about $599,000 U.S. – on Monday by a Tokyo District Court.

Indicted four different times, Takahashi is alleged by Tokyo prosecutors to have taken bribes from companies wanting to be selected as Tokyo 2020 official sponsors, supporters or licensees, or from advertising agencies wanting to be the campaign managers for existing sponsors. Funds were either paid directly, or through third parties, and may have totaled as much as ¥198 million (~$1.48 million U.S.).

Takahashi, 78, a former senior director of the ad giant Dentsu, Inc., has acknowledged receiving money from companies such as business-suit retailer Aoki Holdings, Kadokawa Publishing, toy manufacturer Sun Arrow and an advertising agency, but maintains these were legitimate payments for consulting services.

Three executives from Aoki Holdings have pled guilty to bribery and indictments were made of 12 others, including Takahashi.

A separate inquiry is continuing into the rigging of bids to produce test events for Tokyo 2020 that led to venue management contracts for four firms, including Dentsu.

3.
Belarus sentences Olympic medalist Herasimenia to prison

While Russia has taken most of the headlines as a pariah in international sport for its February invasion of Ukraine, its ally Belarus has also had its athletes banned and the regime sentenced one of its former athletic stars in a long prison term – in absentia – on Monday.

Aliaksandra Herasimenia was the women’s World 100 m Freestyle Champion in 2011 and won three Olympic Freestyle medals, in London (50-100 m silvers) and Rio (50 m bronze). She has been a critic of the regime which faced mass protests since a controversial election of Alexander Lukashenko to a sixth term in 2020.

She, along with Aleksander Opeykin, the head of the Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation that has helped athletes who have spoken out against Lukashenko, were both sentenced to 12 years in prison. Neither is in Belarus now; Herasimenia lives in Lithuania.

Reuters reported that the state news agency BelTA stated:

“From August, 2020 to May 20, 2022, through the media and the Internet, they disseminated deliberately false information and fabrications about the events that took place on the territory of Belarus, about the course and results of the election campaign 2020. …

“They were found guilty of public calls to commit actions aimed at causing harm to the national security of Belarus, including the use of restrictive measures (sanctions) against Belarus, individuals and legal entities of the republic.

“Such actions entailed grave consequences.”

The court ordered the seizure of assets Herasimenia left behind, including her apartment, car and bank accounts.

4.
Int’l Testing Agency reports 30,000 tests in 2022

The International Testing Agency, now working with 50 international federations, posted a short report on its 2022 activities, with a busy testing program and athlete tracking program:

“The ITA Board also took note of the high operational volumes the various departments of the agency have delivered in 2022, with a forecast of around 30’000 collected samples until the end of the year (46% of which in-competition at almost 500 international sporting events), over 500 Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) processed and over 32’000 Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) notifications received.

“ITA’s legal affairs department has processed almost 1’000 potential Whereabouts Failures in 2022 and has handled over 280 new potential cases of Anti-Doping Rule Violations next to continuously handling cases from previous time frames such as the Moscow Laboratory LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) cases for 11 of its IF partners, as well as cases stemming from re-analysis projects.”

Organized in 2016, the ITA has grown to a staff of 80 and is accelerating its activities, importantly including anti-doping education sessions at 50 major events, serving 35 of the international federations.

And the ITA has a busy future ahead of it, already contracted to handle the doping-control programs at the 2023 Asian Games and European Games, the Olympic Games Paris 2024, the Olympic Winter Games Milano-Cortina 2026 and the Winter and Summer Youth Olympics Gangwon 2024 and Dakar 2026.

5.
Remembering Olympic broadcast giant Manolo Romero

One of the pioneers in Olympic television, Spaniard Manolo Romero passed away on Saturday at his home in Segovia (ESP) at age 81 after a long battle with cancer.

Romero was one of those people who helped make history, but was relatively little known outside of the Olympic world or the television production business. He was innovative, insightful, curious, practical and a dreamer all at the same time.

His television production career began in 1965 at TVE in Sevilla and while he began his Olympic career in Mexico City in 1968, he emerged as a key figure in mega-event television production with his work in coordinating the broadcast coverage of the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain. Two years later, he came to Los Angeles and was Director of the International Broadcast Center at the Sunset-Gower Studios in Hollywood, working for ABC Sports, which was both the U.S. domestic rights holder and the host broadcaster for the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The Olympic television production model began to change, especially when the Olympic and Winter Games went to separate cycles beginning in 1994 with the Lillehammer Winter Games. Romero was deeply involved in the broadcast operations for Barcelona in 1992 and Atlanta in 1996, then formed International Sports Broadcasting (ISB) in 1997, which provided host broadcast services for Salt Lake City’s 2002 Winter Games and Athens in 2004.

Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) was formed in 2003 – headquartered in Madrid – and Romero was the obvious choice to head it, leading the planning and operations for Beijing in 2008, the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games and London 2012, after which he retired.

Under his direction, sports that had barely been covered, like archery, sailing and shooting, were covered live, often in new formats which he helped develop. More familiar sports saw new technologies, such as the rail-cam alongside the final straightaway in track & field, on-field point-of-view cameras and much improved sound. The pictures became more compelling and Romero worked to deliver new visions of the Games for use by broadcasters worldwide.

Romero was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in a ceremony in New York on 13 December of this year.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Russia ● The move of the Russian Football Union from the European confederation (UEFA) to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is hardly a done deal and might not happened at all.

Looking for a way to compete, away from the UEFA-imposed sanctions, the RFU saw an opening in Asia, but a vote by the RFU Executive Committee on Tuesday was postponed to Saturday (31st). According to RFU Honorary President Vyacheslav Koloskov:

“The voting was postponed once; the executive committee failed to arrive at any decision and took a couple more days. Now it was postponed because there were too many questions and no answers to them.

“It is quite logical that the RFU management has taken several more days to look at the possible consequences of a transfer to the Asian confederation. The most important thing is to be sure we will be accepted there.

“I think we need a 100-percent guarantee that we will be accepted in Asia and then begin these changes. So far, we don’t have such guarantees and may find ourselves on the fringe of world football.”

FIFA and UEFA have both banned Russia from their tournament as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

● Athletics ● An amended complaint in the Huntington University cross-country abuse case has alleged that former coach Nick Johnson doped runners with Erythropoietin (EPO) and testosterone cream, without their knowledge.

David Woods, writing for DyeStat.com, reported:

“Nick Johnson was fired in December 2020 after being charged with four felony counts. The university promoted his wife, Lauren Johnson, to replace him. Lauren Johnson was placed on administrative leave in October and has left the program.

“Nick Johnson accepted a plea deal in February 2022 and was sentenced to 30 days in jail after pleading guilty to identity deception.”

The case continues in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana.

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● After a two-year wait due to the pandemic, USA Bobsled & Skeleton inducted its Hall of Fame Class of 2020 that included Steve Mesler, Tristan Gale Geisler, Randy Jones, Vonetta Flowers, James “Nitro” Morgan, and Geoff Bodine, on 17 December in Lake Placid, New York.

Mesler was a push star on the famed “Night Train” sled driven by the late Steve Holcomb that won the Olympic Four-Man gold in Vancouver in 2010. Gale Geisler won the first Olympic women’s Skeleton gold in Salt Lake City in 2002 and Flowers was the brakeman with Jill Bakken as they won the first women’s Bobsled gold in Salt Lake City.

Jones was also a push star, helping the U.S. Four-Man squad to a 2002 Olympic silver, the first U.S. Olympic medal in bobsled in 56 years. Morgan was a driver, finishing seventh in the Two-Man in the 1975 Worlds, the best American finish of the decade; a 1976 Olympian, he was killed in a crash at Cortina d’Ampezzo (ITA) in 1981.

Bodine is best known for his racing in NASCAR and was the Daytona 500 champ in 1986. He co-founded the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project to build made-in-America sleds for the U.S. team. Holcomb’s “Night Train” sled in 2010 was Bo-Dyn built.

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TSX REPORT: IBA complains Paris ‘24 exclusion being used as “extortion” against it; U.S. Congress passes “Equal Pay Act” but with holes in it

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. IBA: “Olympic Games cannot be a tool of extortion” against it
2. Van de Vorst, USA Boxing priority is Olympic inclusion, not IBA
3. U.S. Congress passes USOPC “Equal Pay Act,” but with holes
4. FIFA says no “match manipulation” during the World Cup
5. Ferriani confirms GAISF dissolution more like a re-branding

The International Boxing Association posted an unhappy message in reply to the International Olympic Committee’s statement last Friday that boxing’s place at the 2024 Paris Games is in doubt. The IBA continues to blame its troubles on prior chief C.K. Wu and is in denial about the IOC’s current issues with the federation. Dutch boxing federation chief Boris van der Vorst tweeted that boxing needs to stay in the Olympic Games “with or without the IBA” and USA Boxing posted a statement that staying in the Olympic Games “is the top priority.” The U.S. Congress completed an “equal pay act” that applies to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and the U.S. National Governing Bodies and no one else, that President Biden is expected to sign. FIFA announced that its integrity group found no match manipulation during the Qatar World Cup. Although the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) voted to disband, the year-end message from its President confirmed that its functions are essentially being transferred to the SportAccord organization, which is the name that GAISF used to have. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

1.
IBA: “Olympic Games cannot be a tool of extortion” against it

After the International Olympic Committee’s plain threat to remove boxing from the program of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Thursday, the International Boxing Association posted an unhappy message later that day that began:

“It is not with joy or pleasure that we write to you today as many of our member nations head into their holiday season.”

The seven-paragraph posting included:

● “[I]t is imperative that we address the latest attack on IBA’s athletes and IBA by the IOC for the new leadership’s continued commitment to becoming a sound and independent organisation, purged of prior governance issues and ultimately a financially independent sustainable organisation.”

● “The Olympic Games are a global sporting asset that belongs to the athletes of all sports and cannot be a tool of extortion of the International Sports Federations for purely political reasons, as is unacceptably happening now. With that, IBA will continue to fight for its athletes to make sure you have every opportunity and equal right to participate in the Olympic Games, free from discrimination and separate from the politics of sport which has now become the normalized approach.”

● “We are being criticized for renewing a commercial partnership that was first made in 2021. … These steps are the start of the many initiatives and governance reform to repair the reputational damage done by AIBA’s former President, IOC Member, and Executive Board Member, Ching-Kuo Wu. At this critical juncture for boxing, we cannot simply accept that the IOC refuses to acknowledge the misdeeds of a key figure in their Olympic Movement while continuing to criticize IBA and flatly ignoring the countless governance reforms undertaken.”

● “It is clear, that the persecution of IBA athletes will continue until ultimate control of boxing and its leadership has been achieved. The discrimination against you and IBA’s leadership and partners based on citizenship, directly contradicts the Olympic Charter, and only highlights the issue of athletes and sport being manipulated for geopolitical purposes.”

● “With that said, with the threat of Boxing being removed from the Paris 2024 programme, IBA will continue to reach out to the senior leadership of the IOC to work towards a de-escalation of this current development and with a view to LA 2028.”

Observed: The IBA message contains nothing new, reiterating the stance previously announced by IBA President Umar Kremlev of Russia, that the IOC is persecuting the IBA and boxers for the problems caused by Wu (TPE) and that the current administration’s changes should allow it to return to the Olympic program.

In fact, the IOC’s issues are with what Kremlev and the IBA membership have done recently with the federation’s questionable election management that saw Kremlev’s opponent for the IBA Presidency – Dutch federation chief Boris van der Vorst – sidelined one day before the vote last May, and then the sponsorship by the Russian state-owned energy giant Gazprom, giving the IBA very much the appearance of a controlled subsidiary.

The approval of the renewal of the Gazprom sponsorship was not even brought up in the main body of the recent Congress, but mentioned only in Kremlev’s closing remarks, with no vote taken.

That a majority of the IBA’s national federations approves is only a further confirmation that the federation is simply unresponsive to the IOC’s governance requests.

Boxing had 289 entries in Tokyo but the quota was cut to 252 for Paris, places that other sports would be happy to fill if given the chance.

2.
Van de Vorst, USA Boxing priority is Olympic inclusion, not IBA

The possible exclusion of boxing from the Paris 2024 program is worrying boxing leaders worldwide, starting with van der Vorst, who tweeted following the IOC’s statement:

● “We cannot afford for boxing to be eliminated from the Olympic Program in Paris 2024. We have to keep fighting for its re-inclusion in LA 2028. We have to do it with or without the IBA.”

● “The recent statements from the IOC highlight that their patience is being tested, & is close to running out with regards to IBA leadership & its incapacity/unwillingness to address the long-standing concerns.”

Also on Friday, USA Boxing Executive Director Mike McAtee sent a two-page letter to the federation’s more than 38,000 boxers that noted:

● “USA Boxing is concerned that IBA is prioritizing its own role in the Olympics above the interests of the boxers. To be clear, Kremlev’s statement [‘I want to stress that not a single boxer, coach or National Federation will be participating in the Olympic Games without IBA.’] is the opinion of one person who does not speak for all 38,000+ USA Boxing’s boxers or other National Federations and their boxers.”

● “[M]aintaining Olympic recognition is not simply one of USA Boxing’s priorities, it is the top priority. However, USA Boxing fully understands that Olympic recognition is not a right, but a privilege. USA Boxing’s stated position has not changed:

“‘The future of boxing as an Olympic sport is in doubt, and the IOC has made it clear that unless significant changes are made, it will not be included in the program for the Paris 2024 Olympics and beyond. This represents a critical threat to the future of the sport, both at the elite level and grassroots. We have a responsibility and a duty to everyone connected with the sport to explore all possibilities and do everything we can to ensure boxing’s continued inclusion in the Olympic games, thereby providing opportunities and inspiration for boxers across the world and for all future generations.’”

The next step in the IOC’s process will be to consider boxing future at an Executive Board meeting, next scheduled in February. To remove the boxing from Paris 2024 will require a vote by the IOC’s membership – the Session – which will next be held in India in the fall of 2023, although a special, online meeting could be called well before that.

3.
U.S. Congress passes USOPC “Equal Pay Act,” but with holes

The U.S. House of Representatives approved S. 2333, the Equal Pay for Team USA Act of 2022, by a vote of 350-59, and sent it to President Joe Biden, who is expected to sign it.

The bill amends the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act (36 U.S.C. §2205 et seq.), requiring the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee:

“with respect to a sport for which the corporation [USOPC] conducts separate programs for female and male athletes, to ensure that female and male athletes who represent the United States in international amateur athletic events receive, from funds directly provided by the corporation to the athlete (excluding any prize or award based on the athlete’s performance in an international amateur athletic competition), equivalent and nondiscriminatory compensation, wages, benefits, medical care, travel arrangements, and payment or reimbursement for expenses.”

The same language is included to apply to the National Governing Bodies. However, in both cases, pay discrepancies are specifically approved for:

“merit, performance, seniority, or quantity of play in determining contract or other terms of participation.”

So, not every player is equal. There is also a provision to “overpay” athletes to “address disparities in outside income, including in compensation made available by international sports federations and other event organizers, or the need to foster underdeveloped programs or address documented and justifiable personal need on the part of specific athletes or teams.”

A report will be due annually to the Congress to demonstrate that these new provisions are being followed.

4.
FIFA says no “match manipulation” during the World Cup

As part of its preparations for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, FIFA set up an Integrity Task Force to look for signs of competition manipulations, but announced Friday:

“[T]he Task Force analysed monitoring reports of legal betting markets, conducted multi-jurisdictional inquiries, and reviewed surveillance of competition venues for any suspicious behaviour. No match manipulation threats to any game that was played during the tournament were detected.”

That’s good news, indeed.

5.
Ferriani confirms GAISF dissolution more like a re-branding

The Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), founded in 1967, was dissolved this year by a vote of the membership, but in fact, its key current function – the vetting and inclusion of new sports federations – is simply bring moved to the SportAccord organization. GAISF President (and International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation) President Ivo Ferriani (ITA) confirmed this in his year-end message that included:

“[W]e are driving forward with key structural changes to SportAccord and the integration of [GAISF] activities, responsibilities and staff members into SportAccord are very much on track.

“The revised governance structure will see the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF) and Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport (AIMS) join the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and the Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF) as Members of SportAccord.

“The global sports community will remain united within a strengthened SportAccord through the representation of the umbrella organisations. The International Federations will continue to be the gateway for new sports through a new Membership Commission overseeing the application process for entry into AIMS.”

In fact, GAISF changed its name before to SportAccord from 2009-17, then changed it back. Maybe some stationary is still left over?

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Alpine Skiing ● Swiss Daniel Yule took his third career win in the FIS World Cup in Madonna di Campiglio (ITA) on Thursday, winning the men’s Slalom in 1:37.67, just 0.08 ahead of reigning World Cup Slalom champ Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR: 1:37.75), with Linus Strasser (GER: 1:37.85) third.

Yule added to his wins at Madonna in 2019 and 2020; if this five career World Cup golds, now three have come there.

● Freestyle Skiing ● The seventh Cross Alps Tour in Ski Cross finished in Innichen (ITA) with two events on Wednesday and Thursday, with Canada’s Reece Howden and the irrepressible Sandra Naeslund taking the series titles.

Naeslund, the Beijing Olympic champion, has simply overwhelmed the field this season, winning all five races so far. In Innichen, she beat two-time Olympic bronze medalist Fanny Smith (SUI) and Sochi 2014 gold medalist Marielle Thompson (CAN) in the first race, and then Andrea Limbacher (AUT) in the second, as Smith and Sonja Gigler (AUT) did not finish and tied for third.

Over two seasons, Naeslund had won 16 of the last 17 World Cup races. Wow.

The men’s racing saw Mathias Graf (AUT) win his second event of the season on Wednesday, ahead of Canada’s Howden and PyeongChang 2018 winner Brady Leman. Howden won the second race, beating Ryo Sugai (JPN) and Niklas Bachsleitner (GER), giving him the overall title, with Graf second.

● Judo ● The final IJF World Tour event of 2022 was the Jerusalem Masters in Israel, with Japan and France dominating the medal table.

Japan got wins from Sanshiro Murao in the men’s 90 kg class, Tatsuru Saito at +100 kg, and Miku Takaichi in the women’s 63 kg division. France earned golds from Shirine Boukli in the women’s 48 kg division and 2022 World Champion Romane Dicko in the women’s +78 kg class, but also six silver medals!

The home crowd celebrated Baruch Shmailov’s win at 66 kg. Tokyo Olympic medalists were busy as well, with Brazil’s 66 kg bronze medalist Daniel Cargnin winning at 73 kg, women’s 48 kg winner Distria Krasniqi (KOS) taking the women’s 52 kg gold and +78 kg bronze medalist Dicko winning for France. The 2022 World men’s 81 kg champ, Tato Grigalashvili (GEO) won his division as well.

● Table Tennis ● The U.S. Open in Ontario, California, ended on Thursday, with Lei Kou defending his men’s Singles title from 2021, with a straight-set 11-9, 11-6, 11-8, 11-9 victory over Xin Zhou in the final.

The women’s final was a tense, seven-set marathon between Amy Wang and American star Lily Zhang, with Wang coming back from 3-2 down to win: 11-7, 8-11, 12-10, 4-11, 3-11, 12-10, 11-8.

The Doubles titles went to Kou and Ye Tian, who beat Xiang Jing Zhang and Wenzhang Tao in the final, three sets to one. Zhang and Rachel Sung took the women’s Doubles title from Youruo Wu and Luoxuan Shao, three sets to two, and Nikhil Kumar and Wang took the Mixed Doubles, 3-1, over Kai Zhang and Sung.

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LANE ONE: IOC may knock boxing out of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games; does the IBA really care?

By
Rich Perelman
-
Should boxing be knocked out of the Olympic Games? The IOC might be getting ready to do just that!

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Boxing may be removed from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Really.

On Thursday, the International Olympic Committee said in its strongest language yet that the antics of the International Boxing Association are unacceptable and that the sport – which has been on the Olympic Program since 1920 – could disappear. The IOC’s statement:

“The recent IBA Congress has shown once more that IBA has no real interest in the sport of boxing and the boxers, but is only interested in its own power. The decisions and discussions to keep boxers away from the Olympic qualifiers and the Olympic Games cannot be understood differently. It has also become clear again, that IBA wants to distract from its own grave governance issues by pointing to the past, which has been addressed by the IOC already in 2019. There is no will to understand the real issues, the contrary: the extension of the sponsorship contract with Gazprom as the sole main sponsor of IBA reinforces the concerns, which the IOC has expressed since 2019 over and over again. This announcement confirms that IBA will continue to depend on a company which is largely controlled by the Russian government. The concerns also include the recent handling of the [Court of Arbitration for Sport] decision which did not lead a new Presidential election, but only a vote not to hold an election. The IOC will have to take all this into consideration when it takes further decisions, which may – after these latest developments – have to include the cancellation of boxing for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.”

The statement refers to the recent IBA Global Boxing Forum and Congress on 11-12 December in the United Arab Emirates, where the renewal of the Russian energy giant Gazprom’s sponsorship – $25 million a year for two years for 2021-22 – was not on the meeting agenda, and was not voted on, but was brought up by federation President Umar Kremlev (RUS) in his closing remarks!

Kremlev also ripped the IOC in a news conference the day before, saying (per the live interpretation into English):

“I would also like to say to the International Olympic Committee that they have no right – I mean, they can issue recommendations to us – but they have no right to dictate to us how to live. Not a single other organization should interfere or meddle in the business of our association. Every country has its own culture, right? If another country meddles in the culture of the other country, says ‘this is not the right way to live, you have to live this way’, that would be incorrect, right? Because every country is independent, and we are independent. The International Boxing Association, we are independent. Don’t dictate things to us, don’t tell us how to live properly. …

“I am confident that in the nearest future, they [the IOC] will make the correct decision, I am talking about the IOC, and these unclear accusations will simply cease. And that’s the same accusations that never change, they are the same. I think it’s only P.R. for the mass media.”

And Kremlev may actually not care. Interestingly, in his 886-word year-end message posted on the IBA Web site, the word “Olympic” never appears.

Moreover, the IBA announced in November an agreement with the World Boxing Association that “includes cooperation in the development of amateur athletes and their integration into professional boxing through specific programs.”

With funding from Gazprom and an integrated path into professional boxing through the IBA-WBA joint venture, who needs the Olympics? Perhaps Kremlev does not care all that much, although he said at the Global Boxing Forum:

“I really don’t think anyone would dare to violate this wonderful sport, boxing. Boxing is the king of sports. The Olympics started with boxing. The history of the Olympics is all about boxing. And what the international association does is their business.”

That may be over. Boxing is already not on the “initial sports program” for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles and now may be out four years earlier.

IOC processes are fairly slow, although the organization can move quickly, as it did with the coronavirus threat to Tokyo 2020. The next meeting of the IOC Executive Board is apparently not until 15 February, and the Olympic Charter states, in the bylaw to Rule 45, that only the IOC Session – the membership meeting as a whole – can remove a sport from the Olympic program:

“The Session is entitled to remove from the programme any sport, at any time, at its full discretion, in particular (but not limited to) if the relevant [International Federation] governing such sport does not comply with the Olympic Charter, the World Anti-Doping Code, the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions or an IOC Executive Board decision applicable to the relevant IF, or if the relevant IF acts in a manner likely to tarnish the reputation of the Olympic Movement.”

This is repeated in Rule 59.

The 2023 IOC Session is to meet in Mumbai, India, but the dates have not been fixed, but is to be sometime in September or October. That’s a problem, because the IOC’s qualification process for boxing for Paris 2024 will actually start with the European Games in Krakow (POL) in June.

Look for more action more quickly from the IOC.

Kremlev is quite right when he says the IOC has no right to tell the IBA how to act, but it does if boxing is going to be part of the Olympic Games. And judging by his actions of the last month, does Kremlev care, or is he building a new, prize money-based structure that has nothing to do with the Olympic Movement?

One major future problem for Kremlev and the IBA: if boxing is dismissed entirely from the Olympic program – not just for Paris – it will collapse many of the national boxing federations which are supported by national governments as part of Olympic sport funding programs. No Olympics, no federation funding. There may not be much of an association left if its members implode.

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TSX REPORT: First guilty pleas in Tokyo 2020 sponsor scandal; €85 mil. sliding track rebuild on for Cortina; USOPC OKs transgender “direction”

By
Rich Perelman
-
Henri Vidal's Caïn venant de tuer son frère Abel (Cain, after having murdered his brother Abel), in the Tuileries Garden, Paris (Photo: Wikipedia)

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● Happy holidays from The Sports Examiner! ●

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Three Aoki Holdings execs admit to paying Tokyo 2020 bribes
2. Historic Cortina track backed for 2026 use despite high cost
3. USOPC Board adopts transgender position “direction”
4. World Athletics publishes Paris ‘24 qualification regulations
5. Russia slams “radical voices,” continues re-entry campaigning

The first three guilty pleas were entered in the Tokyo 2020 sponsorship-selection scandal, with three executives of the Aoki Holdings business-suit retailer chain admitting bribing Tokyo 2020 Executive Committee member Haruyuki Takahashi in order to be named as an “Official Supporter.” A total of 15 indictments have been handed down so far; Takahashi maintains the payments were for legitimate consulting services. The controversial – and expensive – rebuilding of the long-closed Eugenio Monti sliding track in Cortina d’Ampezzo is going ahead, despite the price tag rising from an initial €41.7 million to €85 million ($90+ million U.S.) now. Austria offered use of its existing track in Innsbruck, just 100 miles north, but the new Cortina track is part of an amusement and sports park being paid for by the national government. The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee adopted a “direction” statement for transgender participation, emphasizing science, but noting there is much unsettled at present. A new category of participation is suggested, but defining it properly is already bedeviling World Aquatics, which has had a task force working on the issue for months. The track & field qualification process for Paris 2024 was published, with the sport getting 16% less participants than at London 2012, with the 100 m and the throws showing most of the losses. Russian complaining about being banned from international sports continues, with the newly re-elected head of the Russian Olympic Committee blaming “dishonest competitors, marginalized, pseudo-journalists far from objectivity, [and] radical voices.”

1.
Three Aoki Holdings execs admit to paying Tokyo 2020 bribes

The first three guilty pleas in the Tokyo 2020 sponsorship scandal came on Thursday, from executives at Aoki Holdings, who admitted to paying ¥28 million ($211,431 U.S. today) in bribes to be designated as a Games sponsor.

Aoki Holdings former chair Hironoki Aoki, 84, former vice chair Takahisa Aoki, 76, and an executive director, Katsuhisa Ueda, 41, pled guilty, admitting to paying former Tokyo 2020 Executive Board member Haruyuki Takahashi for preferential treatment in selection.

Prosecutors allege that Takahashi – a former senior director at the Japanese advertising giant Dentsu, Inc. – held enormous sway over the choice of companies to be Games sponsors, and Aoki Holdings, which sells business suits across 500 stores in Japan, used him as a shortcut to being named an Official Supporter, allowing the company to use the Games logo on its products.

Their pleas admitted to bribes of ¥28 million, although the total paid to Takahashi from 2017-22 may have exceeded ¥51 million (~$385,106 U.S.); a three-year statute of limitations only allowed prosecution of the amounts paid from 2019 on.

A total of 15 indictments have been filed so far and a new scandal in the rigging of bids for contracts to organize Tokyo 2020 test events and then venue management for the Games is still being investigated.

Takahashi, for his part, admits receiving money, but maintains these were for legitimate consulting services. He may have been paid more than ¥196 million in all (~$1.48 million U.S.).

2.
Historic Cortina track backed for 2026 use despite high cost

The battle over costs for the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games continues to vex the organizing committee and the local governments, especially the ballooning bill over the renovation of the long-closed Eugenio Monti sliding track for bobsled, luge and skeleton.

Used for the 1956 Winter Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo, the track is need of a complete rebuild to get up to modern standards. The project has been insisted on by the regional government as part of a sports and amusement park development and had an initial budget of €41.7 million (~$44.20 million U.S.), then increased to €60 million ($63.56 million U.S. today). Even during the bid phase, the International Olympic Committee asked if another, existing track could be used – perhaps in St. Moritz (SUI)? – to save money, but the locals were firm.

Now the cost estimate has expanded to €85 million (~$90.03 million U.S.), and the operators of the track at Innsbruck (AUT) offered use of their facility, already being upgraded, for the 2026 Games. The idea was considered by Veneto region president Luca Zaia, who had to backtrack under pressure, noting that the national government was paying for it and not his region.

Last week, the head of the Italian National Olympic Committee, Giovanni Malago, assured reporters that the renovation will be completed:

“The Monti track will be ready for the test events, so well before 2025. We are happy that Austria, on its own initiative, has proposed, but we are convinced that the races will be held in Italy. It should be remembered that the track will benefit the area, for 12 months of the year. It is a project we believe in.”

This is one battle that the IOC did not win on the basis of its Olympic Agenda 2020 because the Monti track is part of a larger development which is slowly coming together. But the planners in Lausanne know now that whatever happens, there is an alternative just 100 miles north.

3.
USOPC Board adopts transgender position “direction”

Just nine days before the International Olympic Committee had a detailed commentary published on its 2021 transgender “Framework,” the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s Board of Directors adopted a “direction” statement on transgender participation.

Its principal declaration:

“[W]e rely on fairness as our guiding principle. It is not fair if athletes cannot participate or compete in sport because of their gender identity – participation in sport should be available to everyone. Similarly, it is not fair if an athlete must face unreasonable field of play safety risks or a much-reduced chance for success in competitive sport due to sex-linked physiology – ensuring fairness in sport should be a priority for everyone.”

And, following the IOC’s lead from its 2021 Framework document, the USOPC statement is heavily laced with “reliance on science,” including:

“In our world of elite sport, these elements of fairness demand that we reconcile athlete inclusion and athlete opportunity. The only way to do that for all genders, and specifically for those who are transgender, is to rely on real data and science-based evidence rather than ideology. That means making science-based decisions, sport by sport and discipline by discipline, within both the Olympic and Paralympic movements. The science in this area is emerging, so at present we must focus on the available science we have and – importantly – work together to advance it further.”

As the current scientific discussion is about advantages gained by boys through puberty, who later might decide to become trans women, the USOPC statement prioritizes “inclusion and participation” prior to male puberty, but suggests possible new classifications for post-pubescent males:

“[S]port-by-sport work should be based on extending the existing and important concept of category qualifiers to better accommodate transgender athlete participation. Category qualifier systems include those such as the athlete classification system in Paralympic sport, weight classes in sports such as boxing and wrestling, and handicaps in golf.”

There is nothing in the USOPC statement directly in conflict with the new IOC commentary on its 2021 Framework. But the details are going to be difficult.

World Aquatics notably proposed an “open category” in its transgender regulations adopted earlier in 2022, but finding the definition has proved elusive. World Aquatics Executive Director Brent Nowicki (USA) told StateofSwimming.com earlier this month:

“We’ve assembled a group. There’s been a number of meetings. They have been working for probably four to five months on the concept, but they’re going to need more time. We had our last meeting about a month ago and at that point there was a request just for some additional time. They want to get it right.

“It’s complex. They want to make sure that they get all their touch points in place before anything is kind of rolled out, if it’s rolled out at all. And, frankly speaking, I’m not sure where it’ll go. I’ve really tried to remove myself from the discussion out of just pure respect for what they want to do and what they think is the best thing to do.

“I don’t want to push them. I want to get it right, so I don’t really feel they need to rush to make a decision on this. But I can say, earnestly, that it’s going well. There’ve been some really great interactions and some really great suggestions that have been reported back to me, so I’m highly motivated by their work.”

Nowicki expects results from the working group to be presented to the World Aquatics Bureau in mid-2022.

Meanwhile, USA Fencing, in the absence of any guidance from its international federation, adopted a transgender policy in November that “Athletes will be permitted to participate in USA Fencing-sanctioned events in a manner consistent with their gender identity/expression, regardless of the gender associated with the sex they were assigned at birth.”

Taken as written, all that is needed is for a male fencer to compete in the women’s division in USA Fencing-sanctioned competitions is to declare their participation as a woman for an upcoming season. Thus, two-time Olympic Team Foil bronze medalist Gerek Meinhardt could, if desired, compete against his wife, Tokyo Olympic champ Lee Keifer, for the women’s national championship in the 2023-24 season!

Observed: Confusing? Yes, and getting more so every day.

4.
World Athletics publishes Paris ‘24 qualification regulations

Although the largest sport at the Olympic Games, the size of the track & field competitions will be downsized again at Paris in 2024, as documented by the approved “Qualification System” document.

In London in 2012 – 10 years ago – there were 2,231 competitors in athletics. In Paris, due to the IOC’s agreement with Olympic organizing committees to stick to its 10,500 athlete limit first used for Barcelona in 1992 (and unenforced since), the athlete quota for track & field will be down to 1,810, or 19% less.

Comparing 2012 and 2024, most of the track events are not impacted too badly, other than the 100 m, but the throws and combined events (decathlon and heptathlon) are being thinned (2012 men/women entries and 2024 quotas shown):

● 100 m: 74/79 in London ~ 56/56 for Paris
● 200 m: 54/54 in London ~ 48/48 for Paris
● 400 m: 49/49 in London ~ 48/48 for Paris
● 800 m: 55/45 in London ~ 48/48 for Paris
● 1,500 m: 43/46 in London ~ 45/45 for Paris
● Steeple: 39/34 in London ~ 36/36 for Paris
● 5,000 m: 43/36 in London ~ 42/42 for Paris
● 10,000 m: 29/22 in London ~ 27/27 for Paris
● 100/110 m H: 53/50 in London ~ 40/40 for Paris
● 400 m hurdles: 40/32 in London ~ 40/40 for Paris
● High Jump: 35/35 in London ~ 32/32 for Paris
● Pole Vault: 32/39 in London ~ 32/32 for Paris
● Long Jump: 42/32 in London ~ 32/32 for Paris
● Triple Jump: 27/35 in London ~ 32/32 for Paris
● Shot Put: 40/32 in London ~ 32/32 for Paris
● Discus: 41/36 in London ~ 32/32 for Paris
● Hammer: 41/37 in London ~ 32/32 for Paris
● Javelin: 44/42 in London ~ 32/32 for Paris
● Combined: 31/39 in London ~ 24/24 for Paris

The relay events were maintained at 16 each, with road events being condensed:

● Marathon: 105/118 in London ~ 80/80 for Paris
● 20 km Walk: 56/61 in London ~ 48/48 for Paris

There are qualification standards for each event, with half of the places expected to be filled by athletes meeting those marks, and the remaining 50% taken from the World Athletics World Rankings. One important note: qualifying marks “must be achieved during competitions organised or authorised by World Athletics, its Area Associations or its National Federations in conformity with World Athletics Rules and published on the World Athletics Global Calendar.”

That requirement could very well trip up some U.S. competitors used to finding fast races in collegiate or spring relays meets which may not be on the World Athletics Global Calendar.

5.
Russia slams “radical voices,” continues re-entry campaigning

Four-time Olympic Sabre gold medalist Stanislav Pozdkyakov, 49, was re-elected as President of the Russian Olympic Committee on 20 December, running unopposed. He wasted no time in continuing with his public theme that Russian re-entry into international sports is overdue.

In remarks to the ROC, he reported:

“On the margins of the General Assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees [in Seoul in October], we held many meetings.

“Only dishonest competitors, marginalized, pseudo-journalists far from objectivity, radical voices continue to dream about the abolition of Russia. There are fewer and fewer radical voices. I personally discussed the issue of returning with the head of the IOC, Thomas Bach, and other heads of international sports federations, there was never a hint that they do not want to see Russian athletes. We are doing everything so that our athletes can return to the international arena.

“Any restrictions based on the principle of citizenship are contrary to both the Olympic Charter and international documents and cannot have legal, let alone moral grounds. Our counterparts abroad understand this. The situation is blatant, requiring the consistent abolition of anti-sport restrictions. So far, politics is stronger than sports, as sad as it is. …

“Baron Pierre de Coubertin consistently advocated that the main task of the Olympic movement is to make our imperfect world better with the help of sports. Unfortunately, the foundations of the Olympic Movement today are being dismantled under the guise of restructuring by Western colleagues and some of our compatriots.”

Dmitry Svishchev, the Chair of Russia’s State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports, continued his criticism of the IOC as the leader of international sport a day earlier:

“We are talking about the fact that in today’s conditions, when Russian athletes are being banned, the Russophobic campaign has reached sports, and we are obliged to create conditions for our athletes.

“We discussed opening windows for interaction with other countries, communities, BRICS [Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa] and the [Shanghai Cooperation Organisation]. I think a large number of countries are ready to compete with us.

“We’ve heard repeatedly that Mr. Bach calls for removing Russians from sports life, but at the same time sometimes recommends allowing it. But Mr. Bach is not [in charge of] all sports, so we need to find an opportunity to create sports organizations under the BRICS and SCO.”

And the “pivot to Asia” suggested at the Olympic Summit by the Olympic Council of Asia, that some Russian athletes could compete in its regional competitions – Asian Games – as a pathway to Paris in 2024, was endorsed by Irina Viner, the head of the Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation, although:

“The Russians have practically no chance to go to Paris-2024 anyway. …

“I welcome the desire of Asia to invite Russian athletes to their competitions, where they can compete in a completely legitimate way, having the same rights as other participants. We feel a sense of gratitude, I have always liked Asia more than Europe. We have provided assistance to many Asian federations, especially from the republics of the former USSR. We also cooperated a lot with Japan and China, and now good contacts are being established with colleagues from India, who also need our help. I’m glad about it and I think everything will be fine

“An invitation from Asian countries is now much more important for us than anything else.”

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Russia ● Amid reports of forced evacuations of people from the Donetsk area, invaded and “annexed” by Russia as part of its war against Ukraine, this from the TASS news agency on Wednesday:

“Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Tourism of the [Donetsk People’s Republic] Nikolai Tarapata at the final meeting of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports:

“‘About 2,000 athletes and coaches have already been evacuated outside the DPR to attend training camps. Now classes are not held in educational institutions,’ Tarapata said. ‘Our athletes are ready to take part in all-Russian competitions. We need funding for the training camps and we have sent the corresponding figures to the Ministry of Sports.’”

● Artistic Swimming ● The International Olympic Committee approved having men compete in the Paris 2024 Artistic Swimming competition for the first time, with up to two men being allowed to be part of the eight-member Team event. The discipline, introduced in 1984, has been exclusively contested by women; the international federation for aquatics introduced men’s participation (and now men’s events) in artistic swimming beginning in 2015.

