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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.

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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
-
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)

★ 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. 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.★

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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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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)

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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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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)

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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.★

★ Enjoying our coverage? If so, please consider a donation to help cover technical costs for 2023. Thank you for your support. ★

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

≡ 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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TSX REPORT: Brazil stomps Korea, 4-1 and Croatia penalty-kicks Japan; IOC could invite more than one 2030 Winter bidder to “targeted dialogue”

By
Rich Perelman
-
Former pro boxing champ Roy Jones Jr. leading a demonstration to retain boxing on the 2028 Olympic program in front of the IOC headquarters on Monday (Photo: International Boxing Association)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Brazil looks like Brazil in 4-1 romp while Croatia wins on penalties
2. U.S. vs. Netherlands draws 16.55 million viewers combined
3. IOC could invite more than one bidder for “targeted dialogue” for 2030
4. Roy Jones, Jr. leads demonstration for boxing’s 2028 inclusion
5. Int’l Testing Agency closes London 2012 re-tests, adding 73 positives.

The FIFA World Cup completed its third day of four in the Round of 16, with Brazil looking unstoppable in a 4-1 win over South Korea and Croatia edging Japan on penalty kicks (3-1) after a 1-1 tie. FIFA’s disciplinary group opened an inquiry into possible sanctions for the Uruguayan federation and four of its players after they accosted match officials at the conclusion of their final group-stage match against Ghana. The U.S. men’s team loss to the Netherlands on Saturday drew an American audience – in English and Spanish combined – of 16.55 million on FOX and Telemundo, second only to the U.S.-England match. The International Olympic Committee’s staff director for the Olympic Games said that more than one bidder for the 2030 Olympic Winter Games could be invited to the “targeted dialogue” phase, a departure from the process used for the selection of 2032 Olympic host Brisbane. A group of 100-plus demonstrators assembled in front of the IOC headquarters in Lausanne on Monday, led by former pro boxing champion Roy Jones, Jr., to urge inclusion of boxing in the 2028 Olympic program in Los Angeles; the International Boxing Association made no claim of responsibility for the event. The International Testing Agency announced the closure of its re-testing of samples from the London 2012 Olympic Games, in which 73 positives were uncovered and 31 medals withdrawn, the most of any Olympic Games in history.

1.
Brazil looks like Brazil in 4-1 romp while Croatia wins on penalties

The FIFA World Cup Round-of-16 matches on Monday saw the exit of the last Asian teams in the tournament, as Japan lost on penalty kicks vs. Croatia and Brazil out-classed South Korea, 4-1.

The results give Europe at least five of the quarterfinalists with a possible sixth available on Tuesday as Portugal plays a surprising and skilled Morocco team. The final Round-of-16 match will be an all-European affair between Portugal and Switzerland.

South America has two of the final eight, with Argentina and Brazil qualifying decisively, with the Brazilians looking brilliant in a 4-0 first-half display, then settling for a 4-1 final.

Friday’s quarterfinals are now set, with the Netherlands facing Argentina and Croatia vs. Brazil. England will play France in one quarterfinal on Saturday. The semifinals will be on 13-14 December and the championship match on the 18th (Sunday).

The FIFA disciplinary folks are busy, informing the Uruguayan Football Association that it and four of its players are being investigated for violations of FIFA’s fair-play rules.

At the conclusion of the final group-stage match between Uruguay and Ghana – won by Uruguay, 2-0, but insufficient to advance them to the elimination rounds, referee Daniel Siebert (GER) was hounded by Uruguayan players furious that a penalty was not awarded for a Ghanian foul late in the match.

The behavior of defender Jose Gimenez, striker Edinson Cavani, keeper Fernando Muslera and defender Diego Godin is being reviewed, especially for surrounding Siebert and the assistant referees as they walked off the field.

Further, the Uruguayan federation will be subject to sanction relating to FIFA Disciplinary Code Article 11 (offensive behavior and violation of the principles of fair play), Article 12 (improper conduct of players and officials) and Article 13 (discrimination). The actions of the four players will be reviewed for violations of Articles 11 and 12.

It was also reported that FIFA is reviewing Serbian behavior relating to “incidents” in its 3-2 loss to the Swiss in the final Group G game. The specifics were not, as usual, specified, but in-match announcements asked fans to “stop all discriminatory chants and gestures.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) promised that the organization would work to continue the labor reforms achieved in Qatar and met with International Labor Organisation Director-General Gilbert Houngbo (TOG) on Sunday. Said Infantino:

“We have been engaging with the ILO for a number of years and we want to make sure our fruitful cooperation will continue in the future. The strengthening of the relation of FIFA and the ILO is also part of the legacy of the FIFA World Cup 2022, namely via the Legacy Fund that we will create, and which will be dedicated to workers throughout the world.”

A Memorandum of Understanding between FIFA and the ILO is anticipated, setting out the nature of their cooperation going forward.

2.
U.S. vs. Netherlands draws 16.55 million viewers combined

Strong viewing of the Round-of-16 match between the U.S. Men’s National Team and the Dutch on Saturday at 10 a.m. Eastern time, with 16.55 million watching in either English or Spanish, on television on streaming:

● FOX reported 12.966 million watching or streaming in English, including 596,850 (4.6%) on its streaming services.

● Telemundo’s Spanish-language coverage of the game drew a total audience of 3.58 million.

The total of 16.546 million is the second-most for a U.S. match at this World Cup:

1. 20.091 million on 25 Nov.: U.S. vs. England
2. 16.546 million on 03 Dec.: U.S. vs. Netherlands
3. 15.513 million on 29 Nov.: U.S. vs. Iran
4. 11.161 million on 21 Nov.: U.S. vs. Wales

The top U.S. markets for FOX were Cincinnati, St. Louis, Washington, D.C.. Kansas City and Austin. More information on how the U.S. men’s game stacked up against other weekend sports offerings will be available later in the week.

The Associated Press reported that the in-person attendance for Saturday’s Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase game at London’s O2 Arena between Michigan and Kentucky – won by Kentucky, 73-69, with a Maine-Marist game held earlier – was held down due to a timing clash with England playing Senegal in the Round of 16.

John Doleva, President of the Basketball Hall of Fame said “Two years ago, we were supposed to be here” – but had to postpone due to the pandemic – “and now the World Cup. We’ve certainly had our hurdles.”

Michigan coach Juwan Howard said, “I’m sure a lot of folks were at home or in pubs watching the football match. Overall, it would have been great if we had could have had more fans.”

Not when England is playing!

3.
IOC could invite more than one bidder for “targeted dialogue” for 2030

The International Olympic Committee’s Executive Director for the Olympic Games, Christophe Dubi (SUI) threw a curveball into the selection process for the 2030 Olympic Winter Games, being sought by Sapporo, Salt Lake City and Vancouver, during a Monday news conference after the first day of the IOC’s Executive Board meeting:

“You can have more than one [bid] starting with the targeted dialogue, you can then have different options going into the Session. This process is really designed for the parties to look into the projects, into minute details every step of the way.”

This would be a change from the process used for the 2023 Olympic Games, where Brisbane (AUS) was the only bidder asked to essentially work with the IOC to complete a Host City Agreement and be named as the host. Dubi continued:

“The targeted dialogue, between now and then, mostly it’s about the guarantees, and you know, sometimes, the guarantees prove extremely hard to assemble, in which case it can be one of the city deciding that they don’t wish to continue, or it can be, indeed, a decision by the IOC as well prior to a submission to the Session.

“So here, really, everything is open, but it is indeed an option to have more than one going into targeted dialogue and then once it’s unfolding, the result is then a proposal from the [Executive Board] to the Session.”

This is a reference to Vancouver’s situation, in which the Province of British Columbia – and therefore, the federal government – have declined to provide support for the Games project. More details were not available, since the Future Hosts Commission will be reporting on Tuesday about its view of the current situation.

But it opens the possibility for Sapporo and Salt Lake City to both be asked for further work, and even the option of a competitive vote in the 2023 Session next fall in India.

Dubi was also positive about the Paris 2024 update given on Monday, saying “It was a very solid report from Paris today that we heard.”

He further noted that the budget exercise for Paris continues to look for savings, including tweaking the dates of venue availability for training. The organizing committee’s projected revenue totals appear to be moving higher than projected, which will allow for some flexibility.

The final struggle over venues appears to also be over, with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) giving provisional approval to the use of the multi-use Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille for preliminary matches, subject to further engineering on climate controls.

4.
Roy Jones, Jr. leads demonstration for boxing’s 2028 inclusion

Continuing a strategy to play offense rather than defend, Seoul 1988 Olympic Light Middleweight silver medalist Roy Jones, Jr. organized a demonstration in front of the IOC headquarters in Lausanne on Monday to urge the IOC to include boxing in the 2028 Olympic program.

Jones, a dual American and Russian citizen, circulated an announcement on the rally, which included:

“A peaceful demonstration under the motto ‘No Olympics without boxing, No boxing without IBA’ took place today in Lausanne. The powerful crowd led by Roy Jones Jr was chanting in front of the Maison Olympique.

“More than 100 boxers and coaches from six countries took part in the demonstration. In addition to Switzerland and neighbouring Germany and France, Poland, Malta and Israel came to Lausanne to support the sport of boxing.”

Jones said, “I addressed the IOC in my [October] letter, but received no reply. Then I came to their doors and I knocked. I’ll do whatever it takes as my next steps to be heard. Boxing should remain at the Olympics, and I’ll do everything for it. It’s high time we stopped injustice.”

The International Boxing Association claimed no relationship to the event, saying in a post, “The International Boxing Association (IBA) acknowledges and gives its appreciation to the boxers and coaches from six countries who took part in a peaceful demonstration in front of the IOC Headquarters in Lausanne.”

IOC spokesman Mark Adams said during the news conference:

“Yes, there was a demonstration today outside, by supporters of IBA. And we heard their concerns; we had a team [that] went down; in fact, I think they were even invited into the offices and we had a discussion, a very constructive discussion, we heard what they had to say.”

The Executive Board did not discuss the situation of current 2028 outsiders boxing, modern pentathlon and weightlifting on Monday, but is scheduled to do so later.

5.
Int’l Testing Agency closes London 2012 re-tests, adding 73 positives

At the close of the London 2012 Olympic Games, a modest total of nine anti-doping violations had been registered. In the 10 years since, however, a comprehensive re-test program conducted by the International Testing Agency found 73 additional violations for a total of 82, the most ever in a single Olympic Games.

On Monday, the ITA announced:

“The ITA has now finalised the re-analysis program for London 2012, the most comprehensive of its kind for an edition of the Olympic Games. Ensuring that the program was led efficiently and intelligently, samples were selected according to an extensive risk assessment that considered a variety of determinants, including the physiology of the respective sports, individual factors pertaining to athletes as well as country risk levels and any accessible information stemming from investigations. Based on these risk criteria, a total number of 2’727 samples were re-analysed.”

The 73 additional positives led to the “withdrawal” of 31 medals won by dopers (8-14-9) in weightlifting (18), athletics (10), wrestling (2) and canoeing (1). The changes in results caused the re-allocation of 46 medals (8-16-22), in the same four sports. Beyond these sports, there were also single additional doping violations in cycling, rowing, swimming and volleyball.

The countries implicated in the added doping positives included Russia (21), Belarus (11), Ukraine (7), Kazakhstan and Turkey (5), Romania (4), Armenia and Azerbaijan (3), Albania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova and Uzbekistan (2 each) and one each for Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia. Of the added 73 positives, 58 were from former republics of the USSR.

Interestingly, in the re-analysis program, the most-tested athlete samples came from the U.S., with 230 (no positives), followed by Russia (216), Great Britain (174; no positives), China (155; no positives) and Australia (122; no positives),

The most re-tested sports were athletics (540), aquatics (483) and cycling (170). Weightlifting produced a staggering 36 positives in 135 re-tests!

The ITA is now focused on re-tests from the Sochi 2014 Winter Games, and will then move on to Rio 2016 re-tests.

≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡

● Croatia 1, Japan 1 (Croatia wins on penalties, 3-1) ● Japan had come from behind in both of its group-stage wins, but flipped the script this time by going up, 1-0, in the 43rd minute on Monday. Forward Ritsu Doan sent a long pass from the right side into the box, where it was volleyed off the head of defender Maya Yoshida, then off defender Josko Gvardiol and landed at the feet of Daizen Maeda, who scored with the left foot past Croatian keeper Dominik Livakovic.

But the game was tied in the second half, as defender Dejan Lovren sent a long cross from the right side of the field to the middle of the box, where it was headed – with authority – by forward Ivan Perisic into the far right corner of the goal for a 1-1 tie in the 55th.

Both teams had chances, but the game became more and more static as extra time approached. And in the extra 30 minutes, there were only a couple of meaningful chances, and the game went to penalties. Croatia ended with 58% possession and up 17-13 on shots.

Croatia, which won its Round of 16 and quarterfinal games at the 2018 World Cup on penalties, was more than ready, as Livakovic saved the first penalty try from forward Takumi Minamino, and the second from midfielder Kaoru Mitoma, both low shots that he could get to with his body. Meanwhile, midfielder Nikola Vlasic and midfielder Marcelo Brozovic both scored for a 2-0 advantage. Striker Takuma Asano scored on Japan’s third try and sub strriker Marko Livaja missed, but another Livakovic save on another low ball from Yoshida allowed sub forward Mario Pasalic to end it and he did, for a 3-1 win on penalties.

Of the four Croatian penalty takers, three were substitutes. On to the quarters. Japan failed, for the fourth time, to advance beyond the Round of 16.

● Brazil 4, South Korea 1 ● The favored Brazilians only scored three goals in their three group-stage matches, but they were on fire from the start against the Koreans.

The first strike came in the seventh minute, as Raphinia crossed from the right endline through the middle – past two Brazilians running to goal – and found striker Vinicius Junior, who had the time line up and drill a right-footed laser into the goal.

A few minutes later, Brazil’s Richarlison was fouled while trying to win the ball in the box, resulting in a penalty. It was Neymar, back from missing two games with an ankle injury, who stutter-stepped and then rolled the ball into the right side of the net for a 2-0 edge in the 13th.

In the 29th, Richarlison brought down a ball outside the box with three head taps and then a pass to maintain possession to defender Marquinhos. He moved it to the top of the box to defender Thiago Silva, who found a streaking Richarlison, cutting in front of the goal and sending a left-footed shot into the far left corner; 3-0. That was special.

The fourth goal came in the 36th, as another Brazilian break saw Vinicius Junior drive down the left side and into the box, then pop a pass backwards to the oncoming midfielder Lucas Paqueta, who sent a right-footed shot bounding into the Korean goal.

The half ended at 4-0, with Brazil holding 57% of possession, but a 10-4 lead on shots and a 4-0 lead on samba dances after goals. Korea had only a couple of chances, the best being Hee-chan Hwang’s curling blast from outside the box in the 17th that was saved – at full extension – by Brazilian keeper Alisson.

The second half started with a great Korean chance in the 47th, as striker Heung-min Son sent a blast from the left side that was knocked away by Alisson’s shoulder. Brazil maintained control, but Korea swarmed the Brazilian goal in the 68th, but could not score on a Hwang shot, then finally got a goal on a powerful strike from on top of the box from midfielder Seung-ho Paik that ran to the far right of the goal in the 76th.

Brazil ended with 57% possession and an 18-8 edge on shots. It was Brazil’s eighth straight Round-of-16 win, but will face a very difficult test against Croatia in the quarters.

The last of the Round of 16 games come on Tuesday, with Morocco vs. Spain and Portugal vs. Switzerland:

Game 7: 10 a.m. Eastern time:
● Morocco (Group F-1): 2-0-1 ~ goals: 4-1
● Spain (Group E-2): 1-1-1 ~ goals: 9-3

Asia’s three teams have been eliminated from the tournament and Morocco is the last African team remaining, coming to the Round of 16 as the surprise winners of Group F. It’s the fifth World Cup for Moroccans, who are 0-1 in Round of 16 games, having lost, 1-0, to West Germany in 1974. Spain, the 2010 champions, lost to Japan, 2-1, and had to settle for second in its group, but produced seven goals against Costa Rica in its opener. This is the 12th straight World Cup for Spain and in that run, are 4-3 in Round of 16 games and have not won once since taking the World Cup title in 2010.

The two teams did meet in the group stage in Russia in 2018, a 2-2 tie.

Game 8: 2 p.m. Eastern time:
● Portugal (Group H-1): 2-1 ~ goals: 6-4
● Switzerland (Group G-2): 2-1 ~ goals: 4-3

Portugal has participated in six straight World Cups, but is only 1-2 in Round of 16 match-ups in 2006 (won), 2010 (lost) and 2018 (lost). The Portuguese scored three goals against Ghana, then two against Uruguay and one vs. South Korea, so the trend is downwards. The Swiss are typically stingy, beating Cameroon, 1-0, losing to Brazil, 1-0, and then going crazy against Serbia to win, 3-2. The two sides have never met at the World Cup; Switzerland has not progressed past this round since making the quarterfinals in 1954, and it 0-4 in Round of 16 games. But the last three were close: on penalties after a 0-0 draw in 2006, 0-1 in 2014 and 0-1 in 2018.

The tournament will take its first days off this week, with two quarterfinals each on Friday and Saturday.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Athletics ● World Athletics announced that World Champions Mondo Duplantis of Sweden and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of the U.S. were its World Athletes of the Year.

Both won world titles and set world records during 2022: Duplantis in the men’s vault and McLaughlin-Levrone in women’s 400 m hurdles.

The Rising Stars awards were given to Serbian javelin thrower Adriana Vilagos and US sprinter Erriyon Knighton. Vilagos won her second World U-20 Championships gold and then a silver at the 2022 European Championships, while Knighton set a World U20 record of 19.69 in the 200 m and was the Worlds 200 m bronze medalist.

The International Fair Play Committee’s Fair Play Award was given to vaulters Holly Bradshaw (GBR and Tokyo bronze medalist) and eventual winner (and Tokyo Olympic champ) Katie Nageotte of the U.S.:

“Bradshaw injured herself after her pole snapped during the pole vault warm-up session. Her fellow competitor Nageotte immediately went over to support her. Knowing she would no longer be able to contend for a place in the final, Bradshaw withdrew from the competition, thus allowing another athlete to advance. Bradshaw received a lot of abuse on social media for withdrawing, but Nageotte again offered support by taking to Twitter in defence of her competitor.”

At the USA Track & Field Annual Meeting in Florida over the weekend, former world triple jumper record holder Willie Banks was re-elected as the federation’s nominee to the World Athletics Council.

Banks’ profile within World Athletics has been rising and he chaired the federation’s development team on its long-range plans.

A four-year fight over the role of the USATF Board vs. its membership was settled – at least for now – by the passage of a compromise package of by-laws which are designed to allow the Board to manage the day-to-day business operations and the membership to retain authority over matters which impact them directly.

USATF announced awards for the best World Championships track performer to 400 m hurdles world-record holder McLaughlin-Levrone, for the best Worlds field performer to vault winner Nageotte and to Worlds heptathlon bronze medalist Anna Hall for “Breathrough Performer of the Year.” Sprint icon Allyson Felix received the 2022 USATF Legacy Award for her lasting impact on the sport.

Sign of the times? From Athletics Canada’s Twitter feed:

“CONFIRMED: The NACAC Cross Country Championships, scheduled for January 21, 2023 in El Salvador has been cancelled due to a lack of participating nations.”

Sad news that Tony Waldrop, who electrified the track and field world with a 3:55.0 indoor mile world record in 1974, passed on 3 December, at age 70. Waldrop was a two-time NCAA Indoor champion for North Carolina in 1973-74 and won the 1975 Pan American Games gold at 1,500 m in 1975. But he skipped the 1976 Olympic Trials in order to complete his Ph.D. in physiology, beginning a long career in academia that climaxed as President of the University of South Alabama from 2014-21.

● Weightlifting ● Although the International Weightlifting Federation has new officers and a new board, it has not shaken the plague of doping. The International Testing Agency announced four “apparent” doping violations on Saturday, just a couple of days before the 2022 World Championships opened Monday in Bogota (COL):

● Ahmed Emad Mohamed (EGY: men’s 77 kg) for Human Growth Hormone;

● Ruslan Kozhakin (UKR: men’s 89 kg) for trimetazidine, a hormone and metabolic modulator;

● Bohdan Taranenko (UKR: men’s +109 kg) for trimetazidine;

● Zacarias Bonnat (DOM: men’s 81 kg) for SARMS RAD 140, an alternative to anabolic steroids, which is also banned. .

Kozhakin was sixth at the 2022 European Championships at 89 kg, and seventh at the 2021 Worlds; Taranenko won a World Junior bronze medal earlier this year at +109 kg, and Bonnat was the Tokyo Olympic silver medalist at 81 kg.

Mohamed’s positive test came during the African Championships in October; the other three failed out-of-competition tests. Not good news for the sport.

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TSX REPORT: France and England lead traditional powers into World Cup quarters; Valencia Marathon winners Kiptum and Beriso now top-3 all-time!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum wins his debut marathon in Valencia in 2:01:53, the no. 4 performance in history! (Photo: Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Marathon)

★ 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. Traditional powers on collision course – so far – at Qatar World Cup
2. Kiptum (2:01:53!) and Beriso (2:14:48!) brilliant in Valencia
3. USATF Championships for 2023 heading back to Eugene
4. Paris 2024 Olympics move Tour de France finale to Nice
5. German Olympic Federation approves Olympic bid project

Half of the quarterfinal match-ups at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar are set, with Argentina to face the Netherlands and France to meet England. Despite all the hoopla about improving football in Africa and Asia, the quarters could end up with six European teams and two South American teams … maybe. At the Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Marathon in Spain, unheralded Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum won the men’s race – in his debut – in a sensational 2:01:53, and Ethiopian Amane Beriso tool the women’s title in 2:14:48, both moving to no. 3 all-time! USA Track & Field announced the 2023 nationals would be in Eugene … again, while the promised “Diamond League-level meets” will be existing meets in Bermuda, Los Angeles and New York. With the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024, it’s impossible to finish the Tour de France on the Champs Elysses, so the race is heading south and will conclude in Nice. The German National Olympic Committee approved a plan to explore a bid for – at the earliest – the 2034 Winter or 2036 Olympic Games, including an eventual public referendum. A 2036 Games would come a century after the infamous Nazi propaganda project of 1936.

1.
Traditional powers on collision course – so far – at
Qatar World Cup

After all of the buzz from the group stage, the FIFA World Cup appears to be coming back to showdowns between traditional powers with half of the Round of 16 games now complete.

Two-time winner Argentina will play three-time finalist Netherlands in one quarterfinal, with defending champion France playing 1966 winner England in another, following the weekend’s elimination of the U.S., Australia, Poland and Senegal.

Waiting for their turn now are powers Brazil (playing South Korea) and 2018 runner-up Croatia (playing Japan) on Monday and Tuesday matches featuring Spain (playing Morocco) and Portugal (playing Switzerland).

Europe had seven of the eight quarterfinalists in 2018 and all four semifinalists, and UEFA could get six of the eight spots in 2022, if Croatia and Spain win. With Argentina in, Brazil is favored in its game and would give the South Americans the other two berths.

The football on the field is now becoming more important – for the final two weeks of the tournament – than the hubbub over migrant workers and Qatar’s view of gay rights, which were co-equal stories with the actual matches during the group stage.

Interestingly, FIFA’s Arsene Wenger (FRA), its Chief of Football Development, told a news conference on group-stage technical evaluations on Sunday that a major challenge for teams in 2022 was the lack of preparation time, since many players came right from their league play to Qatar, without the usual, lengthy pre-World Cup training camps. And he added:

“The teams who were not disappointing with their first game performance – because when you got to the World Cup you know you have not to lose the first game – are the teams with experience, they have results in the former tournaments, like France, like England, like Brazil, they played well in first game.

“And the teams as well who were mentally ready … had the mindset to focus on competition and not on political demonstrations.”

As for the tournament as a whole so far, Wenger summed up FIFA’s view:

“How well will it be organized? What will the experience of the fans be? Will it be possible to watch more than one game per day? And, I must say, this experience has been unique. I have seen the feedback we have from the fans is exceptional, and the TV audiences have never been higher, going through the roof. That means this World Cup has created a huge interest, despite all the negative publicity we got before.”

2.
Kiptum (2:01:53!) and Beriso (2:14:48!) brilliant in Valencia

Whether it’s the flat courses or the shoes or actually good training and racing, this has been one of the greatest years in marathoning, punctuated by two brilliant, fast wins at the Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Marathon in Spain on Sunday. Winners Kelvin Kiptum (KEN) and Amane Beriso (ETH) became the third-fastest men’s and women’s marathoners in history.

Kiptum, 23, a 58:42 half-marathoner running his debut marathon, was with a large front pack at the half in 1:01:42. World Champion Tamirat Tola (ETH) took the lead and began trimming the field, and then Kiptum started pushing and by 30 km, he, Tola and Gabriel Geay (TAN) were the remaining contenders. Kiptum ran away with a 14:01 split to 35 km and was clear to the finish in 2:01:53, now no. 3 all-time, with the no. 4 performance!

Geay was second in a lifetime best of 2:03:00, then Alexander Mutiso (KEN: 2:03:29 lifetime best), Tola (2:03:40) and Kaan Kigen Ozbilen (TUR: 2:04:36). Wow. The all-time performance list:

1. 2:01:09 ~ Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) 2022/Berlin
2. 2:01:39 ~ Kipchoge 2018
3. 2:01:41 ~ Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) 2019
4. 2:01:53 ~ Kelvin Kiptum (KEN) 2022/Valencia
5. 2:02:37 ~ Kipchoge 2019

The women’s race was just as stunning, with all the attention on Ethiopia’s Letsenbet Gidey, the 2022 World 10,000 m champ and 5,000 m-10,000 m-Half Marathon world-record holder, making her marathon debut.

But Gidey had company at halfway, passed in 1:07:18, with fellow Ethiopian Beriso, 31, running her ninth career marathon, and coming in with a best of 2:20:48 from 2016.

The pace may have been more than Beriso could be expected to handle, but she began to pull away from Gidey just before 35 km and cruised in at 2:14:58, moving Beriso to no. 3 all-time, with the no. 3 performance ever:

1. 2:14:04 ~ Brigid Kosgei (KEN) 2019
2. 2:14:18 ~ Ruth Chepngetich (KEN) 2022/Chicago
3. 2:14:58 ~ Amane Beriso (ETH) 2022/Valencia
4. 2:15:25 ~ Paula Radcliffe (GBR) 2003
5. 2:15:37 ~ Tigist Assefa (ETH) 2022/Berlin

Gidey was second in the fastest debut marathon ever in 2:16:49, now no. 6 all-time. The top 12 finishers all got personal bests, with Sheila Kiprotich (KEN) third in 2:17:29 (no. 11 all-time), Tadu Teshome (ETH) fourth in 2:17:36 (now no. 12 all-time) and Kenya’s Fancy Chemutai fifth in 2:18:11. It was the first time four women finished under 2:18.

At the USA Track & Field National Marathon Championships, held in conjunction with the California International Marathon in Sacramento, ex-Northern Arizona star Futsum Zeinasellassie won the men’s title in 2:11.01, ahead of Jacob Thomson (2:11:52).

Paige Stoner took the women’s race, finishing in a lifetime best of 2:26:02 – no. 4 on the U.S. list for 2022 – with Lauren Hurley second in 2:27:41.

3.
USATF Championships for 2023 heading back to Eugene

USA Track & Field announced its major-events schedule for 2023 at its annual meeting in Florida, with the indoor nationals in Albuquerque and the outdoor nationals – and World Championships selection meet – once again in Eugene:

● 16-18 Feb.: National Indoor Champs in Albuquerque
● 06-09 Jul.: National Outdoor Champs in Eugene
● 07-09 Jul.: National U20 Outdoor Champs in Eugene

The reaction to Eugene hosting for the eighth time in the last 14 editions was mixed. World men’s 100 m champ Fred Kerley tweeted: “When we going to la New York or miami” and then added a second tweet: “Texas”.

During the World Athletics Championships in Eugene last July, USATF chief executive Max Siegel promised an upgraded series of Diamond League-level competitions in the U.S. The schedule announcement specified a domestic indoor schedule of three familiar meets and five existing outdoor meets plus the Pre Classic. The announcement included:

“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 schedule:

Indoor:
● 28 Jan.: Dr. Sander Invitational in New York
● 04 Feb.: New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston
● 11 Feb.: Millrose Games in New York

Outdoor:
● unknown: USATF Throws Festival in Tucson
● 21 May: USATF Bermuda Grand Prix in Bermuda
● 26 May: USATF Distance Classic in Los Angeles
● 27 May: USATF LA Grand Prix in Los Angeles
● 24 Jun.: USATF NYC Grand Prix in New York

The Diamond League Final in 2023 will be held on 16-17 September in conjunction with the Pre Classic, also in Eugene.

4.
Paris 2024 Olympics move Tour de France finale to Nice

Since its debut in 1903, the Tour de France has not always finished in Paris itself, but always close by. But that makes little sense for 2024, as the French capital will be in the midst of preparations for an even larger event, the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, to begin on 26 July.

With the 2024 Tour de France scheduled to finish on 21 July, the race owners, the Amaury Sports Organisation (ASO) announced that the race would finish, for the first time, in the southern city of Nice, with the final stage to begin in the Principality of Monaco:

“This new finish, conditioned by the logistical imperatives that will already block the Champs-Elysees just a few days before the start of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, is accompanied by a significant sporting challenge as the last stage will be an individual time trial.”

Monaco is hardly a new destination for the race, having been included as early as 1939 and in five more editions since then; the last time was in 2009. Nice was part of Le Tour in 1906, was the starting point in 1981 and 2020. The Champs-Elysees finish has been standard at Le Tour since 1975.

A good move by ASO, staying away from Paris as the Games approach. Perhaps an opportunity to start the event– on 29 June – in Paris, which has not happened since 2003.

5.
German Olympic Federation approves Olympic bid project

“The assembly unanimously endorsed a resolution on a multi-stage strategy process for a possible bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Miriam Welte and Oliver Stegemann presented a ‘road map’, the first stage of which in the coming year will include a nationwide series of discussion forums with supporters, critics and stakeholders from business, politics, culture and other areas of society. In an open-ended and transparent process, the question of possible details such as when, where or how should be discussed and why.”

On Saturday, the DOSB – the National Olympic Committee of Germany – General Assembly agreed to begin the process of assembling an Olympic bid, with the immediate targets the Olympic Winter Games in 2034 or the Olympic Games in 2036.

DOSB President Thomas Weikert said afterwards that a formal decision on preparing an actual bid for a Games will depend on the outcome of the consultation process and a referendum of some type to be taken in 2024. Weikert was re-elected for a second term as President by a 434-4 margin.

As is now the norm, the idea would be to offer a bid with competitions in more than one city and possibly in multiple parts of the country. Germany hosted the Olympic Games twice previously, with the infamous Nazi Games in 1936 and the terrorist-plagued Munich Games in 1972. It hosted Winter Games in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in 1936.

Formal German bids since the Munich Games have been made for the Olympic Games of 2000 (Berlin) and 2012 (Leipzig), and Winter Games for 1992 (Berchtesgaden) and 2018 (Munich). There has been considerable debate about the wisdom of trying to host a 2036 Olympic Games, exactly 100 years after the Nazi spectacular of 1936, one of the reasons the DOSB will be seeking a wide buy-in through its discussion process in 2023.

≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡

Day two of the quarterfinals saw two of the game’s most popular nations advance to a delicious face-off on 10 December, with defending champion France to face England. These two ancient rivals have only played twice in World Cup history and not for a long time; England won, 2-0, en route to the 1966 World Cup title and again, 3-1, in the group stage in 1982.

The legend of French star Kylian Mbappe continues to grow, now with nine World Cup goals in 11 games, at just 23 years old. Can he be stopped?

● France 3, Poland 1 ● The defending champion French were on offense most of the first half, but could not score.

The half appeared ready to end scoreless, but then France struck in the 44th minute. Superstar midfielder Mbappe sent a perfect pass into the box to striker Olivier Giroud, who finished with the left foot into the right side of the net for a 1-0 lead. The goal gave Giroud 52 for his international career, the most in French history, breaking a tie with long-time star striker Thierry Henry.

Poland had its chances, especially in the 38th, when French keeper Hugo Lloris managed to save a point-blank shot from midfielder Piotr Zielenski and then defender Theo Hernandez cleared a rebound strike from forward Jakub Kaminski.

The French continued on offense in the second half, with the Poles threatening occasionally. In the 74th, a French fast break saw Giroud push the ball to midfielder Ousmane Dembele on the right side, who drew the defense to him, then sent a cross to an all-alone Mbappe on the left side, and he lined up a rising, right-footed rocket that flew into the net for a 2-0 lead, and the issue was decided.

Mbappe then applied the finishing touch at 90+1, taking a pass from sub striker Marcus Thuram on the left side of the box and sending a laser to the far right side of the goal for a 3-0 lead. For Mbappe – at age 23 – the goal was his ninth in the World Cup, in 11 games; by comparison, Brazilian icon Pele scored seven in his first two World Cups and 12 in 14 career World Cup games.

In the 98th, France was called for a hand ball in the box and Polish star Robert Lewandowski took the penalty, shutter-stepped and Lloris made the save easily. But Lloris came off his line early and on the second attempt, Lewandowski stutter-stepped again and rolled it into the left side of goal for the 3-1 final.

The French ended with 55% of possession and a 16-12 edge on shots. On to the quarters.

● England 3, Senegal 0 ● English fans had concerns, as the Senegalese attack in the group stage had created five goals, with speed and power to spare. But there was no need to worry.

The first half started slowly, with Senegal making determined forays that looked quite dangerous, especially a 32nd minute shot from striker Boulaye Dia from the left of goal – off an England turnover and a clever feed by midfielder Ismaila Sarr – that was saved by English keeper Jordan Pickford. But they couldn’t score.

The English were looking for opportunities and shortly thereafter, striker Harry Kane started a breakout, passing to midfielder Jude Bellingham, whose cross from left to right found Jordan Henderson charging toward goal for a left-footed shot that gave England a 1-0 lead in the 39th.

More Senegal turnovers led to more English fast breaks. Bellingham started another in stoppage time, passed ahead to forward Phil Foden, who crossed to Kane, leaving him one-on-one on goal and his right-footed shot was into the net for a 2-0 lead on the final play of the first half, at 45+3.

England had 65% of possession and just a 4-3 edge on shots, but had a two-goal lead. The lead expanded to 3-0 in the 58th, with Kane gaining possession and getting the ball to Foden on the left side, who sent a sensational cross to a sprinting striker Bukayo Saka, who chipped the ball into the net. Very impressive.

The English ended with 61% of possession and a 10-8 edge on shots, but a huge edge on making their chances count.

On Monday, Japan will meet Croatia and Brazil will play South Korea in the third of four days of quarterfinals:

Game 5: 10 a.m. Eastern time:
● Japan (Group E-1): 2-1 ~ goals: 4-3
● Croatia (Group F-2) : 2-1 ~ goals: 4-1

The surprise winner of Group E, Japan, came back from behind to beat Germany (2-1) and Spain (2-1) is in its seventh straight World Cup finals, but never progressed beyond the Round of 16, losing in 2002-10-18. All four of its goals have come in the second half. Croatia was the 2018 runner-up, but is consistently underrated. It beat Canada 4-1 and played 0-0 ties with Morocco and Belgium, showing a stiff defense, but some trouble scoring. It made it past the group stage for the first time in 2018.

Game 6: 2 p.m. Eastern time:
● Brazil (Group G-1): 2-1 ~ goals 3-1
● South Korea (Group H-2): 1-1-1 ~ goals 4-4

Five-time champion Brazil won its first two games by 2-0 and 1-0, then substituted nine of its players in a 1-0 loss to Cameroon. The Brazilians have awesome offensive weapons, and have won seven straight Round of 16 games; it last lost a game in this round in 1990. The South Koreans made a miracle comeback to defeat Portugal to finish 1-1-1 in its group and are 1-1 all-time in Round of 16 games, advancing to the third-place match in 2002 and losing in this round in 2010.

Tuesday’s final Round of 16 matches will have Morocco vs. Spain and Portugal vs. Switzerland.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Alpine Skiing ● The FIS men’s World Cup tour was in Beaver Creek, Colorado for speed events, with one Downhill canceled due to very heavy snow. But the course was clear for Saturday’s Downhill, won by Norway’s Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, who won the season’s earlier Downhill at Lake Louise (CAN) on 26 November. Kilde timed 1:42.09 to take his 15th career World Cup win, ahead of reigning World Cup overall champ Marco Odermatt (SUI: 1:42.15). American Ryan Cochran-Siegle was seventh (1:43.15).

Sunday’s Super-G was almost a repeat, with Kilde winning in 1:10.73, followed by Odermatt (1:10.93), with French star Alexis Pinturault third (1:11.03).

The women’s circuit was in Lake Louise for two Downhills and a Super-G, with Italian star Sofia Goggia – the 2018 Olympic winner and 2022 silver medalist – taking both Downhills. She won Friday’s race in 1:47.81, just 0.04 ahead of Swiss Corinne Suter, the Beijing 2022 winner, then took Saturday’s run in 1:28.96, with Nina Ortlieb (AUT: 1:29.30) second and Suter third (1:29.33). Goggia now owns 19 World Cup wins in her career, 14 in Downhills.

On Sunday, Suter – a two-time Worlds Super-G medalist – won in 1:20.75, barely ahead of Cornelia Huetter (AUT: 1:20.77) and Ragnhild Mowinckel (NOR: 1:20.91).

● Beach Volleyball ● The Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour had its final Elite 16 tournament of the season, in Torquay (AUS), with an All-American final on the women’s side.

Sara Hughes and Kelly Cheng were clear winners for the second week in a row (and third time this season), defeating fellow Americans Betsi Flint and Julia Scoles by 21-17 and 21-11. Australia’s Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho del Solar took the bronze medals by outlasting Americans Kristen Nuss and Taryn Kloth, 14-21, 21-19, 15-13.

The men’s event had an Australian finalist, but Thomas Hodges and Zachary Schubert were defeated by France’s Youssef Krou and Arnaud Gauthier-Rat, in two marathon sets, 22-20 and 23-21, for their first medal of the season. Italy’s Adrian Carambula and Alex Ranghieri took the third-place match from Americans Paul Lotman and Miles Evans, 21-15, 11-16.

● Biathlon ● The 2022-23 IBU World Cup opened in Kontiolahti (FIN), with Olympic 15 km Mass start silver medalist Martin Ponsiluoma (SWE) taking the men’s 20 km Individual race in 49:36.5 (1 penalty), well ahead of Niklas Hartweg (SUI: 50:13.7/0). Beijing 2022 Sprint winner Johannes Thingnes Boe (23:09.0/1) won the 10 km Sprint for his 57th career individual World Cup victory, beating teammate Sturla Holm Laegreid (23:19.5/0).

Boe, a three-time World Cup overall champion, also won Sunday’s 12.5 km Pursuit in 32:44.4 (3), over teammate Laegreid (33:03.6/2) and France’s two-time Worlds winner in the event, Emilien Jacquelin (33:31.7/2).

The PyeongChang Olympic women’s 15 km Individual winner, Swede Hanna Oeberg was once again the best in that event, winning in 43:53.8 (1), more than 30 seconds up on Ingrid Tandrevold (NOR: 44:30.3/0). Austria’s Lisa Theresa Hauser won the 7.5 km Sprint, beating Lisa Vittozzi (ITA), 20:39.5 (0) to 20:56.8 (1).

France’s Julia Simon won her fifth career World Cup in the 10 km Pursuit in 31:13.0 (0), beating Italy’s 2020 World Champion Dorothea Wierer (31:24.9) and Swede Elvira Oeberg (31:34.7/1).

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● The IBSF World Cup moved to Park City, Utah this week, but the change of venue meant nothing to Germany’s double Olympic champion Francesco Friedrich, who continued his rampage, winning both the Two-Man and Four-Man races.

Driving with Thorsten Margis aboard this time, Friedrich took the Two in 1:35.82, ahead of Britain’s Brad Hall, runner-up for the second week in a row in 1:36.08. American Frank Del Duca, with Hakeem Abdul-Saboor aboard, was seventh in 1:36.97. Friedrich took the Four in 1:33.62, leading a German sweep ahead of Johannes Lochner (1:33.85) and Christoph Hafer (1:33.86). Del Duca had the top American sled, again in seventh (1:34.36).

Friedrich won seven of eight World Cup races last season in both sleds and is undefeated (4/4) so far this season.

The women’s Monobob was a win for American Kaillie Humphries, the Olympic champ, in 1:42.93, ahead of Lisa Buckwitz (GER: 1:43.24). German Kim Kalicki won the Two for the second week in a row, in 1:37.37, with Leonie Fiebig aboard, beating teammate Laura Nolte (1:37.60), with Humphries (and Jasmine Jones) third in 1:37.69.

In Skeleton, Beijing Olympic champ Christopher Grotheer (GER) won the men’s race in 1:36.26, with Korea’s Seung-gi Jung second for the second week in a row (1:36.43). Mirela Rahneva (CAN) won her first race of the season in the women’s division in 1:38.42, ahead of four-time World Champion Tina Hermann (GER: 1:38.52).

● Cross Country Skiing ● The second stop on the FIS World Cup tour was in Lillehammer (NOR), with the home team continuing to dominate the men’s action. Norwegian men won all three events at the first event in Finland, and stayed strong in Lillehammer, as Iver Tildheim Andersen (21:12.6), Didrik Toenseth (21:15.4) and Hans Christer Holund (21:21.7) swept the medals for Norway in the 10 km Freestyle on Friday.

Superstar Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo won his fourth World Cup race of the season (out of five so far) in the Freestyle Sprint in 2:56.45, ahead of two-time Olympic Sprint silver winner Federico Pellegrino (ITA: 2:57.20) with Norway’s Even Northug third (2:57.68). Sunday’s 20 km Mass Start Classical was another Norwegian sweep, with Pal Golberg winning his fourth medal in six races this season in 48:14.5, with Sjur Roethe second (48:15.4) and Martin Nyenget third (48:15.6).

Sweden won all three women’s events last week and Emma Ribom won her second straight Sprint – this time in Freestyle – in 3:20.40, ahead of teammate Maja Dahlqvist (3:20.57), with American Jessie Diggins fourth (3:22.64).

But Diggins was all over the 10 km Freestyle on Friday, winning her 13th World Cup gold in 23:49.5, well ahead of German Katharina Henning (23:53.3).

Swede Frida Karlsson won her second World Cup gold of the season on Sunday in the 20 km Classical Mass Start in 53:51.9, just ahead of Tiril Udnes Weng (NOR: 53:52.5) and Ebba Andersson (SWE: 53:53.1). Diggins was ninth (53:57.4).

● Freestyle Skiing ● The Moguls and Aerials seasons opened in Ruka (FIN) with familiar stars on the podium.

Canada’s Mikael Kingsbury, the greatest Moguls skier of all time, scored his 72nd career World Cup win in the men’s division at 84.50, followed by Japan’s two-time World Champion Ikuma Horishima (80.48) and Matt Graham (AUS: 80.12), with American Nick Page fourth (80.05).

The women’s Moguls was won by Australia’s Olympic gold medalist, Jakara Anthony, scoring 81.69 points to edge PyeongChang 2018 winner Perrine Laffont (FRA: 78.33) and 18-year-old Anri Kawamura (JPN: 78.33) in a tie for second, with Americans Olivia Giaccio and Jaelin Kauf fourth and fifth (77.98 and 77.33).

Sunday’s Aerials saw Switzerland go 1-2 in the men’s final, with Pirmin Werner winning with 126.24 points to 123.98 for teammate Noe Roth. Canada’s Lewis Irving was third (109.29). American Chris Lillis was fifth (97.74).

Australia Danielle Scott won the women’s Aerials, scoring 99.05, ahead of Marion Thenault of Canada (90.59), with American Kalia Kuhn fourth (78.30).

● Judo ● The Tokyo Grand Slam attracted many top stars just a year after the Olympic tournament was held there. Japan claimed nine Olympic golds and was looking for more, ending with 12 wins in the 14 classes!

This was not an Olympic re-run, but new stars, with five men’s winners, including Joshiro Maruyama at 66 kg, Soichi Hashimoto (2022 Worlds silver medalist) at 73 kg, Kenya Kohara (81 kg, beating Olympic champ Takanori Nagase), Kosuke Mashiyama (90 kg) and Hyoga Ota at +100 kg.

Japanese fighters swept all seven divisions of the women’s tournament. The winners included two Olympic champs: Uta Abe at 52 kg and +78 kg star Akira Sone, plus Kano Miyaki (48 kg), Haruka Funakubo (2022 Worlds silver medalist at 57 kg), Miku Takaichi (63 kg), Saki Niizoe (Worlds bronze medalist at 70 kg) and Rika Takayama at 78 kg.

Japan won an astonishing 39 medals; the only victors from elsewhere were Korea’s Seung-beom Jeon in the men’s 60 kg and Italy’s Gennaro Pirelliin the men’s 100 kg.

● Luge ● The FIL World Cup opened in Innsbruck (AUT), with the home team on top of the podium in both women’s events.

Madeleine Egle took the Singles race in 1:19.188, just ahead of American Emily Sweeney (1:19.404) – the 2019 Worlds bronze medalist – and 2021 World Champion Julia Taubitz (GER: 1:19.436). Egle also won the Sprint, with Sweeney right behind, in 29.908 to 29.927.

The new women’s Doubles discipline saw Austria’s Selina Egle and Lara Michaela Kipp win the inaugural World Cup race, in 1:20.019, with Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal (GER) second in 1:20.195. Americans Summer Britcher and Sweeney were fifth (1:20.550). Egle and Kipp also took the Sprint in 30.219, with Britcher and Sweeney fourth (30.384).

Austria’s Nico Gleirscher won the men’s Singles and led an Austrian sweep, with Wolfgang Kindl second and Jonas Mueller third, in 1:39.283, 1:39.327 and 1:39.378. American Jonathan Gustafson was fifth in 1:39.950. Gleirscher also won the Sprint, ahead of Kindl (32.599-32.611).

The men’s Doubles was another Austrian sweep (!), starting with Juri Gatt and Riccardo Schopf (1:18.915), then Beijing ‘22 bronze medalists Thomas Steu and Lorenz Koller (1:18.994) and Yannick Mueller and Armin Frauscher (1:18.998). Zachary Di Gregorio and Sean Hollander were the top Americans, in eighth (1:19.100). Mueller and Frauscher won the Sprint in 29.822.

● Nordic Combined ● Both the men and women were competing in Lillehammer (NOR) this week, with more Norwegian victories. Four-time defending World Cup champ Jarl Magnus Riiber won two races last week, but this time it was teammate Jens Luraas Oftebro who led the 100 m hill jumping and then finished the 10 km segment in 24:04.7 to win, with Riiber second (24:14.2).

Sunday’s 140 m hill and 10 km race was a triumph for Riiber, his third of the season, beating Oftebro, 24:49.2-25:36.7.

The women’s races were more gold for Norway, as Gyda Westvold Hansen continued her dominance, winning on Friday and Saturday (both 100 m hill and 5 km race) in 14:27.1 and 14:14.6. She won seven of eight World Cups last season, so that’s now nine of 10.

Italy’s Annika Sieff (15:38.6) and Ida Marie Hagen (NOR: 15:36.2) won the silvers, but were both well behind the winner.

● Rugby Sevens ● The HSBC Sevens Series was in Dubai (UAE) for men and the season opener for the women.

France and the U.S. were the only 3-0 teams in men’s pool play, but the French lost in the quarterfinal playoffs to New Zealand (20-0) and the U.S. was tripped up by Ireland in the semis by 12-7. It was South Africa which edged Samoa and then New Zealand to get to the final and defeated the Irish, 21-5, to take the title. New Zealand beat the U.S. for bronze, 31-12.

In the women’s tournament, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland were 3-0 in pool play, but the U.S. shut down the Irish, 5-0, in the quarterfinals to advance to the semis against New Zealand. The Black Ferns dispatched the Americans, 36-0 and moved on to face Australia, a 38-5 winner over France. The final was a battle, but a win for the Aussies, 26-19, with the U.S. third, thanks to a 21-19 win over France.

● Ski Jumping ● Only the women were in action, also in Lillehammer (NOR), with 2018-22 Olympic silver winner Katharina Althaus (GER) taking Saturday’s competition off the 98 m hill with 260.1 points, ahead of Austrian stars Eva Pinkelnig (250.2) and reigning World Cup champ Marita Kramer (242.3). Jumping off the 140 m hill on Sunday, Norway’s Silje Opseth got he second win of the season, scoring 259.6 to 252.1 for teammate Anna Odine Stroem, with Pinkelnig third (250.9).

● Snowboard ● The SnowCross season began in Les Deux Alpes in France, with Saturday’s races postponed to Sunday. Germany’s Martin Noerl took the men’s final for his fifth career World Cup gold, beating Italy’s Beijing 2022 bronze medalist Omar Visintin to the line, with Canada’s Beijing silver medalist Eliot Grondin third.

Australia’s Josie Baff scored an upset in the women’s final, winning over two-time Olympic medalist Chloe Trespauch (FRA) and France’s Lea Casta. It was the first career World Cup medal for the 19-year-old Baff.

● Speed Skating ● The ISU Four Continents Championships was held in Quebec City (CAN), with a few stars present, but mostly emerging skaters.

However, Beijing Olympic men’s 1,000 m silver medalist Laurent Debreuil of Canada was on top of the podium twice, winning the 500 m (34.462) and the 1,000 m (1:09.278). Korea’s 2022 Olympic silver winner Jae-won Chang took the Mass Start race in 8:15.770, just ahead of teammate and Beijing bronze medalist Seung-hoon Lee (8:15.840).

Canadian Antoine Gelinas-Beaulieu won the 1,500 in 1:44.666, and Vitaliy Chshigolev (KAZ) won the 5,000 m in 6:22.815.

Korea’s Youth Olympic Games star Min-sun Kim swept the women’s 500 m (38.141) and the 1,000 m (1:16.066), while Canada’s Beijing Team Pursuit gold medalist Valerie Maltais won the 3,000 m (4:02.150) and the Mass Start (9:14.700). Nadezhda Morozova (KAZ) won the 1,500 m in 1:56.378.

● Swimming ● Olympic stars Katie Ledecky and Regan Smith highlighted the U.S. Open in Greensboro, North Carolina, winning nine events between them.

Ledecky swept the women’s 200-400-800-1,500 m Freestyles, taking the 200 m Free on Friday (1:56.74) and the 1,500 m Free (15:44.13) on Saturday. Smith, 20, the two-time World Champion in Backstroke, won five events in all, including the 100 m Back in 57.95 – the no. 3 performance of 2022 – and the 200 m Back in 2:05.28, the no. 6 performance of the year. She added the 100 m Fly in 57.65 and the 200 m Fly in 2:07.30 to the 200 m Medley she won earlier in the meet.

Canada’s 16-year-old star, Summer McIntosh, second to Ledecky on Thursday in the women’s 400 m Free, came back to win the 400 m Medley in a World Junior Record4:28.61, the no. 4 performance of all time!

Tokyo Olympic 400 m Medley gold medalist Chase Kalisz won both the 200 m and 400 m Medley; his 200 m Medley time of 4:10.09 is the no. 12 performance of 2022. Other multi-event winners included Lithuania’s Aleksas Savickas, who won the men’s 100 m and 200 m Breast in 1:00.54 and 2:09.68, and 17-year-old American Daniel Diehl in the men’s 100 m and 200 m Back, in 53.07 and 1:56.41.

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FIFA WORLD CUP: Dutch school U.S. on finishes for 3-1 win; Messi’s early goal and Aussie mistakes help Argentina to 2-1 win

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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≡ QATAR 2022 ≡

The FIFA World Cup elimination round started on Saturday with two taut games, both won by traditional powers Netherlands and Argentina, over the U.S. and Australia, respectively. The Dutch finished their chances with goals, while the Americans were frustrated, unable to convert their opportunities.

Australia gave away a silly goal in the second half to go down 2-0 and despite a goal of their own in the 77th minute, they could not find an equalizer. The Dutch and Argentina will meet in the quarterfinals.

Sunday’s matches include defending champion France against a defensive-minded Polish team and Group B winners England facing a very dangerous Senegal.

≡ Saturday’s matches ≡

● Netherlands 3, United States 1 ● An experienced Dutch squad, expected to contend for the World Cup title, let the U.S. control possession, but made the most of their chances and outclassed the Americans for a 3-1 victory in the Round of 16.

The Americans were on offense from the opening kick and star midfielder Christian Pulisic got an immediate look at goal in the third minute. Midfielder Tyler Adams sent a looping ball from the top of the box that found Pulisic all alone at the left of goal, but his left-footed shot was saved off the leg of 6-8 Dutch keeper Andries Noppert.

The U.S. controlled possession, but the Dutch countered in the 10th minute and a perfect Denzel Dumfries pass from the right side into the middle of the box found the charging Memphis Depay for a line-drive finish past American keeper Matt Turner and a 1-0 lead.

The Dutch were happy to sit back and defend against the continuing U.S. attacks, looking for a counter when available. Tim Weah sent a blast in the 43rd that Noppert had to push away and it appeared the pressure would continue.

But a breakaway at 45+1 saw essentially a repeat of the first goal, as Dumfires fired a cross from the right side again, but this time to fast-closing midfielder Daley Blinn, who rifled his shot past Turner for a 2-0 edge on the final play of the first half. The U.S. had 63% of possession, but trailed on shot (3-5) and on the scoreboard.

The second half started the same way. Off a corner, U.S. defender Tim Ream had the ball bound to him right in front of goal, but his touch wasn’t enough to keep Noppert from blocking it in the 49th. A minute later, the Dutch tried for a third cross-and-strike goal, as Dumfries sent another cross from the right side, but Blinn’s shot was saved by Turner. Turner had two more saves in the 71st to keep the U.S. alive.

The U.S. looked dead, but then it changed in a heartbeat. Off a corner in the 76th, sub DeAndre Yedlin passed to Pulisic on the right, who popped the ball into the middle of the box and sub striker Haji Wright barely touched it, but it was re-directed into the goal to cut the deficit to 2-1. Wright then had a golden chance in the 77th when a long ball left him racing with Noppert for possession, but the Dutch keeper got there first.

In the 81st, the Dutch ended the argument on another cross leading to a goal, this time from the left side as Blinn found Dumfries on the right side of Turner and he sent a left-footed laser into the net for the 3-1 final.

The U.S. ended with 58% of possession and had 17 shots to 11 for the Netherlands (8-6 on shots-on-goal), but it was hardly enough. Where the Dutch scored on their chances, the U.S. did not and the need for a better finisher is apparent. The U.S. will be one of the hosts of the 2026 World Cup and has the building blocks to be special. The Dutch are trying to win now.

The American loss eliminates the only CONCACAF team to reach the knock-out round.

● Argentina 2, Australia 1 ● While Argentina didn’t make past the Round of 16 in 2018, it was a solid favorite to do so here, but it was far from easy.

The first half was, for the most part, slow. Australia had plenty of possession, but did not seriously threaten and the Argentines had 61% of possession, but were methodical rather than brilliant.

Then Messi made the magic he is famous for in the 35th. Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister looped the ball from beyond the box to defender Nicolas Otamendi, who flicked it to Messi, who sent a left-footed, seeing-eye shot that went through multiple bodies and into the left side of the goal for a 1-0 lead. The half ended with just three shots total: two for Argentina and one for the Socceroos.

A FOX Sports stat that popped up after Messi’s goal: Argentina is 41-3-5 at the World Cup when scoring first. That looked like a sure bet early in the second half, when Aussie keeper Mathew Ryan was challenged by midfielder Rodrigo De Paul after taking a backwards pass, the ball rolled free and was pounced on by forward Julian Alvarez, who rolled it into the goal for a 2-0 lead in the 57th. Game over?

There was plenty of fight left in Australia and they got back into it in the 77th, when midfielder Craig Goodwin’s rocket from just beyond the left side of the box deflected off Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez and flew into the goal to make it 2-1.

The game was wide open now and both sides made dangerous runs, especially Australian defender Aziz Behich in the 81st, but his shot was blocked. The Aussies pressured until the whistle blew at 90+8 and Argentina moved on, but just barely. Argentina ended with 61% of possession – although it didn’t feel that way in the final 20 minutes – and had a 14-5 edge on shots.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

The quarterfinals continue through Tuesday, with two matches on Sunday:

Game 3: 10 a.m. Eastern time:
● France (Group D-1): 2-1 ~ goals 6-3
● Poland (Group C-2): 1-1-1 ~ goals: 2-2

The French are defending champions and looked unbeatable in wins over Australia (4-1) and Denmark (2-1), but then rested most of their stars and lost to Tunisia by 1-0 in the group finale. Poland was shut out against Mexico (0-0), defeated Saudi Arabia by 2-0 and then was shut out again (0-2) against Argentina. Can they score against France? In the last six World Cups, the French have been champions twice, runner-ups once and have won four Round of 16 games in a row. The only World Cup match between the two was a 3-2 win by Poland for the bronze medal in 1982.

Game 4: 2 p.m. Eastern time:
● England (Group B-1): 2-0-1 ~ goals: 9-2
● Senegal (Group A-2) : 2-1 ~ goals: 5-4

The national anxiety attack that is English football faces another test against Senegal, which is playing its third World Cup elimination match in its history. England won Group B, beating up on Iran (6-2), playing a scoreless tie with the U.S. and beating Wales, 3-0. England is 3-1 in World cup Round of 16 games this century and reached the third-place game in Russia in 2018. But the Senegalese have speed and power, losing their opener to the Dutch on two late goals, then beating Qatar (3-1) and Ecuador (2-1).

Monday’s matches have the last two Asian teams in the tournament, with Japan vs. Croatia and Brazil vs. South Korea.

FIFA posted a variety of statistics on the 48-match group stage that ended Friday, with 2.45 million spectators attending the games, about 96% of capacity.

The FIFA Fan Festival passed the one million mark in attendance, with an average of 70,000 entries per day. Applications for the Hayya Card, required to go anywhere in the World Cup, are at 1.66 million, and accreditations for the tournament so far are 174,499. The top countries in terms of Hayya Card applications are Saudi Arabia (77,106), India (56,893) and the U.S. (36,236).

The volunteer corps for the World Cup is about 20,000, with 3,000 from outside Qatar.

Qatar’s policy on spectators wearing politically-messaged shirts, hats or scarves has been quite stiff, but Reuters reported it has not been enforced much for those with pro-Palestinian apparel, while protests against the Iranian government has been mostly squelched:

“The contrast was laid bare this week outside the Al Thumama stadium. On Thursday, security ushered through hundreds of fans draped in flags, hats and scarves showing support for Palestine ahead of the Morocco v Canada match.

“Two nights earlier, security at the same stadium confiscated items showing support for Iranian protesters, forcing fans to remove T-shirts and some flags ahead of Iran’s crunch match against the United States.”

The Executive Director of the recognized fan-matters group Football Supporters of Europe, Ronan Evain, told Reuters, ‘What we see in the end is that FIFA has lost control of its own tournament.’”

Football is serious business in Argentina and the International Sports Journalists Association (AIPS) reported that a KLM flight out of Buenos Aires, headed to Amsterdam on 30 November, demonstrated this once again.

The flight was delayed for about an hour, which allowed the passengers to watch the first half of the Argentina vs. Poland match in Group C, which the Argentines needed to win to advance. The scene:

“Staff members from the shops at Ezeiza Airport had all left their positions to watch the game with the passengers. There are screams, cursing, and arguments. We are inside an airport, but this is more like a football stadium.

“The second half was much more difficult. Boarding was open, but many simply did not want to board. Those that were inside the plane quickly discovered that they didn’t have wifi and mobile data was not working. Nobody had an old radio. It was (almost) a complete blackout.”

Passengers who had received calls from family and friends forwarded the details of Argentina’s 2-0 victory to cheers from those seated in the plane, waiting for take-off. Finally, the captain came on and announced the scores and that both Argentina and Poland had advanced.

Although the World Cup is on, the repercussions of the abuse scandal within the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) are continuing. On Thursday, it was confirmed that Chicago Red Stars owner Armin Whisler had retained advisors to facilitate the sale of his controlling share of the team.

The Red Stars was one of the teams identified as allowing player abuse, notably by its coach, as documented in an independent report commissioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation. The team’s players had asked for Whisler to sell his ownership stake in October.

The almost-but-not-absolutely-dead European Super League continues to rile the football world, with a study of Spain’s La Liga finances by the advisory firm KPMG estimating the league could implode if the Super League were to commence.

La Liga commissioned the review, which indicated that the current value of the league is estimated at €3.316 billion (~$3.49 billion U.S.), but with FC Barcelona and Real Madrid in a Super League:

“The existence of a Super League played in midweek would slash that value by 1.662 billion euro [to €1.654 billion or $1.74 billion U.S.] while if LaLiga was forced to become a midweek competition the impact is forecast to be even greater – with a reduction of 1.8 billion euro [to €1.516 billion or $1.60 billion U.S.] – a drop of 55 per cent.”

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FIFA WORLD CUP: Brazil and Portugal lose, but still win groups; U.S. face Dutch on Saturday as knock-outs start

By
Rich Perelman
-
The joy of advancement! (Photo: Korean Football Association)

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≡ QATAR 2022 ≡

More upsets at the FIFA World Cup, where group leaders Portugal and Brazil both rested some of their stars and both lost, but still finished atop their groups. The stunning wins for South Korea (2-1 over Portugal) and Cameroon (1-0 over Brazil) advanced only the Koreans, who eliminated Uruguay, which soundly beat Ghana, 2-0 (but needed a third goal to advance on goal differential).

In a rough-and-tumble game, Switzerland defeated Serbia, 3-2, to advance as the second team from Group G.

The group stage is over and the serious business of the elimination games begins with the Round of 16 on through Tuesday. Saturday’s match-ups include Netherlands and the U.S. and Argentina and Australia.

≡ Friday’s Matches ≡

● Group G: Cameroon 1, Brazil 0 ● The Brazilians rested most of their starters and used nine new players for this match, and immediately dominated possession, but could not score. They had chances, but forward Gabriel Martinelli missed a rising shot at 45+1 in perhaps the best opportunity of the half.

The Brazilians enjoyed 68% of possession, and had 10 shots at goal, but had to weather a creative Cameroon charge at 45+3 as Bryan Mbeumo headed a cross right at goal, but Brazilian keeper Ederson was able to slap it away. It was the first shot-on-goal against Brazil in the tournament so far.

Brazil was hard after a goal to start the second half, but Cameroon keeper Devis Epassy looked like a circus acrobat, swatting away shots and rebounds. He hit his head on a goalpost in the 58th minute off a corner that was headed by defender Bremer, but stayed in.

The Brazilian challenges kept coming, although the Indomitable Lions were able to mount a couple of dangerous chances – especially due to their speed – in the second half. In stoppage time, midfielder Jerome Ngom Mbekeli took a pass from midfield, sprinted down the right side and sent a perfect cross into the box that was redirected into the goal by striker Vincent Aboubakar at 90+2, to give Cameroon a 1-0 lead!

Aboubakar ripped off his shirt in celebration, earning him a yellow card and then a red card since he already had received one yellow, and leaving Cameroon to defend with 10. But the Brazilians could not score, with shot after shot on goal and suffered a 1-0 loss.

It was a glorious way for Cameroon to go out, with its first World Cup win since 2002. Brazil lost in a World Cup group match for the first time since 1998, ending a 17-match unbeaten string. The Brazilians ended with 65% possession and a 21-7 edge on shots, but none that found the net.

● Group G: Switzerland 3, Serbia 2 ● The Swiss (1-1) needed at least a draw and 0-1-1 Serbia had to win and hope Brazil beat Cameroon. Both sides had their offenses going from the start, with Swiss forward Xherdan Shaqiri scoring on a left-footer in the 20th from the right side – just inside the near post – off a feed from the middle of the box from midfielder Dijbril Sow.

But Serbia came right back, with a brilliant header from Aleksandar Mitrovic scoring in the 26th, redirecting – with power – a perfect lead pass from midfielder Dusan Tadic. The Serbs went up, 2-1, just nine minutes later, after Dusan Vlahovic got on to a deflected ball in the box and sent left-footed shot from left to right that rumbled past Swiss keeper Gregor Kobel.

The Swiss, who had scored one goal in two games coming up, tied it at 2-2 in the 44th minute as defender Silvan Widmer sent a perfect pass to the front of the box for a Breel Embolo tap-in to the left corner of the net. Possession in the first half was 50-50 and the Swiss had nine shots to seven for Serbia.

More offense in the second half, as Switzerland got on top with a Shaqiri pass into the box that was back-passed by midfielder Ruben Vargas to wide-open midfielder Remo Freuler, who finished with a left-footed cross to the right side of the goal for a 3-2 lead in the 48th minute.

But that was it and the game became increasingly physical, with a total of 32 fouls and 11 yellow cards, including seven on the Serbs and a scuffle in stoppage time. The game ended with Serbia holding 54% of possession, but the Swiss had 14 shots to 12 and a 7-4 edge on shots actually on goal. The Swiss finished the group at 2-1 and six points, behind Brazil by just one goal.

● Group H: South Korea 2, Portugal 1 ● The Portugese had already qualified to advance, having defeated Ghana and Uruguay, but the Koreans needed to win to have a shot at advancing. And Korean hopes dropped when forward Ricardo Horta scored from the right side of the box in the fifth minute.

But the Koreans stayed focused and worked relentlessly, getting the equalizer in the 27th when Young-gwon Kim scored into the center of the net as the ball bounced around in the box off a corner. Portugal had more chances, but the half ended 1-1, with Uruguay having a 10-6 edge on shots and 56% of possession.

As the second half wore on, the Koreans knew they needed a win and got stronger and stronger offensively, repeatedly making hard runs into the Portuguese zone. But nothing came of it until 90+1, when Heung-min Son led a fast break from his own zone and sent a pass into the middle of the box. A sprinting Hee-chan Hwang emerged and blasted a shot from right to left that found the left corner of the goal for a 2-1 lead that held up. The Koreans exploded with emotion when the game ended, and then again when it became clear they would advance to the elimination round for the first time since 2010.

Portugal had 62% of the possession in the game, but shots were even at 13-13, meaning the Koreans had seven second-half shots to get three for Portugal. Pressure paid off.

● Group H: Uruguay 2, Ghana 0 ● Uruguay’s situation going into this game was dire. After a 0-0 tie with South Korea and a 2-0 loss to Portugal, Uruguay had not scored a goal and had to win to have any chance of advancing and even then, had the problem of goal differential to consider. Ghana was 1-1 and could advance with a win and possibly a draw.

But after a scare, Uruguay took control and squashed Ghana’s hopes. Keeper Sergio Rochet saved a penalty against Ghana striker Andre Ayew in the 21st minute, then striker Luis Suarez’s shot was saved, but bounced to forward Giorgian de Arrascaeta who headed it in in the 26th for a 1-0 lead.

Suarez was in front of the Ghana goal again in the 32nd and sent a looping pass to de Arrascaeta to his left and he scored again on a powerful volley right to the back of the net for a 2-0 advantage. Uruguay had 58% of possession and a 5-3 lead in shots in the half.

Both sides had second-half chances, but Uruguay was fine as long as Korea and Portugal were tied in the other game, which would mean that Uruguay advanced. Then came the murmur in the Al Janoub Stadium when Korea scored at 90+1, meaning Uruguay and Korea would be tied with four points each and both would have a goal differential of zero. Then, Korea’s four total goals to Uruguay’s two would eliminate Uruguay. So the Uruguay offense went into hyper-drive with eight minutes of stoppage time available, needing to score one more goal.

The game ended with a 50-50 split on possession and Uruguay with a 12-10 edge on shots, but it was not enough. The Uruguay bench was screaming for penalties to be called on runs into the box by strikers Darwin Nunez and Edinson Cavani, but none were given and defender Jose Gimenez and Cavani received yellow cards for chasing referee Daniel Siebert (GER) into the field exit tunnel.

Uruguay failed to advance out of the group stage for the first time since 2002.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

The elimination matches are upon us and the Round of 16 begins on Saturday:

Game 1: 10 a.m. Eastern time:
● Netherlands (Group A-1): 2-0-1 ~ goals: 5-1
● United States (Group B-2): 1-0-2 ~ goals: 2-1

The U.S. is 1-4 in World Cup Round of 16 games going back to 1934. Its only win was a 2-0 whitewash of Mexico in 2002. The Netherlands is 4-1 against the U.S. all-time, all in friendlies.

The Dutch have played eight Round of 16 matches from 1974-2014, winning six, but did not qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

Game 2: 2 p.m. Eastern time:
● Argentina (Group C-1): 2-1 ~ goals: 5-2
● Australia (Group D-2) : 2-1 ~ goals: 3-4

Argentina has competed in 12 straight World Cup final tournaments in a row and was eliminated in this round in 2018. Prior to that, it had won four Round of 16 games in a row.

This is only the second time Australia had made the elimination round – also in 2006 – when the Socceroos lost to Italy, 1-0. Australia has never faced Argentina at the World Cup, but was the only team to make it to the elimination round this year with a negative goal differential.

The winners of these games will advance to the quarterfinals on 9 December. Sunday’s games include England vs. Senegal and France vs. Poland, with the winners to meet on 10 December.

With the group stage and 48 matches concluded, a good time for a quick report card on the five continental groups that sent teams to Qatar:

Africa:
● 5 teams in and 2 qualified to the Round of 16
● Group Stage record: 7-5-3, and 4-1 in the third round of matches
● Group Stage offense: 19-17 goals, 152-167 on shots, 44% possession

Asia:
● 6 teams in and 3 qualified to the Round of 16
● Group Stage record: 7-10-1, and 3-3 on the third round of matches
● Group Stage offense: 19-30 goals, 176-239 shots, 40% possession

CONCACAF:
● 4 teams in and 1 qualified to the Round of 16
● Group Stage record: 3-6-3, but 2-2 in third round of matches
● Group Stage offense: 9-22 goals, 115-130 shots, 47% possession

Europe:
(record and statistics against only non-European teams)
● 13 teams in and 8 qualified to the Round of 16
● Group Stage record: 12-9-7 vs. non-European teams
● Group Stage offense: 45-28 goals, 322-310 shots, 57% possession

South America:
● 4 teams in and 2 qualified to the Round of 16
● Group Stage record: 6-4-2, and 2-2 in the third round of matches
● Group Stage offense: 14-8 goals, 163-82 shots, 57% possession

Europe had 10 qualifiers to the final 16 in 2018, out of 14 entries, and South America had four in the playoffs in Russia, plus one for Asia and one for CONCACAF. Africa and Asia – with five qualifiers combined – have shown the most improvement so far.

Asia’s three elimination-round qualifiers is its most ever; it had two in 2002 – when it was also the host – and 2010. The two for Africa equal the most ever, also in 2014. Europe’s eight is down from 2018, but better than the six qualifiers it had in 2010 and 2014. For CONMEBOL (South America), two qualifiers for the playoffs is its worst showing since 2002 (also 2); it had five qualifiers in 2010 and 2014.

The takeaway is that, in terms of on-the-field performance, where the World Cup is played matters a lot.

“The success so far of the ongoing FIFA soccer World Cup has emboldened the Qataris and strengthened their resolve to host the Olympics.”

Reuters and others reported on Friday that Qatar officials believe the World Cup has gone smoothly enough for the country to be in a good position to bid for the 2036 Olympic Games, the next one available. Reuters quoted an unnamed source:

“The success so far of this World Cup puts Qatar in a strong position – they have shown they can do this… it is a proof of concept.

“They hosted the Asian Games in 2006; and will be hosting them again in 2030. All of the infrastructure is here – the stadiums, the metro, the new airport.”

However, the heat in Qatar would certainly push an Olympic Games well off the International Olympic Committee’s preferred July-August timeframe. The next three Games have been awarded to Paris in 2024, Los Angeles in 2028 and Brisbane in 2032. The Games have never failed to be placed in Europe after two consecutive Games elsewhere.

The International Olympic Committee recently said that it was in discussions with 10 different cities about future hosting possibilities.

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TSX REPORT: Japan and Morocco win World Cup groups (what?); 15.5 million watch USA-Iran; USATF’s Siegel defends $3.8 million pay

By
Rich Perelman
-
USATF chief executive Max Siegel at the 14 July pre-World Athletics Championships news conference in Eugene, Oregon (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images for World Athletics)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Crazy day in Qatar: Japan, Morocco win; Germany, Belgium out
2. World Cup: Belgian, Mexican coaches out; 15.5 million watch USA-Iran
3. USATF’s Siegel strongly defends $3.8 million pay for 2021
4. Shooting federation selects new Sec-Gen, apologizes for no election results
5. Ledecky and Costa take second wins at U.S. Open

The 2022 World Cup took a decided turn away from European domination on Thursday as Belgium and Germany were ousted in the group stage and Groups E and F were won by upstarts Japan and Morocco. As a result of the outcomes over the past couple of days, the coaches for Belgium and Mexico both announced that they were done with their roles. Additional broadcast data showed that some 15.5 million Americans watched the U.S. vs. Iran match in English (FOX) and Spanish (Telemundo) combined, better than just about everything else on TV these days except the NFL. USA Track & Field chief executive Max Siegel strongly defended his $3.8 million compensation in 2021 in an interview, but his comments raise questions as well. The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) was silent for a full day after incumbent Vladimir Lisin of Russia was defeated for the presidency by Italy’s Luciano Rossi, but woke up on Thursday and also announced that a new Secretary General has been appointed to replace Lisin ally Alexander Ratner. At the U.S. Open swimming championships in North Carolina, U.S. superstar Katie Ledecky and Brazil’s Guilherme Costa added the 400 m Free to their 800 m Free wins on Wednesday.

1.
Crazy day in Qatar: Japan, Morocco win; Germany, Belgium out

European supremacy in football was seriously eroded over the past two days, as defending World Cup champion France, and highly-regarded Denmark and Poland all lost on Wednesday, and bluebloods Spain, Germany and Belgium came up short on Thursday.

In the final matches in Group E, Japan stunned Spain, 2-1, with two goals early in the second half and won the group with a 2-1 record and six points. The Spanish (1-1-1) ended up second and advanced, but only on goal differential – +6 vs. +2 – over Germany, which defeated Costa Rica, 4-2, and also had a 1-1-1 mark (four points).

Belgium was considered a tournament co-favorite coming in, but once again was unable to showcase the firepower its players had previously shown, finishing with a 0-0 tie against 2018 runner-ups Croatia. The Belgians ended up scoring one goal in their three matches and left with a 1-1-1 record and four points. Morocco, on the other hands, tied Croatia (0-0), beat the Belgians by 2-0 and beat Canada (2-1) to top the group with seven points, with Croatia second (1-0-2: 5).

The final group matches come on Friday, with Serbia (0-1-1: 1 point) against the Swiss (1-1: 3) and already-qualified Brazil (2-0: 6) against Cameroon (0-1-1: 1) in Group F, and Ghana (1-1: 3) vs. Uruguay (0-1-1: 1) and already-advanced Portugal (2-0: 6) facing South Korea (0-1-1: 1).

Most of the Round of 16 has been set now:

Upper bracket:
● 3 December: Netherlands vs. U.S. and Argentina vs. Australia
● 5 December: Japan vs. Croatia and Brazil vs. Group H no. 2

Lower bracket:
● 4 December: England vs. Senegal and France vs. Poland
● 6 December: Morocco vs. Spain and Portugal vs. Group G no. 2

The quarterfinals will be held on the 9th and 10th.

2.
World Cup: Belgian, Mexican coaches out; 15.5 million watch USA-Iran

The Telemundo Spanish-language audience for the U.S.-Iran match was reported at 3.5 million (television and streaming), so the game drew more than 15.513 million fans on the 29th, second only to the 20.091 million for the U.S vs. England game on the 25th, a holiday Friday for many people.

Thus, for the three American matches at the World Cup so far, the average audience for English and Spanish telecasts combined has averaged 15.588 million, easily better than nearly everything else in sports in the U.S., excepting NFL games.

As teams fall out of the World Cup, so do coaches. Two high-profile team leaders already leaving their teams are Belgium manager Roberto Martinez (ESP) and Mexican manager Gerardo Martino (ARG).

Martinez said: “My situation is very clear. This is the end for me.

“Whatever the result of this tournament, I took the decision before the World Cup. It’s all about long term. Since 2018, I could have taken many jobs. I don’t resign, it’s just ending like this.”

The Royal Belgian Football Association said in a statement:

“We are extremely disappointed after the early exit of our national team at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar because we have failed and thereby let down the people of Belgium who supported our team all the way through.”

Martino said after Mexico’s exit from the tournament:

“I am the first responsible for this terrible disappointment and frustration that we have. As the person in charge, it causes a lot of sadness, I fully assume responsibility for this great failure.

“My contract ended as soon as the referee blew the final whistle and there is nothing more to be done.”

Mexican national teams director Jaime Ordiales said in a Thursday news conference:

“We’re embarrassed and we have to apologize. It’s necessary to face this failure and this makes us responsible to have to show the professional embarrassment that we have.”

More embarrassment as FIFA opened a second inquiry into anti-gay chants from Mexican fans during Mexico’s 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia:

“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has opened proceedings against the Mexican Football Federation due to chants by Mexican supporters during the Saudi Arabia v. Mexico FIFA World Cup match played on 30 November.”

A prior investigation was announced for the same issue after Mexico’s 0-0 draw with Poland in its opening match on 22 November. FIFA has previously sanctioned the Mexican federation (FMF) with a fan ban for a World Cup qualifying match in 2021.

3.
USATF’s Siegel strongly defends $3.8 million pay for 2021

Brilliant interview by Ken Stone of the Times of San Diego, asking USA Track & Field chief executive Max Siegel about his $3,819,264 pay for 2021 as disclosed on the federation’s IRS Form 990 tax return.

Siegel spoke to Stone on Tuesday, saying “This frankly is the worst week of my life,” referring to the criticism he has received. But he also strongly defended his compensation, saying “Have you seen one gold medalist in there that’s been critical of me?”

He responded to the allegation that the landmark deal from Nike that began in 2014 was brought in without his help, saying:

“That’s simply not true. And I don’t care what people say. … Nike was not going to stick around” and added, “As I’ve said to everyone before, if they want to go back to $16 million a year and have 100% of nothing – yeah, go ahead.

“The eight years before I got here, the organization’s actual revenue was about $129 million. Since I’ve been here [it’s been] $359 million. Those are just facts. That’s not my hyperbole, right?”

He also said he expects his employment agreement with USATF to be extended to the end of 2024, when he will be 60. He is attending the USATF Annual Meeting in Florida which closes on the 4th.

Observed: An evaluation of Siegel’s resolute defense of his compensation requires some perspective.

● First, what Siegel is paid is up to the USATF Board of Directors and that’s where the complaints should go. There is a significant issue with the “independent” members of the Board, since they are not elected, but are chosen by the existing Board, a clear conflict of interest.

● Second, his figures on revenues since he was appointed in 2012 and the eight years prior are not exactly right, but still better than before. Using USATF financial statements for the seven years prior to his tenure and a quoted figure for the eighth, USATF had $125.41 million in revenues from 2004-2011 combined. Revenues in 2010, under Doug Logan – who also negotiated a deal with Nike – were $19.34 million and in 2011, with Mike McNees as interim CEO, $19.08 million.

In Siegel’s first eight years – the same time frame as prior to his arrival for comparison – USATF revenues rose to $289.22 million combined, so more than double.

But it is worthwhile to note that revenues in Siegel’s first two years were $23.41 million in 2012 (an Olympic year) and then back to $19.59 million in 2013, before the Nike deal kicked in in 2014, with a $15 million signing bonus that raised USATF’s revenues to $35.05 million.

Since 2014, USATF revenues have not reached the $35 million level except in the Olympic years of 2016 and 2020 and were down to $34.63 million for 2021.

● Third, Siegel’s deferred compensation that was tied to the Nike deal is only part of the story. The USATF financial statements for 2014 note a “sponsorship negotiation commission” expense – related to the Nike deal – to an outside entity for more than $22 million, to be paid into 2039.

If Siegel’s role was so crucial to Nike’s sponsorship, why is the “separate third party” receiving more than $22 million in commissions over the life of that deal?

4.
Shooting federation selects new Sec-Gen, apologizes for no election results

The International Shooting Sports Federation held a Congress on 30 November and elected Italy’s Luciano Rossi as President, 136-127, over Russian Vladimir Lisin.

Nothing was posted on the ISSF Web site.

On Thursday (1st), a notice was posted that started with:

“We apologize that no information from yesterday’s election for the new president could be found on the website.

“The ISSF executive committee has a new president: Luciano Rossi.”

Now back to work, the results of the other positions were also posted Thursday, with Germany’s Willi Grilli “confirmed” as the new Secretary General of the federation, replacing Alexander Ratner, a former Russian and now German citizen, who was closely aligned with Lisin and sent a controversial letter lobbying for Lisin’s re-election the week prior to the vote.

Among the nine other members of the Executive Committee, in addition to Rossi, are four Vice Presidents, including six-time Olympic medal winner Kim Rhode of the U.S.

5.
Ledecky and Costa take second wins at U.S. Open

The second night of the U.S. Open in Greensboro, North Carolina, saw a re-match of the women’s 400 m Freestyle final with American star Katie Ledecky again out-dueling Canadian teen Summer McIntosh, 3:59.71 to 3:59.79.

McIntosh, 16, actually had the lead going into the final turn, but Ledecky came on stronger to the touch, in the no. 7 and equal-8th performances of the year in the event. McIntosh had beaten Ledecky in the 400 m Free in the short-course FINA World Cup in Toronto in October, but Ledecky added the win to the first-night 800 m Free title.

Brazil’s Guilherme Costa, the 2022 Worlds 400 m Free bronze medalist, also completed the 400-800 m Free double, winning in 3:48.13.

U.S. stars Chase Kalisz and Regan Smith won the men’s and women’s 200 m Medleys in 1:56.52 and 2:10.40, respectively, a lifetime best for backstroke star Smith, now no. 18 for 2022. The 50 m Free sprints went to David Curtiss in 21.92 and Gabi Albiero in 25.06.

The meet continues through Saturday.

≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡

● Group E: Japan 2, Spain 1 ● Spain started the day on top of the group, but needed at least a tie to advance. And the Spanish got on top early with their patented passing game. Off a blocked shot, defender Cesar Azpilicueta sent a perfect lead into the box that was headed in by striker Alvaro Morata in the 11th minute for a 1-0 lead.

Spain completed 526 passes in the half and had 83% of possession, but only a 5-2 edge in shots as Japan kept the score to 1-0.

Then, everything changed, as substitute striker Ritsu Doan took a header from midfielder Junya Ito on the right side and sent a left footed strike whistling off keeper Unai Simon in the 48th to tie the match.

Then it happened again, as Doan got possession in the box, and sent a right-footed shot past the left side of the goal that appeared to be out, but was kicked back into the field of play by Kaoru Mitoma and then kneed into the goal by a charging Ao Tanaka. The goal went to video review and was ruled good for a 2-1 Japanese lead in the 51st minute. Essentially a replay of the early-second-half comeback by the Japanese against Germany in their opening win, also in the Khalifa International Stadium eight days earlier!

Japan stayed aggressive, but never exposed its back line to danger, marking Spain closely. The Spanish pressed hard and had chances, but failed to score; if they had tied the game, Japan would have ended up third in the group and Spain and Germany would have advanced.

Spain controlled the ball for 82% of the game and had a 12-6 edge on shots, but lost the game. They will advance as the second-place team in the group, with Japan beating Germany and Spain – who picked that? – to win Group E.

● Group E: Germany 4, Costa Rica 2 ● Germany had to win and needed help from Spain to advance. Controlling almost all of the possession early, the Germans took an early lead with a goal from forward Serge Gnabry in the 10th minute on a header off of a cross right to the front of the goal from defender David Raum.

The Germans has a 71-29% edge in possession in the half and out-shot Costa Rica, 12-1, but that meant nothing when Yeltsin Tejada scored in the 58th from right in front of the goal.

Then midfielder Joel Campbell hit a long free kick from the left side to the far right side of the box, headed forward by defender Kendall Watson and hit defender Niklas Sule, falling to Juan Pablo Vargas in front of goal, who got enough of a touch on it to roll past German keeper Manuel Neuer in the 70th for a 2-1 lead!

But the Germans came right back, applying pressure and defender Joshua Kimmich heading the ball to midfielder Niclas Fullkrug in the box, who forwarded it to substitute striker Kai Havertz for a 2-2 tie in the 73rd.

Havertz scored again in the 85th with Gnabry sending a cross from the right side to Havertz’s foot and he finished for a 3-2 lead. In the 89th, Kimmich sent a ball into the box that came down to Leroy Sane, who chested it to Fullkrug for the finish and a 4-2 final.

Germany ended with 68% of possession and a 32-7 edge on shots (!), but its 1-1-1 record was worth four points and third place on goal differential to Spain, +6 vs. +1. It’s the second straight World Cup in which the Germans failed to get out of the group stage.

● Group F: Croatia 0, Belgium 0 ● No. 2-ranked Belgium flamed out of the 2022 World Cup with a goalless performance against a tough Croatia team that will move on as the runner-ups in Group F.

After a 1-0 win over Canada and a 2-0 loss to Morocco, Belgium had to win, but ended up scoring only one goal in the tournament and missed multiple chances in Thursday’s game.

Neither side was credited with a shot on goal during the first half, but both had chances that were blocked or went wide. Croatia was awarded a penalty that was reversed for offsides after a video review.

Star striker Romelu Lukaku came in for the second half and had an immediate impact, but could not score, hitting the right goalpost with an open net in front of him on a rebound in the 60th minute, sent a header over the bar in the 63rd and had a tap-in saved in the 90th minute by Croatian keeper Dominik Livakovic.

Meanwhile, the Croatians were repeatedly challenging Belgian keeper Thibaut Cortois, but he refused to be beaten. But with the tie, Croatia advanced to the elimination round and Belgium, which was eliminated in the Euro 2020 quarterfinals last year, leaves the tournament after reaching the quarterfinals in 2014 and finishing third in 2018.

The Belgians had 52% of possession and a 16-11 edge on shots. 

● Group F: Morocco 2, Canada 1 ● Morocco remained in dreamland in Qatar with a 2-1 win over Canada that won the group for the North Africans, moving into the elimination round for the second time ever and first time since 1986.

They got on top of the game right away, with forward Hakim Ziyech getting a unbelievable goal in the fourth minute with a left-footed chip from about 40 yards out that floated over the head of Canadian keeper Milan Borjan who had come out to the box of the box for a failed clearance.

In the 23rd, striker Youssef En-Nesyri took a long lead pass down the right side from defender Achraf Hakimi, split two defenders and then rifled a shot from the right side of goal just inside the post and under Borjan for a 2-0 lead that looked insurmountable.

Canada got one back in the 40th minute on an own goal by defender Nayef Aguerd, as Canada’s sent a hard cross into the box from the left side that caromed off the defender and into the Morocco goal and the half ended, 2-1.

A Moroccan goal in the 48th was called back for offsides and Canada almost got an equalizer in the 72nd as a header by midfielder Atiba Hutchinson hit the crossbar and just missed landing behind the goal line. But there was no second-half scoring and the game ended, 2-1.

The Canadians had 59% of the possession and Morocco led in shots, 6-5, but Canada’s mistakes were the difference.

Canada was in the World Cup for only the second time, after losing all three games in 1986. They scored two goals in total (none in 1986), but the attacking style seen in winning the CONCACAF qualifying tournament appeared only rarely in Qatar.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● International Olympic Committee ● The Olympic Golden Rings Awards honor the best in broadcasting and the Beijing 2022 recipients were honored on Wednesday (30th) in Lausanne.

Among the honorees was NBC, which earned a Best Athlete Profile Silver (on cross-country skier Jessie Diggins), a gold for Best Example of Inclusion and Equality for its profile on bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor, a silver for Best Feature and Documentary (“The Ride of Their Lives”), a silver for Best Social Media and Fan Engagement and a gold in Best On-Air Promotion for its “Superfan” promo.

U.S.-based Warner Bros. Discovery, which held the European rights, won a bronze for Best Olympic Programme for its record audience totals; a gold for Best Innovation and Set Design and a bronze for Best Social Media and Fan Engagement.

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● The USOPC announced its inaugural Team USA Collegiate Impact Awards, recognizing the universities who contributed the most athletes to the American teams for Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022.

For Tokyo 2020, 475 American Olympians and 122 Paralympians competed collegiately, at a total of 223 schools. The top producers:

● Olympic Gold Award: Stanford (35 U.S. Olympians and 19 medalists)
● Olympic Silver Award: UCLA (21 U.S. Olympians and 14 medalists)
● Olympic Bronze Award: Florida (14 U.S. Olympians and 10 medalists)
● Paralympic Gold Award: Illinois (20 U.S. Paralympians and nine medalists)

For Beijing 2022, 85 Olympians and 17 Paralympians competed for 54 schools; the top producers:

● Olympic Gold Award: Minnesota (12 U.S. Olympians and eight medalists)
● Olympic Silver Award: Wisconsin (five U.S. Olympians and five medalists)
● Olympic Bronze Award: Boston College (five U.S. Olympians and three medalists)
● Paralympic Gold Award: New Hampshire (four U.S. Paralympians and four medalists)

Additional Collegiate Impact Awards were given for support in eight specific sports, including Diving (University of Texas), Fencing (Notre Dame), Ski & Snowboard (Utah), Softball (UCLA), Swimming (Georgia), Track & Field (Oregon), Water Polo (Stanford) and Wrestling (Penn State).

● Figure Skating ● A special honor for Maia and Alex Shibutani, the brother-sister Ice Dance stars who won 2018 Olympic bronzes in Ice Dance and the Team Event, and World Championships medals for Ice Dance in 2011 (bronze), 2016 (silver) and 2017 (bronze): election to the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame, in the Class of 2023.

They will be inducted, along with longtime head of the U.S. Figure Skating Foundation, George Taylor, on 28 January 2023 during the U.S. nationals in San Jose.

● Football ● In the aftermath of the player abuse scandal at the Portland Thorns of the National Women’s Soccer League, owner Merritt Paulson announced Thursday that he would sell his ownership interest in the Thorns, but not in the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer, of which he is also the owner. He said in a statement:

“I regret the role our organization played in the failures identified by the investigations. Despite these challenges, the Portland Thorns have a bright future ahead and a lot left to accomplish.

“To fully realize that potential, I believe it is in best interest of the Thorns to have a new owner so that the Club can operate at the league level with a fresh voice to be a driving force for the NWSL. This has been a difficult decision for me, but I believe this is the best way to position the Thorns for continued success during this next chapter of the NWSL and the sport.”

U.S. Women’s National Team coach Jill Ellis, who led two Americans teams to the FIFA Women’s World Cup title, in 2015 and 2019, was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

She was elected in the “Builders” category, which includes referees, coaches, and owners and administrators; only coaches were eligible in this selection. Ellis will be inducted in the Class of 2023 ceremony on May 6.

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TSX REPORT: Argentina, France, Australia and Poland move on at World Cup; good World Cup first-week ratings; Russia T&F return moving ahead

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Argentina up from the dead, move on with France, Australia, Poland
2. FOX averaging 4.88 million viewers in World Cup’s first week
3. Russia on road to World Athletics reinstatement, maybe
4. Italy’s Rossi defeats Russia’s Lisin for ISSF Presidency
5. BCW survey finds “dialogue” preferred to elections of event hosts

The drama continues to build at the FIFA World Cup, as Argentina came back from losing a shocker to Saudi Arabia to win its group, while Mexico beat the Saudis, but came up a goal short of advancing. France and Australia advanced from Group D. The World Cup audience in the U.S. has been quite good, with FOX averaging 4.88 million on its telecasts, FS1 at more than 1.5 million and Telemundo at about 2.5 million. The U.S. games are outdrawing everything outside of the NFL. The World Athletics Council heard a positive report from its Russia Task Force that reforms are taking hold and a recommendation to end the seven-year suspension could come in March. But the ban over the war in Ukraine remains. At the International Shooting Sports Federation Congress in Egypt, Italian Luciano Rossi edged Russian billionaire Vladimir Lisin for president, by nine votes, removing the last Russian leader of an International Federation. A survey of 100 cities involved in bidding for major events showed that 56% preferred the new, less costly “dialogue” method of selection compared to direct elections.

1.
Argentina up from the dead, move on with
France, Australia, Poland

Superstar Lionel Messi and Argentina looked like they might be dead at the 2022 World Cup after a come-from-ahead, 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia on the third day of the tournament. But in its following two games, it shut down Mexico and Poland by a combined 4-0 score and won Group C with six points.

Mexico, which had scored no goals in the tournament, stormed past Saudi Arabia, 2-1, and looked like it would score perhaps a half-dozen times. But the late Saudi goal at 90+5 kept them from advancing on goal differential, -1 to 0 against Poland.

In Group D, France rested some of its top players for most of the game against Tunisia, and lost by 1-0 on a 58th-minute goal by Wahbi Khazri and a stout defense against a frantic French attack in the final minutes.

Australia overcame a surprisingly weak Denmark team – ranked no. 10 in the world coming in – and won by 1-0, with Matthew Leckie scoring in the 60th minute. The Danes managed just one goal in their three games.

On Thursday, Spain (1-0-1: four points) will face Japan (1-1: 3) in Group E, along with Costa Rica (1-1: 3) vs. Germany (0-1-1: 1). In Group F, the very disappointing, no. 2-ranked Belgians (1-1: 3) – who have scored one goal thus far – will play Croatia (1-0-1: 4) and need to win to advance. Morocco (1-0-1: 4) will play winless Canada (0-2: 0 and one goal so far), probably needing to win to move on.

The final group matches will be played Friday, with the elimination round starting on Saturday.

2.
FOX averaging 4.88 million viewers in World Cup’s first week

The U.S. audience is strong for the FIFA World Cup, with FOX, FS1 and Telemundo all showing good ratings for the first full week of the tournament:

● 4.88 million average for 12 matches on FOX (English)
● 1.57 million average for 16 matches on FS1 (English)
● 2.57 million average for 24 matches on Telemundo (Spanish)

(The Telemundo figure is somewhat overstated due to a lack of information for the four matches that aired at 5 a.m. Eastern time.)

The U.S. team is, of course, the most popular attraction, with FOX figures available for the final group match with Iran:

● 21 Nov.: 11.161 million vs. Wales (combined)
● 25 Nov.: 20.090 million vs. England (combined)
● 29 Nov.: 12.013 million vs. Iran (FOX only)

The FOX audience for U.S.-Iran peaked at 15.6 million in the final moments, when the U.S. was hanging onto a 1-0 lead. The three American matches on FOX averaged 11.755 million, which beats just about everything except the NFL (although Michigan at Ohio State drew 17.14 million on Saturday the 26th, also on FOX).

The other big draw, of course, was Mexico, especially on Telemundo. Its first match against Poland drew 4.6 million total on Telemundo (3.509 million on FOX) and 8.9 million against Argentina (4.132 million on FS1). That’s 13.03 million for the Argentina game combined!

The next favorite is Brazil, which drew a mammoth audience on Thanksgiving of 6.187 million against Serbia at 2 p.m. Eastern on FOX and 5.7 million on Telemundo for a combined 12.88 million.

Skiing and skating were also on this past week, with 825,000 watching Sunday’s highlights package from the ISU Grand Prix in Espoo (FIN) on NBC.

The early-season FIS Alpine World Cup races for women from Killington, Vermont drew a respectable 594,000 on Saturday on NBC and 488,000 on Sunday.

3.
Russia on road to World Athletics reinstatement, maybe

On Wednesday, the World Athletics Council heard the latest report from the Russian Task Force head by Rune Andersen (NOR), which was encouraged by the latest actions of the All-Russia Athletics Federation. The Task Force report noted:

● “In October/November 2022, an independent audit was carried out of RusAF’s progress against the requirements in the Reinstatement Plan approved by Council in March 2021. RusAF passed that audit, subject to taking two remedial measures …”

● “Under Acting President Irina Privalova, the current RusAF leadership team has embedded a new culture of good governance and zero tolerance for doping throughout the organisation.”

● “Following positive changes at senior leadership level, RUSADA also appears to be working effectively at an operational level. In particular, it has developed a test distribution plan that includes more than 2,000 domestic tests of Russian track & field athletes per year, most of which are out-of-competition tests.”

● “The Taskforce is not naive, however. It acknowledges that widespread and sustainable cultural change will likely take many years to embed, and regions and stakeholders will inevitably proceed at different paces and with different degrees of support for that change. Furthermore, RusAF remains subject to the oversight and control of the Russian Government, and the Taskforce notes with concern the decision of the RUSADA disciplinary commission not to publish its findings in the case of ice-skater Kamila Valieva, which indicates that not all parts of the domestic anti-doping framework are operating as robustly and independently as they should.”

The Task Force expects to make a final recommendation concerning Russia in March 2023, and a plan is in place for the Athletics Integrity Unit to take over the Task Force’s responsibilities, with a full-time staff working in the Russian federation’s offices in Moscow. It also notes, however, that any significant future breach of the post-reinstatement conditions “will trigger a Council proposal that Congress expels RusAF permanently from membership of World Athletics.”

That’s the good news for Russia, which has been on suspension by World Athletics since 2015. On the other hand, the report also stated:

“In March 2022, in response to the invasion of Ukraine, Council decided to exclude Russian and Belarussian athletes, support personnel and officials from World Athletics Series events until further notice, but said that the Taskforce should nevertheless continue its work monitoring and overseeing RusAF’s attempts to meet the reinstatement conditions. The Taskforce reminds Council that the Taskforce’s consideration of progress of the reinstatement plan has no bearing on any Council decision on RusAF arising from the war in Ukraine.”

A discussion on the doping situation in Kenya took place, but no action was taken against Athletics Kenya in view of the commitment of $5 million by the government to help stem the tide of cases.

An information session was held on the ongoing revision of the World Athletics regulations for athletes with Differences in Sex Development and for Transgender athletes. A revised set of regulations will be offered for Council approval next March.

The Council also assigned the World Athletics Relays to its original host, Nassau (BAH) for 2024, a meet with significant qualifying implications for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

4.
Italy’s Rossi defeats Russia’s Lisin for ISSF Presidency

The last Russian head of an Olympic International Federation was defeated in his bid for a second term as President of the International Shooting Sports Federation at the ISSF Congress in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on Wednesday.

Italian Luciano Rossi, who had lost by four votes (148-144) in 2018, defeated incumbent Vladimir Lisin of Russia, by 136-127.

Said Rossi, “I am naturally delighted with this result. Certainly with this result today my determination and passion for the sport of shooting is rewarded.

“I thank everyone, in particular my family and those who enthusiastically voted for me. But I also thank those who did not vote for me because I truly intend to be everyone’s President for the relaunch of our sport and for the democratic management of the International Federation.”

Lisin, a billionaire, had contributed millions to the ISSF himself, but the federation remained divided on his leadership. He was the only Russian to head an Olympic-program IF, as fellow billionaire Alisher Usmanov had previously “stepped back” from his role as elected head of the International Fencing Federation (FIE).

ISSF Secretary General Alexander Ratner, a former Russian and now German citizen, had written and circulated a letter in three languages last week harshly criticizing Rossi and supporting Lisin in the election, is expected to be replaced during Thursday’s session.

American star Kimberly Rhode, who won medals in six straight Olympic Games in trap and skeet, was elected as one of four ISSF Vice Presidents.

5.
BCW survey finds “dialogue” preferred to elections of event hosts

Is the new “dialogue” style of sports-event bidding better or worse than straight-out competitive elections? The communications giant Burson Cohn & Wolfe asked that question of 100 worldwide cities (no breakdown was given as to countries) involved in bids today.

The direct question between “dialogue” and elections was fairly clear, with 56% preferring the “dialogue” style to 31% who liked elections and the remainder having no preference. One voter commented, “A transparent, constant dialogue is always preferable. But this can be placed in a traditional bidding context as well.”

The main benefit of the “dialogue” system was the ability to interact – instead of just react – with the rights holder, with 32% noting the opportunity to influence the event requirements and 32% appreciating the learning curve possible in such a system. The lowered cost was favored by 24% and 11% noted that losing was not made public.

The positives of elections were “Transparency in the decision-making process” for 31% and “Clear timeline for the process” for 29%. Said one respondent, “Traditional bidding process has the benefit of ‘keeping everyone honest’ but history is littered with many examples where this has not been the case.”

Asked whether your city missed out on bidding for an event because it did not know about the process, 66% said “Never” or “Rarely” and 20% did not know. Only 14% were asleep.

Winning a competitive bid does generate more attention to the event for 64% of the respondents, with one commenting “Excitement is generated by the act of winning a competitive bid because it is a sign that other cities also value the event.”

≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡

● Group C: Argentina 2, Poland 0 ● A draw would suit Poland fine, but the Argentines were in possession and had six shots in the first 30 minutes.

And it looked good for Argentina when a penalty was called on Polish keeper Wojciech Szczesny against superstar striker Lionel Messi. But Messi’s hard shot to his right in the 39th minute was punched away cleanly by Szczesny, his second saved penalty in the tournament thus far! The half ended scoreless, with Argentina leading on shots, 12-2, and with 66% of possession.

The second half started the same way, with Argentina on offense and just a minute in, midfielder Alexis MacAllister sent a right-footed blast into the Polish net off defender Nahuel Molina’s cross for a 1-0 lead.

Argentina kept up the pressure and in the 67th, forward Julian Alvarez got a goal from the center of the box off a through-ball by midfielder Enzo Fernandez to increase the lead to 2-0. At that point, Argentina had 19 shots to Poland’s 4.

Poland’s only answer was the continued brilliance of Szczesny, who saved 11 shots as Argentina piled up a 23-4 shots edge and had 73% possession for the game. Losing by 2-0 proved to be enough for Poland to get to the elimination stage for the first time since 1986.

For Argentina, one of the pre-tournament favorites, they survived their shocking first-game loss to the Saudis, convincingly defeating Mexico and Poland by 2-0 scores. They are still very, very dangerous.

● Group C: Mexico 2, Saudi Arabia 1 ● Mexico needed to win to advance out of the group, which it had done in its past seven World Cup appearances from 1990-2018, but had not yet scored a goal in its two games. And they were on offense right away, generating shots by midfielder Luis Chavez (2), and forwards Alexis Vega, Orbelin Pineda and Hirving Lozano in the first half-hour, while controlling 71% of possession.

Mexico dominated the half, with 69% of possession and a 11-4 shots advantage, but nothing on the scoreboard. The second half started with more Mexican fireworks, with more shots at the Saudi goal and off a corner, defender Cesar Montes flicked the ball toward the front of the goal and striker Henry Martin kicked it in for a 1-0 lead in the 47th.

Then, suddenly, Chavez sent a curving free kick off the wall from 30 yards out and into the corner of the net in the 52nd minute for his first-ever international goal; 2-0! Lozano scored again in the 56th, but was offsides and the game remained, 2-0.

The Saudis needed to at least tie the game to advance, but the Mexican offensive avalanche continued, up 17-8 in shots and 7-1 in shots-on-goal by the 70th minute. There was no let-up, with Uriel Antuna’s goal in the 87th was called back for offsides.

But Mexico could not get a third goal, despite an unrelenting offensive push that ended with 26 shots to 10 and 61% of possession. But a late defensive breakdown allowed a give-and-go with midfielders Salem Al-Dawsari and Hattan Bahbri that ended with a Al-Dawsari goal at 90+5 that made the final 2-1.

That late goal turned out to be the difference, as both Poland and Mexico finished with 1-1-1 records and four points, but Poland had a goal differential of zero to minus-one for the Mexicans.

● Group D: Tunisia 1, France 0 ● The French were already through to the Round of 16 after winning their first two games, but although dominating play, were unable to score and lost on Wahbi Khazri’s goal in the 58th minute.

Tunisia actually scored in the eighth minute on a header by defender Nader Ghandri, but he was offside and the first half ended scoreless. Khazri, who was born in France, dribbled the ball down the middle, got just inside the box and sent a left-footed, skipping shot straight to the right corner of the French goal for a 1-0 lead.

France rested some of its stars, but many of them came in past the 60-minute mark and its attack became more focused. But they could not score against the packed-in Tunisian defense.

However, midfielder Antoine Griezmann appeared to tie the game at 90+8, but was offsides as the ball was played in, preserving the shutout and giving the Tunisians an emotional win.

France had 66% of the possession and led in shots, 10-5, but ended up winning the group at 2-1 and six points.

● Group D: Australia 1, Denmark 0 ● After a tie and a loss, Denmark needed a win to advance out of the group but Australia (1-1) might have been able to get through with a draw.

The Danes, the Euro 2020 semi-finalists and ranked no. 10 worldwide, were on the ball in the first half and had 65% of possession and a couple of shots on goal, keeping Aussie keeper Mathew Ryan busy. But it was 0-0 until Australian midfielder Matthew Leckie took a long lead pass from striker Riley McGree in the middle of the field, dribbled inside, reversed, then sent a low line-drive from left to right into the far corner of the Danish net in the 60th for a 1-0 lead.

As the game went on, Denmark got weaker and could not mount a serious challenge for the tie, despite ending with 69% of possession and a 13-8 edge in shots. The 1-0 win propels Australia into the Round of 16 with six points (2-1), while the Danes scored one goal in three matches and ended 0-2-1 (W-L-T).

The Danes wore their red home jerseys and did not bring out their highly-publicized, black “color of mourning” jerseys to highlight their concerns over migrant labor conditions in Qatar. Denmark was perhaps the most strident team in the tournament in highlighting Qatar’s labor policies, but are now – to their amazement, no doubt – on the way home.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Basketball ● The Class of 2022 was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame at a ceremony at the FIBA headquarters in Mies (SUI) on Wednesday. Nine individuals from women’s basketball were inducted as part of a focus on the women’s game, including two Americans: star center Lisa Leslie and University of Connecticut and U.S. Olympic Team coach Geno Auriemma.

The other inductees include players Robin Maher (AUS), Catarina Pollini (ITA), Jurgita Streimikyte-Virbickiene (LTU) and Mame Maty Mbengue (SEN), and coaches Antonio Carlos Barbosa (BRA), the late Milan “Ciga” Vasojevic (SRB) and Maria Planas (ESP).

● Football ● One of the stories of the 2022 FIFA World Cup has been the stunning expansion of stoppage time, in some cases to 11-12 minutes beyond the normal 45 minutes of each half. FIFA Referees Committee chair Pierluigi Collina (ITA) explained that actual playing time had decreased to perhaps 50 minutes – out of 90-plus – in matches at the 2018 World Cup in Russia:

“If we look back at Russia, the average amount of stoppage time was six and a half minutes.

“There was a maximum of six substitutions there compared to the ten we have now, and if we adapt that accordingly with the four extra substitutions, we can assume one extra minute. So we’ve gone from the equivalent of seven and a half minutes in Russia to ten minutes in Qatar, which is not a dramatic change, but it offers us the possibility to have an average of almost 59 minutes of actual playing time. We’re quite happy with this result.”

● Swimming ● The four-day, long-course U.S. Open began on Wednesday in Greensboro, North Carolina, with Freestyle superstar Katie Ledecky easily taking the women’s 800 m Free on opening night in 8:13.90, the no. 7 performance of the year (she has five of the top six). She won by 23.99 seconds over fellow American Michaela Mattes (8:37.89).

Brazil’s Guilherme Costa won the men’s 800 m Free in 7:54.10, well off his seasonal best of 7:46.90. The meet continues through Saturday.

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!

TSX REPORT: U.S. beats Iran, 1-0, to advance at World Cup; 400-500 killed in World Cup build-up? USATF revenues skid, but Siegel gets $3.8M

By
Rich Perelman
-
American star Christian Pulisic was the difference in the U.S.'s 1-0 win over Iran in the World Cup (Photo: U.S. Soccer Federation)

★ 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. U.S. advances to World Cup eliminations, as do England, Senegal, Dutch
2. UEFA and South America only confeds with winning records so far
3. Qatar admits 400-500 World Cup deaths, but figure walked back
4. GAISF, formed in 1967 to protect sports federations, dissolved
5. USA Track Field tax form shows revenues down, Siegel gets $3.8 million

The final matches in FIFA World Cups groups A and B saw the Netherlands and Senegal advance to the elimination round as well as England and the U.S., which defeated Iran, 1-0, in a tense match in Qatar. As with the 2018 edition, European teams continue to dominate the action, and among the five continental confederations participating in the World Cup, only the Europeans and South Americans have winning records through the first two round of group matches. The Secretary General of Qatar’s Supreme Committee for the organization of the World Cup said that between 400 and 500 people died on World Cup projects, but the statement was quickly walked back by the Supreme Committee press office, which said that figure referred to the total number of work-related deaths in the country from 2014-20. The Global Association of International Sports Federations, at one time a leading voice for sport in the Olympic Movement, voted to dissolve itself, leaving the International Olympic Committee even more firmly in control. USA Track & Field posted its Federal tax return for 2021, showing that chief executive Max Siegel was paid more than $3.8 million, moving forward bonuses not due until 2024. The federation’s revenues remained flat and have not kept up with inflation since 2014.

1.
U.S. advances to World Cup eliminations, as does England, Senegal, Dutch

The U.S. Men’s National Team scored two goals in three FIFA World Cup matches, but it was enough to earn two draws and a tense, 1-0 win over Iran on Tuesday, advancing to the elimination rounds as the second team out of Group B (1-0-2 W-L-T).

England won the group with a 2-0-1 record, beating Wales by 3-0 on Tuesday and will face Senegal, the second team from Group A next Sunday. The Senegalese (2-1) won their final Group A game with a goal in the 70th minute to eliminate Ecuador (1-1-1), 2-1.

The Netherlands skipped past Qatar, 2-0, to win Group A to 2-0-1 and will play the U.S. on Saturday.

Coming Wednesday are the final games in Groups C and D:

● Group C: Everything is still up for grabs, with Poland (1-0-1: 4 points) facing Argentina (1-1: 3), while Saudi Arabia (1-1) will play Mexico (0-1-1: 1). Any of the four could advance, and Argentina could overcome its shocking opening loss to the Saudis by winning its match.

● Group D: France won its first two games outright and will win the group, as it plays Tunisia (0-1-1: 1 point), which is still mathematically alive, but has to beat the French. Australia (1-0-1: 4) faces Denmark (0-1-1: 1), which needs a win to have any chance of advancement.

Groups E and F will play on Thursday (1st), with Spain (4 points) facing Japan (3) and Costa Rica (3) against Germany (1) in Group E. Disappointing Belgium (1 point) needs to win in its final Group F match against Croatia (4) to advance, while Morocco (4) plays hard-lick Canada (0-2: 0).

2.
UEFA and South America only confeds with winning records so far

Europe (UEFA) dominated the 2018 World Cup in Russia, sending 10 teams to the Round of 16, six to the quarterfinals and had all four semifinalists. It may turn out the same way in Qatar, but the Europeans have not been as dominant in 2022 through the first two rounds of the group stage.

In matches through the first two rounds only (records shown W-L-T), traditional powers UEFA and CONMEBOL (South America) are the only continental confederations with winning records thus far:

● Africa: 5 qualifiers: 3-4-3 overall, and 1-3-3 vs. Europe

● Asia: 6 qualifiers: 4-7-1 overall, and 2-3-0 vs Europe

● CONCACAF: 4 qualifiers: 1-4-2 overall, and 0-3-3 vs. Europe

● Europe: 13 qualifiers: 11-6-9 overall and 10-5-7 vs. non-Europeans

● South America: 4 qualifiers: 4-2-2 overall and 2-1-1 vs. Europe, thanks to Brazil’s two wins over Serbia and Switzerland.

On Tuesday, Groups A and B sent Netherlands and England on to the elimination round, with Wales the first European team eliminated. France, Portugal and Brazil have already clinched a spot in the playoffs as well.

For comparison, UEFA teams – with 14 qualified – were 17-6-5 through the first two rounds in Russia in 2018 and 15-4-3 against non-European squads.

3.
Qatar admits 400-500 World Cup deaths, but figure walked back

On the syndicated “Piers Uncensored” program, the British host Piers Morgan asked Hassan Al-Thawadi, the Secretary General of Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy:

“What is the honest, realistic total do you think of migrant workers who died from/as a result of work they’re doing for the World Cup in totality?”

The response was, “The estimate is around 400, between 400 and 500. I don’t have the exact number. That’s something that’s been discussed.”

Among the jumble of numbers thrown around by various groups concerning Qatar and the World Cup, that’s a new one, but far less than the 6,500 figure reported in February 2021, which was compiled from various government figures covering all migrant-worker deaths in Qatar since it won the hosting rights for the World Cup in December 2010.

However, it was a lot higher than the Qataris have announced, and a Supreme Committee statement after the interview included:

“The Secretary General told Piers Morgan’s ‘Uncensored’ programme that there were 3 work-related deaths and 37 non-work related deaths on the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy’s projects.

“This is documented on an annual basis in the SC’s public reporting and covers the 8 stadiums, 17 non-competition venues and other related sites under the SC’s scope.

“Separate quotes regarding figures refer to national statistics covering the period of 2014-2020 for all work-related fatalities (414) nationwide in Qatar, covering all sectors and nationalities.”

Morgan asked Al-Thawadi about the recognition that the migrant-worker situation had to change once the World Cup was assigned to Qatar:

“I think, overall, the need for reform in itself dictates that, yes, improvements have to happen. And just so we’re clear, this was something that was recognized before we bid. The improvements that have happened isn’t because of the World Cup. These are improvements that we knew we had to do, because of our own values, improvements that have to happen whether it’s in terms of health and safety standards, whether it’s in terms of improving accommodations standards, whether it’s in terms of dismantling the kafala system.

“Now, what the World Cup did, the World Cup served as a vehicle, as an accelerator, as a catalyst, because of the spotlight which we recognized early on was going to be shed. It caused a lot of these initiatives, not only in terms of improvement in the legislation, but in the enforcement of it as well.”

4.
GAISF, formed in 1967 to protect sports federations, dissolved

The Global Association of International Sports Federations, meeting in an Extraordinary General Assembly, voted by 70-22 to dissolve itself.

The group, originally known as the General Assembly of International Sports Federations (also GAISF), was created to be “[t]he united voice of sports, protecting the interests of International Federations.” It was, for several decades, a major force in international sport and the pathway for federations to become recognized as worldwide sports and possible additions to the Olympic Games program.

But as the position of the International Olympic Committee has become stronger over time, thanks to its funding by television rights sales and corporate sponsorships, GAISF’s position became weak. In 2015, then-GAISF President Marius Vizer (ROU), also the head of the International Judo Federation, opened the body’s massive Sport Accord conference by telling IOC President Thomas Bach (GER):

“Mr. President, stop blocking the SportAccord strategy in its mission to identify and organise conventions and multi-sport games. Do not try to create a theory around which sports are and are not eligible for multi-sport games. …

“Do not try to impose upon the organisers of SportAccord events guidelines on how to distribute funds generated and earned by ourselves. Do not interfere in the autonomy of the sport organisations.”

GAISF did create the World Mind Games in 2008 and 2012, World Urban Games (2019) and the World Combat Games in 2010, 2013 and in Riyadh (KSA) for 2023. But none became a stand-alone success that propelled the organization forward. The Sport Accord convention has been a success, beginning in 2003, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic has not been held since 2019.

The many sports federations will now be represented by organizations recognized and overseen by the IOC:

● Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF);

● Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF);

● Association of Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF) for sports recognized by the IOC, but not part of the permanent Olympic program;

● Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport (AIMS) for all others.

The dissolution announcement also noted that “SportAccord, which will take on many of the activities of GAISF, will commence, including a revised governance structure with the Association of IOC Recognised International Sport Federations (ARISF) and Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sports (AIMS) becoming members alongside the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF).”

Observed: If this sounds like an inside-politics development within the Olympic Movement, it is. But it is noteworthy as it underscores the central power of the IOC and especially its financial resources over almost every – but not all – international federations, excepting FIFA of course.

5.
USA Track Field tax form shows revenues down,
Siegel gets $3.8 million

Although the USA Track & Field financial statements for 2021 had already been posted, the federation’s Federal Form 990 annual tax return was available on its Web site and while reactions to chief executive Max Siegel’s $3.76 million cash pay, the financials showed a 7.5% drop in revenues.

In fact, USATF has been financially stuck in neutral since Nike began its massive sponsorship upgrade in 2014. Here are the USATF annual revenues since 2010, with Siegel starting as chief executive in April 2012:

● 2010 ~ $19.45 million
● 2011 ~ $19.08 million
● 2012 ~ $23.41 million
● 2013 ~ $19.59 million
● 2014 ~ $35.05 million ($15M sponsor bonus from Nike)
● 2015 ~ $32.48 million (sponsors $22.47M)
● 2016 ~ $37.34 million (sponsors $23.09M)
● 2017 ~ $35.09 million (sponsors $23.20M)
● 2018 ~ $34.47 million (sponsors $22.62M)
● 2019 ~ $34.32 million (sponsors $21.98M)
● 2020 ~ $37.47 million (sponsors $21.09M)
● 2021 ~ $34.63 million (sponsors $20.21M)

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee contributed $5.47 million to USATF in 2020 and $5.84 million in 2021. Sponsorships and the USOPC accounted for 75.2% of revenues. Events and related programs earned $3.94 million, or 11.4%.

USATF revenues have not even kept up with inflation; in 2014, it earned $35.05 million and came in at $34.63 million in 2021.

As for Siegel, his $3.76 million pay for 2021 includes “deferred bonus” amounts which were specified in 2018, believed to be tied to the monster Nike sponsorship deal. The 2018 financials stated “CEO current year reported compensation includes contractual deferred bonuses payable over a period of seven years through 2024. For accounting purposes, these bonuses were deemed earned in the current and prior years, but they will not be paid until the future years stated in the employment contract.”

Siegel received $500,000 in 2020 which was previously reported as deferred, but $2.5 million of previously-deferred bonuses in 2021, against a specified total of deferred comp (including retirement contributions) of $3,027,250 in the 2018 statements.

Chief Operating Officer Renee Washington saw her compensation jump to $1.64 million, including $1.01 million in “other reportable compensation” for which no details were provided.