● Athletics ● The Boston Athletic Association announced that following the disqualification of 2021 women’s Boston Marathon winner Diana Kipyokei (KEN) for doping:

“The B.A.A. is in the process of adjusting race rankings and will provide prize award adjustments to top finishers of the 2021 event. Edna Kiplagat of Kenya has been elevated to women’s open division champion of the 125th Boston Marathon, and is now recognized as a two-time Boston winner (2017 and 2021).”

It’s another honor for the amazing Kiplagat, now 43, who was considering giving up running until she won the Los Angeles Marathon in 2010 and then went on to win the 2011 and 2013 World Championships marathons and 10 top-three finishes in World Marathons Majors races, including the two wins in Boston, plus New York in 2010 and London in 2014!

She’s still going strong, finishing fourth at both the Boston and New York City marathons in 2022.

● Cycling ● Another impact of the 2024 Olympic Games on the Tour de France, with the opening of the 21-stage race to be held in Italy for the first time. This will keep more of the race away from Paris in the north, with three stages starting from Florence, Cesenatico and Piacenza, and to end in Turin.

The Tour has had stages in Italy before, as early as 1952 and as recently as 2011, but never as the “Grand Depart.”

● Shooting ● No surprise, but with billionaire Russian Vladimir Lisin voted out as President of the International Shooting Sports Federation, the ISSF Executive Board announced a set of cost-containment measures on Wednesday.

These include eliminating non-Olympic events from ISSF World Cups, which will trim the competitions from three days to two; having only one bronze medal instead of two (meaning one less match); reductions in the expenditures for television production and the postponement of a video-review system until its quality can be improved.

The ISSF showed assets of €17.051 million at the end of 2021, with €4.16 million in reserves and €11.27 million from the IOC’s distribution of Olympic television money from Tokyo 2020 held as deferred income.

● Weightlifting ● Another doping positive, this time of a three-time Olympic champion, as the International Testing Agency announced a positive out-of-competition test for China’s Xiaojun Lyu, now 38, on 30 October 2022.

Lyu’s sample was found to include the prohibited hormone erythropoietin (EPO), and he did not compete at the World Weightlifting Championships in Colombia earlier this month. He won Olympic golds in the men’s 81 kg class in 2012-16-20 and five world titles at 77 kg (3) and 81 kg (2).

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TSX REPORT: Japan audit says Tokyo 2020 cost $12.77 billion; IOC clarifies transgender stance; FIS chief in favor of Winter Games rotation now

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Japan audit bureau pegs Tokyo 2020 costs at $12.77 billion
2. IOC heard the criticisms, explains transgender “Framework”
3. FIS chief Eliasch wants Winter Games rotation to start in 2030
4. Zelensky’s World Cup final message declined by FIFA
5. Winter-sport federations show improved governance

In Lane One, a look at what the International Olympic Committee can do for the U.S. and other medal-winners-in-waiting from the Beijing 2022 figure skating Team Event, and now for American Lashinda Demus, declared on Wednesday as the gold medalist in the women’s 400 m hurdles in 2012 after a final disqualification of on-field winner, Russian Natalya Antyukh. One word: Paris.

An independent financial watchdog agency in Japan released a report giving its view of the total cost of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the equivalent of $12.772 billion (U.S.) instead of the $10.431 billion figure from the Tokyo organizing committee published in June. Of course, the same agency had projected the cost of the Games at $18.219 billion back in 2019. Either way, it was expensive. The International Olympic Committee medical director teamed with eight others to produce a commentary on its 2021 “Framework” for dealing with transgender athletes and those with differences in sex development. The paper adds much-needed explanation to the simple Framework elements and acknowledges that in some circumstances, athletes may have to be excluded from protected competition categories, especially in women’s sports. The head of the International Ski & Snowboard Federation said during the recent Olympic Summit that he is in favor of a rotation of Olympic Winter Games host cities starting in 2030; that’s good news for Salt Lake City! FIFA declined to allow a message from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to be inserted before the World Cup Final last Sunday, due to its political nature; you can read the transcript below. The fourth study of governance quality among the seven Olympic Winter Games sports federations showed improvement, but none at the level of top seven summer federations.

1.
Japan audit bureau pegs Tokyo 2020 costs at $12.77 billion

In June, the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee dissolved and announced the final cost of the Tokyo 2020 Games at ¥1.423.8 trillion or approximately $10.431 billion U.S.

On Wednesday, the Japan Board of Audit – an independent watchdog agency – announced its view, that the total cost of the Games was ¥1.689 trillion or about $12.772 billion U.S., some 18.6% higher.

The major difference between the two figures was in costs assigned to the Games that were spent by the Japanese national government.

The Tokyo 2020 organizers’ division of costs for the Games showed 44.9% for the organizers (¥640 billion), 41.9% (¥597 billion) for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and 7.68% for the Japanese government (¥187 billion).

The Board of Audit’s figures had the national government spending ¥467 billion (~$3.53 billion U.S.) related to the Games, figuring in costs for athlete training facilities, doping control, payments to local governments for venue renovation, more money related to the building of the new National Stadium and 329 smaller programs, such as added immigration checks and improved weather forecasting.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government said in November that it incurred ¥685.4 billion (~$5.18 billion U.S.) in expenses related to the Games, a 14.78% increase from the June figures.

After removing duplications, the Board of Audit’s total was ¥1.689 trillion or $12.772 billion U.S., vs. the $10.431 billion announced in June. However, the same Board of Audit predicted in December 2019 that the Tokyo Games – then to be held in 2020 – would cost ¥2.41 trillion, or about $18.219 billion!

Here’s the odyssey of the Tokyo 2020 budget per the organizing committee’s published projections:

● 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.

Using these figures in comparison with the 2013 bid projection of a total cost of ¥734 billion, the final total of ¥1.42 trillion was up by ¥690 billion, or 48.5%, and the new Board of Audit figure is up by 130.1%, including costs related to the pandemic and the postponement.

In either case, the costs were enormous, but – amazingly – came in less than either the organizing committee or the Board of Audit expected.

2.
IOC heard the criticisms, explains transgender “Framework”

In 2015, the International Olympic Committee issued guidelines for transgender participation in sports, naming a testosterone level of 10 nmol/L, but rejected this “one size fits all” standard in November 2021, issuing a new “Framework on Fairness, Inclusion and NonDiscrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity and Sex Variations.”

The new formulation emphasized the human-rights aspect of participation and has been criticized for its declaration that there is “no presumption of advantage,” specifically, “athletes should not be deemed to have an unfair or disproportionate competitive advantage due to their sex variations, physical appearance and/or transgender status.”

Now a clarification paper, with significant commentary, was published on 16 December in the online edition of the British Journal of Sport Medicine, with nine authors credited, including the IOC’s medical director, Dr. Richard Budgett (GBR), and Dr. Ugur Erdener (TUR), the President of World Archery. It is much more explicit than the original Framework about exclusion, including:

“The Framework recognises the need for separate women’s and men’s categories in elite sports.

“It also acknowledges the significance of fair competition opportunities for the women’s category, given the historical and contemporary struggle for gender equality in sport. The Framework does not preclude the possibility that certain individual athletes could be subject to participation restrictions or exclusions where an unfair and disproportionate advantage and/or unacceptable safety risk is clearly demonstrated and cannot be mitigated via reasonable accommodations.

“The challenge before IFs is to find ways to develop eligibility pathways that are fair and non-discriminatory and that provide opportunities for inclusion in an athlete’s preferred category wherever possible, while also continuing to take meaningful action on gender equality.”

And while the new paper criticizes the use of specific testosterone levels as a go/no go test for a sport, it also acknowledges the narrow-casting approach pioneered by World Athletics and shared by other federations:

“The Framework is not for or against any one approach to regulating eligibility for sex-segregated competition. For example, it neither endorses nor prohibits the use of testosterone levels as part of eligibility criteria for trans athletes.

“The IOC acknowledges that testosterone may be an important factor shaping performance in elite athletes in certain sports, events and disciplines. It also acknowledges that, where established as relevant, testosterone levels could be investigated as a means to mitigate performance and offer some trans athletes a pathway to inclusion in elite sport.

“However, a robust and evidence-based approach to eligibility criteria starts with an assessment of unfair and disproportionate advantage that is informed by the specificities of a given sport/discipline/event, is supported by appropriate data and is consistent with the Framework as a whole.”

As a continuing demonstration of the lack of consensus in this developing area, the commentary also states, “The question of ‘treatment’ for athletes with sex variations was a topic of unresolved debate among the authors of this paper.”

A clear directive in the new paper is to have separate guidelines for “grassroots” sport vs. elite competitions. Essentially, if there are no medals or pay, let them play.

Observed: The paper is an important next step in creating a better understanding of the Framework in actual practice. It will be fascinating to see how aggressive the IOC will be in funding studies for those federations who cannot afford to research this topic on their own.

3.
FIS chief Eliasch wants Winter Games rotation to start in 2030

The International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) is responsible for more than half the events held in an Olympic Winter Games, in alpine skiing, cross country skiing, Freestyle, snowboard, Nordic Combined and ski jumping. So when its President says he’s ready to start a rotation of host cities for the Winter Games – suggested by the IOC’s Future Host Commission – it’s noteworthy.

In a Wednesday post, FIS shared comments by Johan Eliasch (SWE) from last week’s Olympic Summit held in Lausanne, noting

“President Eliasch spoke in favour of a rotation of the Winter Games, starting in 2030, as this would have several clear benefits: Olympics venues would be re-used, the venues would be ripe for more long-term investment, allowing them to be modernised in a sustainable way; and such venues could be supported by Olympic [International Federations] with more events and competitions in the ‘fallow’ years between Olympics.” And:

“I am grateful to the IOC and President [Thomas] Bach [GER] for their efforts to take the consequences of climate change into account when choosing the hosts of the Winter Olympics, and for their willingness to implement the Games in the most climate-friendly way possible.

“We in the Olympic Movement have an extraordinary platform, and the power to influence billions of people who are engaged by sports. From this platform we can demonstrate to the world how large-scale events can be conducted in a way that is sustainable and mindful of our impact on the climate. There is a clear ‘win’ to be had in rotating the Winter Games because long-term, it would drastically cut down on the carbon emissions created by these events.

“At FIS we are taking the question of sustainability extremely seriously. For two years in a row, we have been the first Climate Positive sport, with our carbon footprint measured and off-set many times over by projects FIS is funding in the Amazonian rainforest. We are fully committed to the climate protection agenda – and so we are delighted to see the IOC’s clear engagement and ambition on this issue.” (Emphasis added)

More than perhaps any other potential host, this view helps Salt Lake City to be part of a permanent rotation as it combines five elements that make a Winter Games work smoothly and at an optimal cost:

● Existing competition and training venues
● A permanent Village at the University of Utah
● Strong accommodations inventory
● Excellent airport and road network
● Continuing site of winter-sport World Cup events

The Salt Lake City Games in 2002 was only the second Winter Games in history to turn an absolute surplus – including construction – joining Oslo (NOR) in 1952. And it has already updated its approach to the Games with a comprehensive bid to handle either the 2030 or 2034 Games.

Sapporo (JPN), the 1972 Winter Games host, is also bidding for 2030, but has been hurt by an unfolding series of scandals at the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee. Vancouver (CAN), host in 2010, is also interested, but has run into a roadblock as the Province of British Columbia is unwilling to underwrite part of the cost, and by declining, has precluded federal support as well.

4.
Zelensky’s World Cup final message declined by FIFA

Citing its political nature, FIFA declined to allow a 1:43 video message from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to be shown prior to the World Cup Final on Sunday, but the video was tweeted by the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The text:

“Warm greetings from Ukraine to all fans of football, life and peace. I congratulate the whole planet on the World Cup final.

“Today, we’ll witness a common victory. The celebration of human spirit. This World Cup proved time and again that different countries and nationalities can decide who is the strongest in the fair play is but not in the playing with fire, on the green playing field and not on the red battle field.

“This is the dream of so many people when players compete making everybody enjoy peace. Every father would like to take his son to a football match all over the world and every mother would like her son to be back from war.

“Whenever it is, Ukraine strives for peace more than anything else. We offered peace formally to the world, absolutely fair, we offered it because there are no champions in war, there can be no draw.

“So, I announce the initiative to hold a global peace formal summit this winter. The summit to unite all nations of the world around the cause of global peace.

“Stadiums and stands get empty after the match and after the war cities remain empty. That’s why wars must fail and peace is to become the champion as it is here in Qatar now. The World Cup but not the world war. It is possible.

“Please support Ukraine in our efforts to restore peace. Join the global peace formal summit and become a champion of peace. Let’s witness the final together and end the war. Slava Ukraini [glory to Ukraine] and Happy Qatar Day.”

A Ukrainian statement to CNN included:

“Qatar supported the President’s initiative, but FIFA blocked the initiative and will not allow the video address of the president to be shown before the final game.”

5.
Winter-sport federations show improved governance

A major theme among the Olympic-program sports federations, both summer and winter, has been improved governance. In part a reaction to intense criticism from outside groups, it has also been an issue with athletes and coaches in some sports and has led to outside studies that grade the International Federations on their compliance with best practices.

The Association of International Olympic Winter Federations (AIOWF) published its fourth study of its seven members, governing skiing (FIS), skating (ISU), biathlon (IBU), bobsleigh and skeleton (IBSF), luge (FIL), curling (WCF) and ice hockey (IIHF).

The verdict is that governance is good, not great, and showed an average improvement of 11% from 2020.

The scoring covered dozens of specific data points, with a perfect score being 200. Where seven of the 33 summer federations scored in the highest tier in 2022, from 175 and up, none of the winter federations did as well. Instead, four scored from 150-174 and three from 130-149:

● 150-174: Skiing (FIS), Biathlon (IBU), Skating (ISU), Ice Hockey (IIHF).

● 130-149: Bobsleigh & Skeleton (IBSF), Curling (WCF), Luge (FIL).

For the summer IFs, beyond the seven who scored 175+, 10 were at 150-174, and 12 scored from 130-149.

There was improvement, but only modestly so. In general, the more staff a federation had, the better it did on the governance tests. And none were in the lowest tier of under 120.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Curling ● The World Curling Federation confirmed that Russian and Belarus would be banned from participation in its events for the entirety of the 2022-23 season, an extension of the existing ban that was implemented in February.

● Football ● More details of Tuesday’s chaotic victory parade in Buenos Aires for the victorious Argentina World Cup team have come out, with the event aborted and the team – unbelievably – moved from an open-top bus to helicopters to complete a fly-over instead of a ground review.

The parade route was reported to be 50 miles long and end at the famed Obelisco in downtown Buenos Aires, but with more than four million people lining the streets, the procession moved slower and slower.

Videos showed fans jumping from overpasses, trying to join the players on the bus, and after four hours, the buses had to be abandoned and the team was moved onto helicopters to conclude the parade!

Argentine Presidential spokesperson Gabriela Cerruti stated on social media:

“The world champions are flying over the whole route on helicopters because it was impossible to continue by land due to the explosion of people’s happiness.”

Argentina Football Association President Claudio Tapia wrote on Twitter:

“The same security organizations that were escorting us are not allowing us to move forward. I apologize in the name of all the champion players. A pity.”

The team had arrived from Qatar at 3 a.m. and spent the night at the football federation’s training site before beginning the parade.

You can receive our exclusive TSX Report by e-mail by clicking here. You can also refer a friend by clicking here, and can donate here to keep this site going.

For our updated, 951-event International Sports Calendar for 2022-23 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

LANE ONE: American Team Event figure skaters now joined by Lashinda Demus in waiting for medals: how about Paris?

By
Rich Perelman
-
The medals for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games (Photo: Beijing 2022)

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

★ Enjoying our coverage? If so, please consider a donation to help cover technical costs for 2023. Thank you for your support. ★

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“Natalya Antyukh’s victory in the women’s 400-metre hurdles at the London 2012 Olympic Games has now been officially disqualified.”

That’s the start of a Wednesday news release from the Athletics Integrity Unit, announcing a new sanction by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency on 21 October that expands the nullification of her results from 31 December 2015 now back to 12 July 2012 and wipes out her Olympic victory on 8 August in London:

“That sanction by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) stemmed from AIU charges based on historical data, showing evidence of doping in Russian athletics, from the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) at the former Moscow Laboratory.”

Antyukh, now 41 and who has not competed since 2016, is in the midst of a four-year ban that began in April 2021, and did not appeal the sanction. So, the AIU has now certified her London disqualification; the statement included, “The IOC may now proceed with the reallocation of medals and the update of the IOC database.”

So the London 2012 women’s 400 m hurdles results are now:

1. Lashinda Demus (USA), 52.77
2. Zuzana Hejnova (CZE), 53.38
3. Kaliese Spencer (JAM), 53.66
4. Georganne Moline (USA), 53.92
5. T’erea Brown (USA), 55.07
6. Denisa Rosolova (CZE), 55.27
7. Muizat Odumosu (NGR), 55.31
DQ: Natalya Antyukh (RUS), 52.70

So now, Demus, 39, who was also the 2011 World Champion in the event, is in line to receive the London gold.

But then there is this, from 1996 superstar – and triple gold medalist – Michael Johnson, on Twitter:

“This is both the right thing and incredibly upsetting. I received my [gold medal] in front [of] my family and the world, reaped the financial benefits with endorsements, and lived life as an Olympic Champion from that moment. Lashinda Demus was robbed of that. I couldn’t imagine!”

Assuming the International Olympic Committee re-allocates the medals in the event as can be expected, Demus stands with the nine U.S. figure skaters who competed in the Beijing 2022 Team Event and are still in limbo, waiting for their medals to be awarded.

They won silver on the ice, but then came the news that Russian skater Kamila Valieva – who won the women’s Short Program and Free Skate – had tested positive on 25 December 2021 with the results only becoming available after the Team Event had concluded. The tumult over that situation has still not cleared and is now in front of the Court of Arbitration for Sport in an action brought by the World Anti-Doping Agency after RUSADA had taken months to complete its inquiry and then did nothing with it.

The U.S. team is at least entitled to the silver medals, and Japan to the bronze, with Canada fourth and possibly to ascend to a medal position if Russia ends up being disqualified.

So with the calendar turning to 2023, what now? How will both the skaters and Demus get their medals?

During the Beijing Games, U.S. Figure Skating Executive Director Ramsey Baker told The Associated Press:

“Having a medal ceremony at an Olympic Games is not something that can be replicated anywhere else, and they should be celebrated in front of the world before leaving Beijing.”

Well, the IOC actually has a pretty interesting process for this, which includes:

“The following six options are proposed to each athlete who can then choose their preference:

“1. The next Olympic Games (for reallocations from PyeongChang 2018 onwards).

“2. The Youth Olympic Games.

“3. The IOC headquarters or Olympic Museum.

“4. At a National Olympic Committee function.

“5. At an International Federation event or function.

“6. To have a private ceremony.

“Once their decision is confirmed, the IOC works with the National Olympic Committees of each athlete with the aim of completing the ceremony within 12 months, unless the athlete chooses to have the reallocation at the next Olympic Games.”

The current rules only allow Winter Games medals to be presented at a succeeding Winter Games, but a waiver should be granted to allow a different outcome:

Paris.

To give the skaters their medals in an appropriate setting, why not award them on the first day of competition at the Paris Games, perhaps at the 15,000-seat Accor Arena in Bercy during the men’s or women’s gymnastics team qualification competitions?

For Demus, why not during the first day of competition in track & field, a notoriously thin session for finals (and awards) anyway?

This would bring the athletes full-circle, receiving their medals during an Olympic Games and at an Olympic stadium – with fans, unlike in Beijing – and with worldwide television coverage, just as they would have had during the original medal ceremony.

And for the delay, the reward is a trip to the Paris Games in 2024.

It’s not that far away, and the publicity will be as close as could be arranged to the original setting.

For Demus, it will not be London in 2012 and for the skaters – whatever the color of their medals – it won’t be Beijing. But the IOC can grant all 10 of these American athletes, plus the rest of the medal-winners in the skating Team Event, the memory of a lifetime:

They’ll always have Paris.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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TSX REPORT: FIFA World Cup Final draws 25.78 million U.S. viewers; Mac Neil and Murphy top World Swim earnings; World Games impact: $164.8 million

By
Rich Perelman
-
The outstanding swimmers of the 2022 FINA World 25 m Championships: U.S. backstroke star Ryan Murphy (l) and Canada's double world-record-setter, Maggie Mac Neil (Photo: World Aquatics)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. FIFA World Cup Final draws 25.78 million U.S. viewers
2. Mac Neil and Murphy top World Short-Course Champs money list
3. Int’l Paralympic Committee reaches €53.4 million revenue record
4. Birmingham World Games economic impact pegged at $164.8 million
5. Sapporo scaling back 2030 Winter Games bid effort due to scandals

The U.S. ratings report for the FIFA World Cup Final showed that an outstanding 25.78 million watched the Argentina-France spectacular, the largest audience ever for a men’s soccer match, and no. 2 all-time. For the entire, 64-match tournament, the U.S. combined viewing audience on FOX and Telemundo averaged 6.00 million viewers, and the quarterfinals, semifinals and final combined – seven matches – averaged more viewers than either the 2022 World Series or NBA Finals! Canada’s Maggie Mac Neil and U.S. backstroke star Ryan Murphy were named the outstanding swimmers at the just-completed FINA World 25 m Championships in Australia and were also 1-2 on the money list, with $2.45 million distributed in prize money. The International Paralympic Committee’s annual report for 2021 showed record revenue of €53.4 million as the Paralympic Movement continues to gain strength. A report from the International World Games Association showed that the total economic impact of the Birmingham World Games last summer was $164.8 million, short of the organizing committee’s goal, but still impressive. Almost 100,000 room nights were generated, counting both participants and visitors. Amid the continuing scandals in sponsorship sales and contracts for test-event and venue management from te Tokyo 2020 Games, the mayor of Sapporo and governor of Hokkaido said that promotion of Sapporo’s bid for the 2030 Olympic Winter Games must be secondary to regaining public trust by uncovering exactly what happened in Tokyo.

1.
FIFA World Cup Final draws 25.78 million U.S. viewers

The monumental final match of the FIFA World Cup drew an almost-NFL-sized audience in the U.S. on Sunday with the combined English and Spanish-language coverage totaling about 25.783 million, including both television and streaming.

FOX reported a total average audience of 16.783 million viewers, making it the most-watched men’s soccer match in U.S. history on a single network, passing the U.S.-England match during the group stage, which drew 15.491 million. Sunday’s match was also the most-watched men’s World Cup Final ever in the U.S., eclipsing the 14.510 million who saw the 1994 World Cup final – held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena – between Brazil and Italy.

Telemundo had a television audience of 5.534 million, but had streaming to more than three million to total almost 9.0 million.

Combined, the 25.783 million total makes the 2022 World Cup Final the second-most-watched soccer match in American history, behind only the 26.7 million who saw the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final between the U.S. and Japan (25.4 million on FOX and 1.3 million on Telemundo).

The television audience peaked at the end of the match (of course), with 25.62 million watching on FOX and 7.72 on Telemundo, or 33.34 million combined.

For the entire, 64-match tournament:

On FOX:
● Group-stage average: 4.25 million viewers for 22 matches
● Knock-outs average: 6.51 million viewers for 14 matches
● Tournament average: 5.13 million viewers for 36 matches

On FS1:
● Group-stage average: 1.28 million viewers for 26 matches
● Knock-outs average: 2.73 million viewers for 2 matches
● Tournament average: 1.38 million viewers for 28 matches

On Telemundo:
● Group-stage average: 2.07 million viewers for 48 matches
● Knock-outs average: 3.85 million viewers for 16 matches
● Tournament average: 2.51 million viewers for 64 matches

Combined:
● Group-stage average: 4.71 million viewers for 48 matches
● Knock-outs average: 9.89 million viewers for 16 matches
● Tournament average: 6.00 million viewers for 64 matches

Sunday’s 25.783 million audience was still short of the NFL in the U.S., as the 1 p.m. Eastern window drew a combined 33.490 million on CBS and FOX. But Argentina and France did out-draw the 4:25 p.m. late window on CBS (21.454 million) and Sunday Night Football on NBC (15.376 million).

Worth noting: the combined average audiences for the World Cup semis and final beat the average U.S. English-language audiences for the World Series and the NBA Finals in 2022:

● World Cup semis/final: 15.91 million avg. (3 games)
● MLB World Series: 11.8 million avg. (6 games)
● NBA Finals: 12.4 million avg. (6 games)

If the World Cup quarterfinals are included – for a total of seven matches – the average still tops baseball and basketball at 12.79 million average with English and Spanish combined.

As good as the U.S. numbers were, they hardly compare with what happened in France, where TF1 reported an average audience of 24.08 million during its broadcast of the final, with a ratings share of 81% (meaning that 81% of all TVs on in France during the match were watching it!). Its peak audience came at the end, with 29.4 million viewers … in a country of 67.5 million.

2.
Mac Neil and Murphy top World Short-Course Champs money list

Completely overshadowed by the FIFA World Cup was the 16th FINA (now World Aquatics) World 25 m Championships, held in Melbourne, Australia. In addition to the medal count – won by the U.S. with 36 (17-13-6) – the meet also carried with it $2.1 million in prize money and $25,000 for every world record set.

The big winner on the money list was Chinese-born Maggie Mac Neil, who was adopted at the age of one by a Canadian family and swims for Canada and swam two seasons for the University of Michigan. At 22, she had a brilliant Worlds, winning the 50 m Back, 50 and 100 m Flys and setting world records in the 50 m Back and 100 m Fly, plus shared from two relay bronzes.

With per-event awards of $10,000-8,000-7,000-6,000-5,000-4,000-3,000-2.000 for places 1-8 ($45,000 per event), the top earners per SwimSwam.com included:

1. $86,250: Maggie Mac Neil (CAN)
2. $49,500: Ryan Murphy (USA)
3. $47,500: Nic Fink (USA)
4. $47,000: Torri Huske (USA)
5. $44,000: Kate Douglass (USA)
6. $43,500: Emma McKeon (AUS)
7. $43,250: Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS)
7. $43,250: Claire Curzan (USA)
9. $43,000: Ruta Meilutyte (LTU)
10. $38,750: Lani Pallister (AUS)

Some 86 swimmers won at least $10,000, including shares of the 14 world-record swims, worth an extra $350,000 in bonuses, making the total payout for the six-day meet $2.45 million.

And American swimmers did very well, totaling $513,000 in prizes, or 20.9% of the total prize pool, just behind winning 25% of all medals available across the 48 events!

3.
Int’l Paralympic Committee reaches €53.4 million revenue record

The annual report of the International Paralympic Committee reported record revenue for 2021, with the Paralympic Games held in Tokyo and a one-time-only initiative that brought in 54% of its income:

“[T]he Tokyo Broadcast project where the IPC was responsible for broadcast sales and production for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was a one-off project that will not be repeated in the future.”

But for 2021, it was worth it, bringing in €28.91 million (~$30.71 million U.S.), but also costing €28.62 million (~$30.41 million) for a modest surplus of about $300,000. Nevertheless, it catapulted the IPC’s revenues to new heights:

● 2012: €10.29 million (~$10.93 million U.S.)
● 2016: €19.98 million (~$21.23 million U.S.)
● 2021: €53.42 million (~$56.75 million U.S.)

The IPC also saw €12.20 million (~$12.96 million U.S.) in fund-raising and marketing revenue. Close to its most ever and €3.40 million in grants (~$3.61 million U.S.).

All this led to a small surplus of €12.08 million (~$12.83 million U.S.). The organization, based on Bonn (GER), now has assets of €27.50 million (~$29.21 million U.S.) and reserves of €20.13 million (~$21.38 million U.S.).

The one-year-postponed Paralympic Games in Tokyo welcomed 4,393 athletes – the most ever – from 162 nations, competing in 22 sports, with 86 countries winning a medal, the most ever.

The IPC’s “WeThe15″ campaign to raise awareness of people with disabilities around the world was successfully launched during the Tokyo Games with the promotional video viewed more than 750 million times.

4.
Birmingham World Games economic impact pegged at
$164.8 million

The 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama last July welcomed 3,457 athletes from 99 countries in 34 sports and generated an estimated $164.8 million in total economic impact for the host city and region.

That’s from a report by the Edinburgh, Scotland-based Quantum Consultancy, reviewing the event for the International World Games Association. The direct-spending aspect of the event totaled $11.7 million, but the induced impacts and added outputs add up to $164.8 million in total. This included:

● $10.2 million in visitor spending from 13,521 out-of-town visitors to Birmingham.
● 99,039 bed nights generated by the event by participants and spectators.
● 115,928 tickets sold and 140,217 in attendance; 37.1% of available capacity.
● 7,663 volunteer staff contributing more than 168,000 total hours of service.
● 1.12 million unique visitors to the World Games site, with 4.22 million page views.
● 268 million reach on broadcast television to 61 countries (including news coverage).

The report also noted that “With expenditures totaling $66.4 million as of November 2022, the [Birmingham Organizing Committee] is reporting a small remaining deficit with plans in place to satisfy all remaining debts and successfully close out the Games by the end of Q1 2023.”

The organizers reported a debt of $14.1 million, of which $10 million was picked up by the City of Birmingham ($5 million), Jefferson County ($4 million) and the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau ($1 million).

The report noted that part of the reason for the debt was the continuing pandemic, which hurt out-of-town travel and reduced ticket sales, which were targeted at $6 million, but brought in just $3.8 million. Poor weather during the early days of the competitions didn’t help either.

Overall economic impact of $250 million had been hoped for, but the World Games fell short. Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau President John Oros said of his organization’s $1 million contribution to the debt:

“This is not typically the role and responsibility of a destination marketing organization, but we had to do this. Bankruptcy for [the World Games Organizing Committee] was not an option. If that had happened, the statement that would go out to the amateur, college, and youth sports universe would have potentially hurt our chances to land some of the major events we’re working on. So, for that reason – and we were sensitive that a number of local suppliers and vendors needed to be paid – we felt like we had to step up and the board supported it.”

5.
Sapporo scaling back 2030 Winter Games bid effort
due to scandals

Japanese officials now plan to reduce their promotion of Sapporo as a primary candidate for the 2030 Winter Games, in view of the Tokyo 2020 sponsorship and business-rigging scandals are hurting the effort to land the Games.

Sapporo Mayor Katsuhiro Akimoto told a Tuesday news conference that promotion of the bid must be eased, saying “We must first dispel the public’s unease rather than rushing forward blindly without regard to appearances.”

Last week, Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki told reporters, “It is difficult to keep fostering momentum as things stand. … There’s been a variety of problems taking place. We can’t proceed unless we have thorough discussions and present countermeasures to gain [public] understanding. …

“People are voicing concerns about the effect the scandals might have on the bid. First, I want the truth to come out as soon as possible.”

The skepticism runs deep, as Seiko Hashimoto, who led the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee after former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori was forced out in February 2021, said – of the organizing committee she inherited – “We need to take a hard look at the way the Games previously existed and drastically rethink them.”

Sapporo and Salt Lake City have serious bids assembled for the 2030 Winter Games, which the International Olympic Committee said would be awarded late in 2023. Polls have shown public support for Sapporo to be lukewarm at best and the Tokyo 2020 scandals have not helped. Salt Lake City has overwhelming public support and plans to use only existing venues to keep costs down.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 2024: Paris ● Inflation and the disruption of supply chains is impacting the Paris 2024 construction effort, being handled by a dedicated, government-created firm called SOLIDEO, which announced last Friday that the public-money aspect of its budget had been increased once again.

Construction efforts are already underway at multiple sites, including what will be the Olympic Village. The government’s share of the works was originally budgeted at €1.38 billion (~$1.47 billion U.S.), then increased in 2021 to €1.55 billion (~$1.65 billion U.S.) and now €1.711 billion (~$1.82 billion U.S.), about 39% of the €4.4 billion total (~$4.68 billion U.S.) that includes private investment.

Per SOLIDEO General Manager Nicolas Ferrand:

“Despite the obstacles, we are continuing our journey. We will be able to deliver the works on time, within the fixed costs and within the strong ambitions that we have determined. The additional funding voted today by the Board of Directors only responds to the consequences of the war in Ukraine and the COVID crisis in China. Apart from that, we are still perfectly in line with the budget initially announced in constant 2016 euros.”

● Olympic Winter Games 2026: Milan Cortina ● Giovanni Malago, the head of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) hailed the appointment of Andrea Varnier as chief executive of the 2026 Winter Games organizing committee as a key step in getting the planning effort back on track. He told a news conference last week:

“In the past three years since we won the Games, I have met with four governments, four different institutions and structures, four people with whom to deal with … without forgetting COVID, inflation and the international crisis [war].

“It was like running a marathon with a backpack. Now I am happy because the appointment of Andrea Varnier finally shows that the government is on board … we all know very well what are the difficulties and the problems, but I think most of these will be resolved soon.

“Andrea Varnier is the light at the end of the tunnel. His collaboration as adviser to the IOC and more than 30 years of experience in the industry are the key to accelerating our roadmap. His appointment represented a fundamental step.”

The organizing committee has been criticized for a lack of sponsorships and a slow pace of planning, now expected to change quickly. 

● World University Games ● The elected head of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) since 2015 is Russia’s Oleg Matytsin, who was elevated to be the country’s Sports Minister in 2020. That put him in a difficult position, and he elevated FISU First Vice President Leonz Eder (SUI) to Acting President in March 2021.

With the end of the formal sanctions against Russian officials by the World Anti-Doping Agency (which still retains Russia on suspension), Matytsin could have returned as FISU chief and said Sunday:

“I have not resigned as FISU President from anywhere. Yesterday I informed my colleagues on the Executive Committee by sending a letter to them that I temporarily entrust the leadership of FISU to the First Vice-President in accordance with the statutes of the organization. But I can return at any time, as soon as I consider necessary, to my duties as President. I have no restrictions regarding participation in FISU events, I actively participate in the work and I am informed about what is going on in the organization. I stay in contact with my colleagues and actively participate in the dialogue with them.”

And at the FISU Executive Committee meeting on Saturday, Matytsin confirmed that Eder would continue.

● National Olympic Committees ● Four-time Olympic fencing gold medalist Stanislav Pozdnyakov ran unopposed and was re-elected as President of the Russian Olympic Committee on Tuesday.

The Russian news agency TASS reported his comments about the future of Russia at the Olympic Games made prior to the election:

“The best-case scenario is that our athletes will take part in the 2024 Olympics, having cleared the qualifying stage. Otherwise, we will resort to an alternative scenario. We will be implementing an Olympic sports program aimed at creating an athletic base and the training of the youth.

“The main goal will be to prepare a new generation of athletes, who can enter the top three at the [2028] Olympics after the [2024] Games in Paris.”

● Anti-Doping ● The World Anti-Doping Agency noted with pleasure the “Operation Shield” initiative coordinated by Europol and led by police efforts in France, Greece, Italy and Spain, that “successfully seized more than EUR 40 million-worth of counterfeit medicines and doping substances, dismantled 59 criminal groups, and arrested or reported to the judicial authorities 349 suspects across Europe.”

Gunter Younger (GER), the WADA director for Intelligence and Investigations, noted the direct impact of the project:

“Substances prohibited in sport were among the most seized items in this operation and, apart from the arrest of hundreds of people suspected of being involved, it also resulted in a number of targeted testing campaigns being launched by several Anti-Doping Organizations. As a result, 48 positive tests came about thanks to intelligence provided by this investigation.”

● Alpine Skiing ● Reigning World Cup overall champ Marco Odermatt (SUI) scored his fourth win of the season on Monday in the Giant Slalom in Alta Badia (ITA), finishing in 2:38.27, ahead of Norwegian star Henrik Kristoffersen (2:38.47) and Slovenia’s Zan Kranjec (2:39.19).

Odermatt was sensational on the first run, finishing in 1:20.04 and leading the field by 0.60, and despite having only the 21st-fastest time on the second run, managed to win his 15th career World Cup race, of which 10 have been Giant Slaloms. River Radamus was the top American finisher in 10th (2:40.88).

● Athletics ● More Kenyan doping, as the Athletics Integrity Unit confirmed lengthy bans on Diana Kipyokei – the 2021 Boston Marathon winner – and Purity Rionoripo.

Kipyokei, 28, was banned for doping with the anti-inflammatory Triamcinolone Acetonide, found in a sample taken after her October 2021 Boston Marathon victory. She exacerbated her penalty from four to six years by “provid[ing] false/misleading information in trying to explain her AAF, including fake documentation which she alleged came from a hospital.”

Rionoripo, 29, won the Prague Marathon in a lifetime best of 2:20:14 in May 2021, but tested positive for the diuretic Furosemide in an out-of-competition test in Kenya in May 2022. Then, “In her explanation, she claimed to have been prescribed medication by a doctor at a hospital to treat an ankle injury and presented supporting documentation. However, investigations revealed that, though Rionoripo was treated at the hospital, she had altered her prescription form to include Lasix (the commercial name for Furosemide).”

She was also banned for six years, but admitted the violation, shortening the suspension to five years.

Betty Wilson Lempus, already on provisional suspension, was charged with another doping violation – also Triamcinolone Acetonide – from an October test, to go along with an existing tampering charge.

The current AIU list of ineligible persons shows 54 Kenyans.

● Football ● Argentina declared a national holiday on Tuesday for the FIFA World Cup champions, with some five million people estimated to have saluted the team on a reported 50-mile victory parade atop a bus and an enormous, packed crowd around Buenos Aires’ famed Obelisco to celebrate after Sunday’s victory.

Budweiser, which was not allowed to sell its alcoholic beer at Qatar stadiums, has been promoting a #BringHomeTheBud campaign, with shots of shipping containers with the Budweiser logo landing in multiple cities. AB InBev announced that fan festivals will be held in Buenos Aires, Rosario and Cordoba to celebrate Argentina’s World Cup victory (and the unsold beer from Qatar).

A November report noted that AB InBev sponsored the 2022 World Cup at $112 million and has agreed to pay $170 million for the rights for the 2026 World Cup, but will ask for a $48.2 million discount in view of being refused the right to sell at the last moment in Qatar.

● Freestyle Skiing & Snowboard ● Highlights of the Toyota U.S. Open Freeski and Snowboard Big Air finals were on NBC on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time – against the late NFL window – and drew a respectable 678,000 viewers. Most of the event had been streamed live on Outside TV.com.