USATF provided a statement to Runner’s World regarding Siegel’s salary:

“The CEO is evaluated yearly and is judged on overall organizational performance. The board is extremely pleased with Max’s performance. The organization’s success on and off the field of play has been historic under his leadership and we are poised to continue that trajectory. The USATF Board is comfortable with Max’s salary level and as a part of this year’s evaluation, we will do a deep dive with an outside firm to analyze his salary based on his level of expertise and how it compares to organizations with similar or smaller operating budgets.”

Observed: Three-time Olympic gold medalist Tianna (Madison) Bartoletta crystalized the issue perfectly on Twitter:

“I just want to point out that this salary had to be voted on and approved by the board of directors. So this whole ‘Max is bad’ refrain doesn’t take into account that 24 people (including peers in the [Athlete Advisory Committee]) okay’d this. Don’t just, ‘ask Max’ that’s not how it works.”

The USATF Board, the same one which demoted elected President Vin Lananna, is responsible for Siegel’s pay, but also for the lack of growth in the federation’s revenues. Just using inflation, $35.05 million in 2014 is worth about $44.12 million in 2022. By that standard, USATF’s revenues are down, effectively, 21.5%.

At USA Swimming, the other major – but much less visible – medal producer for the United States at the Olympic Games, revenues jump in Olympic and FINA World Championships years:

● 2016 ~ $45.84 million ~ Olympic year
● 2017 ~ $43.09 million ~ Worlds year
● 2018 ~ $34.81 million
● 2019 ~ $46.48 million ~ Worlds year
● 2020 ~ $36.39 million
● 2021 ~ $42.53 million ~ Olympic year (delayed)

Its chief executive, Tim Hinchey, received $1.037 million in salary and bonuses for 2021.

It is also noteworthy that Siegel’s bonuses, according to USATF’s financial statements, were due to be paid through 2024. Payments for 2022-23-24 were advanced to 2021; why?

With the USATF Annual Meeting coming up this week from 1-4 December in Florida, delegates may want to ask their Board reps – and Siegel and Washington – about what will be done to expand the sport’s revenue and profile, especially now that the excitement of the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene has passed.

≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡

● Group A: Netherlands 2, Qatar 0 ● Cody Gapko scored his third goal in three games for the Dutch in the 26th minute for the first goal in a decisive win.

The Netherlands won Group A with a 2-0-1 record and seven points. Gapko’s goal gave the Dutch a 1-0 lead at halftime and the lead increased to 2-0 on a Frenkie de Jong goal in the 49th minute after a Memphis Depay shot was blocked.

The Dutch got a third goal in the 68th from Steven Berghuis, but it was disallowed after a video review.

The Netherlands had 63% of possession and a 13-5 edge on shots. Qatar finished 0-3 in the group.

● Group A: Senegal 2, Ecuador 1 ● The winner was going to advance in this game and Senegal was pushing hard from the start. There was no score until the 44th minute when forward Ismaila Sarr was fouled by Piero Hincapie while charging toward goal, and then converted the penalty for a 1-0 lead.

Ecuador went on the offensive in the second half and a long corner found defender Felix Torres, who headed the ball to his left, where midfielder Moses Caicedo popped it into the goal to tie the match in the 67th.

That energized Senegal, which got a free kick on the Ecuador zone in the 70th minute that was headed off Ecuador star Enner Valencia and found defender Kalidou Koulibaly on the right side of goal and he volleyed it home for what turned out to be the winning goal.

Ecuador pressed, but could not get an equalizer and Senegal advanced out of the group. Ecuador enjoyed 61% of the possession in the game, but Senegal had 14 shots to nine.

● Group B: England 3, Wales 0 ● There was no score in the first half, but the English were clearly in control and struck twice early in the second half on back-to-back goals from Marcus Rashford in the 50th minute and Phil Foden in the 51st.

After Foden won a free kick on the left side in the 49th, Rashford sent a curving strike into the top right corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead in the 50th. Then after winning the ball back, striker Harry Kane sent a cross all the way across the field to the back post and Foden kicked it in for a 2-0 edge.

England got a third goal in the 68th minute, as Rashford dribbled to his left and then sent a hard, low ball through the legs of Welsh keeper Danny Ward for the final score.

The English controlled the ball for 65% of the time and had 18 shots to seven for Wales, which managed only one goal on its three games at the World Cup.

● Group B: United States 1, Iran 0 ● The Americans needed to win and were the aggressors from the start, trying to break down a packed-in Iranian defense. There were chances, especially for Tim Weah on a header in the 28th and then a Weah blast that went over the goal in the 33rd.

Iran rarely came forward and the U.S. continued to press, when a seeing-eye pass from Weston McKennie in the midfield found Sergino Dest on the right side of the penalty area in the 38th minute. He sent a perfect header to the front of the goal and found a charging Christian Pulisic, who right-footed the ball into the net as he crashed into keeper Edouard Mendy.

Pulisic was laboring badly on the sideline and the U.S. played with 10 men for about five minutes, when Pulisic came back on, albeit not at full speed. He left at halftime and had suffered a pelvic contusion, but says he will play on Saturday.

Weah scored again on a seeing-eye shot from the left side at 45+6, but was ruled offsides. The Americans had 61% of possession and a 9-0 lead in shots in the half.

The U.S. started well in the second half, but went into a defense-first mode after 60 minutes and barely held on for the win. Striker Saman Ghoddos missed a chance in the 65th minute when his shot went over the net and wide to the right.

There was the occasional foray on offense for the U.S., with Yunus Musah smashing a shot over the Iranian net in the 68th, but it was mostly a defensive effort through 90 minutes and nine minutes of stoppage time. Coach Gregg Berhalter brought in defenders Shaq Moore and Walker Zimmerman in the 82nd minute to place five across the back, and they helped hold on to the lead.

Some late Iranian theatrics, asking for penalty shots, were ignored by Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lopez and the U.S. escaped with the win and advanced. The Americans ended with 51% of possession and a 12-4 edge on shots.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 1928: Amsterdam ● A controversial statue of Dutch athlete Frist van Tuyll van Serooskerken, who was also the first chair of the Dutch Olympic Committee, will be allowed to remain in the stairwell of the Amsterdam Olympic Stadium.

The statue depicts van Tuyll van Serooskerken giving a Roman-style salute, which is now recognized as the infamous German Nazi salute, with the right arm extended straight from the shoulder. It was moved by stadium officials earlier this year after a study established it is inextricably tied by the public to the Nazis, even though it was erected in 1928, prior to the Nazi takeover of Germany in 1933.

The removal to the stairwell was challenged by a conservation group, but a District Court ruled that it can remain there “in order to prevent the monument from causing misunderstanding among visitors because of its association with the Hitler salute.”

● Archery ● The 2022 Pan American Championships were held in Santiago (CHI) last weekend, with the U.S. winning multiple medals, but no golds.

In the Recurve (Olympic) Division, Brazil’s Marcus D’Almeida, the 2021 Worlds silver medalist, won the men’s title by 7-3 in the final over Cuba’s Hugo Franco. Mexico’s Ana Vazquez, a 2021 Worlds Team silver medalist, won the women’s final, with American Casey Kaufhold taking the bronze.

Mexico won the team events for men, women and mixed pairs; the U.S. won a bronze in the men’s division, lost in a shoot-off in the women’s championship final (28-27) to settle for silver and won the Mixed Team silver, but lost, 6-0, to Mexico in the final. Kaufhold ended with three medals in all: two team silvers and an individual bronze.

● Athletics ● Rio 2016 Olympic Hassan Mead was suspended for three years by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for use of the testosterone substitutes Ostarine and Ligandrol, found during an out-of-competition test in October 2022. Per the USADA:

“Mead retired on November 8, 2022. Therefore, his period of ineligibility will continue until Mead returns from retirement and serves the remainder of his period of ineligibility. In addition, Mead has been disqualified from all competitive results obtained on and subsequent to October 17, 2022, the date his positive sample was collected.”

Mead finished 11th in the Rio 2016 5,000 m final and made three World Championships teams, finishing 11th in the 5,000 m in 2019 and 15th in the Worlds 10,000 m races in 2015 and 2017. He retired with bests of 3:37.65 for 1,500 m (2016), 13.02.80 in the 5,000 m (2014) and 27:32.49 in the 10,000 m in 2017.

● Cycling ● The UCI Track Champions League is ongoing, with three of five stops completed and the circuit moving to London for the final stages this weekend.

Thus far, the men’s Sprint leader is Dutch star Harrie Lavreysen, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Sprint champ, with 111 points, to lead Matt Richardson (AUS: 109) and Stefan Botticher (GER: 86). The Endurance leader is Swiss Claudio Imhof (80), ahead of Mathias Guillemette (CAN: 74).

France’s Mathilde Gros, the 2022 World Sprint Champion, leads the women’s Sprint standings with 83 points to 74 for Colombian star Martha Bayona. American Jennifer Valente, the Tokyo 2020 Omnium winner, leads the Endurance table at 98 points, just one ahead of Britain’s Katie Archibald, the two-time World Champion in the Omnium.

The UCI reported that a sports science study from the first two events collected data on 43 different metrics. Of note was the duel between Archibald and Valente in the Scratch in Berlin, where Archibald reached a heart rate of 200 beats per minute (to win) to 190 for Valente. Gros was even better, reaching 204 beats per minute in the Keirin race at the second stop in Berlin.

● Football ● Agence France Presse reported that FIFA had approved banners supporting Iranian protestors, but even so, such items were not allowed into Tuesday’s World Cup match with the U.S. in Qatar.

The AFP report stated that it had seen a document from FIFA that included:

“FIFA allows messages promoting human rights and FIFA’s position is that ‘Women, Life, Freedom’, or the name or likeness of Mahsa Amini, are permitted. Conversely, in accordance with FIFA rules on objects prohibited to spectators, objects bearing political, insulting or discriminatory messages are prohibited. This also applies to flags of non-official countries, which can be considered as a political message.”

Reuters reported:

“Early in the second half, a group of fans briefly held up letters spelling Mahsa Amini’s name, to applause from Iranian supporters around them. Security personnel took their signs but allowed them to remain in their seats.”

It also noted that several fans were either accosted or removed by security officers for apparel with protest slogans on them.

● Volleyball ● The man who stole Olympic volleyball setter Jordyn Paulter’s Tokyo 2020 gold medal is a career criminal who pled guilty on Monday. Jordan Fernandez of Anaheim, California was sentenced to 364 days in jail and two years of probation, but was freed after already serving 179 days and getting 179 days off for good conduct after being arrested in June.

The medal was found in a plastic trash bag by a woman walking her dog in June, and turned into police. Fernandez pled guilty to first- and second-degree burglary, among other charges.

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TSX REPORT: Brazil and Portugal clinch World Cup playoff spots; U.S. team not involved with Iran protest post; Kenya worried about World Athletics suspension

By
Rich Perelman
-
U.S. Men's National Team coach Gregg Berhalter (l) and captain Tyler Adams at a World Cup news conference in Qatar.

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Brazil and Portugal go through; U.S. must beat Iran to advance
2. U.S. team had nothing to do with online Iran protest post
3. Paris 2024 ticket sale process to begin on 1 December
4. Vancouver 2030 bid still alive, at least as far as IOC is concerned
5. Kenya trying to stave off possible World Athletics suspension

Another wild day at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar as heavyweights Brazil and Portugal won their matches to advance to the Round-of-16 playoffs that will start on 3 December. The U.S. men face Iran on Tuesday needed to win to advance, but a Monday news conference was all about the social-media posts that temporarily featured an Iranian flag without its Islamic Republic symbols in the middle. Coach Gregg Berhalter said the team and the coaches knew nothing about it; it was done by U.S. Soccer. The Paris 2024 organizers unveiled the Olympic ticket purchase process, with ticket “packs” to go on sale in February and March and individual tickets to be sold starting in May. Although denied provincial funding required for its bid to go forward, the Vancouver 2030 Winter Games bid group met with the International Olympic Committee’s Future Host Commission online last week. The Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee are trying to get the British Columbia government re-engaged, but have had no luck so far. In Kenya, the minister of youth, sports and arts has written to World Athletics in an effort to keep from having Kenya suspended due to its unending list of doping violations. The Kenyan government has committed $5 million over the next five years to the effort, but the situation has risen to a crisis status.

1.
Brazil and Portugal go through; U.S. must beat Iran to advance

Tournament bluebloods Brazil and Portugal both managed tightly-fought victories on Monday, going to 2-0 in group play and clinching spots in the Round of 16 prior to their third group match.

In Group G, Brazil (2-0 W-L) advanced with a tightly-contested, 1-0 win over Switzerland (1-1) and Cameroon and Serbia (both 0-1-1) fought to a wild, 3-3 draw. That means Serbia needs to beat Switzerland on Friday (2nd) and hope that Cameroon can’t beat Brazil. If Cameroon can win, it will also have four points and goal differential with Serbia or Switzerland could come into play.

In Group H, Portugal (2-0) out-fought Uruguay, 2-0, to move to the elimination round, with Uruguay now 0-1-1. Ghana won a crazy match from South Korea by 3-2, and is now 1-1 while the Koreans fell to 0-1-1. On Friday, Ghana will play Uruguay, with Ghana advancing with a win. Uruguay could get to four points with a victory, as could the Koreans if they can defeat Portugal, and then goal differential comes in.

The final matches in Group A and B will be held Tuesday, with Ecuador (1-0-1: 4 points) facing Senegal (1-1: 3), and the Netherlands (1-0-1: 4) playing Qatar (0-2: 0). The Dutch need to win to be sure of advancing, as does Ecuador, but Senegal could win the group with a win and a Dutch defeat or draw.

In Group B, England has four points (1-0-1) and plays Wales (0-1-1: 1), and needs at least a draw to advance. Iran (1-1: 3) and the U.S. (0-0-2: 2) will play, with the Iranians possibly advancing with a draw, but the U.S. moving on only if they win. A Wales win over England, however improbable that is, and an Iran draw with the U.S. will require goal differential to separate the English, Welsh and Iran.

2.
U.S. team had nothing to do with online Iran protest post

The U.S. Men’s National Team’s social-media accounts posted a graphic of the World Cup Group B standings, with Iran’s flag shown – for 24 hours – with only its colors and not its Islamic Republic symbols in the middle.

But the team itself had nothing to do with it. Per coach Gregg Berhalter at a Monday news conference:

“The players and the staff knew nothing about what was being posted.

“Sometimes things are out of our control. We believe that it’s going to be a match that the result will depend on who puts more effort in, who executes better on the field. And we’re not focused on those outside things. All we can do on our behalf is apologize on behalf of the players and the staff, but it’s not something that we are part of.

“We had no idea about what U.S. Soccer put out; the staff, the players had no idea. And for us, our focus is on this match. I don’t want to sound aloof or not caring by saying that, but the guys that worked really hard for the last four years, we have 72 hours between England and Iran, and we really are just focused on how to get past Iran and [how] we can go to this knockout stage of the tournament.

“Of course, our thoughts are with the Iranian people … the whole country, the whole team, everyone, but our focus is on this match.”

Berhalter added:

“Sport is something that should bring people together, bring countries together.

“When you look at the Olympics, to see all those countries competing at the same time, is a wonderful event. The World Cup is very similar, where people come from all around the world. Fans come from all around the world, and you get to compete on the field, as brothers, so sport does have the ability to do that.”

CNN reported that it was the U.S. Soccer Federation which posted the symbol-less Iranian flag for 24 hours to show “support for the women in Iran fighting for basic human rights.”

The Iranian Tasnim News Agency tweeted on Sunday:

“By posting a distorted image of the flag of the Islamic Republic of #Iran on its official account, the #US football team breached the @FIFAcom charter, for which a 10-game suspension is the appropriate penalty. Team #USA should be kicked out of the #WorldCup2022.”

3.
Paris 2024 ticket sale process to begin on 1 December

The procedure to buy Olympic Games tickets has often been complicated and irritating, something the Paris 2024 organizing committee is trying to fix. And it has at least partially succeeded with its Monday announcement of the ground rules for buying the first group of tickets, to be made available in February. According to Paris 2024:

“For the first time in Olympic history, tickets will be sold exclusively on a single, centralised and digital platform which will be open to all fans at the same time.

“Through this platform, nearly 10 million tickets will be available for the Olympic Games, with one million of these priced at just €24 and almost half priced at €50 or less for the general public. Paris 2024 is committed to accessible and affordable Games, and these ticket prices are available across the 32 sports on the Olympic Games programme that are for sale (with the exception of surfing which will not be sold).” (€1 = $1.03 today)

Sales will be made in stages, with only “ticket packs” sold between 13 February and 15 March 2023 and then individual tickets available from 11 May 2023. Both sales periods will require registration and a lottery:

● Pack sales: Buyers must register between 1 December 2022 and 31 January 2023 to get into a lottery for a time slot to buy tickets. Those selected will be scheduled for access to the ticketing site for a 48-hour period between 13 February and 15 March to buy tickets from three different sessions of sport, with up to six tickets per session. That’s what you can buy, in a variety of price ranges, with 80% of all sessions available for this sale period.

The opening and closing ceremonies will not expected to be part of this sale, nor will some high-demand finals sessions.

● Single sales: The second phase will require a new lottery – from 15 March to 23 April – with those chosen being able to buy tickets in a designated time slot beginning on 11 May 2023.

An absolute maximum of 30 tickets for the Games will be allowed for each “account.” Tickets for the Paralympic Games will go on sale in mid-2023.

4.
Vancouver 2030 bid still alive, at least as far as IOC is concerned

The Canadian-based GamesBids.com site reported Friday that despite having been shunned by the British Columbia provincial government for needed funding to stage a 2030 Olympic Winter Games, the Vancouver bid group, led by four First Nations, made a video presentation to the International Olympic Committee last week.

The Vancouver team met via Zoom with the IOC’s Future Host Commission for the Olympic Winter Games, explaining their proposal for about an hour. But it is clear that the project cannot go forward without financial support from British Columbia, on which national government support for hosting the Games is contingent.

The Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee have asked for further talks in a 21 November open letter to provincial officials, which included:

“[W]e expected the next step to be a face-to-face meeting with all parties to discuss the costs and benefits, priorities, and possibilities. The B.C. government has not yet given any of the parties, despite attempts by us and the Nations, an opportunity to have this discussion.

“We recognize the size, complexity, and expense of any project of this nature, and respect that the B.C. government has the right not to support projects for its own reasons. … We invite the Province, under the leadership of its new Premier, David Eby, to sit down with all parties and fully explore the potential of this project – together.”

No response has been reported from Eby; per GamesBids.com:

“A poll released this week by Research Co. revealed that 57 percent across the province agree with [B.C. Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Lisa] Beare’s decision to essentially end the bid while only 29 percent oppose it.”

5.
Kenya trying to stave off possible World Athletics suspension

Reuters reported last Friday that the Kenyan government has asked World Athletics not to suspend it in view of a rash of doping cases involving its athletes.

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports and the Arts, Ababu Namwamba, tweeted last week:

● “The government is taking firm measures to protect and uphold the integrity of athletics and sports in general. Our commitment is zero tolerance to doping.”

● “We will not allow a few unethical criminal elements to soil Kenya’s hard-earned premium pedigree as a top athletics nation that prides itself on competing and winning clean. We must defeat doping and its perpetrators.”

● “I ascribe to Abraham Lincoln’s wisdom of rather losing honorably than cheating. It’s more honorable to lose than cheat.”

In a statement, Namwamba noted that the Kenyan government has committed to additional anti-doping funding of $1 million per year for five years, but also:

“We are therefore alarmed and saddened by the increase in Kenyan athletes using doping agents, which has tragically resulted in the most unfortunate downgrading of Kenya’s premium status and led to classification as a ‘Category A’ violator under the World Anti-Doping Rules in Athletics. This is despite the existing legal framework enacted to tame the doping vice.”

He also reported on a message from World Athletics President Sebastian Coe (GBR), with Namwamba stating:

“In his communication to me this week, Coe praised the government’s action and plan in the fight against the threat of doping.

“‘I welcome the additional resources provided by the Government of Kenya in the fight against doping. The only way we can reduce the magnitude of this problem is the collective commitment of all sports stakeholders in Kenya.’”

Reuters stated that 55 Kenyans are currently banned and eight more provisionally suspended by the independent Athletics Integrity Unit. Kenya’s The Standard reported in a 13 November story that the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) has additionally sanctioned 22 athletes and nine other active cases, none of which had been made public, but the site posted the list.

Further, coach Noah Busienei said that bribes are paid to keep athlete names from being publicized. He was quoted:

“They give kickbacks so that an athlete cannot be named. Some athletes have been asked to pay Sh7 or Sh8 million [$57,166 to $65,333 U.S.] not to be named. Such athletes feign injuries or claim to be on maternity leave.

“It is shocking that an athlete wins a big race, makes good money and then proceeds on maternity leave while in top form. It is normally the other way around.

“Many managers are simply out to make money. Let us avoid these brokers handling our athletes. That is when we will have a lasting solution.”

≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡

● Group G: Cameroon 3, Serbia 3 ● Monday’s opening game was crazy, with three goals in each half and Cameroon coming back from a 3-1 deficit to get a tie (and a point).

Serbia had the best chances early, but Jean-Charles Castelletto scored for Cameroon in the 29th minute when a corner kick bounded off multiple heads and fell at his feet at the far right side of the goal.

But the Serbs responded with a goal in stoppage time as defender Strahinja Pavlovic headed in midfielder Dusan Tadic’s free kick from about 35 yards out at 45+1 for the tie. Two minutes later, Cameroon failed to clear and midfielder Andrija Zivkovic passed to forward Sergej Milinkovic-Savic at the top of the box and his left-footed shot found the corner of the net for a 2-1 halftime lead.

Just eight minutes into the second half, Serbia went up 3-1 on a brilliant, four-pass sequence that finally saw Zivkovic set up striker Aleksandar Mitrovic for a right-footed laser right in front of goal that whizzed by keeper Devis Epassy in the 53rd.

But Cameroon was hardly fazed and although Vincent Aboubakar appeared to be offside on a long lead pass from Castelletto, his bounding ball over the head of Serbian keeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic found the net in the 63rd to close the deficit to one; the goal was awarded only after a video review. Just three minutes later, Cameroon was on another fast break, with Aboubakar sending a pass to his left to Maxim Choupo-Moting who scored on a left-footed drive to tie the game!

Both sides continued to attack, but there was no more magic. Serbia ended with 59% of the possession and 15 shots to 13, but was left wondering about the offsides call on Aboubakar’s goal.

● Group G: Brazil 1, Switzerland 0 ● A packed-in Swiss defense was going to make it difficult for Brazil to score, especially with playmaker Neymar out with an injury. The half ended 0-0, with the Brazilians frustrated and the Swiss making an occasional offensive foray. Brazil’s Vinicius Junior had one excellent chance in the 27th minute, but it was saved by Swiss keeper Yann Sommer.

But the intensity increased in the second half and a breakaway run and goal by Vinicius Junior in the 64th minute was wiped out for a video review which showed striker Richarlison was offsides at the start of the play.

Brazil kept coming and Richarlison had a chance on a tight angle at the corner of the Swiss goal in the 72nd minute that was blocked and a Bruno Guimaraes blast in the 81st was saved. But substitute midfielder Rodrygo fed star midfielder Casemiro in the middle of the box in the 83rd and he sent a line drive into the far right side of the net for the only goal of the game.

The Brazilian defense kept the Swiss without a shot the rest of the way and ended with 54% of the possession and 13 shots to six for Switzerland (which had none on goal).

● Group H: Ghana 3, South Korea 2 ● This was a furiously-played match, with Ghana seemingly in control, but the Koreans fighting back, right to the final whistle. Forward Jordan Ayew’s free kick in the 24th minute found defender Mohammed Salisu in the box for a turnaround strike and a goal, and Ghana got a second as Ayew sent a ball into the box that was headed in by forward Mohammed Kudus in the 34th.

The Koreans regrouped at the half and came out with a ferocious attack and almost scored in the 53rd on a Gue-sung Cho header that was saved, but Cho connected on midfielder Kang-in Lee’s cross to the front of goal in the 58th to cut the deficit to 2-1. Then defender Jin-su Kim saved a ball going out of bounds at the endline and sent a perfect cross into the box that Cho found again to tie the game in the 61st!

Ghana fought back and pressured the South Korean goal, with Inaki Williams missing the net in the 68th, then Ayew sent a cross into the box that Williams missed and Kudus smashed from the right side of goal and into the net for a 3-2 lead. Korea came back again and again, even through 10 minutes of stoppage time, but could not score again. The Koreans ended with 63% of possession and a 22-7 advantage in shots, but it didn’t help. Ghana won its first World Cup match since 2010.

● Group H: Portugal 2, Uruguay 0 ● Uruguay also packed in the defense, focusing on superstar striker Cristiano Ronaldo and held the Portuguese scoreless through the first half. Portugal had excellent ball possession in the second half and a turn-and-shoot by attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes from the left side of the box in the 54th minute lofted its way toward the Uruguay and appeared to graze Ronaldo’s head for a 1-0 lead, but the goal was eventually credited to Fernandes instead.

Uruguay pushed hard on offense, but the Portuguese defense would not yield, although Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani got close in the 58th and forward Maximiliano Gomez hit the post from long distance in the 75th. As time wound down, Portuguese ball control was excellent, with continued pressure on the Uruguayan goal.

Fernandes was on the attack again and as Uruguayan defender Jose Gimenez fell backwards, he touched the ball with his hand – in the box – which turned into a penalty shot after video review. Fernandes buried the penalty for his second goal and the 2-0 final. Portugal had 60% of possession and a 15-11 edge on shots.

A fan ran onto the field with a rainbow flag and a T-shirt that said “respect for Iranian women” and “save Ukraine,” but was quickly removed.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 2020: Tokyo ● The Hakuhodo advertising agency – the second-largest in Japan – as well as the smaller Tokyu Agency and event producers Same Two Inc. and Fuji Creative Corporation had their offices searched on Monday as part of the expanding Tokyo 2020 bribery and bid-rigging scandal.

Nine companies – including these four – and a consortium were awarded contracts to produce test events for the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee and then to manage one or more venues during the Games, with a total contracted value of at least ¥20 billion (about $143.56 million U.S. today). So far, the country’s three largest ad agencies have all been searched.

● Pan American Games ● Pan Am Sports announced Monday that Asuncion (PAR) will host the 2025 Junior Pan Am Games. The Pan Am Sports Extraordinary General Assembly voted for Asuncion over Santa Maria (COL) by 32-16.

● Athletics ● The Jamaican sprint great Asafa Powell announced his retirement following his 40th birthday on 23 November. He preceded Usain Bolt’s rise to fame and set or tied the 100 m world record four times from 2005-07, first lowering the mark to 9.77, then running 9.77 twice more in 2006 before a 9.74 mark at Rieti (ITA) in 2007.

Powell won an Olympic gold on the Jamaican 4×100 m relay in 2016 and World Championships golds in the 4×1 in 2009 and 2015. His best individual finishes were bronzes in the men’s 100 m at the 2007 and 2009 Worlds and he finished fifth (2004), fifth (2008) and seventh (2012) in three Olympic finals.

He had an amazing 98 races in which he ran 9.99 or better with legal wind, the most in history, plus six more that were wind-aided. His first came in 2004 and his last in 2016. He continued competing into 2021, with his last recorded 100 m race a second-place finish in 10.07 at a meet in Clermont, Florida in May.

● Boxing ● The International Boxing Association announced a “collaboration agreement” with the World Boxing Association, headed by Panamanian Gilberto Jesus Mendoza, Jr. The statement included:

“The agreement includes cooperation in the development of amateur athletes and their integration into professional boxing through specific programs.

“The parties aim to create single regulations for amateur and professional boxing including boxers’ medical safety and well-being management, coaches’ development, and accordance with technical and competition rules.”

● Fencing ● The International Fencing Federation (FIE), meeting on Saturday in Lausanne (SUI), voted 104-30 (with one abstention) to continue the ban on Russian and Belarusian fencers in all FIE competitions. The next opportunity to consider the matter again will come in March of 2023.

● Football ● With alcoholic beverages illegal in public spaces in Qatar – including during the World Cup – police and security officers have their hands full. One told the Russian news agency TASS about smuggling efforts:

“Attempts occur at almost every match. Fans are attempting to use hidden flasks in binoculars, telephone chargers and musical instruments. They also pour alcohol into bottles from other beverages. We are working attentively nevertheless.”

Monday’s news conference with the U.S. men’s team in Qatar was dominated by questions from Iranian media, many apparently pro-government. Captain Tyler Adams was asked, “are you okay to be representing the U.S., meanwhile, there’s so much discrimination happening against Black people in America?”

Adams gave an impressive reply, including:

“There’s discrimination everywhere you go. One thing that I’ve learned, especially from living abroad in the past years, and having to fit in in different cultures and kind of assimilate into different cultures, is that in the U.S., we’re continuing to make progress every single day. Growing up for me, I grew up in a white family with obviously an African-American heritage and background as well.

“So I had a little bit of different cultures. And I was very, very easily able to assimilate in different cultures. So not everyone has that ease and the ability to do that. And obviously, it takes longer to understand and through education, I think it’s super important, like you just educated me now on the pronunciation of your country. So yeah, it’s a process, I think as long as you see progress, that’s the most important thing.”

Mark Dreyer, who writes about sports in China, tweeted over the weekend:

● “This is amazing. Due to the backlash from Chinese fans seeing unmasked crowds in Qatar, Chinese TV is now replacing live crowds shots during games and instead cutting to close-ups of players and coaches.”

● “I literally just spent the past two hours watching parallel feeds of the Brazil-Switzerland game and there were FORTY-TWO times where CCTV avoided showing crowd/fan close-ups. I saw ONE crowd close-up on CCTV (of former Brazilian players) at the start of the game. That’s it.”

This is possible as right-holding broadcasters have a choice of multiple feeds to choose from to show to their home audiences.

● Shooting ● In 2018, Russian billionaire Vladimir Lisin won the International Sport Shooting Federation (ISSF) presidency by a 148-144 vote against Italy’s Luciano Rossi in a testy campaign in which Rossi said death threats were made against him.

At the same General Assembly meeting, ex-Russian and now German citizen Alexander Ratner was elected as Secretary General.

Now, Lisin and Rossi are both candidates for the ISSF Presidency once again at Wednesday’s General Assembly in Sharm El Sheikh (EGY), with Ratner sending a remarkable message to the national federations, which was also posted in three languages on the ISSF Web site.

Rather than playing a neutral role, Ratner offered his personal views on the election, praising Lisin for introducing new competition formats, and “[o]rganizing and sponsoring final tournaments for the athletes with prize money coming from his personal means” and

“Much attention has been paid to development. The President, as promised, created a multimillion dollar-Fund based on his own funds. 93 national federations from all continents, including 42 European ones, were among the beneficiaries of the Fund’s programs.”

As for Rossi, Ratner recalled his ethics suspension in 2017 for conflicts of interest and claimed that Rossi advanced no proposals or innovations in 20 years as a member of the ISSF Executive Committee. He then sneers:

“[I]t should be noted with disgust that Mr. Rossi decided to politically instrumentalize the dramatic and tragic events in Ukraine for his personal benefit by spreading false allegations and at the same time ignoring both ISSF’s exemplary way to implement the IOC recommendations and President Lisin’s well-known anti-war position. This cannot remain unanswered. …

“Mr. Rossi … chose to discredit a candidate based on nationality while also degrading to fabricated slander.”

Observed: Is this the proper role for an International Federation Secretary General, sent six days prior to the federation’s General Assembly? It may or may not help Lisin in the short run with the forthcoming election, but calls into question the ISSF’s own election regulations.

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TSX REPORT: Morocco beats Belgium, Costa Rica upsets Japan in Sunday shockers; U.S. men support Iran protests; 20 million watched USA-England!

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. Sunday shockers for Costa Rica and Morocco scramble groups
2. U.S. men step into politics with one-day Iranian flag protest
3. USA-England match draws impressive 20 million viewers in U.S.
4. Arab “fans” harass Israeli reporters at World Cup
5. Tokyo 2020 bribery scandal leads to search of Dentsu

A stunning Sunday saw two more FIFA World Cup groups thrown into confusion as no. 2-ranked Belgium was decisively beaten by Morocco, 2-0, and Costa Rica – which lost to Spain by 7-0 – edged Japan, 1-0. Both Groups E and F won’t be decided until their final match day on 1 December. However, Canada was eliminated in Group F. Politics is all over this World Cup and the U.S. Men’s National Team got into it by posting a Group B table on its social-media accounts that showed an Iranian flag without the symbols of the current Islamic government for 24 hours. This was a symbolic gesture to support protesters against the government; Iran has protested to FIFA. The U.S.-England draw last Friday drew a big holiday audience in the U.S. of 20 million for the English and Spanish-language telecasts combined. Arab fans have been harassing Israeli journalists and broadcasters covering the World Cup, responding to mic flags with Hebrew letters; one “fan” said, “There is only Palestine. There is no Israel.” The Tokyo 2020 bribery scandal concerning sponsorships and a “rigged” selection for producers of test events and venue management expanded with searches of the ad giant Dentsu in Tokyo, an event-management company which produced some of the events and an ex-Tokyo 2020 staff member.

1.
Sunday shockers for Costa Rica and Morocco scramble groups

The Qatar World Cup, played in a country no one expected to host, has turned into a tournament that no one can predict. After Japan conquered Germany, who thought the Blue Samurai would lose to Costa Rica, 1-0? And highly-regarded Belgium looking so listless in a 2-0 loss to Morocco?

Croatia eliminated Canada by 4-1 and Spain and Germany fought to a 1-1 draw in the other games, leaving both groups up for grabs going into their third games on Thursday (1st).

In Group E, Spain (1-0-1: W-L-T) still leads, with four points, ahead of Japan and Costa Rica (both 1-1: 3 points), followed by Germany (0-1-1: 1). Spain can advance with a draw or better against Japan, but a Japan draw and a German win over Costa Rica would give Germany and Japan each four points and it would come down to goal differential (currently Japan at 0 and Germany at -1). Costa Rica could get through with a win over Germany (!), and even a draw would give them four points, but they are at -6 in goal differential.

In Group F, Croatia looked every bit like a trophy contender after a 4-1 thrashing of Canada, and has four points, even with surprising Morocco, with both now 1-0-1. Belgium is still in the hunt with three (1-1), but Canada has been eliminated at 0-2. Croatia and Belgium will clash on 1 December, while Morocco has Canada.

Monday brings the final set of second-round group games with Brazil (1-0) vs. Switzerland (1-0) and Cameroon (0-1) vs. Serbia (0-1) in Group G. South Korea (0-0-1) will play Ghana (0-1) and Portugal (1-0) will face Uruguay (0-0-1) in Group H.

2.
U.S. men step into politics with one-day Iranian flag protest

Regardless of how far they get in the World Cup, Iran will be one of the remembered teams in the tournament, thanks to its win over Wales and the political swirl around it due to the widespread protests at home against the ruling regime.

The U.S. Men’s National Team, which faces Iran on Tuesday to decide which will go through to the elimination round, got into the act on Saturday, as reported by The Associated Press:

“The Twitter account of the U.S. men’s team displayed a banner with the squad’s matches in the group stage, with the Iranian flag only bearing its green, white and red colors. The same could be seen in a post on its Facebook and Instagram accounts laying out the point totals so far in its group.”

A U.S. spokesman confirmed, saying “We wanted to show our support for the women in Iran with our graphic for 24 hours.”

An Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) story included a complaint from Iranian Football Federation adviser Safiollah Fagahanpour that “measures taken regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran flag are against [FIFA] law” and that “They must be held responsible. Obviously they want to affect Iran’s performance against the U.S. by doing this.”

3.
USA-England match draws impressive 20 million viewers in U.S.

The highly-anticipated U.S.-England match at 1 p.m. Eastern time on a mostly-holiday Friday (25th) drew an outstanding 19.977 million viewers between English and Spanish-language viewers in the United States.

FOX Sports’ English-language coverage averaged 15.377 million viewers, said by FOX to be the largest English-language audience for a soccer match in the U.S. ever, surpassing the 14.510 million for the 1994 World Cup’s Italy-Brazil final from the Rose Bowl. Peak viewing came at 3:30 p.m. Eastern – near the end of the match – at 19.646 million. The top markets were in Kansas City, Hartford, Boston, Dallas and Washington, D.C.

FOX also had a record Thanksgiving Day, as its Dallas vs. New York NFL broadcast attracted a regular-season record 42 million viewers.

The Spanish-language telecast on Telemundo delivered a total audience of 4.6 million, including streaming, and was the second-most-viewed game of the tournament to date, behind Brazil-Serbia, which drew 5.7 million.

Telemundo also noted that the Mexico vs. Poland match on Thursday drew a total audience of 4.6 million, equaling the U.S. and England.

4.
Arab “fans” harass Israeli reporters at World Cup

With the first World Cup held in an Arab country, one of the obvious flash points would be how Israeli fans and news media would be treated. FIFA arranged a special service to fly Israeli and Palestinian fans on combined flights from Tel Aviv to Doha, noteworthy since Qatar and Israel have no diplomatic relations.

Special arrangements were also made to have Israeli consular officials on hands to assist its citizens in case of difficulties, and Israeli fans were coached to maintain a low-key presence at the World Cup (Israeli did not qualify to compete).

Israeli news media, however, are quite visible and have been harassed. Britain’s Mirror reported:

“Moav Vardi, the head of the foreign news desk at Israeli public broadcaster Kan 11, was confronted by a fan wearing a Saudi Arabia top following the nation’s two-goal defeat by Poland on Saturday.

“Vardi was told by the fan in front of the TV camera: ‘It is Palestine, there is no Israel. Go please. You are not welcome here. This is Qatar, this is our country – you are not welcome here. There is only Palestine. There is no Israel.’”

Raz Shechnik, a correspondent for a leading Israeli newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth, told the Mirror:

“Listen, we didn’t want to write these things. We always thought that we, the journalists, are not the story. Certainly not in the biggest event of world sports next to the Olympics. But after ten days in Doha, it is impossible not to share with you what we are going through here.

“We feel hated. We feel the hostility and we feel unwelcome. How did a friendly Qatari tell us at first glance when he asked and answered that we were from Israel? ‘I would like to say welcome to you. But you are really not blessed. Fly away from here as fast as possible.’ So clear and smooth. And he is another ‘host’, not some Lebanese fan who is passing by. Now let’s not pretend huh?

“Take it wherever you want from here. It’s a great World Cup, right, but we’ll leave here with a very bad feeling. On the other hand, what fun it will be to return to our country. We have no other country.”

Britain’s London-based Jewish News wrote:

“Channel 13’s sports reporter Tal Shorrer said he has been abused or verbally assaulted more than 50 times in the four days he has been in Qatar, mostly while doing his work covering the World Cup.

“Shorrer said just a few minutes before speaking to Jewish News over the phone, an Argentinian fan pushed him when he saw the Hebrew letters on Shorrer’s microphone, shouting, ‘you are killing babies.’

“‘The best way to describe our experience so far is unpleasant. Almost every time we go on air we see fans coming up behind us with Palestinian flags, yelling ‘free Palestine’. We have also heard people calling us murderers, saying we aren’t welcome here, and that our microphone is red from blood,’ Shorrer said, referring to his red Channel 13 microphone.”

While Ohad Hemo, a reporter for Channel 12, has also been harassed, he noted that “as far as the Qatari authorities go, we are treated very well.”

5.
Tokyo 2020 bribery scandal leads to search of Dentsu

The expanding bribery scandal regarding sponsorships and test-event and venue management contracts for the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee reached worldwide advertising agency giant Dentsu on Friday (25th), as its headquarters office was searched.

Japanese prosecutors executed searches of Dentsu, event management company Cerespo, which produced five of the pre-Olympic test events, and the home of a member of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committees. Officials from Japan’s fair-trade oversight agency also joined in the searches. Kyodo News reported:

“Rigging is suspected in the 26 open bids held in 2018 for the rights to plan 56 test events. These were awarded to nine companies, including Dentsu and Cerespo, as well as a consortium.

“The amount of the contracts totaled more than 500 million yen ($3.6 million), with the price of each ranging from 4 million yen to 60 million yen, according to sources familiar with the matter.

“The nine companies and one consortium eventually won contracts without a tender process to run the test events and competition venues during the Tokyo Games. The contracts were much bigger, possibly worth tens of billions of yen.”

Dentsu won bids for five test events for about ¥80 million (~$575,022 U.S.) and Cerespo also was selected for five, paying about ¥116 million (~$833,783).

≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡

● Group E: Costa Rica 1, Japan 0 ● The first shock of the day came as Costa Rica, which had given up seven goals to Spain, kept Japan in check throughout, playing five across the back and blocking every entry pass.

Although on defense most of the match, Costa Rica had a few chances and changed the game in the 81st minute. Midfielder Yeltsin Tejeda took possession of an errant Japanese pass, sent the ball to defender Keysher Fuller about 18 yards away from goal and he sent a left-footed shot towards the top of the left side of the net that brushed off keeper Shuichi Gonda and into the net for a 1-0 lead.

That stood up as the winner against a hard push by Japan in the final minutes and sent the group into chaos. Japan ended with 57% of possession and a 13-4 edge on shots; in fact, the only Costa Rican shot on goal was Fuller’s game-winner.

● Group E: Spain 1, Germany 1 ● The Germans were desperate for at least a point after losing to Japan. The first half was a back-and-forth affair with some good Spanish chances, but the Germans struck on defender Antonio Ruediger’s header in the 40th minute, but it was called offside. Spain dominated possession, as expected (68%), but only had a 4-3 edge in shots.

Both sides had chances at the start of the second half, but Spain finally broke through in the 62nd, as Jordi Alba’s pass from the left side was perfectly timed with striker Alvaro Morata, who flicked it to the near post and into the net, just past German keeper Manuel Neuer.

The Germans pressed and pressed, but couldn’t score. Undaunted and determined, a run down the right side in the 83rd minute by defender Lukas Klostermann led to a pass to midfielder Leroy Sane, beyond the top of the box. He pushed the ball into the box, with two Germans in pursuit. Midfielder Jamal Musiala touched it, but it rolled to substitute striker Niclas Fuellkrug, who pounded it into the left corner of the net for a 1-1 tie.

Both teams tried for the winner, with Sane sprinting down the left side in the 95th minute and looking to have a clear shot at goal, but Spanish keeper Unai Simon came out and forced the ball out of bounds. The Spanish finished with 64% of possession, but the Germans had 11 shots to seven for Spain.

The draw means both teams still have work to do to advance to the knock-out round.

● Group F: Morocco 2, Belgium 0 ● The Red Devils came into the World Cup as one of the favorites and ranked no. 2 on the world, but they were anything but sharp in a 1-0 opening win over Canada. They were listless against Morocco.

The game was 0-0 through the half – although Morocco lost a goal in stoppage time to video review – and it looked like neither side might score, but the Moroccans were quicker to the ball and appeared more enthusiastic. And it paid off in the 73rd minute, when Abdelhamid Sabiri scored a brilliant goal off a free kick, starting close to the endline and curling the ball into the net, past a stunned Thibaut Cortois, the Belgian keeper, for a 1-0 lead.

And the Belgians just could not get quality opportunities on offense, and forward Hakim Ziyech took advantage on a counterattack, running to the right endline and sending a quality cross in front of the goal where it was knocked in by substitute striker Zakaria Aboukhlal at 90+2 for the 2-0 final. It was Morocco’s first win at a World Cup since 1998.

Belgium had 67%, but it meant nothing, as the sides both had 10 shots. The Associated Press reported rioting in Brussels following the loss, as well as post-match violence in Antwerp.

● Group F: Croatia 3, Canada 1 ● The Canadians started in dreamland with their first-ever World Cup goal just 1:10 in, as midfield star Alphonso Davies scored on a header off a right-side cross from midfielder Tajon Buchanan for a 1-0 lead.

And Canada stayed on offense, controlling the game for the first half-hour, but then the lights came on for Croatia, the 2018 World Cup runner-ups. They began to press the Canadian defense, which was initially saved by keeper Milan Korjan, but a pass to the left side of the goal by Ivan Perisic to fellow forward Andrej Kramaric resulted in a left-footed shot that tied it in the 36th minute.

Croatia continued on offense and scored again as defender Josip Juranovic fed the ball past the Canadian backline to striker Marko Livaja for a right-footed laser that found the left side of the net for a 2-1 halftime lead.

Canada started strongly again on the second half, but Croatia simply overwhelmed the Canadian defense as the half wore on. Kramaric got his second goal of the night and a 3-1 lead in the 70th off a Perisic cross and the game was decided. Korjan was game in goal, but a bad defensive error by Kamal Miller in stoppage time allowed striker Mislav Orsic to break away and feed midfielder Lovro Majer for an easy goal at 90+4 for the 4-1 final.

Canada ended with 52% of possession, but Croatia had 13 shots and 10 on goal compared to eight for Canada and just two on goal. The Canadians were eliminated from the tournament, but get a $9 million payout for making it to the World Cup.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ≡

● Triathlon ● Bermuda’s Tokyo Olympic champion Flora Duffy won her fourth World Championship title by running away from Britain’s Geogia Taylor-Brown on the final two laps in Abu Dhabi (UAE) for a 1:53:24 to 1:54:28 victory in the final World Triathlon Series race of the season. .

German Laura Meissner took third place for her first World Triathlon Series medal, with American Taylor Knibb fourth (after a fall on her bike), 1:55:59 to 1:56:40.

Duffy ended with 5,105.63 seasonal points, with Taylor-Brown at 5,081.25. Americans Knibb and Taylor Spivey were 3-4 at 4,179.23 and 3,889.44.

The men’s race was much closer, with France’s Leo Bergere winning in 1:44:14 to 1:44:25 for American Morgan Pearson, who started the run 41 seconds down, but chopped all but 11 seconds off with the fastest split in the field. Belgium’s Jelle Geens was third (1:44:34). American Matthew McElroy was 10th (1:45:26).

Bergere won the seasonal title with 4,741.89 points to 4.721.41 for Britain’s Alex Yee, who finished fourth in Abu Dhabi by three seconds, where third place would have won the title.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Alpine Skiing ● The women’s FIS World Cup tour was in Killington, Vermont for a Giant Slalom and Slalom, with Swiss skiers taking gold twice (with a tie).

Beijing 2022 Super-G gold medalist Lara Gut-Behrami won the Super-G in 1:44.08, coming from third to first on the second run. Italy’s Marta Bassino came from fifth to second (1:44.15) in round two, while first-run leader Sara Hector of Sweden ended up third (1:44.28). American Mikaela Shiffrin was 13th.

Sunday’s Slalom ended in a tie between Beijing bronze medalist Wendy Holdener (SUI) and Anna Swenn Larsson (SWE) in 1:42.97, with Katharina Truppe (AUT: 1:43.19) third. Shiffrin finished after taking the fastest first run, but was only 27th on the second.

The men’s circuit is also in North America, at Lake Louise in Canada, with Norwegian star Aleksander Aamodt Kilde taking his 14th career World Cup win in Saturday’s Downhill in 1:47.98, ahead of Daniel Hemetsbuerger (AUT: 1:48.04) and reigning World Cup champ Marco Odermatt (SUI: 1:48.08). Ryan Cochran-Siegle was the top American, in ninth (1:49.10).

Odermatt and Kilde were back on the podium for Sunday’s Super-G, with the Swiss claiming his 13th career World Cup gold in 1:32.53, followed by Kilde (1:32.90) and Austria’s Matthais Mayer (1:33.31).

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● The seasons may change, but the results stay the same. At the IBSF World Cup opener in Whistler (CAN), German ace Francesco Friedrich won both the Two-man and Four-man races once again.

Friedrich and Alexander Schueller won the Two-man in 1:42.22 across two runs, Friedrich taking his 15th win in the last 16 World Cup races (and four in a row). Britain’s Brad Hall was second (1:42.33) and Johannes Lochner (GER: 1:42.68) was third.

Friedrich’s fours sled won in 1:41.56, ahead of Hall (1:41.98) and Canada’s Taylor Austin (1:42.37).

The women’s Monobob was a first World Cup gold for Canada’s Bianca Ribi (1:50.89), ahead of veteran Cynthia Appiah (CAN: 1:51.16) with American Kaillie Humphries – the Beijing 2022 Olympic champ – in 1:51.18. Germany’s Kim Kalicki, a two-time Worlds silver medalist, won the Two-woman race with Anabel Galander in 1:45.93, beating Melanie Hasler (SUI: 1:46.130 and Humphries and Emily Renna of the U.S. (1:46.34).

American Nicole Vogt was sixth in Monobob and seventh in the Two-woman, with Jasmine Jones aboard.

Britain’s Marcus Wyatt won the men’s Skeleton (1:45.44) by 0.01 over Korean Seunggi Jung (1:45.45) with Matt Weston (GBR) third in 1:46.10. Hannah Niese of Germany won the women’s race, beating Hallie Clarke (USA) and Brogan Crowley (GBR), 1:47.40 to 1:47.58 for Clarke and Crowley in a tie.

● Cross Country Skiing ● The FIS World Cup season opener was at the Nordic festival in Ruka (FIN), with a show of power by Norway in the men’s events and Sweden in the women’s.

Three-time and current World Cup champ Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo led Norwegian sweeps in two of three men’s events, and won all three himself! He led Even Northug and Pal Golberg in the Classical Sprint (winning in 2:26.00), then won over Golberg and Martin Nyenget in the 10 km Classical (21:46.1) and then took the 20 km Freestyle Pursuit (45:30.6) by beating Golberg (+0.7) and Federico Pellgrino (ITA). That’s eight medals out of nine.

Sweden went 1-2 in all three women’s events. Emma Ribom (2:49.22) and Johanna Hagstrom were 1-2 in the Classical Sprint; Ebba Andersson (24:49.6) finished ahead of Frida Karlsson in the 10 km Classical and then Karlsson (49:55.3) won the 20 km Freestyle Pursuit over Andersson. Norway’s Tiril Weng was third in the Sprint and Pursuit and German Katharina Henning was third in the 10 km Classical.

American Rosie Brennan was seventh in the 10 km Classical, and sixth in the Pursuit, with Jessie Diggins 10th.

● Figure Skating ● The Grand Prix of Espoo in Finland was the last “regular season” stop for the ISU Grand Prix, with American teen sensation Ilia Malinin claiming his second win of the season, scoring 278.39 points. He moved up from second after the Short Program and was well ahead of Shun Sato (JPN: 262.21) and Kevin Aymoz of France (255.69).

Malinin hit his famed Quad Axel in the Free Skate, along with four more quads and a triple Flip-triple Axel at the finish, to score 192.82 in the Free Skate:

“I’m still in shock at how was I was able to perform. I was a little mad after yesterday’s performance. I was really hoping that today I would forget about it and gain my confidence again, just to make sure that I am able to be in control of everything. I definitely put it out there.”

Japan’s Mai Mihara also won her second Grand Prix title, scoring 204.41 to edge 2022 Worlds silver medalist Leona Hendrickx (BEL: 203.91) with Mana Kawabe (JPN: 197.41) third. Americans Lindsay Thorngren and Bradie Tennell finished sixth and eighth.

Italy’s Rebecca Ghilardi and Filippo Ambrosini dominated the Pairs, scoring 189.74 to 170.75 for Alisa Efimova and Ruben Blommaert (GER: 170.75). Americans Anastasiia Smirnova and Danylo Siianytsia were fourth (165.12).

Canadian stars Piper Gilles and Paul Poirer took the Ice Dance title at 219.49, well clear of Americans Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker (202.46), with fellow Americans Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko fourth (188.80).

The Grand Prix Final is next, from 8-11 December in Turin (ITA).

● Football ● The National Soccer Hall of Fame announced the election of defender DaMarcus Beasley, striker Landon Donovan and forward Lauren Cheney Holiday, to be inducted on 6 Mat 2023.

Beasley was a star defender and midfielder for the U.S. Men’s National Team, logging 126 appearances from 2001-17 and played in four World Cups, and scored 17 international goals. Donovan was a dangerous forward who also played in the midfield and scored 57 goals (and had 58 assists) in international play across 157 caps, including three World Cup appearances. He also played 15 seasons in Major League Soccer and finished as a six-time champion, retiring as the league’s all-time scoring leader.

Cheney Holiday was a star at UCLA before joining the National Team, where she played in 133 games and was a member of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup champions and Olympic gold-medal teams in 2008 and 2012.

● Nordic Combined ● The season opener was in Ruka (FIN) as part of its Nordic festival, with the discipline under pressure to get more public interest in order to stay on the Olympic program. One way to do that is with stars, and Norway’s four-time defending World Cup champion Jarl Magnus Rieber won two events out of three.

The first event was jumping off the 142 m hill and then a 5 km race, with German Julian Schmid getting his first World Cup win in 12:02.2, over Ryota Yamamoto (JPN: 12:08.0) and fellow Norwegian Jens Oftebro (12:13.2). Rieber came on to win the second event, with a 10 km race, finishing in 24:26.7 to 24:37.1 for Schmid, with Oftebro third again (24:39.1). Sunday’s event was a Mass Start 10 km race, followed by jumping, and another win for Rieber (156.3 points for jumping), over Matteo Baud (FRA: 151.6) and Yamamoto (152.9).

● Ski Jumping ● The second men’s event of the season was also in Ruka, with Slovenia’s Anze Lanisek winning here for a second consecutive year, scoring 312.8 points on Friday to best three-time World Champion Stefan Kraft (AUT: 311.5) and Poland’s two-time Worlds gold medalist Piotr Zyla (300.7).

On Sunday, Kraft scored 304.5 points but settled for a tie with Norway’s Halvor Egner Granerud (his 14th World Cup career win) with Japan’s Naoki Nakamura 294.9 winning his first individual World Cup medal in third.

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!

FIFA WORLD CUP: France advances; Australia, Poland, Argentina all back in the hunt for Round of 16

By
Rich Perelman
-
Two stars of France's 2-1 win over Denmark: Kylian Mbappe (l) and Theo Hernandez (Photo: Equipe de France)

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

★ Want TheSportsExaminer.com insights for your team? Yes! Click here for info on speaking, research and consulting from editor Rich Perelman. ★

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

≡ QATAR 2022 ≡

Second-round matches were held in Groups C and D, with France set to advance, but everything else up in the air with one round of matches set to go:

● Group C: Poland is now 1-0-1 (W-L-T) and leads with four points, ahead of Argentina (1-1: 3) and Saudi Arabia (1-1: 3), and Mexico (0-1-1) fourth with one point. Everything is still up for grabs in the final matches on Wednesday (30th).

● Group D: France (2-0-0) has six points and will advance to the Round of 16. Australia (1-1) has three points, with Denmark (0-1-1) and Tunisia (0-1-1) both with one. The final matches in this group will also be played on the 30th.

Sunday has matches in Groups E, with Japan (3 points) facing Costa Rica (0) and Spain (3) playing Germany (0), and Group F, with Belgium (3) against Morocco (1) and Canada (0) vs. Croatia. (1)

≡ Saturday’s Matches ≡

● Group C: Poland 2, Saudi Arabia 0 ● After a scoreless tie with Mexico, Poland desperately needed a win, but the Saudis were the aggressors in this match from the start. The Poles scored first, however, after a shot by defender Matty Cash was saved, then a second attempt by star forward Robert Lewandowski failed, but Lewandowski tracked the ball down at the endline and sent a perfect pass back to midfielder Piotr Zielinski in front of the net, and he buried it in the 39th minute for a 1-0 lead and the only goal of the half.

The game was physical, with 33 fouls called and 18 against Poland, and in the 43rd minute, defender Krystian Bielik was called for a penalty. But striker Salem Al Dawsari’s try for goal was saved by Wojciech Szczesny, as was the rebound shot by Mohammad Al Burayk, which was blocked over the goal. The half ended 1-0.

The Saudis kept up the pressure in the second half, with double shots at goal in the 51st, 55th and 60th minutes, but no goals. An Arkadiusz Milik header hit the crossbar for Poland in the 63rd, and Lewandowski hit the post in the 66th. Then Lewandowski, playing aggressively, took possession from Abdulelah Al-Malki on a clearance and smashed the ball into the goal from about six yards out for a 2-0 in the 82nd minute that clinched the match. It was super-scorer Lewandowski’s first-ever World Cup goal.

The stat sheet showed the Saudis with 64% of the possession and a 16-9 edge on shots, but nothing to show for it.

● Group C: Argentina 2, Mexico 0 ● This was do-or-die for Argentina, after stunning loss to the Saudis in their opening match. But the game was physical and the defenses were stiff and despite chances on both sides, the half ended 0-0.

It was superstar Lionel Messi who broke the deadlock, taking a pass from Angel Di Maria in the middle of the field, about 25 yards out and sending a swift, seeing-eye shot with the left foot that whipped past Mexican keeper Memo Ochoa in the 64th for a 1-0 lead. Argentina continued on the attack and substitute midfielder Enzo Fernandez sent a curving blast over Ochoa’s outstretched left hand and into the net in the 87th for the 2-0 final.

Argentina ended with 58% of the possession and a 5-4 edge on shots that underlined – along with 34 fouls – the tightly-played nature of this game. The Argentines had to have a won and they got one; their future is again in their hands.

● Group D: Australia 1, Tunisia 0 ● In another physical game, in which 31 fouls and three yellow cards were handed out, Tunisia had the best of possession and play, but could not score for the second straight match.

As in their first game against France, the Aussies took the lead fairly early, this time on a header by forward Mitchell Duke, who headed a bounding pass from midfielder Craig Goodwin to the far side of the net in the 23rd minute for a 1-0 lead.

It didn’t appear that one goal would hold up, but the Tunisians just could not complete their plays in the Australian end. Shots went wide, shots were blocked and Aussie keeper Mathew Ryan made four saves to maintain the shutout and cinch Australia’s first World Cup win since 2010.

Tunisia ended with 58% of possession and 14 shots to nine for Australia, but it didn’t help.

● Group D: France 2, Denmark 1 ● Could France crack a tough Danish defense that had shut down Tunisia? Superstar midfielder Kylian Mbappe caused a lot of problems in the first half, but the Danish defense – and especially keeper Kasper Schmeichel – were equal to the challenge and maintained a scoreless tie through the half.

But the French kept getting closer and closer and finally broke through in the 61st, as Mbappe and defender Theo Hernandez executed a perfect give-and-go, with Hernandez crossing the ball back to Mbappe at the left side of the net and he punched it in through traffic.

However, that only fired up the Danes and they swarmed the French zone. A Christian Eriksen corner in the 68th was headed by defender Joachim Andersen toward the middle of the penalty area and found the head of fellow defender Andreas Christensen, whose shot flew into the goal for a tie.

The game did not settle down at all and both sides had chances, and French keeper Hugo Lloris was busy fending off multiple Denmark chances. But the French pressure was relentless and midfielder Andre Greizmann sent a diagonal, line-drive cross from the right side at the top of the box right to the left corner of the goal and Mbappe was there; the ball caromed off his thigh and into the net for a 2-1 lead in the 86th minute. That’s how it ended. 

The French held on and at 2-0, secured their place in the knock-out round. The Danes actually had 52% of the possession, but the French mounted a 21-shot attack on Schmeichel, while Denmark managed 10 shots and only two on goal.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has opened proceedings against the Football Association of Serbia due to a flag displayed in their dressing room on the occasion of the Brazil v Serbia.”