● Ice Hockey ● The U.S.-Canadian women’s Rivalry Series continued on Monday at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, with the Canadians getting a second straight win, 3-2, in overtime. The 2022-23 series now stands at 3-2 for the U.S., with two more games coming in February.

The American women got the lead on a first-period score from Cayla Barnes, but that was wiped out as Canada scored twice in the second, on a power-play goal from Sarah Fillier at 2:54 and then from Laura Stacey at 16:31.

The U.S. tied it in the third via a Taylor Heise goal at 10:16 and at 2-2, Danielle Serdachnny for the game-winner at 2:44 of overtime. The U.S. had a 34-28 shots advantage, but it wasn’t enough.

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LANE ONE: Has the FIFA World Cup passed the Olympic Games as the world’s greatest sporting event?

By
Rich Perelman
-

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After Sunday’s rapturous FIFA World Cup Final that saw Argentina and France battle all the way to penalty kicks, combined with the staggering announcement of FIFA’s $11 billion budget for 2023-26, it’s worth asking whether the Olympic Games – and the International Olympic Committee – have been displaced as the world’s biggest sporting event.

Despite all of the issues raised in the run-up to the tournament, it more than lived up to expectations. According to FIFA:

● More than 3.4 million live spectators, with average attendance at 96.3% of capacity;

● Worldwide television audience of about two billion for the group stage and “approaching” five billion for the tournament (this figure will not be finalized for some months);

● More than 1.8 million attendance at the FIFA Fan Festival in Doha (average of more than 70,000 per day);

● More than 1.9 million Hayya Cards – essentially a temporary visa – were approved, with Saudi Arabia, India and the U.S. the top originating countries for foreign visitors.

These are impressive figures, but not as impressive as the announcements by FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) concerning the future.

= FIFA vs. IOC: Revenue =

The FIFA Council approved a stunning budget of $11 billion for the 2023-26 time frame, a 47% increase from the 2019-22 total of $7.5 billion.

Infantino said the expectations for the 2026 World Cup, to be held in Canada, Mexico and the U.S., are for five to five-and-a-half million visitors for the tournament, which will expand from 32 to 48 teams in a format yet to be determined.

These are staggering numbers, and show FIFA estimating it will triple its four-year revenues between the 2006 World Cup in Germany and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and then rise 47% just by 2026:

● 2003-06: $2.634 billion
● 2007-10: $4.189 billion, an increase of 59%
● 2011-14: $5.712 billion, an increase of 36%
● 2015-18: $6.421 billion, an increase of 12%
● 2019-22: $7.5 billion estimated, an increase of 17%
● 2023-26: $11.0 billion budgeted, an increase of 47%

Infantino points out that the budget of $6.44 billion for 2019-22 was exceeded despite the Covid-19 pandemic that started in 2020 and has not yet been thoroughly conquered.

By comparison, what about the International Olympic Committee? It is no slouch, either, also working on quadrennial budgets, but tied to different years. The IOC’s revenues:

● 2000-04: $3.0 billion
● 2005-08: $3.9 billion, an increase of 30%
● 2009-12: $5.2 billion, an increase of 33%
● 2013-16: $5.7 billion, an increase of 10%
● 2017-20: $7.6 billion, an increase of 33%
● 2021-24: ???

This nearly mirrors FIFA’s growth over time; a 2021-24 budget was not included in the IOC’s Annual Report for 2021, in part due to the complications from the postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Games to 2021. But the Olympic Solidarity program, which supports the National Olympic Committees, is already committed to grow in the 2021-24 timeframe from $509 million to $590 million, an increase of 16%. At that rate, the IOC’s revenues for 2021-24 would be about $8.8 billion, ahead of FIFA for the 2019-22 period and also heading toward its major event being in the United States – specifically Los Angeles – for 2028.

(Although no 2021-24 budget was shown, the IOC did state that it has revenues of $4.1 billion already secured for the 2029-32 timeframe.)

(For American fans, it’s worthwhile to note that the leading U.S. professional leagues earn as much or more in a single season as FIFA and the IOC earn in a quadrennial. The National Football League (and its teams) was reported to gross $17.04 billion in 2021, with about $11 billion for Major League Baseball in 2022 and more than $10 billion for the National Basketball Association in 2021-22.)

= FIFA World Cup vs. Olympic Games: Audience =

Money is one measure; what about the audience, and in specific, the worldwide viewing audience on television and other devices?

Both FIFA and the IOC have commissioned viewing studies of their mega-events, and while the World Cup is expanding, the Olympic audience has shrunk of late:

FIFA World Cup:
● 2010: 3.20 billion on television
● 2014: 3.19 billion on television
● 2018: 3.57 billion total viewers
● 2022: FIFA said “approaching five billion”

Olympic Games:
● 2012: 3.6 billion on television; 1.2 billion digital users
● 2016: 3.2 billion on television; 1.3 billion digital users
● 2020: 3.05 billion total viewers

The studies for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games were both done by the same firm: Publicis Sport & Entertainment. Please note the Olympic audience figures for TV and digital in 2012 and 2016 are not discrete and there is quite a bit of overlap.

= FIFA World Cup vs. Olympic Games: Participation =

Here we see the enormous differences in these events, despite their similarity in funding and audience. Please note FIFA defines what is widely known as the “World Cup” as the “World Cup Finals” as it is the final tournament of teams which have qualified over a two-year period.

Athletes and teams/qualification:
● FIFA World Cup: About 5,500 players from 211 members
● Olympic Games: Estimated 100,000 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees

Athletes and teams/main event:
● FIFA World Cup: 832 players on 32 national teams (1,248 in 2026)
● Olympic Games: 10,500 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees

Hours of competition:
● FIFA World Cup: 128 from 64 matches of two hours each
● Olympic Games: 3,800 from 17 days, in 32 sports at Tokyo 2020

These numbers bring out the contrast between the events, especially in that the World Cup builds from teams in group-stage play to a crescendo as countries are eliminated and the final decides the ultimate, single championship that is the most-watched event.

The Olympic Games is exactly the opposite, with the biggest single audience for the Opening Ceremony, in which every country attending the Games is showcased. After that, the audiences splinter into events of choice, with athletics, gymnastics and swimming the most popular, but with 339 events in 32 sports in Tokyo – all shown live – there was plenty to choose from for more than 17 days.

Which is the best?

There is no way for the ascending FIFA World Cup to displace the Olympic Games in that for fans in more than 200 countries around the world, athletes from their nation participate almost daily in the Olympics. Only 32 countries competed in the 2018 World Cup and even with expansion to 48 in 2026, it’s still only a fraction of the countries in the Games.

But FIFA has had success now with staging World Cups in places the IOC has not gone. The World Cup has been held in Africa – South Africa in 2010 – and now in the Middle East, in Qatar. Both of those countries have either bid for, or want to bid for, the Olympic Games, but the pressure on a single city or metropolitan area to host 30-plus sports over 17 days is far greater than the World Cup schedule of not more than four matches a day.

The Olympic worldwide broadcast audience has thinned by about 15% since London in 2012 and there are high hopes for Paris in 2024 and Los Angeles in 2028 as magnets to draw fans back in. But for FIFA, the future seems limitless after a difficult, but ultimately brilliant tournament that concluded with one of the most memorable games in sports history.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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TSX REPORT: FIFA World Cup Final classic goes to Argentina; Europe takes 44% of the prize money; U.S. swimmers top World 25 m Champs medal table!

By
Rich Perelman
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Champion at last: Argentina's superstar striker Lionel Messi (Photo: Tasnim News Agency via Wikipedia)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Argentina wins spectacular World Cup Final on penalties
2. Argentina victorious, but Europe takes 44% of prize money
3. European Super League rebuffed at European Court of Justice
4. World Short-Course Champs finish with 13 world records!
5. World Athletics’ Coe happy about ‘22, planning new 2026 event

The FIFA World Cup came to a spectacular end with a heart-stopping final, as Argentina took a 2-0 lead into the 80th minute and looked like sure winners, only to have France tie it and then both sides got a goal in extra time to end 3-3. Led by superstar striker Lionel Messi, Argentina then won on penalty kicks, 4-2, for its third World Cup title. Although Argentina won the title, Europe won most of the prize money, collecting $192 million out of the $400 million on offer, and only the African, European and South American qualifiers had winning records against other confederations. An important advisory opinion at the European Court of Justice stated that federations like FIFA and UEFA can be both regulators and event operators, allowing them to protect their programs against challenge from the European Super League. The World Short-Course Championships in swimming finished in Australia, with the U.S. topping the medal table amid world (25 m) records in 13 different events! World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said the World Championships in Eugene had a $237 million economic impact, and that a new, worldwide event is being cooked up for 2026, when no Worlds or Olympics is scheduled to take place.

1.
Argentina wins spectacular World Cup Final on penalties

What looked like a rout for 80 minutes turned into a classic as Argentina gave up a 2-0 lead in the final moments of the FIFA World Cup Final in Doha, but finally prevailed on penalties after a 3-3 tie after extra time before 88,966 at the Lusail Iconic Stadium.

Argentina took control right from the start, living in the French zone and putting pressure on French keeper Hugo Lloris. The ball rarely left the French zone, and in the 23rd minute, striker Angel Di Maria dribbled around forward Ousmane Dembele and into the box, but was brought down by Dembele for a clear penalty.

Of course it was superstar Lionel Messi taking his 29th career penalty for Argentina and he stutter-stepped, then sent a clean, left-footed shot into the right of the net with Lloris moving the other way. It was his 24th conversion and his 12th career World Cup goal – tying him with Brazilian icon Pele for fifth-most all-time – and a 1-0 lead.

Then they struck again, with Messi flicking the ball from the midfield down the right side to midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, who was running free toward the box. As the French defense closed in, he sent a perfect cross from right to left and Di Maria finished into the far right side of the net for a 2-0 lead at the 36-minute mark.

At this point, Argentina had 64% of the possession and a 6-0 lead on shots. The half quietly at 2-0, with Argentina controlling the ball 59% of the time and still with a 6-0 shot advantage.

The French needed to get going in the second half, but it was more of the same. The Argentina defense was smothering, and France was not credited with a shot until the 68th minute! Argentina threatened multiple times, including what looked like a Mac Allister breakaway in the 63rd that was shut down by a diving Lloris, who came out to meet the challenge.

But it changed in a second, in the 79th. Substitute French striker Randal Kolo Muani was sprinting towards the Argentina goal along the left side in the 79th, but was dragged down by defender Nicolas Otamendi in the box for an obvious penalty.

And it was Kylian Mbappe, silent all game, who took it and sent a left-footed rocket into the net in the 80th to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Now the French were all on offense. Sub forward Kingsley Coman won the ball from Messi at midfield and sent it to the middle for midfielder Adrien Rabiot who found Mbappe on the left side of the box. Then Mbappe sent a pass into the middle for sub striker Marcus Thuram, who returned it perfectly and Mbappe ripped it into the right side of the net for the – unbelievable – 2-2 tie after 81 minutes. The French scored twice in about 90 seconds, with Mbappe taking the tournament scoring lead with his seventh goal.

The Argentines, just as in the quarterfinal against the Netherlands, gave up a two-goal lead in the final 10 minutes.

Now it was game on again and now it was the French were energized and Argentina trying to hang on. Mbappe just missed connecting with Kolo Muani on a header in the 84th. Four minutes later, Thuram went down in the box, but got a yellow card for diving, instead of a penalty. Rabiot’s shot at 90+4 was saved by the suddenly-under-siege Argentina keeper Emiliano Martinez and covered after bouncing loose in front of goal.

At 90+7, Messi had one more chance and sent a missile from the top of the box – dead center – that was sent over the crossbar by Lloris with his left hand. Extra time.

Both sides were cautious to start, but Argentina got great looks right at the end of the first period, with a Lautaro Martinez shot blocked and then a Gonzalo Montiel shot blocked on the rebound. At the very end of the period, another Martinez shot went just wide to the left.

But Argentina got a breakthrough in the 108th, with a Martinez shot saved by Lloris, but rebounded right to Messi, who netted it for the 3-2 lead, and his seventh goal of the tournament. But France was not done, and in the second extra period, Mbappe sent a hard shot to goal off of a deflection of a corner kick, that was elbowed by Montiel in the box for a penalty, which Mbappe crushed into the left corner for a hat trick and a 3-3 tie in the 117th.

The action got hotter from there. Kolo Muani just missed a header on a feed from Mbappe in the 120th, then Martinez saved a point-black try from Kolo Muani on a kick save in the 123rd and Lautaro Martinez sent a header wide for Argentina in the 124th. But it ended 3-3. Argentina’s possession edge was down to 54-46%, but with a 20-10 edge on shots and 10-5 in shots on goal.

In the shoot-out, Mbappe and Messi made their penalties to start, but then Martinez saved Coman’s try and Aurelian Tchouameni’s shot went wide to the left, while Argentina’s German Pezzella and Leandro Paredes made theirs for a 3-1 lead. Koko Muani made his, but Argentina won it on Montiel’s shot to the left of goal for a 4-2 win and the World Cup title.

It’s Argentina’s third title, adding to their 1978 and 1986 triumphs and the first for Messi in his fifth World Cup. He had been part of Argentina’s loss in the 2014 final in Brazil to Germany, but scored in all five of his World Cup appearances and now has – at age 35 – 13 career World Cup goals in 26 matches, equal-fourth all-time.

France failed in its attempt to win back-to-back World Cups, not done since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. In fact, the French were the first to make to back-to-back finals since Brazil in 1998 and 2002.

Star striker Mbappe became the second player to record a World Cup Final hat trick, previously done only by England’s Geoff Hurst in 1966. Mbappe, only 23, now has matched Brazil’s Pele with 12 career goals in 14 career matches, now equal-sixth all-time.

2.
Argentina victorious, but Europe takes 44% of prize money

The 2022 FIFA World Cup has a prize purse of $440 million, divided by placement, so the payouts included:

● $42 million (1st): Argentina
● $30 million (2nd): France
● $27 million (3rd): Croatia
● $25 million (4th): Morocco

● $17 million (quarters): Brazil, England, Netherlands, Portugal
● $13 million (round of 16): Australia, Japan, Portugal, Senegal, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, United States

● $9 million (group stage): Belgium, Cameroon, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ecuador, Germany, Ghana, Iran, Mexico, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Tunisia, Uruguay, Wales

By region, Europe was the big financial winner:

● $192 million: Europe, from 13 qualifiers
● $77 million: South America, from four qualifiers
● $66 million: Asia, from six qualifiers
● $65 million: Africa, from five qualifiers
● $40 million: CONCACAF, from four qualifiers

On the field, African, Europe and South American teams had winning records against other confederations, but Asia and CONCACAF teams didn’t fare as well (records shown as W-L-T):

Africa: 9-8-3 overall
● 7-5-3 in group-stage matches
● 2-3 in playoff matches

Asia: 7-13-1 overall
● 7-10-1 in group-stage matches
● 0-3 in playoff matches

Europe (against non-European opponents): 18-15-7 overall
● 12-10-7 in group-stage matches
● 6-5 in playoff matches

North & Central America and the Caribbean: 3-7-3 overall
● 3-6-3 in group-stage matches
● 0-1 in playoff matches

South America: 11-5-2 overall
● 6-4-2 in group-stage matches
● 5-1 in playoff matches

The tournament awards included:

● Golden Ball for best player: Lionel Messi (ARG)
● Golden Boot for top scorer: Kylian Mbappe (FRA): 8 goals
● Golden Glove for best keeper: Emiliano Martinez (ARG)
● FIFA Young Player Award: Enzo Fernandez (ARG)
● FIFA Fair Play Award: England

Mbappe won the Silver Ball and Luka Modric (CRO) won the Bronze Ball awards and Messi was the Silver Boot winner for his seven goals in the tournament.

3.
European Super League rebuffed at European Court of Justice

The European Football Union (UEFA) and FIFA got a boost from the Court of Justice of the European Union, with the Court Advocate General issuing an opinion on Thursday that rejects the European Super League Company (ESLC) position that these governing bodies cannot be both regulators and competitors in the market:

“[T]he mere fact that a sports federation performs the tasks both of regulator and of organiser of sporting competitions does not entail in itself an infringement of EU competition law. Although a structural separation as advocated by ESLC consisting in entrusting the exercise of the regulatory powers to an independent body with no connection to any undertaking active on the market concerned could eliminate any conflict of interests, it is not the only and necessary solution.”

The opinion emphasized the “European model” of sports in which teams can be promoted and relegated, as opposed to the “American model” of fixed leagues with entry only by the purchase of a franchise. The opinion noted the incompatibility of a mostly fixed-team league with the other competition systems existing in European football now:

“[A] competition with the characteristics of the ESL could have a negative impact on the principle of equal opportunities, which is one component of the fairness of competitions. Thanks to their guaranteed participation in the ESL, certain clubs could book significant additional revenue, whilst continuing at the same time to participate in national competitions in which they would face other clubs which would be unable to generate revenue on a comparable scale, let alone on a permanent and constant basis. The guaranteed revenue from permanent participation at the highest level may be regarded as a significant competitive advantage in financing the acquisition and the remuneration of new players, which is a decisive parameter of competition. The fact that there are currently significant disparities between the clubs taking part in UEFA’s competitions would not be capable of justifying an increase in those disparities.”

The opinion also rejected the ESLC’s position that the position of UEFA (and FIFA) as the governing body makes them a monopoly that cannot be allowed:

“From the perspective of competition law, an undertaking (or an association of undertakings such as UEFA) cannot be criticised for attempting to protect its own economic interests, in particular in relation to such an ‘opportunistic’ project that would risk weakening it significantly. …

“I take the view that the non-recognition by FIFA and UEFA of an essentially closed competition such as the ESL could be regarded as inherent in the pursuit of certain legitimate objectives … in that the purpose of that non-recognition is to maintain the principles of participation based on sporting results, equal opportunities and solidarity upon which the pyramid structure of European football is founded.”

The opinion did outline how a new football league could be established:

“[I]t is clear that [UEFA] approval is not necessary in order for a third party, ESLC for example, to organise a new football competition. As has been stated in point 75 of this Opinion, there is no legal obstacle capable of preventing the clubs participating in the ESLC initiative from setting up and organising freely their own competition, outside the UEFA and FIFA ecosystem. The approval of those federations is thus required only in so far as the clubs participating in the ESL wish to remain affiliated to UEFA and to continue to participate in the football competitions organised by it.”

Such a league which would not have any of the famous franchises on which the European Super League concept is founded negates the entire concept.

The opinion is advisory and a final ruling is expected in early 2023, but observers fully expect the Court Advocate General’s view to be maintained. It may well be the death blow to the European Super League concept being kept alive by just three – Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Juventus – of its 12 original members.

The Associated Press noted, “The court’s opinion was also a win for governing bodies of Olympic sports whose annual income can be less than the individual salary of many soccer players in Europe and are vulnerable to commercial rivals.”

4.
World Short-Course Champs finish with 13 world records!

The 16th FINA World 25 m Championships concluded in Melbourne with a final, brilliant day of swimming, with world short-course records in three events and the U.S. coming out on top of the medal table.

The American team held a 27-23 edge over Australia going into Sunday’s races, but won nine medals to three for the hosts to finish with a total of 36 (17-13-6) to 26 for Australia (13-8-5). The highlights:

● The U.S. got a 50-100-200 m sweep from Ryan Murphy, who won the 200 m Back in 1:47.41, just ahead of teammate Shaine Casas (1:48.01). It’s the first time one person has swept all three of the men’s Backstroke events at a Short-Course Worlds.

● The U.S. set world records in the men’s and women’s 4×100 m Medleys to finish the meet. The women went first and Lilly King, Katie Douglass, Claire Curzan and Torri Huske finished in 3:44.35, just ahead of Australia (3:44.92) and lowering the 2020 mark set by the U.S. of 3:44.52.

The men got a big lead from Murphy and Nic Fink, but Trenton Julian and Kieran Smith could not match Australian speed and the two teams tied in the men’s final, both breaking the old world mark of 3:19.16 by Russia in 2019, by finishing in 3:18.98.

● Nic Fink won the 50 m Breast in 25.38 – an American Record – to go along with his 100 m Breast title, wins in two relays and two more relay silvers for six total medals!

● Canada’s Maggie MacNeil won her third gold of the meet with a world-record 54.05 in the 100 m Fly, adding to her 50 m Fly gold (tied with Huske) and her 50 m Back win (and world record). Huske was second in 54.75; she finished with seven total medals (4-3-0).

● South Africa’s Chad Le Clos, proving he’s still a terror at age 30, won the men’s 100 m Fly in 48.59 for his second win (also the 200 m Fly). He now owns 20 World Short-Course medals, including 12 golds, from 2010-22.

● Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte won the women’s 50 m Breast in 28.50, just off her 28.37 world mark in the semis, with U.S. star King third in 29.11.

● Australia’s lone individual gold on Sunday was a 1:59.26 win for Kaylee McKeown in the 200 m Back; she also won the 100 m Back, just as she did at the Tokyo Olympic Games. The U.S.’s Curzan was second in 2:00.53.

● In the men’s 200 m Free, Korea’s Sun-woo Hwang won in 1:39.72 and Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey won the women’s race in 1:51.65.

The championships saw records in 13 events, with two records – and two $25,000 bonuses – for MacNeil in the 50 m Back and 100 m Fly, plus the 50 m Breast (Meilutyte) and 10 relays!

The big medal winners had seven each, led by Douglass (5-2-0), Australia’s Emma McKeon (4-3-0), Huske (4-3-0), Australian sprint star Kyle Chalmers (3-3-1) and Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan (3-3-1). Murphy also won five golds to tie Douglass, but had six medals (5-1-0) overall.

5.
World Athletics’ Coe happy about ‘22, planning new 2026 event

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe (GBR) told reporters in an end-of-the-year chat that while the economic impact of the federation’s four 2022 championships reached an estimated $316 million – $237 for the Eugene Worlds – that’s just part of the story for a sport which he called one of “only two real global sports. There’s us and football,” noting the then-ongoing FIFA World Cup.

Coe wanted to note the reach of the World Athletics competition programs, which he said included 13,000 athletes from 159 countries that competed in the Diamond League and the 162 Continental Tour meets worldwide. Including the four championship events – indoor and outdoor World Championships, the Team Race Walks and World U-20s – more than a billion people watched track and field on television or by streaming. And the future is bright:

“We’re in good shape. Probably better shape than I thought we’d be in when a few weeks into the role. We went through the hard yards, actually the hard years, where we rewrote, well, we just redesigned the sport.”

Coming up next year is another World Athletics Championships, in a new stadium in Budapest (HUN), a World Cross Country Championships in Australia next February and a new, World Road Racing Championships in Latvia in September.

Coe also has his eye on 2026, a year with no scheduled outdoor Worlds. But that’s an opportunity, as Coe explained:

“I didn’t want the athletes to slide off the radar screen for one year in every four. I wanted them to have the opportunity to really showcase. We’re still working on the format, much to be discussed, much to be agreed upon. But it is, again, indicative of the direction we want to take the sport, which is building profile for the athletes, riding more competition opportunities and unashamedly putting more money in their pockets.

“So there’ll be a focus on the new format, particularly around prize money.”

Coe’s second term will conclude in 2023, but he hinted that he will likely run for another four-year term, saying “I enjoy my job, you know.”

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Alpine Skiing ● A remarkable scene in St. Moritz (SUI) for the women’s World Cup tour, with Olympic Downhill champ Sofia Goggia of Italy smashing a gate on Friday and finishing second to teammate Elena Curtoni, 1:09.40 to 1:09.69, with Swiss Corinne Suter third (1:10.13) and Americans Breezy Johnson and Mikaela Shiffrin fifth and sixth.

Goggia broke two fingers and went to Milan for surgery and to have her left hand set in a cast, but was back for Saturday’s second Downhill with her poles taped to her glove with yellow duct tape! No problem; she won in 1:28.85, ahead of Ilka Stuhec (SLO: 1:29.28) and Kira Weidle (GER: 129.37). Shiffrin, the seasonal World Cup leader, was fourth in 1:29.46.

Sunday’s Super-G was all Shiffrin, as she won in 1:13.62, beating Curtoni (1:13.74) and France’s Romane Miradoli (1:14.02). For the amazing Shiffrin, still just 27, it was her 77th World Cup win and fifth in a Super-G as she continues to climb the World Cup all-time wins ladder, now five behind fellow American Lindsey Vonn (82).

The men’s tour started in Val Gardena (ITA) with the first win of the season for 2021 World Downhill champ Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT), over reigning World Cup champ Marco Odermatt (SUI), 1:25.44 to 1:25.55. Norway’s Aleksander Aamodt Kilde got his fourth win of the season in Saturday’s Downhill in 2:02.35, over Johan Clary (FRA: 2:02.70). American Travis Ganong tied for seventh and Jared Goldberg was ninth.

The skiing moved to Alta Badia (ITA) on Sunday for Giant Slaloms, with Lucas Braathen (NOR) getting his second win of the season in 2:36.35, ahead of teammate Henrik Kristoffersen (2:36.37) with Odermatt third (2:36.45). There’s another Giant Slalom on Monday.

● Athletics ● Another doping positive, this time for Kenyan-born cross-country star and Steeplechaser Aras Kaya of Turkey, who tested positive for Erythropoietin (“EPO”) in September. This normally carries a four-year suspension, but Aras admitted the violation and accepted a three-year ban as of 22 September 2022.

Kaya, 28, was a 2016 Olympian for Turkey in the Steeplechase and the European silver medalist in that event. He won European cross-country titles in 2016 and 2019 and a silver in 2021.

● Biathlon ● The IBU World Cup circuit was in Annecy (FRA) with a full program, but no change at the top of the men’s podium, as Norwegians won all three races and now seven in a row this season.

Five-time Olympic gold medalist Johannes Thingnes Boe extended his win streak this season to five in the 10 km Sprint, winning in 22:52.2 (0 penalties) over teammate Sturla Holm Laegreid (23:09.8/0) and Benedikt Doll (GER: 23:31.0). But Laegreid took over in the 12.5 km Pursuit (29:44.1/1), with another Norwegian – Vetle Christiansen (30:08.7/2) second and Boe third (30:19.9/2). Sunday’s 15 km Mass Start was a win for Johannes Dale of Norway (35:02.2/2), with Laegreid second (35:02.5/2) and Boe third (35:12.8/3).

The women’s results were more mixed, with Swedes Anne Magnusson and Linn Persson 1-2 in the 7.5 km Sprint (21:04.7/0 to 21:17.5/1). Sweden’s Elvira Oeberg won the 10 km Pursuit (29.42.4/0) over Lisa Vitozzi (ITA: 30:02.8/2) and Austria’s Lisa Theresa Hauser took the 12.5 km Mass Start in 33:54.1/1) for her second win of the season over France’s Julia Simon (34:06.4/2).

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● The U.S. portion of the IBSF World Cup tour concluded with racing in Lake Placid, New York and some surprises.

There was little surprise in seeing two-time Olympic champ Kaillie Humphries team with Jasmine Jones for the U.S.’s first two-women win this season, in 1:54.93, just ahead of German stars Laura Nolte (Beijing Olympic gold, 1:55.05) and Kim Kalicki (2022 European champ, 1:55.52). It was her 29th World Cup win in the two-women sled and she is the only driver to win a medal in all three races so far this season.

Humphries picked up another medal in the women’s monobob, where she is the Olympic champ, but was second to Nolte, 2:01.31 to 2:01.42, with Germany’s Lisa Buckwitz third (2:01.92).

The shocker came in the men’s racing, with double Olympic winner Francesco Friedrich looking unbeatable in the first two races of the season in both two-man and four-man. But he was second in both in Lake Placid, with countryman Johannes Lochner – the Beijing silver medalist – winning the two-man in 1:51.88 to 1:52.20 for Friedrich, with Swiss Michael Vogt third (1:52.26).

In the four, Britain’s Brad Hall scored his first World Cup win in 1:50.36 to 1:50.37 for Friedrich, with Christoph Hafer (GER: 1:50.45) third.

Britain scored another win in the men’s Skeleton with Matt Weston finishing in 1:48.16, ahead of Olympic champ Christopher Grotheer (GER: 1:48.32), while fellow German (and four-time World Champion) Tina Hermann (1:51.06) led a 1-2 with teammate Susanne Kreher (1:51.37). American Kelly Curtis was third in 1:51.39.

● Cross Country Skiing ● American star – and three-time Olympic medalist – Jessie Diggins made more history on Sunday in Davos (SUI) with her 14th career World Cup win, this time in the 20 km Freestyle in 48:32.2. Norway’s Ingvild Oestberg was 5.5 seconds back in second and American Rosie Brennan was third (+11.2) for her seventh career World Cup medal.

The day prior, Diggins finished second in the Freestyle Sprint to Swiss Nadine Faehndrich by just 0.24, 2:36.24 to 2:36.48!

The men’s Sprint was won by Federico Pellegrino (ITA:2:14.21), just ahead of reigning World Cup champ Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo (2:14.46), but Norway won its eighth race in 10 in the men’s World Cup this season in the 20 km Freestyle with Simen Hegstad Krueger leading a sweep in 42:12.3, ahead of Hans Christer Holund (42:34.6) and Sjur Roethe (42:36.8).

● Freestyle Skiing ● The Moguls skiers were at Alpe d’Huez in France, with 2017 World Champion Ikuma Horishima (JPN) getting his first win of the season, over Beijing gold medalist Mikael Kingsbury (CAN), 82.66-80.85. American Cole McDonald was third (75.27).

The Dual Moguls went to Horishima again, over Benjamin Cavet (FRA) in the final. Australia’s Jakara Anthony, the Beijing 2022 gold medalist, won her third straight World Cup competition, again over PyeongChang 2018 winner Perrine Laffont (FRA), 79.70-75.81. Elizabeth Lemley of the U.S. was third for her second medal of the season (75.74).

Japanese teen Anri Kawamura won Saturday’s Dual Moguls over Laffont, with Anthony winning the Small Final for bronze.

At Copper Mountain in Colorado, Halfpipe and Big Air events were on for the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix as well as the FIS World Cup.

The men’s Big Air title went to Norway’s Birk Ruud at 192.00, over Timothe Sivignon of France (184.25), giving Ruud – the Beijing 2022 gold medalist – a sweep of the only two events on the program this season!

Canadian star Megan Oldham won the women’s Big Air, 176.00-172.00 over Swiss Mathilde Gremaud, the Beijing ‘22 Slopestyle winner. The seasonal winner was Tess Ledeux of France, the Beijing ‘22 silver medalist.

The Halfpipe World Cup season opened with a win for American Birk Irving, the 2021 Worlds bronze medalist, 93.75-92.50 over Canadians Brendan MacKay and Noah Bowman (91.00), with two-time Olympic medal winner Alex Ferreira of the U.S. fourth.

Canada scored a 1-2 in the women’s Halfpipe, with Beijing ‘22 bronze medalist Rachael Karker winning (89.50), Amy Fraser second (85.25) and Estonia’s 2019 World Champion Kelly Sildaru third (82.00).

● Ice Hockey ● The 2022-23 Rivalry Series between the U.S. and Canadian women continued this week, in Henderson, Nevada, with Canada winning its first game in four tries, 3-2.

The U.S. had a 1-0 lead on Amanda Kessel’s first period goal, but Canada struck back with two in the second by Jamie Lee Rattray and Blayre Turnbull. The U.S. tied it in the third on a Hilary Knight score, but Sarah Nurse got the winner with 4:56 to play for the 3-2 final.

Game five in the series comes Monday in Los Angeles, the last match for 2022.

● Luge ● The FIL World Cup circuit was in Park City at the Utah Olympic Park, with Italy and Germany dominating the track.

Italian veteran Dominik Fischnaller, the Beijing 2022 bronze medalist, won the men’s Singles in 1:30.068, beating Germany’s 2010-14 Olympic champ, Felix Loch (1:30.253) and 2018 PyrongChang Olympic gold medalist David Gleirscher (AUT: 1:30.272). Fischnaller also took the Sprint title, beating Gleirscher and Loch, 27.552-27.640-27.682.

Germany’s Beijing silver medalists Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken won the men’s Doubles (1:26.789), with teammates (and three-time Olympic champs) Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt third (1:26.867), but Wendl and Arlt came back to take the Sprint with Eggert and Benecken second, 31.862 to 31.872.

Another German sweep in the women’s Singles, with 2018 Olympic silver medalist Dajana Eitberger winning over America’s 2019 Worlds bronze medalist Emily Sweeney – her third silver of the season – by 1:26.471 to 1:26.610, with 2021 World Champion Julia Taubitz third (1:26.619). In the Sprint, Taubitz was the fastest at 31.717 with Eitberger second (31.816) and American Brittney Arndt third (31.902).

The women’s Doubles saw the second straight win for Andrea Votter and Marion Oberhofer (1:28.302), but Austria’s Selina Egle and Lara Kipp get their third win of the season in the Sprint in 32.195, with Votter and Oberhofer close at 32.322.

● Nordic Combined ● The FIS World Cup tour continued in Ramsau (AUT), with the same stars atop the podium once again.

Defending World Cup champ Jarl Magnus Riiber led a Norwegian 1-2 on Friday, in the 97 m jumping and 10 km race, finishing in 24:15.4 to 24:23.3 for Jens Luraas Oftebro, with German Vinzenz Geiger third (24:23.4). But Geiger came back on Saturday to get his 10th career World Cup win, in 25:06.0, ahead of 2021 World Champion Johannes Lamparter (AUT: 25:11.0) and Riiber (25:12.1).

The women was a continuation of the domination of Norway’s Gyda Westvold Hansen, who won both races – 97 m hill and 5 km – in 14:31.0 on Friday and 14:45.7 on Saturday, winning by about a minute each time. She won all four races this season.

● Short Track ● The second weekend of competition at the Halyk Arena in Almaty (KAZ) was another triumph for three-time Olympic gold medalist Suzanne Schulting, who won the first race of the women’s 500 m and the 1,000 m races. She now has six World Cup wins on the season, easily the most. She was joined by countrywoman Yara van Kerkhof, who won her first World Cup title in the second women’s 500 m. Canada’s Worlds silver winner Courtney Sauralt won the women’s 1,500 m for her second win of the season.

American Kristen Santos-Griswold was second to Schulting in the 1,000 m, picking up her fifth medal of the season.

Korea’s Ji-won Park was the big winner on the men’s side, taking the 1,000 m and 1,500 titles for his fourth and fifth wins on the season. Home favorite Denis Nikisha won the second 500 m race – his first World Cup win in six seasons – then proposed to his girlfriend on the ice! (She said yes.) Poland’s Diane Sellier won the first men’s 500 m race, his first World Cup victory.

● Ski Jumping ● Coming into the fourth stop on the FIS World Cup tour, Poland’s Dawid Kubacki and Slovenian Anze Lanisek had won five of the six events this season.

No change in Engelberg (SUI), as Lanisek and Kubacki were 1-2 on Saturday off the 140 m hill – 320.3 to 317.0 – and then Kubacki won on Sunday, with Lanisek third, 300.4 to 293.7, with Austria’s Manuel Feller getting second (297.2).

Kubacki continues as the seasonal leader over Lanisek, 650-576, with a break until the famed Four Hills Tournament begins on the 29th.

● Snowboard ● The Halfpipe and Big Air World Cups were featured at Copper Mountain, Colorado, with three-time World Champion Scotty James (AUS) taking the Halfpipe title over Beijing bronze medalist Jan Scherrer (SUI) in a brilliant competition, 99.00-96.25. The women’s Halfpipe was a win for Spain’s Beijing runner-up, Queralt Castellet, over Canada’s Elizabeth Hosking, 89.75-88.75.

The men’s Big Air winner was Norwegian veteran Marcus Kleveland (184.25), who out-scored American two-time Olympian Chris Corning (172.50). Japan’s Mari Fukada won her first World Cup medal in the women’s Big Air, scoring 155.75 to turn back American Hailey Langland (151.50).

In SnowCross in Cervinia (ITA) earlier in the week, Olympic champ Alessandro Hammerle took the first competition on Friday, ahead of fellow Austrian Jacob Dusek and Germany’s Martin Noerl. France’s Loan Bozzolo won Saturday’s race, with Noerl second; the German is the only one to score a medal in all three races this season.

France’s Beijing silver medalist Chloe Trespauch won the first race for women on Friday, leading a 1-2 with countrywoman Manon Petit-Lenoir, with Britain’s Charlotte Bankes third. But Bankes, the 2021 World Champion, won on Saturday, ahead of Josie Baff (AUS), with Trespeuch getting the bronze.

Parallel Giant Slaloms were held in Carezza and Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy, with 2021 World silver winner Andreas Promegger (AUT) winning the men’s race in Carezza, ahead of Dario Caviezel (SUI). Michelle Dekker (NED) won the women’s race over Aleksandra Krol (POL).

In Cortina, Roland Fischnaller (ITA), the 2015 World Champion defeated Promegger for the men’s gold, while Slovenia’s Gloria Kotnik, 33, won her first World Cup medal in winning the women’s race, over Germany’s 2018 Olympic bronze medalist Ramona Theresia Hofmeister.

● Speed Skating ● The fourth World Cup of the season was the second in a row held at the Olympic Oval in Calgary (CAN), with another break-out performance for American teen Jordan Stolz.

Still just 18, he won the men’s 1,500 m in the World Cup season opener in Norway in November and added three medals in Calgary, including another win, this time in the 1,000 m in 1:06.72, just 0.30 from the American Record set by two-time Olympic 1,000 m champ Shani Davis back in 2009. He beat Olympic gold medalist Thomas Krol (NED), who finished second in 1:07.16.

Stolz also won a silver in the 500 m, lowering his own American Record from 34.11 to 34.08, behind Korean Jun-ho Kim’s 34.07 winning time. And Stolz collected a silver in the 1,500 m in 1:43.19, behind Olympic champ Kjeld Nuis (NED), who won in 1:42.59.

In the distance races, Olympic bronze winner Davide Ghiotto (ITA) won the 10,000 m in 12:45.10 and Olympic champ Bart Swings (BEL) took the Mass Start in 7:33.20, with American Ethan Cepuran fifth in 7:22.84.

The women’s racing saw three wins for the Dutch, with 2022 triple gold medalist Irene Schouten winning the 5,000 m in 6:48.06 and the Mass Start in 8:08.74. Olympic 1,000 m silver winner Jutta Leerdam won that event, beating gold winner Miho Takagi (JPN), 1:12.53 to 1:13.19. American Kimi Goetz won the bronze in 1:13.58.