The inquiry arose from a dressing room image seen on social media platforms of a flag which shows the now-independent country of Kosovo as part of Serbia. Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008 and joined both FIFA and UEFA in 2016.

Hajrulla Ceku, Kosovo’s Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, tweeted:

“Disgraceful images from Serbia locker room, displaying hateful, xenophobic and genocidal messages towards Kosova, while exploiting FIFA World Cup platform.

“We expect concrete actions from FIFA considering that the Kosovo Football Federation (FFK) is a full FIFA and UEFA member.”

The Associated Press reported raw emotions between pro-government fans and protestors at Iran’s matches against England and Wales, with Qatar security officials taking away flags which are different from the country’s approved national flag.

Iran has been rocked by protests since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody in September after an arrest for not wearing the hijab (headscarf) appropriately.

The AP noted “Shouting matches erupted in lines outside the stadium between fans screaming ‘Women, Life, Freedom’ and others shouting back ‘The Islamic Republic!’”

An Iranian woman who lives in Spain and attended the 2-0 win over Wales, “said Qatari police ordered her to scrub off the names of Iranian protesters killed and arrested by security forces that she had written on her arms and chest, at the behest of Iranian government supporters. At the game, just traces of ink remained on her skin that was rubbed raw.”

In a related development, former Iranian national team player Voria Ghafouri was arrested Thursday after a training session with his club team for comments which “tarnished the reputation of the national team and spread propaganda against the state.”

Ghafouri has been publicly critical of the Iranian government and its crackdown following the death of Amini.

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FIFA WORLD CUP: Senegal and Iran post wins while Netherlands and Ecuador (1-1) and U.S. and England (0-0) are drawn

By
Rich Perelman
-
U.S. Soccer supporters were out in force in Qatar for Friday's match with England (Photo: U.S. Soccer Federation)

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

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≡ QATAR 2022 ≡

The second round of matches in Groups A and B of the 2022 FIFA World Cup were held on Friday, with host Qatar eliminated in Group A and everyone still in contention in Group B:

● Group A: Netherlands and Ecuador are both 1-0-1 (W-L-T) and have four points, with Senegal at 1-1-0 and three. Qatar (0-2-0) will not advance out of the group. Ecuador and Senegal will play Tuesday (29th), with Ecuador advancing on a draw and Senegal advancing with a win. The Netherlands will face Qatar and needs at least a draw to be sure of advancing.

● Group B: England is atop the group at 1-0-1 (four points), with Iran now second at 1-1-0 (three points), the U.S. third (0-0-2: two points) and Wales fourth (0-1-1: one point). England will play Wales, needing a draw or a win to be sure of advancing, while the Welsh might get through with a win. The U.S. must win against Iran on Tuesday to advance to the elimination round, but the Iranians might get through with a draw (depending on what happens in the other game).

Saturday’s games include Group C, with Poland (0-0-1) vs. Saudi Arabia (1-0) and Argentina (0-1) vs. Mexico (0-0-1). In Group D, Tunisia (0-0-1) plays Australia (0-1) while France (1-0) faces Denmark (0-0-1).

≡ Friday’s Matches ≡

● Group A: Senegal 3, Qatar 1 ● The host Qatar team played spirited football from the start, but a mistake led to Senegal’s first goal on the way to a 3-1 win.

Defender Boualem Khoukhi failed to clear a pass into the box and Senegal striker Boulaye Dia scored in the 41st minute for the only goal of the first half. Senegal then took the air out of the game early in the second half with another goal in the 48th minute when Ismail Jakobs’ corner found the head of striker Famara Diedhiou for a 2-0 lead.

But Qatar midfielder Mohammed Muntari scored the country’s first-ever World Cup goal with a fabulous score on a header off defender Ismail Mohamad’s cross in the 78th minute to cut the deficit to 2-1. But substitute striker Bamba Dieng got Senegal’s third goal with a right-footed smash from the middle of the box in the 84th for the 3-1 final.

Senegal had 55% of the possession and a 13-10 edge on shots.

● Group A: Netherlands 1, Ecuador 1 ● The Dutch didn’t score until the 84th minute of their opener against Senegal, but Cory Gapko – who scored that first goal – got a feed from Davy Klassen and pounded in a left-footed rocket from the left side in the fifth minute to put the Dutch up, 1-0. Plenty of time for more, but no more goals were coming for the Orange.

This is was pretty physical game, with 27 total fouls and 15 on the Netherlands, who knew exactly where Ecuador’s star striker Enner Valencia was at all times. He still got three shots off in the first half and then capitalized on a rebound off of a Pervis Estupinan shot and scored past Dutch keeper Andries Noppert in the 49th for the 1-1 tie.

Ecuador kept attacking, with only the occasional Dutch shot, but the score ended even. The Dutch had 54% of possession, but Ecuador had an astounding 15 shots to just two for the Netherlands.

● Group B: Iran 2, Wales 0 ● This was a wild game that saw no score through 90 minutes, but with Welsh keeper Wayne Hennessey red-carded in the 86th minute, leaving them playing with 10 for the remainder of the match.

Midfielder Ali Gholizadeh scored for Iran in the 15th minute, but the goal was nullified on video review for offsides, with Iran continuing to press the offense throughout the first half. More of the same in the second, as Sardar Azmoun hit the right post in the 51st and Gholizadeh hit the left post a minute later.

But Hennessey was sent off after coming well out in the field and clobbering striker Mehdi Taremi, leaving Wales a man short.

That mattered in stoppage time, as an Iranian charge resulted in three blocked shots, but led to Roozbeh Cheshmi’s right-footed blast from outside the box to the right corner of the net at 90+8 and then Ramin Rezaeian finished a fast break with a right-footed pop-up from the center of the box at 90+11 for the 2-0 final.

The Welsh had 62% of the possession in the game, but the Iranians were the aggressors, with 21 shots to 10 and six on goal to three.

● Group B: England 0, United States 0 ● Was mighty England as good as its six-goal explosion against Iran? Which U.S. team would show up? The aggressive one from the first half of the Wales match, or the less-energetic second half side?

Happily for the Americans, the energy was high and the result kept the U.S. in the hunt to advance. The English attack was frustrated again and again by midfielders Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah, and midfielder Christian Pulisic made run after run into the England zone to create pressure.

On offense, McKennie had a right-footed blast in the 26th minute go over the crossbar and Pulisic had a shot hammer the bar in the 33rd minute. Even without a successful finish, the U.S. was unrelenting on runs into the English zone and ended with seven corners.

England’s star striker Harry Kane had a first-half blast toward the goal blocked by Walker Zimmerman and his header at 90+4 went wide to the left. U.S. keeper Matt Turner made three saves, especially on a first half stoppage-time shot by Mason Mount that he pushed away.

The possession chart showed England with 55% of the possession, but the U.S. had 10 shots to eight for the English. Shots-on-goal however were three for England just one for the U.S.

The 0-0 final was the fifth scoreless draw in the tournament so far, closing in on the record of seven, done four times previously (last in 2014).

≡ Thursday’s Matches ≡

● Group G: Switzerland 1, Cameroon 0 ● A very tightly contested match was decided by a 48th-minute goal from Swiss striker Breel Embolo, who was born in Cameroon.

Embolo took a perfect cross from midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri right in front of goal and sent a swift, right-footed shot into the net, but refused to celebrate given his heritage. And it turned out to be the only goal of the game, after Cameroon had been on offense for most of the first half. Bryan Mbeumo’s 10th-minute shot from inside the penalty area was saved and the rebound was booted over the net by Karl Toko-Ekambi on one of Cameroon’s best chances.

The match stats reflected the close nature of the game, as the Swiss ended with 51% of possession and Cameroon got off eight shots to seven for the winners.

● Group G: Brazil 2, Serbia 0 ● As expected, no. 1-ranked Brazil was on offense from the start and superstar Neymar Jr. almost scored an unbelievable goal from a corner with a curving ball in the 14th minute that was punched away by Serbian keeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic!

The half ended scoreless as Serbia packed in the defense and challenged Brazil’s stars, committing eight fouls. Brazil had 59% of the possession and led in shots, 4-1.

The second half started with 12 minutes of continuous pressure from Brazil, but no goals. After a Serbian counter, Brazil came back with more and Alex Sandro hit the post with a powerful strike from 25 yards out in the 60th minute and the pressure was back on.

Minutes later, Neymar dribbled into the middle of the box, then sent the ball left for a quick strike by Vinicius Jr. that Milinkovic-Savic saved, but left the rebound in front for Richarlison to clean up with his right foot for a 1-0 lead in the 63rd.

Serbia had a chance at goal in the 71st off a corner that bounced off multiple heads before it bounded outside of the penalty area and Darko Lazovic shot it over the net.

But then the game was decided on a spectacular, scissor-kick strike by Richarlison with the right foot from in front of the net in the 73rd. A pass by Vinicius into the middle bounded off Richarlison, dropped to the ground and then the Brazilian star swung his right leg to the ball, that sailed just over the shoulder of Serbian defender Milos Veljkovic and into the net.

Neymar suffered a right ankle injury and will not play in the next match against Switzerland and may miss the group finale vs. Cameroon. Brazil finished with 59% possession and 22-8 on shots, with 10 on goal. Dominant.

● Group H: Uruguay 0, South Korea 0 ● There was no score and almost no offense in the Group H opener, as only one shot on goal was credited in the entire match!

Uruguay’s Diego Godin his the post on a header in the 43rd minute and Fede Valverde’s cannon shot in the 90th minute also found the woodwork in the best chances to score for Uruguay.

Uruguay had 56% of the possession and out-shot Korea by 10-7, but had only one shot actually on goal and the Koreans had none. Both will be difficult to score on in Qatar.

● Group H: Portugal 3, Ghana 2 ● What started as a defensive battle turned into a wild, back-and-forth scoring festival in the last 20 minutes with Portugal’s Rafael Leao scoring what turned out to the game-winner in the 80th minute.

Much of the focus was on Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who had chances in the 10th minute, 13th minute and scored in the 31st, but was called for a foul. The half ended scoreless, with Portugal enjoying 62% of possession and had a 7-0 edge on shots.

The game got increasingly physical in the second half. Ronaldo was pushed in the back by Ghanan defender Mohammed Salisu in the penalty area in the 62nd minute and converted the penalty with a crisp right-footer just over keeper Lawrence Ati Zigi in the 65th. The goal gave Ronaldo a record of scoring in five different World Cups. Game over, right?

The party was just getting started, as a cross from Ghanan midfielder Mohammed Kudus sent a cross from the endline to the left of goal into the middle of the box that caromed between the legs of Portugal’s Danilo Pereira and right to striker Andre Ayew, who finished with the right foot to tie the match in the 73rd and set off a wild celebration among Ghana’s fans right behind the Portugal goal.

Ayew came out four minutes later and while still being congratulated by his teammates, saw Joao Felix take long pass from Bruno Fernandes and score off a dribble and a shot from the right of goal in the 78th minute for a 2-1 Portugal lead. And just two minutes later, Fernandes led a fast break down the middle of the box and passed to Leao on his left, who finished with the right foot for a 3-1 lead.

But Ghana kept on coming, and got to 3-2 on a Osman Bukari header in the 89th, but could not do more and had to take the loss. Portugal ended with 62% possession and an 11-9 lead in shots. There were 33 fouls in the game.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

What fans and reporters can and can’t do continues to be a story in Qatar:

● Britain’s Daily Express newspaper reported on Friday:

“England fans have been asked not to dress up in crusader costumes in order to avoid upsetting Muslims at the World Cup in Qatar after a couple of supporters were seemingly led away by security this week. … footage shared on Twitter appeared to show two England fans wearing chain mail and helmets being turned around by officials prior to Monday’s victory over Iran.

“Crusader costumes run the risk of offending the locals in Qatar, with the best-known Crusades taking place between 1095 and 1291 when Christian armies fought to seize Jerusalem and the surrounding area from Islamic rule.”

● The Football Association of Wales posted a notice on Twitter Thursday that “In response to the FAW, FIFA has confirmed that fans with Rainbow Wall bucket hats and rainbow flags will be allowed entry to the stadium for @Cymru’s match against Iran on Friday.

“All World Cup venues have been contacted and instructed to follow the agreed rules & regulations.”

The “Rainbow Wall” is a Welsh LGBTQ supporter’s group and there were some reports that Rainbow Wall hats and flags had not been allowed in the stadium for the 1-1 tie with the U.S.

● Accredited Argentine television host Joaquin Alvarez from the El Trece channel was conducting a live interview with a wheelchair-bound fan in a residential complex in Doha when his cameraman was told by Qatari officials to point the camera elsewhere.

The crew eventually completed the interview later – from the back of a car – but Alvarez said during the program:

“The person who stopped the filming got out of a van and told us in a very rude way we couldn’t film any more because we were in a private place. I told him we were showing something nice but they told us we had to go and there was a moment when they even wanted to take our equipment off us.” In a later social media post, he added:

“We had a bad experience and what happened was totally unfair because we had all our permits and everything in order. It’s in the past now, another anecdote.”

“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has opened proceedings against the Mexican Football Association due to chants by Mexican supporters during the Mexico v. Poland FIFA World Cup match played on 22 November.”

No further details were available, but the Mexican Football Federation has previously been sanctioned for chants considered to be anti-gay made by its fans during goal kicks.

FIFA also announced, on Tuesday, an inquiry into “chants by Ecuadorian supporters during the Qatar v. Ecuador FIFA World Cup match played on 20 November.” Reuters reported on Thursday that the Ecuadorian federation has asked its fans to refrain from further “homophobic slurs” aimed at Chile, which challenged Ecuador’s right to be in the World Cup over a potentially-ineligible player, winger Byron Castillo. The federation’s statement included:

“The Ecuadorean Football Federation calls on Ecuador fans accompanying ‘the Tri’ in Qatar 2022 to avoid all types of offensive, insulting and discriminatory songs.”

ESPN reported that an unspecified number of World Cup fans, who rented converted shipping containers in specially-arranged “fan villages” came and found their accommodations unavailable as they were not finished. A spokesman for Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy said:

“We are aware that a number of fans have faced delays checking into select fan village accommodation due to owner and operator negligence. …

“While these sites are managed by independent commercial entities, rectifying these issues remains the utmost priority for the Supreme Committee. Full refunds are being offered to fans severely impacted by this issue as well as alternative accommodation which will be free of charge for the duration of their stay.”

FIFA reported that attendance in the first-round matches totaled 94% of capacity, with more than 3,000,000 tickets now sold for the tournament.

Perhaps just as stunning – or even more so – was a FIFA tweet that the television audience in Japan for the Blue Samurai’s 2-1 win over Germany reached 26.19 million (in a country of 125.7 million people) and that during the match, 71.3% of all televisions that were on were tuned to the match!

From the European Parliament:

“On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the human rights situation in Qatar. MEPs highlight that the Gulf state won the FIFA World Cup bidding process amidst credible allegations of bribery and corruption. They deplore the deaths of thousands of migrant workers primarily in the construction sector who helped the country prepare for the tournament, as well as all those injured. …

“To protect athletes and fans and put an end to sportswashing, international sporting events should not be awarded to countries in which fundamental and human rights are violated, and where systematic gender-based violence is prevalent.

“With an estimated more than 2 million foreign nationals making up some 94% of the country’s workforce, the resolution welcomes the fact that, according to the International Labour Organization, the Qatari government has reimbursed USD 320 million to wage abuse victims through the so-called ‘Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund’. MEPs regret, however, that many workers in Qatar and their families have been excluded from its scope and call for the fund to be extended to include all those affected since the work related to the FIFA World Cup began, covering also workers’ deaths and other human rights abuses.

“They also call on FIFA to contribute to a comprehensive remediation programme for workers’ families as compensation for the conditions to which they have been subjected.”

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TSX REPORT: Almost 12 million U.S. viewers for USA-Wales in World Cup; Paris 2024 budget expands to 4.4 billion Euro; Japan stuns Germany, 2-1!

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. U.S.-Wales match draws 11.9 million-plus viewers in U.S.!
2. Paris 2024 budget expected to expand to €4.4 billion
3. Canadian Olympic and Paralympic groups ask B.C. reconsideration
4. Denmark Football Union angry, but not leaving FIFA yet
5. Kenyans and Ethiopians comprised 80% of AIU road-race tests

The first U.S. television viewing reports are coming in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and despite the early start times, Americans are tuning in quite strongly. Nearly 12 million watched some or all of the U.S. vs. Wales game last Monday, either on FOX in English or in Spanish on Telemundo. The Paris 2024 organizers expect to have a final budget approved of €4.4 billion, up about 10% from the December 2021 estimate, but are confident that it will be covered by better-than-estimated ticket sales and some more domestic sponsorships. The Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee both asked the Province of British Columbia to reconsider its refusal to support the Vancouver bid for the 2030 Olympic Winter Games, but has not gotten any positive response so far. At the FIFA World Cup, Denmark’s football federation continues to criticize FIFA for not allowing the “OneLove” armband to be worn and wants to discuss future actions, even up to leaving FIFA. The Athletics Integrity Unit published a report on its new road-running testing initiative, which in 2021 tested 803 runners from 70 countries. Special attention was given to 313 top-level runners, of which 80% were from Kenya or Ethiopia.

1.
U.S.-Wales match draws 11.9 million-plus viewers in U.S.!

Although comprehensive data for U.S. World Cup viewership won’t be available until next week, information on Monday’s games was released on Wednesday with strong interest in the U.S. team playing in Qatar. The numbers (with dates and Eastern start times):

● 20 Nov. (Sun: 1058a): 3.071 million for Ecuador-Qatar on FS1
● 21 Nov. (Mon: 0742a): 1.388 million for England-Iran on FS1
● 21 Nov. (Mon: 1043a): 2.581 million for Netherlands-Senegal on FOX
● 21 Nov. (Mon: 0143p): 7.761 million for U.S.-Wales on FOX

That’s pretty good for early morning or afternoon air times, especially on Monday, and these figures do not include ratings for Spanish-language Telemundo, which also grabbed a lot of attention:

● 20 Nov. (Sun.): 4.1 million total audience for Ecuador-Qatar
● 21 Nov. (Mon.): 1.2 million total audience for England-Iran
● 21 Nov. (Mon.): 1.9 million total audience for Netherlands-Senegal
● 21 Nov. (Mon.): 3.4 million total audience for U.S.-Wales

So, for the U.S. and Wales, the combined FOX and Telemundo audience was more than 11.861 million viewers, not counting English-language steaming views. For comparison, the Monday Night Football match shown at 8 p.m. Eastern between Arizona and San Francisco drew 11.166 million viewers on ESPN. Not bad at all.

The “World Cup Tonight” show on FS1, shown daily at midnight Eastern time, drew just 75,000 viewers on Monday (21st), but 277,000 on Tuesday (22nd).

2.
Paris 2024 budget expected to expand to €4.4 billion

Inflation, supply chain issues and the inevitable unforeseen costs will require the Paris 2024 Olympic organizing committee to formally increase its budget from the current €3.9 billion (about $4.06 billion U.S. today) to €4.4 billion (~$4.58 billion) when its Board meets on 12 December.

Speaking after a meeting of the Paris 2024 Executive Committee, finance chief Fabrice Lacroix said that half of the increase is from inflation pressures and the remainder from increased (or unplanned for) costs in energy, cybersecurity, the opening ceremony to take place on the River Seine, personnel expenses and other items.

The good news is that the organizers expect to hit their €1.1 billion domestic sponsorship target (and maybe a little more) and that the €1.365 billion target for ticket and hospitality package sales will likely be exceeded. But it is anticipated that 2023 will bring expenses that will begin to draw on the €315 million in contingency reserves.

The organizing committee budget was projected at €3.8 billion in 2020, which rose to €3.9 billion at the end of 2021, and now what is expected to be the final figure of €4.4 billion. The Paris bid in 2016 projected organizing committee costs of €3.37 billion.

3.
Canadian Olympic and Paralympic groups ask B.C. reconsideration

As the 2030 Olympic Winter Games bid cycle moves along without them, the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee issued an open letter, asking for the Province of British Columbia to reconsider its decision not to support the project.

COC President Tricia Smith, also a member of the International Olympic Committee, told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation:

● “We’re really hopeful that we can meet with all levels of government and the stakeholders to really have a full discussion about the bid, the pros and cons, who might take on what.”

● “If it doesn’t make sense then it doesn’t make sense, but we haven’t had that opportunity with everybody at the table to really have a hard look at this and see what we can do.”

● “And the federal government has advised us, the prime minister has advised, the province has to be on board first. They would come to the table if the province came to the table.”

● “We know that these Games would also address some commitments made by the federal government in terms of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. So it’s really action on reconciliation.”

However, Lisa Beare, the British Columbia Minister for Tourism, Sport and Culture, told the network on Tuesday that the door is essentially closed:

“The 2030 Olympic bid proposal includes billions of dollars in direct costs and potential guarantee and indemnity liability risks that could jeopardize the province’s ability to provide services for British Columbians.

“The province has the responsibility to weigh the benefits with the costs and possible risks of the project, and based on careful consideration, the province declined to support a bid.”

Smith and Canadian Paralympic Committee head Marc-André Fabien are hoping that new British Columbia Premier David Eby can be persuaded to look at the project again, but he has so far declined to show any interest. The bid budget asked for C$1.2 billion (~$749.2 million U.S.) in provincial support.

4.
Denmark Football Union angry, but not leaving FIFA yet

The Chair of the Danish Football Union, Jesper Moller, told a news conference on Wednesday that his federation has discussed leaving FIFA, along with others: and that discussions with other Scandinavian federations

“We have been clear about this for a long time. We have been discussing it in the Nordic region since August. I’ve thought it again. I imagine that there may be challenges if Denmark leaves on its own. But let us see if we cannot have a dialogue on things.

“I have to think about the question of how to restore confidence in FIFA. We must evaluate what has happened, and then we must create a strategy, also with our Nordic colleagues.”

Moller said that his federation would not support FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) for re-election, in which he is running unopposed.:

“There are presidential elections in FIFA. There are 211 countries in FIFA and I understand that the current president has statements of support from 207 countries. Denmark is not among those countries. And we’re not going to be either.”

Denmark has been one of the most strident critics of the selection of Qatar as the site of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and of FIFA’s decision not to allow the captains of seven European countries to wear a rainbow-themed “OneLove” armband at the World Cup.

Danish federation communications head Jakob Hoejer told Reuters that no action is imminent:

“Some media have made the misunderstanding that DBU will withdraw from FIFA.

“That was not said at the press conference. We’re critical and not satisfied and we’ll not vote for the present FIFA-president. We will discuss further actions with our Nordic and European colleagues.”

5.
Kenyans and Ethiopians comprised 80% of AIU road-race tests

The Athletics Integrity Unit published a detailed report on its road-racing testing activities for 2020 and 2021, showing a heavy concentration on Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes, but still testing competitors for 70 nations last year.

The goal “was to create a large pool of well-controlled professional road runners to help promote a level playing field and public confidence in the integrity of the sport.” The idea was to cover at least 300 top road runners, which was achieved despite difficulties presented by the pandemic.

The road-race testing project began in 2020, with 168 races in 50 countries helping to fund the “Road Running Integrity Programme,” with $1.32 million spent in 2020 and $1.38 million in 2021. At that level of funding, not everyone can be tested, but the AIU made an effort:

● 2020: 503 runners from 45 countries tested a total of 1,325 times
● 2021: 803 runners from 70 countries tested a total of 1,770 times

Special attention was paid to the top performers, identified as part of a “Registered Testing Pool” of 302 athletes in 2020 and 313 in 2021. No doubt who the targets were:

● 2020: 302 in the pool: 41% Kenya, 39% Ethiopia, 3% Bahrain and Japan, 2% U.S. and Uganda

● 2021: 313 in the pool: 41% Kenya, 39% Ethiopia, 3% Bahrain and Japan, 2% U.S. and Uganda

Samples were collected in out-of-competition (52%), pre-competition (22%) and in-competition (26%) settings. It’s a start and educational programs are being held in both Kenya and Ethiopia to stem interest in doping. But judging by the high number of positive tests, tampering and whereabouts sanctions, there is a long way to go.

≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡

● Group E: Japan 2, Germany 1 ● Anyone who saw Japan manhandle the U.S., 2-0, in a 23 September friendly in Dusseldorf (GER) knew that the Blue Samurai were going to be a problem at the World Cup. And they were a big problem for Germany.

The Germans made news during their team photo prior to the match, with a silent protest of covering their mouths after abandoning their plan for captain Manuel Neuer to wear a “OneLove” armband when FIFA stated that yellow cards would be given to those wearing unapproved uniform accessories. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser attended the match and did wear the OneLove armband.

Once the match started, the Germans had control of play and went up, 1-0, on a penalty converted by midfielder Ilkay Gundogan. Germany scored again in stoppage time, but was ruled offside and the half ended, 1-0. But a souped-up Japan came out in the second half, and swarmed the Germans with relentless midfield play. After missing multiple chances, it paid off in a tying goal from Ritsu Doan in the 75th minute, on a left-footed put-back off a Takumi Minamino shot.

From there, the pressure increased and substitute striker Takuma Asano sent a seeing-eye shot with his right foot from a bad angle as he was running away from the right side of the German goal, but it somehow flew over Neuer’s head and under the crossbar for a 2-1 lead.

Leon Goretzka got a good look at 90+5 from 22 yards, but the ball sailed left and ended Germany’s chance at a tie. The Japanese ended with just 26% of the possession and had 12 shots to 26 for the Germans (and just four on goal). But they got three points that were, to say the least, unexpected … except for those who saw them in September.

After the match, in what is something of a tradition, some Japanese fans stayed behind and helped to clear trash from the stadium.

● Group E: Spain 7, Costa Rica 0 ● This was a rout from the beginning, as Spain scored in the 11th minute (Dani Olmo), had a 3-0 lead at half and won by 7-0. Striker Ferran Torres converted a penalty in the 31st minute and added another goal at 54 minutes.

The game was completely one-sided, with Spain controlling 82% of possession and passing the ball a staggering 1,056 times, completing 94%. Costa Rica committed 12 fouls, but that did not slow the Spanish at all, as they attempted 17 shots in the game to none (yes, none) for Costa Rica.

● Group F: Croatia 0, Morocco 0 ● Croatia was the runner-up at the 2018 World Cup and star striker Luka Modric is back, but neither side could convert in a 0-0 draw.

There were 27 fouls in the game and Croatia had 65% of the possession, but managed only five shots (two on goal) to eight for Morocco (two on goal). There weren’t a lot of chances, but Croatia’s Nikola Vlasic had a point-black shot blocked in first-half stoppage time and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi blasted a free kick in the 64th minute that was saved by keeper Dominik Livakovic.

● Group F: Belgium 1, Canada 0 ● Sometimes you do everything right, but it turns out wrong. Canada has to feel that way after dominating play against Belgium, one of the World Cup favorites.

The top qualifier from CONCACAF, the Canadians harassed the Belgians relentlessly, playing a high defensive line and using their speed to generate offensive opportunities. A hand-ball penalty was called against midfielder Yannick Carrasco in the ninth minute, but Alphonso Davies’ shot was saved by Belgian keeper Thibaut Courtois. Two more penalties against Belgium could have been called, but were not.

Despite out-shooting Belgium by 15-4 in the first half, the Belgians took the lead in the 44th minute thanks to striker Michy Batshuayi, who got hold of a long pass from Toby Alderweireld, split two defenders for a 1-0 lead at half.

Canada kept up the pressure in the second half, but just could not score. Substitute striker Cyle Larin tried to tie it in the 80th minute with a terrific header, but Courtois caught it and ended the theat.

Belgium ended with 54% of the possession, but Canada had a stunning 22-9 edge in shots, although both sides had three on goal.

Thursday’s games will complete the first round of matches, with Switzerland vs. Cameroon and Brazil vs. Serbia in Group G and Uruguay vs. South Korea and Portugal vs. Ghana in Group H.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Archery ● World Archery announced the development of a free streaming platform to be called “archery+” to show events either not otherwise sold, or for territories where no rights-holder exists for the Hyundai Archery Cup or World Championships.

London (GBR)-based StreamViral will provide the technical aspects; and the “platform will initially leverage advertising and a freemium model over paid subscriptions,” expected to launch in early 2023.

● Modern Pentathlon ● One of the least commented-on elements of the recent UIPM Congress was a slide shared on Twitter that listed the federation’s corporate sponsorships projected for 2023 (listed first) and 2024:

● $150,000 and $100,000: Sirius Group
● $100,000 and $100,000: New Balance
● $50,000 and $50,000: Absolute Fencing
● $0 (2023) and $140,000: NT Ruddock Company

The totals are $300,000 for 2023 and $390,000 for 2024, with RAM Watches and Lufthansa also shown in the sponsor list, but for $0 (suggesting value-in-kind only).

Observed: That’s it? The fencing and running sponsors make perfect sense, but odd not to see some support from companies involved with swimming and laser pistols, the latter used in the climactic Laser Run event.

● Swimming ● A world short-course record in the 50 m Backstroke for Russian star Kliment Kolesnikov, the Tokyo 2020 100 m Back silver medalist. At the Russian Short Course Championships in Kazan on Wednesday (23rd).

Kolesnikov touched in 22.11, erasing Frenchman Florent Manaudou’s mark of 22.22 from 2014, and gives Kolesnikov three of the top four performances of all-time and five of the top 10. Russian swimmers cannot compete in FINA competitions – such as next month’s FINA short-course Worlds – but marks made under correct conditions are allowed to be submitted as records.

Swimmers are usually pictured in swimsuits, in training or in competition, but for a look at some of the top American swimmers in awards-show dress, FINA did a fun look at the “red carpet” of the USA Swimming Golden Goggles Awards at the New York Marriott Marquis earlier this week.

Michael Andrew in a bolo tie? Lilly King in a “disco cowboy suit” from Express at 50% off? Wow.

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TSX REPORT: Brazilian state flag, uniforms and supermarkets all part of World Cup protest confusion; new Tokyo 2020 scandal over test events

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. More confusion on “rainbow” flags, jerseys and armbands at World Cup
2. Budweiser to ship unsold World Cup beer to winning country
3. IOC preference for 2030 Winter Games not expected until 2023
4. Another Tokyo 2020 scandal, this time on test events
5. USA Swimming tabs Finke, Ledecky as Athletes of the Year

The FIFA World Cup in Qatar ramped up in intensity on Tuesday with a brilliant, shocking, 2-1 win by Saudi Arabia over tournament heavyweight Argentina and a clinical, 4-1 win by France over Australia. Off the field, confusion and protests continued over rainbow flags, including one from a Brazilian state that has nothing to do with LGBTQ rights, associations with a Belgian dance festival and more. Meanwhile, a day after Budweiser’s beer sales in the World Cup stadiums was shut down, the company tweeted that it would sent the unsold beer to the tournament’s winning country! The Salt Lake City bid committee for the 2030 Olympic Winter Games met with the International Olympic Committee’s Future Host Commission via videolink and said it was ready to host in 2030 if the IOC wished to select it. However, the IOC’s site preference will now likely not be made until early 2023. Another scandal at the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee has popped up, this time over a rigged selection process for companies to produce the 26 test events held prior to the Games, involving contracts worth about $3.54 million in all. USA Swimming held its annual Golden Goggles Awards in New York, with 2022 World Champions Bobby Finke and Katie Ledecky winning the Athlete of the Year honors.

1.
More confusion on “rainbow” flags, jerseys and armbands at World Cup

“This guy wearing a white dress grabbed the flag, threw it on the ground and started stomping on it. I took my phone to record a video but he grabbed it from my hand and said he would only give it back if I deleted the video.

“Then an officer arrived and tried to intervene. He grabbed the phone from the other guy and ordered me to delete the video.”

That from Brazilian journalist Victor Pereira, who was leaving the Argentina-Saudi Arabia match on Tuesday with a flag of the Brazilian state of Pernambuco, which includes a three-color rainbow over a yellow sun, a red cross at the bottom and a yellow star at the top. He was accosted by a Qatari fan, who apparently mistook it for a flag supporting LGBTQ rights – homosexuality is illegal in Qatar – with a security officer coming in quickly.

Pereira deleted the video from the phone as requested, since he needed it for his work, but uploaded a video on Twitter explaining the incident and posted a couple of videos recorded by others that showed part of the situation.

FIFA directed the Belgian team to modify their white (visitor) jerseys with the word “Love” stitched into the back of the collar.

The “Love” insignia is part of a collaboration from last June with the annual Tomorrowland electronic dance music festival held in Flanders and not related to the LGBTQ issues at the World Cup. However, in the FIFA Equipment Regulations, section 10.3.5 states that a “decorative item” on a uniform:

“[m]ust not … function as a trademark or include anything that gives the visual impression of a Manufacturer Identifier or Sponsor Advertising, or that creates an association with a Manufacturer, a sponsor, or other third party, or that constitutes a promotion or other commercial message of any kind”

and section 12.1 notes that

“Sponsor Advertising is not permitted on the Playing Kit or any other playing item of a Team representing a Member Association in a Competition or an International Friendly Match.”

The Belgians, one of the tournament favorites, plan to wear their red home jerseys for their three group-stage matches, but will cover the “Love” patch on their away jerseys if worn later in the tournament. Belgium opens with Canada on Wednesday.

Also on Tuesday, the German supermarket chain Rewe ended its sponsorship of the German Football Association (DFB), in view of its decision not to have team captain Manuel Neuer wear the “OneLove” armband under the threat of an immediate yellow card from FIFA.

Rewe chief executive Lionel Souque issuing a statement including, “We stand up for diversity, and football is also diversity. We live this position and we defend it. FIFA’s scandalous attitude is absolutely unacceptable.”

DFB spokesman Steffen Simon told the German newspaper Bild: “FIFA has forbidden us to make a sign for diversity and human rights. It has combined this with massive threats of sporting sanctions without specifying them. The DFB is checking whether this action by FIFA was lawful.”

Germany opens World Cup play against Japan on Wednesday.

The World Cup opener between Ecuador and Qatar, which aired on Sunday beginning at 11 a.m. Eastern time drew 3.071 million viewers on FS1, beginning a couple of hours ahead of NFL games at 1 p.m. Eastern The early window NFL games drew 15.26 million on CBS and 15.56 million on Fox.

2.
Budweiser to ship unsold World Cup beer to winning country

Give Budweiser credit for staying on message, after its in-stadium sales efforts for its alcoholic beers were eliminated two days prior to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. On Saturday, a day before the tournament opened, the official Budweiser account on Twitter showed a warehouse stacked with pallets of Budweiser and stated:

“New Day, New Tweet. Winning Country gets the Buds. Who will get them?”

An AB InBev statement included:

“We will host the ultimate championship celebration for the winning country. Because, for the winning fans, they’ve taken the world. More details will be shared when we get closer to the finals.”

3.
IOC preference for 2030 Winter Games not expected until 2023

The bid process for the Olympic Winter Games in 2030 continued on Tuesday, with the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games making a presentation via videolink to the IOC Future Host Commission for the Olympic Winter Games.

Bid chief executive Fraser Bullock was positive about the discussion:

“Our exchange with the Future Host Commission was very positive and encouraging. We feel the [International Olympic Committee] sees great value in our vision for the Games and we are optimistic about the Winter Games returning to America in either 2030 or 2034.

“With the previously announced delay in the [2023] IOC Session until fall, we anticipate that a decision to invite Preferred Hosts into a Targeted Dialogue may not be made until sometime in early 2023.”

It was all-hands-on-deck for the presentation, with Bullock, Utah Governor Spencer Cox, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, bid committee Chair Catherine Raney Norman, bid Chief of Athlete Experience Lindsey Vonn, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee Chair Susanne Lyons and USOPC chief executive Sarah Hirshland all speaking during the program.

Vonn touched on a sensitive point from Beijing 2022 and for the upcoming Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Games, noting that all of the athletes will live in a single Olympic Village and not be separated by far-away skiing venues.

And Bullock underscored that Salt Lake City (and the U.S.) has no hesitation in taking on the next available Games:

“These interactions with the Commission have been a valuable two-way feedback tool. While this process is focused on 2030, we made it clear we are available to host in either 2030 or 2034, whenever it best meets the needs of both the Olympic and Paralympic Movements, as well as our Utah host communities.”

4.
Another Tokyo 2020 scandal, this time on test events

“Major Japanese advertising agency ADK Holdings Inc. has reported to the fair trade watchdog that it participated in bid rigging for the rights to organize test events for the Tokyo Olympics.”

That’s from the Kyodo News Agency, reporting on a new embarrassment from the Tokyo 2020 Games:

“ADK came forward after Tokyo prosecutors recently launched an investigation into bid-rigging allegations in connection with the test events, in addition to a scandal involving the alleged receipt by a former games organizing committee executive of nearly 200 million yen ($1.41 million) in bribes from five companies, including ADK.”

The Tokyo 2020 organizers adopted an unusual approach to its pre-Games test events, contracting them out to various companies, and then watching the contractors produce the competitions, rather than doing them directly.

ADK produced three of the reported 26 test events and was paid a combined total of about ¥104 million (about $736,580 U.S.):

● ¥28.90 million for wrestling (~$204,663 U.S.)
● ¥29.16 million for equestrian (~$206,504 U.S.)
● ¥45.79 million for gymnastics (~$324,273 U.S.)

Nine other companies, including ad giant Dentsu, also won contracts to produce test events, with the cumulative contracts totaling ¥500 million (~$3.54 million), and as small as ¥4 million and as high as ¥60 million.

A source told Kyodo that the 10 companies who produced test events also received contracts to manage – without competitive bidding – many of the competition venues during the Games.

ADK Holdings is already defending allegations of bribery for paying Tokyo 2020 Executive Board member Haruyuki Takahashi ¥47 million (about $332,908) over five years to ensure it was selected as a marketing agent for Tokyo 2020 sponsors.

5.
USA Swimming tabs Finke, Ledecky as Athletes of the Year

At USA Swimming’s annual Golden Goggles Awards in New York on Monday, World Champions Bobby Finke and Katie Ledecky were named as Athletes of the Year and also for the men’s and women’s Race of the Year, both in the 800 m Freestyle.

Finke, the Tokyo Olympic Champion at 800 m and 1,500 m, came back to win the 2022 World Championships in the 800 m and a silver in the 1,500 m. His 7:39.36 time in the Worlds 800 m final was the fastest in the world for 2022, and he ranked third in the 1,500 m at 14:36.70.

Ledecky took Worlds golds in the 400-800-1,500 m Freestyles and on the 4×200 m relay, giving her an astonishing 19 World Championships golds (and three silvers) in her career. She swam the world’s fastest times in 2022 in her Worlds wins in the 800 m and 1,500 m; she ranked second at 400 m and third at 200 m. It’s Ledecky’s eighth selection in nine years as the federation’s female Athlete of the Year, and fifth award for Race of the Year.

Nor surprisingly, the Coach of the Year went to Florida’s Anthony Nesty, who mentors both Finke and Ledecky, and was the U.S. men’s head coach at the 2022 Worlds.

The Perseverance Award went to Leah Smith, who won a Worlds bronze in the women’s 400 m Free and a 4×200 Free Relay gold a year after missing the U.S. Olympic Team for Tokyo. The Breakout Performer of the Year was Leah Hayes, who the bronze in the women’s 200 m Medley at the Worlds, setting a World Junior Record.

The Impact Awards were presented to two former presidents of USA Swimming, Carol Zaleski and Bill Maxson.

≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡

● Group C: Saudi Arabia 2, Argentina 1 ● The first total shock of the tournament came on day three, as Saudi Arabia came from a goal behind to defeat one of the tournament favorites in Argentina, 2-1.

The Saudis entered their sixth World Cup with a 3-11-2 record (W-L-T), and had a rough first half, as Argentina’s superstar striker Lionel Messi scored on a penalty in the 10th minute and Argentina lost three goals – from Messi and two from Lautaro Martinez – on offsides calls later in the half.

But early in the second half, striker Saleh Al-Shehri tied the match in the 48th minute and midfielder Salem Al-Dawsari gave the Saudis a lead in the 53rd with a fabulous, right-footed laser from the left side of the penalty box to the right corner of the net that glanced off the hand of keeper Emiliano Martinez.

Argentina attacked again and again and had 69% of the possession in the game and a 15-3 edge in shots. But it was not enough. Saudi Arabia had beaten Morocco and Belgium in 1994 and Egypt in 2018 for its only prior World Cup wins, while two-time World Cup champions Argentina hadn’t lost an opening World Cup match since 1990 against Cameroon. The loss ended a 36-match unbeaten streak for Argentina.

Saudi Arabia declared a public holiday on Wednesday.

● Group C: Mexico 0, Poland 0 ● Both teams had chances, but neither could score and the game turned on a sensational save by iconic Mexican keeper Memo Ochoa on a penalty shot by Polish star Robert Lewandowski in the 56th minute.

The penalty call on a shirt-pull was confirmed on video review, but super-scorer Lewandowski sent a seeing-eye shot to his right that Ochoa punched out with authority. Polish keeper Wojciech Szczesny was the hero in the 64th minute, saving a header by Henry Martin that perhaps Mexico’s best chance in the game.

Mexico had 61% of possession in the game and out-shot Poland by 11-6, but both teams will settle for a point after seeing Argentina stunned earlier in the day.

● Group D: Denmark 0, Tunisia 0 ● Another scoreless draw, but with a lot of tension as highly-regarded Denmark was unable to punch in a goal against an aggressive Tunisian defense.

The Danes controlled the ball (61% possession in the game), but couldn’t find the right combination, with Andreas Cornelius’s header flying wide of the goal in the 70th minute with an open net in front of him their best chance.

Tunisia ended up with 13 shots to 11 for Denmark, but the Danes had five shots on goal to just one for the defense-minded Tunisians. The draw ended a four-game losing streak by Tunisia to European teams in World Cup matches.

● Group D: France 4, Australia 1 ● This game started with another shock, as Australian midfielder Craig Goodwin smashed in a cross from the left-hand side of goal off a brilliant pass from midfielder Mathew Leckie in the ninth minute for a 1-0 lead!

But the French were hardly fazed, coming back with two goals in five minutes. Defender Theo Hernandez sent a perfect, left-footed ball to the head of midfielder Adrien Rabiot, who knocked it in in the 27th minute for the tie. In the 32nd, it was a flick-on from star midfielder Kylian Mbappe that gave Rabiot the ball in space on the left side, and ran toward the goal, then passed to a wide-open Olivier Giroud right in front of the goal and he scored easily for the 2-1 lead.

The half ended that way, with Australia’s Jackson Irvine just missing a header in stoppage time that would have tied it, but the ball rolled off the goalpost and out of bounds. The French had 11 shots to four for Australia in the half and 61% possession.

Relentless French pressure in the second half resulted in Mbappe finally got a goal in the 68th minute on a header off a curling cross from the right side into the box from midfielder Ousmane Dembele that caromed off the goalpost and into the net. The Mbappe returned the favor from the left side, sending a ball to the head of Giroud for a 4-1 lead in the 72nd. Over. The French ended with 68% of possession and out-shot Australia, 23-4.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Sullivan Award ● The Amateur Athletic Union’s Sullivan Award for the nation’s outstanding athlete is down to five finalists:

● Jocelyn Alo (softball), two-time USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year at Oklahoma;

● Jordan Burroughs (wrestling), six-time World Champion and 2012 Olympic Champion;

● Ivan Melendez (baseball), Howser Trophy and Golden Spikes Award winner at Texas;

● Carissa Moore (surfing), five-time women’s World Champion and Tokyo Olympic gold medalist;

● Bryce Young (football), Heisman Trophy winner at Alabama.

The winner will be announced in a ceremony on 8 December in Santa Monica, California.

● Figure Skating ● The NBC highlights presentation of the ISU Grand Prix event in Sapporo (JPN) on Sunday at 4 p.m. Eastern, in direct competition with the NFL, drew a respectable 719,000 viewers with a 0.48 rating.

This is right in line with the viewership of the other Grand Prix event highlight shows on NBC this season, with 760,000 for Skate American on 22 October; 747,000 for Skate Canada on 30 October and 713,000 on 13 November for the MK John Wilson Trophy in Sheffield (GBR).

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!

TSX REPORT: FIFA bans unapproved armbands, drone security for Paris ‘24 worries Interior Minister; no beer or spirits sponsorships in Scotland?

By
Rich Perelman
-
The scene before kickoff of the Wales vs. U.S. match at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Qatar (Photo: U.S. Department of State)

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

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

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. FIFA bans non-approved armbands, threatens yellow card
2. French Interior Minister worries about drones at Paris 2024
3. Accredited football writer Wahl stopped for wearing rainbow shirt
4. Workers party at Qatar match at fan zone in a Doha stadium
5. Scottish Football concerned over alcoholic beverage sponsor ban

FIFA shut down the plan of seven European teams to have their captains wear a “OneLove” rainbow armband in favor of its own program of messaged armbands, telling the teams that wearers would be penalized with a yellow card. Also in Qatar as an observer is French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, who said his security worries for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris center on drones. American football journalist Grant Wahl, in Qatar as an accredited writer, was detained by security personnel when he entered Monday’s 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. Reuters reported that a free fan festival was set up in Doha for migrant workers to watch the opening World Cup match – featuring Qatar – and that thousands attended. In Scotland, a government consultation on whether alcoholic-beverage sponsorships should be banned as part of a larger reduction in alcoholic-beverage marketing has the Scottish Football Association and others very concerned.

Oh yes, the FIFA World Cup continued, with the U.S. and Wales playing to a 1-1 draw, while the Netherlands defeated Senegal, 2-0, and England routed Iran, 6-2.

(For a transcript of FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s memorable Saturday news conference remarks, click here.)

1.
FIFA bans non-approved armbands, threatens yellow card

FIFA informed the teams who had planned to have their captains wear a multi-color “OneLove” armband for their 2022 World Cup matches that such actions would be contrary to FIFA rules. From the FIFA statement:

“Article 13.8.1 of the FIFA Equipment Regulations, which state: ‘For FIFA Final Competitions, the captain of each Team must wear the captain’s armband provided by FIFA.’ …

“FIFA is an inclusive organisation that wants to put football to the benefit of society by supporting good and legitimate causes, but it has to be done within the framework of the competition regulations which are known to everyone.”

FIFA is allowing captains to wear a “No Discrimination” armband for any of the matches, in addition to the armbands with varying (approved) messages made available for each round of the tournament.

The teams were informed that unauthorized armbands, such as the “OneLove” style, would result in a yellow card being issued to the wearer. A statement in reply from England, Wales, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands included:

“FIFA has been very clear that it will impose sporting sanctions if our captains wear the armbands on the field of play. As national federations, we can’t put our players in a position where they could face sporting sanctions including bookings, so we have asked the captains not to attempt to wear the armbands in FIFA World Cup games.

“We were prepared to pay fines that would normally apply to breaches of kit regulations and had a strong commitment to wearing the armband. However, we cannot put our players in the situation where they might be booked or even forced to leave the field of play.

“We are very frustrated by the FIFA decision which we believe is unprecedented – we wrote to FIFA in September informing them of our wish to wear the ‘OneLove’ armband to actively support inclusion in football, and had no response. Our players and coaches are disappointed – they are strong supporters of inclusion and will show support in other ways.”

Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk said after the win over Senegal:

“I no longer want to answer political questions. This is the time to talk about football and not political issues. One thing is clear: we are not going to wear the armband if we’re getting a yellow card. I think we need to question whether this a correct action on the part of FIFA and you can answer that question.

“Virgil van Dijk after one match is to be given a yellow card! We are here to become World Champions and that is our purpose, which is why we’re not wearing the armband. All of us need to ask ourselves whether this is a proper action on the part of FIFA – that is crystal clear.”

2.
French Interior Minister worries about drones at Paris 2024

“Drones are the main terrorist threat of today and tomorrow.”

That from France’s Interior Minister, Gerald Darmanin, to Agence France Presse from Doha, where he is attending the FIFA World Cup, with a focus on lessons for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

He noted his concerns with dangers such as “a drone loaded with explosives that falls on a crowd, on an exposed team, on an opening ceremony like at the Olympic Games for example.

“When you organize an event like this, cyber attacks, the fight against drones, questions of terrorist threats, the flow of people are important subjects.”

Darmanin added that about 20,000 fans from France were expected in Qatar and that 225 French security staff were in the country as a preventative measure.

He also saw benefits in having a mega-event like the World Cup in unusual locations such as Qatar, as it “allows us to move certain countries like Qatar forward on labour laws and respect for the environment.

“If we only ever organize such events in Europe, it’s difficult to argue that they are global.”

3.
Accredited football writer Wahl stopped for wearing rainbow shirt

Veteran writer Grant Wahl, who has covered multiple World Cups, is in Qatar for the 2022 edition and went to the Wales-USA match on Monday wearing a black T-shirt picturing a soccer ball surrounded by seven concentric circles in color, forming a rainbow pattern, in support of LGBTQ rights.

As he reported on his Substack site, what followed was an “adventure”:

“When I arrived at the stadium media entrance to cover the United States-Wales World Cup game today wearing a rainbow soccer ball t-shirt supporting the LGBTQ community, the security guards refused to let me in, detained me for 25 minutes and angrily demanded that I remove my t-shirt.”

Wahl tweeted:

“Just now: Security guard refusing to let me into the stadium for USA-Wales. ‘You have to change your shirt. It’s not allowed.’”

His phone was then taken by a security guard. Another guard said his shirt was political, which Wahl disagreed with. A third said he had to remove the shirt. No chance.

Wahl told friend Andrew Das, an assistant sports editor of the New York Times, what was going on, and Das was detained also. Wahl was then told to face a closed-circuit television camera, so he could be identified by others.

Das was released a little later, and a “security commander” came by, apologized, and told Wahl he was free to go, shirt and all. A FIFA representative also apologized later.

Wahl noted, “One of the security guards told me they were just trying to protect me from fans inside who could harm me for wearing the shirt.”

4.
Workers party at Qatar match at fan zone in a Doha stadium

A very special story from Reuters about the World Cup, but this time about how some of the country’s migrant workers were able to watch Sunday’s opening match:

“[T]housands of migrant workers gathered in a Doha stadium to watch the opening match of the first World Cup in the Middle East.

“The special fan zone set up at the industrial area on the city’s outskirts includes a stadium with a giant TV screen and another big screen set up outside for an overflow crowd. It sits adjacent to several worker camps where many of Qatar’s hundreds of thousands of low-income labourers live.”

Access to this stadium fan zone was free; one of the workers – from India – interviewed said he has signed up as a volunteer to work at a couple of matches, and will get to see the matches live. For some others who were interviewed, they said they send most of their earnings home to their families, making purchasing tickets an impossibility.

5.
Scottish Football concerned over alcoholic beverage sponsor ban

Scottish Professional Football League chief executive Neil Doncaster put it this way:

“We will take time to consider these proposals in far greater detail and respond in due course, but even at an initial stage, it is clear that the sporting, social and financial implications could be extremely grave.

“Sport worldwide depends to a very great degree on sponsorship, and drinks companies have a long and supportive history in the Scottish game. Their valuable financial contribution is hugely important to the wellbeing of our sport and its ability to support a range of social benefits. To remove that revenue stream, at a time when we are experiencing the most significant economic challenges for a generation, could have huge implications for clubs and Scottish sport more generally.”

He was responding to a Scottish government “consultation” on “Restricting Alcohol Advertising and Promotion” announced last Thursday, that is collecting information and responses through 9 March 2023. The project is designed to “take a whole population approach which aims to reduce alcohol consumption and therefore the risk of alcohol-related harms across the population. Although we recognise that there is no safe level of regularly drinking alcohol, we are looking to embed lower and safer consumption levels throughout the population.”

Sports sponsorship is clearly targeted, with one recommendation stating, “Stop alcohol sponsorship of events at which children may be present” and

“We want children and young people, as well as those in recovery and the wider population, to be able to attend and enjoy sporting events without seeing alcohol adverts or promotion.”

Ian Maxwell, chief executive of the Scottish Football Association, said “Scottish football is already restricted by the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980, which for more than 40 years has prohibited the sale of alcohol within football grounds. As a consequence, we cannot control consumption levels that take place outside of the stadium bowl and thus cannot be part of a data-led solution.

“We will contribute to the consultation to ensure a fact-based approach and to highlight the consequences of any legislation being imposed, not just financially, but in potentially being precluded from bidding for major football events, as well as other world-class, international sporting events where alcohol partnerships are an integral part of a diverse sponsorship portfolio.”

Interesting timing, of course, on the heels of the ban on beer sales inside Qatar’s World Cup stadiums by FIFA sponsor Budweiser. Doncaster noted that Dutch brewer Heineken N.V. is a sponsor of UEFA competitions in which Scotland competes.

≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡

● Group A: Netherlands 2, Senegal 0 ● The Dutch had the best of the first half, but Senegal looked like it might steal the match in the final half until midfielder Cody Gapko turned the game with a header from Frenkie de Jong in the 84th minute for a 1-0 lead.

Senegal continued to press, but the Dutch defense was stout and Davy Klassen scored the final goal at 90+9 on a rebound from a Memphis Depay shot. The Dutch enjoyed 53% of the possession, but Senegal led in shots, 15-10.

● Group B: England 6, Iran 2 ● The English outclassed Iran, scoring three first-half goals and three more in the second in a 6-2 rout. After several early chances, Jude Bellingham scored on a header in the 35th minute, followed by Bukayo Saka (43rd) and Raheem Sterling (45+1). Sterling scored again at 62 minutes for a 4-0 edge, then Iran got a powerful goal from Mehdi Aremi in the 65th to close to 4-1. But Marcus Rashford scored six minutes later to increase the lead to 5-1 and Jack Grealish scored in the 90th to go to 6-1. Aremi was fouled in the box in stoppage time and converted the penalty at 90+13 for the final score.

England had a staggering 78% of the possession and led 13-8 in shots, with 23 fouls called in the game of them against Iran. Before the game, the Iranian team did not sing the national anthem, taken as a protest in the continuing political turmoil inside Iran.

● Group B: United States 1, Wales 1 ● The U.S. dominated the first half, but pressure from Wales in the second half led to a 1-1 tie in a lively, physical game.

The Americans, playing in their first World Cup since 2014, were on offense right from the start and almost scored in the ninth minute on a Wales own-goal due to a swarming U.S. offense, but keeper Wayne Hennessey made the save and then U.S. striker Josh Sargent hit the post on a subsequent header.

However, a Sargent knock-on to Christian Pulisic started a U.S. break in the 36th minute. Pulisic sped forward, then found a streaking Timothy Weah running towards the net and Weah flicked the ball with his right foot and beat Hennessey for a 1-0 lead. The Americans had 66% of the possession and a 3-2 lead in shots in the half and was in total control.

Wales, playing in its second World Cup final tournament – the last was in 1958! – was aggressive and in control for most of the second half. Defender Ben Davis headed a hard shot at the U.S. goal in the 64th, but American keeper Matt Turner was able to pop it over the goal and then substitute striker Kieffer Moore sent another close-in header over the bar seconds later.

Eventually, all the play in the U.S. zone paid off as star striker Gareth Bale was fouled in the box by U.S. defender Walker Zimmerman in the 81st minute for a penalty. And Bale rocketed his shot past Turner to tie the match.

The game was physical from the start and got more so as it wore on, with 25 fouls in the game and four yellow cards on the U.S. and two on Wales. There was 10 minutes of stoppage time and Bale almost found the net again from long range as Turner came 30 yards out of goal, but a foul by Kellyn Acosta – which earned a yellow card – saved the U.S.

The game ended with multiple players cramping, and the U.S. with 59% of the possession and six shots to seven for Wales. But both teams will take the point.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Athletics ● French triple jump star Teddy Tamgho was sanctioned for competing during a period when he was suspended for doping, with a penalty of one year from 18 March 2015 to 17 March 2016 added to his already-served ban from 18 March 2014 to 17 March 2015.

Tamgho, 33, has not competed since 2019 and the new sanctions do not impact his World Indoor title from 2010 or his World Championships gold in 2013. He does lose the French national indoor title he won in February 2016.

Another inquiry into coaching methods, this time at the University of Colorado, as Runner’s World reported an ongoing independent investigation of the school’s famed cross-country program. The story explained that there have been “allegations by former athletes pertaining to body composition analysis, training methods, and overall culture.”

Multiple former Colorado athletes are being interviewed, with questions being asked about legendary head coach Mark Wetmore, assistant Heather Burroughs and head dietician Laura Anderson. The university acknowledged the investigation, but said it will make no comments until the completed report is provided.

● Football ● An appeal by former CONCACAF President Jack Warner (TTO) to keep him from being extradited to the U.S. to face U.S. charges on corruption was turned down by the Privy Council in London (GBR) last Thursday (17th).

The U.S. Department of Justice charged Warner, now 79, with wire fraud, racketeering and money-laundering in 2020, alleging receipt of $5 million in bribes and other crimes between 1998 and 2011. He was also part of a 2015 indictment and was barred for life by FIFA the same year. Now it appears he may be forced to defend himself in U.S. Federal Court.

● Modern Pentathlon ● The Pentathlon United athletes group is now worried about further changes in the sport’s format, beyond the change from riding to obstacle course, tweeting on Monday:

“@WorldPentathlon can you tell your community what was in the proposal for LA28 that has been sent to the IOC regarding fencing, considering there is no ranking round venue? What are you now doing to our fencing discipline?

“Is it true that our fencing discipline is being dismantled with no ranking round venue in LA28. Athletes will no longer fence every other competitor. So what is it going to be? The ladder system is a disingenuous representation of our fencing skills. But that’s what remains.”

Although not on the Los Angeles 2028 program at present, the LA28 bid – which assumed that the sport would be included – offered the versatile Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California as the pentathlon venue. It is slated to also host cycling (track), field hockey, rugby sevens and tennis; while the sports park does not include an indoor arena, the adjacent Cal State Dominguez Hills campus has the 2,802-seat Torodome gymnasium, which could be used for fencing.

● Softball ● The U.S. women swept the Pan American Championships tournament in Guatemala City (GUA) that finished on Sunday, defeating Canada by 12-1 and completing a perfect 9-0 record. The U.S. batted .527 for the tournament and won eight of its games by run-rule margins. Megan Faraimo won four games and Rachel Garcia won three on the mound.

● Table Tennis ● Pretty impressive audience figures from the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships in Chengdu (CHN) in early October, with more than 240 million unique viewers and a cumulative audience – on all platforms – of 467 million. Not surprisingly, the top markets were in China, Japan, Korea and other south Asian countries, but viewership in Europe was considered very good, as well as developing markets in Brazil, India and South Africa.

The World Team Championships was the first international sporting event to be held in China since the Beijing Olympic Winter Games in February.

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TSX REPORT: Infantino hammers media, critics at pre-World Cup news conference; FIFA revenue up $1 billion; WADA readying Russia doping agency review

By
Rich Perelman
-
FIFA President Gianni Infantino at Saturday's amazing news conference (Photo: FIFA video screenshot)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Infantino rips media coverage in pre-World Cup news conference
2. FIFA revenue rises to $7.5 billion for 2022, up more than 15%
3. Banka re-elected as WADA President, Russia’s status in review
4. Russian minister signals interest in Griner prisoner trade
5. World decathlon leader Scantling banned for three years

The 2022 FIFA World Cup is underway, with FIFA chief Gianni Infantino giving a stunning, one-hour talk on migrant rights, Qatari legal restrictions and the banning of beer in stadiums during his pre-event news conference on Saturday. He announced on Sunday that the federation’s revenue will reach $7.5 billion on 2022, about $1 billion more than anticipated. Poland’s Witold Banka was re-elected as President of the World Anti-Doping Agency and he outlined what promises to be a not-very-quick review of Russia’s status once its two-year sanction period ends in December. In Russia, a deputy minister expressed more interest in a prisoner swap with the U.S. that could include basketball star Brittney Griner. U.S. decathlon star Garrett Scantling, the world leader in 2022, was banned for three years for “whereabouts” failures and for tampering.

Oh yes, the FIFA World Cup finally started, with Ecuador schooling Qatar, 2-0.

1.
Infantino rips media coverage in pre-World Cup news conference

“This moral lesson-giving, one-sided, it’s just hypocrisy.”

In an extraordinary news conference on Saturday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) spoke to an estimated 400 reporters in advance of the 2022 FIFA World Cup for a solid hour before taking questions, pushing back against critics of the federation and of Qatar as the host country.

Infantino spoke from notes, but was not reading a written statement. In his usual, casual style, with a methodical delivery occasionally punctuated with a harder tone, he ran through just about the entire list of complaints that have been leveled at the about-to-start World Cup. He startled the assembly by starting with:

“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.” And then he continued, with 37 minutes of unapologetic comments on FIFA and the migrant worker situation in Qatar:

● “So let’s start with the migrant workers, if you allow me. We have [been] told many, many lessons from some Europeans, from the Western world. I’m European – actually I am European – not just I feel European. I think for what we Europeans have been doing in the last 3,000 years around the world, we should be apologizing for the next 3,000 years, before starting to give moral lessons to people.

“I came here six years ago and addressed the matter of migrant workers, straight on, at my very first meeting. How many of the European or Western business companies, who earn millions and millions from Qatar – or other countries in the region – billions, every year, how many of them have addressed migrant worker’s rights, with the authorities?

“I have the answer to you: none of them. None of them, because [that means changing] the legislation, which means less profit. Instead of one billion, well maybe you make only 900 million. But we did and FIFA generates much, much, much less than any of these companies, from Qatar.”

● “So, speaking about workers, I bumped into a migrant study, not a FIFA study, a Human Rights Watch study, one of these companies that I think is also criticizing certainly FIFA, certainly rightfully, many times, I guess. What that study says, basically, is because of the European migration policy, 25,000 migrants died since 2014, in eight years. A thousand, two hundred only this year. Human beings died.

“So if we take two steps back of this – I also wonder, but I always come back to that – why nobody ask for a compensation to be paid for the families of these migrants who died. Their life is not worth the same? “

● “So if you go two steps back and you look at this issue of migration, and the situation of hundreds of thousands of women and men from developing countries who would like to offer their services abroad, in order to help and to give a future to their families back home, well Qatar is actually offering them this opportunity. Hundreds of thousands of workers of developing countries come here, they earn 10 times more than what they earn in their home country and help their families to survive. And within a legal way.

“We in Europe, we close our borders and we don’t allow practically any worker from these countries, who earn obviously very low income, to work legally in our countries, because we all know there are many illegal workers in our European countries [in] living conditions which are also not really the best. …

“So I wonder why nobody recognized the progress that has been made, since 2016. The kafala system was abolished, minimum wages were introduced, heat protection measures were taken. ILO, international unions acknowledge that, but media don’t, or some don’t.”

Infantino spoke in detail about the main demands of human rights and labor organizations about a migrant help center, compensation for workers who did not receive their wages or were hurt or died, and long-term assurances that the changes already made are permanent. He described each in detail and summarized:

“So we have been seeing [1] there is a permanent office of [International Labor Organisation], or there will be – and we will be back, we will be here to check, don’t worry, because you will be gone – [2] compensation for workers who are not paid or who have accidents, exists, in very significant amounts, and [3] FIFA has a legacy fund for this World Cup.”

Infantino noted that Qatar already has a worker’s support and insurance fund that has paid $350 million in claims since 2018; this in response to calls for FIFA to pay $440 million or more to workers and families injured or killed in the construction of the World Cup stadiums. The Legacy Fund is not a new concept; it was reportedly established after the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and $260 million has been contributed across the 2010-14-18 events.

He then launched into a discussion on “the LGBT situation”:

“I have been speaking about this topic with the highest leadership of the country, several times, not just once. They have confirmed and I can confirm that everyone is welcome.

“If you have a person here and there who says the opposite, well it’s not the opinion of the country. And certainly not the opinion of FIFA. This is a clear FIFA requirement; everyone has to be welcomed. Everyone who comes to Qatar is welcome, whatever religion, race, sexual orientation, belief she or he has. Everyone is welcome. This is our requirement and the Qatari state sticks to that requirement.

“Now you will tell me, ‘yeah, but this legislation which prohibit that and whatever’, you have to go to jail, I don’t know what. Yes, these legislations exist in many countries in the world. These legislations existed in Switzerland, when Switzerland organized the World Cup in 1954; I was not born yet.

“So again, like for the workers, these are processes. So what do you want to do about it? You want to stay home and hammer and criticize and say how bad they are: these Arabs or these Muslims or whatever, because it’s not allowed to be publicly gay? Of course, I believe it should be allowed, as FIFA President. But, I went through a process, I went through a process. If I ask the same question to my father, who is not here any more, he would probably have a different answer than me. And my children will have again a different answer than me. So if somebody thinks by just hammering and criticizing, and hammering and criticizing, we will achieve something, well, I can tell you it will achieve exactly the opposite. Because this will be viewed as provocation, and then if you provoke me, I react. And that’s bad.”

And he did not let up, addressing the media directly:

“The only thing I am asking you: engage, help, don’t divide, try to unite. The world is divided enough. We are organizing a World Cup. We’re not organizing a war. We organize a World Cup, where people who have many problems, everyone in his or her life, want to come and enjoy.

“Look at the city, it’s beautiful. It’s beautiful, it’s geared up, people are happy, to celebrate. They were happy when the teams come, and when the teams come, they go to see the teams and what do I read, ‘well, these people they don’t look like English so they shouldn’t cheer for English.’ Because they look like Indians. I mean, what is that? Can somebody who looks like an Indian not cheer for England or for Spain or for Germany? You know what this is. This is racism. This is pure racism. And we have to stop that.”

He also addressed the late ban on sales of beer in the World Cup stadiums, saying “I mean, honestly, if this is the biggest issue we have for the World Cup, I will sign immediately and go to the beach and relax until the 18th of December.” He indicated that AB InBev will continue as a FIFA sponsor through to the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the U.S.

He finished with:

“Don’t criticize Qatar, don’t criticize the players, don’t criticize anyone. Criticize FIFA, criticize me if you want, because I am responsible for everything, but let the people enjoy this World Cup.”

It was a stunning performance, but was immediately criticized, of course. An Amnesty International comment included:

“In brushing aside legitimate human rights criticisms, Gianni Infantino is dismissing the enormous price paid by migrant workers to make his flagship tournament possible – as well as FIFA’s responsibility for it. Demands for equality, dignity and compensation cannot be treated as some sort of culture war – they are universal human rights that FIFA has committed to respect in its own statutes.

“If FIFA is to salvage anything from this tournament, it must announce that it will invest a significant part of the $6 billion the organisation will make from this tournament and make sure this fund is used to compensate workers and their families directly.”

CNN reported comments from the human rights organization Equidem’s chief executive, Mustafa Qadri, who said in a statement: “History will not judge this moment kindly. Infantino’s speech was an insult to the thousands of hard-working women and men who have made the World Cup possible.

“He had a perfect opportunity to acknowledge that thousands of women and men from the poorest countries came to the richest only to face deception, exploitation and discrimination.

“Every day workers are contacting Equidem about unpaid wages, abuse and being terrified about speaking out for fear of retaliation from employers. There is a solution here: Infantino should establish a comprehensive compensation fund and demand Qatar establish an independent migrant workers’ centre so workers have a safe space to raise complaints and get the support they need.”

In fact, Infantino covered both of those suggestions in detail. Sky Sports News senior reporter Melissa Reddy, reporting from Qatar said in part:

“What absurd, offensive, misleading thing did he not say? This is extraordinary and unlike anything I’ve ever heard before. …

“It is an absolutely astounding address from the FIFA president and it’s probably even more astounding that he is being re-elected unopposed after being able to say stuff like this.”

2.
FIFA revenue rises to $7.5 billion for 2022, up more than 15%

The money continues to roll in, as FIFA President Infantino told the member associations on Sunday that the federation’s revenues will approach $7.5 billion for 2022, about $1.0 billion more than was expected.

Total expenses for 2022, which includes production of the World Cup and the establishment of a Qatar 2022 Legacy Fund following its end, will be about $6.5 billion, leaving a surplus of $1.0 billion. Infantino said that with this money “we can then invest in football immediately, starting from now and for the next cycle to make football grow even more around the world.”

Infantino also underscored the progress being made in moving money from FIFA’s Zurich headquarters out to the associations:

“[I]nstead of the $250,000 per year that you are receiving only in 2015 – so before my election in 2016 – today every association around the world receives $2 million a year as a minimum. … you can see the figures concretely, $8 million per association for the [four-year] cycle, plus $1.2 million for the travel and equipment contributions, $60 million for the confederations and $5 million for the zones or regional confederations.”

While nine European teams continue with plans to have their captains wear a multi-colored “OneLove” armband as a show of support for LGBTQ rights in Qatar, FIFA announced a social-messaging program in concert with UNESCO, the World Health Organization and world Food Programme.

Seven different messages will be promoted, one for each round of the tournament, starting with “#Football Unites The World” for the first set of group matches, with the slogans on captain’s armbands, on stadium scoreboards, on FIFA and United Nations digital platforms and elsewhere.

FIFA could issue fines to teams that wear armbands which are not approved.

The Qatar 2022 “Fan Leader” program, in which selected supporters from each participating country were provided with travel and accommodations at the World Cup, was slimmed down according to the TheGuardian.com. A message sent from the organizing committee included:

“Due to the recent developments in the media, we are keen to protect our visiting fans from the erroneous misinformed statements regarding ‘fans receiving payment for the trip’. Accordingly, the daily allowance will unfortunately no longer be issued. The allowance was intended as a small uplift on your own personal funds to assist with refreshments during your stay.”

3.
Banka re-elected as WADA President, Russia’s status in review

Poland’s Witold Banka and China’s Yang Yang were unanimously re-elected for their second (and final) three-year terms as President and Vice President of the World Anti-Doping Agency by the WADA Foundation Board, meeting in Montreal (CAN). Both will serve through the end of 2025.

The status of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency was a major feature of the Executive Committee and Foundation Board meetings, as the WADA sanctions – as modified by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2020 – will expire on 17 December 2020. Up next:

“WADA will launch a three-phase process. First, WADA Management will carefully assess whether RUSADA has met all the conditions of reinstatement as laid out in the CAS award. Second, once WADA Management considers that all conditions have been met, it will refer the matter to the independent Compliance Review Committee (CRC) for its review. Third, following that review, if the CRC agrees with WADA Management that the conditions have been met, it will make a recommendation to the ExCo for its consideration.”

So nothing is going to happen quickly, which Banka emphasized:

“Trust in Russia’s anti-doping system is still very low. They have a lot of work to do to rebuild that trust. RUSADA remains non-compliant. The process for reinstatement does not end on 17 December – in fact, the process only starts on that date. Through the three phases of that process, compliance will be robustly assessed. We will need to verify each and every one of the reinstatement conditions. Verify means verify – not simply accepting anyone’s word for it.”

The WADA budget is growing, slowly but surely. It spent a record $42.178 million in 2021 and projects budgets of $46.5 million, $50.2 million and $53.0 million for the next three years. WADA now has 153 staff (from 59 countries) spread among six offices, with 129 at the headquarters in Montreal.

4.
Russian minister signals interest in Griner prisoner trade

“I want to hope that the prospect not only remains but is being strengthened, and that the moment will come when we will get a concrete agreement.

“The Americans are showing some external activity, we are working professionally through a special channel designed for this. Viktor Bout is among those who are being discussed, and we certainly count on a positive result.”

That’s Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, quoted on Friday by Interfax, referring to arms dealer Bout, caught by the U.S. in 2008 and convicted in 2012. He could be swapped for Russian-held American prisoners Paul Whelan or two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner.

This is a much warmer attitude towards an exchange from Russia than previously seen; the U.S. State Department has repeatedly complained that no serious response to American offers has been made. State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel said, “The Russian government’s failure to seriously negotiate on these issues in the established channels, or any other channel for that matter, runs counter to its public statements. Ultimately, here, actions speak louder than words.”

5.
World decathlon leader Scantling banned for three years

On 6-7 May this year, American Garrett Scantling, now 29, won the USA Track & Field national decathlon championship with a world-leading score of 8,867, moving him to no. 7 on the all-time list, and no. 3 all-time U.S.

He disappeared from competition after that, and now we know why.

Scantling has been suspended for three years, until 27 June 2025, meaning he will miss the 2023 World Championships and the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. According to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency:

“Within a 12-month period, Scantling accrued three Whereabouts Failures, the first on August 25, 2021; the second on January 24, 2022; and the third on April 9, 2022. Scantling was successfully tested nine times between his first Whereabouts Failure and his provisional suspension.

“The accumulation of three Whereabouts Failures within a 12-month period constitutes a rule violation under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee National Anti-Doping Policy, and the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules, all of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code.

“During an investigation into his third potential Whereabouts Failure, Scantling also provided an altered email in defense of his third Whereabouts Failure, constituting a Tampering violation.”

Scantling was disqualified for all competitions after 27 June 2022, so his world-leading mark for 2022 will stand.

The sanction for a whereabouts failure is normally four years, but Scantling admitted the violation and accepted the sanction and received a one-year reduction. Scantling finished fourth in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic decathlon, but won’t have a shot at a worldwide medal until 2025 at the earliest.

≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡

After all the shouting off the field, the opening match was played on Sunday, with host country Qatar looking lost throughout most of the first half and losing to Ecuador, 2-0, in Group A.

Ecuador, which finished fourth in the South American qualification tournament, was the aggressor from the start and got a goal in the third minute from striker Enner Valencia that was ruled offsides on a video review using a high-tech system that showed forward Michael Estrada’s right foot to be ahead of the play.

No matter, as Valencia was submarined by Qatari keeper Saad Al-Sheeb in the 15th minute for a penalty and Valencia calmly rolled the ball to the right side of the goal as Al-Sheeb went the other way in the 16th minute.

Valencia scored again with a brilliant header in the 31st minute off a cross from Angelo Preciado to the far side of the Qatar goal, for a 2-0 edge that looked like – and was – insurmountable.

Qatar showed glimpses of promise, with forward Almoez Ali missing a header that could have been a score in stoppage time at the end of the half, and a shot that went over the bar from substitute striker Mohammed Muntari in the 86th minute. But they rarely threatened.

Ecuador ended with 54% of possession, but it seemed to be much more than that. Ecuador was credited with six shots and three on goal, to five for Qatar, of which none were on goal.

The tournament gets fully underway on Monday, with three games, including the U.S. and Wales; all games are shown in the U.S. on FOX or FS1 in English and Telemundo in Spanish.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Gymnastics ● The 36th FIG World Trampoline Championships concluded on Saturday in Sofia (BUL), with a startling end to China’s dominance of the men’s Trampoline competitoin.

The Chinese had won 11 individual titles in a row and had defending champion Langyu Yan back at the top of a three-man entry in Sofia. But none got out of the second qualification round and made it to the final. That opened the door for Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist Dylan Schmidt of New Zealand, who won at 60.720, well ahead of France’s European Champion Allan Morante (58.710) and Yamato Ishikawa (JPN: 58.480).

Japan’s Hikaru Mori won the women’s title for the second time – also in 2019 – scoring 56.230. Defending champ Bryony Page (GBR) took the silver (55.950) and China’s Yicheng Hu (55.810) won her first Worlds medal in third. American Jessica Stevens (54.860) was sixth.

Portugal won the men’s Team title over France, and Americans Ruben Padilla and Tomas Minc went 1-3 in the Double Mini final, with Padilla moving up from silver in 2019. Spain won the men’s Double Mini team with the U.S. third.

China won the women’s Team title over Great Britain, and New Zealand’s Bronwyn Dibb won the Double Mini event over American Tristan van Natta, with Australia taking the Double Mini Team event over the U.S.

● Taekwondo ● The 25th World Taekwondo Championships – the first since 2019 – were held in Guadalajara, Mexico, with three wins for the home team and an American gold in the women’s division.

Mexico claimed world titles from men’s Heavyweight (+87 kg) Carlos Sansores, moving up from his 2019 silver; from Daniela Souza in the women’s Flyweight (49 kg) and in the women’s Welterweight class from Leslie Soltero (67 kg).

The U.S. for a win from Makayla Greenwood at 53 kg (Bantamweight), defeating China’s Ju Zuo in the final by two rounds to one.

China scored two wins, from Yushuai Liang in the men’s Bantamweight (63 kg) class and Zongshi Luo in the women’s Featherweight (57 kg) division. South Korea got men’s wins from Do-yun Kwon in the 68 kg Featherweight class (defeating Britain’s Olympic silver winner Bradly Sinden), and by Woo-hyeok Park in the 80 kg Welterweight division.

Serbian fighters won both Middleweight divisions! Nadica Bozanic took the women’s 73 kg title, defeating defending World Champion Da-bin Lee (KOR) in the final, and Mehdi Khodabakhski took the men’s 87 kg class.

The other men’s winners included Omar Salim (HUN: 54 kg), Daniel Quesada (ESP: 74 kg) and Tokyo Olympic champ Vito Dell’Aquila of Italy at 58 kg.

Belgium’s Sarah Chaari won the women’s Lightweight (62 kg) class to add to her World Junior title won earlier this year, and Svetlana Osipova won the Heavyweight (+73 kg) division for her first Worlds medal. Croatia’s Lena Stojkovic took the 46 kg “Finweight” title.

Mexico (3-1-2) and China (2-3-1) each won six medals for top honors, followed by South Korea, Serbia and Spain with five each. The U.S. had only the gold-medal performance from Greenwood.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● The Commission on the State of the U.S. Olympics and Paralympics is moving forward, slowly. University of Baltimore law professor Dionne Koller said in an e-mail message:

“Members of the Commission have been sworn in and [co-chair Han Xiao] and I continue to work with relevant government agencies on essential infrastructure that will support our charge. We have a meeting scheduled in December, and once the Commission is ready and able to solicit public comments, we will issue notices and spread the word.”

The Commission was to have finished its work prior to last year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, but has been delayed. House Bill 8309 was introduced in July to amend the Commission’s end date to “Not later than September 30, 2023.” The bill was referred to the House Judiciary Committee, but has not been acted on yet.

● Alpine Skiing ● A new season, but more record-setting wins for American superstar Mikaela Shiffrin at the iconic annual Slalom program at Levi (FIN), where the “prize” is a reindeer!

Actually, all the winner gets to do is to name a reindeer from the Ounaskievari Reindeer Farm, but it’s a great promotion for the Levi area, up close to the Arctic Circle.

On Saturday, Shiffrin was third after the first run, but poured on the speed on the second run to win with a combined time of 1:51.25, ahead of Anna Larsson (SWE: 1:51.41) and Beijing Olympic champ Petra Vlhova (SVK).

On Sunday, Shiffrin had the fastest first run and confirmed her status with the quickest second run to finish at 1:52.21, just 0.28 seconds ahead of five-time Olympic medalist Wendy Holdener (SUI: 1:52.49) and Vlhova (1:52.89).

The two wins in Levi give Shiffrin’s 76 career World Cup wins, now six behind fellow American Lindsey Vonn (82) for the most wins ever on the women’s side, and her 49th in Slalom, the most by anyone in a single event.

Shiffrin’s wins also passed Vlhova, at six reindeer to five! Shiffrin’s previous wins came in 2013 (and a reindeer she named “Rudolph”), 2016 (“Sven”), 2018 (“Mr. Gru”) and 2019 (“Ingemar”). She named her first reindeer of 2022 “Sunny” in honor of U.S. teammate Ava Sunshine’s World Cup debut and Sunday’s reindeer was named “Lorax” in honor of her late father.

● Archery ● The 2022-23 World Archery Indoor (18 m) World Cup series opened in Strassen (LUX) with the GT Open, with France’s Florent Mulot winning the men’s Recurve title over Sachin Gupta (IND) by 6-0 in the final, and Tokyo Mixed Team silver medalist Gaby Schloesser (NED) taking the women’s victory in a 7-1 final over France’s Jennifer Devaux.

● Basketball ● With wins at the 2019 FIBA World Cup and the 2022 EuroBasket, Spain took over the no. 1 spot in the FIBA men’s World Rankings from the U.S.

The rankings are based on a points accumulation over several years and with the U.S. making only the quarterfinals in the 2019 World Cup, Spain earned the top spot with 758.6 to 757.5 for the American men. Australia is third at 740.3. The U.S. had been ranked no. 1 since 2010.

● Bobsled ● Sochi 2014 bronze medalist Aja Evans, who rode with Jamie Greubel, was suspended for two years by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for failing to take a doping test last March.

Evans, 35, “failed to submit to sample collection after being notified by a USADA doping control officer during an out-of-competition test on March 29, 2022.” The penalty is usually four years, but USADA reported that the missed test was due to negligence and not intentional. Her sanction period will end on 8 November 2024, so she could compete for a spot at the 2026 Winter Games if she wants to,

● Figure Skating ● The fifth of seven legs of the ISU Grand Prix was in Sapporo (JPN) for the annual NHK Trophy, with the host country winning two events and grabbing five medals in all.

Reigning World Champion Shoma Uno won the men’s title, scoring 279.76 points and coming up from second to win the Free Skate and his third NHK Trophy victory. Teammate and Short Program leader Sota Yamamoto was second at 257.85 and Junhwan Cha (KOR: 254.76) was third.

Japan’s Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara were decisive winners in Pairs, piling up 216.16 points to finish well ahead of Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe of the U.S. (187.49).

Ye-lim Kim (KOR) took her first Grand Prix title with a 204.49-201.87 win over Japan’s current World Champion, Kaori Sakamoto. Rion Sumiyoshi (JPN) was third (193.12) and American Audrey Shin (189.00) was fourth. The Ice Dance title went to first-time Grand Prix winners Canada’s Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Soerensen (210.41) in an upset ahead of American stars Madison Chock and Evans Bates (209.13) and third-placers Caroline Green and Michael Parsons (191.10).

The Grand Prix ”regular season” concludes next week in Espoo (FIN), with the Grand Prix Final in Turin (ITA) on 8-11 December.

● Freestyle Skiing ● The first FIS World Cup in Slopestyle was held on Saturday in Stubai (AUT), with Norwegian star Birk Ruud once again on top of the podium.

Olympic Big Air champ Ruud scored 88.96 on his first run and no one could catch him. Swiss Andri Ragettli – the 2021 World Champion in the event – chased hardest, scoring 87.38 in round two, but had to settle for silver. Americans Colby Stevenson (the Worlds silver winner in 2021) and Alex Hall ended up 3-4 at 85.68 and 83.71.

Norway’s Johanne Killi scored her fourth career World Cup win in the women’s division, scoring 81.24 on her first run. That was enough to beat Estonia’s Beijing bronze medalist Kelly Sildaru (78.22) and American Grace Henderson (76.58), who won her first World Cup medal, at age 21.

● Ice Hockey ● The 2022-23 Rivalry Series between the U.S. and Canadian women’s teams – the best in the world – got off to a loud start this week with three games and good results for the U.S.

Coming off a silver-medal performance at the Beijing Winter Games, the U.S. women won the opened on 15 November with a 4-3 shoot-out win in Kolowna, British Columbia, and then grabbed a 2-1 win on the 17th in Kamloops, B.C.

Hannah Brandt, Hilary Knight and Alex Carpenter scored for the U.S. in regulation time in the first game and Kendall Coyne Schofield and Carpenter scored in the second game, with Maddie Rooney in goal.

On Sunday in Seattle, the biggest crowd in USA Hockey women’s national team history for a home game – 14,551 – turned out to see a 4-2 American win. The game was 1-1 after the first, but the Abby Roque for a power-play goal early in the second, followed by a Knight score for a 3-1 lead, cut to 3-2 at the end of the period. Knight got a power-play goal with 12:23 to play in the game to make the final, 4-2. It’s the first time since 2019 that the American women have won three straight over Canada.

There are two more games in the series, coming on 15 December (in Las Vegas) and 19 December (in Los Angeles).

● Speed Skating ● The second stage of the ISU World Cup was in one of the sport’s most popular venues, The Thialf in Heerenveen (NED), with Dutch skaters leading the way with six wins.

Winter Olympic triple gold medalist Irene Schouten scored wins in the women’s 3,000 m (3:54.04) and Mass Start (8:30.34), two of the event she won in Beijing last February. Olympic 1,500 m bronze medalist Antoinette Rijpma (nee de Jong) won this time in 1:53.73, ahead of Olympic silver winner Miho Takagi (JPN: 1:52.92). Beijing silver medalist Jutta Leerdam (NED) won the 1,000 m over Beijing winner Takagi, 1:13.77 to 1:13.92, with American Kimi Goetz seventh in 1:15.14. The only women’s event not won by the Dutch was the 500 m, with Korea’s Min-sun Kim taking it in 37.21, with American Olympic champ Erin Jackson fourth (37.53) and Goetz eighth (37.84).

Dutch men won the distances, with Beijing runner-up Patrick Roest taking the 5,000 m in 6:04.36 and Bart Hoolwerf winning the Mass Start in 7:39.12. Canada scored wins from Laurent Dubreuil in the 500 m (34.34) and Connor Howe in the 1,500 m (1:43.38), with Howe beating Olympic champ Kjeld Nuis (NED: 1:43.64). China’s Zhongyan Ning took the 1,000 m in 1:07.86.

American teen star Jordan Stolz crashed out after 200 m in his first event, the men’s 1,000 m, then placed fourth in the 500 m (34.70) and ninth in the 1,500 m in 1:44.27. Stolz had been the sensation of the season opener in Norway, winning the 1,000 m and 1,500 m, but Nuis cautioned against loading too much on the 18-year-old too soon:

“Everybody is referring to him as the new [1980 Olympic legend] Eric Heiden, but he’ll have his setbacks too. Today he barely gets further than 200 m. It’s not like he’s just going to skate a track record here easily.

“It’s great that America has someone who can skate in the spotlight again, but leave the [bull] out and just let him skate his races, let him grow and he’ll be great for the future of skating.”

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LANE ONE: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast” as Qatar government bans in-stadia beer sales two days before FIFA World Cup opens

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

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Li Li Leung, the USA Gymnastics chief executive hired to lead the federation out of its sexual abuse mess, told 300 people in early November at the “Safe Sport Journey Symposium” co-sponsored by the International Gymnastics Federation, that “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”

She turned out to be a prophet … for the FIFA World Cup.

The football world, and Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy of the 2022 FIFA World Cup found that out on Friday with the stunning announcement that although planned and promised, beer would not be sold to spectators at any of the eight World Cup stadiums for the tournament which starts on Sunday (20th).

FIFA’s announcement was, appropriately, sober:

“Following discussions between host country authorities and FIFA, a decision has been made to focus the sale of alcoholic beverages on the FIFA Fan Festival, other fan destinations and licensed venues, removing sales points of beer from Qatar’s FIFA World Cup 2022 stadium perimeters.

“There is no impact to the sale of [non-alcoholic] Bud Zero which will remain available at all Qatar’s World Cup stadiums.

“Host country authorities and FIFA will continue to ensure that the stadiums and surrounding areas provide an enjoyable, respectful and pleasant experience for all fans.

“The tournament organisers appreciate AB InBev’s understanding and continuous support to our joint commitment to cater for everyone during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.”

Belgian-based AB InBev told Agence France Presse:

“[W]e look forward to our activations of FIFA World Cup campaigns around the world to celebrate football with our consumers. Some of the planned stadium activations cannot move forward due to circumstances beyond our control.”

A quickly-deleted tweet from Budweiser simply said, “Well, this is awkward …”

In late October, Budweiser – which first became a FIFA sponsor in 1985 – proudly outlined its FIFA World Cup programming, with “its biggest campaign yet, with activations taking place in more than 70 markets and at 1.2 million pubs, restaurants and retail outlets worldwide” and emphasizing:

“Because this is the first time the tournament is being held in the Middle East and in a country that restricts public consumption of alcohol, AB InBev and Budweiser teams have been working closely with FIFA to ensure that local customs are respected while fans of legal drinking age enjoy their beers. …

“Our largest Smart Drinking initiative is ‘social norms’ marketing, where we tap into the emotional connections people have with our brands to help influence positive behaviors and reduce harmful drinking. For the FIFA World Cup, we are launching ‘Drink Wiser, Cheer Better’, a marketing campaign that encourages fans to alternate regular beers with no-alcohol ones or water, eat before and while drinking, and plan for a safe ride home.”

It appears that the beer ban came in stages, as it was reported on Monday (14th) that the dozens of Budweiser sale tents inside the eight World Cup stadiums had been ordered to be re-located to less prominent locations.

Then came Friday’s ban on sales to spectators at all eight stadia, although beer, wine and spirits will still be available within stadium hospitality suites and at fan festival areas, as well as hotels and other normally-licensed premises in Qatar. The British newspaper The Sun reported:

“It is understood that Qatar’s ruling Royal Family has demanded the U-turn, with growing resentment against attempts to force through a more cosmopolitan approach to the tournament.”

A statement from the English Football Supporters’ Association included:

“Some fans like a beer at a game and some don’t. But the real issue is the last minute U-turn which speaks to a wider problem – the total lack of communication and clarity from the organising committee towards supporters.

“If they can change their minds on this at a moment’s notice, with no explanation, supporters will have understandable concerns about whether they will fulfil other promises relating to accommodation, transport or cultural issues.”

And promises broken is the issue, although the Supporters’ angst is misdirected: it appears clear that the Qatar government that banned beer and not the World Cup organizers, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy.

In an interview with Sky News in October, Supreme Committee chief executive Nasser Al Khater asked for fans coming to the tournament “to be respectful of the culture” and regarding beer:

“Alcohol is available in Qatar. It’s more limited than perhaps in other countries in the world, whether it’s in Europe or the U.S. or other countries in eastern Europe and the East, but it will be more available in designated zones in Qatar, and here we are today, we have it in designated zones as we promised from day one.”

Not quite as promised now.

Having worked in and with organizing committees at more than a dozen events, including Olympic Games, Pan American Games, World University Games, two FIFA World Cups and many other events, I feel badly for Al Khater and his colleagues. They organized the tournament as they have promised, assured everyone that visitors would find a warm welcome in Qatar and the facilities and services they are used to at international mega-events.

The beer ban, along with the harassment of the TV2 Denmark crew while reporting live next to a public street on Tuesday, threatens to undo a decade of hard work and billions of Qatari Rials spent on construction, organization and preparation as the smallest country – about 2.9 million – to ever host an event of the scale of the FIFA World Cup.

TV2 Denmark correspondent Rasmus Tantholdt said after his incident, “Maybe it’s a kind of misunderstanding, but to me, also shows how Qatar is when there’s not a World Cup going on. Because, obviously, that is what those security guards has been told to do under normal circumstances. Now we have a World Cup going on, and maybe they have been told to behave in another way, and maybe not.”

The organizing committee apparently did not instigate the beer ban, and it did not ask the Danish TV crew to stop filming, but it said repeatedly that such issues would not arise. But they have.

What will hurt the most in the long term is not that beer is not being sold in stadiums, but that it was promised and not delivered. Qatar’s credibility as a business partner – an issue with implications well beyond sports – is what is now on the line.

There will eventually be discussions between FIFA and AB InBev about how the beer ban and its associated publicity will impact the brewer’s sponsorship. Al Khater and the organizers are no doubt trying to determine if there are other surprises coming their way from their own government.

And FIFA, like the International Olympic Committee and other mega-event owners, know that as events get closer, they have less and less control over what happens on the ground, because it’s too late to go anywhere else.

Qatar got the FIFA World Cup to advance its worldwide standing. That strategy, on the eve of the tournament, may be swallowed by the cultural edicts of its government. Let’s hope the tournament’s 64 matches are not somehow similarly impacted.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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TSX REPORT: Qatar World Cup finally starts on Sunday, with Brazil favored; FIFA launching “social media protection service”; Griner moved to penal colony

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Long-anticipated FIFA World Cup in Qatar opens on Sunday
2. FIFA and FIFPRO to activate “social media protection service” at World Cup
3. AB InBev unveils massive influencer campaign for Qatar 2022
4. Griner moved to penal colony southeast of Moscow
5. NCAA to examine allowing summer basketball games

The much-discussed 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar starts on Sunday with Qatar playing Ecuador and will run to 18 December, with Brazil – as usual – the favorite. Will Europe dominate like it did in 2018? With the tournament in November and December, how will U.S. television viewership fare against college football and the NFL? FIFA and FIFPRO, the professional players association, announced an intriguing “social media protection service” offered to all players at the World Cup, to moderate nasty social-media messaging on multiple platforms. While the Qatar organizers have created a controversial “Fan Leader” program to ensure social-media support, Budweiser unveiled an extensive influencer program of its own, from multiple countries, to promote its association with the event. American basketball star Brittney Griner was moved to a penal colony just more than 300 miles southeast of Moscow to serve her “drug smuggling” sentence, according to her Russian lawyers. The NCAA Division I Council has created two working groups to explore the possibilities for a modest summer season for men’s and women’s college basketball teams, a development which could, eventually, have a substantial impact on the World University Games.

1.
Long-anticipated FIFA World Cup in Qatar opens on Sunday

After all the construction, qualifying matches and protests, it’s here. The 2022 FIFA World Cup will open on Sunday in Qatar with the host country facing Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor at 11 a.m. Eastern time.

Almost all of the three million tickets have been sold and the tournament will go through a busy group stage to narrow 32 teams down to 16 by 2 December, with the playoffs beginning on 3 December and the final on 18 December.

While the discussions and protests continue, some football will actually be played, with familiar favorites at the top of the predictions. Current odds on the eventual winner, with their FIFA world rankings:

● 4-1: Brazil (1)
● 11-2: Argentina (3)
● 15-2: France (4; defending champion)
● 9-1: Spain (7)
● 19-2: England (5)
● 12-1: Germany (11)
● 14-1: Netherlands (8)
● 17-1: Portugal (9) /8/
● 19-1: Belgium (2)
● 33-1: Denmark (10)
● 51-1: Uruguay (14)
● 66-1: Croatia (12)
● 125-1: Serbia (21)
● 130-1: Switzerland (15)
● 175-1: Senegal (18)
● 209-1: Mexico (13) /16/
● 239-1: United States (16)
● 250-1: Poland (26)
● 275-1: Ecuador (44)
● 300-1: Morocco (22) and Wales (19)
● 425-1: Japan (24)
● 500-1: Ghana (61) and Canada (41)
● 550-1: Cameroon (43), South Korea (28), Iran (20)
● 750-1: Qatar (50) and Australia (38)
● 900-1: Saudi Arabia (51) and Tunisia (30)
● 1,000-1: Costa Rica (31)

A World Cup simulation from Nielsen had Brazil defeating Argentina in one semifinal and Belgium defeating France in the other, with the Brazilians winning the final. But, who really knows?

One element to watch is the continental balance. The most recent World Cups have been dominated by Europe, especially in 2018, where six of the eight quarterfinal teams were from Europe, plus Brazil. The recent history of advancement to the playoffs and quarterfinals:

Round of 16:
● 2002: 9 Europe, 2 South America-CONCACAF-Asia, 1 Africa
● 2006: 10 Europe, 3 South America, 1 CONCACAF-Asia-Oceania
● 2010: 6 Europe, 5 South America, 2 CONCACAF, 2 Asia, 1 Africa
● 2014: 6 Europe, 5 South America, 3 CONCACAF, 2 Africa
● 2018: 10 Europe, 4 South America, 1 Asia, 1 CONCACAF

Quarterfinals:
● 2002: 4 Europe, 1 South America-CONCACAF-Asia-Africa
● 2006: 6 Europe, 2 South America
● 2010: 4 South America, 3 Europe, 1 Africa
● 2014: 4 Europe, 3 South America, 1 CONCACAF
● 2018: 6 Europe, 2 South America

In the World Cups played in Europe in this century (2006 and 2018), European teams have taken 62.5% of the Round of 16 places and 75% of the quarterfinal spots. But for 2002 (Japan-Korea), 2010 (South Africa) and 2014 (Brazil), the European share was “only” 43.8% in the round of 16 and 50% in the quarterfinals.

In terms of participation in 2022, Europe (UEFA) has 13 of the 32 teams (40.6%), Asia has six (18.8%), Africa has five (15.6%) and CONCACAF and South America have four each (12.5%).

In the U.S., FOX Sports has exclusive English-language rights (with the games on FOX and FS1) and Comcast’s Telemundo has the Spanish-language rights.

(TheSportsExaminer.com will be closely following the performance of the continents against each other, as well as the U.S. television ratings of World Cup matches, especially in head-to-head timeframes against college football and the NFL.)

2.
FIFA and FIFPRO to activate “social media protection service”
at World Cup

Fans of Association Football – as soccer is formally known – unfailingly speak about the passion that the game generates, from players and fans. That can lead to some nasty comments on social-media platforms and so FIFA and FIFPRO (the professional players association) announced a “social media protection service” for players who want to use it at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The service is described as:

● “Through SMPS, all players from all 32 participating member associations at the FIFA World Cup will have access to a dedicated monitoring, reporting and moderation service designed to minimise visibility of hate speech aimed at them on social media and, therefore, protecting both players and their fans from online abuse during the tournament.”

● “FIFA is monitoring the social media accounts of all participants at the FIFA World Cup by scanning for public-facing abusive, discriminatory and threatening comments and then reporting them to social networks and law authorities for real-world action against those who break rules.

“Teams, players and other individual participants will also be able to opt-in to a moderation service that will instantly hide abusive and offensive comments on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, preventing them from being seen by the recipient and their followers.”

It’s worth noting that Twitter is not included on the moderation service.

This is a potentially critical service and, if considered widely successful, could herald adoption in other sports, to guard against abusive comments on popular platforms.

3.
AB InBev unveils massive influencer campaign for Qatar 2022

Much has been made of the “Fan Leader” campaign launched by the Qatar 2022 organizing committee, to bring a small number of fans from each participating team to the World Cup in exchange for their support on social media.

But the hosts are not the only ones on the influencer bandwagon, as AB InBev’s Budweiser brand – a long-time World Cup sponsor – will have its own team of about 100 influencers, from multiple countries at the event. MarketingDive.com reported:

“This year the brand has opted for an influencer-heavy activation that will put participating influencers in a music video for ‘The World is Yours To Take’ by Lil Baby as well as having them participate in events at the Budweiser Hotel.”

Budweiser said many of its influencer team is from the music field, such as “Tarryn and Clairise (TxC), a South African DJ duo with more than 100,000 Instagram followers.”

The influencer project expands the beer giant’s heavy promotional push of its World Cup association, already having done contests such as a scavenger hunt (using QR codes for items found), commemorative cans with a QR code as an entry for raffle prizes and a video spot with stars Lionel Messi (ARG), Neymar Jr. (BRA) and Raheem Sterling (ENG) that played in 70 countries.

4.
Griner moved to penal colony southeast of Moscow

Reports indicate that two-time Olympic gold medal winner Brittney Griner of the U.S. has been moved to a Russian penal colony in Yavas, in the Mordovia region, about 306 miles southeast of Moscow.

CNN reported a statement from Griner’s Russian lawyers, Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov, which included:

“First, on behalf of Brittney, we would like to thank everyone who has expressed care for her. We can confirm that Brittney began serving her sentence at IK-2 in Mordovia.

“We visited her early this week. Brittney is doing as well as could be expected and trying to stay strong as she adapts to a new environment. Considering that this is a very challenging period for her, there will be no further comments from us.”

The U.S. State Department complained that “the Russian Federation has still failed to provide any official notification for such a move of a U.S. citizen, which we strongly protest. The Embassy has continued to press for more information about her transfer and current location.”

American Paul Whelan is also being held in the Mordovia region, but in a different facility.

Winters in Yavas are extremely cold, with average highs in November and December going from 29 F to 20 F and from 17 F to about 30 F from January to March. Average lows from from about 20 F down to 3 F, in February.

5.
NCAA to examine allowing summer basketball games

In what could be the start of a radical shift in major-college men’s and women’s basketball that could have international implications, the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division Council has formed working groups to examine summer basketball play:

“Many believe the initiative can provide a positive summer competition experience for student-athletes and can showcase the sport at a time of year other than during the traditional season.

“The working groups also will examine the overall landscape in college basketball during the summer period and may identify other opportunities to elevate the sport during the offseason.

“Both working groups will begin meeting next month with the goal of providing recommendations to the oversight committees by June.”

The earliest possible time that such games could commence would be the summer of 2024. Notable members of the men’s working group include University of Kentucky coach John Calipari and Ed Cooley from Providence; the women’s working group include Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer and North Carolina coach Carole Banghart.

Calipari, in an interview with The Athletic, said he has been campaigning to allow 2-3 games between Division I schools as exhibitions in July and/or August each year, in arenas and televised:

“I’ve been pushing for five years now that we need to be doing stuff in the summer to bring light to college basketball, like spring football, except we’re playing games. And now it’s catching on, like OK, maybe we do need to do this.”

Observed: This is a potentially important development which could have a direct impact on the World University Games. Instead of the current requirement by the International University Sports Federation (FISU) for national teams in the Universiade, a change by the NCAA and a corresponding change in the FISU rules to allow actual university teams to compete based on the location of the school, you could see Kentucky play Russia’s Moscow State University.

Or UCLA against Shanghai’s Fudan University, or Kansas vs. Montreal’s McGill University, and so on. It wouldn’t work for all countries, but it would for many.

This would, over time, be a game-changer for the World University Games, which struggles to have its team sports taken seriously as spectator attractions when limited to national teams that are aggregations of players in each country who barely know each other. The opportunity to involve major university “brands” in the University Games would increase its value immensely and not only in the U.S.

Imagine if the FISU were to agree to this as part of an agreement with the North Carolina bid group for a 2029 World University Games, with the idea of seeing teams from North Carolina, North Carolina State, Duke and others in competition with foreign schools? The NCAA’s move toward possible summer competitions in basketball makes such concepts possible, but only for basketball, but for other team sports as well.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Winter Games 2022: Beijing ● Three activists who protested the Beijing 2022 Winter Games at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece in October 2021, were acquitted by a Greek court on Thursday.

Reuters reported that Tibetan student Tsela Zoksang, 19, Hong Kongese-American Joey Siu, 22, and a 35-year old Vietnamese-American activist were cleared of “attempting to pollute, damage, and distort a historical monument.” They unfurled a Tibetan flag and a banner with the words ‘Free Hong Kong – Revolution,’ a day before the Olympic Flame transfer ceremony was scheduled to take place at Olympia.

Three other activists who protested against the Beijing Games at the ancient Olympia site during the flame handover are scheduled for trial on 1 December.

● Athletics and Swimming ● The ambitious joint marketing effort undertaken by USA Swimming and USA Track & Field will use Pasadena, California-based One & All as its activation agency. Its task:

“One & All will be responsible for developing sponsorship marketing materials, programs and strategies for the joint sales effort. The company will help identify, solicit and/or engage prospective sponsors for USA Track & Field and USA Swimming and any or all its official rights, events and media opportunities. One & All will effort to engage prospective media and content partners as two of the strongest national federations in the world of Olympic sport embark on the path of transforming how sponsors engage with the country’s premier Olympic sports and superstars.”

● Diving ● American Olympic icon Greg Louganis is offering 58 personal items – mostly photographs and autographed memorabilia – on auction and two Olympic gold medals in a private sale on his Web site.

The auction and private medal sale began on 11 November and runs through 4 December, with his 1984 Los Angeles Olympic gold in the men’s 3 m Springboard and 1988 Seoul gold in the men’s 10 m Platform available, as well as his 1976 Montreal Olympic silver in the 10 m.

Louganis, now 62, won the 3 m and 10 m events in 1984 and 1988, as well the 1976 Montreal silver. He would likely have won both events in 1980 at Moscow as well, but did not compete due to the U.S. boycott. He has already given away his 1984 Olympic 10 m gold and 1988 Olympic 3 m gold already, and may sell the others if an appropriate price is offered.

● Football ● FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) was the only nomination received and will run unopposed for re-election at the 73rd FIFA Congress in Kigali, Rwanda on 16 March 2023.

● Volleyball ● The “Pro Volleyball Federation” announced its formation, expecting to play in February 2024 with an 8-10 team league, each with 14 players and a total of 16 matches. Players are to be paid $60-100,000 in base salary.

This is the third professional women’s volleyball project in the U.S., with Athletes United’s volleyball program and League One Volleyball (LOVB) both established in 2020.

These are separate from the FIVB’s Nations League program for national teams.

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TSX REPORT: IPC suspends Russia and Belarus; Russian officials cheer Bach’s G20 comments; Danish reporter stopped during live report in Qatar

By
Rich Perelman
-
The International Paralympic Olympic Committee meeting in special session on Wednesday. (Photo: IPC)

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

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. IPC votes to suspend Russia and Belarus as members
2. Russia fully in support of Bach’s remarks to G-20 Summit
3. Denmark broadcaster accosted while on-air in Qatar
4. Paris 2024’s “Les Phryges” mascots already a hot topic
5. USATF names Lyles and McLaughlin-Levrone as Athletes of the Year

The International Paralympic Committee General Assembly voted in special session on Wednesday to suspend the Russian and Belarusian National Paralympic Committees over the war against Ukraine. This is a step further than the International Olympic Committee has taken, which has asked for an athlete ban, but not on their National Olympic Committees. While furious over the Paralympic ban, Russian officials were mostly happy with IOC President Thomas Bach’s comments to the G20 Summit that sport should be free of politics, with athletes allowed to compete “even and especially if their countries are in confrontation or at war.” But the Russian Deputy Prime Minister dismissed the remarks as part of a “game.” A Danish television correspondent was asked to stop broadcasting during the middle of a live shot by security officials from Doha, Qatar, just days before the FIFA World Cup starts on Sunday. The crew was later allowed to continue, but the incident resulted in the tournament organizing committee issuing a directive “to respect the filming permits in place for the tournament.” The Paris 2024 “Les Phryges” mascots are getting plenty of attention, with the French ecology minister upset that most of the mascot toys will be made in China. USA Track & Field announced its annual award winners, with World Champions Noah Lyles (200 m) and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (400 m hurdles) taking athlete of the year honors.

1.
IPC votes to suspend Russia and Belarus as members

The International Paralympic Committee voted Wednesday during an Extraordinary General Assembly to suspend the National Paralympic Committees in Russia and Belarus in view of the continuing war in Ukraine.

The vote on the Russian suspension was 64 in favor, 39 against, and 16 abstentions; the IPC statement included:

“The decision by IPC members to suspend NPC Russia and NPC Belarus stems from their inability to comply with their membership obligations under the IPC Constitution. This includes the obligations to ‘ensure that, in Para sport within the Paralympic Movement, the spirit of fair play prevails, the safety and health of the athletes are protected, and fundamental ethical principles are upheld’ and ‘not to do anything (by act or omission) that is contrary to the purpose or objects of the IPC and/or that risks bringing the IPC, the Paralympic Movement, or Para sport into disrepute’. …

“Due to their suspension, NPC Russia and NPC Belarus lose all rights and privileges of IPC membership, in accordance with the IPC Constitution.

“Both NPC Russia and NPC Belarus now have the right to appeal the decision. Should any appeal not be upheld then only the General Assembly can revoke the suspension. The next IPC General Assembly is due to take place in the final quarter of 2023 at a venue yet to be confirmed.”

The vote on the suspension of Belarus was 54-45, with 18 abstentions.

The IPC’s vote is significant because it differs from the position of the International Olympic Committee, which has asked that Russian and Belarusian athletes not be allowed to compete, but has not suspended the National Olympic Committees of either Russia or Belarus.

The President of the Russian Paralympic Committee, Pavel Rozkhov, decried the decision (DeepL.com translation):

“The Russian Paralympic Committee believes that the decision to suspend all membership rights of the RPC is illegal, unreasonable, lacks any legal basis and grossly violates the entire IPC regulatory framework.

“As the grounds for its decision the IPC referred to the violation by the RPC of the obligations on membership established by the IPC Charter, as well as violation by the RPC of the Olympic Truce. Meanwhile, the IPC has not provided any evidence that the RPC has violated even one of its membership obligations in accordance with the provisions of the IPC Charter. All the IPC allegations in this regard are absolutely unfounded.”

He added:

“The RPC intends to appeal to a wide international public and organizations, including with an open letter to the U.N., the IOC and international non-governmental human rights organizations for the disabled to call on the IPC to prevent discrimination of Russian athletes with disabilities on national grounds and infringement of their right to participate in international sports competitions and Paralympic Games through suspension of all membership rights of the RPC in the IPC.”

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

“This is an inhumane and criminal decision. Monuments should be placed to these people [Paralympic athletes], they should be helped in everything. Such decisions simply deprive our athletes of their right to life, forbidding them to do what they love. Of course, this decision should be challenged in court.”

2.
Russia fully in support of Bach’s remarks to G20 summit

Russian officials cheered the remarks by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER) to the G20 Summit in Indonesia on Tuesday, as he again asked for governments to stay out of sport:

“[I]n contrast to the far too many other wars and conflicts in our world, regarding this war some governments started to decide which athletes would be allowed to participate in international sports competitions – and which not.

“They did and they do so purely on political grounds, They want to decide which athletes can now qualify and finally compete at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. If sport becomes – in this way – just another tool to achieve political goals, international sport will fall apart …

“Olympic sport needs the participation of all athletes who accept the rules, even and especially if their countries are in confrontation or at war. A competition between athletes from only like-minded states is not a credible symbol of peace.”

Russian sports minister Oleg Matytsin told TASS:

“The President is setting an example for us. This is a time of opportunity, a time of overcoming, a time of strengthening our national system and a time to show once again that world sport cannot exist without Russia. Bach’s speech confirms this once again.

“Let’s hope that world leaders and international federations will listen to Bach’s speech.”

Russian Olympic Committee President Stanislav Pozdnyakov told TASS:

“For the first time since the end of February this year, the statement of the head of the International Olympic Committee was strictly in accordance with the Olympic Charter. Now it is very important that the verbal appeal of the head of the IOC to certain political circles of certain countries has practical meaning in the form of removing unfair recommendations that were imposed on Russian sports.

“I cannot give an assessment, but I reiterate the fact that in reality we are seeing for the first time since the end of February the speech of the head of the IOC with strict compliance with the Olympic Charter.”

Vitaly Smirnov, a Soviet and then Russian member of the IOC from 1971-2015 and now an honorary member, said:

“If we understood all the messages of Bach’s speech correctly, then we should treat it with great interest, let’s see how it will be treated in the world. But this is a real, correct approach, indeed, athletes should be able to participate in competitions, regardless of any political views and the current situation.

“I don’t like to guess what will happen next, life sometimes unfolds in such a way that it is very difficult to correctly predict the outcome. I think that everything is interconnected, and people are well aware of the fact that sport suffers without full-fledged competition: what is sport without our synchronized swimmers, figure skaters and rhythmic gymnasts?”

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, however, was not impressed:

“Russian rhetoric from Bach’s mouth is not an epiphany; by his behind-the-scenes instructions, international federations are amending their charters, setting precedents for the subsequent exclusion of Russian sports federations.

“Bach’s speeches at the G20 are a double game and a banal attempt to put a good face on a bad game. As proof: the absence of the IOC proposals in the declaration of the G20 group.”

3.
Denmark broadcaster accosted while on-air in Qatar

Sometimes, not everyone gets the message. Danish reporter Rasmus Tantholdt was reporting live on TV2 from a ring road in Doha (QAT) on Tuesday in advance of the opening of the FIFA World Cup this weekend, when he was interfered with by security personnel.

Three men drove up to Tantholdt and cameraman Anders Bach during the on-air session back to Denmark. Said Tantholdt during the incident:

“[In Danish] Well, we can show the conditions right here if we turn the camera.

“[In English] We are live on Danish television; [in Danish] and as you can see they are trying to stop us from filming, and these are the conditions here.”

As a Qatar official put his hand over the camera lens, Tantholdt said in English, “Mister, you invited the whole world to come here. Why can’t we film? It’s a public place.”

“[Showing his accreditation] We can film with this permit, this is the upgrade pass and this is the accreditation. We can film anywhere we want.”

He was told he could not film by the security officers – whose comments were not intelligible on the video – and then reacted to instructions from a third official by saying to him, in English: “You can break the camera. You want to break it? You are threatening us by smashing the camera?”

The pair did finally complete their report after a half-hour wait, when a security supervisor confirmed that they could film as they wished. TV2 Denmark said on its Web site: “The team was bluntly told that if they didn’t stop filming, their cameras would be destroyed. This is despite the fact that TV2’s team has acquired the correct accreditations and reported from a public place.”

TV2 also reported that other media outlets have suffered interference, but Tantholdt said later, “I have received an apology from two organizations: Qatar International Media Office gave a written apology and Qatar’s Supreme Committee called.”

The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy – the organizing committee for the tournament – said in a statement: “Upon inspection of the crew’s valid tournament accreditation and filming permit, an apology was made to the broadcaster by on-site security before the crew resumed their activity” and said that it “issued an advisory to all entities to respect the filming permits in place for the tournament.”

Tantholdt said in a FootballTube interview afterwards, “Maybe it’s a kind of misunderstanding, but to me, also shows how Qatar is when there’s not a World Cup going on. Because, obviously, that is what those security guards has been told to do under normal circumstances. Now we have a World Cup going on, and maybe they have been told to behave in another way, and maybe not.”

4.
Paris 2024’s “Les Phryges” mascots already a hot topic

The iconic Irish poet and novelist Oscar Wilde wrote in 1910, “there is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.” It looks like the Paris 2024 mascots – Les Phryges, based on a cap that symbolizes freedom in France – won’t have that problem.

The Paris 2024 organizers posted the results of an instant online survey taken on Monday and Tuesday after the mascot announcement, 75% of respondents 18 and over liking the designs and 83% of children from 6-17 approving. Among the comments:

“[T]he French adults and children aged six to 17 surveyed suggested the Paris 2024 mascots are associated with positive values. They thought that they go well together (86% of French people, 92% among children), that they are easily recognisable (85% of French people and 86% of children), original (84% of French people and 88% of children) and that they look cute (80% of French people and 86% of children).”

That’s a good start on the path to sell a hoped-for two million Phryges toys, priced at €15 (~$15.59 U.S.) or more for the plush version.

But there are issues. Christophe Bechu, the French Minister for Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, told the FranceInfo radio program on Tuesday, “There is a problem,” with the manufacture of the plush Phryges toys being made in China.

“I want to believe that we still have a few months before the Olympics are held to be able to correct the subject. When we explain that we need short [production] circuits and to re-localize, we cannot end up with a production of mascots that is being made at the end of the world. When we defend the perspective of fighting against global warming, this means favoring what is made nearby.”

FrancsJeux.com reported:

“[T]he market for plush mascots has been awarded to two French companies, Gipsy and Doudou et Compagnie. They plan to manufacture around 8% of the Phrygian caps stamped Paris 2024 in France. The rest will come from China, where 75 to 80% of the toys sold in the world are produced today. Faced with such a virtual monopoly, it is difficult to ‘break the codes’.”

5.
USATF names Lyles and McLaughlin-Levrone
as Athletes of the Year

USA Track & Field announced its annual award winners with sprinter Noah Lyles taking the Jesse Owens Award and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone winning the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Award.

Both are world champions from the Oregon22 extravaganza, with Lyles winning the men’s 200 m in 19.31, the fourth-fastest time in history, and a silver medal in the men’s 4×100 m relay.

McLaughlin-Levrone won the women’s 400 m hurdles in a stunning world-record time of 50.68 – the first ever under 51 seconds – and anchored the winning women’s 4×400 m relay in a sensational 47.9.

Brad Walker, the 2007 men’s World Champion in the vault, was named the national Coach of the Year, helping American women’s stars Sandi Morris and Katie Nageotte to a 1-2 finish at the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade and then Nagetotte and Morris to gold and silver at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene.

Prep and World Junior sensation Roison Willis from Stevens Points (Wisconsin) High School won the Youth Athlete of the Year award. She won the World Junior 800 m gold at 1:59.13 and anchored the winning women’s 4×400 m relay. She also set a U.S. high school indoor record at 2:00.06 in February.

The Masters Long Distance Athlete of the Year was Jenny Hitchings, 59, who won the USATF masters 10-mile title by more than three minutes in 1:01:40. Flo Meiler was named the USATF Masters Track & Field Athlete of the Year – at age 87 – for eight national indoor title wins in the 80-89 age group and 10 outdoors.

The awards will be presented during the USATF Annual Meeting in Orlando in early December.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● International Olympic Committee ● The IOC confirmed Singapore as the site of its first “Olympic Esports Week” to take place from 22-25 June in 2023. Live, in-person championship matches will be held in addition to technology exhibits, panel discussions and education programs. The specifics, including the games to be contested, will be announced in 2023.

● Athletics ● The American Medical Association announced Tuesday that is opposes “eligibility criteria that force transgender athletes and athletes with differences in sexual development (DSD) to medically alter natural occurring hormones.”

AMA Board member Dr. David H. Aizuss said, “Unnecessary medical interventions to change natural hormone variations as a prerequisite for athletic competition must not be forced on physicians to artificially alter the natural ability of transgender athletes and athletes with differences in sexual development.”

The policy statement was specifically in response to the World Athletics guidelines on testosterone levels in women with differences in sex development. No comment concerning competitive balance was included.

The Athletics Integrity Unit announced a five-year ban on Kenyan distance runner Keneth Renju for the use of the steroid Methasterone, found on three consecutive tests on 20 March, 2 April and 8 May 2022. A six-year suspension was requested, but Renju – for whom this was his first doping violation – admitted doping and had the ban shorted to five years, from 13 May 2022.

Renju, now 26, has a half-marathon best of 58:35 and won all three of the races for which he was caught: a 10 km race in Lille (FRA) in March, the Prague Half Marathon in April and the Lisbon Half in May.

After a 22-year career with USA Track & Field as a communications staffer and later as head of the communications team, Susan Hazzard has left the organization. She posted on LinkedIn:

“Nearly 8,200 days have passed since I walked into (what was then) the RCA Dome to start the next two decades of my life working for USATF and its athletes. Big life events happened during those 22 years, five-and-a-half months – celebrations, victories, losses; and this year, cancer and its cure.

“I am grateful for the experiences, the laughter, the joy. I’m grateful for all I’ve learned. I’m grateful for friends and colleagues. And so grateful for the athletes – incredible humans – who mean more to me than I can ever express.”