Korea’s Min-sun Kim won the 500 m in 36.96, ahead of Takagi (37.26) and Olympic champ Erin Jackson of the U.S. (37.35), with Goetz sixth (37.43). Takagi finally got a win in the women’s 1,500 m in 1:52.08, with U.S. star Brittany Bowe fourth in 1:53.25 and Goetz ninth in 1:54.61.

The World Cup circuit stops for now and will conclude with two more meets in Poland in February.

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TSX REPORT: FIFA sets staggering $11 billion revenue goal for 2023-26; World Cup ‘26 format to be revisited; Zelensky asks IOC to isolate Russia

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. FIFA Council sets stunning budget of $11 billion for 2023-26
2. The 2026 World Cup format is now to be re-visited
3. Argentina & Messi duel France & Mbappe in World Cup title game
4. Ukraine’s Zelensky engages with IOC and FIFA for help
5. Griner says she wants to resume WNBA career in 2023

The FIFA Council met on Friday, prior to the final two matches of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and set a hard-to-believe revenue goal of $11 billion for the 2023-26 time frame, during which the Women’s World Cup will be played in Australia and New Zealand next year, but especially the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. FIFA took in $7.5 billion, despite the pandemic, from 2019-22. Because of the drama of the group-stage matches in Qatar, the planned program of 16 groups of three for the 2026 World Cup will be revisited, perhaps to have 12 groups of four. Sunday’s World Cup final will pit the four top scorers at this year’s World Cup against each, with defending champion France fielding co-scoring leader Kylian Mbappe (five goals) and Olivier Giroud (4) against Argentina’s Lionel Messi (5) and Julian Alvarez (4). France is trying to become the first back-to-back winners since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach to maintain the isolation of Russian and Belarusian athletes from competitions, while the Ukrainian legislature passed sanctions against 55 Russian athletes and a Ukrainian coach working in Russia. American basketball star Brittney Griner said she wants to continue her WNBA career in 2023 with the Phoenix Mercury, while thanking everyone who helped with her release from Russian captivity.

The U.S. continues to lead the medal table at the FINA World 25 m Championships in Melbourne, but has only a 27-23 lead going into Sunday’s final day.

1.
FIFA Council sets stunning budget of $11 billion for 2023-26

The FIFA Council met in Doha on Friday, with the sensational report afterwards by President Gianni Infantino (SUI) that the budget for the forthcoming four-year period of 2023-26 will be $11 billion, up from $7.5 billion for 2019-22.

Infantino began his news conference with recognition of the success of the tournament:

“I want to highlight and stress, of course, is the praise for, the unanimous praise of the FIFA Council for this World Cup, for the unique, cohesive power that this World Cup has shown. …

“For the first time ever, teams from all the continents moved to the knockout phase, showing that there is something happening when we speak about football becoming truly global, becoming truly global, for the first time, an African team, Morocco, an Arab team as well, reaching the semi-final stage of the World Cup.”

He said that the cumulative match attendance was 3.27 million, with two matches to go and “we are approaching the five billion mark in terms of viewing figures.” He also noted that “1.7 million attended the FIFA Fan Festival, an average of almost 80,000 a day.”

As for the money:

“And looking forward, ahead, the FIFA Council approved a budget for the next four-year cycle, which will foresee a revenue of 11 billion [USD]. So the last four-year period had a budget of 6.44, I think, we made 7.5; the next cycle has a budget of 11 billion revenues and almost 10 billion [9.7] will go directly back, of course, to football.”

The $7.5 billion revenue total from 2019-22 compares quite favorably with the International Olympic Committee’s $7.6 billion in revenue for the 2017-2020 (-2021) period, but the $11 billion projection for 2023-26 is startling. Asked how the figure is to be believed, Infantino said:

“Let me say, we are bullish on the power of football, so to say. About what we believe that the impact of football – or soccer, as it’s called where we are going to play the next World Cup, or at least in a part of the countries – we are more than bullish, we are convinced that the impact of the game will be massive.

“It has been be massive here, it will be incredible in North America, three huge countries – Mexico, United States, Canada – organizing the event, 48 teams, 50% more, so from 32 to 48, more games, revenues will go up in terms of broadcasting, in terms of sponsorship, and in terms of ticketing and hospitality. Let’s not forget that we will play in huge stadiums in North America, stadiums which are normally used for American football, so 80-90,000; 70,000 is almost the smallest capacity, but then with a lot of attractions for fans, so we are expecting five million, five-and-a-half million fans traveling specifically for these events and we are convinced that football will be booming in North America because we will start working immediately as of the 19th of December for that World Cup, when it comes to the men’s. …

“But as you say, a 50% increase in revenues is certainly something to be proud of when it will have happened, already to be proud to be putting out in the books and getting approved as a budget.”

And Infantino was not shy about his view of the future of football, especially in the U.S.:

“We are convinced that football will become the number one sport in North America, or maybe the no. 2 to start with, and with time …”

Time will tell.

2.
The 2026 World Cup format is now to be re-visited

Infantino made mention of the conundrum that the success of the 2022 World Cup has caused and its impact doing forward. During his news conference, he added:

“There is one element, since you mentioned it, which allows me to make a little remark. As you might remember, we have been approving a 48-team format with 16 groups of three, of which the top two would move to the knock-out phase of 32 and then 16, eight, four and two.

“I have to say that after this World Cup, and the success of the groups of four, and looking at as well some other competitions like the Euro, for example, where you have 24 teams and the top two plus the best third ones go to the next group stage, I mean, here, the groups of four have been absolutely incredible in the sense that to the last minute of the last match, you would not know who goes ahead.

“I think we have to revisit or at least re-discuss the format, whether we go for 16 groups of three or 12 groups of four. This is something that will certainly be on the agenda in the next meetings.”

He also announced the creation of a new series of competitions, a “FIFA World Series” of matches to take place in even years in March – beginning in 2024 – bringing together small tournaments of four teams from different continents, to ensure that more teams have a chance to play countries outside their own geographic area.

Asked about why FIFA did not allow the “OneLove” armbands to be worn during the tournament, Infantino was specific about football’s role:

“We have to give to all these people a moment of time in their life where they can forget about their own problems, and enjoy football.

“And between, after, all the time, between competitions, during competitions outside of the match and the field of play, everyone can express his views and opinions the way he wants, but let’s give this moment of joy to those who want to enjoy the game.”

Infantino also reported the decision of the FIFA Council as regards his term in office. Infantino was elected in a special FIFA Congress in 2016 to serve out the remainder of the term of Sepp Blatter (SUI), who was re-elected in 2015. The Council declared that the partial term of 2016-19 does not count against the three-term limit for the FIFA President, so Infantino’s re-election in 2023 will be for a second term and he can run for a third term in 2027; he is 52 at present.

3.
Argentina & Messi duel France & Mbappe in World Cup title game

History is very much on the line Sunday with the final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup at the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Qatar, where two long-time powerhouses, Argentina and France, meet for fourth time in World Cup play.

France is the defending champion from 2018 and is trying to be the first to repeat since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Les Blues have won twice, in 1998 and 2018 and lost in the 2006 Final to Italy on penalty kicks.

Argentina also has two World Cup wins, in 1978 and in 1986, and made the final in 1990 and 2014. The build-up (victories by penalty kicks shows as wins):

Argentina (5-1):
● Lost to Saudi Arabia, 2-1
● Defeated Mexico, 2-0
● Defeated Poland, 2-0 (Won Group C)
● Defeated Australia, 2-1
● Defeated Netherlands, 2-2 (4-2 penalty kicks)
● Defeated Croatia, 3-0

France (5-1):
● Defeated Australia, 4-1
● Defeated Denmark, 2-1
● Lost to Tunisia, 1-0 (Won Group D)
● Defeated Poland, 3-1
● Defeated England, 2-1
● Defeated Morocco, 2-0

Both teams have superstar leaders – and scorers – with Argentina’s Lionel Messi (35) and France’s Kylian Mbappe (23) at five each to lead the tournament, and Julian Alvarez (ARG) and Olivier Giroud (FRA) both have four. Messi has 11 career World Cup goals in 25 matches across five World Cups, while the younger Mbappe is rising fast, with nine goals in just 13 matches.

Each team has been inventive offensively, but stingy on defense:

Argentina in 6 matches:
● 12-5 on goals, 80-34 on shots, 58% possession

France in 6 matches:
● 13-5 on goals, 92-60 on shots, 63% possession

Despite both being offense-minded and used to having the ball, both showed in the semifinals they could play defense. Croatia held the ball for 61% of possession against the Argentines and lost; same for Morocco.

Both Argentina and France are first-half stalwarts. France has out-scored its opponents by 5-0 in the first half so far and for Argentina, it’s 5-1. Argentina is tough right after the second half starts, scoring five goals to two from minutes 46-69, but the French have closed brilliantly, scoring six goals to one for its opponents from 70 minutes on.

These teams met in the very first World Cup back in 1930 in Uruguay, with Argentina winning, 1-0. The second meeting came in 1978 as Argentina was on the way to the title, and winning 2-1 in the group stage. France scored a win in 2018 – on the way to the title – winning 4-3 off of two goals from Mbappe and one each from Antoine Griezmann and Benjamin Pavard.

4.
Ukraine’s Zelensky engages with IOC and FIFA for help

Sports and politics do mix as far as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is concerned.

Zelensky has been busy over the past week, first speaking with IOC President Thomas Bach (GER) last week, in which appreciation was expressed for the $7.5 million in relief funding that the IOC has rounded up, to ensure Ukrainian athletes can continue to train – mostly outside the country – during the continuing war with Russia.

However, the IOC statement on the call further reported:

“In the call, the Ukrainian President requested the full isolation of Russia and Russians from the world community. From his point of view, this must also apply to athletes. In this context, the IOC President explained the unifying mission of the IOC and the Olympic Games enshrined in the Olympic Charter, and thanked President Zelensky and the Ukrainian government for their approval of United Nations resolution A/77/L.28 passed by consensus on 1 December 2022 by the UN General Assembly, which supports the unifying and conciliative nature of sports events, their contribution to peace, the political neutrality of the Olympic Movement and the autonomy of sports organisations.”

Zelensky tweeted afterwards:

“Talking with @iocmedia President Bach I noted the support for [Ukranian] athletes. Urged to contribute to rebuilding [Ukrainian] sports objects destroyed by [russian Federation]. Upset with the intention to return RF’s & [Belarus]’s athletes to world competitions. As long as RF destroys peaceful life – only isolation.”

A day before, on Tuesday (13th), the Ukrainian legislature passed a measure titled, “On the application of special economic personal measures and other restrictive measures (sanctions) to athletes of the Russian Federation and other states”.

The bill names 55 Russian athletes and a Ukrainian coach currently working in Russia, identified as “systematically and actively support the war against Ukraine, legitimize the military invasion and genocide of Ukrainians by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.”

Ten-year sanctions are included, including refusal to admit them into Ukraine, blocking any assets they have in Ukraine and other punishments. The list includes – among others – chess world champion Anatoly Karpov, figure skater Kamila Valieva, rhythmic stars Dina and Arina Averina, two-time Olympic swimming gold medalist Evgeny Rylov, three-time Olympic cross-country skiing gold medalist Alexander Bolshunov and more.

Zelensky also asked FIFA to allow him to share a message of peace prior to the World Cup Final on Sunday, but was turned down.

5.
Griner says she wants to resume WNBA career in 2023

In an Instagram post on Friday, a now-freed Brittney Griner said she wants to resume her basketball career next season. Her post included:

“It feels so good to be home! The last 10 months have been a battle at every turn. I dug deep to keep my faith and it was the love from so many of you that helped keep me going. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone for your help. …

“As I transition home to enjoy the holidays with my family, I want to acknowledge and thank the entire [Post-Isolation Support Activities] staff and medical team at the San Antonio Fort Sam Houston Base. I appreciate the time and care to make sure I was okay and equipped with the tools for this new journey.

“I also want to make one thing very clear: I intend to play basketball for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury this season, and in doing so, I look forward to being able to say ‘thank you’ to those of you who advocated, wrote, and posted for me in person soon.”

She also stared her desire to help still-imprisoned American Paul Whelan to return home as well.

Griner, now 32, has played her entire professional career with the Mercury and over nine seasons, has averaged 17.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game. She has been an eight-time WNBA All-Star, two-time scoring champ and All-WNBA First Team selection three times, to go along with Olympic golds with the U.S. in 2016 and 2020.

≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡

● Third Place: Croatia 2, Morocco 1 ● Way back on 23 November, Croatia and Morocco played to a 0-0 tie in the opening match of Group F. Things changed a lot between then and Saturday, when a goal was scored in the seventh minute!

After Morocco played stiff, tight defense for all of their matches until forced to open up in the semifinal against France after being behind in the fifth minute, the Atlas Lions appeared to thinking about offense again at the start of the third-place match and paid the price.

A brilliant header from defender Ivan Perisic found the masked Josko Gvardiol right in the middle of the box and his flying header flew straight into the goal in the seventh for a 1-0 lead. But the game did not change much, as Morocco staged a sensational comeback just two minutes later, as Croatia failed to clear a free kick and it sailed right to the middle of the penalty area and was headed in by defender Achraf Dari for the 1-1 tie!

The scoring wasn’t done and there were chances on both sides, and then off a failed clearance, Croatian striker Marko Livaja sent the ball to the left side where forward Mislav Orsic right-footed a laser to the far side of the goal and over the outstretched arm of Moroccan keeper Yassine Bounou that hit goal post and bounced in for a 2-1 lead in the 42nd. The Croatians ended the half with 59% of possession and an 8-4 edge on shots, and it appeared more goals were coming.

But they weren’t. The game settled down in the second half, with Croatia more disciplined on defense and Morocco unable to make the right connections close to goal. There were numerous questions asked of Qatari referee Abdulrahman Al-Jassim, especially on a couple of possible penalty situations, but the video review booth did not ask him to review them.

The Croatians ended with 51% possession and 12 shots to nine for Morocco and third place, four years after they made the final in Russia, going 6-2-6 (W-L-T) over the last two World Cups. Morocco, even with the loss, covered themselves in glory by being the first African (and Arab) side to made it to the semis.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Swimming ● The 16th FINA World 25 m Championships are heading for the close in Melbourne (AUS), with the U.S. and Australia in a close race for the top spot on the medal table.

With only Sunday’s events remaining, the Americans lead with 27 totals medals (13-9-5) to 23 for Australia (11-7-5), and Italy (5-5-2) third with 12.

The U.S. gotten its wins from:

● Kieran Smith: men’s 400 m Free
● Ryan Murphy: men’s 50-100 m Back
● Nic Fink: men’s 100 m Breast
● Men’s 4×200 m Free, including Smith

● Lilly King: 100 m Breast
● Kate Douglass: 200 m Breast, 200 m Medley
● Dakota Luther: 200 m Fly
● Torri Huske: 50 m Fly (tie for gold)
● Hali Flickinger: 400 m Medley
● Women’s 4×50 m Free, including Huske and Douglass

● Mixed 4×50 m Medley (with Murphy, Fink, Douglass and Huske)

This gives Douglass four golds and Murphy and Huske three golds each so far; Fink defended his 2019 World Short-Course title in the men’s 100 m Breast.

Australia has two wins in the men’s events, with Rio 2016 Olympic champ Kyle Chalmers in the 100 m Free and in the 4 x 50 m Free, but has been terrific in the women’s events. Lani Pallister won the distance triple in the 400-800-1,500 m Freestyles, Emma McKeon won the 50-100 m Freestyles, Kaylee McKeown took the 100 m Back and Australia has wins in the women’s 4×100 m Free, 4×200 m Free and 4×50 m Medley. So far, Pallister and McKeon have four golds each, including the relays.

There have been eight world records in relays, in the men’s 4×100 m Free (Italy), 4×200 m Free (U.S.), 4×50 m Medley (Italy), women’s 4×100 m Free (Australia), 4×200 m Free (Australia) and 4×50 m Medley (Australia), plus the Mixed 4×50 m Free (France) and 4×50 m Medley (U.S.).

The one individual world marks set so far were in the women’s 50 m Back for defending champion Maggie MacNeil of Canada (25.25) and in the women’s 50 m Breast semis for Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte (28.37).

There are two other double gold medalists through Saturday, with Italy’s distance superstar Gregorio Paltrinieri winning the 800 m and 1,500 m Freestyles and Japan’s Daiya Seto winning the 200 m Breast and 400 m Medley. The medley win was especially historic, as it’s his sixth short-course Worlds win in a row: 2012-14-16-18-20-22! And he’s still only 28.

The craziest race might have been the men’s 50 m Back final, where the usual start beep was then followed by three longer beeps, indicating a false start. But there was no rope to be dropped to stop the swimmers and three of the eight racers stopped, but five – including favorites Murphy and Australia’s Isaac Cooper – swam the whole race, with Cooper winning in 22.49.

The eventual decision was to re-swim the race about 45 minutes later, with Murphy winning in a slower time (as expected) and Cooper second, 22.64-22.73.

The championships close on Sunday.

● Weightlifting ● The IWF World Weightlifting Championships in Bogota closed on Friday (16th), with China topping the medal table as expected, with 12 total medals (for combined lifts), including six wins, three silvers and three bronzes. Host Colombia was second with eight (2-2-4) and Thailand was third (6: 2-2-2).

The men’s 109 kg and +109 kg classes were in familiar hands, with Uzbekistan’s 2016 Olympic 105 kg gold medalist Ruslan Nurudinov winning at 109 kg for his second Worlds gold (also in 2013). He lifted a total of 397 kg to best Georgia’s Giorgi Chkheidze (389 kg).

In the +109 kg category, it was once again the world’s strongest man, Georgia’s Lasha Talakhadze winning, at 466 kg combined for his sixth straight world title, in 2015-17-18-19-21-22, to go with his Olympic golds in 2016 and 2020. He was pushed by Gor Minasyan, the long-time Armenian star who now lifts for Bahrain, with 462 kg and Armenia’s Varazdat Lalayan (461 kg).

China took the women’s 81 kg and +87 kg titles, with Xiaomei Liang winning at 81 kg with a combined 270 kg total, ahead of teammate Zhouyu Wang (266 kg). Olympic champ Wenwen Li won the +87 kg division at 311 kg, way ahead of Britain’s Emily Campbell (287 kg). American Sarah Robles, a former World Champion in this class, was second in the Snatch event at 127 kg, but finished fourth with a combined total of 282 kg.

Norway’s Solfrid Koanda won the women’s 87 kg class at 260 kg.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Athletics ● Florida State high hurdler Trey Cunningham and Kentucky sprinter Abby Steiner won the men’s and women’s Bowerman Award from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Cunningham won the NCAA titles in the indoor 60 m hurdles and the outdoor 110 m hurdles and posted the no. 2 marks in collegiate history in both, at 7.38 and 13.00. He then went on to finish second in the U.S. nationals and won a silver at the World Athletics Championships.

Steiner was the NCAA indoor and outdoor champion in the women’s 200 m and set collegiate records of 22.09 indoors and 21.80 outdoors. She won the U.S. title at 200 m and won World Athletics Championships golds in the 4×100 m and 4×400 m relays.

● Basketball ● Sad news of the passing of Billie Moore, one of the most outstanding women’s coaches in history, at 79 in her Fullerton, California home after a struggle with cancer.

Moore was among the pioneering coaches when women’s collegiate basketball began expanding quickly in the AIAW, the women’s college association prior to 1982, when NCAA women’s competitions began. Moore won national championships at Cal State Fullerton in 1970 (one year prior to the AIAW) and at UCLA – with stars Ann Meyers and Denise Curry – in 1978. She finished at UCLA in 1993 and had an overall record of 436-196 across 24 seasons.

She memorably coached the 1976 U.S. Olympic women’s team to a silver medal in Montreal, giving a significant boost to the women’s game at the international level.

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TSX REPORT: Morocco controls, but France scores in 2-0 World Cup win; Zelensky rails against Russians at Paris ‘24; 9% of athletes injured at Tokyo 2020

By
Rich Perelman
-
A world-record bonus for U.S. swimmers (l-r) Nic Fink, Kate Douglass, Torri Huske and Ryan Murphy from the 4x50 m Mixed Medley Relay at the FINA World 25 m Championships in Australia (Photo: World Aquatics)

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

★ Enjoying our coverage? If so, please consider a donation to help cover technical costs for 2023. Thank you for your support. ★

★ To get The Sports Examiner by e-mail: sign up here! ★

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. FIFA World Cup: France holds off Morocco, wins 2-0
2. Autopsy: Grant Wahl died of an aortic aneurysm
3. Ukraine’s Zelensky rails against Russian participation at Paris 2024
4. Tokyo Olympic athlete injury rate in line with prior Games
5. Olympic champ Jorgensen back to triathlon

Defending champion France is headed back to the FIFA World Cup championship match after a 2-0 win over a game Morocco team that dominated possession and had multiple chances to score, but could not get a goal. It was the first time in the tournament that France posted a shutout, and Les Blues will play Argentina on Sunday for the title. An autopsy on popular football writer Grant Wahl showed that he died due to an “undetected ascending aortic aneurysm” according to his wife, who gave appreciation for his rapid return from Qatar to FIFA and U.S. authorities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky protested the International Olympic Committee’s continuing discussions on finding a way to return Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competition in view of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He called for Russia’s “complete isolation” in international affairs, including sports. A study led by the IOC found that about 9.15% of athletes competing at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021 suffered injuries of some type, in line with prior Games, and that a very low level of illness was seen, affecting only about 3.9%. The most injury-prone sports were boxing and BMX racing. Rio 2016 Olympic women’s triathlon champ Gwen Jorgensen announced she is returning to the sport after trying distance running. But she will be concentrating on making the U.S. Mixed Team Relay squad for Paris, not competing in the Olympic-distance triathlon as she did before.

1.
FIFA World Cup: France holds off Morocco, wins 2-0

The expectation was that France, with its offensive weapons, would control its semifinal with Morocco and need to hold off speedy counterattacks from the Atlas Lions. The game turned out to be exactly the opposite, but the French prevailed anyway, 2-0.

Morocco had possession to start the match, but as soon as the French touched the ball, a shriek of disapproving whistles explored from the overwhelmingly pro-Morocco crowd of 68,294 in the Al Bayt Stadium.

The wall of whistles did not deter the French, who found some magic in the fifth minute. A lead pass broke the Moroccan defense and striker Antoine Griezmann was racing down the right side and crossed the ball into the middle. That led to a shot by striker Kylian Mbappe that was blocked, then a second shot and the rebound popped out to the left, where defender Theo Hernandez rose and sent a left-footed shot on a bounce that raced past keeper Yassine Bounou and a defender and into the net for a 1-0 lead. It was only the second goal scored against Morocco in the tournament and the first an opposing player!

The game was surprising end-to-end, with Morocco forward Hakim Ziyech making French keeper Hugo Lloris lunge for a shot that went just wide in the 17th, and then France roared back and all-time goal scorer Olivier Giroud hit the left post with a drive, also in the 17th. Mbappe’s shot in the 36th was saved and came back to Giroud in the middle of the box and he missed wide to the left.

Off a corner in the 44th, the ball bounded to the left and defender Jawad El Yamiq sent a brilliant bicycle kick to the goal, touched by Lloris and then hitting the left post and bouncing away.

Morocco had 56% of possession in the half, but the French had nine shots to five, and the lead. Being down a goal required Morocco to play the most offense it has shown in the tournament and they had excellent opportunities, but could not convert.

The second half was all-Moroccan pressure from the start, as they swarmed the French zone, with the French counter-attacking when available, a complete reversal of Moroccan play in the tournament up to this game.

Dangerous run after dangerous run challenged the French defense, but then the French erupted, with a clearance after another desperate defensive stand. The ball moved into the Moroccan zone, played by Mbappe to substitute striker Marcus Thuram to his left, who dribbled in and gave it back to Mbappe in the middle of the box. Five defenders closed in, but Mbappe swung to his right and closer to goal, then his pass was deflected right to a charging Randal Kolo Muani, who entered the game just seconds before. Muani finished with the right foot and it was 2-0 for France and a place in the final.

There was a wild exchange in front of the French net at 90+4, with midfielder Azzedine Ounahi pivoting near the endline, up to the French goal, then having his shot blocked, spinning in front of the goal where he had another shot blocked and finally to sub striker Abderrrazak Hamdallah right in front of goal, whose shot was blocked and then cleared.

But the French defense held, however precariously – its first shutout of the tournament – and moves them a step closer to being the first repeat champions since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Morocco ended with 61% possession and had 13 shots to 14 for France, but on the scoreboard, it wasn’t that close.

Morocco will face Croatia in the third-place game on Saturday, while the title game comes Sunday with two two-time winners, Argentina and France.

2.
Autopsy: Grant Wahl died of an aortic aneurysm

Soccer writer Grant Wahl’s wife, Dr. Celine Gounder, posted a notice on Wahl’s Substack site on Wednesday, which included:

“Grant arrived home Monday, December 12, and this transition was handled with the utmost care and sensitivity. This was an international matter that required coordination from multiple agencies domestically and internationally, and there was full cooperation from everyone involved. Our sincere gratitude to everyone involved in repatriating Grant, in particular the White House, the U.S. Department of State, FIFA, U.S. Soccer and American Airlines.

“An autopsy was performed by the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office. Grant died from the rupture of a slowly growing, undetected ascending aortic aneurysm with hemopericardium. The chest pressure he experienced shortly before his death may have represented the initial symptoms. No amount of CPR or shocks would have saved him. His death was unrelated to COVID. His death was unrelated to vaccination status. There was nothing nefarious about his death.”

She told CBS News, “It’s just one of these things that had been likely brewing for years, and for whatever reason it happened at this point in time.”

A memorial service is being planned.

Wahl was covering his eighth World Cup in Qatar and had obtained medical assistance on 5 December after complaining of a cold and then feeling even worse. He was told he probably had bronchitis and felt better after getting some antibiotics and cough syrup, but collapsed at his press tribune seat near the end of the Argentina-Netherlands quarterfinal game on 9 December. He was given immediate medical attention and taken to a hospital, but did not revive.

3.
Ukraine’s Zelensky rails against Russian participation
at Paris 2024

In response to the Declaration of the Olympic Summit, in which the International Olympic Movement and other leaders of the Olympic Movement agreed to explore avenues to return Russian and Belarusian athletes as neutrals to international competition, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky replied to IOC President Thomas Bach with disdain.

Zelensky protested that Russian Olympic Committee President Stanislav Podznyakov was invited to the event, noting that “since February, 184 Ukrainian athletes have died as a result of Russia’s actions.” And he added:

“One cannot try to be neutral when the foundations of peaceful life are being destroyed and universal human values are being ignored.

“A just response to such actions can only be the complete isolation of the terrorist state in the international arena. In particular, this applies to international sporting events.”

The IOC asked for International Federations to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes since the February invasion of Ukraine, but has repeatedly said it needs to find a way – at some time in the future – to bring the world together through sport.

Most federations have complied, but some sports – notably cycling, judo and tennis – have allowed Russians and Belarusians to compete as neutrals. The International Boxing Association, whose President is Russian Umar Kremlev, is suspended, but is allowing Russians and Belarusians to compete in national uniforms and colors.

4.
Tokyo Olympic athlete injury rate in line with prior Games

A study published Tuesday in the British Journal of Sports Medicine showed that injuries affected 9.15% of athletes attending the Games and that 3.9% fell ill during the Games period.

The project was led by the IOC’s Medical and Scientific Department, which tracked 11,315 athletes at the Games, using reports from National Olympic Committee medical teams and visits to the Olympic Village Polyclinic and other medical sites operated by the Tokyo organizing committee.

The reporting included only about 53% of the NOCs, so the figures are likely somewhat understated, but all medical encounters with the Tokyo medical teams were recorded. The highest incidence of injury came in:

● 27.1% in boxing
● 27.1% in BMX racing in cycling
● 22.2% in BMX Freestyle in cycling
● 21.0% in skateboarding
● 18.5% in handball

The lowest injury rates were in diving, road cycling, rowing, open-water swimming and shooting, all less than 2%. After adjusting for participation levels, “there was no
difference in overall injury incidence between women” and men. Women had a higher risk of injury than men in artistic gymnastics, but lower in softball (vs. baseball) and in boxing.

Most of the injuries were minor, with 44% impacting the athlete for less than a day, but 24% for 1-7 days, 11% from 8-28 days and 9% for even longer. Also, the story showed that 58% of injuries came during competition, 34% during training and 7% during warm-up or cool-down periods. BMX cycling had more than 10% of injuries keeping riders out for more than a week.

The overall injury picture for Tokyo – just over 9% – was similar to that seen at Rio 2016 (8%), London 2012 (11%) and Beijing 2008 (10%).

The extensive anti-Covid procedures in Tokyo not only prevented any impact from the pandemic, but also helped to keep overall illness rates down:

“The overall incidence of illness (3.9 illnesses per 100 athletes) was the lowest we have recorded in the Games; lower than in PyeongChang 2018 (9.4), Rio 2016 (5.4), Sochi 2014 (8.9), London 2012 (7.2) and Vancouver 2010 (7.2).”

The highest illness rates:

● 7.8% in open-water swimming
● 7.7% in artistic swimming
● 7.4% in skateboarding
● 7.4% in karate
● 7.3% in triathlon
● 7.3% in athletics

There were no illnesses recorded for athlete in 3×3 basketball, mountain biking and
modern pentathlon.

There were 78 incidents of heat-related illness, a great concern going into the Games, but 88% suffered no time away from their sport.

5.
Olympic champ Jorgensen back to triathlon

“I’m coming back to triathlon.”

That was Rio 2016 Olympic champ Gwen Jorgensen of the U.S., announcing on YouTube on Tuesday that she is returning to the sport after a dalliance with distance running. However:

“Don’t get too excited, though. I’m not doing long-course, which is what you guys, a lot of you want me to do. …

“What I’m really excited about is Mixed Team Relay. I wasn’t able to do that at the 2016 Olympics, it wasn’t an event at the Olympics yet, so it’s now an Olympic event and I was super inspired at Tokyo, watching Team USA get a silver medal in the Team Relay, so that is what is really motivating me to come back to triathlon.”

Jorgensen, now 36, is a mother of two sons as well as a two-time Olympian, finishing 36th in London in 2012 (partially due to a flat tire in the cycling segment) and then won gold in Rio in 2016. She also won two World Triathlon World Championships titles in 2014 and 2015. She left triathlon to return to distance running, logging a best of 2:36:23 at the 2018 Chicago Marathon, a 10,000 m best of 31:55.68 in 2018 and a 5,000 m best of 15:08.28 in 2021. She finished ninth in the 2021 Olympic Trials 5,000 m, but did not finish in the 10,000 m.

Jorgensen added, “each individual does a super-short triathlon that takes like 20 minutes total. It’s super-fast, super-quick. I’m also getting older and a lot of times they say that you lose your speed when you get older, but I think that’s a myth and I want to prove that wrong.”

The Mixed Team Relay joined the Olympic program in Tokyo and has two men and two women who each compete in a 300 m swim, 6.6 km bike segment and 1 km run, before tagging off to a teammate. It’s far shorter than the individual Olympic triathlon, which starts with a 1,500 m swim, then a 40 km bike segment and a 10 km run. Jorgensen has no illusions about her prospects:

“The Olympics are coming up really quick and the timeline is super-short. There is a qualifying event in August of 2023 and for me to even get on that start line is going to be super-difficult, so I’m probably going to be forced to race earlier than I’d like to, before I’m fit and before I’m totally ready, but I’ve just got to dive in and get it started.”

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Swimming ● The second day of the FINA World Short-Course (25 m) Championships in Melbourne (AUS) was a good one for the U.S., with three golds and a world record, one of two set on the evening.

The U.S. record performance came in the first event, the Mixed 4×50 m Medley, with veteran star Ryan Murphy on backstroke, then Nic Fink on breast, Kate Douglass on fly and Torri Huske on anchor, finishing in 1:35.15. That crushed the 1:36.10 from the Netherlands from 2010. Italy won silver (1:36.01) and Canada took the bronze (1:36.93).

Murphy, the 2016 Rio Olympic winner in the 100-200 m Back events, then came back to win the men’s 100 m Back in a meet record of 48.50, moving to no. 2 on the all-time (short-course) list. Italy’s Lorenzo Mora was well back in second at 49.04. It’s Murphy’s sixth career World Short-Course gold.

After winning six medals (3-0-3) at the 2022 FINA (50 m) Worlds, sprinter Torri Huske won her first individual Worlds Short Course gold, tying with Canadian star Maggie MacNeil in the women’s 100 m Fly final in 24.64. China’s Yufei Zhang was third (24.71); Claire Curzan of the U.S. tied for fifth in 24.92.

Australia continued its strong meet in front of the home crowd, with Lani Pallister winning the 800 m Free to go along with her 400 m Free gold on the first day. She touched in 8:04.07, ahead of Erika Fairweather (NZL: 8:10.41), who was second in the 400 m Free, and Japan’s Miyu Namba (8:12.98). American Leah Smith was fourth (8:14.24) and Jillian Cox sixth (8:20.95).

Kaylee McKeown, Australia’s 100-200 m Backstroke gold medalist in Tokyo, won the 100 m Back in Melbourne in 55.49, just ahead of teammate Mollie O’Callaghan (55.62). The U.S.’s Curzan tied for the bronze with Ingrid Wilm of Canada (55.74 for both); American Isabelle Stadden was eighth in 57.20.

Australia got a third gold and another world relay record in the women’s 4×200 m Freestyle, finishing in 7:30.87 – with Pallister on anchor – erasing the Dutch mark of 7:32.85 from 2014 and way ahead of silver winner Canada (7:34.47). The U.S. quartet of Alex Walsh, Hali Flickinger, Erin Gemmell and Smith was third in 7:34.70, with Gemmell’s leg of 1:52.23 the fastest of the night.

Brazil’s 42-year-old Nicholas Santos won the men’s 50 m Fly title in a meet record of 21.78, for his sixth career Worlds Short-Course gold and 12th overall, in what he says will be his final race. He was the clear winner, ahead of Noe Ponti (SUI: 21.96) and Szebasztian Szabo (HUN: 21.98).

The meet continues through Sunday.

● Weightlifting ● Qatar and Egypt triumphed on day nine of the IWF World Weightlifting Championships in Bogota (COL), and the U.S. won its first combined-weight medal of the competition.

In the women’s 76 kg class, Egypt’s Sara Ahmed swept the field, winning the Snatch (113 kg), Clean & Jerk (148 kg) and the combined total at 261 kg. It’s her second career Worlds medal after a silver at 71 kg in 2018. American Mattie Rogers, won her fourth career Worlds silver in her third different weight class, finishing second in all three lifts, at 109 kg (Snatch), 138 kg (Clean & Jerk) and 247 kg (Combined). Rogers previously win silvers at 69 kg in 2017, 71 kg in 2019 and at 76 kg in 2021. Korea’s Su-hyeon Kim was third (245 kg).

Tokyo Olympic 96 kg champ Fares El-Bakh (QAT) moved up to 102 kg for the 2022 Worlds and made only three of his six lifts, but that was enough to win. He completed two Snatch lifts with a best of 174 kg for fifth and only took one attempt in the Clean & Jerk, but lifted 217 kg for second in the event and first overall with 391 kg. It’s his first Worlds gold, after a 94 kg bronze in 2017 and silvers in 2019 and 2021 at 96 kg.

Just one kg back was Iran’s Reza Dehdar, the 2019 bronze winner, at 490 kg; he topped the Snatch competition at 177 kg. Armenian Samvel Gasparyan was third (389 kg); Americans Wesley Kitts and Ryan Sester finished eighth (379 kg) and 14th (368 kg), respectively.

The championships continue through Friday.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Athletics ● A letter from World Athletics chief executive Jon Ridgeon (GBR) issued Monday (12th) informed all national federations that for performances to qualify for the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest (HUN), the competition in which they are held must be listed on the World Athletics Global Calendar.

The requirement, approved by the World Athletics Council, begins with meets on 1 March 2023 and after, for which Global Calendar status must be applied for 60 days in advance … meaning 1 January for a meet on 1 March of next year.

So, for example, for the Texas Relays, coming on 29 March, for marks to count at that meet for Worlds qualifying and world rankings, it must be applied for by 29 January 2023. It does not apply for meets which are already a part of the World Athletics Continental Tour or the Diamond League.

But it does apply to U.S. collegiate meets of all kinds, and the various smaller, springtime invitational meets held in Florida, California and elsewhere. Naturally, there is a fee – $25 – and access to the Global Calendar must be coordinated by national federations, meaning USA Track & Field in the United States.

PoleVaultPower.com’s Becca Peter sounded the alarm on Twitter, noting in a thread,

“Major changes are coming to the @WorldAthletics ranking system, and we are at risk of the majority of track meets in the United States not counting for rankings or qualifying.”

● Football ● A security guard at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has died, after a “serious fall” at the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Doha.

John Njau Kibue, 24, from Kenya was injured on 10 December, according to the organizing committee, falling after the Argentina vs. Netherlands quarterfinal:

“We regret to announce that, despite the efforts of the medical team, he sadly passed away in hospital on Tuesday 13 December, after being in the intensive care unit for three days.”

The company that Kibue worked for at the event, Al Sraiya Security Services, has not contacted the family, according to Reuters. It’s the fourth reported death at the FIFA World Cup so far; the other three were news media, from the U.S., Britain and Qatar.

The 7 December incident at a Brazilian team news conference in which a cat which jumped on the dais and was dropped by press officer Vinicius Rodriguez to the stage apron has been followed by a lawsuit against the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF).

The National Forum for Animal Protection and Defense of Brazil and other animal-rights organizations announced the action, asking for a fine of one million Reals (~$189,437 U.S.), a public apology and a program to train CBF staff in environmental protection and animal care.

The federation said Wednesday that it had no knowledge of a filing.

A joint report from the National Women’s Soccer League and its players association concerning player abuse within the league found widespread problems:

“The NWSL has increased efforts to eradicate misconduct, embraced greater accountability, and experienced a cultural shift regarding behaviors that are no longer tolerated.

“However, there is substantial work to be done. To that point, during this investigation, the Joint Investigative Team received reports of ongoing misconduct at more than half the League’s clubs.”

In addition to problems previously reported at clubs in Chicago, Louisville, Portland and Washington, D.C., issues were noted at the North Carolina Courage, Houston Dash, OL [Seattle] Reign, Orlando Pride and NY/NJ Gotham FC.