● Boxing ● Speaking to boxers and coaches gathered for the International Boxing Association Youth World Championships in La Nucia (ESP), IBA President Umar Kremlev (RUS) asked for their help to return boxing to the Olympic program in 2028:

“I am here to help all of you. We cleaned our sport and saved the organization from bankruptcy. Now, we shouldn’t be silent, we should fight for our rights. If we don’t speak up, there will be no boxing at the Olympics. We shouldn’t be afraid to prevent this crime.”

A total of 596 athletes from 73 countries are expected to compete.

● Football ● The ball that was used for the infamous “Hand of God” match between Argentina and England in the 1986 FIFA World Cup was auctioned in London on Wednesday for £2 million (~$2.37 million U.S.).

The ball – used for the entire game – had been in the possession of Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser, who was head official for the quarter-final match between Argentina and England in Mexico, won by Argentina, 2-1. In the 51st minute, Argentine star Diego Maradona appeared to head the ball past English keeper Peter Shilton, but had actually punched it into the net. Maradona famously said afterwards that the goal was “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.”

Maradona scored again on one of the most famous goals in history, a 68 m dash through the English defense for a legitimate strike in the 55th minute and a 2-0 lead, with the final at 2-1. Bin Nasser said before the auction, “I couldn’t see the incident clearly. The two players, Shilton and Maradona, were facing me from behind.

“As per FIFA’s instructions issued before the tournament, I looked to my linesman for confirmation of the validity of the goal; he made his way back to the halfway line indicating he was satisfied that the goal should stand.”

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!

TSX REPORT: Ex-IOC marketing chief Payne says no sport is safe at Olympics; Infantino calls for World Cup truce; gymnastics shares IOC-dependent finances

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

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

★ Want TheSportsExaminer.com insights for your team? Yes! Click here for info on speaking, research and consulting from editor Rich Perelman. ★

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

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Payne on sports and the Olympic Games: no sport is safe
2. FIFA President asks G-20 for a FIFA World Cup truce
3. Valieva is innocent of doping, say Russian coaches and officials
4. Duplantis, Lyles finalists for T&F men’s Athlete of the Year
5. FIG in good financial standing thanks to IOC’s Tokyo contribution

Former International Olympic Committee marketing director Michael Payne made some interesting comments during last weekend’s Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne Congress, notably that “no sport is safe” on the Olympic program and that even equestrian’s place could be re-evaluated. FIFA President Gianni Infantino addressed the G-20 Summit in Indonesia and suggested a “World Cup Truce” during the tournament beginning on Sunday as a step toward peace. IOC President Thomas Bach also spoke and asked for governments not to dictate which athletes from which countries could compete where. Russian officials declared that star skater Kamila Valieva must be innocent of doping as the World Anti-Doping Agency removed the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. World Athletics announced its five men’s Athlete of the Year finalists, including American sprint star Noah Lyles. At its 84th Congress, the International Gymnastics Federation released its 2021 financial report, showing a big increase in revenue and reserves thanks to the IOC’s Olympic television rights share, but also underscoring the federation’s dependence on Olympic funding to stay afloat.

1.
Payne on sports and the Olympic Games: no sport is safe

Former long-time International Olympic Committee marketing director Michael Payne (IRL) provided some fascinating remarks at last weekend’s Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) Congress, which eventually voted in favor of admitting obstacle-course racing as a possible discipline, with the idea to offer it as part of a new format to try and get into the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

But a portion of his comments went far beyond the specific circumstances of the modern pentathlon, and more to the situation for all sports seeking entry (or re-entry) to the Games:

“No sport is safe on the programme. Look at what has happened to Boxing and Weightlifting. And it is far from certain that these sports will make it back on the programme for LA28.

“Baseball and Softball are also struggling to get back on. Wrestling was dropped and only through a major overhaul did they succeed in getting back on.

“I would not be surprised if behind closed doors clear messages are not also being given to the FEI [equestrian].”

That view is certainly not universally shared, but Payne’s comments – given his experience and contacts – must be considered. As for pentathlon, he was part of an advisory group that pushed the UIPM for a change away from riding:

● “[T]o be perfectly honest, I am amazed that you are still on the programme.

“I have watched how over the last three decades; your sport has been repeatedly threatened with being dropped from the Olympics.

“You have dodged death multiple times. Some of you either cannot or refuse to understand what is at stake here today. No amount of lobbying or tinkering with the riding format will save you.

“Let me be very clear, once you have been dropped from the Olympic programme, it is game over: There will be no way back – and your sport will struggle to even survive without the Olympics.

“As I noted, when I was approached and asked if there was anything I thought could be done to save your sport, my initial reaction was ‘I doubt it.’

“I knew of the split in your ranks about riding, and it was my impression that a house divided cannot stand. I have watched with dismay, frankly with utter disbelief as certain groups try to defend their equestrian interests; how the debate has been highjacked for various political agendas. Is 30 years too long for an individual to be president – maybe, but for Christ’s sake that is tomorrow’s problem, not today’s.”

● “The IOC rarely says things directly – it is always couched in diplomatic language, and you have to read between the lines.

“The IOC does its best to respect the independence of each IF, and publicly only gives guidance, subtle hints.

“But privately the leadership of the IOC has been very clear – and more recently in public; riding must go.”

● “The IOC and LA28 need to understand where Modern Pentathlon and UIPM family stands on sincere, genuine change.

“At the moment, they don’t think you will be able to get your act together and they will just move on without Modern Pentathlon.”

The UIPM voted for the change that Payne supports, but the athletes group PentUnited was hardly impressed, tweeting during the Congress:

“The General Assembly have voted against the will of the athletes who have desperately battled bravely to defend their sport #savepentathlon”

Observed: Payne’s comments will certainly be an eye-opener for the equestrian crowd, which has been repeatedly praised by current IOC chief Thomas Bach (GER), including at the recent World Eventing Championships in Italy in September, saying “I’m very impressed by the many measures the FEI has taken to safeguard the wellbeing and the health of the horses, and I am pleased with everything the International Federation is doing to ensure the future of the sport.”

As for sports moving on and off the Olympic program, Payne is much more right than wrong, but there have been – and will continue to be – exceptions. The size of the Games was increased regularly after World War II, with host cities adding new sports as medal or demonstration events. And some sports have returned after being dropped, including:

● Archery, held in 1972 after having been out since 1920;
● Canoe Slalom, at Munich ‘72 but not again until Barcelona 1992;
● Tennis, held at Paris 1924, but not again until Seoul 1988;
● Baseball, held from 1992-2008 and again in 2020;
● Softball, held from 1996-2008, and in 2020.

And with the IOC’s current format, it’s likely that other sports may come and go. But Payne makes the point that it’s not easy to get onto the program and for those sports which are not highlighted at the Games, it’s easy to see them dropped.

And as for baseball (and softball), the LA28 organizers are keenly aware that the Dodgers and Angels drew a combined 6.3 million fans in 2022 alone, and that both Dodger Stadium and Angel Stadium have been filled when hosting the World Baseball Classic. Those are good indicators that those sports will be prime candidates as additions to the 2028 program.

2.
FIFA President asks G-20 for a FIFA World Cup truce

FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) addressed the G-20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia on Tuesday and asked for a truce during the FIFA World Cup that starts on Sunday. Highlights:

● “Qatar has made significant reforms over the last two years, also thanks to the World Cup. As a consequence of that, for example, hundreds of thousands of workers enjoy better conditions than some years ago. So, three million fans will fill the stadiums and five billion people – five billion people – more than half the world’s population will watch the games on TV.”

● “We know that our main focus as a sports organisation is and should be sports. But because football unites the world, this particular World Cup, with five billion people watching it, can be the trigger for a positive gesture, for a sign or a message of hope.

“Dear leaders, Russia hosted the last World Cup in 2018. Ukraine [with Portugal and Spain] are bidding to host the World Cup in 2030 [among others]. Maybe, maybe, maybe that the current World Cup starting in five days can really be that positive trigger. So my plea to all of you is to think on a temporary ceasefire – for one month, for the duration of the World Cup – or at least the implementation of some humanitarian corridors or anything that could lead to the resumption of dialogue as a first step to peace. You are the world leaders, you have the ability to influence the course of history.”

Infantino also had special commemorative World Cup 2022 soccer balls made with the name of each national leader at the meeting, and asked:

“If you don’t mind, I would like to ask everyone to sign maybe this particular ball, and then together with [Indonesian] President [Joko] Widodo, we can decide what we do with it.”

International Olympic Committee President Bach also addressed the forum, and once again asked for governments to stay out of sport:

“[I]n contrast to the far too many other wars and conflicts in our world, regarding this war some governments started to decide which athletes would be allowed to participate in international sports competitions – and which not.

“They did and they do so purely on political grounds, They want to decide which athletes can now qualify and finally compete at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. If sport becomes – in this way – just another tool to achieve political goals, international sport will fall apart …

“Olympic sport needs the participation of all athletes who accept the rules, even and especially if their countries are in confrontation or at war. A competition between athletes from only like-minded states is not a credible symbol of peace.”

3.
Valieva is innocent of doping, say Russian coaches and officials

“We cannot give any comments on this issue, since the federation is not a party to the process. But we do not doubt the innocence of Kamila Valieva.”

That’s from Russian Figure Skating Federation President Alexander Gorshkov on Monday, following the filing by the World Anti-Doping Agency at the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the Russian Anti-Doping Agency and figure skating star Valieva. The skater had a positive doping test on 25 December 2021, but the result was not communicated until after she had participated with the winning Russian team in the figure skating Team Event at the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games.

WADA is asking for a four-year ban and a nullification of her results since the date of her test in 2021; that would disqualify the Russians in the Team Event and promote the U.S., Japan and Canada to the gold, silver and bronze medals.

But Russian officials are having none of it. Legendary skating coach Tatyana Tarasova, now 75, told the Sport Express site:

“I think it’s a rare outrage. Is it possible that she could actually be disqualified for that length of time? I don’t know, it looks like anything is possible, just to ruin a girl’s life. They are guided by the fact that there was a violation, but I can’t imagine that there was a violation.”

And the head of the Sambo-70 club at which Valieva trains, Renat Laishev, told the Russian news agency TASS:

“Valieva will be even more hardened after all this history. We have to support Valieva so that she continues to train, to please us with her art.”

For its part, the International Skating Union – which must, in the end, certify the final results of the Team Event from Beijing – is waiting:

“The ISU has taken note of WADA’s appeal to CAS and continues to closely monitor the outcome process of this case. The Union will take action in due course.”

4.
Duplantis, Lyles finalists for T&F men’s Athlete of the Year

World Athletics announced its five finalists for its men’s Athlete of the Year, including World 200 m Champion Noah Lyles of the U.S. The final five:

● Mondo Duplantis (SWE): World Indoor and Outdoor Champion; world record of 6.21 m (20-4 1/2);

● Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR): World Steeplechase Champion and world leader at 7:58.28;

● Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR): World 5,000 m Champion and 1,500 m silver medalist; world 1,500 m leader at 3:29.02;

● Eliud Kipchoge (KEN): Won Tokyo and Berlin Marathons, and lowered his own world record to 2:01:09;

● Lyles (USA): World 200 m Champion in 19.31, making him the third-fastest all-time.

The finalists were derived mostly by the choices by the World Athletics Council (50%), with input from the World Athletics Family (national federations and others: 25%) and fans (265%, cast 1.3 million votes). The winner will be announced in December.

5.
FIG in good financial standing thanks to IOC’s Tokyo contribution

The Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) held its 84th Congress in Istanbul (TUR) on 11-12 November, with several countries refusing to participate due to the presence of Russian and Belarusian officials who were allowed to participate.

But the Congress went on, with amendments to the governing statutes to deal with future wars, described as:

“Detailed definitions concerning ‘extraordinary events’, as well as clear and exhaustive provisions regarding protective measures that may be taken should such extraordinary events occur.”

The FIG financial report was presented for 2021, with the balance sheet substantially improved by the $31.36 million payment by the International Olympic Committee as the gymnastics share of the sale of Olympic television rights.

The FIG showed CHF 72.9 million in assets, up from CHF 44.5 million at the end of 2020 and reserves of CHF 35.6 million, up from CHF 25.4 million a year before. (CHF 1 = $1.06 U.S.)

Thanks to the IOC’s television money, FIG’s operating income for 2021 jumped to CHF 10.6 million vs. a loss in 2020 of CHF 7.2 million. The projections for 2022-24 show operating income of only CHF 13.8 million for 2022, CHF 13.0 million for 2023 and CHF 10.0 million in 2024. Reserves are expected to fall to CHF 26.3 million by the end of 2024.

Observed: Despite being one of the three Tier A sports in terms of Olympic television revenue receipts – along with Athletics and Aquatics – gymnastics very much appears to be yet another federation mostly dependent for its survival on the IOC. That is sad.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Winter Games 2026: Milan Cortina ● The Associated Press reported that the Trentino regional government approved a €50 million project (about $51.7 million U.S.) to add a roof to the outdoor Baselga di Pine skating venue, slated to be used for the 2026 Winter Games.

The Milan Cortina 2026 organizing committee noted that it had nothing to do with the project, which is designed for long-term use of the facility by the region. However, it will be the beneficiary of an enclosed rink, strongly preferred for ice control by speed skaters.

● Football ● As Sunday’s start of the FIFA World Cup gets closer, many of the in-stadium details are now available and FIFA and the Qatar organizers have published a well-done, 76-page Fan Guide, available for download now.

It’s really for people on-site, with maps of each of the eight stadiums, how to get around, how to get in and where the fan festivals and other attractions are. Producers of any event will find it informative and a model for the future.

Another World Cup guide – sort of – was issued earlier in the month by Human Rights Watch, titled Human Rights Reporters’ Guide for 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar.

Across 50 pages, it details the organization’s negative view of abuses in working conditions in Qatar, deaths during the construction period, the role of FIFA, discrimination against women and same-sex relationships in Qatar, and its recommendations, including calls – not so far answered – for either Qatar or FIFA or both to contribute money equal to the $440 million in team prize payments to remedy abuses caused and for reparations.

The U.S. Women’s National Team may have gone into its friendly with no. 3 Germany on 10 November needing a win after two straight defeats, but the game in Ft. Lauderdale did not get much interest from viewers.

Shown on FS1, Nielsen reported the game drew 323,000 viewers in a 7 p.m. Eastern time slot. One hour later, the Thursday night NFL game – Atlanta at Carolina – shown only on Amazon’s streaming service, drew 6.8 million viewers.

U.S. women keeper Ashlyn Harris, 37, announced her retirement on 14 November, finishing with 25 appearances and 21 starts and as a member of both the 2015 and 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup winners. She debuted with the national team in 2013 and last played in goal for the U.S. in 2020; she had nine career shutouts to her credit.

● Gymnastics ● Suni Lee, 19, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic All-Around gold medalist, announced on Twitter that she will complete her sophomore season with the Auburn women’s gymnastics team before leaving to concentrate on making the U.S. team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

“This will be my last season competing at Auburn University. My focus right now is to make it the most incredible season yet and to be the best teammate I can be.

“I am so excited to share that after this season I will be returning to elite gymnastics. I have my sights set on Paris in 2024, and I know what I have to do to get there.”

Lee won the All-Around gold, the Team silver and Uneven Bars bronze in Tokyo, and stepped right in at Auburn, winning an NCAA Championships silver in the All-Around and winning on Beam in 2022.

● Swimming ● American Olympic fans remember Tracy Caulkins as one of the stars of swimming in the 1980s, winning golds at the Los Angeles 1984 Games in the women’s 200 m and 400 m medley and on the 4×100 m medley relay.

She married Australian swimmer Mark Stockwell in 1985 and moved to Australia, where she is a highly-respected sports administrator, including serving on the Swimming Australia Board since 2016. She stepped in as President of the organization when Kieran Perkins moved on to head the Australian Sports Commission in February.

But Stockwell’s term is over after nine months, as Swimming Australia elected Dr. Michelle Gallen, a former elite triathlete, as its new head. She was already a member of the Swimming Australia Board and was serving as Director of Strategic Projects for the Queensland Government’s Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport.

● Wrestling ● United World Wrestling posted its final 2022 men’s Freestyle rankings, with three Americans ranked at no. 1: Thomas Gilman (57 kg), Jordan Burroughs (79 kg) and Kyle Snyder (97 kg). Both Burroughs and Snyder won world titles this year and Gilman won silver.

Also in the top three were 79 kg World Champion Kyle Dake, ranked second, and 86 kg World Champion David Taylor, ranked third. There were prizes attached to the rankings, with the top three in each weight awarded $5,000-3,000-2,000. The U.S. had 11 wrestlers finish the year ranked in the top 10.

In the women’s Freestyle rankings, Dominique Parrish (63 kg) and Tamyra Mensah-Stock (68 kg) both ranked no. 1, with Sarah Hildebrandt (50 kg), Kayla Miracle (62 kg), and Amit Elor (72 kg) ranked second and Jacarra Winchester (55 kg) and Mallory Velte (65 kg) ranked third.

The U.S. had no top-three rankings in Greco-Roman.

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency announced Tuesday that two-time U.S. Greco-Roman Olympian Ben Provisor (74 kg and 85 kg) accepted a 16-month suspension for the use of a prohibited drug taken as part of a medication.

Provisor, 32, tested positive for amphetamine in June and although he ingested it as part of a prescribed program from his physician, he had no Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for the prohibited substance, thus the suspension as of 11 July 2022. He will be eligible again in November of 2023, in time for a run at the Paris 2024 Games if he chooses.

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TSX REPORT: U.S. Universiade bid chief proud of effort; WADA asks four-year ban for Valieva, U.S.’s McLaughlin an Athlete of the Year finalist

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

★ Want TheSportsExaminer.com insights for your team? Yes! Click here for info on speaking, research and consulting from editor Rich Perelman. ★

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. North Carolina Universiade bid chief: “bid will pay dividends”
2. WADA seeking four-year ban for Russian skater Valieva
3. U.S. beats Colombia, leads Group F for FIBA World Cup qualifying
4. U.S.’s McLaughlin named World Athlete of the Year finalist
5. Qatar organizers move World Cup beer stands to less visible spots

While the North Carolina bid for the 2027 World University Games was not selected by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), bid chief Hill Carrow was fully satisfied with the effort and that the U.S. bid was considered the best on technical merit. He indicated that North Carolina would consider hosting the 2029 WUG, but will not go through another bid process like the one just concluded, and that other events could also be considered. The Court of Arbitration for Sport has begun the process of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s filing for a four-year suspension of Russian figure skating star Kamila Valieva. The case will finally resolve the results of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games figure skating Team Event, in which the medals have still not been awarded. The U.S. men’s national basketball squad, made up of G League players and free agents, defeated Colombia in the latest FIBA Americas World Cup qualifying game to move to 8-2 and the lead in Group F. The U.S. will still need to win at least one game in the February 2023 window to advance to the 2023 FIBA World Cup. American star Sydney McLaughlin, the World Champion and world-record-setter in the 400 m hurdles, is one of five finalists for the women’s World Athlete of the Year award from World Athletics. With the FIFA World Cup in Qatar set to open on Sunday, sponsor Budweiser has been directed to move its sales stands to less visible locations at the eight stadia getting ready to host World Cup matches.

1.
North Carolina Universiade bid chief: “bid will pay dividends”

The International University Sports Federation (FISU) selected Korea’s Chungcheong Megacity to host the 2027 World University Games last Saturday instead of the North Carolina 2027 bid from the U.S. But the North Carolina Bid Committee head, Hill Carrow, felt no remorse over the effort. In a Monday interview, a day after returning from the presentation in Brussels (BEL), he remained enthusiastic:

“We had a fantastic group over there, and we were very proud of the effort that went in and very pleased with the tremendous support across North Carolina that we got. There were more than 1,000 people involved in the effort, and our state stepped in more significantly than it ever has for anything like this, and our state and – I think – our country, because we represented the United States, can be very proud of the effort we put in.

“There was nothing in which we mis-stepped and maybe caused a shortfall. It was very political at the end and that’s what led to the vote going the other way. But in terms of representing our country, our state and our region, everybody has nothing but pride, because it was a first-class effort, and if things had been judged on the merits, there’s no doubt that we would have won.”

Carrow noted the impact the University Games bid has and will have:

“An effort like this really coalesces a lot of forces that are often very disparate, and we have that in North Carolina, it looks like we have that in country and just about everywhere across. In our area, it’s because there are a lot of different jurisdictions if you will. We ourselves were putting together five significant cities, five counties, we have 19 universities within the region and we had already committed to activities on 13 of them.

“So, you can imagine that those are a lot of little ‘kingdoms’ if you will, and for everybody to be willing to drop the provincialism and be willing to pull together, because they realize that a team is much more than the sum of the individual parts, and really represent our state and country very well. We couldn’t be more proud of that. That will pay dividends.

“I’ve already been reached out to on some other international events, including some in our hemisphere, and they know that North Carolina brought its ‘A’ game, and that if anybody wants to come here, they would get our ‘A’ game, that we have an unprecedented array of facilities. …

“The other thing about our region is, we have it built in: we do not have to build up a gigantic workforce to stage a major event like this. Yes, we’ll have 20,000 volunteers, but every single weekend in the fall and spring that’s an active sports weekend, we probably have 50 significant events on across our campuses and in our communities that are put on by professionals or very experienced volunteers every one of those weekends. So, we’ve got that all built in already.”

Carrow, a veteran organizer of major events, was disappointed by the decision of the FISU Executive Committee to ignore the measurable elements of the bid:

“If you look at the scores from their technical site visit, we aligned by far the best with FISU’s long-range goals. Sustainability? We’re number one in sustainability because we don’t have to build a damn thing! And dormitory-wise, and dining hall-wise, we’ve got it all. In terms of fit with university sports, they’re going to be on our campuses and be in our dining halls and dormitory facilities, they’ll be on a university campus. In Germany [for 2025], they’re going to be all in hotels.”

The technical visit scores were not revealed publicly, but a separate source reported that the North Carolina bid had the highest total at 605, to 574 for the Chungcheong Megacity bid.

What the Koreans did have was money, as the expansion of the Chungcheong Megacity area is ongoing and the Korean bid specified that €440 million (about $454.2 million U.S.) was promised for the Games, reportedly securing 92% of the organizing committee’s budget. However, the Korean project includes the building of 10 new venues, compared to none for North Carolina, and the wisdom of spending (or having to spend) perhaps $500 million on a World University Games is open to question. The North Carolina bid projected costs of $136 million, with $25 million already committed by the state and two potential multi-million dollar sponsorships that could be quickly closed if the U.S. bid had been selected.

Then there was the way in which the selection process was concluded. Said Carrow:

“We would not go through this process again. The end result, and also the way it was done at the end, was terrible, because it was the old [International Olympic Committee] thing where they bring everybody in a room, announce one winner and everybody else is just sitting there humiliated and downcast. We had our U.S. Ambassador there, we had our North Carolina Secretary of State there, we had the Mayor of Raleigh there … and that is a totally mortifying way to do it because you’re in front of this whole room and they announce one winner and you’re sitting there devastated, and the other side is jumping up and down. … I don’t recommend that ever again for anybody.

“We told them, ‘look, even if you got to another bid process, don’t do it this way when you announce a winner.’ Just before everything happens, call the guys who aren’t going to win, off to the side, and outside the room and say, ‘look, it’s not going to be for you guys,’ then bring the winners in and sign a document or something. …

“It’s like a death in the family or something this week, trying to field all these messages and get everybody to keep their chin up.”

So, what about a 2029 World University Games?

“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.

“The bottom line is that if that were to be the case, there would not be any sort of bid process and it would be, ‘hey, you’re already demonstrated you’ve got what it takes and we’re willing to work with you to just go ahead and put that in place.’

“I think the public-private partnership method in the United States is the way to go. We have the ability to offer FISU – and we did offer FISU – the ability to connect with many of our large American sponsors. We’re getting ready to have a significant presence by some of the largest sponsors in the world in North Carolina. But with the United States as our territory, that’s an untapped for FISU. They’re not set up like the IOC with any global sponsors to speak of, and they will readily admit that. They came here and saw that we had 53 companies already involved in supporting our bid. Their leadership even made the comment, ‘gosh, we’d like to have a little of that for the Games,’ and I said, you’ll have it if you come here, no doubt about it.

“I think the [consultative] process, which is more oriented toward professional staff working to try to secure the best possible long-term partner for these major sports events – like the International Olympic Committee is going – and as FISU was previously doing, is absolutely, 100% the way to go.”

In the end, the Koreans will organize the 2027 World University Games. But Carrow has no regrets:

“We felt very, very good. There’s no going back and second-guessing anything we did in our effort. We know we brought it and we know we delivered and the only upsetting factor is that didn’t count enough for the win.”

2.
WADA seeking four-year ban for Russian skater Valieva

The Court of Arbitration for Sport announced that it had received and is now acting on the filing by the World Anti-Doping Agency against Russian figure skating star Kamila Valieva and the Russian Anti-Doping Agency:

“WADA seeks a ruling from CAS that the Athlete committed an [anti-doping rules violation] pursuant to Article 4.1 and/or 4.2 of the RUSADA [Anti-Doping Rules], and that the Athlete be sanctioned with a four-year period of ineligibility starting on the date on which the CAS award enters into force, as well as the disqualification of all competitive results obtained by her from, and including the date of 25 December 2021, with all resulting consequences (including forfeiture of medals, points and prizes).”

Valieva’s 25 December 2021 sample from the Russian national championships came back positive for the banned substance trimetazidine, but the result was not known until 7 February 2022. Valieva was initially disqualified by RUSADA, but had already competed in the Team Event, which finished earlier that day. She was initially suspended by RUSADA, then reinstated on appeal and allowed to skate in the women’s Singles event by the Court of Arbitration for Sport at the Beijing Winter Games (she finished fourth).

If the WADA filing is successful, Russia would be disqualified in the 2022 Olympic Winter Games figure skating Team Event, which it won on the ice. The U.S. would be advanced from silver to gold, Japan from bronze to silver and Canada would be the bronze medalist.

The Court described the next steps as:

“In accordance with the Code of Sports-related Arbitration, the arbitration rules governing CAS procedures, the parties will first exchange written submissions and participate in the appointment of the 3-member Panel of arbitrators that will decide the matter. WADA will nominate one member of the Panel, and RUSADA and the Athlete will jointly nominate another. The third member, the President of the Panel, will be appointed by the President of the CAS Appeals Division, or her deputy.”

No timetable was given for the formation of the hearing panel, the hearing, or the result. But the matter is moving forward after the passage of WADA’s deadline of 4 November for RUSADA to complete its hearing, which has apparently not taken place.

3.
U.S. beats Colombia, leads Group F for FIBA World Cup qualifying

The U.S. men’s national team defeated Colombia, 88-81, on Monday in Washington, D.C., to close out the next-to-last window in the FIBA Americas Qualifying Tournament for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

The Americans had a 30-18 edge at the quarter, but only 48-41 at the half. The lead expanded to 68-55 at the end of three quarters and the U.S. held on to win by seven. Guards Langston Galloway and David Stockton had 23 points each to lead the U.S., while Colombian forward Michaell Jackson had 25 and guard Romario Roque had 24. The U.S. shot 43.5% from the floor compared to only 38.0% for Colombia.

The U.S. victory, combined with Puerto Rico’s 76-68 win over Uruguay and Brazil’s 102-56 rout of Mexico, leaves the Americans at the top of the Group F standings at 8-2 (18 points), followed by Brazil at 7-3 (17) and Puerto Rico and Mexico at 6-4 (16 each). The top three teams advance to the World Cup, so the U.S. will need a win in the final window next February, when it will play Uruguay and Brazil.

4.
U.S.’s McLaughlin named World Athlete of the Year finalist

World Athletics named its five finalists for its women’s World Athlete of the Year, with the U.S.’s 400 m hurdles sensation, Sydney McLaughlin, on the list. The final five:

● Tobi Amusan (NGR): 100 m hurdles World Champion, and world-record setter at 12.12;

● Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM): 100 m World Champion (her fifth title) and 2022 world leader at 10.62;

● Kimberley Garcia (PER): Double World Champion in the 20 km and 35 km walks in Eugene;

● McLaughlin: 400 m hurdles and 4×400 m World Champion; set two world records, of 51.41 and 50.68;

● Yulimar Rojas (VEN): Triple jump World Champion both indoors and out; extended her world record to 15.74 m (51-7 3/4).

The finalists were primarily selected by the World Athletics Council (50% of the vote), with 25% from the World Athletics Family and fans (who cast 1.3 million votes).

The winner will be named at the World Athletics Awards 2022 in December.

5.
Qatar organizers move World Cup beer stands to less visible spots

The 2022 FIFA World Cup will open on Sunday (20th), and multiple reports from Qatar say that longtime sponsor Budweiser (part of AB InBev) has been required to move its sales stands in all eight stadia to less prominent locations.

Beer and other alcoholic beverages are available in Qatar, but strongly controlled. An AB InBev statement to Sky News included:

“AB InBev was informed on November 12 and are working with FIFA to relocate the concession outlets to locations as directed. We are working with FIFA to bring the best possible experience to the fans.

“Our focus is on delivering the best possible consumer experience under the new circumstances.”

The Qatar organizers confirmed that the number of stations for beer purchases has not been changed.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Boxing ● The International Boxing Association, trying to get back onto the 2028 Olympic program, announced a 2023-28 sponsorship deal with Australian equipment maker STING. The company “will supply gloves, headguards, gauze, tapes, footwear, and uniforms for the athletes as well as uniforms for the volunteers and the IBA staff.”

Although hardly a blockbuster, the agreement is significant for the IBA to demonstrate some commercial activity, especially with companies outside of Russia. Almost all of the IBA’s financing since Russian Umar Kremlev was elected has come from the Russian energy giant Gazprom.

● Equestrian ● Belgian Ingmar De Vos, running unopposed, was confirmed for a hird and final term as the President of the Federation Equestre Internationale at the FEI General Assembly held in Cape Town (RSA).

The FEI financial report for 2021 was published, with the federation showing CHF 81.84 million in assets and reserves of CHF 23.1 million and another CHF 24.6 million in available but restricted funds. The FEI received $15.14 million from the International Olympic Committee in Tokyo 2020 Olympic television rights money, a key factor in showing a 2021 surplus of CHF 3.68 million after a loss of CHF 4.9 million in 2020. The FEI had revenues outside of the Olympic TV share of CHF 36.0 million in 2021, but expenses of CHF 40.8 million. (CHF 1 = $1.06 U.S.)

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.

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TSX REPORT: Paris 2024 introduces Phrygian caps as mascots; UIPM votes move to obstacle racing; Korea gets 2027 Universiade

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

★ Want TheSportsExaminer.com insights for your team? Yes! Click here for info on speaking, research and consulting from editor Rich Perelman. ★

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

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Paris 2024 introduces mostly-red Phrygian caps as mascots
2. Modern Pentathlon approves obstacle racing to replace riding
3. FISU chooses Korea’s Chungcheong over North Carolina for 2027 WUG
4. Smith and Pugh score to give U.S. women 2-1 win over Germany
5. Trio of Olympic medals stolen from U.S. volleyballer’s home

The Paris 2024 organizing committee unveiled its mascots on Monday, a take on the iconic Phyrgian cap in mostly red, with the same style of character used for both the Olympic and Paralympic editions. At the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne online Congress, the addition of obstacle course racing was approved, allowing the UIPM to propose it as a new discipline for the 2028 Olympic Games, of which the sport is not currently a part. The International University Sports Federation (FISU) selected Korea’s Chungcheong Megacity bid over North Carolina in the U.S. for the 2027 World University Games. The U.S. Women’s National Team defeated third-ranked Germany, 2-1, in their second friendly in four days on Sunday, ending a three-game losing streak on second-half goals by Mallory Pugh and Sophia Smith. A burglary in Orange County, California resulted in three Olympic medals being stolen from the home of a U.S. volleyball Olympian and the public is requested to forward any leads.

1.
Paris 2024 introduces mostly-red Phrygian caps as mascots

“The Phrygian cap is a symbol of liberty. Since it is familiar to us and appears on our stamps and the pediments of our town halls, it also represents French identity and spirit.”

Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet introduced the organizing committee’s mascots on Monday, the Olympic Phryges, a take on the Phrygian cap which developed in Roman times as a symbol of freedom and became an important symbol during the French Revolution.

The “Olympic Phyrge” and the “Paralympic Phyrge” took the typical red Phyrge cap and transformed it into a cartoon character with decided possibilities to appeal to children, to be used on signage and especially for pins, toys and other merchandise. Although mostly red, France’s other national colors – blue and white – are incorporated in the eyes, teeth, legs and shoes. The Paralympic Phyrge has a prosthetic blade for a right leg and “Paris 2024″ is spelled out in braille on the visible underside of the blade.

Paris 2024 Brand Director Julie Matikhine explained the development process:

“At the very beginning, the idea of the Phrygian cap emerged as a concept without any real shape. Then at that point, we said OK, what is this Phrygian cap going to look like? We got character designers to start working on it, graphic designers, on a collaborative project involving in-house designers and character designers whose job it was to bring the characters to life and give them a personality.

“It’s a laborious job. Every detail counts, every line, every look, every position, every expression took us hours of work. You will notice as you get to know these mascots that there are over 71 sporting poses. The mascots are staged in an environment, in a sporting pose and each of these positions requires an expression, an attitude that is as close as possible to a real athlete’s. It was a long and exciting process involving federations, sports directors, design departments and we interviewed athletes to approve these expressions and the inner energy that they channel in each of the poses, to end up with what you are seeing today.”

The introductory graphics show the Phyrges individually and in small and large groups – think of the Minions in the “Despicable Me” movie series – already in sport and non-sport poses. The design also allows easy costuming for live events of all kinds.

As a show of inclusion, the mascots are essentially the same for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. A “mascot tour” is now planned to introduce the characters, first in France and then elsewhere.

2.
Modern Pentathlon approves obstacle racing to replace riding

A boisterous and tense 72nd Congress of the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne was held online on Saturday and Sunday, with a contentious discussion prior to a vote on replacing the riding discipline with obstacle course racing.

The UIPM announcement reported that the motion to change the disciplines in the sport (article 2.1) – by adding obstacle – was passed with 69 votes in favor, 11 against and three abstentions. This was 83% of the delegates who voted, and 71% of the delegates present, representing a clear majority.

The discussion was hardly as clear-cut, with the InsideTheGames site reporting UIPM Vice President (and International Olympic Committee member) Juan Antonio Samaranch, Jr. (ESP) telling the delegates:

“If we do not approve this we have zero chance of continuing in the Games. However if we do approve this proposal at least we will have a fighting chance to keep our sport in the Olympic Games. …

“It’s not a guarantee that we will be successful. But I do guarantee that our sport will never see another Olympic Games after Paris if we choose to remain the same. …

“Right now we are not relevant – we are dead last in every metric the IOC is interested in.”

Former International Olympic Committee marketing director Michael Payne (IRL), who participated on an advisory panel considering fifth-discipline options, advised the delegates to adopt the obstacle option:

“The IOC and LA28 need to understand where Modern Pentathlon and UIPM family stands on sincere, genuine change.

“At the moment, they don’t think you will be able to get your act together and they will just move on without Modern Pentathlon.”

The Pentathlon United athletes group, which has fought to retain a reformed riding discipline, was not allowed to speak at the Congress and tweeted after the Saturday session:

“The General Assembly have voted against the will of the athletes who have desperately battled bravely to defend their sport.”

UIPM President Klaus Schormann (GER) said after the announcement, “Proposals will now be sent to the IOC Programme Commission and Sport Department.” The IOC has indicated that the decision on the Los Angeles 2028 program will be determined in the third quarter of 2023.

Another motion which was passed set term limits of 12 years for Executive Board members and another 12 years for a UIPM President, to be instituted as of 1 January 2025. Schormann was elected for an eighth term as President in 2021.

On Sunday, Schormann survived a vote of no confidence, with 13 voting to remove him, 55 in favor of retaining him and 20 abstentions.

3.
FISU choose Korea’s Chungcheong over
North Carolina for 2027 WUG

The International University Sports Federation (FISU) selected Korea’s Chungcheong Megacity as the host for the 2027 World University Games over North Carolina from the U.S. by a 14-7 vote.

Meeting in Brussels (BEL), the FISU Executive Committee gave South Korea the Universiade for a third time, after it hosted in Daegu in 2003 and Gwangju in 2015. The Korean government has promised funding of €440 million (about $455.9 million) for the Chungcheong project, with 10 sites to be built, nine of which are government projects.

The Korean bid foresees 18 sports being held at 31 sites. FISU Acting President Leonz Eder (SUI) said, “Chungcheong 2027 has the potential to be a very special FISU World University Games, making a lasting contribution to university sport.”

The North Carolina bid emphasized the large number of colleges and universities in the area to host the Games, and the enormous potential for FISU in the U.S., where it is hardly known. Said Eder:

“While FISU could only name one host for the 2027 FISU World University Games today, FISU is deeply grateful to both candidates for their commitment to international university sport.

“While Chungcheong is today’s choice for 2027, we would be delighted to have North Carolina as a host for the FISU World University Games in the future at the first available opportunity. FISU would like to thank both candidates for their professionalism and for the sporting way in which they have conducted themselves throughout the process.”

The next World University Games is scheduled for 2023, in Chengdu (CHN), followed by Rhine-Ruhr (GER) in 2025 and now Korea in 2027. The next scheduled Games would be in 2029. The event has been held in the Americas four times, with the last in Buffalo (USA) in 1993; the award to Korea will see the 11th Universiade held in Asia, including eight of the 13 held or attributed this century.

4.
Smith and Pugh score to give U.S. women 2-1 win over Germany

Speed kills and the no. 1-ranked U.S. Women’s National Team concluded its 2022 schedule in Harrison, New Jersey against no. 3 Germany with a 2-1 win thanks to the breakaway running of its front line.

The first half was mostly controlled by the Germans, who had 54% of the possession and got the only goal. A long cross by forward Svenja Huth from the right side found defender Sophia Kleinherne on the other side of the box in the 18th minute, and although her shot was blocked, the rebound rolled to Jule Brand, who left-footed it past U.S. keeper Alyssa Naeher for a 1-0 lead.

Both sides got five shots in the first half, with the U.S. applying more pressure in the last 15 minutes, especially from speedy strikers Mallory Pugh and Sophia Smith.

The second half saw more open play from the start, with both sides getting multiple chances. German forward Lina Magull found herself one-on-one against U.S. keeper Naeher in the 53rd minute, but Naeher came out and made the save.

The U.S. counterattack came immediately, with midfielder Rose Lavelle finding Smith in the middle of the box, who dribbled closer, eluded two German defenders and popped the ball past substitute German keeper Almuth Schult to tie the match at 1-1 in the 54th.

Another counterattack led to a second U.S. goal, with forward Alexandra Popp sending a good chance wide of the net in the 56th minute, then midfielder Andi Sullivan of the U.S. sending a long ball ahead to Pugh against two defenders. She sped past both and then sent a left-footer past Schult for a 2-1 lead, still in the 56th minute.

The Germans did poorly against a high press from the U.S., turning the ball over repeatedly, and Pugh got a breakaway in the 77th minute, but Schult made the save; Pugh sent the rebound back to Lavelle, who shot wide with Schult out of the goal. That was the last strong scoring chance and the game ended 2-1.

The American women staved off a fourth loss in a row, which had never happened in program history, and ended on a positive note for 2022. Germany ended with 59% of the possession, but while the shots were 15-15, the U.S. had the better chances and made the most of them.

Observed: Despite the three losses in its final four games of the year, the U.S. team played creditably against no. 4 England, no. 8 Spain and no. 3 Germany with a roster that may look very different for the 2023 World Cup, with mainstays such as Sam Mewis, Julie Ertz, Kelley O’Hara, Tierna Davidson and others possibly available. When they return and how the team cohesion develops over the first half of 2023 will determine the American chances for a third straight World Cup title.

5.
Trio of Olympic medals stolen from U.S. volleyballer’s home

A Tokyo 2020 gold, London 2012 silver and a Rio 2016 bronze medal in women’s volleyball were stolen during a Laguna Hills, California burglary on 29 October and only publicly reported last week.

According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, an unknown burglar broke into the former player’s home and removed a safe in an upstairs room, which happened to contain the medals.

U.S. Olympic women’s coach Karch Kiraly (USA), himself a three-time Olympic gold medalist in the sport, told KCBS Los Angeles:

“You think of someone who steals a bag of stuff and they find a medal inside, well what can they do with it? They can’t do anything because as soon as they try to sell it to somebody else it gives away a lot of information. So, it’s either hang on to it for 100 years or throw it away — or maybe turn it in to help a rockstar person who has been a rockstar volleyball player.”

Only two U.S. volleyball players won silver-bronze-gold medals in the last three Games: star hitter Jordan Larson and middle blocker Foluke (Akinradewo) Gunderson. Information about the burglary should be given to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at (949) 425-1900.

This is the second time this year that a U.S. volleyball player has lost a medal. In July, setter Jordyn Poulter had her Tokyo 2020 gold medal stolen from her car. It was eventually recovered after the thief left it in a plastic bag outside an Anaheim barber shop; a suspect was arrested.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Cycling ● The 2022 UCI World Urban Championships were held in Abu Dhabi (UAE), with American star Hannah Roberts winning her fourth world title in BMX Freestyle Park.

Roberts, the Tokyo 2020 silver medalist, scored only 47.20 on her first run and stood 10th going into the second round. But her 87.20 score was easily the best of the day and gave her another World Urban Championships gold to go with her 2017, 2019 and 2021 victories. Tokyo bronze medalist Nikita Ducarroz (SUI) was second at 84.70 and first-round leader Iveta Miculycova (CZE) finished third at 83.20. Americans Perris Benegas and Angie Marino finished seventh and ninth.

Japan’s Rim Nakamura, fifth in Tokyo, won the men’s Freestyle Park with a sensational first-round effort that scored 93.80 and essentially ended the competition. He was challenged by American Justin Dowell, the 2018 World Champion, who scored 91.50 two riders later, but he could not improve in the second round. France’s Anthony Jeanjean scored 91.20 in the second round to claim the bronze, with fourth going to Marcus Christopher of the U.S., who had a best of 90.26.

● Rugby ● New Zealand, the dominant force in women’s rugby, defended its 2017 Rugby Women’s World Cup title with a tight, 34-31 win over England in the final of the 2021 edition – played in 2022 – in Auckland, New Zealand.

The English had a 26-19 halftime lead, but was down to 14 players as Lydia Thompson was red-carded in the 18th minute. But Stacey Fluhler got a try in the 41st minute and Krystal Murray in the 49th to put the home team up 29-26. England’s Amy Cokayne got her third try of the final in the 54th minute for a 31-29 lead, but New Zealand’s Ayesha Leti-L’iga scored the game winner in the 71st minute for the 34-31 final.

In the bronze-medal match, France out-classed Canada by 36-0. It’s the third straight bronze for the French women, seven of nine all-time and France’s eighth appearance in the bronze-medal match in nine editions of the Women’s World Cup.

As for the Black Ferns, they have not only won two Women’s World Cups in a row, but six of the last seven and six of the nine Women’s World Cups in history. The next edition comes in 2025 in England.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 2032: Brisbane ● There was quite a stir last week as new Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rejected the pledge made by predecessor Scott Morrison for the federal government to split the cost of Olympic infrastructure spending with Queensland.

More details came Friday during a hearing of the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, as David Hallinan, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, explained:

“I think a fair way of describing this is the former government made a fairly public statement about a 50-50 funding arrangement for the games, but it was subject to a whole range of terms and conditions that would need to be negotiated with the Queensland government, which is why it’s presented as a risk in the budget papers rather than a condition or a financing arrangement.”

He was seconded by Department Secretary Jim Betts:

“I think the position of the government reflects a view that we are now at a stage where we would like to begin discussions with the Queensland government about the extent of the investment required to support sporting infrastructure and transport infrastructure and potentially other infrastructure as well, which may be managed by other parts of government. Rather than writing a blank cheque for 50 per cent of whatever the outcome is, we would like to have a discussion about what the infrastructure should be and what a worthwhile Commonwealth contribution should be. Those are the discussions which are just beginning to kick off now.”

Observed: For those who say politics and sport are not related, here’s where they are … without a doubt.

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● Tokyo 2020 Paralympian Parker Egbert filed suit on Friday (11th) against Tokyo 2020 teammate Robert Griswold, 25, alleging sexual abuse, and that the USOPC and the U.S. Center for SafeSport were negligent.

Egbert, who is 19 and autistic, qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games as a swimmer (100-200 m Free, 100 m Back), was paired with Griswold, who suffers from cerebral palsy and was a two-time Paralympian himself (2016 and 2020) and won two Tokyo golds in the 100 Back and 100 m Fly (category S8).

The complaint alleges that “USOPC assigned Griswold to be a supervisor of Plaintiff, despite the fact that Griswold was a peer team member on the swim team rather than an adult supervisor and had no training or qualifications to serve as a supervisor. It was also during this time in Tokyo that Griswold began his sexual assaults on Plaintiff” and that “between June of 2021 and August of 2022, Griswold repeatedly subjected Plaintiff to violent abuse and rape.”

The complaint also states: “Remarkably, Defendant USOPC and Defendant U.S. Center for SafeSport allowed Griswold to supervise and share a bedroom with Plaintiff without any oversight, despite the fact that USOPC and SafeSport had received reports that Griswold was sexually assaulting other teammates.”

Sixteen claims for relief were made against Griswold for assault and battery and invasion of privacy, and for negligence, emotional distress, fraud and conspiracy against both the USOPC and SafeSport.

USOPC spokesman Jon Mason told the Colorado Springs Gazette:

“The allegations brought forth by the complaint filed today are extremely concerning and we take them very seriously.

“We’ve made the decision to place two staff members on administrative leave and have also stopped the work of several contractors with U.S. Paralympics Swimming. We’re also continuing our investigation of the allegations to help us determine the facts, and we are committed to taking appropriate action.”

The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado.

● Basketball ● The U.S. men’s national team of G League players and free agents lost to Brazil, 94-79, in the FIBA Americas qualification tournament for the 2023 FIBA World Cup, in Washington D.C.

Even with the loss, the Americans still lead Group B with a 7-2 record and will play an important game against Colombia on Monday, also in Washington.

The Brazilians started fast, up 30-21 at the quarter and then 58-34 at the half. The U.S. won the final two quarters, but could only close the gap slightly. Forward Bruno Caboclo scored 24 for Brazil on 9-13 shooting, and guard Georginho De Paula had 18 on 5-6 from the floor and 5-5 free throws.

Guard Langston Galloway had 14 for the U.S., which was out-shot by 54.1-41.9% and out-rebounded, 40-32.

The top three teams from Group B will qualify for the World Cup and the U.S. now sits at 7-2, with Brazil and Mexico at 6-3, with three games to play. Colombia (3-6) is next and with a win, the U.S. would be 8-2 and if Puerto Rico defeats Uruguay on Monday, the U.S. would clinch a top-three finish in the group and a trip to the 2023 World Cup, being hosted by Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines.

● Beach Volleyball ● The penultimate Volleyball World Pro Beach Tour Elite 16 tournament of the year was in Uberlandia (BRA), with the home teams dominating the action and taking five of the six medals available.

The women’s final saw 2022 World Champions Duda Lisboa and Ana Patricia Ramos (BRA) win a tight match from countrywomen Andressa Cavancanti and Vitoria de Souza, 21-17, 27-29, 15-11. The all-Brazilian bronze-medal match had Carol Salgado and Barbara Seixas de Freitas defeating Taiana Lima and Hegelie dos Santos, 21-19, 17-21, 15-13.

The all-Brazilian men’s final was won by George Wanderley and Andre Stein over Pedro Solberg and Arthur Lanci, 28-30, 21-15, 15-11. Olympic champs Anders Mol and Christian Sorum (NOR) won the bronze medal over Renato de Carvalho and Vitor Felipe (BRA), 21-19, 19-21, 15-10.

● Fencing ● A busy weekend of FIE World Cup competitions, with five World Cups, in all three weapons, held in four different countries!

The men’s Epee tournament in Berne (SUI) saw a first-ever World Cup gold for 22-year-old Hungarian Tibor Andrasfi, who edged Colombian John Rodriguez in the final by 12-11; France won the team event over Korea. The women’s Epee in Tallinn (EST) saw Italy’s Alberta Santuccio, 28, also win her first World Cup gold and her fourth career World Cup medal with a 15-11 final over Marie-Florence Candassamy (FRA). Italy also won the Team final over Ukraine, 33-28.

In Bonn (GER), the men’s Foil was an upset victory for 23-year-old Kyosuke Matsuyama (JPN), who bested Italy’s 2021 World Champion, Alessio Foconi, by 15-11. The men’s team title wentr to the U.S. squad of Alexander Massialas, Nick Itkin and Gerek Meinhardt defeated Italy in the final, 45-40.

A combined men’s and women’s Sabre World Cup was held in Algiers (ALG), with Georgian Sandro Bazadze, the 2022 Worlds bronze medalist, stopping Luigi Samele (ITA) in the men’s final, 15-13. Spain’s Lucia Martin-Portugues won the women’s title, 15-12, over Michela Battiston (ITA). Korea won the men’s team final and France took the women’s team title.

● Figure Skating ● World Pairs Champions Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier of the U.S. won both the Short Program and Free Skate on the way to a solid win at the ISU Grand Prix in Sheffield (GBR) known as the MK John Wilson Trophy.

Knierim and Frazier scored 205.85 to easily top the standings, ahead of Sara Conti and Niccolo Macci (ITA: 184.19) with fellow Americans Katie McBeath and Nathan Bartholomay sixth (147.29).

Italy’s Daniel Grassl won the men’s competition, moving from second after the Short Program to win with 264.35 points, for his (and Italy’s) first Grand Prix victory and second career medal. That was almost 10 points clear of Latvia’s Deniss Vasiljevs; Americans Jimmy Ma and Tomoki Hiwatashi finished seventh (214.47) and ninth (188.73).

American Isabeau Levito was second after the women’s Short Program, just 0.17 behind Japan’s Mai Mihara, but Mihara won the Free Skate as well for her first ISU World Cup title, scoring 217.43 to 215.74 (a lifetime best) for Levito. Fellow American Bradie Tennell had a difficult skate, placing 10th in the Short Program and 12th in the Free Skate and finished 12th (153.19).

Two-time European Championships bronze medalists Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri won their second straight ISU Grand Prix gold, scoring 213.74 to out-distance Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson (GBR: 205.56). Americans Christina Carrera and Anthony Ponomarenko finished fourth (187.42) and the brother-sister combo of Oona Brown (18) and Gage Brown (20) were seventh (173.74).

● Football ● “Today we received a message from FIFA that the training shirt we had thought the players should train in, which says ‘Human Rights For All’ on the stomach, has been rejected for technical reasons, and we are sorry about that.”

That’s Danish Football Union director Jakob Jensen, speaking to the Dutch outlet DR Sporten last week, adding that other national federations had asked for permission for similar messaging, but had all been refused. He added:

“We are of the opinion that the message Human Rights for All is universal and is not a political call, but it should be something that all people can support.” However, FIFA’s World Cup regulations state:

“It is prohibited to display political, religious or personal messages as well as slogans of any kind in any language or form by players and officials on their playing or team uniforms, equipment (including bags, beverage containers, medical bags, etc.) or body.”

● Ice Hockey ● “Over the last year, the NHL and NHLPA have been working on plans to conduct the next World Cup of Hockey, the premier international best-on-best hockey tournament in February 2024.

“Unfortunately, in the current environment it is not feasible to hold the World Cup of Hockey at that time. We continue to plan for the next World Cup of Hockey, hopefully in February 2025.”

Friday’s announcement from the National Hockey League and the NHL Players’ Association was a disappointment to those who wanted to see the national-team event continue, after last being held in 2016. The issue of Russian participation was one issue, but not the only one that ended up postponing the event.

● Short Track ● Korea’s Ji-won Park and Canada’s Courtney Sauralt each won two individual events at the ISU Four Continents Championships at the Olympic Oval in Kearns, Utah (USA).

Park, already with two World Cup wins coming into the meet, took the men’s 1,000 m and 1,500 m in speedy times of 1:27.548 and 2:16.409. He led a 1-2 for Korea in the 1,500 with Kyung-hwan Hong (2:16.471) close behind. Canada’s Beijing 2022 bronze medalist Steven Dubois won the 500 m title at 40.316 over Andrew Heo of the U.S. (40.687). Dubois picked up a second gold in the 5,000 m relay.

Sauralt, a five-time Worlds medal winner, actually won three golds, taking the 1,000 m in 2:18.615 over China’s Li Gong (1:28.840) and then the 1,500 m in 2:25.614, ahead of American Kristen Santos-Griswold (2:25.708). Sauralt was also on the winning Canadian team for the women’s 3,000 m relay.

In the 500 m final, Korea’s two-time Olympic relay gold medalist Suk-hee Shim won in 42.273, but with Santos-Griswold right behind in 43.302. Santos-Griswold won three bronzes in the first two ISU World Cup meets and continues her move to the top echelon with two silvers.

China won the 2,000 m Mixed Relay, with the U.S. second with Heo, Marcus Howard, Santos-Griswold and Corinne Stoddard.

● Speed Skating ● The ISU World Cup opened with the first of six events, in Stavanger (NOR), with a new American star-in-the-making in 18-year-old Jordan Stolz.

A Beijing 2022 Olympian, he finished 13th in the 500 m and 14th in the 1,000 m, but over the weekend scored his first two World Cup wins. He first took the 1,500 m on Friday by almost two seconds in a track record 1:44.891 and on Sunday won the 1,000 m in 1:08.73, ahead of Beijing silver medalist Laurent Dubreuil (1:09.22)!

Japan’s Yuma Murakami won the men’s 500 m in 34.708, ahead of Dubreuil (34.750), and Beijing silver winner Patrick Roest (NED) took the 5,000 m in 6:20.651, just ahead of Beijing 10,000 m bronze medalist Davide Giotto (ITA: 6:21.512). Germany’s Felix Rijhnen won the Mass start in 8:03.98.

Dutch star Jutta Leerdam, a five-time Worlds medalist, won the women’s 1,000 m in 1:15.61, ahead of Korea’s Min-sun Kim (1:15.82), but Kim took the 500 m in 37.553 to 38.080 for Leerdam. Olympic champ Erin Jackson of the U.S. was eighth (38.302) in the 500 m and 13th in the 1,000 m; teammate Kimi Goetz was fifth in the 1,000 m (1:17.15).

Olympic silver medalist Miho Takagi won the women’s 1,500 m in 1:56.556, ahead of Norway’s Ragne Wiklund (1:57.495), but Wiklund took the 3,000 m in 4:02.119, beating Olympic champ Irene Schouten (NED: 4:05.017). Canada’s Beijing silver winner Ivan Blondin won the Mass Start in 8:58.72, ahead of Marijke Groenewoud (8:58.80) and Schouten (8:59.05), with American Mia Kilburg fifth (8:59.59).

● Swimming ● Italian distance star Gregorio Paltrinieri completed a pretty spectacular 2022 by adding another trophy to his collection with a victory in the fifth and final leg of the FINA Marathon World Series, in Eilat (ISR).

It took a final sprint for Paltrinieri to win the 10 km race in 1:46:41.8, just ahead of France’s Marc-Antoine Oliver (1:46:43.4) and David Betlehem (HUN: 1:46:44.2). Hungarian star Kristof Rasovszky finished fourth in 1:46:45.4 and he and Paltrinieri tied for the seasonal title with 2,400 points. That adds to Paltrinieri’s golds at the FINA World Championships in the 10 km Open Water and the men’s 1,500 m Freestyle from earlier in the season.

The women’s series title was clearly going to go to Brazil’s Ana Marcela Cunha, who won for the sixth time, after 2010–12-14-18-21. She finished a surprise second in Eilat, however, to Australia’s Chelsea Gubecka, 1:56:19.8 to 1:56:23.6, with German Leonie Beck third in 1:56:25.3.

Cunha, the Tokyo Olympic champ in the 10 km Open Water, took the seasonal title with 2,900 points to 2,700 for Rio Olympic champ Sharon van Rouwendaal (NED).

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TSX REPORT: Fourth arrest of Takahashi in Tokyo 2020 bribe probe; Griner on way to Russian penal colony; Blatter says France caused Qatar ‘22 selection

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Takahashi arrested for fourth time in Tokyo sponsorship scandal
2. Brittney Griner transferred to Russian penal colony
3. Ex-FIFA chief Blatter says France wanted Qatar to get World Cup
4. FIFA announces Israel and Palestinian fan flights from Tel Aviv
5. U.S. women tie it late, but Germany wins, 2-1, in the 89th minute

Former Tokyo 2020 board member Haruyuki Takahashi was arrested for a fourth time on Wednesday as part of the sponsorship bribery scandal at the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee. Prosecutors believe the combined bribes uncovered so far totaled more than $1.3 million. In Russia, two-time Olympic basketball gold medalist Brittney Griner was moved – more quickly than expected – to a penal colony and is continuing to serve a nine-year sentence for “drug smuggling” while U.S. diplomats try to negotiate her release. Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter said in an interview that French government influence ended up giving the 2022 FIFA World Cup to Qatar instead of the U.S. He also called the selection of Qatar a “mistake.” FIFA announced an agreement to allow several thousand Israeli and Palestinian World Cup ticket holders to fly on special flights from Tel Aviv into Qatar, which has no diplomatic relations with Israel. In Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, the no. 3-ranked German women defeated the no. 1-ranked U.S., 2-1, the third straight loss for the Americans, something which had not happened in 29 years.

This weekend, the 2027 World University Games will be awarded to the U.S. (North Carolina) or to Korea, and the modern pentathlon federation will decide whether to replace riding with obstacle course at the UIPM Congress.

1.
Takahashi arrested for fourth time in Tokyo sponsorship scandal

No let-up in indictments and arrests in the Tokyo 2020 sponsorship and marketing influence scandal as former organizing committee board member Haruyuki Takahashi was arrested for a fourth time.

Kyodo News reported that Takahashi, a former senior director of Japanese ad giant Dentsu, Inc., was arrested for a fourth time for bribes paid by advertising agency ADK Holdings and toy maker Sun Arrow, Inc.

The bribe line-up reported so far includes:

● ¥51 million from suit retailer Aoki Holdings (~$360,699 U.S.)
● ¥76 million from publisher Kadokawa Corp. (~$537,377)
● ¥15 million from ad agency Daiko Advertising (~$106,061)
● ¥7 million from plush-toy maker Sun Arrow Inc. (~$49,495)
● ¥47 million from ad agency ADK Holdings (~$332,325)

The Tokyo prosecutors have now alleged bribes totaling ¥196 million, or about $1,385,867, most of which went to Takahashi, but some to consulting firms that were aligned with Takahashi.

In the case of Aoki Holdings and Kadokawa Corporation, the allegation is that the companies became sponsors at a discounted rate thanks to Takahashi; Sun Arrow received a license to make toys with Tokyo 2020 marks and of the mascots; the advertising agencies wanted help to be named as agents for other companies who were sponsors or suppliers.

Prosecutors also indicted two Sun Arrow executives, three from ADK Holdings and Joji Matsui, the owner of a consulting firm who assisted with the flow-through of funds to Takahashi.

No indication yet of the timing of possible trials on the charges filed.

2.
Brittney Griner transferred to Russian penal colony

“We do not have any information on her exact current location or her final destination.”