Recommendations included, “strengthening anti-harassment policies, developing and enforcing guidelines that address appropriate interactions between club staff and players, developing and implementing trainings that reflect and address player and staff experiences, coordinat[ing] with clubs and U.S. Soccer to improve and centralize hiring practices, enhance[d] reporting and investigation procedures and prioritiz[ing] DEI initiatives to create a more inclusive environment for all players and staff.”

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TSX REPORT: Argentina schools Croatia, 3-0, in World Cup semi, as U.S. ratings up 84% for playoffs; IOC quietly ends 50-year ban on Vince Matthews

By
Rich Perelman
-
Wayne Collett and Vince Matthews on the men's 400 m victory stand at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich (Photo: Associated Press via Wikipedia)

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

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. FIFA World Cup: Argentina out-classes Croatia, 3-0
2. U.S. World Cup playoff broadcast ratings up 84%!
3. Russian national gymnastics coach lies about USA gymnastics stance
4. IOC ends 50-year ban on Vince Matthews, but nothing more
5. U.S. 400 m star Randolph Ross suspended for three years

The expected FIFA World Cup semifinal battle between Argentina’s offense and the Croatian defense was in fact a display of Argentine power as Lionel Messi scored on a penalty and assisted brilliantly on one of two goals by Julian Alvarez during a convincing, 3-0 win in Doha. France and former colony Morocco will play in the second semifinal today. Through the round-of-16 and the quarterfinals, the combined English (FOX) and Spanish (Telemundo) broadcast coverage has drawn big audiences, with the playoff-match average at 8.65 million, up just about 84% over the group-stage average of 4.71 million. The Russian news agency TASS ran two amazing stories on Monday, claiming that the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee supports Russian re-entry into international competitions as neutrals, a complete mis-representation of comments by USOPC Chair to reporters during a Monday briefing. The Russian national gymnastics coach claimed USA Gymnastics supports this position, which was flatly refuted by the federation’s spokesperson. The International Olympic Committee acknowledged that it will allow the accreditation of Munich 1972 men’s 400 m champ Vince Matthews at a future Olympic Games, effectively rescinding the lifetime ban placed on him and silver medalist, the late Wayne Collett, after their medal-ceremony protest. Current U.S. 400 m star Randolph Ross, a member of the gold-medal-winning Tokyo Olympic 4×400 m relay, was suspended for three years as a result of three “whereabouts” failures in April and June of this year; he will be eligible again in mid-2025.

1.
FIFA World Cup: Argentina out-classes Croatia, 3-0

The 2018 World Cup runner-ups, Croatia, presented a disciplined, difficult defense that had only conceded three goals in five matches at the Qatar World Cup. But with inspired play from superstar striker Lionel Messi and running mate Julian Alvarez, two-time champs Argentina scored three in the first 69 minutes of Tuesday’s semifinal, and won, 3-0.

The game started tense, close and physical, with neither side getting consistent penetration, and like so many times before, it changed in an instant, with Messi involved.

A long lead pass down the middle of the field found Alvarez one-on-one on goal vs. Croatian keeper Dominik Livakovic in the 32nd minute. Alvarez’s pop-up shot was cleared by defender Dejan Lovren, but Livakovic clobbered Alvarez with his right leg, bringing him down for a clear foul, a yellow card and a penalty.

The penalty taker, of course, was Messi and he buried the shot with a left-footed missile into the top right corner of the net for a 1-0 lead in the 34th. It was Messi’s fifth goal of the tournament and his 23rd penalty conversion for his country in 28 tries.

Alvarez, however, wasn’t done and in the 39th, he got the ball in space just behind the midfield line and took off. He dribbled the length of the field, running straight for goal and with defender Nahuel Molina cutting in front of him – and taking the attention of two defenders – Alvarez sent a shot that deflected off defender Josip Juranovic, came back to Alvarez, then off defender Borna Sosa, bounced up to Alvarez again and he right-footed it into the goal for a 2-0 lead. It’s the first time Croatia has given up more than a single goal in a game in the tournament.

Croatia had 62% of the possession, but Argentina led, 5-4, on shots and four on goal to none. And it could have been worse, with midfielder Alexis Mac Allister’s header in the 42nd barely saved by Livakovic.

Argentina applied more pressure in the second half, with some good chances, and Croatia had a look at goal in the 62nd off a header from Lovren.

But the issue was fully decided in the 69th, as Messi dribbled down the right side, spun defender Josko Gvardiol around, turned the corner and then crossed the ball to the center of the field where it was met by Alvarez, who finished into the right side of the net. 3-0; game over.

The Croatians ended with 61% of possession and had a 12-7 edge on shots, but the Argentines had seven shots on goal – with three in the net – to two. Messi is now even with France’s Kylian Mbappe as the tournament’s top scorer with five goals.

Argentina is on to its sixth World Cup final, having won in 1978 and 1986.

The second semi pits defending champion France against the surprise of the tournament, Morocco, at the Al Bayt Stadium at 10 p.m. local time on Tuesday, or 2 p.m. Eastern time in the U.S. The build-up:

France (4-1):
● Defeated Australia, 4-1
● Defeated Denmark, 2-1
● Lost to Tunisia, 1-0 (1st in Group D)
● Defeated Poland, 3-1
● Defeated England, 2-1

Morocco (4-0-1):
● Tied Croatia, 0-0
● Defeated Belgium 2-0
● Defeated Canada, 2-1 (1st in Group F)
● Defeated Spain, 0-0 (3-0 penalty kicks)
● Defeated Portugal, 1-0

It’s the first time that an African team – or an Arab team for that matter – has made it to the World Cup semis. As with Argentina and Croatia, the match features the sensational French offense – keyed by World Cup co-scoring leader Mbappe (five goals) – against Morocco’s defense, and its speedy counter attacks which have given its opponents fits:

France in 5 matches:
● 11-5 on goals, 78-47 on shots, 55% possession

Morocco in 5 matches:
● 5-1 on goals, 39-45 on shots, 39% possession

The one goal Morocco has given up was an own goal under pressure from Canada in the first half of its final group-stage game. So, it has not conceded a second-half goal at all across five matches, and with its counter-attacking style, has fewer total shots than its opponents (39-45), it has more shots-on-goal: 13-9.

The French are looking for their fourth World Cup final after wins in 1998 and 2018, and a 1-0 loss to Italy in 2006. No one has successfully defended a World Cup title since Brazil in 1958 and 1962, and France has never faced Morocco in a World Cup match. They have been on offense throughout the tournament – except for the Tunisia match, when many starters were rested – out-scoring opponents 4-1 in the first halves and 7-4 in the second halves. And five of its goals came after the 70-minute mark.

There is also a historical backdrop to this game, as Morocco was a French “protectorate” – colony – from 1912-56. France, using mostly backups, already lost in Qatar to another prior “protectorate” in Tunisia, which it ruled from 1881-1956.

2.
U.S. World Cup playoff broadcast ratings up 84%!

American viewers are paying much closer attention to the elimination rounds of the FIFA World Cup compared to the group stage.

Nielsen figures for English-language telecasts on FOX and broadcast and streaming totals for Telemundo’s Spanish-language coverage for the round-of-16 and quarterfinal matches averaged 8.65 million viewers combined, a sterling 83.7% higher than for the group-stage combined average of 4.71 million.

The U.S.-Netherlands match on 03 December attracted a combined audience of 16.875 million, second only to the U.S.-England match (20.146 million) on the post-Thanksgiving Friday. But even after the U.S. was eliminated, audiences stayed strong for the quarters:

● 13.775 million for France-England on 10 December;
● 11.140 million for Argentina-Netherlands on 9 December;
● 9.124 million for Morocco-Portugal on 10 December;
● 7.581 million for Croatia-Brazil on 9 December.

It helps to have the English-language matches on FOX rather than FS1; the over-the-air rating have been about double what the cable channel draws.

By comparison, the France-England match approached the weekend NFL ratings, which were led by the CBS and FOX early-window games at 31.473 million combined, then the FOX late-window games at 24.028 million and NBC’s Sunday Night Football at 15.757 million. The ESPN Monday Night Football match-up of New Orleans and Tampa Bay drew 11.273 million.

3.
Russian national gymnastics coach lies about USA Gymnastics stance

An astonishing headline in the English-language service of the Russian news agency TASS read:

“Russian coach says USA Gymnastics backs participation of Russia’s athletes in tournaments”

The sub-head declared:

“’It’s becoming ever more obvious to all figures in the world of sports that the merit of the Olympics will diminish significantly if the strongest athletes don’t show for the competitions,’ Valentina Rodionenko noted”

Then the story, which included three startlingly false paragraphs at the start:

“MOSCOW, December 12. /TASS/. Russia’s head gymnastics coach Valentina Rodionenko on Monday said USA Gymnastics supports allowing Russian athletes to participate in international competitions.

“She made the comment after United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Chairwoman Susanne Lyons said on Monday that Russian and Belarusian athletes should be allowed at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris under a neutral status.

“‘USA Gymnastics from the start was in favor of us taking part in international competitions,’ Rodionenko told TASS. ‘They thought and now think that our absence sets world gymnastics back. Now we see that people from the US Olympic committee, who aren’t involved in politics, are in solidarity with the gymnasts.

“’It’s becoming ever more obvious to all figures in the world of sports that the merit of the Olympics will diminish significantly if the strongest athletes don’t show for the competitions. The countries that are Russia’s rivals in sports are also interested in our participation. We have a lot to offer, and I’m not talking just about artistic gymnastics,’ she said.”

A USA Gymnastics spokesperson responded Tuesday that “USA Gymnastics has made no such statement and has taken no position regarding the participation of Russian athletes.”

As for U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee Board Chair Susanne Lyons, she never at any time during Monday’s news conference that Russia and Belarus should be allowed to compete at the Paris 2024 Games under any conditions, including neutrality. What Lyons did say was that the talks at the Olympic Summit were only conceptual. And she was clear about Russia:

“Russia has shown, I think, time and again, that they are not necessarily always following the rules that we would like to see followed, so the decisions that the Summit made this weekend are really not about allowing Russia or Belarus – the countries – to participate again. There was a lot of discussion about whether athletes who happen to have been born in those countries, and have passports from those countries, have a pathway whereby they can compete as clean [from doping] and neutral athletes going forward.

“And I think there is a fair amount of desire over time for that to be able to happen because our mission is to bring the world together in peace through sport. So prohibiting individual athletes from competing, from having the right to compete, is hard for the Movement to tolerate. At the same time, that doesn’t mean that people are in any way ready to forgive and forget some of the past behavior from Russia.

“So the discussion was not about lifting any sanctions whatsoever from Russia or Belarus; those sanctions remain firmly in place, and as a reminder, those sanctions include not having any competitions in those countries, and if those athletes were to return as neutrals, there could be no display of flags, of anthems, no national colors nor country name for any participating athletes.”

The false reporting in Russia of Lyons’ comments about the Olympic Summit discussions and not about the USOPC’s position, extended to four-time Olympic Biathlon relay gold medalist (1968-80) Alexander Tikhonov, who told TASS:

“They’re proposing participation without the flag.

“If I was deciding this question, I would think it over, there is time until 2024, but without our own flag we will be humiliated, the whole world can laugh at us. If they take such a step, they understand that there is no competition without Russia, the interest of the press and TV is falling. But we still have a year and a half before the Olympics, and they want to humiliate us beforehand.”

Observed: This is the more of the current Russian internal theme of “we’re so important, the sports world can’t do without us.” No word on whether Tikhonov, now 75 and who was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in 2007 (but received immediate amnesty), had taken (or passed) a doping test prior to his interview.

4.
IOC ends 50-year ban on Vince Matthews, but nothing more

“We can confirm that the IOC will accept any accreditation request from the USOPC for Vince Matthews for any future Olympic Games.”

That’s the message from the International Olympic Committee about the quiet-as-possible removal of a lifetime ban on two-time Olympic gold medalist Mathews, who was at the center of a largely-forgotten protest on the awards stand at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.

American Wayne Collett had won the Olympic Trials men’s 400 m and was the favorite coming into the Games in the men’s 400 m, ahead of former UCLA teammate John Smith and Mathews. Smith suffered an hamstring injury three weeks prior to the Games and did not finish in the final. Collett, in lane three, saw Smith pull up in lane six and was affected, and Matthews – in lane two – was running the race of his life and finished with a lifetime best of 44.66 and the gold medal.

Collett, as he recalled years later, “woke up” around the final turn and surged for silver in 44.80 with Kenyan Julius Sang third. On the podium, Matthews and Collett stood together on the top step, casually, chatting during the playing of the national anthem.

There were jeers and whistling, and Matthews told Garry Hill of Track & Field News afterwards, “It’s hard for Wayne or I to come to a thing like the Olympic Games, whether it’s in Germany, Greece or on the moon and forget about the conditions we left at home. … No, it wasn’t really a protest. Most protests are planned. The thing with Wayne and I, we just got up there and it was more or less a spontaneous thing.”

Said Collett, who later was the competition manager for wrestling with the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee for the 1984 Games, “I think maybe the white people, or the establishment, or whatever you want to call them, have a very casual attitude towards the blacks. They don’t seem to care too much about us unless we make a little bit of noise and embarrass them.” Both were banned for life by the IOC after the Munich medal ceremony, losing a chance at a second gold in the 4×400 m.

While the raised-fist salute by Tommie Smith and John Carlos on the men’s 200 m victory stand in Mexico City in 1968 has become iconic, Matthews and Collett have been largely forgotten. But not by Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees chief Brian Lewis (TTO), who wrote letters and lobbied continuously to have Matthews’ ban rescinded; Collett passed away from cancer in 2010, at age 60.

Lewis said in an interview, he viewed the IOC’s accession to re-admitting Matthews, but noted, “They haven’t explicitly said the ban has been lifted but what they have said, you can draw your conclusions from that … [I am] mindful that the IOC and Olympic Movement is a complex network of stakeholders that in their consideration would have to take on board the legal advice etc.”

Why did he pursue the matter?

“It was an injustice. It was glaring. I wondered why USA Track and Field, United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee did not take it up, but I can’t answer that. I can’t speak for people.

“I would hope or believe that if it were a Caribbean athlete, somebody would pick up the cause.”

There is no doubt that Lewis will.

5.
U.S. 400 m star Randolph Ross suspended for three years

The Athletics Integrity Unit announced Tuesday a three-year suspension of American 400 m star Randolph Ross, the 2021 world leader at 43.85 and a gold medalist on the U.S. 4×400 m relay in Tokyo:

“This is the outcome of the Case Resolution Agreement which the AIU and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) have reached with Ross after the 21-year-old admitted the ADRVs under Rule 2.4 (three Whereabouts Failures in a 12-month period) and under Rule 2.5 (Tampering or Attempted Tampering with any part of Doping Control by an Athlete) of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules. …

“Ross admitted to AIU representatives that he altered a system-generated email (confirming an apparent update to his Whereabouts information for the relevant period) to try and avoid a third Whereabouts Failure within a 12-month period. This third potential Whereabouts Failure took place on 18 June 2022.”

Ross won his second straight NCAA men’s 400 m title on 10 June 2022 in a seasonal best of 44.13, then qualified for the U.S. team at the 2022 World Championships with a third-place finish at the USATF nationals on 25 June, in what turned out to be his last race of the year.

He was not available for an out-of-competition test on 18 June, his third “whereabouts” failure since April (!), triggering a provisional suspension. His results from 18 June on – at the USATF nationals – have been nullified and he is suspended until 1 July 2025.

In a lengthy interview with Track & Field News, Ross said his planned move for a senior season at Tennessee – where his father, Duane, is now the coach – is probably off and he plans to finish his finance degree at North Carolina A&T and get a realtor’s license. And as for the suspension:

“Might be better off for me in the long run. I finally get a chance to sit down. I mean these past 2-3 years have been indoor collegiate, outdoor collegiate, then post-collegiate for the Worlds, the Olympics. Basically it’s been non-stop running for the past 2-3 years. This would be a good time to shut it down, take a break, and then by the time we do get back, I’ll be 24. So that’s like the prime age for runners? Then we’ll be ready to go and we’re already running 43 now, so we’ll just wait to see what happens then.”

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Swimming ● The first day of the 16th FINA World 25 m Championships in Melbourne (AUS) got off to a hot start on Tuesday with two world 25 m records in relays and two wins for the swimming-made host country.

The first world mark came in the women’s 4×100 m Free, with the Australian quartet of Mollie O’Callaghan, Madison Wilson, Meg Harris and Emma McKeon winning in 3:25.43, smashing the old mark by the Netherlands in 2014 (3:26.53). The U.S. was second with an American Record of 3:26.29 – also under the old world record – from Torri Huske, Kate Douglass, Claire Curzan and Erika Brown. Canada won the bronze in 3:28.06.

The men’s 4×100 m Free followed with another record-setting performance, this time for Italy, which finished in 3:02.75,erasing the U.S. mark of 3:03.03 from 2018, with Alessandro Miressi, Paolo Conte Bonin, Leonardo Deplano and Thomas Ceccon. Australia finished second in 3:04.63 and the U.S. squad of Drew Kibler, Shaine Casas, Carson Foster and Kieran Smith won bronze in 3:05.09.

Australia’s Lani Pallister won her first Worlds gold in the women’s 400 m Free, pulling away from Erika Fairweather (NZL) in the last 150 m, 3:55.04 to 3:56.00. American Leah Smith was third (3:59.78), winning her sixth short-course Worlds medal and second in this event (also a silver in 2016). Erin Gemmell of the U.S. was sixth in 4:01.82.

The U.S. went 1-2 in the women’s 200 m Medley, with Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Douglass racing to an American Record of 2:02.12, the no. 2 performance in history and just 0.26 behind the world record. Alex Walsh, the 2022 World Champion, was second in 2:03.37 and Australia’s Kaylee McKeown – the Olympic 100-200 m Back champ – was third in 2:03.57.

Rio 2016 Olympic 1,500 m Freestyle champ Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA) won that event for the second time at the short-course Worlds in 14:16.88, ahead of Damien Joly, who set a French record of 14:19.62. Norway’s Henrik Christiansen took bronze (14:24.08), with Americans Charlie Clark and David Johnston finishing seventh and eighth (14:33.93 and 14:35.27).

South Africa’s Matt Sates won the men’s 200 m Medley in 1:50.15, moving to no. 2 all-time in the event behind American Ryan Lochte’s world mark of 1:49.63. Carson Foster of the U.S. won the silver in 1:50.96, just as he did in the 2021 short-course Worlds. Canada’s Finlay Knox set a national record of 1:51.04 in third.

The meet continues through Sunday.

● Weightlifting ● Day seven of the IWF World Weightlifting Championships in Bogota (COL) saw a former Colombian lifter return to his old country and win a world title.

In the men’s 96 kg division, Lesman Paredes – who was born in Cali (COL) and won the 2021 world title at 96 kg – changed his affiliation to Bahrain and became eligible in July. He defended his championship, but for his new country, lifting a combined total of 397 kg. Kazak Nurgissa Adiletuly won silver at 383 kg and current Colombian Jhor Moreno took the bronze (380 kg).

The women’s 71 kg class saw Romania’s Loredana Toma also win a second world title, but this one was five years after her 2017 victory in Anaheim at 63 kg. In Bogota, she set a world mark for the Snatch at 119 kg and was fourth in the Clean & Jerk, but still totaled 256 kg for the gold medal. China’s Tiantian Zeng lifted 253 kg for second, with Ecuador’s Angie Palacios getting bronze at 252 kg. American Olivia Reeves was fifth (245 kg, but a bronze in the Clean & Jerk) and teammate Katherine Vibert was seventh (242 kg).

The tournament continues through Friday.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 2032: Brisbane ● The Olympic organizing committee in Australia hired American Cindy Hook as its chief executive, selected from 50 candidates.

Hook had been the head of advisory and auditing firm Deloitte’s Asia-Pacific practice and had worked in the U.S. and Australia previously. She was in Sydney from 2009 in the audit side of the practice and was the head of the company’s Australian operations before moving to Singapore. She will begin work in February.

● Olympic Winter Games 2022: Beijing ● The Court of Arbitration for Sport announced an agreement by the International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) that Germany’s Daniela Maier and Swiss Fanny Smith would share the bronze medal in the women’s Freestyle Ski Cross final.

Smith actually crossed the line in third place, but was then penalized for a foul against Maier on the run-in. The FIS Appeals Committee held up a protest by Smith – moving Maier to fourth – but the IOC had not changed the official results, with Maier as the bronze medalist.

The agreement, concurred in by the IOC, gives both women the bronze.

● Aquatics ● The new “World Aquatics” federation is the 16th international federation to use the “world” prefix, according to suoer-statistician and Olympedia co-founder Dr. Bill Mallon (USA).

In addition to the current Olympic-program federations in archery, athletics, curling, dance sport, rugby, sailing, skateboarding, taekwondo, triathlon and aquatics, there is the World Baseball Softball Confederation, World Bowling, World Croquet, World Karate, World Lacrosse, and World Squash.

Now you know.

● Athletics ● World 800 m record-holder and twice Olympic champion David Rudisha of Kenya survived a plane crash last Saturday, suffering only minor injury after the small plane with six aboard made an emergency landing shortly after take-off.

● Boxing ● The IOC has made clear that it has grave concerns, among other things, about the financial sustainability of the International Boxing Association due to its heavy financial reliance on a sponsorship of the Russian energy giant, Gazprom.

At its Congress in Abu Dhabi (UAE) last week, the IBA agreed to renew the Gazprom deal, with federation chief Umar Kremlev (RUS) bringing up the subject in his closing remarks, not as part of the regular agenda:

“Our general sponsor is Gazprom. Two years ago, we signed an agreement with them for $50 million. And this has helped us reform IBA, this has helped us settle the debts and this has helped us become independent. And thanks to this financing, we have been able to help many national federations, many athletes in participating in the world championships. This also allowed us to have prize money, both at the continental and at the world championships and also to ensure the participation of national federations that otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity to send their teams. They turned to IBA and IBA is helping them to participate in the championships, that is thanks to our general sponsor.

“I would like to ask you the question. This year, the contract runs out; the contract was signed for two years. National federations, do you agree to extend the contract with our general sponsor, so that we would be able to continue helping? I want you hear your opinion.

“Do we have anyone who is against that? Is everyone for this? Does everyone agree to extend the contract with Gazprom? Why am I asking you? Because I only do what the boxers tell me to, what you will tell me. The most important thing for me is what your opinion is about the development of our international association, because you are the ones developing boxing. It is thanks to you that the international association exists and I want to agree [that] all my actions with you, for you to express your opinions, for us to hear you out, so that all the decisions are made with you as one boxing family.”

There was no reply other than applause from the audience.

Earlier in the presentation, the IBA balance sheet as of 30 June 2022 showed reserves of CHF 4.47 million and CHF 23.64 million in total assets. The presentation on sponsorship and marketing showed on Gazprom and the newly-signed equipment sponsor Sting from Australia. IBA targets for sponsorship were shown in the categories of automotive, energy drinks and time keeping. A ring supplier is also desired.

But it appears that Gazprom is in for $25 million a year, for at least some additional years, regardless of the IOC’s opinion.

● Figure Skating ● Although scheduled against NFL games at 4 p.m. Eastern time, the ISU Grand Prix Final in Turin last Sunday (11th) maintained its usual audience on Sunday, drawing 796,000 viewers on NBC, right in line with the viewing totals from each of the highlight shows from each of the prior Grand Prix events.

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TSX REPORT: USOPC’s Lyons says long path ahead for any Russian return; Argentina vs. Croatia in World Cup semi; FINA morphs into “World Aquatics”

By
Rich Perelman
-
Out with the old (FINA) and in with the new: World Aquatics.

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

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. USOPC Chair Lyons says only talks planned, no quick Russian return
2. Paris 2024 board approves revised €4.38 billion budget
3. First World Cup semi pits Argentina vs. Croatia Tuesday
4. FINA Congress changes name to World Aquatics
5. USATF office overrides Board choice of marathon trials site

U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee Chair Susanne Lyons told reporters on Monday that the International Olympic Committee is looking for a pathway to return Russian and Belarusian athletes to competition, but strictly as “neutral” athletes who have been adequately tested for doping and who wear no identification or colors of their country. But she noted that the process is only in the talking stages now and that the IOC wants only to re-admit athletes “who had not actively supported the conflict.” The Paris 2024 organizing committee board of directors approved an increase in the budget to €4.38 billion (about $4.62 billion U.S.) as expected, thanks to increased revenue expectations from sponsors and ticketing, but also money from governments for the Paralympic Games, sports and anti-doping lab equipment. Tuesday will see the first FIFA World Cup semifinal, matching Argentina’s offense – including star Lionel Messi – against Croatia’s dogged defense. The FINA Congress, meeting in extraordinary session in Melbourne, Australia, approved a change-of-name of the organization to World Aquatics. Runner’s World reported that the USA Track & Field National Office selected Orlando, Florida as the site for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, setting aside the recommendation of its own Board for Chattanooga, Tennessee, the second time in the last three editions the headquarters had ignored membership or Board recommendations.

1.
USOPC Chair Lyons says only talks planned,
no quick Russian return

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee held its last Board meeting of the year last week and Chair Susanne Lyons and chief executive Sarah Hirshland briefed reporters on Monday morning. But most of the questions were about Lyons’ attendance at the Olympic Summit in Lausanne last Friday, and the resulting Declaration that outlined a possible way back to competition for Russian and Belarusian athletes through events in Asia rather than Europe.

Lyons, however, tried to emphasize that immediate action was not the goal:

“[W]hat the Summit unanimously agreed to was to allow the [International Olympic Committee] to have dialogue, and to have some consultation with all key stakeholders to see how, when, if, that could happen. …

“I think the conversation was really more the conceptual level of, what is, first of all, our role as a Movement. We have always said that our role is to engender peace through unity in sport and there are conflicts – most of them not as egregious as the one currently happening in Ukraine – but there are conflicts around the world every day. There are countries at war every day. And if people begin to kind of decide that they want to boycott things, to do a tit-for-tat – you didn’t come to our Games, so we’re not going to come to your Games – very quickly, the whole fabric of the Olympic and Paralympic Movement falls apart.

“And that’s really what the nature of the conversations were. How do we find a way to begin to find a path to reunification, not necessarily by welcoming the countries back in, but by finding a way for their athletes to participate as clean and neutral athletes.

“But that really was the nature of the conversation. There was absolutely regard and understanding and sympathy for the situation that continues in Ukraine and a lot of unhappiness and anger toward those who have perpetrated that. But at the same time, we don’t want to hold the individual athletes accountable for the actions of their governments.”

Although the discussion was about the concept of a return to competition, the issue remains Russia and its ally, Belarus. Lyons explained:

“So, Russia has shown, I think, time and again, that they are not necessarily always following the rules that we would like to see followed, so the decisions that the Summit made this weekend are really not about allowing Russia or Belarus – the countries – to participate again. There was a lot of discussion about whether athletes who happen to have been born in those countries, and have passports from those countries, have a pathway whereby they can compete as clean [from doping] and neutral athletes going forward.

“And I think there is a fair amount of desire over time for that to be able to happen because our mission is to bring the world together in peace through sport. So prohibiting individual athletes from competing, from having the right to compete, is hard for the Movement to tolerate. At the same time, that doesn’t mean that people are in any way ready to forgive and forget some of the past behavior from Russia.

“So the discussion was not about lifting any sanctions whatsoever from Russia or Belarus; those sanctions remain firmly in place, and as a reminder, those sanctions include not having any competitions in those countries, and if those athletes were to return as neutrals, there could be no display of flags, of anthems, no national colors nor country name for any participating athletes.

“Now you may remember, that was a little loosey-goosey last time [allowing ‘Olympic Athletes from Russia’ at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games], and I think everyone at the Olympic Summit was very clear that there’s only a pathway back for these individual athletes if they are competing as clean and neutral in every possible way.”

And Lyons acknowledged the difficult task for the IOC and its stakeholders not to make a mockery of the sanctions as Russia’s war against Ukraine continues:

“In the past, when they competed as ‘neutrals,’ it was still with the same colors, it still had the word ‘Russia’ in it, there was absolute agreement in the room this would have to be strict neutrality; what that would be, I don’t know, but it could not include – the sanctions are very specific – it can’t be the colors, it can’t be the name of the country. So I think a stricter neutrality would have to be maintained.

“They also talked about the athletes have to have – this is going to be impossible to figure out how they would monitor it – but the athletes are supposed to have, you know, on their own, not have been supporting the actions of their government in terms of their offense against Ukraine.

“So, that was discussed; I don’t know how they could possibly really know whether an athlete is or is not supportive of their government actions, but there was at least an agreement that they would want to have athletes who had not actively supported the conflict.”

Hirshland noted that the USOPC is continuing to monitor the situations of the Kamila Valieva (RUS) doping case now in front of the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the IOC Executive Board’s announcement of the revised process for the selection of a 2030 Winter Games host:

● “It is so important that the figure skating Team Event athletes who competed in Beijing get the resolution they deserve. Recall we still have a wildly successful team of athletes who have not yet been awarded a medal and while they aren’t sure what color that medal will be, we have their backs, we’re anxiously awaiting for the day when they get those medals and the celebration that comes with it. They are top-of-mind for us, every day.”

● “We came out of that [Winter Games] news, and the announcements from the Executive Board meeting incredibly, incredibly encouraged. As you know, we have been working quite closely with the Salt Lake City-Utah organization for the Games and I think we all, collectively, had a smile on our faces as we came out of that news.

“Salt Lake and the Utah region is so well positioned to be considered, long-term and over not just looking at ‘30 and ‘34, but even longer than that. It is a region and a part of the country here that will always be ready to host these Games. So we’re excited about that, we’re encouraged by the news. We have and will continue to remain flexible and nimble and adaptive, as the IOC modifies its timelines and schedules, but as Salt Lake and the Utah folks would tell you, that Salt Lake is ready, and we too at the USOPC are ready and eager and feel incredibly encouraged and confident about what’s in store for us on the Winter Games front.”

Hirshland also noted that the Commission on the State of the U.S. Olympics and Paralympics actually had its first meeting last Friday (9th) and is ramping up for its work in 2023.

For Lyons, it was her last USOPC Board meeting as she prepares to leave 12 years of service as a Board member and as the interim chief executive between the exit of Scott Blackmun and the hiring of Hirshland. Gene Sykes, who was the chief executive of the LA28 bid effort, takes over as the new USOPC Chair on 1 January.

2.
Paris 2024 board approves revised €4.38 billion budget

As expected, the Paris 2024 Board of Directors approved the third edition of the organizing committee’s budget at €4.38 billion (~$4.616 billion U.S. today) to correspond with rising costs, but also with some expansion in available revenue.

The budget adopted in 2020 was for €3.9 billion; the revenue comparisons:

● IOC contribution: €1.219 billion in 2020; €1.238 billion now (+1.6%)
● Sponsorships: €1.088 billion in 2020; €1.226 billion now (+12.7%)
● Ticketing: €1.165 billion in 2020; €1.423 billion now (+22.1%)
● Licensing: €127 million in 2020; €130 million now (+2.4%)
● Government: €100 million in 2020; €171 million now (+17.1%)
● Other: €204 million in 2020; €193 million now (-5.4%)

The added revenues in sponsorships and ticketing have allowed an increase in security funding of €35 million, with the contingency funding maintained at €200 million. The organizers met their goal of having 80% of the originally targeted sponsorship total contracted by the end of 2022.

Some of the increases due to inflation and supply-chain issues were met by increased public funding for the Paralympic Games – from €100 million to €171 million – and €40 million of Games “legacy” costs will be taken up by the national and Paris-region governments to cover sports equipment, anti-doping lab equipment and other projects.

3.
First World Cup semi pits Argentina vs. Croatia Tuesday

Now down to the final four, the first semifinal of the 2022 FIFA World Cup has two-time champion Argentina facing 2018 runner-up Croatia at the Lusail Iconic Stadium at 10 p.m. local time on Tuesday, or 2 p.m. Eastern time in the U.S. How they got here:

Argentina (4-1):
● Lost to Saudi Arabia, 2-1
● Defeated Mexico, 2-0
● Defeated Poland, 2-0 (Won Group C)
● Defeated Australia, 2-1
● Defeated Netherlands, 2-2 (4-2 penalty kicks)

Croatia (3-0-2):
● Tied Morocco, 0-0
● Defeated Canada, 4-1
● Tied Belgium, 0-0 (2nd in Group F)
● Defeated Japan, 1-1 (3-1 penalty kicks)
● Defeated Brazil, 1-1 (4-2 penalty kicks)

Argentina should be used to the Lusail Stadium by now; this will be the third time it has played there, vs. none for Croatia. If the first five games are any guide, the match will be played with Argentina’s offense testing Croatia’s rock-solid defense:

Argentina in 5 matches:
● 9-5 on goals, 71-22 on shots, 62% possession

Croatia in 5 matches:
● 6-3 on goals, 55-66 on shots, 46% possession

Croatia will also have no trouble defending and then going to penalty kicks; in their World Cup history, the team is 4-0, beating Denmark and Russia in 2018 and then Japan and Brazil in Qatar. Argentina is almost as good, at 5-1 all-time in World Cup games decided by penalties.

And look for late strikes from Croatia, which has scored three of its six goals from the 70-minute mark onwards; Argentina has been outscored, 3-2, in late goals in its five games.

The teams have met twice at the World Cup before: a 1-0 win for Argentina in 1998 in group-stage play and a 3-0 Croatia win in the group stage in 2018.

Argentina star striker Lionel Messi now ranks equal-8th all-time in World Cup scoring with 10 total goals (in 24 appearances) and four in this tournament; he has scored in five different World Cups. Midfielder Andrej Kramaric leads Croatia with two goals, both against Canada.

The sharpies have the odds at -128 for Argentina (stake $100 to win $128), while Croatia is +375, a big underdog … just the way they like it.

Defending champion France will face Morocco in the second semi on Wednesday, with the final coming on Sunday (18th).

The International Sports Journalists Association (AIPS) Web site noted a third media death during the World Cup in Qatar, this time Qatari photographer Khalid al-Misslam, 44, of Al-Kass Television “passed away suddenly” – apparently from a heart attack – on Sunday, according to his employer Alkass, the eight-channel Qatar sports network.

American Grant Wahl passed away on Friday and Britain’s ITV Technical Director, Roger Pearce, 65, also died in November, in Qatar for the World Cup.

Wahl’s body was returned to the U.S. on Monday and State Department spokesperson Ned Price said an autopsy would be performed to determine the cause of death.

FIFA reported that all World Cup players were tested for doping at least once prior to the tournament, with 2,846 conducted since January, and “every player in the squads of the eight quarter-finalists being tested on average four and a half times since January 2022.”

FIFA itself has carried out 1,433 tests, including 369 in Qatar during the tournament so far.

Data from payments processor Visa through the group stage of the World Cup showed that 47% of spending at the event was for merchandise, 36% for food and drinks and just 11% for the few tickets that remained available.

The top match for total spending was Saudi Arabia vs. Mexico on 30 November; the match which had the highest average transaction was the U.S.-Iran match on 29 November at $29.

In addition to the “OneLove” captain’s armbands which were proposed by several European teams to wear at the Qatar World Cup, a separate proposal was being formed by Qatari officials for an armband reading – in English – “No place for Islamophobia” and featuring a Palestinian headscarf pattern.

Sky News reported, from an unnamed senior Qatari official:

“Prior to the start of the tournament, Qatar, and some of the other Muslim-majority teams, were in advanced discussions regarding whether the players could wear armbands raising awareness for the growing movement of Islamophobia.

“When the armband proposal was eventually discussed with FIFA, they were told that it violated FIFA’s rules and would not be allowed.

“The teams accepted the decision but were disappointed that an important issue such as this, which negatively impacts the millions of Muslims around the world, was not being given a platform during the first World Cup to be hosted in a Muslim-majority region.”

The other teams apparently consulted included Morocco and Saudi Arabia.

4.
FINA Congress changes name to World Aquatics

A FINA Extraordinary Congress just ahead of the World 25 m Championships in Melbourne (AUS) confirmed a new constitution for the organization that will see an Independent Aquatics Integrity Unit begin work on 1 January 2023.

Term limits were also approved, along with an expansion of the governing Bureau to add women (to now be 38% of the total).

But the big change was in the branding of the federation, as proposed by President Husain Al-Musallam (KUW):

“I can tell you that there is a strong feeling that we should change our name. FINA is our past, and we should look back to much of the past with a bright affection, but our future must begin here today.

“If we are going to have a name change, then of course – it’s a big question – what should be the new name? I always believe in listening to the experts, and we brought in Martin Group, which specialize in building brands. They suggested many different options for a new name.

“The proposed names were tested, among athletes, coaches, administrators, fans, and many others. One name has come out, clearly, on the top. This is the name that I recommended to you today. It is the name that I hope will become our new identity for the generations to come.

“So I know you are keen to find out what is this new name. The clear recommendation is that our new name should be ‘World Aquatics’.”

Aquatics now joins archery, athletics, rowing, rugby, sailing, taekwondo, triathlon, the World Baseball-Softball Confederation, World Karate and World Skate among current and recent Olympic-sport federations in using the “world” prefix before their sport names.

The new constitution, which included the name change, was approved by 175-4, with four abstentions.

The Congress also approved the financial report, which showed a 2022 forecast of a loss of $32.6 million due to the heavy cost of the 2022 World Championships, but a projected surplus of $6.66 million in 2023 and $36.75 million in 2024 due to an expected $36.00 million share of the IOC’s television revenues from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Athlete and federation financial support is going up and is projected at $170 million over the eight years of 2016-24, up to $12.28 million for 2024. Reserves totaled $101.52 million at the end of 2021, with a projection to reach $125 million in 2024.

The new branding program will be rolled out in stages, expected to be fully implemented by the middle of 2023.

5.
USATF office overrides Board choice of marathon trials site

A Runner’s World story posted Monday notes that the 9 October 2022 minutes of the USA Track & Field Board of Directors included an “advisory vote” to recommend the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials be awarded to Chattanooga, Tennessee, but “Final approval still remains with the USATF National Office” as required by USATF regulations.

On 8 November, however, it was announced that the Trials will be going to Orlando, Florida.

This is the second time in the last three editions that the USATF National Office has selected a site other than that proposed to it by either the Long Distance Running Committees or the USATF Board of Directors. The 2016 event was recommended to go to Houston, but Los Angeles was chosen instead and ended with a hot and difficult race that was poorly attended in the downtown area.

The selection event for 2020 went to Atlanta, which received high marks for organization and for efforts to deal with projected heat and humidity.

A question about the decision was raised by reporter Sarah Lorge Butler, and she was referred to USATF Board Chair Mike Conley, who sent back an e-mailed reply that included

“The USOPC is looking into the matter and until I hear back from them I have no comment.”

The USOPC actually owns the rights to the “Olympic Trials” name by federal law and must approve site designations by national governing bodies. Moving sites is hardly new; in addition to the marathon race moves, the track & field selection meet for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games was originally given to Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California, but later rescinded and handed to Eugene, Oregon and the new Hayward Field (where it was held in 2021).

The Runner’s World story said that subsequent to the Board vote to recommend Chattanooga, its bid was disqualified and no one would say why.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Swimming ● The World Aquatics (!) World 25 m Swimming Championships have begun in Melbourne, Australia, with the U.S. and Australia expected to headline the medal table.

Winners from 2021 in 12 of the men’s events and 11 of the women’s events are entered:

Men:
● Freestyle: Ben Proud (GBR, 50 m), Alessandro Miressi (ITA, 100 m), Sun-woo Hwang (KOR, 200 m);

● Backstroke: Shaine Casas (USA, 100 m), Radoslaw Kawecki (POL, 200 m);

● Breaststroke: Nic Fink (USA, 50 and 200 m);

● Butterfly: Nicholas Santos (BRA, 50 m), Matteo Rivolta (ITA, 100 m), Alberto Razzetti (ITA, 200 m);

● Medley: Daiya Seto (JPN, 200 and 400 m).

Women:
● Freestyle: Siobhan Haughey (HKG, 100 and 200 m), Bingjie Li (CHN, 400 and 800 m);

● Backstroke: Maggie MacNeil (CAN, 50 m), Louise Hansson (SWE, 100 m);

● Breaststroke: Qianting Tang (CHN, 100 m);

● Butterfly: MacNeil (100 m), Yufei Zhang (CHN, 200 m);

● Medley: Sydney Pickrem (CAN, 200 m), Tessa Cieplucha (CAN, 400 m).

The prize pool is $2.16 million, with event prizes of $10,000-8,000-7,000–6,000-5,000-4,000-3,000-2,000, and a $25,000 bonus for world short-course records.

The competition will continue through Sunday.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● World Games 2022: Birmingham ● The World Anti-Doping Agency published its follow-up report from the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama.

The report noted that the event had about 3,450 athletes from 99 countries, competing in 34 sports. The budget was tight and the event ended with a considerable loss, so the total of 288 in-competition tests (8.3% of athletes) was not surprising. There were also 96 samples taken in out-of-competition tests. No doping violations were reported.

The testing itself was done by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency under contract from the International Testing Agency, with analysis at the WADA-accredited lab in Salt Lake City, Utah.

● Athletics ● The Athletics Integrity Unit announced Friday a cheating scheme in the fabrication of results:

“Following a year-long investigation, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has charged senior officials of the Albanian Athletics Federation for alleged breaches of the World Athletics’ Integrity Code of Conduct relating to the submission to World Athletics of a competition result for Albanian long jumper, Izmir Smajlaj, which contributed to him securing a universality place to participate in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.”

The specific incident was the reported 8.16 m (26-9 1/4) performance by Smajlaj, a seasonal best by four inches and a lifetime best – his first in two years – by two inches. He finished 18th in the qualifying at Tokyo, jumping 7.86 m (25-9 1/2).

World Athletics released a study report earlier this month that documented “abusive comments sent to athletes via social media” during the 2022 World Athletics Championships.

Accounts of 461 athletes – about a quarter of all the competitors in Eugene last summer – were monitored on Instagram and Twitter from 10 July to 1 August. In all, 427,764 posts were captured for analysis, with “59 targeted discriminatory posts were identified coming from 57 unique authors, with 27 of the 461 tracked athletes receiving targeted abuse.”

Almost 60% of the abuse was on Twitter and the study noted, interestingly, “Abuse tended to be driven by events outside of competition – athletes were targeted over controversies associated with athletics, but not necessarily driven by results in the stadium.”

The leading types of abuse were sexualization (29%), slurs (20%) and racism (19%). Did anything happen? Yes:

“59% of abusive posts were deemed to warrant intervention from the social platforms, with 5% considered so egregious that World Athletics is considering further sanctions against these individuals, including sending evidence and reports to national law enforcement agencies.”

● Esports ● A Bloomberg report published last week noted significant financial stress in the esports industry “as funding sources dwindle and signs abound that athletic competition via video games doesn’t have anywhere near the earning potential investors anticipated.”

Instead of quickly turning profits, professional esports projects have continued to show losses, and “after a boom five years ago, several prominent esports teams and organizations, particularly in the U.S., are contracting, the result of a broad economic downturn, a venture capital industry that’s no longer willing to accept growth without profits and a crypto meltdown that has undercut a significant source of backing.”

This has implications for the Olympic Movement, which has been drawing closer and close to the online gaming industry as a future element of the Olympic Games. The IOC will be hosting its first Olympic Esports Week in Singapore from 22-25 June 2023.

● Figure Skating ● U.S. Figure Skating announced Tracy Marek, a 19-year veteran of marketing with the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers as its new chief executive, beginning in January 2023.

She rose to be the Cavaliers’ Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, responsible for all marketing, brand and creative strategy. She’s well versed in major events, including the 2022 NBA All-Star Game, for which she led the branding, vision, community preparedness and visibility efforts.

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For our updated, 951-event International Sports Calendar for 2022-23 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Russian athlete re-entry routed through Asia; soccer writer Grant Wahl’s death in Qatar; IBA head Kremlev lambasts IOC (again)

By
Rich Perelman
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The clincher: Rio 2016 Olympic champion Kyle Snyder won the decisive match at 97 kg to give the U.S. a 6-4 win over Iran for the UWW World Cup men's Freestyle title. (Photo: UWW)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Olympic Summit foresees Russian athletes qualifying through Asia
2. U.S. soccer writer Grant Wahl dies at World Cup in Qatar
3. FIFA’s Wenger says no biennial World Cups, but more in winter!
4. IBA’s Kremlev calls IOC criticisms “P.R. for the mass media”
5. U.S. men triumph over Iran for wrestling World Cup win in Iowa

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach of Germany has said again and again that he does not think athletes should be penalized for the actions of their national governments, and that goes for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. At the IOC’s Olympic Summit in Lausanne on Friday, a discussion about Russian and Belarusian athletes led to a possible plan to have them compete in Asian qualifiers for Paris 2024 instead of Europe, where they have traditionally competed. A tragedy at the FIFA World Cup, where noted soccer writer Grant Wahl died Friday after collapsing at his press tribune seat while covering the Argentina-Netherlands quarterfinal. He was treated at his seat almost immediately and was taken to a hospital, but passed at age 48. The man who proposed the idea of a FIFA World Cup every two years, FIFA executive Arsene Wenger, now says the idea is dead, but that future World Cup in the wintertime are possible, especially if the tournament is to be played in Africa. At the International Boxing Association’s Global Boxing Forum in the UAE, federation chief Umar Kremlev ripped the IOC, saying, “we are independent. Don’t dictate things to us, don’t tell us how to live properly” and that the IOC’s criticisms of the federation are “only P.R. for the mass media.” The U.S. men’s wrestling team won an impressive 15th Freestyle World Cup victory over Iran in front of a happy home crowd in Coralville, Iowa, with Rio Olympic champion Kyle Snyder clinching the title with a victory at 97 kg.

1.
Olympic Summit foresees Russian athletes
qualifying through Asia

The International Olympic Committee convened its 11th “Olympic Summit” on Friday, with leaders of the International Federations and National Olympic Committees and a published declaration that outlines a new roadmap to bring Russian athletes back into international competition: Asia.

The third paragraph was the tip-off, notably “The vast majority of the participants agreed that the sanctions against the Russian and Belarusian states and governments, as those responsible for this blatant breach of the Olympic Truce and the Olympic Charter, must remain firmly in place.” Usually, declarations are unanimous. But with Russian Olympic Committee President Stanislav Pozdnyakov in the room, that wasn’t going to happen. Then this:

“In the course of the debate, [Randhir Singh of India] the Acting President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) stated that, on the Asian continent, the reasons for the protective measures no longer exist. The OCA offered to facilitate the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in competitions in Asia under its authority, while respecting the sanctions in place.

“Representatives from the IFs welcomed this initiative, stating that, for some IFs and for hosts of their competitions, the same reasoning would apply, and that therefore there should not be a one-size-fits-all solution, but that each IF should carefully evaluate for its sport whether the reasons for the protective measures still exist.”

IOC chief Thomas Bach (GER) said last week that Russians and Belarusians are continuing to compete as neutrals in tennis and on North American professional teams, such as in the National Hockey League; this is also true in road cycling. And in 2023, the Asian Games will be a significant qualifier for Paris 2024, and will be held in Hangzhou (CHN) from 23 September-8 October, where Russian and Belarusian athlete safety can be guaranteed by the Chinese government.

This would be a non-starter in Europe, where Ukraine is a member of the European National Olympic Committees group.

The outcome was for the idea to be explored, but with the IOC in control:

“The IOC to lead the further exploration of the OCA initiative concerning the participation of athletes who are in full respect of the Olympic Charter and the sanctions. This initiative to be discussed in the next round of IOC consultation calls with the IOC Members, the athletes’ representatives, the International Federations and the National Olympic Committees.”

Nothing is going to happen immediately, not until March at the earliest, and will depend on the situation of the war in Ukraine. But shifting Russian (and Belarusian) participation to Asia, at least for now, could solve the IOC’s angst over not allowing athletes to compete, while the Russian and Belarusian states are penalized by not having events there, or team identification.

The Ukrainians were, of course, furious. Reacting to Bach’s comments after the IOC Executive Board meetings last week – and re-stated in the declaration – Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted last Thursday:

“Since February, Russia has killed 184 Ukrainian athletes. And now Mr. Bach is quoting Emmanuel Macron as allegedly saying “sports should not be politicized” and athletes from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus should be treated equally. Using sports to whitewash war crimes is sickening.”

2.
U.S. soccer writer Grant Wahl dies at World Cup in Qatar

An unbelievably sad incident at the 2022 World Cup, as long-time Sports Illustrated and independent soccer writer Grant Wahl passed away while covering the Argentina-Netherlands quarterfinal on Friday (9th).

Wahl, just 49, had been covering his eighth World Cup when he was stricken near the end of the match:

“Yahoo Sports soccer reporter Henry Bushnell was present at Friday’s Argentina-Netherlands match and observed Wahl seemingly unconscious in his press box seat during extra time at Lusail Stadium. Medics worked on Wahl for approximately a half-hour before taking him out on a stretcher.”

Martin Mazur (ARG), writing on the AIPS Web site, reported:

“It took a matter of seconds, less than 30, for paramedics to come. The chairs of the media desks were immediately removed by other journalists, to give doctors space to work. Soon there was a stretcher ready for evac and an intravenous drip was placed next to his desk. While the game was on extra time, paramedics were there trying to save his life. More of them kept coming.”

The Qatar 2022 organizers said:

“He fell ill in the Lusail Stadium media tribune, during last night’s quarter-final match between Argentina v Netherlands. He received immediate emergency medical treatment on site, which continued as he was transferred by ambulance to Hamad General Hospital. …

“We are in touch with the US Embassy and relevant local authorities to ensure the process of repatriating his body is in accordance’s with the family’s wishes.”

Wahl had written about being under stress on his Substack newsletter just days prior:

“My body finally broke down on me. Three weeks of little sleep, high stress and lots of work can do that to you.

“What had been a cold over the last 10 days turned into something more severe on the night of the USA-Netherlands game, and I could feel my upper chest take on a new level of pressure and discomfort.

“I didn’t have Covid (I test regularly here), but I went into the medical clinic at the main media center today, and they said I probably have bronchitis. They gave me a course of antibiotics and some heavy-duty cough syrup, and I’m already feeling a bit better just a few hours later. But still: No bueno.”

His wife, Dr. Celine Gounder, tweeted:

“I am so thankful for the support of my husband @GrantWahl’s soccer family & of so many friends who’ve reached out tonight.

“I’m in complete shock.”

He joined Sports Illustrated in 1996 and wrote for the magazine for 24 years, covering soccer, of course, but also famously profiled then-Akron (Oh.) St. Vincent-St. Mary High junior LeBron James in “The Chosen One” in 2002.

He left the magazine in 2020 and set up his own newsletter, Futbol with Grant Wahl, and had already been a center of attention early in the tournament, when he was detained by security personnel when he entered the 21 November Wales vs. U.S. match wearing a T-shirt with a soccer ball surrounded by concentric circles in rainbow colors, in support of LBGTQ rights; he was eventually released and received apologies from the organizing committee and FIFA.

Yahoo! News reported on an Instagram post from Wahl’s brother Eric, who claimed “My brother was healthy. He told me he received death threats. I do not believe my brother just died. I believe he was killed. And I just beg for any help.”

Observed: Wahl’s death is a tragedy, but also a reminder that media coming to cover major events like the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games, are not there for a vacation. He was writing on his Substack site multiple times a day and doing a podcast every other day and that’s a heavy workload, away from home in a strange time zone, room, food and so on. He passed while doing his life’s work, but it may have been too much of a good thing.

But in a time of imploding media institutions, that’s the life of an independent journalist, working to keep his $60-a-year subscribers happy. It’s not easy, not easy at all.

3.
FIFA’s Wenger says no biennial World Cups, but more in winter!

The concept of an every-two-years FIFA World Cup is dead, according to its primary proponent, former Arsenal manager and FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, Arsene Wenger (FRA).

Speaking to the French all-sports daily L’Equipe – where he pitched the idea of a biennial World Cup in October of 2021 – Wenger explained:

“I had been asked to think about it and I thought it was not a bad idea. But such a development required a complete review of the qualifying calendar.

“We are not heading towards that today, rather towards four-year cycles alternating with a World Cup, the Women’s World Cup, which is becoming more and more important, the Euros and the Club World Cup, which will be inevitable.”

Wenger also noted that the placement of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in the winter may be repeated in the future:

“If we want to democratize football, we will have to go to African countries where it is impossible to play a World Cup in the summer.

“We can see it with this edition in Qatar, a World Cup in the winter works.

“Of course, many players did not have the usual time to prepare physically but at least they all approached this competition with real mental freshness, which has not always been the case in the past. I remember teams starting a World Cup psychologically tired because their preparation period had gone badly.”

4.
IBA’s Kremlev calls IOC criticisms “P.R. for the mass media”

The third Global Boxing Forum, presented by the International Boxing Association, was held with more than 250 delegates assembled in Abu Dhabi (UAE). As promised, one of the main themes of the event was the return of boxing to the Olympic program in 2028, as it was not included in the LA28 initial sports program by the IOC.

Olympic silver medalist and multi-time pro champion Roy Jones, Jr., a dual U.S. and Russian citizen, talked about the pro-IBA protest he led in front of the IOC headquarters in Lausanne this past week:

“I knocked on the door at the Olympic House, and they opened it to me. They invited me in and talked to me, and I am grateful for that. Having said that, I just want the IOC to understand that boxers and IBA are inseparable, and if they support the boxers, as they claim, they have to support IBA.”

In the post-Forum news conference, Kremlev was asked at length about boxing’s Olympic situation vis-a-vis the IOC, and he had a lot to say; highlights (per the interpreter on the IBA’s video feed):

● “We respect the International Olympic Committee. We respect their opinion and the recommendations that they provided us. We have executed them, pretty much 100% of the recommendations have been implemented, as far as finance, refereeing and judging are concerned. Of course, there are still things to work on.”

● “We have hundreds of millions of people that we represent. These hundreds of millions of people will go there. They will follow Roy Jones, they will follow [Coaches Commission chair] Gabriele [Martelli (MLT)] and we are ready for that. … And I am really thankful to the boxers from around the world , and the coaches for uniting in millions, hundreds of millions of them are ready to actually go to Lausanne, and next year, we might just see that.”

● “What does the Olympic Charter exist for? To protect athletes, not to dictate to international associations how to live. Currently, IBA engaged independent sponsors. They are working, they are helping boxers, they’re handing out prize money. We should support such international associations and the International Olympic Committee is just an association like ourselves. We don’t report to anyone. We’re independent. And everyone must understand that.”

● “I guess there some people in the top echelons of the International Olympic Committee, some officials, that are bringing this [mis] information, maybe there are people like that. Again, I am not prepared to accuse anyone of anything, but taking facts into account, it sure looks like that.

“Because the recommendations that were provided by the International Olympic Committee, in two years, we have executed all the recommendations: about refereeing, about reforms, we have renewed the entire management, so the entire board of directors was renewed. All the people are new, they have nothing to do with the past, and at the same time, we have boxers in the board of directors, because I always say that boxing should be managed by boxers. [Former AIBA head] C.K. Wu [TPE] was a non-boxer, and he didn’t know how to do it.”

● “And I would also like to say to the International Olympic Committee that they have no right – I mean, they can issue recommendations to us – but they have no right to dictate to us how to live. Not a single other organization should interfere or meddle in the business of our association. Every country has its own culture, right? If another country meddles in the culture of the other country, says ‘this is not the right way to live, you have to live this way’, that would be incorrect, right? Because every country is independent, and we are independent. The International Boxing Association, we are independent. Don’t dictate things to us, don’t tell us how to live properly.”

● “I am confident that in the nearest future, they [the IOC] will make the correct decision, I am talking about the IOC, and these unclear accusations will simply cease. And that’s the same accusations that never change, they are the same. I think it’s only P.R. for the mass media.

“That’s it, there are no facts. So the General Secretary [IOC Director General Christophe de Kepper (BEL)] today, or actually yesterday, I think, they sent a letter with a request to tell us what exactly they don’t like. We’re saying, we do we need to deal with some public statements and declarations? Let’s meet and let’s create a group. We are open. Why don’t you come to us, or we will come to you, tell us who we need to work with and we will work with them, and everything will be corrected together.”

● “I am confident that all the national federations and all the boxers will support us and together, we will move forward and boxing will be represented at the Olympics and we will be defending that together. I have no doubt about that.

“And I really don’t think anyone would dare to violate this wonderful sport, boxing. Boxing is the king of sports. The Olympics started with boxing. The history of the Olympics is all about boxing. And what the international association does is their business.”

On Sunday, there was an IBA Ordinary Congress held in Abu Dhabi, where the assembly of 112 delegates – 85 in person and 27 online – voted to declare ex-president Wu persona non grata at the IBA.

Canadian law professor Richard McLaren, who had led an investigation of the problems under AIBA, told the Congress, “IBA is changing significantly, there’s been observable progress within the organization.”

In contravention of the IOC’s sanctions, amendments to the IBA Constitution were approved that, among other things, allow athletes affiliated with a suspended national federation to compete, and under their national flag and anthem, but without any symbols of the suspended federation.

Whether any of this will satisfy the IOC remains to be seen.

5.
U.S. men triumph over Iran for wrestling World Cup win in Iowa

There was another national-team World Cup taking place over the weekend, but in the U.S. instead of Qatar. The UWW World Cup for men’s and women’s Freestyle was on in Coralville, Iowa, with a seemingly-inevitable clash between the U.S. and Iran to decide the men’s tournament outcome.

Held since 1973, the tournament has most recently belonged to the Iranian men, who won six in a row from 2012-17, including beating the U.S. in the final in 2015 and 2017. The U.S. won the 2018 edition – held in Iowa City – over Azerbaijan and then had to settle for third in 2019 after losing to Iran in a group match, 5-5, on criteria.

But in 2022, the U.S. fielded a strong team and was ready for the challenge, winning the final by 6-4, but with plenty of twists and turns.

After opening wins by Zane Richards over Reza Momenijoujadeh at 57 kg (6-1) and Seth Gross at 61 kg over Ebrahim Elahi (10-0 technical fall), Iran scored a win by Rahman Amouzad against Yianni Diakomihalis in a rematch of the 2022 World 65 kg Championships final, 5-4, to close to 2-1.

After Alec Pantaleo’s challenge at 70 kg that he was out of bounds when 2021 Worlds 65 kg silver medalist Amir Yazdani turned him at the buzzer for a 5-4 win, the call was reversed and Pantaleo got a 4-3 victory. The U.S. went up by 3-1 and was looking good. But Iran got a tough win from U23 Worlds 74 kg champ Mohammad Firouzpour over Jason Nolf (2-1) and then a 6-6 win on criteria from Ali Savadkouhi over six-time world champ Jordan Burroughs at 79 kg. All tied at three wins each.

But the U.S. was ready and Zahid Valencia defeated Alireza Karimi, 5-3, at 86 kg; Nathan Jackson out-fought Amir Firouzpour at 92 kg (8-4) and then Rio 2016 Olympic gold medalist Kyle Snyder clinched the title with a 5-0 shutout of two-time Worlds 92 kg champ Kamran Ghasempour.

The final match was a 6-1 win for Amir Masoumi over Hayden Zillmer of the U.S. at 125 kg to make the final score, 6-4.

The U.S. defeated Mongolia in the first round by 7-3, then Georgia by 10-0, while Iran stormed past Japan, 9-1, and the All-Word Team by 6-4 to reach the final. The All-World Team won the bronze medal by beating Georgia, 8-2.

In the women’s tournament, Ukraine was the surprise winner, defeating China by 6-4 in the final, after edging favored Japan (5-5, criteria) in their third-round match. The U.S. women fell to China, 8-2, on Saturday, but defeated the All-World Team, 6-4, to qualify for the bronze-medal match, but lost, 7-3, to Mongolia to finish fourth.

It was Ukraine’s first win in the 19 editions of the Women’s Freestyle World Cup and an inspiring story, as USA Wrestling invited the Ukrainians to prepare at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs for two weeks prior to the event. Japan’s women had won the last five World Cups in a row.

≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡

What promise to be historic semifinals are set (victories on penalty kicks shown as wins):

● 13 Dec. (Tue., 2 p.m. Eastern time) at Lusail Iconic Stadium: Argentina (4-1; goals 9-5) vs. Croatia (3-0-2; goals 6-3).

● 14 Dec. (Wed., 2 p.m. Eastern time) at Al Bayt Stadium: Morocco (4-0-1; goals 5-1) vs. France (5-1; goals 11-5).

Argentina and France have both won the World Cup twice, and Croatia is in the semifinals for the second straight tournament. Morocco, of course, is blazing a new trail for Africa by reaching the semis.

Early odds have Argentina a -133 favorite, while Croatia is +230; France is a major favorite at -182 and Morocco is given little chance at +700.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Weightlifting ● The 2022 IWF World Championships continued in Bogota (COL), with the host nation scoring popular wins in both the men’s and women’s divisions.

In the men’s 67 kg class, Colombia’s Francisco Mosquera, the 2017 World Champion at 62 kg, won his fifth career Worlds medal with a victory at 325 kg, just ahead of Tokyo Olympic champ Lijun Chen (CHN), with Thai Weeraphon Wichuma third (323 kg).

Fellow Colombian Yenny Alvarez was the Worlds silver medalist in the women’s 59 kg class in 2021 and moved up to gold in 2022. She lifted a combined total of 234 kg to beat Tokyo Olympic champ Hsing-chin Kuo (TPE: 232 kg) and Canada’s Tokyo winner at 64 kg, Maude Charron (231 kg).

Indonesia’s Rahmat Erwin Abdullah defended his 2021 Worlds gold at 73 kg by winning the Snatch, Clean & Jerk (with a world-record 200 kg lift) and the overall competition at 352 kg, leading a one-two with countryman Rizki Juniansyah (347 kg) and Kazak Alexey Churkin third (343 kg).

China won its third gold of the championships in the women’s 64 kg class, as 17-year-old Xinyi Pei lifted a combined total of 233 kg. That was well clear of silver medalist Rattanawan Wamalun (227 kg) and Colombia’s Natalia Llamosa (224 kg) in third.

Sunday had two men’s classes, with China’s two-time Worlds medalist Dayin Li winning at 81 kg, lifting 372 kg, ahead of 2017 Worlds 77 kg runner-up Rejepbay Rejepov (TKM: 366 kg) and Woo Jae Kim (KOR: 357 kg).

Venezuela’s Keydomar Vallenilla – the Tokyo Olympic silver winner at 96 kg – took the 89 kg crown, ahead of 2019 Worlds 81 kg bronze medalist Brayan Rodallegas (COL: 381 kg) and Huanhua Liu (CHN: 381 kg). Bulgaria’s Karlos Nasar set a world Clean & Jerk record of 200 kg, but had failed in his three Snatch attempts. American Nathan Damron finished fifth at 370 kg.

The IWF Worlds continue through the 16th.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Alpine Skiing ● The men’s circuit was in Val d’Isere (FRA) with Switzerland’s reigning World Cup champ Marco Odermatt in great form, winning Saturday’s Giant Slalom in 2:03.62, just ahead of Austrian Manuel Feller (2:05.02) and Zan Kranjec (2:05.67). It’s Odermatt’s third win this season in the first six races!

Feller was second again in Sunday’s Slalom, timing 1:38.98, behind Norway’s Lucas Braathen (1:38.14) – who scored his third career World Cup win – with Swiss vet Loic Meillard third (1:39.12).

The women’s tour was in Italy in Sestiere, with a win for the home fans as Marta Bassino took her sixth career World Cup win in the Giant Slalom at 2:28.89, followed by Swede Sara Hector (2:29.00) and Slovenian star Petra Vlhova (2:29.29). American Mikaela Shiffrin was sixth (2:30.85) and Paula Moltzan was eighth (2:30.96).

Swiss star Wendy Holdener – twice an Olympic Slalom medal winner – got her second win of the season in Sunday’s Slalom in 1:56.29, with Shiffrin second (1:56.76) and Olympic Slalom champ Vlhova third (1:56.99). Moltzan was fifth (1:57.36). Shiffrin continues as the overall season leader.

● Archery ● The World Archery Indoor series continued with the Taipei Archery Open, with the home team sweeping the men’s Recurve medals with Chun-Heng Wei defeating Yu-Yang Su in the final, 6-4. Dutch star Gaby Schloesser won the women’s Recurve title with a 6-0 win in the final over Shilin Liu (TPE).

● Biathlon ● Stop no. 2 for the IBU World Cup was in Hochfilzen (AUT), but no change at the top as Norwegian star Johannes Thingnes Boe – the three-time World Cup overall champion – won his third race in a row in the 10 km Sprint.

Boe timed 23:04.0 (0 penalties), with France’s Emilien Jacquelin second (23:47.0/1), and Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid (23:50.9/1), who also won his third medal of the season.

On Sunday, Boe made it four in a row in the 12.5 km Pursuit, winning in 33:50.7 (2 penalties), routing the field, with Laegreid second (34:38.6/2) and Jacquelin third (35:04.6/3).

German Denise Hermann took her 10th career World Cup win in the 7.5 km Sprint in 20:07.1 (0), followed by Marketa Davidova (CZE: 20:25.2/1) and France’s Julia Simon (20:27.2/1). It’s Hermann’s fifth Sprint win.

Simon moved up to gold in the 10 km Pursuit on Saturday on 29:56.7 (1), comfortably ahead of Ingrid Tandrevold (NOR: 30:16.3/1) and Davidova (30:24.8/2). Simon now has medals in three straight races and the overall World Cup lead after two of nine stages.

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● The International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation held its first World Push Championships since November 2013, in Lake Placid, New York. The U.S. did well, with wins by Kristopher Horn and Adrian Adams taking the gold in Two-Man (14.94), and the Four-Man (14.55), adding London 2012 men’s 4×400 m relay silver medalist Manteo Mitchell and Martin Christofferson.

American Mystique Ro won the women’s Skeleton competition (15.37), with China’s Zheng Yin taking the men’s victory (14.04).

Lisa Buckwitz (GER) won the women’s Monobob Push title (17.24), with Canada’s Cynthia Appiah second (17.34) and Kaysha Love of the U.S. third (17.39). And Buckwitz then teamed with Neele Schuten to win the Two-Women title at 16.14. Americans Riley Compton and Emily Renna (17.02) were third.

● Cross Country Skiing ● Stop no. 3 on the World Cup tour was in Beitostolen in Norway, with home favorite Pal Golberg, 32, continuing on a tear. He fell during the Classical Sprint on Friday and finished fourth behind France’s Richard Jouve (2:36.37) and Italian Simone Mocellini (2:36.67). But there was no stopping Golberg in Saturday’s 10 km Classical, where he got his ninth career World Cup win in 23:55.6, ahead of Didrik Toenseth (NOR: 24:03.2) and Andrew Musgrave (GBR: 24:05.9). Golberg continues as the seasonal World Cup leader.

Swedish stars had won five of the six World Cup races coming in, but Swiss Nadine Faehndrich won the Classical Sprint in 2:57.31, beating Lotta Undes Weng (NOR: 2:58.24) and Johanna Matintalo (FIN: 2:58.73). Finland’s Kerttu Niskanen won the Classical 10 km on Saturday in 26:56.3, with Norway’s Anne Kjersti Kalvaa second (27:09.0).

● Curling ● Lots of drama at the Grand Slam of Curling Masters in Oakville, Ontario (CAN), with Canada’s 2022 Olympic bronze medalist Kerri Einarson skipping her rink to a 6-5 win in the women’s final against fellow Canadian (and 2017 World Champion) Rachel Homan, and snapping Homan’s 15-match win streak in Grand Slam play. Einarson was down, 4-3, in the sixth end, but produced two points to take the lead and then won it in the ninth after being tied at the end of eight.

Scotland’s Beijing silver medalist Bruce Mouat’s rink faced 2022 Worlds bronze winner Joel Retornaz (ITA) in the men’s final, with Retornaz taking a 4-0 lead with single points in the first four ends and cruising home with a 6-2 victory.

● Cycling ● The UCI BMX Freestyle World Cup circuit was in Gold Coast (AUS) for competition in Park, with the home fans happy to see a win for Olympic gold medalist Logan Martin in the men’s final, over European champ Anthony Jeanjean (FRA) and Rim Nakamura (JPN), with Americans Marcus Christopher and Justin Dowell finishing 4-5.

China went 1-2 in the women’s final, with Jiaqi Sun taking the gold, followed by Huimin Zhou. American Hannah Roberts, the Tokyo Olympic silver medalist, was third and teammate Perris Benegas fourth.

● Fencing ● The FIE World Cup was back in action, with four tournaments: an Epee Grand Prix in Vancouver, men’s Foil in Tokyo, women’s Foil in Belgrade and a Sabre Grand Prix in Orleans.

In Vancouver, the men’s title went to Hungary’s Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Gergely Siklosi, who defeated 2018 World Champion Yannick Borel (FRA) in the final, 15-12. Italy’s Giulia Rizzi won her first career women’s Grand Prix gold, 15-9, over two-time Worlds bronze medalist Man Wai Vivian Kong (HKG).

The women’s Foil in Belgrade (SRB) was a battle of stars, with Italy’s 2018 World Champion Alice Volpi winning the title with a 15-6 final victory over 2022 European Champion Leonie Ebert (GER). Ebert had defeated Tokyo Olympic champ Lee Kiefer of the U.S., 15-13, in the semis; Kiefer and Francesca Palumbo (ITA) shared the bronze.

Kiefer joined with Jackie Dubrovich, Zander Rhodes and Maia Weintraub for a silver in the Team event, falling to Italy in the final, 45-22.

Italy’s 2022 Worlds silver medalist Tommaso Marini won the men’s foil in Tokyo (JPN), defeating France’s Maxime Pauty, a Tokyo Team told medalist in the final, 15-13. The American men’s team of Miles Chamley-Watson, Nick Itkin, Alexander Massialas and Gerek Meinhardt won over Japan, 45-31, for their second Team victory of the season.

The Sabre Grand Prix in Orleans (FRA) saw Italy’s Martina Crisico out-last Tokyo Olympic bronze winner Manon Apithy-Brunet (FRA) in the women’s final, 15-14, for her first Grand Prix gold. Hungarian star – and three-time Olympic champ – Aron Szilagyi won the men’s title, 15-10, over Georgia’s 2022 Worlds bronze medalist Sandro Bazadze.

● Figure Skating ● The ISU Grand Prix season ended with the Final in Turin (ITA), with Japan the big winner, but the U.S. winning a medal in all four events.

Reigning World Champion Shoma Uno (JPN) won the men’s final, leading both the Short Program and the Free Skate and scoring 304.46 points, ahead of teammate Sota Yamamoto, 22, who got a lifetime best of 274.35 to win silver. American teen star Ilia Malinin, now 18, had a rough time with his Short Program (fifth), but rallied to score second in the Free Skate and move up to third overall, scoring 271.94.

Japan also took the women’s title, with Sheffield and Espoo Grand Prix winner Mai Mihara the most steady, finishing second in the Short Program and winning the Free Skate to score 208.17. First-day leader Kaori Sakamoto – the 2022 World Champion – led after the short Program, but multiple falls led to a sixth-place finish in the Free Skate and she dropped to fifth overall. That opened the door for American Isabeau Levito, who was second in the Free Skate and moved from fifth to second overall, scoring 197.23. Worlds silver winner Leona Hendrickx (BEL) got third at 196.35.

Japan’s Worlds silver medalists Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara took the Pairs competition, winning both the Short Program and the Free Skate and scoring 214.58. That was just enough to edge 2022 World Champions Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier from the U.S. (213.28). Fellow Americans Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe were sixth (162.91).

The Ice Dance title went to Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, the 2021 Worlds bronze medalists, who won both the Rhythm Dance and Free Dance, totaling 215.64. The 2022 Worlds bronze winners, Americans Madison Chock and Evan Bates were close in second at 211.94, with Americans Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker finishing fifth (198.06).

● Freestyle Skiing ● After a cancellation in November, the FIS World Cup in SnowCross opened in Val Thorens (FRA) on Thursday and Friday, with Beijing Olympic champ Sandra Naeslund looking for her fourth career World Cup title.

She’s off to a good start, winning both races, finishing ahead of Canada’s Sochi 2014 Olympic champ Marielle Thompson in the first event, with Swiss Talina Gantenbein third. In the second event, she won over another Canadian, Hannah Schmidt, with Damiela Maier (GER) third. Naeslund, still just 26, now owns 30 World Cup race wins and has won 10 World Cup races in a row!

The men’s first-race winner was Johannes Rohrweck of Austria, his second career World Cup win, ahead of Tobias Mueller (GER), who won his second-ever World Cup medal. Swiss veteran Jonas Lenherr was third. On Friday, Austria scored again, this time with Mathias Graf, winning his first World Cup medal. France’s Youri Duplessis Kergomard was second – winning his second career World Cup medal – and Swiss Marc Bischofberger was third.

The second World Cup for Moguls was in Idre Fjall (SWE), with American Nick Page scoring his first career win, and an impressive one over Olympic champ Mikael Kingsbury of Canada, 81.06-79.86, with Beijing gold medalist Walter Wallberg (SWE) third (78.98). It was the first Moguls World Cup win by an American since Bradley Wilson in February of 2016!

Kingsbury won Sunday’s Dual Moguls, defeating Filip Gravenfors in the final for his 76th career World Cup victory, with Page finishing third over fellow American Cole McDonald.

The women’s Moguls was a familiar showdown, with Beijing Olympic gold medalist Jakara Anthony (AUS) winning at 81.75, ahead of Japan’s teen star Anri Kawamura (80.020 and France’s 2018 Olympic champ Perrine Laffont (76.08). The U.S. went 4-5 with Olivia Giaccio (74.99) and Elizabeth Lemley (73.49).

The Dual Moguls saw Lemley defeat Kawamura in the gold final, with Laffont finishing third over Anthony. For the 16-year-old Lemley, it was her first World Cup medal and first win!

● Luge ● The third stop on the FIL World Cup tour was in Whistler (CAN) and saw the return to the podium of two-time men’s Olympic champ Felix Loch (GER).

Now 33, Loch compiled a two-run total of 1:39.619 to edge Austrian Wolfgang Kindl (1:39.653) and Italian Dominick Fischnaller (1:39.689). Kindl has now been second in all three races this season and Fischnaller second in the last two. Tucker West was the top American, in fifth (1:39.914).

The Beijing 2022 men’s Doubles silver medalists, Germany’s Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken won their first World Cup medal of the season, winning in 1:16.554, ahead of teammates (and three-time Olympic gold medalists) Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt (1:16.605). Season-opener winners Juri Gatt and Riccardo Schopf were third (1:16.740). The best American sled was Zachary Di Gregorio and Sean Hollander in eighth (1:17.021).

The women’s Singles title went to European silver medalist Madeleine Egle of Austria for her third win in a row this season (1:17.137), with 2021 World Champion Julia Taubitz (GER) moving up to second from third in the first two races (1:17.161). American Summer Britcher was seventh (1:17.447).

The new women’s Doubles had Italy’s Andrea Votter and Marion Oberhofer as the winners (1:17.912), completing their move from third in the season opener, to second last week and now, a victory. Austrians Selina Egle and Lara Michaela Kipp, who won the first two races, were second in 1:17.953. Americans Britcher and Emily Sweeney finished fourth (1:18.222).

● Rugby Sevens ● Both the men’s and women’s series were in Cape Town (RSA), with the host South African men and only ones to go undefeated in pool play. In the playoffs, New Zealand stomped the U.S., 33-17, in the semis and Samoa upended the South Africans, 10-7. It was Samoa taking the title, 12-7, for its first tournament win of the season over New Zealand in the final, with the U.S. third, 22-14 winners over South Africa.

In the women’s tournament, the same teams were on the podium, but in a different order from the opener in Dubai (UAE). This time, it was New Zealand defeating Australia in the final, 31-14, while the U.S. women were third again, 20-12 winners over Ireland.

● Short Track ● Korea and Canada led the ISU World Cup in Almaty (KAZ) with wins in five of the eight individual events.

Tae-Sung Kim won the men’s 500 m in 40.898, and teammates Kyung-Hwan Hong (2:13.570) and Ji-Won Park (2:20.340) won the two 1,500 m races. Dutch star Jens van’T Wout broke up a sweep with a 1:26.074 win in the 1,000 m, ahead of 2022 Worlds 1,500 m silver winner Pascal Dion (CAN).