Two-time Olympic basketball gold medalist Brittney Griner’s Russian attorneys, Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov, told CNN that she has been transferred to a Russian penal colony, following the denial of her appeal in October from a “drug smuggling” conviction and nine-year sentence.

“In accordance with the standard Russian procedure, the attorneys, as well as the U.S. Embassy, should be notified upon her arrival at her destination. Notification is given via official mail and normally takes up to two weeks to be received.”

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken released a statement:

“Following a sham trial and the unjust sentencing of Brittney Griner, Moscow is transferring her from a prison in Moscow to a remote penal colony. It is another injustice layered on her ongoing unjust and wrongful detention.

“As we work to secure Brittney Griner’s release, we expect Russian authorities to provide our Embassy officials with regular access to all U.S. citizens detained in Russia, including Brittney, as is their obligation. Ensuring the health and welfare of U.S. citizen detainees in Russia is a priority, and we will continue to press for fair and transparent treatment for them all.

“Our hearts are with Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, as well as their family, friends, and supporters, who all continue to suffer from Russia’s decision to wrongfully detain U.S. citizens. We continue to work relentlessly to bring them home. I am focused on doing so, as are so many others in the Department. We will not relent until they are reunited with their loved ones.”

Griner is coming up on nine months since she was detained upon entry into Russia in February.

3.
Ex-FIFA chief Blatter says France wanted Qatar to get World Cup

Former FIFA President Joseph “Sepp” Blatter (SUI), now 86, told the Swiss newspaper Tages Anzeiger in a lengthy interview that French influence swung the 2022 World Cup host selection from the U.S. to Qatar.

Blatter was the federation’s leader from 1998 to 2015, when he was removed from office by the FIFA Ethics Committee over extravagant bonus payments made by FIFA. He was prosecuted by Switzerland for criminal misappropriation of funds and mismanagement, but was acquitted earlier this year. Blatter had plenty to say about the 2022 World Cup and Qatar (computer translation from the original German):

● “The choice of Qatar was a mistake. At the time, we actually agreed in the Executive Committee that Russia should get the 2018 World Cup and the USA that of 2022. It would have been a gesture of peace if the two long-standing political opponents had hosted the World Cup one after the other.”

● On Qatar: “It’s too small a country. Football and the World Cup are too big for [them].”

● On the selection of Qatar:

“A week before the 2010 FIFA Congress, Michel Platini [FRA] called me and said: ‘Sepp, ça ne va plus jouer.’ [Sepp, it won’t play anymore.]. What he meant by that was that our plan would no longer work. …

“[French] President [Nicolas] Sarkozy had just had lunch with the Crown Prince of Qatar. Sarkozy said to Platini: ‘See what you and your colleagues from UEFA can do for Qatar when the World Cup is awarded.’ …

“Yes. It came out exactly like this: Thanks to Platini’s four votes and his people, the World Cup went to Qatar instead of the USA. That’s the truth. …

“Again: this is the truth. But of course it was also about money. Six months later, Qatar bought fighter jets from the French for $14.6 billion.”

Blatter noted that once Qatar was selected and the stadium construction projects began – along with criticisms of the conditions – “we in FIFA supplemented the rules in 2012. Since then, social criteria and human rights have been taken into account in the award process.”

But he was also blunt about the bottom line:

“I can only repeat: the award to Qatar was a mistake. And I was responsible for that as President at the time. Now that the World Cup is imminent, I’m glad that, with a few exceptions, no footballers are boycotting the World Cup.”

4.
FIFA announces Israel and Palestinian fan flights from Tel Aviv

It’s hardly a breakthrough toward Middle East peace, but it’s a positive, as FIFA announced that Israelis and Palestinians will be able to fly on shared flights to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar:

“Direct charter flights will be temporarily operated between Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv and Hamad International Airport in Doha by an airline with existing landing rights in Qatar for the duration of the FIFA World Cup, subject to Israel’s security requirements and operational capabilities.”

Further details on the airline and the schedule are to come. Qatar has no diplomatic relations with Israel, so detailed negotiations were required to allow air travel out of Israel. FIFA initiated the process, which was described as:

“FIFA has met with representatives from FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC (Q22), the operational arm for tournament delivery, and from Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Culture and Sport to finalise plans that will enable Israelis and Palestinians to attend matches at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which gets under way on 20 November. The meeting was conducted in accordance with Qatar’s commitment to FIFA’s hosting requirements.”

CNN reported that “More than the 8,000 Palestinians and 3,800 Israelis have bought tickets for the tournament.”

A Qatar 2022 spokesperson told CNN in a statement, “[W]e have always said that all ticket holders will be able to attend matches in Qatar. The announcement today illustrates our commitment to respecting FIFA’s policies and hosting requirements including the right of everyone to attend matches.”

5.
U.S. women tie it late, but Germany wins, 2-1, in the 89th minute

An entertaining match between the no. 1-ranked U.S. women and no. 3 Germany in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida offered a lot of thrills, but ended with the third straight loss for the Americans, 2-1.

The last the U.S. women lost three in a row was back in 1993 and the loss ended a 71-match unbeaten streak (64-0-7) in home games that dated back to 2017. The U.S. lost both games on its recent European trip, to no. 4 England (2-1) and no. 6 Spain (2-0), and continued facing tough competition with the European runners-up from Germany.

The first half was scoreless, but with the Germans on offense in the first 15 minutes, with midfielder Lina Magull sending a shot just wide in the sixth minute. But the U.S. got busy, getting repeated chances, but Sophia Smith sent a shot over the goal in the 29th minute, Lindsey Horan’s header went wide off a brilliant cross from Sofia Huerta in the 35th, Horan hit the post off a stunning fake-and-feed close to the endline from Rose Lavelle in the 36th and Mallory Pugh’s hard shot from the left side was saved by German keeper Merle Frohms in the 37th.

And there were more shots that went wide or over the top of the goal, all the way to the halftime whistle. The sides shared possession equally in the half, but the U.S. quite rightly had a 9-5 lead on shots.

The U.S. kept up the heat in the second half, repeatedly attacking, with Horan sending a spectacular bicycle kick toward the German goal in the 51st minute, but it hit the post.

Worse for the Americans, the long rebound started a counterattack. Substitute striker Paulina Krumbiegel sent a hard shot from the left side of the box that was saved by U.S. keeper Casey Murphy, but the rebound found striker Klara Buhl, who shot from the left side of the box to the right corner, bounding off of Murphy for an own goal and a 1-0 German lead in the 52nd minute.

The teams made a host of substitutions after the 63rd minute, but the action continued. The Germans had excellent chances in the 73rd and 77th minutes, but sent their shots over the crossbar. In the 85th, a poor German clearance was recovered by U.S. star Alex Morgan, who gained control near the endline to the left of the German goal and sent a perfect cross to the onrushing (and unmarked) Megan Rapinoe, whose shot from the right side blew past Frohms for the 1-1 tie.

The Germans were undaunted and kept up the pressure, with substitute forward Jule Brand outrunning U.S. defender Alana Cook to a long ball in the U.S. zone, when sending a left-to-right cross beyond the American defense to Krumbiegel, who sent a rocket past Murphy from the right side for a 2-1 lead in the 89th that proved to be the winner.

Germany ended with a 56-44% edge in possession, but the shots were almost equal at 18-17 for the U.S. The two teams will play again on the 13th, in Harrison, New Jersey at 5 p.m. Eastern on ESPN. 

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● World University Games ● The International University Sports Federation (FISU) is expected to select Saturday (12th) between North Carolina’s U.S. bid and the Korean Chungcheong Megacity bid to host the 2027 World University Games.

The summer Universiade has only been held in the U.S. once, in Buffalo, New York, in 1993. Korea has hosted twice, as recently as 2015. The North Carolina bid has $25 million in start-up funding available from the state and has no need to build any venues or housing. The Koreans want to use the WUG as a development tool to build 10 new sites and has allocated about €440 million to fund the event.

● Figure Skating ● The Russian news agency TASS quoted the International Olympic Committee on the Kamila Valieva doping appeal filed by the World Anti-Doping Agency:

“The IOC expects the procedure to be carried out in strict accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code and hopes that it will be carried out quickly in order to allow the International Skating Union to determine the specific results of the figure skating team competition at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, and the IOC to make a decision on the distribution of medals.”

● Football ● The Minister of Justice and Security of the city of Buenos Aires, Marcelo D’Alessandro, said in a local radio interview that about 6,000 Argentinian fans will not be allowed to go to the World Cup in Qatar.

This follows a ban by British authorities of 1,300 known hooligans. Argentinian intelligence forces developed the list, and according to D’Alessandro:

“They were included for belonging to the barras [violent fan groups], for participating in violent acts, for illicit associations such as ‘trapitos’ [banned street businesses] and for owing child maintenance payments.”

Argentinian police will be present in Qatar to be on the lookout for any banned fans who might have been able to make it to the World Cup.

● Modern Pentathlon ● The Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne Congress will take place online on Saturday and Sunday, with a heavy agenda that includes a request for a vote of no confidence against longtime President Klaus Schormann (GER) and the approval (or not) of obstacle-course racing to replace riding in the event.

The federation leadership has supported obstacle course, but has been bitterly opposed by a loose confederation of athletes known as Pentathlon United, which wants to retain riding, but with significant changes in safety and procedures.

At present, modern pentathlon is not on the program for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, with the UIPM to present its proposal for a revised event to the International Olympic Committee for readmittance in 2023, when the LA28 program is finalized.

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LANE ONE: Metro Transit director says changing L.A.’s car culture is “the only way we will survive the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games”

By
Rich Perelman
-
Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority Olympics Task Force Director Kasey Shuda at the LA Sports Innovation Conference on Wednesday (Photo: The Sports Examiner)

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Los Angeles’s decades-long love affair with the automobile is well known, but according to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (known as Metro), the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games has to be the pivot point to more reliance on public transportation … or else!

That was the point made by Kasey Shuda, Metro’s Director for Construction Relations and Mitigation Programs and its Olympics Task Force, at Wednesday’s LA Sports Innovation Conference. Organized by the Los Angeles Sports Council, the program was held at the YouTube Theater at the Hollywood Park complex in Inglewood, California that includes SoFi Stadium, scheduled to be the site of the Opening Ceremony of the 2028 Olympic Games, as well as the archery competition.

During an afternoon panel on the “Impact of Sports in the L.A. Community,” Erikk Aldridge, the LA28 organizing committee Vice President, Impact, noted that in addition to continuing transit programs for events like Dodgers baseball games and NFL games at SoFi Stadium, mega-events coming to the Los Angeles area soon will include the College Football Playoff championship game in January, multiple matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Games. He asked:

“As you think about these large-scale events, and think about the community, is your head about to pop off, or is this like what you just do?”

Shuda was more than ready with her answer, providing a clear summary of what Metro wants to achieve via the 2028 Games (parentheticals added for clarity):

“I would say the Olympics is our biggest project yet. Ten miles of the subway is being built on Wilshire Boulevard, between Koreatown and [Olympic Village site] UCLA. Those are diverse communities, at every different station we’re constructing.

“So we’re out and about in the community doing projects, on a small scale. Now we have to connect them, so I think one of Metro’s biggest goals for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games is making those connections, and forcing Los Angeles – including everyone in this room – to adapt to new mobility changes.

(Shuda is referring to the Purple Line extension along Wilshire, now under construction, that is expected to cost $8.2 billion for an 8.7-mile route and seven stations in three phases, expected to open in 2024, 2025 and 2027.)

“We all have to get out of our cars, and driving a Tesla does not count as helping the environment because you’re still in a single-use vehicle in a lane of traffic. So we have to think bigger, and with all of these sports events coming our way, we have an opportunity to test out and do pilot programs for shuttle bus systems. You know, we’re running some shuttle bus systems from the end of our [new, $2.1 billion K Line] here to SoFi. We have the amazing Dodgers Express, that is super-successful for Dodgers fans [from downtown L.A. and from Gardena].

“And so how do we take those small-scale, once-a-week opportunities and make them part of Los Angeles’s daily commute?

“And so we’re looking to do that by integrating Metro ticketing … with every ticket to a Dodgers game. So instead of driving to the Dodgers game, you already – with your ticket – paid $3 to ride Metro all day, that day for free. Same with SoFi: I’m also plugging, because I’m trying to get these guys to agree with this, to have integrated ticketing, where every time, you know what it says? Dodgers game, your ticket is coming up today; you can pay $60 to park, or you can take Metro for free.

“So how do we change people’s behaviors, and make those mode changes? That’s the only way we will survive the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the only way we’ll change Los Angeles culture for the better.

“So one of Metro’s big things is leaving a legacy behind. So we’re not just going to build mobility hubs for the Games and them tear them down, and go back to business as usual, which is what happened in 1984. We need to more progressive, we need to think more of our children, the future of the climate and make these changes – and it’s going to be hard, it’s going to be hard on all of us – I still drove here by myself. Like, I’m not out here preaching, but we do have to think about how we’re going to make those changes, to make it successful.”

Shuda is only the latest Metro executive to try and get Angelenos out of their cars and no one has been successful yet. However, there were some impactful park-and-ride programs implemented on a modest scale for the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, and the integration of shuttle bus service with Olympic tickets was widely used for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, which had severely limited parking at many of its venues.

The impact panel was interestingly introduced by Nicole Bekkers, the Head of Commercial Strategy and Business Development for the KNVB, the Dutch national football federation, which was a sponsor of the LA Sports Innovation Conference.

What? Netherlands? Why? Said Bekkers, appearing on behalf of SportNL, a public-private initiative to bring together the major sports organizations in the Netherlands as well as the government:

“We truly believe that sport should always have a positive impact on the local community. And you’re probably wondering why is the Netherlands delegation here?

“The answer is quite simple, actually. That’s because L.A. is the sports capital of the world, period. And the future of sports is being shaped here in L.A. We want to be part of that future, need to be here, want to be here and we want to be part of that future by working together with you. We want to help create more success for L.A. than ever before.

“We want to find ways to contribute to the success of L.A. from the sport angle, inclusion and sustainability. So that’s why we are here and will be here for the long term, the long haul.”

To her point: the Dutch government operates a Netherlands Business Support Office in Los Angeles, to support Dutch entrepreneurs working in Southern California.

The opening panel of the Innovation Conference was a presentation by the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) reporting on the economic impact of sports in the L.A. area in 2021.

This was a follow-up to their report on sports and the economy in 2018, and despite the pandemic that swallowed most of 2020 and much of 2021, the total impact of professional and college teams in the area expanded by $500 million! The summary statistics:

● Total economic impact 2021: $7.0 billion ($6.0B professional teams)
● Total economic impact 2018: $6.5 billion ($5.3B professional teams)

● Total employment 2021: 39,690 jobs and $4.0 billion in wages
● Total employment 2018: 37,030 jobs and $3.6 billion in wages
(employment includes full-time [52.5%] and part-time workers)

● State and local tax revenue 2021: $363.6 million
● State and local tax revenue 2018: $353.9 million

And there was more that was not counted: “This report understates the economic impact of the sports industry in the region as the impacts do not include the impact of visitor spending or special events like the Super Bowl LVI held at SoFi Stadium in the 2021-2022 season.”

The seven-panel Innovation Conference ended with a $120,000 award in a live “Startup Showdown – Sports & Tech Edition” with entrepreneurs pitching their concepts and looking for investment for new ideas in sports from Los Angeles.

If Shuda and her team at Metro can change L.A.’s personal car habit by 2028, it will easily rank as the most amazing innovation discussed at Wednesday’s conference.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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TSX REPORT: WADA removes Valieva doping case from Russia; U.S. Marathon Trials to Orlando; new Milan Cortina ‘26 CEO told to start fast!

By
Rich Perelman
-
The Court of Arbitration for Sport

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. WADA takes Valieva case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport
2. Ecuador’s World Cup place confirmed as Castillo held eligible
3. Orlando selected to host 2024 U. S. Olympic Marathon Trials
4. Varnier to be Milan Cortina 2026 chief … with a warning
5. Telemundo to offer wall-to-wall World Cup coverage

The World Anti-Doping Agency, tired of waiting for the Russian Anti-Doping Agency to act on the months-long inquiry into skater Kamila Valieva’s positive doping test prior to the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, has pulled the case out of Russia and to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Under the World Anti-Doping Code, Valieva will be presumed to have been cleared by the Russians and will try to prove otherwise. The Court of Arbitration for Sport announced that Ecuador will not be replaced at the FIFA World Cup by Chile or Peru, as wing Byron Castillo was determined to be eligible to play for Ecuador in the qualification phase. Orlando was selected to host the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, the first time the event will be held in Florida. The floundering Milan Cortina 2026 organizing committee will get a new chief executive in Andrea Varnier, an experienced entertainment executive who was a key staff member of the Turin 2006 organizing committee. He is charged with reviving the domestic sponsorship sales program and energizing the organization of the Winter Games. Comcast’s Telemundo has the U.S. Spanish-language rights for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and will deluge viewers with coverage on television and online, not only with live match coverage from Qatar, but pre-match and post-match shows, an hour-long discussion program at the end of each match day and a daily wrap-up show at midnight Eastern time throughout the tournament.

1.
WADA takes Valieva case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport

“Despite putting RUSADA under formal notice to resolve the Kamila Valieva case promptly, no progress was made. Therefore, I can confirm WADA has now officially referred it directly to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.”

That’s a tweet from World Anti-Doping Agency President Witold Banka (POL) on Tuesday, removing the slow-moving case that has held up the results of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games Figure Skating Team Event since February, from the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, under Rule 13.3 of the World Anti-Doping Code (2021):

“Failure to Render a Timely Decision by an Anti-Doping Organization

“Where, in a particular case, an Anti-Doping Organization fails to render a decision with respect to whether an antidoping rule violation was committed within a reasonable deadline set by WADA, WADA may elect to appeal directly to CAS as if the Anti-Doping Organization had rendered a decision finding no anti-doping rule violation.”

Inevitably, the Valieva case was going to end up at the Court of Arbitration for Sport anyway, so the RUSADA Disciplinary Committee hearing has essentially been skipped. How did we get here?

● Valieva, who emerged as the favorite in the women’s figure skating competition at the Beijing Winter Games after winning at the European Championships, failed an in-competition doping test on 25 December 2021 as she tested positive for the banned heart drug trimetazidine.

● However, the positive finding was not announced until 7 February 2022, just after Valieva – then 15 – had won the women’s portion of the Olympic Team Event and Russia had won the overall event, with the U.S. second and Japan third (and Canada fourth). The delay, from the anti-doping lab in Stockholm (SWE) was blamed on a lack of available technical staff due to Covid restrictions.

● Valieva was provisionally suspended on 8 February and the medal ceremony for the Team Event was postponed. After multiple appeals, Valieva was eventually allowed to skate in the women’s competition and finished fourth.

So the issue has been the Team Event, with the official results still not confirmed and no medals awarded. Thus, WADA has stepped in, after the Russian Anti-Doping Agency indicated on 14 September that its inquiry into the matter – that started in February – was complete and that a hearing would be held in October. But so far, no hearing.

WADA will request all of the information compiled by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency for the CAS hearing, and if it does not provide it, RUSADA could once again be suspended, again removing Russia from international competitions (in addition to the International Olympic Committee’s ban over the invasion of Ukraine). RUSADA said in a statement that it “is conducting the results processing procedure in accordance with the requirements of international standards.”

So the issue has been joined and WADA will move forward to appeal what is now an assumption under the World Anti-Doping Code that Valieva did not commit an anti-doping violation. Stay tuned.

2.
Ecuador’s World Cup place confirmed as Castillo held eligible

The last-ditch effort to dislodge Ecuador from the 2022 FIFA World Cup failed, as the Court of Arbitration for Sport announced Tuesday that appeals by Chile and Peru were upheld in part, but not to allow either to join the tournament.

The furor was over wing Byron Castillo, who was born in Colombia, but played for the Ecuadorian team during eight of its World Cup qualifying matches. Both Chile and Peru claimed that Ecuador should be disqualified or forfeit the games Castillo played in and they should be advanced to the World Cup tournament. The CAS arbitrators found:

“The [Federacion Ecuatoriana de Futbol] did not violate Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code because the Player was eligible to participate in the preliminary competition to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Since the nationality of a player with a national association is determined by national laws (subject to time limits in case of a change of sporting nationality, which was not the case here), Byron Castillo was eligible to play for the FEF in the preliminary round of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 considering that the Ecuadorian authorities acknowledged Byron Castillo as an Ecuadorian national.”

However, the Ecuadorian federation was found to have provided false information about Castillo in violation of FIFA rules, in that his date and place of birth was wrong, although it may have been Castillo who provided the incorrect details. Nevertheless, Ecuador was penalized three points in the qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and required to pay a fine of CHF 100,000.

Why not penalize Ecuador the three points now, which would elevate either Chile or Peru? The announcement stated:

“The Panel determined that the 3-point deduction should not be imposed in the present preliminary competition to the FIFA World Cup, but rather in the next edition, considering that the Player was eligible to play in the preliminary competition to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and that such competition has not been affected by the aforementioned rule violation by the FEF.”

Ecuador was drawn into Group A and will play Qatar in the opening match of the World Cup on 20 November.

3.
Orlando selected to host 2024 U. S. Olympic Marathon Trials

USA Track & Field and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee announced Orlando, Florida as the host for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, with Chattanooga, Tennessee apparently the only other potential host.

According to the announcement: “The top three female and male place finishers in the Olympic Trials who have met qualifying performance standards will self-select for the 2024 USATF Olympic squad.”

The race is slated for 3 February 2024, with average highs in Orlando of 71-72 F and lows of 52-53 F, which could be fine assuming an early-morning start. The weather this year was warmer, with a high of 85 and a low of 59. Sunrise will be about 7:15 a.m.

Humidity will be the question, although early February tends to be the driest time of the year.

In June, World Athletics announced:

“Any national Olympic committee may choose to reallocate a quota place to an unqualified athlete, provided the athlete has achieved at least a 2:11:30 (men) or 2:29:30 (women) eligibility performance within the qualification window.”

This appears to mean that as long as the U.S. has three marathoners who have met the not-yet-announced qualifying standard – whether men or women – they can be replaced by others (i.e., who finish in the top three at the Trials), as long as they have run at least 2:11:30 for men or 2:29:30 for women.

The entry standards for the 2023 World Championships in Budapest are 2:09:40 for men and 2:28:00 for women; half the entries are hoped for on time and the remainder from the World Athletics world rankings. In 2022, just four American men have run faster than 2:09:40 and seven faster than 2:11:30; the women have done better, with eight faster than 2:28:00 and 10 at 2:29:30 or faster.

As for getting into the Trials in Orlando, the USATF entry standards are 2:18:00 for men (or 1:03 for the half marathon) and 2:37:00 for women (or 1:12:00 for the half).

4.
Varnier to be Milan Cortina 2026 chief … with a warning

In the face of disappointing domestic marketing results and a perceived lack of activity by the organizing committee, 59-year-old entertainment executive Andrea Varnier will be the new chief executive of the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic Winter Games organizing committee.

He’s no stranger to the Winter Games, having been the Image and Events Director for the Winter Games organizing committee for Turin 2006, and then continuing his involvement as a consultant on ceremonies to the IOC. He headed a television production company in Rome, and most recently has been the chief executive of Costa Edutainment S.p.a., the leader in Italy in amusement parks and aquariums.

He will be expected to move things forward quickly. New Italian Sports Minister Andrea Abodi said at a sports conference on Tuesday:

“Tomorrow we will communicate the name of the new CEO, but as early as the day after tomorrow or in any case by the end of the week he must understand what to do.

“I tried to identify a profile starting from the characteristics of the person, not choosing the absolute best but the best relative, because the Olympic events need a deep knowledge. The timing is tight.”

Abodi further noted that the government will need to be closely involved, especially in oversight of the building projects attendant to the Winter Games. Said Italian National Olympic Committee chief Giovanni Malago:

“Now we can no longer make mistakes. We remember that the Fondazione Milano Cortina has nothing to do with the works [construction], but without them it is as if we have not started the game. Now we must to work as a team, to avoid personalities and there are all the conditions to do well.”

5.
Telemundo to offer wall-to-wall World Cup coverage

American fans are used to major events being covered from every angle, such as with ESPN’s “Mega-Cast” of major college football playoff games, and Spanish-language fans will get a heavy dose of FIFA World Cup coverage from Qatar from Comcast-owned Telemundo.

Where networks around the world have been moving their announcers and crews back home and using satellite technology to its fullest, Telemundo has gone back to being on-site:

● All 64 games of the tournament will be covered live by on-site announce teams, with an NFL-style video-review room with commentary from experienced referees;

● Ten additional positions will be set up around Doha, with four sets and stand-up positions, with the main set inside the Souq Waqif Marketplace;

● Then there are the shows around the matches:

(1) “Hoya de la Copa” (Today at the Cup): a 30-minute preview and review show covering each match;

(2) “Debate Mundial” (World Cup Debate): a 60-minute discussion program after the final match of each day;

(3) “Zona Mixta: Edicion Mundial” (Mixed Zone: World Cup Edition): daily at midnight Eastern time.

The coverage total across all platforms will comprise more than 2,000 hours during the month, produced by an on-site and U.S. team of 650. A free “Copa Mundial 24/7 Virtual Channel” will also be available on the Peacock streaming service.

Observed: It will be fascinating to see how the ancillary taking-heads shows do in terms of viewership and how this might influence NBC’s coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The network is well aware of the steady decline in Olympic viewing, but the combination of iconic Paris and a friendlier time zone to the U.S. than the 2020 Tokyo Games is hoped to create a ratings rebound.

But NBC’s Olympic coverage is very much directed to live events and replays of events not held in a favorable time frame for American viewers. Relatively little time is devoted to Games chatter now, although there has been some in the past. If the Telemundo programming does well, it could shape new thinking about programming for Paris.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 2024: Paris ● Good news for athletes and for the Paris 2024 organizers, who announced the signing of French food giant Danone as an Official Partner, to supply dairy and vegetable products to the Games.

Paris 2024 sponsorships are being closely watched as the organizers struggle to manage their budget under the weight of inflation and supply-chain issues. While the IOC already has a partner in this category in the China Mengniu Dairy Company (which has partnered with Coca-Cola to take the beverage area), Mengniu has no operations in France and an exception was made, reportedly with Danone to market its Olympic ties only in France.

● Athletics ● What happened to Brazil’s Daniel Do Nascimento, who stormed to the lead at the New York Marathon on Sunday, then crumpled to the ground after mile 20 and did not finish?

LetsRun.com reported that he is fine, according to his agent Gianni Demadonna (ITA), who said that he was taken to a hospital, suffering from a low blood sugar count and dehydration. He was released after about 90 minutes. Demadonna noted, “The problem was that he underestimated the humidity and the warm[th] of NY today and in any case he open[ed] too fast.”

Nascimento, 24, was running his sixth career marathon, all in 2021 and 2022. He did not finish at the Tokyo Olympic Games, but was third at the 2022 Seoul Marathon in a national record of 2:04:51, then finished eighth at the Eugene World Championships in 2:07:35 before trying New York.

Great work by Runner’s World, which checked out the shoe choices of the top-10 finishers at the New York City Marathon!

Among the men, it was Nike (5), adidas (3) and Asics (2) in the top 10. For women, the brand choices were Nike (4), adidas (1), Hoka (1), On (1), Asics (2) and Under Armour (1).

The problems suffered by some Kenyan athletes trying to get visas into the U.S. for the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene have not been forgotten, especially the travails of sprint star Ferdinand Omanyala, who arrived less than a day before his first race and was eliminated in the semis.

Nandi County is one of the hotbeds of running in Kenya and its governor, Stephen Sang, has proposed to federal sports secretary Ababu Namwamba that Kenya’s national-team athletes should be issued diplomatic passports to aid their travel:

“Look at what happened with Omanyala. He is a great athlete in this country but the stories that surrounded his travel to Oregon were a shame. Our elite athletes have made a huge impact in our country and it’s time they were issued diplomatic passports.”

Namwamba promised to bring it up at the Cabinet level and if approved, to see that enhanced passports are issued. Start of a trend?

● Boxing ● The ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes has reached professional boxing, as the World Boxing Council announced that it would not sanction fights involving fighters from those countries, or matches to be held in either country.

This is an extension of the WBC ban on fights held in Russia, imposed in February after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The other professional boxing organizations – World Boxing Association, World Boxing Organization and International Boxing Federation – all imposed that sanction as well.

● Gymnastics ● The FIG World Artistic Championships in Liverpool (GBR) drew modest interest for its one appearance on NBC last Saturday. Starting at noon Eastern time, just before the kickoff of NFL games, the 90-minute Worlds highlight show drew 682,000 viewers.

All of NBC’s other coverage was on its Peacock streaming service.

● Swimming ● Italy’s Paolo Barelli was a power in swimming for years, as the head of the European Swimming League (LEN) and as a member of the FINA Bureau. Voted out of both groups, he has been suspended for two years by FINA’s independent Ethics Panel for “multiple rule violations of the FINA Constitution and the FINA Code of Ethics.”

The panel found that Barelli unilaterally signed an agreement that reduced the hosting fee due from the Italian swimming federation for the 2022 European Championships from €1.5 million to €500,000, while he was serving as President of both organizations!

Further, Barelli billed €495,587.22 (about $499,557 U.S.) in expenses to the Italian National Olympic Committee, despite have already been reimbursed through a grant by the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance. A court has ordered him to refund the second payment to CONI.

The FINA sanctions are in addition to, and not in place of, other actions against Barelli relating to these incidents.

● Tennis ● The Women’s Tennis Association allows Russian and Belarusian players to compete, but as neutrals and both countries had players in the championship matches of the WTA Finals in Ft. Worth, Texas.

France’s no. 4-ranked Caroline Garcia defeated no. 5 Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) in the Singles final by 7-6, 6-4, for her fourth title of the year. In the Doubles final, Russian Veronika Kudermetova and Belgium’s Elise Mertens won over the Czech pair of Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova, 6-2, 4-6 and 11-9.

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.

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TSX REPORT: IBA blames ex-chief Wu for boxing’s Olympic problems; Qatar decries “double standards,” accused of spying; Valieva wins Russian Grand Prix

By
Rich Perelman
-
Four-division world boxing champion Roy Jones Jr. at the IBA news conference in Dubai on 7 November (IBA video screen grab)

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

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Without the Olympics, “boxing is going to be dead”
2. Qatar rips German “double standards” in World Cup criticism
3. Rowing’s LA28 goals aimed at adding coastal rowing
4. Italian rhythmic gymnasts allege abuse, demand change
5. Valieva wins Russian Grand Prix in Kazan

The International Boxing Association staged a news conference in Dubai (UAE) which featured famed boxer Roy Jones, Jr., a dual citizen of the U.S. and Russia, saying that “boxing at the Olympics can’t be touched,” but admitting that if the sport is not restored for LA28, “boxing is going to be dead.” The Foreign Minister of Qatar criticized the comments of the German Interior Minister that the country should not have been picked to host the FIFA World Cup by calling out a “double standard” on the tournament as against German interest in Qatar’s energy resources. The World Rowing President said that the federation has given up on keeping “Lightweight” rowing in the Olympic Games and is concentrating on adding three coastal rowing events, at minimal cost in the same area as the Long Beach Marine Stadium, to be used for main rowing channel. In Italy, three rhythmic gymnastics have alleged emotional abuse by coaches, especially over weight, prompting an investigation by the national federation and an apology from the Italian National Olympic Committee. Controversial Russian skating star Kamila Valieva won the third leg of the Russian Grand Prix in Kazan on Sunday, but missed on a quadruple toe loop. She tried it twice more after her routine was over, but missed them again!

1.
Without the Olympics, “boxing is going to be dead”

The International Boxing Association held a fascinating news conference in Dubai (UAE) on Monday, claiming it has fulfilled all of the requirements to be added to the Olympic program for Los Angeles in 2028 and blaming all of its problems on former President C.K. Wu (TPE).

IBA President Umar Kremlev (RUS) appeared with 1988 Olympic Light Middleweight silver medalist – and later four-division professional World Champion – Roy Jones, Jr., a dual Russian and American citizen, Rio 2016 women’s Lightweight winner Estelle Mossely (FRA) and 2022 women’s Flyweight World Champion Nikhat Zareen from India.

Jones made an impassioned plea concerning boxing’s Olympic status:

“We now have what the IOC asked for: they asked for fair judgement, they asked for financial stability, they asked for government [reform], whatever … [Kremlev] does it all. He’s done everything that they asked to fix this.

“So now, what I don’t understand is, why nobody want to talk about the fact that he’s done all he can to fix it, they want to talk about the past, but the past has nothing to do with him. … It’s now what’s happening today and for tomorrow.

“Boxing has a future … If we don’t all come together right now to save this sport, we’re going to be in trouble. Boxing at the Olympics can’t be touched; it’s the best thing in amateur sports to me. …

“When I was a kid, my dreams were to become an Olympic champion first. That’s how my career started. That’s how legends start, at the Olympics. For me, if we don’t all get together, on the same team, unite and fight for the betterment of amateur boxing, especially at the Olympic level, boxing is going to be dead.”

Kremlev barely addressed the Olympic issue, but doubled down on his stance that Russian and Belarusian fighters are welcome to participate in IBA tournament, with the use of their flag and anthem, in direct contradiction to the request of the International Olympic Committee following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine:

“IBA exactly demonstrates, by its decisions, that we are supporting unity of people, not separation of people, especially when we talk about our sportsmen. I said before, for the sportsman, it is very important to hear the national anthem and to see their national flag. Therefore, our task as a functioning sports organization is to protect their interest and this is exactly what we are doing.

“We should not be a political tool for somebody. Where sports start, their politics finish. Where boxing starts, the conflict is no more.”

On Saturday, the IBA Council declared Wu, the head of the federation, then known as AIBA, from 2006-17, persona non grata at all IBA events, with Kremlev adding:

“They say that corruption within AIBA took place, but this corruption has a name. His name is C.K. Wu. We should speak plainly without avoiding unpleasant or embarrassing issues. We [are] not afraid to reveal the truth. We need to decide once and for all: forget the past and put a full stop. We have to be strict, all those involved must be banned for a lifetime. We take a decision that these people will not ever take part in any IBA activities.”

The IBA Council approved amendments to the IBA Constitution for voting by the IBA Congress in December, including that “athletes affiliated to a suspended National Federation would not be deprived of their rights to take a part in the competitions under their national flag and anthem but without any symbols of the suspended National Federation.”

At the news conference, Kremlev also announced that the men’s World Championships will be held next May in Tashkent (UZB) and provide more prize money for medal winners, with $200,000 for the gold medalists, $100,000 for silver and $50,000 each for the bronze medalists, for a total of $5.2 million.

Observed: Kremlev is quite right when he blames Wu for a lot of the problems that caused boxing to implode on the Olympic level. However, his new IBA has not solved the IOC’s current issues with his federation, including its sources of income, election procedures, ranking systems, refereeing and judging processes and others. In addition, Kremlev’s declaration that the IOC’s ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes is to be ignored, followed up by a motion to add this into the IBA Constitution, is not likely to win any friends at Olympic House in Lausanne. The IOC Executive Board is slated to discuss the IBA status regarding the 2028 Olympic Games in early December, and a positive outcome is not currently expected.

2.
Qatar rips German “double standards” in World Cup criticism

One of the reasons a city, region or country bids for a high-profile, international sporting event is to invite more attention. Qatar, which will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup – set to open on 20 November – is getting plenty, but is not necessarily happy about it.

On Monday, Qatar Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani told the German Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung:

“It is unfortunate when politicians try to make their mark and score points at our expense. We are annoyed by the double standards.”

That’s a reference to German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser’s comments in late October concerning the selection of Qatar, including “There are criteria that have to be adhered to, and then it would be better if it weren’t awarded to such states.”

Al Thani continued:

● “On the one hand, the German population is misinformed by government politicians. On the other hand, the government has no problem with Qatar when it comes to energy partnerships and investments … or the rescue of German citizens from Afghanistan.

“But when we organize the World Cup, we want to enjoy this moment and celebrate together with the German team, then suddenly different standards apply. We cannot understand this.”

● “It is ironic when this tone is struck in countries in Europe that call themselves liberal democracies. It sounds very arrogant, frankly, and very racist.”

● “It seems difficult for some to accept that a small country, a small Arab country, should be allowed to host the World Cup.

“Racist stereotypes appear again and again. But that is not the case everywhere for a long time. There are fewer than ten countries from which such sharp criticism comes. The rest of the world is happy with us.”

Fans at Bundesliga matches in Germany last weekend showed protest banners criticizing the selection of Qatar to host the World Cup.

A lengthy story by Swiss broadcaster SRF added details to a story first reported in 2018, that Qatar officials created a $387 million intelligence and influence operation to ensure the 2022 World Cup was not taken away after its award in 2010.

A Qatari government spokesperson told the InsideTheGames site, “These baseless allegations are part of a coordinated, underhanded campaign to damage Qatar’s reputation. The report relies on documents that have been rejected outright by U.S. courts because of their inauthenticity. Multiple reputable international news outlets received the documents and opted not to publish the story once the inaccuracy of the evidence was revealed.”

3.
Rowing’s LA28 goals aimed at adding coastal rowing

World Rowing has been busy working on its presence at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

In a major departure from its usual operations, it approved the use of a shortened, 1,500 m course for the LA28 Games in order to place rowing at the Long Beach Marine Stadium – site of the 1932 Olympic rowing events – instead of a more remote site at Lake Perris in Riverside County, 90 minutes east of Los Angeles.

Now, federation chief Jean-Christophe Rolland (FRA) told FrancsJeux.com the next step is to accept the International Olympic Committee’s desire to eliminate the remaining “Lightweight” class events and include the newer, expanding discipline of coastal rowing:

● “Today, rowing is no longer limited to its classic format, present at the Olympic Games since Athens in 1896. We also have two other disciplines: indoor rowing on an ergometer, and sea rowing. The latter discipline has two formats, both using the same boats: endurance, similar to sailing, with a mass start and a 6 km course at sea; and beach sprint, with a run on the beach, then a climb in the boat for a 250 m course to a buoy and back, all in direct opposition with elimination until the final. This format has been retained for the 2026 Youth Games in Dakar.”

● “In my vision for the future, the idea is to expand the rowing community worldwide through our three disciplines. Classic rowing is not minimized, it remains the base and we continue to promote it. But we are developing the other two. Beach sprinting is a discipline of the future, which can bring added value to the Olympic Games. It is fast, young, fun and innovative. It can attract a different audience without requiring large investments.”

Rolland said that World Rowing’s proposal for 2028 includes a men’s and women’s event and a mixed-gender event for two athletes. And guided by the IOC’s desire for cost containment:

“In our application, we insist that we do not need an additional facility. We can integrate into an existing site, which could be for sailing, triathlon or long distance swimming. There are several options, but the Long Beach perimeter seems the most logical, across the street from the classic rowing facility, planned on an inland inlet.”

If nothing else, Rolland has a firm grip on the reality of his sport’s future Olympic program:

“[T]he lightweights, we would have lost them at the Olympics, it was inevitable. … With sea rowing, we increase the population of rowers in the world. In a sport world that has become so competitive, it is vital to be able to grow.”

The decision on the event line-up for LA28 will come in the fall of 2023.

4.
Italian rhythmic gymnasts allege abuse, demand change

Three Italian rhythmic gymnasts have alleged “violence and humiliating treatment to stop us from eating” over many years.

In an interview with La Repubblica, Nina Corradini, now 19, said “I had spent every minute of the previous few months wishing I could escape. Now I want to tell all and protect young people, everyone needs to know the truth.”

Five-time World Championships group-event medalist from 2017-19, Anna Basta quit the sport in 2020 at age 19 and said the bullying made her contemplate suicide and said, “I dreamed about the scale, a nightmare” and “I know that in 2 days I can get back to my former weight but I must not touch food.”

Giulia Galtarossa, a two-time World Champion in group events in 2009 and 2010, explained:

“They tried to make me feel guilty, telling me that the federation had invested in me… for a long time I thought I was really fat and ugly and that it was my fault. But the only thing I did that was wrong was to stay silent until today.”

On Monday, Giovanni Malago, the head of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) told La Repubblica:

“I feel the duty to apologise to any current or former athletes who may have suffered due to inappropriate behaviour. …

“We need to work out if these were talking about individual errors or if there was a system that pushed people to make those errors … A certain degree of rigour and harshness is inevitable, but it’s something else when you cross the line into violence and humiliation.”

The Italian national gymnastics federation committed to an investigation into the allegations.

The revelations came just days before the World Artistic Championships in Liverpool (GBR), where the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique co-hosted a “Safe Sport Journey Symposium” attended by officials from more than 50 countries.

USA Gymnastics President Li Li Leung was a featured speaker, talking about how to create change within organizations:

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast,” she said, and emphasized prioritizing athletes and well-being more than medals.

“We did have an underlying subculture, especially at the highest levels, that wasn’t healthy, and that enabled and ignored abuse. I wish I could say we undertook change all on our own, but the reality is that everything that happened forced a much-needed change, and it was the athletes who forced that change, and it is making the sport better than it was before.”

5.
Valieva wins Russian Grand Prix in Kazan

While her doping case from the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games continues without resolution, Russia’s 2022 European Champion Kamila Valieva won another stage of the Russian Grand Prix, this time in Kazan.

Now 16, Valieva was a member of the Russian squad for the Beijing 2022 Team Event, which won the competition on the ice, but the report of her doping positive from December has prevented the event being finalized until an inquiry into her status is completed.

Banned from international competition, Valieva has been skating on the Russian Grand Prix, whose third leg was completed over the weekend. She won easily, scoring 241.72 points to 210.34 for runner-up Veronika Yametova, 15.

Valieva tried to complete a quadruple toe loop during her Free Skate program, but fell, then tried twice more – without music, and unsuccessfully – after the end of her program! She said afterwards:

“I decided to try, why not? I was really upset that I couldn’t do it, everything was fine in training. Now I had more confidence, but I held back, it didn’t work out once, so I’ll try twice more.”

The next stage comes this weekend in Moscow.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Fencing ● USA Fencing announced a new policy for site selection for its major tournaments, including its five North American Cups, Junior Olympics and summer national championships:

“Beginning with the 2023-24 national tournament season and beyond, USA Fencing will give preference when selecting host cities for national tournaments to states without laws that harm members of LGBTQ communities as well as states that do not have laws undermining the reproductive health of women.”

The online announcement took pains to note that this was not a ban, but only a preference:

“[W]hy not filter by state laws first and only consider states without harmful legislation? Given the other factors outlined above, such a move would reduce the list of possible host cities to just over a dozen – with the possibility that additional states could pass similar laws in the future and further reduce the list.

“The resulting list also lacks geographic diversity and would require members in many pockets of the country to travel long distances to every tournament. While we could, to use one extreme example, host all of our tournaments in California, that would create an additional burden on families who live on the East Coast.”

The cities list was not provided; but the federation promised to “publish a matrix detailing the states that will be now given priority in our site allocation.”

USA Fencing’s Board of Directors adopted a new transgender participation policy, allowing athletes to “register with USA Fencing as the gender in which they identify and wish to compete during registration/renewal. Please note, this selection will be logistically binding and athletes will not be permitted to modify their gender during the season.”

For the junior, senior and veteran divisions, there are no specifications for transgender females as to allowed testosterone levels; as the new rule states only that:

“Athletes being treated with testosterone suppression medication, for the purposes of USA Fencing-sanctioned competitions may continue to compete in men’s events, but may only compete in women’s events after completing one calendar year (12 months) of testosterone suppression treatment. Proof of compliant hormone therapy must be provided prior to competition.”

The international federation for fencing (FIE) has no transgender rules at present. So, as of now, any U.S. athlete wishing to transition from male to female apparently has no restrictions.

● Hockey ● Pakistan’s Tayyab Ikram was elected as President of the International Hockey Federation (FIH), to serve the two years remaining in the term of India’s Narinder Batra, who resigned earlier this year.

Ikram, who had been a member of the FIH Board, received 79 votes to 47 for Belgium’s Marc Coudron.

● Modern Pentathlon ● The Pan American Championships concluded Sunday in Resende (BRA), with qualification for the 2023 Pan American Games available. Mexico’s Emiliano Hernandez won the men’s division over Vicente Lima (VEN), while Mayan Oliver (MEX) took the women’s title over Brazil’s Marcela Mello.

● Swimming ● Don’t think American distance icon Katie Ledecky wasn’t all-in for a world short-course record in the women’s 800 m Freestyle at last week’s FINA World Cup finale in Indianapolis:

“I pushed myself a lot after last week. It’s great to have all these fans here to cheer us on. It’s nice to have some [short course] benchmarks.

“I am really happy to be here and racing at the World Cup events. … It’s a fun way to start the fall and kick off the season. We usually don’t get the season started with an international level meet so it’s a little different for me.”

The big winners – at $100,000 each – were the overall winners of the three-leg program, American Beata Nelson and Trinidad & Tobago’s Dylan Canter. Said Nelson, who won “Triple Crowns” in the women’s 200 m Back and 200 m Medley:

“I am not usually a slap the water lady but it’s been a long three weeks and I am really happy with the finish. I had no expectations coming into this. I saw this as a great short course opportunity for me that’s in my wheelhouse. I am really happy with the results and wanted to take full advantage.”

Carter won a triple-triple in the 50 m Free, 50 m Back and 50 m Fly:

“I am so very happy, I am over the moon. I have been saying that this was a goal of mine but the pressure started to mount this weekend. I really felt like I could do it tonight.

“I was cooler this week than I was in Toronto. I think the confidence outweighed the nerves. It’s a massive step for me. I have always felt that I had massive potential but there were some things missing, and I was always trying to unlock them. I am pleased to see some consistent results.”

● Table Tennis ● At the Pan American Championships in Santiago (CHI), Americans reached the final in four divisions and came away with a gold and three silvers.

Amy Wang and Rachel Sung, ranked 26th worldwide, took the women’s Doubles title in a tense, five-set final over Brazil’s Caroline Kumahara and Bruna Takahashi, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-13, 12-10.

Brazil’s world no. 7 Hugo Calderano won the men’s Singles in a 4-0 sweep over the U.S.’s Kanak Jha, 15-13, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8, while Puerto Rico’s world no. 11 Adriana Diaz defeated Lily Zhang, by 4-1 (9-11, 11-4, 11-3, 11-5, 11-3).

The U.S. got a third silver in the Mixed Doubles, with Brazil’s world no. 13 Victor Ishy and Takahashi defeating Wang and Nikhil Kumar, by 3-1 (11-8, 5-11, 11-6, 11-5).

In the men’s Doubles, Argentina’s Gaston Alto and Horacio Cifuentes swept Chile’s Gustavo Gomez and Nicolas Burgos, 11-7, 12-10, 11-5.

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TSX REPORT: U.S. ends on top of gymnastics Worlds medal table; another world record for Katie Ledecky; FIFA being pressed on Qatar reforms

By
Rich Perelman
-
Olympic gold medalist and now twice World Champion Jade Carey (USA)

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

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Carey, Malone score Worlds Gymnastics golds as U.S. leads medal count
2. Ledecky claims 800 m Free world record in FINA World Cup
3. Kenyan sweep for Chebet and debutante Lokedi at NYC Marathon
4. Griner visited by U.S. Embassy officials in Russia
5. FIFA being pressed on Qatar reforms, as “Fan Leaders” program builds

American gymnasts led the medal table at the FIG World Artistic Championships in Liverpool, earning eight medals (3-4-1), including the women’s team gold, Jade Carey in the women’s Vault and Brody Malone in the men’s Horizontal Bar. U.S. distance superstar Katie Ledecky was pretty much a lock to smash the world 25 m (short-course) record in the final leg of the FINA World Cup in Indianapolis, and she did, slicing 1.92 seconds off of Spain’s Mireia Belmonte’s mark from 2019, in 7:57.42. Ten swimmers completed three-event sweeps of 18 events, earning $10,000 bonuses for each event. At the New York City Marathon, Kenyans Evans Chebet and first-time marathoner Sharon Lokedi won, in 2:08:41 and 2:23:23. Two-time Olympic basketball gold medalist Brittney Griner was visited by the U.S. Embassy in Russia, with the U.S. government continuing to negotiate for her release. FIFA has asked for the federations competing in the World Cup to focus on sport, but continues to be pushed on human rights in Qatar.

1.
Carey, Malone score Worlds Gymnastics golds
as U.S. leads medal count

The United States came away from the FIG World Artistic Championships in Liverpool (GBR) as the top-scoring nation with eight total medals, including a men’s gold for Brody Malone on the Horizontal Bar.

All together, the American teams collected eight medals, with seven from the women (2-4-1) and the one men’s apparatus gold.

Following up on its team win and a second from Shilese Jones in the women’s All-Around, the U.S. women scored six individual apparatus medals. Jade Carey had won Worlds silver on Vault in 2017 and 2019, but got to the top this time, scoring an average of 14.516 on her two attempts, ahead of teammate Jordan Chiles (14.350) and Coline Devillard (FRA: 14.166).

Jones returned on the Uneven Bars and won silver with a 14.766 score, behind China’s defending champion Xiaoyuan Wei (14.966), with two-time champ Nina Derwael (BEL: 14.700) third. On Beam, Japan went 1-3 with little-known Hazuki Watanabe, 18, a surprise winner at 13.600 and Shoko Miyata third (13.533); Canada’s Ellie Black (13.566) won silver. American Skye Blakely was fifth (13.300).

Britain’s Jessica Gadirova was third in the All-Around and superb on Floor, winning at 14.200, ahead of Chiles (13.833) with Tokyo winner Carey and All-Around winner Rebeca Andrade (BRA) tying for third at 13.733.

In the men’s All-Around on Friday, Japan’s 21-year-old Daiki Hashimoto moved up from silver in 2021 to gold in 2022, scoring 87.198 to best defending champ Boheng Zhang (CHN: 86.765) and teammate Wataru Tanigawa (85.231).

Hashimoto led all scorers on the Pommel Horse (14.333) and was second on Floor (14.666), Rings (13.866), Vault (14.900) and Horizontal Bar (14.433). Carlos Yulo (PHI) led on Floor (15.166) and Parallel Bars (15.166); Zhang led on Rings (14.100) and Tanigawa led on Pommel Horse (15.000). It was Japan’s first win in the men’s All-Around since Kohei Uchimura finished his streak of six straight wins in 2015.

Malone of the U.S. led all scorers on the Horizontal Bar (14.500) and finished fourth overall at 84.931. The U.S. last won a medal in the men’s All-Around with Jonathan Horton in 2010; this was the second straight fourth-place finish at the Worlds, with Yul Moldauer fourth in 2021. Asher Hong of the U.S. was sixth (82.365) in his first Worlds.

In the apparatus finals, Giarnni Regini-Moran won on Floor, Great Britain’s first win ever in the event, scoring 14.533 to 14.500 for Hashimoto (14.500). Ireland’s Rhys McClenaghan won the country’s second-ever Worlds medal (and first gold) in the Pommel Horse (15.300), ahead of Jordan’s first-ever Worlds medal winner, Ahmad Abu al-Soud (14,866), with defending champ Stephen Nedoroscik of the U.S. fifth (14.400). Turkey’s Adem Asil, seventh in the Tokyo Olympic Games on Rings, won at 14.933, ahead of China’s Jingyuan Zou (14.866); American Donnell Whittenburg was eighth (14.433).

On Sunday, Armenia’s Artur Davtyan won on Vault (15.050) – the country’s first Worlds victory – beating Yulo (14.950) and Ukraine’s Igor Radivilov (14.733). China’s Zou was easily the best on the Parallel Bars (16.166), clear of Lukas Dauser (GER: 15.500) and Yulo (15.366).

Malone, the Horizontal Bar bronze medalist in 2021, won this time, scoring 14.800 to edge Hashimoto (14.700) and Arthur Mariano (BRA: 14.466).

This was an impressive showing for the next generation of American women and a hopeful sign for the men, with Malone and Hong in the top six in the All-Around.

Ukraine’s two-time Rio Olympic medalist Oleg Verniaiev posted a video during the Worlds, asking for a lifetime ban on Russian athletes who support the invasion of Ukraine, in Ukrainian and English, with the English text including:

“I last saw my native Donetsk back in 2012. And soon the war will take away my opportunity to return home for almost 9 years.

“With the onset of a full-scale invasion, training was put on a back burner. From the first days, I started volunteering, as did some of my colleagues, Ukrainian gymnasts. About three thousand athletes and coaches are now defending the Independence of our country. Over a hundred of them will never return home.

“Silence settled in our training halls. But we must not be silent!

“We should not keep silent about Russia’s crimes against Ukraine, as Russian and Belarusian athletes do.

“Their silence is support for the bloody Russian terror. Terrorists have no place in international sports.

“I urge all citizens of the civilized world to support Ukraine on the sports front! Silence kills!”

In the Ukrainian text, he included, “All the Russian and Belarusian athletes who support the full-scale invasion and Kremlin’s rhetoric should be disqualified for life.”

Verniaiev’s hometown of Donetsk is one of the cities in eastern Ukraine that was invaded and then “annexed” by Russia. He is currently serving a four-year ban for the use of meldonium, and has appealed the length of the sanction to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

2.
Ledecky claims 800 m Free world record in FINA World Cup

Everyone looking ahead to the final stop of the FINA World Cup in Indianapolis knew that American distance superstar Katie Ledecky was primed to claim the world short-course record in the women’s 800 m Free. And she did.

In her third event of the meet, Ledecky had the lead from the start and pulled away to a nearly 10-second win over Canadian star Summer McIntosh, 7:57.42 to 8:07.12, with American Leah Smith third (8:12.01). Ledecky lowered the nine-year-old mark of Spain’s Mireia Belmonte from 7:59.34 and set both the 800 m and 1,500 m world records in just a week’s time. It’s her second world 25 m record to go along with 14 long-course world marks.

Ledecky also won the women’s 400 m Free in 3:54.04, and was second in the 200 m Free to Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey, 1:51.19-1:52.10, for three medals at the meet, and another $10,000 bonus for a world record.

In the meantime, 11 swimmers had a chance to claim $10,000 for a sweep – the “Triple Crown” – of individual events in all three World Cup meets. In all, 10 swimmers won sweeps in a total of 18 events:

Men (11):
● Dylan Carter (TTO): 50 m Free (20.72), 50 m Back (22.72), 50 m Fly (21.99)
● Shaine Casas (USA): 100 m Back (49.40), 200 m Back (1:48.40)
● Kyle Chalmers (AUS); 100 m Free (45.55)
● Nic Fink (USA): 50 m Breast (25.83), 100 m Breast (56.15), 200 m Breast (2:02.70)
● Chad le Clos (RSA): 100 m Fly (48.85)
● Matt Sates (RSA): 400 m Medley (4:04.12); failed in the 400 m Free

Women (7):
● Siobhan Haughey (HKG): 100 m Free (51.00), 200 m Free (1:51.19)
● Ruta Meilutyte (LTU): 50 m Breast (28.70), 100 m Breast (1:02.77)
● Beata Nelson (USA): 200 m Back (2:00.43), 200 m Medley (2:04.92)
● Kasia Wasick (POL): 50 m Free (23.10)

The three misses included Sates missing out on a sweep in the men’s 400 m Free; France’s Beryl Gastaldello in the women’s 100 m Medley and Beata Nelson of the U.S. losing in the 100 m Back.

In the other men’s events, American Kieran Smith won the men’s 200 m (1:41.78) and 400 m Free (3:35.99), plus the 200 m Medley (1:52.98); Olympic champ Bobby Finke of the U.S. won the 1,500 m Free (14:45.77). Le Clos also won the 200 m Fly (1:49.89) and Casas won a third event in the 100 m Medley (51.04). Sates won the 400 m Medley (4:04.12).

In the women’s shorter Backstroke events, Canada’s Kylie Masse won the 50 m in 25.96 and 17-year-old Bella Sims of the U.S. won the 100 m 55.75, setting a World Junior Record, her second in 12 minutes after a 1:52.59 swim for fourth in the 200 m Free behind Haughey. World Champion Lilly King won the 200 m Breast for the second week in a row (2:17.56) and Swede Louise Hansson won the women’s 50-100 m Fly events (25.16 and 55.45), with McIntosh winning the 200 m Fly (2:03.40). Canadian Sydney Pickrem won the 400 m Medley (4:26.66) over American Katie Grimes.

In the races for the top overall performer at the three World Cups, Carter barely edged Fink for the men’s title, 172.6 to 172.3, with le Clos third (166.3). Nelson won the women’s title, scoring 173.7 to 165.9 for Haughey. The winners received $100,000, with $70,000 for second and money for places down to eighth.

3.
Kenyan sweep for Chebet and debutante Lokedi at NYC Marathon

A lot of attention was paid to first-time marathoners at Sunday’s New York City Marathon, but more on two-time World 5,000 m Champion Hellen Obiri of Kenya than of countrywoman Sharon Lokedi.

The NCAA women’s 10,000 m champ for Kansas in 2018, Lokedi, 27, had been steadily moving towards road racing, competing in her first half-marathon in 2021 and finishing fourth in the NYC Half in March. But she found herself running right with 2022 World Champion Gotytom Gebreslase (ETH) and bronze medalist Lonah Salpeter (ISR), Obiri and others through the halfway mark and then among six in contact at 20 miles. The field narrows to four by 22 miles and then Obiri dropped back, leaving Lokedi, Salpeter and Gebreslase for the medals.

Gebreslase was the first to let go, at about 25 miles and then Lokedi increased the pressure on Salpeter, separating for good in Central Park and cruising home in 2:23:23, an impressive time considering the 73 F temperatures and 69% humidity when she crossed the line. It’s the no. 13 performance in NYC Marathon history.

Salpeter was second in 2:23:30, followed by Gebreslase (2:23:39) and then two-time World Champion, now-42-year-old Edna Kiplagat (KEN: 2:24:16). Obiri was sixth in 2:25:49, followed by the top Americans, Aliphine Tuliamuk (2:26:18) and Emma Bates (2:26:53).

The men’s race was shaken up immediately by Brazil’s Daniel Do Nascimento, the Worlds seventh-placer earlier this year, who took off from the start and had a lead of more than two minutes past the halfway mark. He continued leading, but began to falter, stopped a couple of times and then collapsed after 20 miles, lying on the pavement and receiving immediate medical attention.

That left 2022 Boston Marathon winner Evans Chebet (KEN) in the lead. Running the New York Marathon for the first time, he calmly strode through the final quarter of the race with a solid lead over Shura Kitata (ETH) and won in 2:08:41, no. 24 on the all-time race performance list, but especially good given the tough weather. Chebet has won five of last his seven marathon and is reportedly the sixth man to complete the Boston-New York double in the same year, last done in 2011 by Kenyan Geoffrey Mutai.

Kitata, the 2020 London Marathon winner, was second in 2:08:54, followed by Abdi Nageeye (NED: 2:10:31). Scott Fauble finished as the top American in ninth (2:13:35), while Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Galen Rupp dropped out around the 17 mile mark.

This was the third straight Kenyan sweep of the men’s and women’s titles in New York; with the women winning eight of the last nine and the men winning eight of the last 10.

4.
Griner visited by U.S. Embassy officials in Russia

U.S. Embassy officials in Russia visited jailed two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner last Thursday, with White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre telling reporters “We are told she is doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances.”