Canada got two wins in the women’s skating, with 2022 five-time Worlds silver medalist Kim Boutin taking the 500 m in 43.020, and Courtney Sarault winning the 1,000 m in 1:32.671. Beijing Olympic 1,000 m champ Suzanne Schulting (NED) won the first 1,500 m in 2:26.253 over Korea’s Olympic champ Min-Jeong Choi (2:26.356) and Belgian Hanne Desmet won the second race in 2:26.692, ahead of Sarault. American Kristin Santos-Griswold was third in the 500 m and fourth in the first 1,500 m; Corinne Stoddard of the U.S. was third in the 1,000 m.

● Ski Jumping ● The World Cup tour was in Titisee-Neustadt (GER) with two competitions for men off the 142 m hill and one for women.

The men’s Friday event was the second win of the season for Slovenia’s Anze Lanisek (272.8), ahead of Poland’s 2019 World Champion Dawid Kubacki (271.5) and Germany’s 2021 Olympic Normal Hill silver winner Karl Geiger (269.2).

On Sunday, Kubacki came on for his third win of the season, scoring 309.7, ahead of Lanisek (284.0) and three-time World Champion Stefan Kraft (AUT: 283.1).

Germany’s Katharina Althaus took her second win and third medal of the season in the women’s 142 m competition, winning at 269.3, ahead of Silje Opseth (NOR: 260.9) and Ursa Bogataj (SLO: 258.1).

● Snowboard ● The second of four Big Air World Cup tournament was on in Edmonton (CAN), with home favorite Jasmine Baird (CAN) taking the women’s victory with 159.50 points for her first career World Cup gold. She easily outdistanced Evy Poppe (BEL: 146.50) and two-time Olympic fourth-placer Reira Iwabuchi (JPN: 143.25).

The men’s Big Air final saw Australia’s Valentino Guseli, 17, score 172.50 to win his first World Cup win. American Chris Corning, the 2019 World Slopestyle champ, was second (172.00) and Canadian Nicolas Laframboise (168.00) third.

The Snowboard Parallel competition program opened in Winterberg (GER) on Sunday, with Alexander Payer (AUT) defeating Tim Mastnak (SLO) in the gold-medal final, with German Stefan Baumeister third.

Sabine Schoeffmann won her fifth World Cup individual title and completed Austria’s sweep with a win in the women’s final over 2019 World Champion Julie Zogg (SUI), and Austria picked up its third medal as Daniela Ulbing got third.

● Speed Skating ● The third stage of the ISU World Cup was in Calgary (CAN) for the first of two meets, with five wins for the leading power in the sport, the Netherlands.

The Dutch won three men’s events, including the 1,000 m by 34-year-old Hein Otterspeer in 1:07.284, with Beijing Olympic silver medalist Laurent Dubreuil (CAN) second in 1:07.307 and American Jordan Stolz fourth in 1:07.344.

Wesley Dijs (NED) won the 1,500 m in 1:42.390, ahead of China’s Zhongyan Ning (CHN: 1:42.957) and two-time Olympic gold medalist Kjeld Nuis (NED: 1:43.027). Beijing 5,000-10,000 m silver medalist Patrick Roest won the 5,000 in 6:05.600; American Ethan Cepuran was eighth in 6:17.717.

Debreuil won the 500 m in 34.017, with Stolz seventh in 34.477. Italy’s Andrea Giovannini took the Mass Start final in 7:53.040.

The two Dutch women’s winners included Jutta Leerdam, the Beijing Olympic silver medalist, in the 1,000 m in 1:12.828, with American Kimi Goetz finishing second in 1:13.532 and teammate (and Beijing bronze medalist) Brittany Bowe was 11th in 1:14.814. Triple Olympic gold medalist Irene Schouten won the Mass Start in 8:33.700, with Mia Kilburg of the U.S. second in 8:33.790.

Korea’s Min-sun Kim won the 500 m in 36.972, with Beijing gold medalist Erin Jackson of the U.S. in 37.451. Olympic 1,000 m champ Miho Takagi (JPN) won the 1,500 m (1:52.549), and Norway’s Ragne Wiklund took the 3,000 m in 3:56.937.

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FIFA WORLD CUP: Morocco in dreamland (and semifinals); France holds off England, 2-1, continue repeat title hopes

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ QATAR 2022 ≡

There is such a thing as home-field advantage. And in an Arab state – Qatar – the first Arab team to make it as far as the World Cup semifinals – Morocco – held its nerve and defeated Portugal, 1-0 before a frenzied, pro-Morocco crowd of 44,198 at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha.

Defending champion France is still in position to be the first repeat champion since Brazil in 1958 and 1962, with a taut, 2-1 win over England. The French played mostly on defense and found just enough offense to win, and survived a missed penalty kick by English star striker Harry Kane – who made one early in the second half – in the 84th minute.

The semis will feature two European teams, a South American team and an African team. It’s the first time since 2002 that anyone other than European or South American teams have filled the semifinals; then it was co-host South Korea, now Morocco.

● Quarterfinals: Morocco 1, Portugal 0 ● No African team and no Arab team had ever made it as far as the World Cup semifinals, but Morocco’s intense defending, its team speed and a perfect cross-and-head near the end of the first half were enough to beat Portugal, 1-0.

Portugal possessed the ball for long stretches, but could not score. Neither could Morocco, although its counterattacks were dangerous; striker Youssef El-Nesyri’s header just over the bar in the seventh minute showed their scoring potential.

While Portugal regularly played with six or seven men in front of the ball on defense, Morocco had all 10, making finishing plays and runs to the mouth of goal impossible. And on another counter, and off of a corner, defender Yahya Attiat-Allah sent a perfect cross into the box and with Portuguese keeper Diogo Costa coming out to challenge, El-Nesyri’s header flew right past him and into the goal for a 1-0 lead in the 42nd minute.

That’s how the half ended and that’s essentially how the game ended, with a lot of twists and turns in between. Portugal was on offense continuously from then on, but produced nothing but frustration.

A Bruno Fernandes shot hit the crossbar in the 45th minute. Super striker Cristiano Ronaldo came on for Portugal in the 51st, but was unable to find the net. Fernandes sent a blast just over the crossbar in the 64th. Off a turnover, Joao Felix sent a curling shot that Moroccan keeper Yassine Bounou was barely able to block over the crossbar in the 84th. Ronaldo, on a contested sprint in stoppage time (90+1), had his shot saved by Bounou.

Then things really got crazy, as substitute midfielder Walid Cheddira picked up a yellow card for a hard foul at 90+1 and another at 90+3, so Morocco was down to 10 men. Even so, Portugal’s only strong chance to score was a missed header by defender Pepe at 90+7 and the game ended with delirium for the mostly-Moroccan fans in the Al Thumama Stadium.

In its five matches in Qatar, Morocco drew with Croatia, 0-0; beat Belgium, 2-0; beat Canada, 4-1 (with an own goal); beat Spain on penalty kicks after a 0-0 tie, and beat Portugal, 1-0. They’re hard to beat if you can’t score.

● Quarterfinals: France 2, England 1 ● No defending World Cup champion had reached even the semifinals of a subsequent World Cup since Brazil in 1998, when it lost to France, 3-0, after winning in 1994. Now the French, winners in 2018, will get a chance after a difficult 2-1 win over England at the Al Bayt Stadium.

The English controlled possession from the start, but the French got the lead in the 17th, off an Antoine Griezmann pass from the right side of the box to midfielder Aurelian Tchouameni, who sent a right-footed rocket from beyond the top of the box, bending into the left corner through a crowd of English defenders. Wow!

But England continued with pressure. French keeper Hugo Lloris had to make a big save on a Harry Kane break-through on goal in the 22nd, coming off his line, and that was almost knocked in on the rebound. Kane got another blast away in the 29th that Lloris had to punch away for a corner. And so it went, with England holding 58% of possession and a 5-3 edge on shots, but losing, 1-0.

The second half was more of the same, with England possession and France looking for chances in a game which became more and more physical. That paid off in the 52nd, as Tchouameni fouled English forward Bukayo Saka for a penalty in the 52nd and Kane buried it into the left corner of the French goal for the tie.

And the English kept coming. A Kane shot was saved by Lloris in the 62nd, and defender Harry Maguire left the left post with a header in the 70th. But France found moments, and after two good rushes at English keeper Jordan Pickford in the 75th, France had a corner in the 78th. Griezmann sent a seeing-eye cross from near his sideline all the way to the front of goal, where it found striker Olivier Giroud – France’s all-time goals leader – who headed it between two defenders and into the net for a 2-1 lead.

Two minutes later, however, French defender Theo Hernandez fouled England midfielder Mason Mount and another penalty was called. This time, however, Kane skied it over the goal and left England down, 2-1.

Mount missed another chance in the 88th as his try at goal sailed high, and then substitute striker Marcus Rashford just missed a goal on a free kick at 90+11 that sailed over the crossbar. France survived in a game with 24 fouls, including 14 by the French, and three yellow cards. England ended with 57% possession and 16 shots to eight (8-5 on goal), but it was not enough.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

The semifinals are set (victories on penalty kicks shown as wins):

● 13 Dec. (Tue., 2 p.m. Eastern time) at Lusail Iconic Stadium: Argentina (4-1; goals 9-5) vs. Croatia (3-0-2; goals 6-3).

● 14 Dec. (Wed., 2 p.m. Eastern time) at Al Bayt Stadium: Morocco (4-0-1; goals 5-1) vs. France (5-1; goals 11-5).

This will be the third World Cup meeting between Argentina and Croatia, with the series tied at 1-1. Argentina won, 1-0, in France in 1998 and Croatia routed Argentina, 3-0, in group-stage play in Russia in 2018.

The France-Morocco match will have a historical backdrop, as the French had control of Morocco as a “protectorate” – colony – from 1912 to 1956, long before any of the current players were born. But the Moroccan team – and their crowd – will know about it.

The Associated Press reported that FIFA has opened disciplinary hearings against both Argentina and the Netherlands after their quarterfinal match turned physical at the end on Friday.

The Argentine bench came onto the field to control the Dutch team as it tied the match late in stoppage time, and then more confrontations after Argentina won on penalty kicks. A total of 48 fouls were called in the game – 30 on the Netherlands – and 14 yellow cards were handed out (8 for Argentina and 6 for the Dutch, including three at the end of the penalty kicks.

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has already fined Saudi Arabia CHF 15,000 twice for team misconduct from its matches against Argentina (22 November) and Mexico (30 November).

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FIFA WORLD CUP: Croatia shocks Brazil on penalties! Argentina over the Dutch on penalties in stunning quarterfinals

By
Rich Perelman
-
The Croatian checkerboard in a second straight World Cup semifinal? Yes! (Photo: Roger Goraczniak via Wikipedia)

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

★ Enjoying our coverage? If so, please consider a donation to help cover technical costs for 2023. Thank you for your support. ★

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≡ QATAR 2022 ≡

The first FIFA World Cup semifinal is set, with Croatia and Argentina playing on the 13th (Tuesday) at the Lusail Iconic Stadium for a chance at the championship after both Friday quarterfinals went to penalty kicks.

The Croatians improbably tied the game in the 117th minute and then won on penalties, 4-2, while Argentina was forced to penalties after losing a 2-0 lead with 17 minutes left in regulation. But they are going on: Croatia for its second straight semifinal and Argentina back after last making it this far in 2014.

● Quarterfinals: Croatia 1, Brazil 1 (Croatia wins on penalty kicks, 4-2) ● Like a cat with nine lives, Croatia came back from a seeming defeat to tie Brazil in the final three minutes of extra time and then won, 4-2, on penalty kicks to move into the World Cup semifinals for the second tournament in a row.

The first half started with Brazil in possession and on the attack, but few opportunities to do much against stout Croatian defense. The same was true for Croatia, which had some promising build-ups but not close to scoring.

Croatian keeper Dominik Livakovic made a brilliant save on Vinicius Junior in the 48th, but Brazil was called offsides, then Neymar Junior had a direct shot at goal in the 55th, which Livakovic blocked. In the 65th, midfielder Lucas Paqueta got a weak shot on a bounding ball in the box but Livakovic punched it away at point-blank range.

But the first 90 minutes ended 0-0, with possession evenly split, but with Brazil taking 14 shots to six and a 7-0 edge on shots-on-goal. Of Croatia’s five games, three were 0-0 at the end of 90.

Brazil kept pushing in the first extra-time period, but Croatia had an excellent chance in the 103rd, with striker Bruno Petkovic streaming down the left side and sending a perfect cross to the middle of the field for midfielder Marcelo Brazovic, who pounded a shot that went over the crossbar.

Then everything changed in a moment. Another Brazilian build-up saw Neymar push into the middle of the box, then passed to Paqueta deep in the box, who gave it right back, but a little behind him. Neymar got control, pushed to the right, got around Livakovic and slammed the ball into the net from a deteriorating angle at the right side of the net at 105+1. It was Neymar’s 77th goal for Brazil, tying him with the iconic Pele for the most in Brazilian history, and Neymar’s eighth in 12 World Cup games.

Brazilian shots were up to 19-7 and 10-0 on goal after the first extra period. The Croatians had to get a goal in the next 15.

And out of nowhere, late in the period, a Croatian break saw a pass by forward Mislav Orsic to Petkovic at the top of the box resulted in a left-footed strike that deflected and flew past Alisson for the 1-1 tie in the 117th.

The extra periods ended with possession even, shots favoring Brazil by 20-9 and 10-1 on goal: Croatia’s only shot on goal was their score.

Now the penalty kicks, and the die was cast early, as Livakovic saved Rodrygo’s first try for Brazil, while Nikola Vlasic, Lovro Majer and star midfielder Luka Modric all made theirs. Brazil closed with conversions from Casemiro and Pedro, but after Orsic converted Croatia’s fourth in a row, Marquinhos had Livakovic going the wrong way, but hit the left post, closing the door on the favored Brazilians.

The last World Cup triumph for Brazil was in 2002, and the Selecao have now lost in four of their last five quarterfinals – 2006-10-18-22 – all to European teams.

● Quarterfinals: Argentina 2, Netherlands 2 (Argentina wins on penalty kicks, 4-3) ● Another overtime stunner, with the Dutch coming back from 2-0 down with seven minutes left in regulation.

A tactical first half came down to a moment of individual brilliance for Argentine superstar Lionel Messi. Dribbling well out from the Dutch goal, he moved from the right side of the field to the center, then sent a perfect through-pass past three defenders and into the path of a charging defender Nahuel Molina, who right-footed it past Dutch keeper Andries Noppert for a 1-0 lead in the 36th minute.

The Dutch had 57% of possession in the half, but Argentina was better on offense, getting five shots to one and the 1-0 lead.

The second half was more of the same, cautious possession, waiting for a break. Argentina got what looked like a decisive moment in the 71st, when Dutch defender Denzel Dumfries fouled defender Marcus Acuna at the edge of the box for a penalty. Messi converted in the 73rd and the Netherlands looked dead at 0-2, with 17 minutes left.

But 10 minutes later, the two Dutch substitute strikers got going as Steven Berghuis found the 6-6 Wout Weghorst for a header on the right side of the penalty area and a powerful header flew into the far left edge of goal to close the deficit to 2-1.

Argentina’s leisurely play with the lead suddenly turned against them, as referee Antonio Mateu (ESP) added 10 minutes of stoppage time, and the Dutch needed all of it. A final push saw Weghorst fouled at the top of the box and a free kick awarded to the Netherlands. Everyone lined up, looking for a curving shot at goal from substitute midfielder Teun Koopmeiners, but instead, the ball was fed through the wall and Weghorst controlled it and left-footed it into the goal for a stunning 2-2 tie at 90+11!

It was only the second shot on goal for the Dutch and both were goals.

The extra time periods were cautious, but Argentina almost scored in the 115th, when an Enzo Fernandez cross from the right side was well struck by Lautaro Martinez right in front of goal, but deflected off the face of defender Vigil van Dijk. Argentina continued to pour on the pressure, with sub midfielder Angel Di Maria trying to bend a corner into the goal that was punched away by Noppert, and Fernandez hit the post on a long-range strike in the 121st.

The Netherlands finished with 52% possession, but Argentina had the edge on shots 14-6 and 5-2 on shots-on-goal.

In the shoot-out, Argentine keeper Emiliano Martinez saved the first from van Dijk to his right, and the second, from Berghuis to his left, while Messi and Gonzalo Montiel made theirs for a 2-0 lead. Weghorst scored again, as did Luuk de Jong, while Argentina’s Fernandez missed and it was 3-3. But Lautaro Martinez left no doubt in the final round and Argentina walked off a 4-3 winner.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

It’s going to be hard to equal Friday’s drama, but the last two quarterfinals come Saturday:

● 10 Dec.: Morocco (3-0-1; goals 4-1) vs. Portugal (3-1; goals 12-5)
● 10 Dec.: England (3-0-1; goals 12-2) vs. France (3-1; goals 9-4)

France is the defending champion and England reached the semis in 2018. Portugal last reached the semis in 2006, and Morocco has never gotten this far before. If Morocco should win, it would be the first African semifinalist ever in the World Cup.

The semifinals will be played on the 13th and 14th and the final on 18 December.

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For our updated, 951-event International Sports Calendar for 2022-23 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Brittney Griner released and returns to U.S.; boxing fed slams IOC criticism; cat thrown out of Brazil World Cup news conference!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Brazil press officer Vinicius Rodriguez drops a guest cat from the dais of a news conference with striker Vinicius Junior (Photo: SportTV screen grab via Twitter)

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

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Griner swapped for Russian arms merchant; returns to U.S.
2. Int’l Boxing Association: “We will not accept” IOC criticism
3. Qatar received almost 766,000 FIFA World Cup visitors so far
4. Cat thrown out of Brazil World Cup news conference by its fur!
5. Coe: building the track & field fan base “is more challenging”

American basketball star Brittney Griner was swapped for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout on Thursday, in an agreement assisted by the leaders of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, with Griner flown to Abu Dhabi for transfer to the U.S. The International Boxing Association lashed out at the International Olympic Committee for Wednesday’s comments chastising the federation, but saying that it had no problem with boxing or boxers. A document from Qatar’s organizing committee for the 2022 FIFA World Cup says that almost 766,000 foreign visitors have come to the country – so far – for the event, well short of the 1.2 million it had said it expected, but pretty impressive for a country of 2.9 million. At a Wednesday Brazilian team news conference in Doha with striker Vinicius Junior, a cat jumped onto the dais, but was quickly removed and dropped about three feet to the stage below by the Brazilian team’s press officer, apparently with no damage to the cat. World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe gave a very interesting interview in Monaco at the World Athletics Awards, explaining the federation’s goals for 2023 and its effort to raise the sport’s profile.

The FIFA World Cup resumes on Friday and Saturday with the quarterfinals.

1.
Griner swapped for Russian arms merchant; returns to U.S.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner of the U.S. was released from Russian captivity on Thursday in exchange for the U.S. release of convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout, who had been serving a 25-year sentence that began in 2012.

Griner was detained on 17 February for “drug smuggling” of cannabis oil, which she admitted she errantly packed in her luggage. She was convicted in August and her appeal was denied in October. She was transferred to a penal colony in November.

A statement from WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert included:

“There has not been a day over the past ten months where we all haven’t had Brittney Griner on our minds and in our hearts and that has now turned into a collective wave of joy and relief knowing that she will soon be reunited with her family, the WNBA player community, and her friends. …

“Our hope is that Paul Whelan and every wrongfully detained American will be returned home safely and as soon as possible.”

The Russian Foreign Ministry, of course, was more concerned about the release of Bout, telling the news agency TASS:

“As a result of the efforts made, we managed to agree with the American side to arrange an exchange of Viktor Bout for Brittney Griner. The Russian citizen has been returned to his homeland.

“[The exchange] was successfully completed at the airport of Abu Dhabi on Thursday. Washington was categorically refusing to engage in dialogue on putting the Russian national on the exchange scheme. Nevertheless, the Russian Federation continued to actively work towards the release of our fellow countryman.”

A joint statement of the foreign ministries of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates took the credit for the deal, including:

“The ministries said the success of the mediation efforts was a reflection of the mutual and solid friendship between their two countries and the United States of America and the Russian Federation.

“They also highlighted the important role played by the leaderships of the two brotherly countries in promoting dialogue between all parties.

“The statement confirmed that Abu Dhabi received, on 8th December, American citizen Brittney Griner by private plane from Moscow, after the Russian authorities released her, in conjunction with the reception of Russian citizen Victor Bout on a private plane from Washington, after the U.S. authorities released him, in the presence of specialists from the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

“Both America and Russia claimed their citizens, in preparation for transfer to their countries.

“The UAE and Saudi Arabian foreign ministries expressed the thanks of their respective governments to the governments of the U.S. and Russia for their cooperation and response, and for the joint mediation efforts made by the leaderships of the two countries.”

Griner was reportedly being flown to San Antonio for medical attention and support services for individuals who have been in foreign isolation.

TASS also reported that both Griner and Bout “were pardoned prior to the exchange procedure, and therefore there is no need for them to serve their sentences in their home countries.”

Whelan, convicted of espionage, is still being held in a Russian penal colony, and is also considered by the U.S. to be wrongfully detailed since 2018. A TASS report noted that “Negotiations about his exchange are ongoing.”

2.
Int’l Boxing Association: “We will not accept” IOC criticism

A day after International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER) criticized the International Boxing Association, but explicitly said he is not criticizing boxing or boxers, the IBA posted an unhappy, three-page reply, that included:

● “We continue to be punished for a culture of corruption that was created and nourished by some of the individuals from the IOC’s upper echelon,” referring to former AIBA President C.K. Wu (TPE), who was also an IOC member.

● “We will not accept this artificial divide and conquer rhetoric that somehow the IBA and the athletes are separate, it is simply not true and any attack on the IBA is a direct attack on the stakeholders of our sport, the athletes. Sanctions towards IBA are sanctions against its boxers, as we are inseparable.”

● “The IOC creates a problem for each solution we provide.”

● “Denying the fact of IBA’s significant progress is simply an egregious error in not acknowledging the truth of the matter. IBA is not creating a PR picture that does not exist; in fact, we are simply communicating our progress and steps towards it. Not acknowledging it, raises the fair question of why. All the IOC criticism is done in a manner to discredit the leading experts who have worked on the previous reports and investigations within the Olympic movement, which is deplorable.”

● “We are now forced to publicly ask for details on what governance shortfalls will quench the IOC’s continued thirst to persecute our organization and its athletes.”

● “[T]he Olympic Charter doesn’t read that person’s nationality should stop them from being able to democratically serve their organization,” a reference to the election of Russian Umar Kremlev as IBA President.

● “These are IBA’s facts. IBA is looking forward to receiving the facts from the IOC in terms of what has not been achieved by IBA in order to avoid any ambiguity in the IOC’s PR.”

It’s a bold statement, but does not address the IOC’s oft-repeated issues concerning the way in which the IBA held its elections, transparency in its finances and its dependence on debt relief from a sole source – the Russian energy giant Gazprom, – plus its future financial stability without Gazprom and aspects of its refereeing and judging which have still not satisfied the IOC.

The question of whether boxing (and modern pentathlon and weightlifting) will be included in the Los Angeles 2028 sports program are to be decided in 2023.

3.
Qatar received almost 766,000 FIFA World Cup visitors so far

Reuters reported that 765,859 international visitors had come into Qatar for World Cup matches through 7 December, according a report from the organizing Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy.

The report noted that more than half of these visitors have departed already, as all but eight of the original 32 teams have been eliminated. The total is impressive, especially for a country with a population of just 2.9 million, but well short of the estimate of 1.2 million visitors. Some more visitors are expected to come in for the final few games.

According to the report, some 3.09 million tickets were sold through the 7th, used by 1.33 million ticketholders. Actual stadium attendance was 2.65 million through the first 52 matches.

FIFA has handed down fines for three incidents at the World Cup, with the Croatian Football Federation fined CHF 50,000 (CHF 1 = $1.07) for the “use of words and objects to transmit a message that is not appropriate for a sports event … in relation to the behaviour of Croatian supporters during the Croatia v. Canada FIFA World Cup match on 27 November.”

The Football Association of Serbia was fined CHF 20,000 “in relation to a flag displayed in its dressing room on the occasion of the Brazil v. Serbia FIFA World Cup match on 24 November” in which Kosovo – now an independent country – was shown as part of Serbia, with the words “we do not surrender.”

Bad behavior on the field was also penalized, with the Saudi Arabian Football Association fined CHF 15,000 each (CHF 30,000 total) for rough play, notably “a total of six [yellow card] bookings received by Saudi players … during the FIFA World Cup matches against Argentina and Mexico on 22 November and 30 November.”

The story of Qatar’s Stadium 974, created in part from 974 shipping containers, is moving into another chapter after hosting six matches at the Arab Cup and seven at the World Cup. Opened on 20 November 2021 and closed after Monday’s Brazil-South Korea game on 5 December, the 44,409-seat facility is being disassembled and readied for shipment to Uruguay!

The concept is for the stadium to be reassembled in Uruguay and used – hopefully – as a venue for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Uruguay is bidding for in conjunction with Argentina, Chile and Paraguay. Uruguay was the site of the first World Cup, back in 1930.

A Philippine worker died in Qatar in recent days near a World Cup training site, but was apparently not involved in any World Cup activities. The Qatar government is looking into the incident for any work-safety violations; protests over migrant worker pay, conditions and safety have dogged the tournament since it was awarded to Qatar in 2010.

Spain’s loss to Morocco on penalty kicks in the Round of 16 cost manager Luis Enrique, 52, his position, as the Spanish national football federation fired him on Thursday. Luis de la Fuente, 61, the head of Spain’s U-21 program was named as the new coach.

4.
Cat thrown out of Brazil World Cup news conference by its fur!

In one of the most unusual FIFA World Cups in history, one of the most unbelievable moments in the history of news conferences.

A Brazilian team news conference with striker Vinicius Junior on Wednesday was interrupted by a stray cat which jumped onto the table and was corralled by Brazilian team press officer Vinicius Rodriguez.

After a few moments, however, Rodriguez picked up the cat by its back fur and dropped it to the stage apron below – about three feet – stunning the assembled media, as well as Vinicius Junior. The scene was picked up on the live broadcast from Brazil’s SportTV – here – and the news conference continued.

The Russian Free Press reported, “The cat landed on its paws and appeared to be unharmed” and Rodriguez told TASS, “The cat is fine, don’t worry. He feels great.”

Some of the media who attended Thursday’s Brazil news conference welcomes Rodriguez by meowing, perhaps another FIFA World Cup first.

It should be noted that the cat was not wearing any kind of accreditation badge or other World Cup credential that would admit him to the news conference.

5.
Coe: building the track & field fan base “is more challenging”

Fascinating interview with World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe (GBR) from the International Sports Journalists Association (AIPS), on the sidelines of the federation’s World Athletics Awards. Coe spoke at length about 2022 and the future of the sport; some highlights:

● “Building that fan base in track and field is more challenging, because it isn’t a game. And you don’t always have such big, tribal, national rivalries. … Yes, everybody gets behind their country, but track and field fans are more in a way… they’re more “Catholic” about life. … they’re very much more into the sheer quality of what they’re watching, regardless in a way of what the flag is on the sign.”

● “We’re looking at formats, we’re looking at the competition calendar, the diary, we’re looking at the ability to work with the athletes so that they can help build their own profile, wanting us to give them content that they’re able to post. So it works both ways. And that’s a lot of those conversations, interestingly, have been taking place here with the athletes.”

● “[W]e have a responsibility to protect female sport, but to do it in a sensible, thoughtful and inclusive way. So the position that we took with [differences in sex development], for instance, wasn’t to stop anyone. The first principle was not to stop people competing. It was to try and make sure that if they were competing, it was on as level playing fields as you can possibly manage. We are currently reviewing that position. The Health and Science Teams will report back after a period of consultation and the importance of following the science.”

He also spoke at some length about the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene:

“We had a challenge around visas, getting in and out of America in the best of times is not an easy process for many of us. Eugene is a very small town. It’s inevitable that, in performance terms, they were the most successful championships we have ever had. If you look at the world records and the area records, national records, personal bests, some of those – Sydney McLaughlin’s world record and Mondo Duplantis, Noah Lyles – these were extraordinary performances.

“But I think that there’s no doubt that it is unlikely we will ever go back to a smaller community. For a World Championships, the stadium was beautiful, purpose-built for the championships – but it was small. It made life complicated for the media, it made life complicated in terms of the number of seats that were available, that weren’t just accredited seats. What did we get out of Eugene? We had a presence in the United States and every Olympic sport wants its presence at a World Championships in the United States.”

≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡

The World Cup resumes on Friday and Saturday with the quarterfinals (records reflect penalty-kick victories as wins):

● 09 Dec.: Croatia (2-0-2 W-L-T: goals 5-2) vs. Brazil (3-1: goals 7-2)
● 09 Dec.: Netherlands (3-0-1; goals 8-2) vs. Argentina (3-1; goals 7-3)

● 10 Dec.: Morocco (3-0-1; goals 4-1) vs. Portugal (3-1; goals 12-5)
● 10 Dec.: England (3-0-1; goals 12-2) vs. France (3-1; goals 9-4)

The semifinals will be played on the 13th and 14th and the final on 18 December

With the Round of 16 completed, let’s update the region vs. region records in Qatar (records shown W-L-T, with penalty-kick advancements counted as wins):

Africa:
● 5 teams qualified ~ 2 to Round of 16 ~ 1 to Quarterfinals
● 7-5-3 record in group stage ~ 19-17 on goals ~ 152-167 on shots
● 1-1-0 record in Round of 16 ~ 0-3 on goals ~ 16-21 on shots

Asia:
● 6 teams qualified ~ 3 to Round of 16 ~ 0 to Quarterfinals
● 7-10-1 record in group stage ~ 19-30 on goals ~ 176-239 on shots
● 0-3-0 record in Round of 16 ~ 3-7 on goals ~ 26-49 on shots

Europe:
(Statistics vs. non-European teams)
● 13 teams qualified ~ 10 to Round of 16 ~ 5 to Quarterfinals
● 12-10-7 record in group stage ~ 46-30 on goals ~ 335-323 on shots
● 3-1-0 record in Round of 16 ~ 7-2 on goals ~ 49-46 on shots

North America:
● 4 teams qualified ~ 1 to Round of 16 ~ 0 to Quarterfinals
● 3-6-3 record in group stage ~ 9-22 on goals ~ 115-130 on shots
● 0-1-0 record in Round of 16 ~ 1-3 on goals ~ 17-11 on shots

South America:
● 4 teams qualified ~ 2 to Round of 16 ~ 2 to Quarterfinals
● 6-4-2 record in group stage ~ 14-8 on goals ~ 163-82 on shots
● 2-0-0 record in Round of 16 ~ 6-2 on goals ~ 32-13 on shots

Asia and CONCACAF had no teams in the final eight and the surprise of the tournament has been Africa, which not only has Morocco in the quarters, but finished with a winning record in the Group Stage, along with Europe and South America.

CONCACAF came into the tournament with teams ranked 13th (Mexico), 16th (U.S.), 31st (Costa Rica) and 41st (Canada), but none made it to the quarters. The African teams were ranked 18th (Senegal), 22nd (Morocco), 30th (Tunisia) 43rd (Cameroon) and 61st (Ghana), but advanced three to the elimination rounds and Morocco to the quarters.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Weightlifting ● The IWF World Championships roll on in Bogota (COL), with two Olympic champions winning their weight classes on Wednesday.

In the men’s 61 kg class, China’s Fabin Li won his second world title to go along with his Tokyo Olympic triumph, lifting a combined 312 kg, including a world-record Clean & Jerk lift of 175 kg. That was well clear of two-time Olympic silver winner Eko Yuli Irawan (INA: 300 kg) and China’s Yueji He (296 kg). American Hampton Morris was 15th at 275 kg.

Philippine star Hildyn Diaz followed up on her Tokyo Olympic triumph at 61 kg with a world title in Bogota, lifting a combined total of 207 kg, winning both the Snatch and Clean & Jerk segments. It’s her fourth Worlds medal, but first gold! Colombia’s Rosalba Morales won the silver (199 kg) and Mexico’s Ana Gabriela Lopez was third (198 kg). American Shayla Moore finished fourth at 194 kg.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 2024: Paris ● The IOC is working diligently to extend the “umbrella” of the Olympic Games to the qualifying events, with a special logo and added, online telecasts of competitions not otherwise being covered.

IOC chief Bach mentioned during Wednesday’s news conference that about 100,000 athletes will compete in roughly 3,000 qualifying events for 10,500 slots at the Games, or about a 10:1 ratio.

● Archery ● Pretty rare to be a national federation to be expelled from an international federation, but World Archery announced:

“The Federacion Mexicana de Tiro con Arco is no longer recognised as World Archery’s national member association in Mexico following an official notice issued to the country’s sports minister Ana Gabriela Guevara and CONADE.

“It is in response to the outcome of a judicial case against the former president of the federation, Efi Sanchez, who has been jailed for misuse of public funds.”

World Archery is requiring “establishment of a brand-new organisation that fully complies with the principles of good governance.” Mexico has been highly successful in archery, winning two women’s Olympic medals in 2012 and a Mixed Team bronze in 2020.

● Athletics ● Rio 2016 Olympic 4×400 m relay gold medalist Gil Roberts, 33, was suspended for 16 months by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for the presence of anabolic agents andarine and ostarine from a May 2022 out-of-competition test, and another warning about supplements:

“Following an investigation into the circumstances of his case, USADA determined that Roberts’s positive test was caused by his use of a dietary supplement that did not list any prohibited ingredients on the label.” Roberts’ ban began on 3 June 2022.

Roberts has a lifetime best of 44.22 from 2017, but ran very little in 2020 and was eliminated in the heats at the 2021 Olympic Trials in the 400 m.

Olympic writer Karen Rosen notes that the first day of the 2023 Wanda Diamond League Final at Hayward Field in Eugene will fall on the same day – Saturday, 16 September – as a University of Oregon football game being played at nearby Autzen Stadium against Hawaii.

It will raise the question of whether Eugene’s track fans are also Ducks football followers, but in any case, parking could be at a premium!

● Sport Climbing ● Bach was asked about whether the IOC had maintained contact with the situation of Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi, whose loose wearing of her headscarf at the Asian Championships in Korea in October exposed her to possible criminal penalties under Iranian law. A recent report stated her family’s home had been torn down; Bach explained:

“In fact, the international federation has been in constant contact with her over all the time [since the Asian Championships], and this contact was also used with regard to this most recent allegation, where, then, we have checked with the international federation [IFSC] and with the Iranian NOC, and we have received from both the same information, so far, that it appears that this is about a construction permit there, and that this incident took place some months before the competition in Seoul, this means some months before October.

“This is the information we have and we continue to monitor the situation. Again, via the international federation, who are very close to the athlete and we are using our channel to the Iranian NOC.”

The IFSC announced on Wednesday (7th) that Rekabi was one of four athletes selected for the “Women in Sport High Performance Pathway” (WISH), designed to expand the number of female coaches at the Olympic Games, and supported by the IOC’s Olympic Solidarity program.

● Tennis ● Per Britain’s Daily Mail:

“The [British] Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has been threatened with expulsion from the ATP Tour and fined $1million (£822,000) by the men’s circuit for their decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players earlier this year.”

The Women’s Tennis Association has also sanctioned the LTA, which has appealed. For its part, the LTA said in a statement:

“The ATP appear to regard this matter as a straightforward breach of their rules – with a surprising lack of empathy shown for the situation in Ukraine, and a clear lack of understanding of the unique circumstances the LTA faced.

“The financial impact of both this fine and the WTA’s fine will have a material impact on the LTA’s ability to develop and host tennis in this country. For example, we had intended to host a number of ATP Challenger level events to give more opportunities to lower ranked players in the first quarter of 2023 and will now not be able to do this, particularly given the possibility of further fines.

“We will carefully consider our response and we await the outcome of our appeal against the WTA’s decision and sanction.”

It has been reported that the Lawn Tennis Association plans to ban Russian and Belarusian players in 2023 if Russian forces remain in Ukraine.

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For our updated, 951-event International Sports Calendar for 2022-23 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: IOC says no change in Russia and Belarus bans; Winter Games 2030 selection and future rotation related; big U.S. World Cup ratings!

By
Rich Perelman
-
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER) at Wednesday's news conference (Photo: IOC video screen grab)

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

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. IOC’s Bach says Russia situation discussed, but no changes
2. IOC is upset with boxing’s federation, not the boxers
3. Possible Winter Games rotation and double-allocation are related
4. U.S. World Cup viewing up 19.9% for English & Spanish combined
5. Qatar excitement has FIFA considering new formats for 2026

The International Olympic Committee wrapped up three days of Executive Board meetings with President Thomas Bach of Germany explaining that during a four-hour discussion of the situation involving Russia and Belarus, no changes have been made to the IOC’s position on sanctions. Bach also made it clear that boxing as a sport is not the focus of the IOC’s concerns, but the International Boxing Association is, a good sign for the sport’s continuation in the Olympic program for 2028. The new consideration of a possible naming of hosts for both the 2030 and 2034 Winter Games is related to the IOC’s idea that due to the need for “climate reliability” for winter sport, a rotation of permanent host cities could be considered; naming two hosts soon would give the IOC time to figure out the rotation concept in detail. The FIFA World Cup is proving popular on television in the U.S., with average audiences in English and Spanish combined up 19.9% over 2018, and the viewing of U.S. matches at a higher rate than anything on television except the NFL. FIFA is now considering three options in the format for the expanded 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the U.S., noting that the earlier-announced 16 groups of three is only one option. If splitting the tournament into two 24-team brackets or using six groups of four, the World Cup would expand from 64 matches in Qatar now to 104 in four years!

1.
IOC’s Bach says Russia situation discussed, but no changes

“There is no change in our position, and I am afraid I have to explain it again.”

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER) noted during a Wednesday news conference following three days of Executive Board meetings that a four-hour discussion had been held earlier in the day concerning Russia’s continuing war against Ukraine and the IOC’s position.

He responded to questions looking for any movement toward Russian reinstatement by restating his position:

“What we said, always said, and said today again, and said all over again, the sanctions have to remain in place. And there is no change at all. And what we have always also said is, that with regard to the protective measures, with regard to the athletes, that we have to explore ways to overcome this dilemma, to live up to our mission.

“And this has been clear from 24th February. Already then, we were talking about the ‘heavy heart’ and that we have to overcome it. So there is no change at all. The breach of the Olympic Charter by the governments and states persist, and therefore the sanctions persist.”

Bach went to some length to explain that in addition to the sanctions against the Russian and Belarusian governments – requesting no hosting of events there and no use of country name, flag or anthem – that the “protective measures” asking for no Russian or Belarusian participation, or exclusively as neutrals, are not simply about athlete safety, but protecting international sport from being dictated to by national government policies:

“The other question is, what about the athletes: do we still need the protection of the integrity of the international events? These reasons always have to be analyzed , and there, you know, I can also give some examples how differently this was handled and how far political interference went, even in one sport. …

“We had this participation of Russian and Belarusian in the U.S. Open in tennis. We have Russian athletes participating in the NHL. They all have, obviously, their working permit, they are playing, they are cheered upon by the fans, you know, everybody happy.

“On the other hand, we had at Wimbledon, the British government interfering and forcing the Wimbledon organizers to exclude Russian and Belarusian players from playing. This is the situation we are in and this is the situation we have to overcome so that the international competitions can really be comparable and can be fair and just for everybody.”

He added later, answering another question:

“Governments should not decide, on political grounds, who is participating in which sport event.

“The qualification for sports events must be on sporting merits, and not on political interference. This is, by the way, you know, against all the commitments these governments – and there, the British government, unfortunately, is not the only one – that made their approval in the meantime three or four U.N. resolutions in the last couple of years and the latest one on 1st of December, where these governments voted for resolution by consensus where they say that they respect the Olympic Charter, which is the political neutrality of the IOC, where they emphasize the conciliative nature of sports events, where they support the autonomy of sport, and then to take a decision – a political decision – on a sports competition is clearly not in line with these resolutions and these commitments, and not in line with the mission of international sports, because if this would continue, then sport competitions and the international sports system would be gone.”

Bach also emphasized that athletes who misbehave and introduce politics into the competitions must themselves be subject to penalties:

“Whatever is happening with regard to athletes in their participation, the sanctions remain in place. Then, of course, if somebody would infringe on these sanctions, then, they would be sanctioned.

“Participation must happen on sporting merits, and respecting the rules of sport. And if somebody is infringing on these rules of sport, sanctions must – will – and have followed. We have seen Russian athletes displaying this infamous ‘Z’ sign and they have been sanctioned and have been excluded from competitions. This is how our system works: it means sporting merits and respect for the rules of sport. Who has no sporting merit cannot come and who is not respecting sport cannot not come.”

This was a reference to Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak, banned for a year after wearing a pro-invasion ‘Z’ on his uniform at the FIG Artistic Apparatus World Cup in Doha (QAT) last March.

2.
IOC is upset with boxing’s federation, not the boxers

Bach also gave the clearest declaration yet that the IOC’s continuing suspension of the International Boxing Association is about the federation and not about the sport:

“What we are discussing is not so much about boxing, and the boxers, it is about the governance of this sport. It’s about the federation, as it is right now and of it would be about boxing and the boxers, there would have been no boxing in Tokyo. And there would be no boxing in Paris.

“The Executive Board is fully conscious of the social values and the globality of boxing as a sport and is taking this into account, and has been taking this into account with regard to all these decisions of having, despite the suspension of the federation (boxing) in Tokyo and despite the huge problems in the federation still ongoing, also in Paris, So this is what we are concentrating on now, but again, I think this message should go to all the boxers, but it’s not about them, but it’s about the governance of their federation, which stands in their way.”

This is good news for boxing relative to its possible inclusion on the program for Los Angeles in 2028. But Bach slammed the IBA again in a later comment, adding:

“These issues have to be addressed in a way of substance and by facts and not by some P.R. efforts, but by measures of substance, and there, we will keep monitoring, and let’s see what’s going to happen.”

3.
Possible Winter Games rotation and double-allocation are related

The IOC Executive Board made headlines on Tuesday with the report of a discussion with the Future Host Commission about new approaches to the Olympic Winter Games, including a possible double allocation of the 2030 and 2034 editions and, given concerns about “climate reliability,” that even a possible rotation among a set of semi-permanent host cities could be considered.

It turns out the two are related. Bach explained on Wednesday:

“The way it was presented by the Commission … I perceived it in the way that the Commission is saying, by a double allocation, we would win some time to then establish a sound rotation system. So this, then, would follow the allocation for 2030.”

It’s all up in the air right now, but climate concerns may be pushing the IOC to consider a long-time recommendation to concentrate the Games in a few existing locations that could handle the repeat business. The difficulty with this idea starts with the availability of an Olympic Village, which is handled in the U.S. by the use of university student residences, an option not widely available elsewhere.

4.
U.S. World Cup viewing up almost 20% for English and Spanish combined

With a few days since the close of the group stage of the 2022 World Cup, the viewing numbers are coming in, with very good reports for U.S. viewing in both English and Spanish:

● FOX reported that the 48-match group stage attracted an average of 2.638 million viewers on FOX and FS1, an impressive 35% increase over the 1.958 million average from Russia in 1998.

● Telemundo reported a “total audience delivery” – TV and streaming – averaging 2.07 million viewers on Telemundo and Peacock, with a few matches that took place concurrently on Universo. This is a 5% bump from 2018, which averaged 1.97 million viewers.

The combined total is a 4.708 million per-match average, up 19.86% from 2018 in Russia.

Better figures are now available for the U.S. matches, including the Round-of-16 game against the Netherlands, for the English and Spanish broadcasts combined:

● 21 Nov. (Mon.): 11.236 million for U.S.-Wales
● 25 Nov. (Fri.) : 20.146 million for U.S.-England
● 29 Nov. (Tue.): 15.863 million for U.S.-Iran
● 03 Dec. (Sat.): 16.875 million for U.S.-Netherlands

That’s an average of 16.03 million – combined – for the four matches, which compares very favorably against every other sport on U.S. television except the NFL. Sunday’s early NFL window (1 p.m. Eastern) drew a combined 37.10 million on CBS and FOX for regional coverage; the CBS second game (4 p.m. Eastern) did 23.41 million. The Sunday Night Football broadcast on NBC had 18.13 million for Indianapolis and Dallas.

The U.S. World Cup match average did surpass the college conference championship games, with the SEC drawing 10.89 million for LSU vs. Georgia on CBS, the Big 10 getting 10.70 million on FOX for Purdue-Michigan, and ABC drawing 9.41 million for the Big 12 title game with Kansas State and TCU.

Behind the U.S., Mexico drew well – especially on Telemundo – from Qatar, with an average of 9.18 million:

● 22 Nov. (Tue.): 8.139 million for Mexico-Poland
● 26 Nov. (Sat.): 13.438 million for Mexico-Argentina
● 30 Nov. (Wed.): 5.973 million for Mexico-Saudi Arabia

The only other match to do more than 10 million viewers combined was the Thanksgiving Day game between Brazil and Serbia, which drew 11.181 million almost evenly between English (6.187 million) and Spanish (5.694 million). Next best was the Round-of-16 game between Argentina and Australia, which had 9.927 million U.S. viewers.

The least-interesting match of the World Cup? That was 495,000 combined viewers for Canada and Morocco on 1 December.

5.
Qatar excitement has FIFA considering new formats for 2026

Qatar’s 2022 World Cup will be the last with 32 teams, as the tournament will expand to 48 for the 2026 World Cup to be played in Canada, Mexico and the U.S.

The projected format for 2026 had been 16 groups of three – to be played in 16 different stadia – with the two top in each group to advance to a 32-team tournament. But the gripping results of the group stage in Qatar, in which all eight came down to the final day to clarify who would advance, is confirming the need for a new look at the format.

FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, former French coach Arsene Wenger, said Sunday that new options are being considered. In addition to the 16×3 format:

● 12 groups of four teams, with the top two in each moving on (24) and the eight “best” third-place teams advancing to an expanded elimination round of 32.

● Creating essentially two tournaments of 24 teams each, with six groups of four in each advancing to an elimination round of 16 on each side, and the winners of each “half” meeting in the final.

Said Wenger, “I will not be able to decide that, it will be decided by the FIFA [Council], and I think it will be done in the next year.”

The original 16×3 scenario was going to expand the World Cup from the current 64 total matches to 80, but either the 12×4 or 24×2 formats would create 104 matches in all, a financial, tourism and publicity bonanza for FIFA, the stadiums and potentially for the local communities.

≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡

FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) praised the 2022 World Cup – so far – in a video posted Wednesday:

“Record-breaking figures on TV; we already had over two billion viewers, which is really incredible. Figures published at the end of the group stage showed a cumulative attendance of 2.45 million for the first 48 games, while the first knockout round featured a total of 28 goals over the eight games played; the most there has ever been since the round of 16 was introduced in 1986.”

Cumulative attendance at the Fan Festival in Doha has surpassed one million.

Mario Ferri, 35, the Italian activist who ran onto the field wearing a Superman shirt that said “Free Ukraine” on the front, “Respect for Iranian Women” on the back and carried a rainbow flag during the group-stage game between Portugal and Uruguay, said he was released from Qatari custody after just a half-hour due to the intervention of Infantino.

Now back home, Ferri told Reuters, “Gianni Infantino is intelligent; Falco is free, no problem in Qatar.” He said the FIFA President came to where Ferri was being held and arranged for his release. Ferri claims to have created on-field protests 11 times, and this was his third at a World Cup, after 2010 and 2014.

Avaaz, a Swiss protest group, created mobile billboards that toured Infantino’s home town of Brig (SUI) on Wednesday, reading “Infantino: your family were migrants,” “Thousands like them were victims of this World Cup,” and “Compensate them now.”

For a guest comment on some of the questions raised by hosting the FIFA World Cup in Qatar by University of Lausanne Professor of Public Management at the Swiss Graduate School of Public Administration, Jean-Loup Chappelet, click here.

No matches on Wednesday or Thursday; the World Cup will resume on Friday and Saturday with the quarterfinals (records reflect penalty-kick victories as wins):

● 09 Dec.: Croatia (2-0-2 W-L-T: goals 5-2) vs. Brazil (3-1: goals 7-2)
● 09 Dec.: Netherlands (3-0-1; goals 8-2) vs. Argentina (3-1; goals 7-3)

● 10 Dec.: Morocco (3-0-1; goals 4-1) vs. Portugal (3-1; goals 12-5)
● 10 Dec.: England (3-0-1; goals 12-2) vs. France (3-1; goals 9-4)

The semifinals will be played on the 13th and 14th and the final on 18 December.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Weightlifting ● The 2022 IWF World Championships continue in Bogota (COL), with the lighter weights, and another gold for Thailand.

In the men’s 55 kg class, Theerapong Silachai, 19, came from fourth after the Snatch to win the Clean & Jerk event and take the victory at 265 kg. He led an Asian sweep, with Ngo Son Dinh (VIE) second at 260 kg and Yon-ho King (KOR) third, also at 260. Gabe Chhum of the U.S. was 10th at 238 kg.

China’s Huihua Jiang won her third world title at 49 kg – also in 2015 and 2019 – by lifting a combined 206 kg, winning both the Snatch and Clean & Jerk golds. Tokyo silver winner Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (IND) took silver at 200 kg and Tokyo Olympic champ Zhihui Hou (CHN: 198 kg) was third.

American Hayley Reichardt scored a bronze in the Clean & Jerk lift, but finished fifrth overall (194 kg); teammate Jourdan Delacruz was seventh (191 kg).

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Doping ● Dr. Werner Franke, the German biologist who played a key role in uncovering the East German state doping scheme, passed at age 82 on 14 November in Heidelberg.

With his wife, former East German Olympic shot putter and discus thrower Brigitte Bernendonk, Franke was able to assemble documents that described the use of anabolic steroids as part of a state-sponsored plan launched in 1974, although doping in East Germany had been going on in the 1960s.

Franke and Benendonk’s 1991 book, Doping Dokumente: Von der Forschung zum Betrug, made the documentation public and exposed the now-infamous program. Franke was a long-time professor of cell and molecular biology at the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg.

● Taekwondo ● The long-running appeal by U.S. star Steven Lopez – two time Olympic gold medalist in 2000 (68 kg) and 2004 (80 kg), now 44 – and brother and coach, Jean Lopez over a ban by World Taekwondo, was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The decision restored the standing of both Lopez brothers immediately. They were declared permanently ineligible by the U.S. Center for SafeSport in September 2018 for sexual abuse, but that finding was overturned in early 2019. World Taekwondo subsequently imposed its own sanctions, and the Lopezes appealed. According to the Court:

“[I]in the absence of any relevant applicable disciplinary or ethics rules implemented or published by WT at the time of the alleged violations, the CAS Panel was not in a position to sanction the appellants, even if the Panel was to assume that they had committed an infraction.

“Indeed, the Panel observed that WT charged the appellants based on its 2011 Code of Ethics, which entered into force on 15 September 2011, but that all relevant incidents for which the appellants were charged allegedly occurred before 15 September 2011 and were therefore not sanctionable on the basis of the 2011 Code of Ethics.”

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For our updated, 951-event International Sports Calendar for 2022-23 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

VOX POPULI: The Cup is full

By
Jean-Loup Chappelet
-

Happy to share a guest opinion from Jean-Loup Chappelet (SUI), Professor of Public Management at the Swiss Graduate School of Public Administration (IDHEAP) of the University of Lausanne. His opinions, of course, are his own.

The men’s football World Cup is now underway in Qatar. Beyond the fundamental issues of environmental sustainability and the human rights of residents and visitors (e.g. construction workers, LGBTQ+ people,), it once again raises the question of why stage risky and extremely costly mega sports events if public opinion is likely to vilify the host country, a risk that is particularly great when that country has an autocratic government.

There is of course the old adage that there is no such thing as bad publicity, but here the criticism (from participating teams, from cities refusing to set up fan zones, and from the media) was so overwhelming that FIFA found it necessary to ask people to concentrate on the football. Even the Emir of Qatar, with the help of paid social media, intervened to insist on the Middle East being allowed the right to host major events (whatever they cost). In fact, for the last 20 years this tiny country (smaller than New Jersey) has had a policy of attracting and staging major sport events at
the cost of millions and to the joy of sport federations that were struggling to find hosts for their championships. This policy has resulted in Qatar being attributed numerous world championships, including triathlon (2006), volleyball (2011), squash (2012), swimming (2014), handball (2015), fencing (2017), gymnastics (2018), and athletics (2019), as well as the Asian Games (2006 and 2030). The 2022 World Cup — attributed 12 years ago — crowns an unequalled series that lacks only the
Summer Olympic Games (despite two bids).

Saudi Arabia has recently adopted a similar policy and should host the 2034 Asian Games and the 2029 Asian Winter Games (!). Other cities (Chicago), regions (Scotland), and countries (Denmark) introduced policies based on hosting sports events many years ago, but they are increasingly focusing their efforts on more reasonable events that can be staged using existing facilities, as the IOC now recommends for the Olympic Games. Recurring events are another prized target because they enable areas to build expertise and because they can gradually turn into heritage events (e.g., the Boston Marathon and U.S. Open).

Sports events need to become more sustainable, that is, they must provide economic and social benefits while reducing their environmental impact. A sports event’s largest environmental impact is caused by travel, as participants and spectators often come from far afield and they often travel by plane, due to the lack of alternatives (see the 2022 U.N. Climate Change Conference: COP 27). In fact, the best event from an environmental point of view would be one that did not happen. Therefore, to continue bringing people together for sports events, they must fulfil two requirements: They must do everything possible to reduce or compensate for the impacts of transportation, waste, energy production, etc., and they must ensure economic and social impacts benefit the largest possible number of host area residents and not just a few “winners” such as the tourism sector. They must also have positive social impacts, such as promoting volunteerism and creating other intangible legacies. These are the criteria against which future sports events will be judged and accepted or rejected.

Will football once again work its magic during the coming days? Will it make people forget the economic, social, and environmental aberrations of the 2022 World Cup? It is by no means certain. It could, on the other hand, mark a salutary turning point in the much-needed debate on public policies to attract large-scale events owned by private sport organizations.

[≡The Sports Examiner encourages expressions of opinion – we really do – but preferably based on facts. Comments may be sent to [email protected] We do not guarantee publication of any comment, but all comments submitted will be considered and your submission implies your agreement to publication (and light editing if needed to meet our grammatical and punctuation standards) at our sole discretion. Please include your name and hometown on any comment submitted for publication.≡]

TSX REPORT: Morocco stuns Spain and Portugal routs Swiss in Qatar; IOC says boxing federation still failing, and no 2030 Winter Games election in 2023!

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Morocco makes history for Africa and Arabs in Qatar
2. No 2030 Winter Games award in 2023 as IOC evaluates climate impact
3. IOC slams IBA as still unfit to manage Olympic boxing
4. Paris 2024 budget now to be €4.38 billion, but revenues are also up
5. Heptathlete Taliyah Brooks files suit vs. USATF to invalidate waivers

The FIFA World Cup in Qatar had some history on the field as Morocco defeated Spain on penalty kicks (3-0) after a 0-0, making it the first Arab country to make it to the quarterfinals and only the fourth African team in history. Portugal routed Switzerland, 6-1, with Goncalo Ramos, 21, getting the first hat tricks of the tournament. At the International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board meeting, it was decided that the 2030 Winter Games host would not be decided in 2023 and a completely new approach to the event – possibly including rotating host cities – will be considered for the future. The IOC also sent a letter to the International Boxing Association that its reforms are far short of what the IOC has asked for and the federation, at present, will not be involved in the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Boxing, as a sport, might be. Details of a 10% increase in the Paris 2024 budget were revealed, including the impact of inflation and more money coming in than planned in sponsorships and tickets. The 2024 Games is now expected to cost the organizing committee €4.38 billion (about $4.59 billion U.S.), which does not include construction costs being borne by the French government. U.S. heptathlete Taliyah Brooks, who did not finish at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene die to the high heat, has filed suit against USA Track & Field to invalidate its waiver of liability, in order to be able to sue the federation for damages. This is going to take a while, but has the potential to re-shape the events industry in the U.S.

1.
Morocco makes history for Africa and Arabs in Qatar

Finally, a historic breakthrough on the field, and at the first FIFA World Cup to be held in an Arab country, an Arab team has progressed to the quarterfinals.

Despite having only 23% of possession during the game, Morocco held Spain scoreless over 120 minutes and then won the penalty shoot-out by 3-0 as the first Spanish penalty hit the post and two were saved by keeper Yassine Bounou.

Morocco is only the fourth African team to make it to the quarters, beginning with Cameroon back in 1990, then Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010. And it is the first Arab country to make it this far, a sporting legacy to go with the geopolitical ramifications of the World Cup being played in Qatar.

In the second match, Portugal’s superstar scorer Cristiano Ronaldo was benched in favor of 21-year-old Goncalo Ramos – playing in his fourth international match – who scored the first hat trick of the 2022 tournament, with electrifying goals in the 17th, 51st and 67th minutes en route to a 6-1 win over Switzerland.

Portugal is into the quarters for the first time since 2006 and the third time ever (also in 1966). Their attacking style will be a considerable contrast to Spain.

So, the quarterfinals will have five European teams – down from seven in 2018 – two from South America in Argentina and Brazil, and Morocco.

After 13 days of group-stage play and four more days of elimination matches, the World Cup finally takes a breather for two days, with the quarters coming on Friday and Saturday (records reflect penalty-kick victories as wins):

● 09 Dec.: Croatia (2-0-2 W-L-T: goals 5-2) vs. Brazil (3-1: goals 7-2)
● 09 Dec.: Netherlands (3-0-1; goals 8-2) vs. Argentina (3-1; goals 7-3)

● 10 Dec.: Morocco (3-0-1; goals 4-1) vs. Portugal (3-1; goals 12-5)
● 10 Dec.: England (3-0-1; goals 12-2) vs. France (3-1; goals 9-4)

The semifinals will be played on the 13th and 14th and the final on 18 December.

2.
No 2030 Winter Games award in 2023
as IOC evaluates climate impact

The much-anticipated report of the Future Host Commission for the Olympic Winter Games to the International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board did not focus on the selection of a host for 2030 Games, but about climate change.

And now, everything appears to be up for grabs:

● The selection of a 2030 host will not be decided in 2023, but perhaps in 2024. For now, there is no timetable;

● Considerable concern over “climate reliability” and the availability of actual snow for biathlon, skiing and snowboard events at a narrowing number of potential hosts;

● “[A] proposal that hosts would need to show average minimum temperatures of below zero degrees [C, or 32 F] for snow competition venues at the time of the Games over a 10-year period”;

● “The idea of rotating the Olympic Winter Games within a pool of hosts”;

● A possible requirement that, according to IOC Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi (SUI), that “for the future, we should aim to target a host that can display all venues to be existing, or temporary” that would apply at least to the outdoor biathlon, skiing and snowboard events.

So the Future Host Commission was asked for further study and a return report to the Executive Board.

After prior explicit declarations to the contrary, “[t]here was also a discussion about a double award for 2030 and 2034, to create stability for winter sports and the Olympic Winter Games. No conclusion was reached, since this needs more exploration.”

Does this mean new bidders could come in now? Yes.

Observed: That the 2030 host will not be selected in 2023 could create chaos in the bidding process. Perhaps Spain will come back in. Will Vancouver get a new look from the Province of British Columbia?

Will the expanding bribery and rigged-bid scandal at the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee impact public support for Sapporo’s bid? Will its budget continue to increase?

For Salt Lake City, the situation is more subtle. It already has all existing venues, so that won’t change. A selection in 2024 would cut one year of staff and office costs from its ledger, which will help. It will give the LA28 folks another year of a clear field for its marketing efforts, but also gives a potential Salt Lake City 2030 Games less time to find domestic sponsorship opportunities.

One advantage that Salt Lake City can press is its continuing parade of national and international winter-sport events and athlete training programs being held at the Utah Olympic Park, the Olympic Oval and elsewhere. That’s the kind of expertise which cannot be duplicated and with a shorter run-up to a 2030 Games, could be the decisive card in a “safe hands” play to ensure the Winter Games is well cared for into the next decade.

As with Brisbane for the 2032 Olympic Games, stability is looking better and better as an attraction for the IOC, and could place Salt Lake City in a permanent rotation!

3.
IOC slams IBA as still unfit to manage Olympic boxing

One day after a demonstration was mounted in front of Olympic House in Lausanne by former pro boxing champ Roy Jones, Jr. and about 100 friends to lobby for boxing to be reinstated for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and the International Boxing Association as the worldwide governing body, the IOC Executive Board said they aren’t interested.

The Executive Board sent a letter to the IBA, all National Olympic Committees and all national boxing federations that included:

“The IOC has been monitoring the activities of the International Boxing Association (IBA) for several years now and is periodically considering whether the suspension of its recognition by the IOC could be lifted. The issue is not about the sport of boxing or boxers, but IBA and its practices and activities. While some indications concerning the reorganisation of the administration of boxing were received, there are multiple signals that the drastic change of culture requested by the IOC in order to lift the suspension of IBA’s recognition has not been implemented. As a result, the IOC is not in a position today to reverse its stance with regard to the suspension of IBA’s recognition.”

And specifically about 2028, the letter stated:

“If a decision had to be taken today regarding the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028, the IOC EB would not be able to recommend the IOC Session to include boxing in the sports programme under the authority of the IBA as IBA has not demonstrated that it has successfully addressed the ongoing concerns around its governance, its financial transparency and sustainability and the integrity of its refereeing and judging processes.”

It’s important to note the two references to the IOC’s issues with the IBA and not boxing or boxers. The IOC successfully managed the boxing qualifications and Olympic tournament in Tokyo, and is ready to do so again for Paris in 2024. But with the IBA? No.

As further proof, the Executive Board also approved the qualification process for Paris 2024, relying on the continental multi-sport games in 2023 – Asian Games, European Games, Pan-American Games, Pacific Games and a tournament to be determined in Africa – and two world qualification tournaments in 2024. The idea is to give boxers potentially three chances to qualify.

The IBA, for its part, is holding a Global Boxing Forum this weekend in Abi Dhabi (UAE), to decide its next steps.

4.
Paris 2024 budget now to be €4.38 billion,
but revenues are also up

The FrancsJeux.com site outlined the specifics of the revision of the Paris 2024 budget to be confirmed by its Board next Monday (12th). The current edition shows €3.9 billion (~$4.08 billion U.S. today), rising to €4.38 billion (~$4.59 billion U.S.) thanks to inflation, supply-chain issues and revisions to the Games plan.

The specific inflation impact is forecast at €196 million, but the other €242 million added on are simply added costs.

However, revenues are also, happily, rising. Domestic sponsorships, long targeted at €1.1 billion, are projected to include €127 million more (so €1.227 billion in total), with about 10 more partners to be signed.

The ticketing and hospitality forecast of €1.165 billion is also being increased by €143 million (to €1.308 billion) by increasing prices on some of the high-demand sessions and making more tickets available by reducing seats reserved for officials and press.

Public funding from state and local sources is also being increased by €111 million, mostly for support of the Paralympic Games (from €100 to €171 million), plus €12 million for sports equipment that will also be used after the Games, €8 million for the anti-doping lab and €5 million for transportation support.

A major savings was made by eliminating free public transport for ticket holders, which has been widely available in the past. But it saves €45 million! And old traditions like opening the Olympic Village two weeks prior to the Games are being shelved, now to open on 18 July, with the Opening Ceremony on 26 July. Training sites will open just seven days ahead of the start of each sport. And so on.

5.
Heptathlete Taliyah Brooks files suit vs. USATF to invalidate waivers

A complaint filed on 29 November in the Marion County Superior Court in Indianapolis is challenging the validity of waivers used to shield sports event operators – and many others – from liability, and if successful, could pose a serious legal liability challenge to events across the United States. Filed by Indianapolis-based Kroger, Gardis & Regas, it begins:

“Plaintiff, Taliyah Brooks, by counsel, brings this Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief against Defendant USA Track & Field, Inc. (“USA Track & Field,” “USATF” or “Defendant”), seeking (1) a declaratory judgment that a purported waiver, release, assumption of risk and indemnity agreement (the “Alleged Indemnity Agreement” or “AIA”) which, if enforceable, would prevent her from suing for damages suffered at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Time Trials in Eugene, Oregon in June, 2021 (the “U.S. Olympic Trials” or the “Olympic Trials”), is unenforceable as a matter of law and equity and (2) an injunction preventing USATF from enforcing the AIA against Taliyah Brooks.”

Brooks, now 27, won the 2021 Texas Relays heptathlon in March with a lifetime best of 6,252 points and stood third on the U.S. performer list going into the U.S. Olympic Trials in June. In Eugene, temperatures soared, but Brooks was in fourth place after the long jump at 4,908, just 11 back of Erica Bougard in third – and a potential Olympic berth – with the javelin and 800 m left.

The complaint states that temperatures in Eugene on the first day of the heptathlon reached 103 degrees (F) and were forecast to reach 108 F on the second day, and although there were requests for a change in schedule due to the heat, none were made to the heptathlon (although some other events were re-scheduled).

Brooks took one practice throw in the javelin and collapsed, but got up. Then, according to the complaint:

“Next, Taliyah attempted to walk towards the stands. As she crossed the track, Brooks collapsed a second time, falling to the track, where she remained, unconscious, motionless and unattended, her fall unbroken.

“Eventually, Taliyah was reached by a credentialed individual who is not believed to be a physician and accompanied by a few other individuals who stood by with no medical equipment, no ice or cooling devices, no stretcher or wheelchair, and nothing to insulate Taliyah from the extreme heat of the track surface. Taliyah lay unconscious on the hot track while a worker radioed for assistance.”

She was eventually placed in a wheelchair and escorted off the track, unconscious; “After Taliyah was taken off the track it is believed that she was eventually immersed in water to reduce her core temperature and she regained consciousness.”

The essence of the complaint is that “at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials USATF failed and breached its duty in relation to virtually every single health and safety related duty listed above that it owed and had assumed towards Taliyah Brooks and her fellow competitors in the two-day women’s heptathlon event.”

However, USATF’s insurer has pointed to a mandatory waiver of rights, a legal tool which has been widely used for decades to shield event producers from liability. There is apparently no evidence that Brooks actually signed the waiver, but the complaint is asking to have the waiver itself declared illegal for a variety of reasons and:

“Taliyah Brooks is entitled to a declaratory judgment that the AIA and any and all exculpatory provisions sought to be enforced against her through any documents or alleged agreements tendered by USATF are unenforceable and Taliyah Brooks is entitled to an injunction enjoining the enforcement of any and all such exculpatory provisions.”

The request is directly to the Court to invalidate the waiver (permanently) so that Brooks can sue USATF (and perhaps others) for damages. If she is successful – and this may take years – it will change the way events of all kinds are staged in the U.S. and could keep some programs for even taking place. For that reason, it’s an important case to follow.

Brooks competed in only one heptathlon in 2022, the USATF Nationals in Fayetteville, Arkansas on 6-7 May and finished ninth at 4,291.

≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡

● Morocco 0, Spain 0 (Morocco wins on penalty kicks, 3-0) ● Spain’s possession strategy failed on Tuesday, as it held the ball for 77% of the game – including extra time – against Morocco, but was sent home after having all three of its penalty kicks hit the post or saved.

The victory for Morocco sends it to the quarterfinals for the first time ever and is the first African quarterfinalist since Ghana in 2010 (and the fourth ever). It is the first Arab country to reach the World Cup quarters and was wildly cheered on by a huge majority of fans in the Education City Stadium.

The game was Spain in possession and Morocco looking for counterattacks, which were few and far between. Both sides managed just one shot on goal in the first half (Spain had a 7-4 edge on total shots) and after 120 minutes, Spain had 13 total shots to six.

Forward Walid Cheddira had a chance close to the Spanish goal in the 86th, but Spanish keeper Unai Simon was able to corral the shot. Morocco keeper Yassine Bounou saved a possible goal off a free kick by Spanish defender Rodri at 90+4 and Simon saved a point-blank challenge from Cheddira in the 104th.

But it went to penalty kicks and after Pablo Sarabia’s first shot hit the post, Bounou saved the next two from Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets. Meanwhile, Morocco converted its first two, Simon saved the third and Achraf Hakimi scored with a shot to the center of the goal to give Morocco the win and some history in Qatar.

The Spanish have now lost Round-of-16 games in back-to-back World Cups and have not won one since 2010, when they won the tournament.

● Portugal 6, Switzerland 1 ● The first surprise came when Portugal announced that superstar striker Cristiano Ronaldo would not start, with 21-year-old Goncalo Ramos in his place, for just his fourth appearance with the national team.

No problem, as Ramos turned on forward Joao Felix’s pass into the left side of the box and sent a sudden, left-footed rocket into the Swiss goal, just inside the left post, in the 17th for a 1-0 lead.

Portugal continued to threaten and then the 39-year-old defender Pepe headed an in-swinging corner from Bruno Fernandes into the goal, flying it past Swiss keeper Yann Sommer in the 33rd.

The Swiss almost scored in the 38th, after Portugal keeper Diogo Costa made a save, but the ball fell to Swiss midfielder Remo Freuler for a header – with Costa out of position – that was cleared by defender Diogo Dalot. Five minutes later, Ramos was on a breakaway for Portugal, but Sommer was able to save his shot across the goal with his left hand. Portugal had 53% of possession in the half and a 6-4 edge on shots.

More Portuguese pressure in the second half to a third goal in the 51st, thanks to a perfect cross from the right side from Dalot right to the near post to a running Ramos, who tapped it past Sommer for his second score and a 3-0 lead that broke the back of the Swiss.

Now the rout was on, as defender Rafael Guerreiro took a Ramos lead pass, dribbled down the left-hand side and scored on a rifle shot into the far right corner in the 55th, now 4-0. The Swiss got one back in the 58th, off a corner that bounced off of Ramos’ head, then fell to the far post and defender Manuel Akanji left-footed it into the goal for 4-1.

Ramos came back with another goal – the hat trick – in the 67th, taking a pass from Felix from the top of the box that put him one-on-one on goal and he chipped it in for 5-1. At 90+3, substitute striker Rafael Leao scored his second of the tournament from the left side of the box on a right-footed rainbow into the right side of the goal for the 6-1 final.

Portugal had only 52% of the possession and a 14-10 edge on shots, but 9-3 on goal. Wow.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● International Olympic Committee ● The 11th “Olympic Summit” is being held on Sunday (11th), bringing together – in-person and online – some of the leaders of the Olympic Movement, including National Olympic Committees, International Federations, associations and more.

On the list for 2022 is Russia’s National Olympic Committee President, Stanislav Pozdnyakov, a controversial selection given the continuing war in Ukraine, but in line with the IOC policy that the only people to be punished should be government officials.

He will attend, along with Chinese NOC chief Zhidan Gao and U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee outgoing Board Chair Susanne Lyons and incoming Chair Gene Sykes.

● National Olympic Committees ● The IOC Executive Board continued the suspension of the Guatemalan NOC in view of government interference issues that have not been resolved.

The North Korean NOC has been on suspension since 2021 because it did not send a team to the Tokyo 2020 Games. That will be lifted as of the end of this year.

For Afghanistan, the situation is critical, and the Executive Board “expressed its serious concern and strongly condemned the latest restrictions imposed by the Afghan authorities on women and young girls in Afghanistan, which prevent them from practising sport in the country.

“Despite the repeated commitments from the Afghan NOC and sports authorities to ensure full compliance with the Olympic Charter and the Fundamental Principle of non-discrimination, and to send mixed teams to international sports competitions, in particular the Olympic Games Paris 2024, the latest developments prompted the IOC EB to urge the relevant authorities in Afghanistan, including the Afghan NOC and the Afghan Directorate of Physical Education & Sports, to take immediate action at the highest level to reverse such restrictions and ensure safe access to sport for women and young girls in the country.”

If the situation does not improve, the Executive Board agreed to consider banning the country from future Games, but will continue to support individual Afghan athletes through the Olympic Solidarity program.

On Monday, the Human Rights Watch organization urged the IOC to suspend the Afghanistan NOC “until women and girls can once again play sport in the country.”

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● The U.S. Olympic Endowment, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s investment arm formed from the surplus from the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, announced its 2022 award winners on Monday, to be presented on 16 December in New York:

● Six-time Olympic fencer and 1984 Sabre bronze medalist Peter Westbrook, 70, to receive the George M. Steinbrenner III Sport Leadership Award, as a contributor who has displayed qualities of leadership, ethical conduct, and dedicated responsibility during a longstanding commitment to sport.

● U.S. Junior Pairs champion Paul George, the head of the U.S. Figure Skating Foundation and contributor to many others, for the William E. Simon Award, “given to an individual or group who has made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of the Olympic and Paralympic movements.”

● Three-time Team Handball Olympian Cindy Stinger, a longtime USOPC executive and current manager of the U.S. Olympians & Paralympians Alumni Association, will be the honoree of the General Douglas MacArthur Award, given “to an individual who has exhibited exemplary service to the USOPC and to athletes.”

● Cycling ● The 2022 UCI Track Champions League concluded in London (GBR) on Sunday, with Sprint and Endurance winners decided, including Jennifer Valente of the U.S.

The men’s Sprint title went to Australian Matthew Richardson, the 2022 World Sprint silver medalist, scoring 183 points (in Sprint and Keirin races) across five stops to edge Olympic champ Harrie Lavreysen (NED: 181) and Stefan Botticher (GER: 136).

The men’s Endurance program had Scratch and Elimination races across five rounds, with Claudio Imhof (SUI) and Sebastian Mora Vedri (ESP) both scoring 125 points, but Imhof winning on a better finish in the final (Elimination) race.

France’s 2022 World Sprint gold medalist Mathilde Gros won the women’s Sprint (& Keirin) class, piling up 140 points vs. 127 for Canada’s Tokyo Olympic Sprint champ Kelsey Mitchell and 122 for Olympic Keirin winner Shanne Braspennincx (NED: 122).

Valente, the Tokyo Olympic Omnium gold medalist, edged Britain’s two-time Omnium World champion Katie Archibald, 161-158 in the Endurance division, with fellow American Lily Williams fifth (95).

● Rowing ● The World Rowing Awards were announced on Sunday, with France’s Double Sculls World Champions Matthieu Androdias and Hugo Boucheron taking the Men’s Crew of the Year, and the unbeatable – Olympic and World Champions – Romanian Double Sculls team of Simona Radis and Ancuta Bodnar named the Women’s Crew of the Year.

The Thomas Keller Medal, named for the famed longtime head of World Rowing, was given to New Zealand icon Mahe Drysdale, the Olympic gold medalist in the men’s Single Sculls in 2008 and 2012 and bronze medalist in 2016.

● Shooting ● While much recent attention was given to the closely-contested election for the ISSF Presidency, the ISSF President’s Cup competition was taking place in Cairo (EGY) and concluded on 4 December.

Serbia’s Tokyo Olympic runner-up Damir Mikec defeated German star Christian Reitz in the men’s 10 m Air Pistol, 17-9, and Olympic champ Jean Quiquampoix (FRA) won the 25 m Rapid-Fire Pistol over Rio 2016 champ Reitz, 35-34. India’s Rudrankksh Patil won the 10 m Air Rifle title over Danilo Sollazzo (ITA), 16-8, with the 50 m Rifle/3 Positions win going to Petr Nymbursky (CZE).

France’s Camille Jedrzejewski defeated 2010 World Champion Zorana Arunovic (SRB) in the women’s 10 m Air Pistol final, 16-12, and Germany’s 2022 European Champion Doreen Vennekamp out-scored Jedrzejewski, 31-27, in the 25 m Pistol final. French star Oceane Muller won the 10 m Air Rifle final over Lucie Brazdova (CZE), 16-10, and Germany’s Anna Jansen won the 50 m Rifle/3 Positions in a tight match with Anjum Moudgil (IND), 16-14.

The Shotgun titles went to Tokyo Olympic runner-up Jesper Hansen (DEN) in men’s Skeet, Croatia’s Rio 2016 gold medalist Josip Glasnovic in Trap (over the U.S.’s 2022 World Champion Derrick Mein, 6-4), 2018World Champion Caitlin Connor of the U.S. in women’s Skeet and Italian Jessica Rossi, the 2012 Olympic champ, in women’s Trap.

● Weightlifting ● The 2022 IWF World Championships are underway in Bogota (COL), with Thai star Thanyathon Sukcharoen winning her second straight title in the women’s 45 kg division, listing a combined total of 182 kg. Teammate Chayuttra Pramongkhol won silver (180 kg) and Colombia’s Manuela Berrio took the bronze (170 kg). The championships continue through the 16th.

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