Griner is still in jail after her appeal of a nine-year sentence for “drug smuggling” was rejected by a Moscow court last week. U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price tweeted:

“.@USEmbRU officials visited Brittney Griner today. They saw firsthand her tenacity and perseverance despite her present circumstances. We continue to press for the immediate release of Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan and fair treatment for every detained American.”

Jean-Pierre added that “despite a lack of good faith negotiation by the Russians, the U.S. government has continued to follow up on that offer and propose alternative potential ways forward with Russia through all available channels. This continues to be a top priority.”

Griner was initially detained on 17 February and the WNBA Players Association has stated, “She is very clearly a hostage.”

5.
FIFA being pressed on Qatar reforms,
as “Fan Leaders” program builds

The build-up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar continues, with SkySports reporting that FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) and Secretary General Fatima Samoura (SEN) sent a letter to the 32 participating federations that included:

“We know football does not live in a vacuum and we are equally aware that there are many challenges and difficulties of a political nature all around the world. But please do not allow football to be dragged into every ideological or political battle that exists.

“At FIFA, we try to respect all opinions and beliefs, without handing out moral lessons to the rest of the world. “One of the great strengths of the world is indeed its very diversity, and if inclusion means anything, it means having respect for that diversity. No one people or culture or nation is ‘better’ than any other. This principle is the very foundation stone of mutual respect and non-discrimination. And this is also one of the core values of football. So, please let’s all remember that and let football take centre stage.”

A statement from the UEFA Working Group on Human and Labor Rights on Sunday included:

“We will continue to support the momentum for positive, progressive change and continue to advocate for a conclusive outcome and update on the two key outstanding issues we have been discussing with FIFA for a long time.

“FIFA has repeatedly committed to deliver concrete answers on these issues – the compensation fund for migrant workers, and the concept of a migrant workers centre to be created in Doha – and we will continue to press for these to be delivered.”

The Qatar “Fan Leader” influencer program, in which a small number of fans from multiple countries are having their travel and accommodations to Qatar paid in exchange for supportive social-media messages about the World Cup, is reported to include 40 English and 40 Welsh fans.

The Guardian reported that British police will be sending “supporter engagement officers” to Qatar to act as an intermediary between fans of England and Wales at the tournament and the security forces, which will include Qatar and Turkish police. Said Chief Constable Mark Roberts:

“They will be engaging with supporters if we think there’s a risk that they may be overstepping a mark as viewed by the locals.

“Our first port of call will be for our officers to go over to them try to explain and try to deconflict. Equally if we think there’s going to be an intervention by law enforcement, [supporter engagement officers] will be seeking to engage with that law enforcement, just calm it down and move people on, try to inject a sense of balance.”

Both England and Wales are in Group B with the U.S. and Iran.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Athletics ● Weini Kelati defended her title as USATF 5 km champion on Saturday in New York, pushing the pace from the start and winning comfortably in 15:16, ahead of Erika Kemp and Emily Infeld (both 15:30).

Adbi Nur, third at the U.S. Nationals in the 5,000 m on the track, won the men’s 5,000 m title in 13:24 for his first U.S. championship. He took over from American Steeple star Hillary Bor with 800 m to go and won by five seconds, with Kirubel Erassa third in 13:37.

Nur would have won by more, but followed the pace car as it exited the course about 15 m from the finish line, but was re-directed in time and won with a smile.

● Basketball ● The U.S. men and the Canadian women took the titles at the FIBA 3×3 Americup held in Miami (USA).

The top-seeded (and defending champion) American men’s team of 6-5 Canyon Barry, 6-2 Jimmer Fredette, 6-8 Kareem Maddox and 6-3 Dylan Thomas won its two group games by 22-6 and 19-15, then squeezed past Mexico, 21-19 in the quarterfinals and 21-15 over Trinidad & Tobago in the semis.

In the final, the U.S. faced second-seed Puerto Rico and won by 21-18, with nine points from Maddox on 6-7 from the floor, plus five each from Fredette and Barry; Travis added two. Guillermo Diaz led Puerto Rico with six point.

The U.S. women were also top-seed and Veronica Burton (5-9), Lexie Hull (6-1), Nalyssa Smith (6-3) and Camille Zimmerman (6-1) cruised through the group matches by 12-6 and 21-2, then stomped Chile by 18-11 in the quarterfinals.

But second-seed Canada surprised the Americans in the semis, 17-15, shooting 46% from the field to just 40% for the U.S. The Canadians went on to the final against Brazil, winning by 15-11 as 6-2 Michelle Plouffe had nine points to lead all scorers. The U.S. did rebound to win the bronze-medal game by 17-13 over Colombia.

Barry was named the men’s Most Valuable Player, with Plouffe winning the women’s MVP for Canada.

● Beach Volleyball ● The Olympic and World Champions from Norway continued their winning ways at the Volleyball World Pro Beach Tour Elite 16 tournament in Cape Town, South Africa on Sunday.

Anders Mol and Christian Sorum showed once again they are the top team in the world, with their third Elite 16 win this season, taking out David Ahman and Jonatan Hellvig (SWE) by 21-19, 21-19. Qatar’s Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan won the bronze over Robin Seidel and Philip Waller (AUT), 22-20, 21-14.

The women’s gold-medal match was a 22-20, 21-16 win for Brazil’s Talita Antunes and Thamela Galil over Terese Cannon and Sarah Sponcil (USA), who won their second Beach Pro Tour medal of the season. Brazilian star Duda Lisboa and Ana Patricia Ramos won the bronze – their fifth medal of the season – over Lezana Placette and Alexia Richard (FRA), 21-15, 21-15.

● Bobsled ● Canadian Christine de Bruin, 33, the Beijing 2022 women’s Monobob bronze medalist, was suspended for three years for doping by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport.

De Bruin was tested in August and turned up positive for Ligandrol, a muscle-building and recovery drug. She admitted the violation, receiving a three-year penalty instead of four, and told CBC Sports:

“I appreciate and respect the need to have tough rules to keep the playing field clean, however, I signed the Early Admission and Acceptance Agreement … because I simply do not have the financial means to fight it.”

● Curling ● Canada’s 2006 Olympic champ Brad Gushue led his squad to the men’s title in the first WCF Pan Continental Championships, held in Calgary (CAN).

Gushue’s rink, the U.S. team led by Korey Dropkin and South Korea’s squad, skipped by Beyong-jin Jeong all finished 6-1 in round-robin play, with Gushue eliminating Japan in the semis and Jeong helping beat the U.S., 9-6. In the final, it was Canada with a 7-1 lead after four ends on the way to a 11-3 win and the gold medal. Dropkin’s U.S. squad defeated Japan, 8-7, for the bronze medal.

In the women’s division, Tabitha Peterson of the U.S. and Kerri Einarson of Canada led their squads to 7-1 records in the round-robin, but both were upset in the semis, with Seung-yun Ha (KOR) and Satsuki Fujisawa (JPN) leading their teams to the final.

The gold-medal match was a see-saw, with Japan up 3-1, but then tied, then up 6-3, but tied again in the 9th and 10th ends. But Fujisawa, who led Japan to a Beijing Olympic silver, got two points in the 11th for an 8-6 win and the gold medal. Canada won the bronze as Einarson’s team defeated Peterson’s rink by 7-5.

● Figure Skating ● The ISU Grand Prix moved to Europe for the Grand Prix de France in Angers, with the hosts celebrating the first Grand Prix win by a French man since 2009 as Adam Siao Him Fa came from third during the Free Skate to take his first Grand Prix medal.

Siao Him Fa won the Free Skate, scoring 180.98 points and totaled 268.98 to overtake Short Program leader Sota Yamamoto (JPN: 257.90). Belgium’s Loena Hendrickx, the 2022 Worlds silver medalist, won the women’s gold on her 23rd birthday on Saturday, winning both the Short Program and Free Skate with a total of 216.34 and her first Grand Prix victory. Korea’s Yelim Kim was a distant second at 194.76; American Audrey Shin was fifth (183.93).

Canada’s Deanna Stellato gave up the sport from 2000-16 due to injury, then came back as a Pairs skater, got married and as Stellato-Dudek teamed with Maxime Deschamps to claim their first Grand Prix win, taking the Short Program and Free Skate and scoring 185.84. France’s married team of Camille Kovalev and Pavel Kovalev finished second (179.85), with American siblings Maria Mokhova and Ivan Mokhov sixth (162.16).

Italy’s Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri won the Ice Dance, including both the Rhythm Dance and the Free Dance, at 207.95. Canadians Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Soerensen were second (201.93), with Americans Eva Pate and Logan Bye fifth (174.03) and Katarina Wolfkostin and Jeffrey Chen eighth (164.89).

The ISU Grand Prix heads to Sheffield (GBR) next week for the John Wilson Trophy.

● Judo ● Host Azerbaijan won four weight classes to head the standings at the IJF World Tour Baku Grand Slam. Balabay Aghayev won the men’s 60 kg division; European Champion Hidayet Heydarov took the 73 kg title; Saeid Mollaei – the former Iranian World Champion – won at 81 kg, and Zelym Kotsoiev won the 100 kg clas.

In the women’s classes, 2019 World Champion Christa Duguchi (CAN) was victorious at 57 kg, and Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Sanne van Dijke (NED) won at 70 kg.

● Rugby ● At the “2021″ Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, the hosts made it to next Saturday’s final with a tight, 25-24 win over France, while England defeated Canada by 26-19.

France led for much of its semi with the Black Ferns and had a 17-10 lead. But New Zealand stormed into the lead in the 57th minute and got up 25-17 before a late French try closed to 25-24. The French missed a penalty kick in the 69th minute that would have won the match.

New Zealand has won five of the last six World Cups and has a 4-0 mark vs. England in championship finals, in 2002-06-10-17. The final comes next Saturday (12th).

● Rugby Sevens ● In the opening tournament of the 2022-23 men’s Rugby Sevens season in Hong Kong, Australia overcame an early loss to Samoa in pool play and rolled through the playoffs, with a final, 20-17 win over Fiji.

After a 2-1 record in Pool A, the Aussies defeated Ireland, 26-19, then France by 10-7 in the semis before winning in the gold-medal match. France beat Samoa in the third-place game, 19-17, while the U.S. men finished sixth.

● Short Track ● They say the fastest ice in the world is at the Olympic Oval in Kearns, Utah, site of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games competitions. It was further proved with two world records at the ISU World Cup meet there, with Dutch stars Xandra Velzeboer and Suzanne Schulting setting the new standards.

In the first women’s 500 m race, Velzeboer was disqualified in the semifinals, opening the door for Canadian Olympic bronze medalist Kim Boutin to win the final in 43.095, ahead of Poland’s Natalia Maliszewska (43.145) and Kristen Santos-Griswold of the U.S. (43.170). Velzeboer came back in the second race and scored a world record of 41.416 in the heats, then went on to win the final in 41.602! Korea’s Min-jeong Choi, the two-time Olympic 1,500 m champ, was second in 42.384.

Schulting, the Beijing 2022 Olympic champ at 1,000 m, grabbed the 1,000 m world record at 1:25.958 in the heats and went on to win the final in 1:28.241. Canada’s Courtney Sarault was second (1:28.291) and Santos-Griswold was third (1:32.965). Korea’s Gilli Kim won the 1,500 m in 2:26.530 over Anna Seidel (GER: 2:26.743) and Korea’s Choi (2:26.899).

The men’s 500 m saw Canada’s Maxime Laoun, whose career appeared over after a bad leg injury in 2019, win his first career World Cup race, the 500 m, in 40.946. Jens van’t Wout (NED) won his second gold of the meet in the second 500 m, in 40.505.

Korea’s Ji-won Park won the 1,000 m in 1:25.202, ahead of teammate Kyung Hwan Hong (1:25.263). In the 1,500 m final, it was van’t Wout with his first World Cup medal – a gold – in 2:11.909 to beat Korea’s Park (2:12.204).

Korea swept the men’s 5,000 m and women’s 3,000 m relays, but China won the 2,000 m Mixed Relay, with Korea second and the U.S. team of Andrew Heo, Brandon Kim, Santos-Griswold and Corinne Stoddard third.

● Ski Jumping ● The FIS World Cup season opened in Wisla (POL: 134 m hill) with a happy result for the home team, as Dawid Kubacki (POL), the 2019 Normal Hill World Champion, won twice.

Kubacki defeated Halvor Egner Granerud (NOR), 272.2-266.6 on Saturday, with Austria’s three-time World Champion Stefan Kraft third (258.80). He then repeated with another win on Sunday, scoring 287.0 to best Anze Lanisek (SLO: 278.7) and Marius Lindvik (NOR: 277.0).

Norway’s Silje Opseth won the women’s season opener – her second career World Cup title – scoring 251.5 over teammate (and World Cup champ) Marita Kramer (AUT: 244.2) and Austria’s Eva Pinkelnig (243.1). Pinkelnig got the gold on Sunday, however, at 262.3, over Katharina Althaus (GER: 251.4) and Frida Westman (SWE: 248.7). It’s Pinkelnig’s fourth career World Cup triumph.

● Triathlon ● Olympic champion Flora Duffy won the World Triathlon Series race in front of her home fans in Hamilton (BER) on Sunday, moving her into second place in the series rankings with a chance to win a fourth world title in the season finale in Abu Dhabi in late November.

Duffy was able to pull away from the field on the 10 km run, first taking the lead from Maya Kingma (NED) and then holding off American Taylor Knibb on the rainy course, for a 2:01:26 to 2:03:04 victory, with Britain’s Beth Potter third (2:03:17). Taylor Spivey of the U.S. was fifth (2:04:05) and Kingma faded to sixth (2:04:26). With one race to go, Britain’s Tokyo silver winner Georgia Taylor-Brown is the series leader with 3,925 points to 3,856 for Duffy and 3,369 for Potter.

France’s two-time World Champion, Vincent Luis, showed his comeback from injury was complete by holding on for a 1:49:37-1:49:45-1:49:54 win over Spain’s Antonio Serrat and Roberto Sanchez, who won their first World Triathlon Series medals.

With one race left, New Zealand’s Tokyo bronze medalist, Hayden Wilde, leads the men’s standings with 3,850 points, ahead of Olympic silver medalist Alex Yee (GBR) and Leo Bergere (FRA).

● Water Polo ● At the FINA Women’s Nations League Super Final in Santa Cruz de Tenerife (ESP), host Spain won a penalty shoot-out to win the tournament over Hungary, 19-18, while the U.S. took the bronze medal on penalties over the Netherlands, 16-15.

The U.S., the Tokyo Olympic winners and World Champions for 2022, was looking for an eighth-straight title in the Nations League, but fell to Hungary in the semifinals, 10-9. The American women have now won a medal in 17 of the 18 editions of the Nations League and 16 in a row.

● Wrestling ● Iran won its sixth UWW Greco-Roman World Cup with a victory on criteria after a 5-5 final score over host Azerbaijan in Baku on Sunday. The Iranians had 21 classification points to 19 for the Azerbaijanis, who were runners-up for the second straight time.

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TSX REPORT: Andrade wins All-Around gold, Jones gets silver; LA28 moving canoeing to Oklahoma? NYC Marathon comes Sunday!

By
Rich Perelman
-
A July poll said Americans like the 2028 Olympics being in Los Angeles by 78-4%!

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Brazil’s Andrade wins Worlds All-Around; U.S.’s Jones gets silver
2. LA28’s canoe slalom venue on the move to Oklahoma?
3. North Carolina touts no construction in World University Games bid
4. World Champs Gebreslase and Obiri clash in NYC Marathon Sunday
5. Modern pentathlon athlete survey favors retaining riding by 86-9%

Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade was the favorite in the women’s all-Around at the FIG World Artistic Championships and won her country’s first gold in the event, edging American Shilese Jones and Britain’s Jessica Gadirova. A short note in a report to the International Canoe Federation Congress in Thailand indicates that the Canoe Slalom competitions for the 2028 Olympic Games – in Los Angeles – may be moved to Oklahoma City! In the fight to host the 2027 World University Games, the North Carolina bid from the U.S. circulated a poster which emphasized the enormous U.S. collegiate sports market, that 13 colleges and universities will be involved in hosting the Games and that no construction is needed for either the competition venues or the athlete villages! The decision comes on 12 November. The TCS New York City Marathon comes on Sunday, with 2022 World Champion Gotytom Gebreslase of Ethiopia leading the women’s field, but many are focused on Kenyan star (and three-time World Champion) Hellen Obiri, making her marathon debut at 32. An open, online survey of active modern pentathletes has received 335 replies over eight days, with the respondents – aged 15 to 35 – preferring retaining riding in its current form or with reforms for better safety, by 86-9% over obstacle-course racing. One respondent, however, suggested eliminating riding and retaining just the four remaining disciplines!

1.
Brazil’s Andrade wins Worlds All-Around; U.S.’s Jones gets silver

After a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021, Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade led the qualifying round at 57.332 and was a solid favorite to win the FIG World Artistic Championships All-Around gold in Liverpool.

She had to wait until the very end of the session, but with a solid 14.400 score on Floor, she completed a gold-medal performance, scoring 56.899 to best American Shilese Jones (55.399) and Britain’s home favorite, Jessica Gadirova (55.199) in Thursday’s All-Around final.

Consistency was the key, as Andrade posted the top score on Vault (15.166) and then the third-best scores on Uneven Bars (13.800) and Beam (13.533) to enter the final event with a 0.80-point lead on Jones, 42.499-41.699. They had been the top two in the qualifying round, with American Jade Carey third, but British stars Alice Kinsella (40.899) and Gadirova (40.799) were standing 3-4, with Carey sixth (40.532).

Gadirova posted the top score on Floor at 14.400 when Andrade came up for her routine, needing only a 12.900 to pass Jones, sitting at 55.399 after a modest 13.700 on floor. No problem for the 23-year-old Brazilian, in her third World Championships, as she also scored 14.400 to tie Gadirova, but was placed second due to a lower execution score: 8.40 to 8.30.

It was Andrade’s third career Worlds medal, with apparatus medals in 2021 on Vault (gold) and Uneven Bars (silver). This was Brazil’s second-ever Worlds medal in the women’s All-Around and first win; Jade Barbosa had tied for the 2007 bronze. And Andrade is set to chase more medals in the apparatus finals in the Uneven Bars, Beam and Floor.

For the U.S.’s Jones, her Worlds silver extends the American streak of a medal in the women’s All-Around to 15 straight World Championships, stretching back to 2003. It’s a meteoric rise for Jones, only 12th at the 2019 and 2021 U.S. Nationals, but second this year and national champ on the Bars and Floor. She’s qualified for the apparatus final on the Uneven Bars.

The individual apparatus leaders were Andrade on Vault (15.166), Jones on Bars (14.366), Yushan Ou (CHN) on Beam at 13.866 and Gadirova and Andrade, who both scored 14.400 on Floor.

Carey was strong as usual on Vault (second) and Floor (third), but could not match her qualifying scores on Bars (15th) or Beam (11th). She qualified for the Vault and Floor apparatus finals.

The Worlds continue with the men’s All-Around on Friday and then the apparatus finals on the weekend.

2.
LA28’s canoe slalom venue on the move to Oklahoma?

The venue line-up for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles continues to shift, with the International Canoe Federation reporting to its 2022 Congress in Pattaya (THA) that the Canoe Slalom competition could be moved out of California altogether.

The ICF Canoe Slalom committee report by Jean-Michel Prono (FRA) was primarily concerned with the forthcoming schedule, new events and getting past the pandemic, but also reported:

“Los Angeles 2028 CSL venue to be secured currently working on an existing ‘offset venue’ option, Oklahoma”

(Prono may have meant “off-site” rather than “offset,” but this is a direct quote from the report.)

That would be the well-known and highly-respected Riversport Rapids whitewater center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, already selected as the site for the 2026 ICF World Canoe Slalom Championships. The facility has hosted the ICF Canoe Sprint Super Cup in 2021 and did so again in 2022.

The LA28 bid showed the canoe slalom site as a temporary facility in the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area, along with sites for equestrian and shooting. The site for canoe sprint races has already been moved from the originally proposed Lake Perris in Riverside County (inland from Los Angeles) to the Long Beach Marine Stadium, used for the 1932 Olympic Games. It will also be the site for rowing, although on a shortened, 1,500 m course due to the existing 2nd Street Bridge.

The 1984 Olympic Games venue for canoeing and rowing was at Lake Casitas in Ventura County, north of Los Angeles, but not proposed for 2028.

Under section 6.6 of the December 2021 Games Agreement with the City of Los Angeles, the LA28 organizers (“OCOG” below) will be required to obtain the approval of the City to move a sport out of the City proper, which would apply to the canoe slalom events:

“The Parties acknowledge, agree, and anticipate that, given the 2028 Games events are not scheduled to take place until 2028 and given that the Los Angeles region continues to add to its already expansive inventory of world class sports venues, relocating a competition event may benefit the presentation of the 2028 Games. Prior to relocating certain Olympic events (a “Certain Event”), the OCOG shall inform the City and obtain its written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed) if such relocation both moves a Certain Event out of the City and constitutes an amendment to the venue plan submitted to the City on January 18, 2017. For purposes of this Section 6.6, the following are Certain Events: any competition event to be held at a venue located in the City, the Media Village, and the Athletes Village.”

3.
North Carolina touts no construction in
World University Games bid

After the Chungcheong Megacity bid committee for the 2027 World University Games circulated its “closing argument” for its candidature via the popular InsideTheGames site, the competing North Carolina bid did the same.

Where the Koreans touted government funding promises of €440 million (~$429.2 million U.S.) to help finance the Games and build venues – 10 new sites are proposed – the North Carolina concept emphasizes building … nothing:

● The athlete villages will be located at the existing student residences at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and the University of North Carolina Greensboro.

● No venue construction is anticipated, as existing sites are already in place such as the Greensboro Coliseum, the Greensboro Aquatic Center, the WakeMed Soccer Park and the famous indoor arenas Cameron Indoor Stadium (Duke University), Dean Smith Center at UNC Chapel Hill and PNC Arena at North Carolina State.

● The proposed 2027 program area includes 19 college and universities (!) with 13 directly involved in the staging of the University Games, with more than 260,000 students.

The circular also made the point about the opportunity available in the American market:

“[T]he collegiate sports market in the USA has exploded, and is, by a large margin, the number one college and university sports market in the world. Dan Guerrero, President of the U.S. International University Sports Federation (USIUSF), a World University Games athlete in Baseball in the 1970 Games in Torino, Italy, and former long-time athletic director at UCLA, emphasized, ‘The United States collegiate and university sports market is the world leader in a number of categories: we are Number 1 in sports venues and facilities; in sports sponsorships; in sports broadcasting; in annual spending on college sports; in sports marketing, promotions, and advertising; and, importantly, in fan support.’”

The International University Sports Federation (FISU) is expected to choose between the two on 12 November.

4.
World Champs Gebreslase and Obiri clash in NYC Marathon Sunday

Cloudy skies and temperatures in the 60s are expected for Sunday’s TCS New York City Marathon, with a long-anticipated debut marathon from Kenyan star Hellen Obiri to challenge 2022 World Champion Gotytom Gebreslase of Ethiopia.

The race is one of the richest in the world, with $267,000 each for men and women for the top 10 placers: $100,000-60,000-40,000-25,000-15,000-10,000-7,500-5,000-2,500-2,000. There is an additional prize for the top Americans, of $25,000-15,000-10,000-5,000-3,000 to the top five.

The top women’s entries, shown with lifetime bests (and year):

● 2:17:45 (2020) Lonah Salpeter (ISR) ~ 2022 Worlds bronze medalist
● 2:18:11 (2022) Gotytom Gebreslase (ETH) ~ 2022 World Champion
● 2:19:12 (2022) Keira D’Amato (USA) ~ 2022 Worlds eighth
● 2:19:50 (2012) Edna Kiplagat (KEN) ~ 2011 & 2013 World Champion
● 2:22:28 (2011) Des Linden (USA) ~ 2018 Boston Marathon winner
● 2:22:29 (2022) Mao Uesugi (JPN) ~ 2022 Osaka Marathon runner-up
● 2:22:28 (2021) Viola Cheptoo (KEN) ~ New York runner-up in 2021
● 2:23:18 (2022) Emma Bates (USA) ~ 2022 Worlds seventh

Kenya’s Obiri, 32, has been threatening to run a marathon for several years and her debut has been anticipated since her brilliant 2019 World Cross Country Championship gold. She owns World 5,000 m wins from 2017 and 2019 and Olympic silvers from 2016 and 2020 (2021). She won the silver at the 2022 Worlds 10,000 m in Eugene this past summer, so what will she do?

Americans to watch beyond former American Record holder D’Amato, Linden and Bates are 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials winner Aliphine Tuliamuk (best of 2:26:50 from 2019) and Stephanie Bruce (2:27:47 from 2019).

The top men’s entries:

● 2:03:00 (2020) Evans Chebet (KEN) ~ 2022 Boston Marathon winner
● 2:04:49 (2018) Shura Kitata (ETH) ~ 2020 London Marathon winner
● 2:04:51 (2022) Daniel Do Nascimiento (BRA) ~ 2022 Worlds eighth
● 2:04:56 (2022) Abdi Nageeye (NED) ~ Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver
● 2:05:29 (2020) Suguru Osako (JPN) ~ Third at Boston ‘17, Chicago ‘18
● 2:06:07 (2018) Galen Rupp (USA) ~ Rio 2016 Olympic bronze
● 2:06:38 (2022) Tadesse Abraham (SUI) ~ 2018 European Champs silver
● 2:06:55 (2022) Mohamed El Aaraby (MAR) ~ 2021 NYC Marathon runner-up

Defending champion Albert Korir (KEN: best of 2:08:03 in 2019) is also entered; he’s trying to become the first repeat winner since countryman Geoffrey Mutai did it in 2011-13 (Hurricane Sandy wiped out the 2012 race).

There is a strong American contingent, including three-time U.S. Half Marathon champ Leonard Korir (2:07:56 in 2019), Scott Fauble (2:08:52 in 2022), five-time Olympian Abdi Abdirahman (2:08:56 in 2006) and Rio 2016 sixth-placer Jared Ward (2:09:25 in 2019). Making his marathon debut will be 2016 Olympian Shadrack Kipchirchir, fourth at the 2022 New York City Half Marathon in 1:01.16.

There’a also a $50,000 bonus for a race record, currently 2:05:06 for the men (Mutai/KEN, 2011) and 2:22:31 for the women (Margaret Okayo/KEN, 2003)

The race will be shown nationally on ESPN2 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Eastern time on Sunday, with John Anderson and Sage Steele hosting and a bevy of analysts and reporters on the course.

5.
Modern pentathlon athlete survey favors retaining riding
by 86-9% over obstacle

The latest campaign in the fight for the future of modern pentathlon is an online survey, offered since 28 October, asking registered pentathletes aged 15-35 about their view of the sport’s fifth discipline.

Through noon Pacific time on 3 November – that’s almost eight days of survey – there have been 335 responses from 40 countries:

● The raw totals showed 182 in favor of keeping riding, but with new rules (54.3%), 106 in favor of keeping riding as it is now (31.6%), 32 in favor of the Ninja-style obstacle course as proposed (9.0%).

● There were 13 who had no opinion, one who preferred to eliminate riding and not replace it (quadrathlon?) and one who preferred skateboarding as the new fifth discipline!

Of the 335 respondents, 153 were from the senior division (over 21: 45.7%), 78 were juniors (19-21: 23.3%), 56 were U-19s (17-18: 16.7%) and 48 were U17s (15-16: 14.3%). That means that the sub-senior vote in the survey (so far) was 54.3%, an interesting barometer of athletes with their careers ahead of them. .

There were plenty of comments, mostly very short, but also including:

● “Change is a Must! But after what I saw in the new Obstacle-Run discipline test, lucidly, this isn’t modern pentathlon. … I fully respect the Obstacle-Run sport but we aren’t ninjas. Our sport is built for different and specific people. Unique ones.”

● “The sport will not be the same without riding involved. I will no longer continue competing at international level if riding is removed.”

● “I love riding and am gutted to see it lost from our sport but a change is absolutely necessary and stated by the IOC. Riding is not viable and we must adapt to survive.“

The UIPM Congress will meet to discuss this and other issues online on 12-13 November.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● International Federations ● Further to Thursday’s story on the publication of the actual amounts distributed by the International Olympic Committee to the summer International Federations, German journalist Jens Weinreich, an active observer of money in international sport noted in an e-mail message:

“The most important point, and ASOIF doesn’t say anything about it, nor do you, is this: the original plan/budget was to distribute $590m, not just $540m as in Rio.

“When ASOIF decided on the new distribution and the new amounts in Brisbane in May 2019, $50m more was also planned and was budgeted accordingly by the Olympic IFs.

“Group A expected $40m across the board, Group B $25.95m each, Group C $18.60m, Group D $16.30m and Group E $14.10m. These were increases of between 8.5 and 17.3 per cent depending on the IF grading.

“So you see, depending on the classification, the individual federations received between 1 and 8.5 million USD less from the IOC than they had expected three years ago.

“I’m surprised myself that it’s now only $540m, I just assume that the cut is justified by the consequences of the pandemic.”

● Russia ● A bill was introduced in the Russian State Duma, the national legislature, “to overturn the decisions of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which makes unfair decisions against Russian athletes, [and to] help restore Russia’s sports sovereignty.”

One of the authors, Sen. Eduard Isakov, told the Russian news agency TASS:

“If CAS exercises its powers based on the belonging of a particular athlete to a certain nationality, thereby refusing to protect the rights of our athletes, then frankly I see no reason to further recognize the jurisdiction of CAS. I believe that in order to restore the sports sovereignty of the Russian Federation, it is necessary to recognize the [current] article as invalid.”

The bill, as submitted, is designed to “eliminate the primacy of international arbitration courts and their decisions over the decisions of the courts of the judicial system of the Russian Federation in the field of physical culture and sports.”

● Athletics ● Terrific work from Sarah Lorge Butler of Runner’s World, sifting through the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency database to find the most-tested track & field athletes of 2022. Noting the New York City Marathon on Sunday, it turns out that of the 18 athletes tested 10 times or more, eight are marathoners. The top five:

1. 17, Olivia Baker (800 m)
2. 16, Shelby Houlihan (1,500-5,000 m) ~ on suspension
3. 15, Shadrack Kipchirchir (distances-marathon)
3. 15, Nell Rojas (distances-marathon)
5. 13, Evan Jager (steeplechase)
5. 13, Leonard Korir (distances- marathon)

The other endurance athletes with 10 or more tests are Keira D’Amato (11), Sarah Pagano (10), Emily Sisson (10) and Kellyn Taylor (10).

● Cycling ● The Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed the appeal by star Colombian cyclist Nairo Quintana – a Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana winner – of the finding of tramadol during a test during the Tour de France.

The ruling confirmed the tramadol presence and the UCI’s sanction of Quintana’s disqualification from the Tour de France and a fine of CHF 5,000. The UCI’s policy on tramadol includes:

“Infringements of the in-competition ban on using tramadol are offences under the UCI Medical Rules. They do not constitute Anti-doping Rule Violations. As this is a first offence, Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas is not declared ineligible and can therefore participate in competitions. …

“Since 1st March 2019, the UCI has banned the use of tramadol in competition across all disciplines and categories in order to protect the riders’ health and safety in light of the side-effects of this substance.”

● Football ● The International Labour Organisation has weighed in on the labor situation in Qatar in advance of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, issuing reports on Tuesday (1st) covering the last year and last four years. The situation was summarized:

“The annual and four-year progress reports cover the substantial efforts that have been made in the areas of labour migration governance, the enforcement of the labour law and access to justice, and strengthening the voice of workers and social dialogue.

“These changes have already improved the working and living conditions for hundreds of thousands of workers, though additional efforts are needed to ensure that all workers can benefit,” and

“The ILO is set to continue working with the government, workers and employers to further support the alignment of Qatar’s laws and practices with international labour standards.”

● Swimming ● The first day of the final stop of the 2022 FINA World Cup circuit, in Indianapolis, saw seven swimmers come in with a chance at a $10,000 bonus for sweeping an event at all three stops, and five made it happen.

American Shaine Casas was the first, winning the men’s 200 m Backstroke in 1:48.40. He’ll have another chance for a triple in the 100 m Back later. Nic Fink of the U.S. won the 100 m Breast in 56.15, Dylan Carter (TTO) took the men’s 50 m Free in 20.72 and Poland’s Kasia Wasick triumphed in the women’s 50 m Free in 23.10 (moving to no. 3 all-time in the event).

South African star – and four time short-course World Champion in the men’s 100 m Fly – Chad le Clos, took the “Triple Crown” in that event in 48.85.

South Africa’s Matt Sates won the first two men’s 400 m Free races, but finished fifth (3:41.02) in Indianapolis, with American Kieran Smith winning in 3:35.99. French star Beryl Gastaldello almost took her third straight women’s 100 m Medley, but lost to American Beata Nelson, 57.81 to 57.82.

American distance star Katie Ledecky won the women’s 400 m Freestyle over fellow American Bella Sims (3:58.85), taking over after the 100 m mark. Ledecky finished in 3:54.04, the no. 6 performance of all time; she has three of the top seven.

The U.S. scored two more wins, with Casas taking the men’s 100 m Medley in 51.04 over countryman Michael Andrew (51.22) and World Champion Lilly King in the 200 m Breast in 2:17.56.

Canada got wins from World Champion Kylie Masse in the women’s 50 m Back (25.96) while World Champion Summer McIntosh took the women’s 200 m Fly in 2:03.40. 

The meet continues today and Saturday.

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TSX REPORT: IOC TV rights payments to federations revealed; Salt Lake City ready for 2030 bid; Qatar contracting influencers to come to World Cup

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Federation Olympic television shares for Rio and Tokyo revealed
2. Salt Lake City bid group welcomes 2030 opportunity
3. Qatar on offense, with trips for World Cup social-media influencers
4. China scores decisive men’s World Cup Team win; U.S. fifth
5. World record in sight for Ledecky in final FINA World Cup

The Association of Summer Olympic International Federations surprisingly released the amounts paid to each International Federation by the International Olympic Committee for the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games on Wednesday. The amounts range from $39.48 million for athletics (for each Games) down to $12.98 million for modern pentathlon, rugby and golf. The Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games is ready to take on the 2030 Olympic Winter Games and is confident it can work out the marketing issues with the LA28 organizers, although the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee has said that waiting until 2034 might be better for both. The Utah Sports Commission said that 13 national and international events in six different Winter Olympic disciplines will be held in 2022-23, all at the venues used for the 2002 Winter Games. Qatar’s Supreme Committee for the FIFA World Cup has gone on offense, recruiting several hundred social-media “Fan Leaders” from different countries, with some offered free air travel and accommodations in Qatar for the event. All must agree to post supportive messages of their teams, and portray Qatar favorably where possible. At the FIG World Artistic Championships, China won the team title comfortably – by more than four points – and led the scoring on five of the six apparatus; the U.S. finished fifth. The final leg of the three-stage FINA World Cup begins Thursday in Indianapolis, with American distance star Katie Ledecky poised for a world short-course record try in the women’s 800 m, while 11 swimmers will try to score a $10,000 bonus for winning the same distance in all three meets, with “Triple Crown” possibilities in 21 events.

1.
Federation Olympic television shares for Rio and Tokyo revealed

Once held in tight secrecy, the amount of money distributed to the summer Olympic sports federations for the 2016 Rio Games and the 2020 Tokyo Games (held in 2021) was published on Wednesday by the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF).

ASOIF has undertaken a heavy effort to encourage good governance and transparency and the publication of the Olympic television shares is a show of good faith.

The International Olympic Committee does not decide how much money each federation receives from each Games. The IOC does determine the total amount of money from the television rights sales from each Games that is to be allocated to the International Federations, and then that amount is divided among the ASOIF members according to an internal agreement.

The distribution percentages were the same for Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, and the ASOIF decided on the current distribution process in 2013, based on a recommendation from the IOC on five tiers of classification for the sports based on their popularity during the Games. For Rio and Tokyo:

● Group A: $39.48 million to World Athletics and $31.36 million each to FIG (gymnastics) and FINA (aquatics).

● Group B: $24.45 million each to 5 federations: FIBA (basketball), FIFA (football), FIVB (volleyball), the International Tennis Federation, and the Union Cycliste Internationale.

● Group C: $17.31 million each to 8 federations: BWF (badminton), World Rowing, the International Judo Federation, ISSF (shooting), ITTF (table tennis), IWF (weightlifting), World Archery, and boxing (AIBA-IBA). The IOC has withheld the payment of the Tokyo allocation to the IBA, as it was on suspension for the Tokyo Games.

● Group D: $15.14 million to 9 federations: FEI (equestrian), FIE (fencing), FIH (hockey), the International Canoe Federation, IHF (handball), World Triathlon, United World Wrestling, World Sailing and World Taekwondo.

● Group E: $12.98 million to 3 federations: UIPM (modern pentathlon) and to the two new federations for 2016, the International Golf Federation and World Rugby.

The distribution was based on a total of $540.29 million provided by the IOC; the same amount is also set aside to support the National Olympic Committees through its Olympic Solidarity program.

The seven-member ASOIF Council also noted “various significant initiatives of the IOC, namely the Olympic Qualifier Series, the Olympic Virtual Series and Olympic qualification branding, undertaken in the context of the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020+5 Recommendation 6, had caused certain challenges. Therefore, the Council requested ASOIF’s Commercial Advisory Group to assess the situation and provide support to the IFs to address the issues.”

Olympic Agenda 2020+5 Recommendation 6 is “Enhance and promote the Road to the Olympic Games,” with the IOC stating:

“[T]here are hundreds or even thousands of events which act as Olympic qualifiers. However, today, there are very few opportunities to connect these events with the Olympic Games through branding and other initiatives. The Olympic and OCOG brands effectively have no visibility and therefore the Road to the Olympic Games is not as visible as it should be.

“An opportunity therefore exists to create additional associations between the Olympic Games and Olympic qualification events. This would have benefits for all parties – the Hosts of the events, the NOCs / NFs of the athletes, the IFs governing the events and the athletes themselves. Additional digital assets could be produced specifically for athletes to use to share and promote their Olympic qualifying journey.”

2.
Salt Lake City bid group welcomes 2030 opportunity

“Obviously, with fewer cities competing, it opens up more opportunity for us. But I don’t know whether that’s in 2030 or ’34.

“We’ll just have to see how the IOC sorts that out. But we feel confident and hopeful that we’ll get one of those two Games. The upcoming process is focused on 2030 and we will fully participate in that process.”

That Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games chief executive Fraser Bullock at a Tuesday meeting, discussing the area’s chances for another Olympic Winter Games with the implosion of the Vancouver bid for a lack of government support.

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee has said that, strategically, it would be best to wait for the 2034 Winter Games, to give some breathing room between the Los Angeles 2028 Games and another Olympic Games in the U.S. in 2030.

However, there’s little doubt that the Utah folks want 2030 if they can get it, pointing out previously that waiting to 2034 would increase the cost-over-time to maintain the area’s busy venues. The Salt Lake City 2030-34 bid proposes to build no new sites and use the venues from its 2002 hosting, which remain active and busy.

Interestingly, Bullock said that he expects the IOC’s Future Hosts Commission for the Winter Games to invite both Sapporo and Salt Lake City into a “targeted dialogue” for the 2030 Games as it would provide an opportunity to “assess the strengths of their bids and also for some risk management because we’re still a long ways from a bid being awarded.”

In the one Games awarded under the new selection process, only Brisbane (AUS) was asked to enter a “targeted dialogue” with the goal of hammering out an actual host-city agreement with all of the relevant details. Bullock sees the “targeted dialogue” as “a very much engaged process of putting a really detailed bid together with all of the guarantees, all of the contracts, all of the pieces, to see if the city or the cities can put those together.”

And he feels Salt Lake City would come out ahead, and would be able to work out the marketing issues with LA28 and the USOPC.

One thing working in favor of Salt Lake City is its venue array. A Wednesday announcement by the Utah Sports Commission detailed that in the 2022-23 winter sports season, Salt Lake City-area sites will be used for 13 national and international competitions in Bobsled and Skeleton (2), Cross Country Skiing (1), Freestyle Skiing (3), Luge (2), Short Track (2) and Speedskating (3), all at 2002 venues.

3.
Qatar on offense, with trips for World Cup social-media influencers

“[H]elping to engage supporters, both in Qatar and around the globe, is the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy’s (SC) Fan Leader Network.

“Featuring a community of more than 400 fan leaders and influencers from 60 countries, the Fan Leader Network contributes to tournament planning through fan insight, research, content creation and message amplification.”

That’s from the Qatar 2022 organizers, with more details added last Sunday by Dutch broadcaster NOS, which explained that 50 Dutch fans will receive free travel and housing as guests of the Supreme Committee, in exchange for their support on social media and in promotional programs during the tournament. All “Fan Leaders” are required to agree to a four-page “Code of Conduct” which includes:

● “[I]ncorporate, where appropriate, SC Content into your Posts in accordance with the rules of the relevant Platform (Platform Rules). Please note that some Platform Rules (for example, Instagram) will require you to create additional editorial content whenever you submit a Post containing SC Content. That additional editorial content will need to be detailed, unique to you and relate to the SC Content and reflect your personal opinion;

● “[S]upport the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 World Cup by ‘liking’ and re-sharing third party posts about the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on the Platforms; …

● “You agree not to encourage offensive or degrading activities, or nudity;

● “You agree to report any offensive, degrading or abusive comments to the SC and, if possible, to take a screenshot of those comments and then promptly delete them. All other comments whether challenging or celebratory about the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 may of course remain publicly visible at your discretion; …

● “You understand that SC will be monitoring your Posts for compliance with this Code. SC has the right to address noncompliant Posts including by requiring you to amend or remove the Post so as to comply with this Code.”

The “Good Posting Principles” page includes:

“We are not asking you to a mouth piece for Qatar, but it would obviously not be appropriate for you to disparage Qatar the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (or other relevant entities related to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022) or the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.”

The social channels of interest to the Supreme Committee include Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube, and Weibo, Toutiao, Douyin and Kuaishou for Chinese speakers.

The NOS story also noted reports from the French newspaper Le Parisien that there are 500 people on the subsidized travel program, including some from France and 20 from Belgium.

Observed: This is the natural path of the rise of social media and the follow-on, red-hot phenomenon of influencer marketing, now undertaken by the 2022 World Cup organizers. Qatari politicians and the Supreme Committee has bristled under what Qatar’s Emir called “an unprecedented campaign that no host country has ever faced” and that it “continues, expands and includes fabrication and double standards, until it reached a level of ferocity that made many question, unfortunately, about the real reasons and motives behind this campaign.”

A guest post at MarketingDive.com stated that “From roughly $1.7 billion in 2016, influencer marketing has soared to a $10 to $14 billion dollar industry today.”

It doesn’t always work, as shown last month, as celeb influencer Kim Kardashian was fined $1.26 million by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission for promoting a crypto-currency company without disclosing that she was paid to do so. One commentator noted “she is now the poster person for why the role of influencers and influencer marketing needs immediate and serious reexamination.”

Time will tell if the “Fan Leader” program has the desired impact, or any impact at all. However, there is no doubt that after the World Cup final is concluded on 18 December, FIFA, the World Cup and Qatar will never be the same again.

4.
China scores decisive men’s World Cup Team win; U.S. fifth

China’s men’s team won or tied for the lead on five of six apparatus on the way to a dominant win in the Team final at the 2022 FIG World Artistic Championships in Liverpool (GBR) on Wednesday.

The Chinese men scored 257.858 to win by more than four points for their 13th Worlds team title, the most of any nation in history, and moved up from second in 2019 to the top of the podium again. China had also won in 2018 and had two returnees from that team in Wei Sun and Jingyuan Zou, both of whom led events on Wednesday.

Zou had the top score on Rings at 14.866 and on the Parallel Bars at 15.766, with two more event leads coming from Boheng Zhang, with a 14.966 score on Vault, and Sun’s 14.666 best on Floor Exercise.

Japan’s Daiki Hashimoto won on Floor (14.500) and on Pommel Horse (14.433) and led his team to a second-place finish with 253.395 points, its best Worlds finish since a win in 2015. Great Britain continued its strong resurgence with a bronze (247.229), placing in the top four in four of the six events.

The top three teams are now qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The American team was third in the qualifying, but had a tough time, scoring 245.692 for fifth, compared with 252.295 on Monday. The U.S. finished third on Rings, but fourth on Vault and Parallel Bars, fifth on Pommel Horse, seventh on Horizontal Bar and eighth on Floor. The best individual score on any apparatus was Asher Hong at 14.533 on Vault, good for a tie for eighth.

The U.S. men have not won a Worlds Team medal since a bronze in 2014.

The women’s All-Around comes Thursday, followed by the men’s All-Around on Friday and the apparatus finals on the weekend.

5.
World record in sight for Ledecky in final FINA World Cup

The third and final leg of the 2022 FINA World Cup starts on Thursday in Indianapolis (USA), with a huge entry of 140 American swimmers, including Freestyle superstar Katie Ledecky.

She crushed the world short-course mark in the women’s 1,500 m Free at the second leg in Toronto last week, finishing in 15:08.24 to improve German Sarah Kohler’s time of 15:18.01 from 2019. Ledecky passed 800 m in 8:00.58, just missing the short-course world mark of 7:59.34 by Spain’s Mireia Belmonte in 2013) en route, but setting another American Record!

This time, she can concentrate on the 800 m Free by itself on Saturday and is expected to challenge Belmonte’s record, if not destroy it. A nice, $10,000 bonus is available for world short-course records set at the meet!

Ledecky is also entered in the 200 m Free (she was second to Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey in Toronto), 400 m Free (second to Canada’s Summer McIntosh) and the 400 m Medley.

There are also 11 swimmers pursuing a “Triple Crown,” that is a sweep of an individual distance at all three World Cup stops, with each sweep also earning $10,000 bonuses from FINA:

Men:
● Dylan Carter (TTO): 50 m Free, 50 m Back, 50 m Fly
● Shaine Casas (USA): 100 m Back, 200 m Back
● Kyle Chalmers (AUS); 100 m Free
● Nic Fink (USA): 50 m Breast, 100 m Breast, 200 m Breast
● Chad le Clos (RSA): 200 m Fly
● Matt Sates (RSA): 400 m Free, 400 m Medley

Women:
● Beryl Gastaldello (FRA): 100 m Medley
● Siobhan Haughey (HKG): 100 m Free, 200 m Free
● Ruta Meilutyte (LTU): 50 m Breast, 100 m Breast
● Beata Nelson (USA): 100 m Back, 200 m Back, 200 m Medley
● Kasia Wasick (POL): 50 m Free

The World Cup also has a $100,000-70,000-30,000-15,000-14,000-12,000-11,000-10,000 payout for the top eight men and women in the overall points standings, with scoring for the top three finishes by an athlete in the meet with points for placement and performance. Going into the Indianapolis meet:

Men:
● 1. 114.5, Dylan Carter (TTO) and Nic Fink (USA)
● 3. 111.0, Matt Sates (RSA)
● 4. 110.2, Chad le Clos (RSA)
● 5. 107.4, Shaine Casas (USA)

Women:
● 1. 115.6, Beata Nelson (USA)
● 2. 112.9, Siobhan Haughey (HKG)
● 3. 105.3, Beryl Gastaldello (FRA)
● 4. 104.7, Kylie Masse (CAN)
● 5. 101.8, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU)

The meet is not being shown on U.S. television, but a live stream is available on YouTube, and results will be here.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● World University Games ● The International University Sports Federation (FISU) removed the 2023 World University Games from Ekaterinburg in Russia as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and reassigned it to Chengdu (CHN), which was supposed to host in 2021, but did not due to the pandemic.

But this has not stopped the Russians from planning their own version of a “University Games” for 2023.

Deputy Minister of Sports Azat Kadyrov announced Wednesday that an “International University Sports Festival” is to be held in Ekaterinburg next August:

“In the near future we will complete a detailed presentation of the festival project and bring all the information to the residents of the Sverdlovsk region, the inhabitants of our country and the sports community in general.

“Together with the government of the Sverdlovsk region, with colleagues from the organizing committee, we have already begun to draw up a schedule of events. In the very near future, together with The Russian Student Sports Union will start inviting universities from those countries that are members of the declared organizations: BRICS, [Shanghai Cooperation Organisation], [Commonwealth of Independent States]. Of course, these will be the largest universities that exist in these countries.”

The Chengdu World University Games are scheduled for 28 July to 8 August, 2023, pandemic permitting.

● National Olympic Committees ● The Czech Olympic Committee (COV) has asked that the country no longer be referred to as the “Czech Republic” but as “Czechia” instead.

COV vice chairman Roman Kumpost said in a statement, “We are following the examples of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which already made this change at the U.N. and NATO.” A request for a formal change by the International Olympic Committee has been made and expected to be approved. Now you know.

● Athletics ● The Russian separatist movement in sports has now reached marathons, as Sports minister Oleg Matytsin proposed to the sports ministers of the “BRICS” countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – that a “BRICS Marathon League” be established.

The program would start with Russian marathons in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kazan and include the largest marathons in each of the other countries.

The Athletics Integrity Unit published its disciplinary report for October 2022, with 27 individuals listed from 13 countries, led by India (4), Turkey (4) and Belarus (3).

A noteworthy penalty was assessed against Romanian shot putter Anca Heltne, an eight-time national champion and the 2009 European Indoor bronze medalist (best: 19.90 m/65-3 1/2) in 2010). She was banned for life for a third doping violation, the first ban dating from 11 March 2014. She was sanctioned for two offenses as an athlete and then again as a coach in 2020, with the AIU citing “Trafficking administration complicity.”

Her husband, Norwegian Runar Heltne, is also sanctioned for the same trafficking issues, but will be “eligible” again in June of 2025.

Italian middle-distance runner Alessandro Braconi was originally hit with a sanction of 12 years in 2016 for use, possession and trafficking, but then was found to have violated his “prohibition of participation” since then. He now is sanctioned for almost 30 years, to 23 March of 2046, when he will be 59!

● Curling ● The tumult continues within USA Curling in the aftermath of the Yates Report on abuse within the National Women’s Soccer League that forced ex-NWSL Commissioner Jeff Plush out as the curling federation’s chief executive, and the Members Assembly vote to remove the Grand National Curling Club as a member region.

On Wednesday, USA Curling announced the resignation of Board Chair Lynn LaRocca and independent directors Shane Coppola and Hawley McLean. Bret Jackson, who was just elected to the Board on 21 October, was elected as Board Chair, and current curler Colin Hufman as Vice Chair.

● Football ● The complaint by the football federations of Chile and Peru that they should be allowed into the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in place of Ecuador, whom they allege used an ineligible player – wing Byron Castillo – during the South American qualifications, will be heard on 4-5 November. The World Cup tournament kicks off on 20 November.

The U.S. Soccer Federation announced early 2023 games for both the men’s and women’s national teams on Wednesday. The women will start their prep for the FIFA Women’s World Cup against co-host New Zealand, in New Zealand on 17 January in Wellington and on 20 January in Auckland.

The men’s national team, automatic qualifiers as a tri-host of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, will play Serbia on 25 January at the Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles and then Colombia at the Dignity Health Sports Park in nearby Carson on 28 January.

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TSX REPORT: U.S. women take sixth straight gymnastics Team title; “Stop War” shirt not allowed; German minister OK on Qatar World Cup security guarantees

By
Rich Perelman
-
Ukraine gymnastics star Illia Kovtun during podium training at the 2022 FIG World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool (Photo: Suspilne.media)

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

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for 2022-23 and beyond, click here! ★

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. U.S. women win sixth straight World Team title in Liverpool
2. FIG asks Ukraine’s Illia Kovtun to remove “Stop War” shirt
3. German Minister Faeser satisfied with Qatar security guarantees
4. Russia continues pushing separatist sports organization agenda
5. Skate Canada Int’l audience almost level with Skate America

The U.S. women’s gymnastics team led from the start and dominated the Team event at the FIG World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, winning by more than three points over host Great Britain and earning a place at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. During the event’s podium training over the weekend, Ukrainian star Illia Kovtun wore a “Stop War” shirt in national colors – blue and yellow – but was told by the FIG to take it off as a “political message” against its rules. Completing a two-day trip to Qatar, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said she was satisfied with government guarantees that German visitors would not be harassed during the FIFA World Cup and would attend Germany’s opening match later this month. Senior Russian officials continued to promote a new, international sports organization separate from “the West,” but so far mostly reaching former Soviet Republics and some other central Asian nations. Although NBC showed only one session of last weekend’s Skate Canada International on its over-the-air network – and at an early hour on Sunday – it drew almost the same viewership as Skate America the week before.

1.
U.S. women win sixth straight World Team title in Liverpool

With a new team and a highly-energized effort, the United States women’s team won its sixth straight FIG Artistic World Championships team title in Liverpool (GBR), 166.564 to 163.363 for Great Britain.

Only Jordan Chiles returned from the Tokyo Olympic Team event squad in 2021 and Jade Carey from the 2019 World Championships, but the Americans led right from the start and never wavered.

The Americans started on Vault, with Carey scoring 14.800 and Chiles 14.400, ending up 2-3 behind Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade (15.166), with Japan’s Shoko Miyata also scoring 14.400; the U.S. total of 43.133 had them first after one rotation.

The U.S. moved to Uneven Bars and posted the highest score of the day at 42.199, with Shilese Jones scoring 14.333 and Chiles at 14.100. China’s Xiaoyuan Wei had the best score (14.733), with Andrade next (14.633), Jones fourth and Chiles sixth overall.

On Beam, Italy compiled the top score at 39.766, followed by Canada (39.632) and then the U.S. (39.399). Chiles led the U.S. at 13.333, with Skye Blakely just behind (13.266). China’s Yushan Ou won the event at 14.266, with Chiles in sixth.

Going into the final rotation, the U.S. led by 2.20 over Great Britain and got three solid performances on Floor, from Jones (13.733), Carey (14.100) and Chiles (14.00) to finish at 41.833, the best score in the field to take top honors in three of four apparatus. Britain’s Jessica Gadirova had the highest score at 14.266, followed by Carey, with Chiles fourth.

It’s a remarkable performance from the new generation of American gymnasts, and clinches a place in the field for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, available to the top three teams in this year’s Worlds. Britain won only its second women’s Team medal ever (previously a bronze in 2015) and confirmed its rise after an Olympic bronze last year. Canada’s third (160.563) over Brazil (159.661) is its first women’s Worlds Team medal ever!

For the American squad, only Chiles competed in all four events; Carey and Jones were in three each, with Leanne Wong on the Uneven Bars and Blakely on Beam.

The gymnastics Worlds continue with the men’s Team event on Wednesday, with the American men looking for a top-three finish to also qualify for Paris 2024.

2.
FIG asks Ukraine’s Illia Kovtnn to remove “Stop War” shirt

“They understand us and our pain but they’re trying to avoid such proclamations in order to adhere to the line ‘sports are outside of politics.’ But how can it be so when Illia and I cannot go back to Ukraine since February 22nd? How is war not connected to gymnastics? We don’t understand that.”

That’s Irina Nadiuk, coach for Ukrainian star Illia Kovtun, 19, the 2021 Worlds men’s All-Around bronze medalist, in an interview on Monday on the Ukrainian site Suspilne.media, explaining the request of the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) to remove the “Stop War” shirt he was wearing during podium training:

“It was Illia who wanted to wear this T-shirt in training and show this message. We thought there would be no problems because there was no negativity on it, no calls against aggressors or any sort of negativity. It’s made in our [Ukrainian flag] colors with the words “Stop War.” We didn’t call anyone names, we just want peace and our independence, so that no one would bother us. Illia wore it to podium training. He has a shoulder injury right now, so we skipped a few events during the second podium training session in order to preserve him.

“He went out on the competition floor to help me with other gymnasts. And two events later FIG officials approached us, showed a photo of Illia in this t-shirt and calmly, not in a rude way, asked to take it off and not to wear it again. We apologized because we didn’t want anyone from our delegation to have problems. And we moved on. Today the FIG asked our official from the Sports Ministry to come in, they scheduled a meeting with her and asked from her that we won’t wear these T-shirts. They fully support us and understand that this topic is very painful for us. But they want to preserve a calm atmosphere around the competition, so that there wouldn’t be any additional problems. That’s why they are asking us to keep our emotions in check. Because Russian media already started writing to them about Illia.

“I think we didn’t do anything wrong. That’s why I don’t know why they reacted like this. Although I can understand them at some level. That’s why we apologized so that we wouldn’t have any problems with the FIG, we drew our conclusions and aren’t wearing these T-shirts anymore. They informed us there won’t be any sanctions, just this verbal request. So there aren’t any sanctions for Illia or me. But they asked us to restrain our emotions. They understand us and our pain but they’re trying to avoid such proclamations in order to adhere to the line ‘sports are outside of politics.’ But how can it be so when Illia and I cannot go back to Ukraine since February 22nd? How is war not connected to gymnastics? We don’t understand that. We haven’t been home for so long, haven’t seen our loved ones. We keep being hosted by our friends. First, the Italians, and for the last four months, Croatians. We are already embarrassed that another country is taking care of us and feeding us. We’re constantly living out of suitcases like nomads. It has already become very difficult mentally and psychologically.”

FIG Secretary General Nicolas Buompane (SUI) told reporters:

“Even though we are in agreement somehow with the message ‘Stop War,’ we cannot accept those kind of political messages within our event. So, we went to the gymnast and to the head of the delegation to tell them that indeed we understand how critical it is for them, how sad it is, but it is something we don’t want to see during the World Championships, so, hopefully, that will not happen again.”

Meanwhile, Russian national team coach Valentina Rodionenko complained about not being able to compete in Liverpool, telling TASS: “This world championship is like salt in the wound for us, it’s a shame to miss it for unsportsmanlike reasons.”

She also had no doubt about where the Russian women’s squad – the Tokyo Olympic winners – would place:

“We watch this World Championship without fail, it is very important for us to watch who we would have to compete with. Now the Americans have won the qualification, but we don’t doubt for a second that our women’s team is clearly stronger than them. The results of the Americans are low. I judge from what we see.”

The U.S. women scored 167.263 points in the qualifying and 166.564 to win the team title on Tuesday.

3.
German Minister Faeser satisfied with Qatar security guarantees

Just days after publicly questioning the propriety of having Qatar host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser concluded an in-person visit to Doha and said she was satisfied with the promises made by the host country regarding security.

“It is important to support the country of Qatar in groundbreaking reforms. That is why I have decided to continue to be part of the process and travel to the first match of the German team.”

The Germans, ranked no. 11 worldwide, were drawn into Group E and will play Japan in its opening match on 23 November at the Khalifa International Stadium. Faeser’s ministry portfolio includes sport, and Agence France Presse reported:

“Faeser said Qatar’s Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa Al Thani had offered her a ‘guarantee of safety’ for LGBTQ fans during the tournament.”

The Minister said that she wanted assurances “that everyone from Germany who comes here for the World Cup, no matter where they come from, no matter who or what they believe in, or no matter who they love, is also safe here in Qatar.”

She also said that Germany would “continue to support reforms in Qatar after the World Cup to further improve the lives of migrant workers and the human rights situation.”

Faeser created a furor when she said in an interview that aired last Thursday (27th) that “It would be better that tournaments are not awarded to such states.”

4.
Russia continues pushing separatist sports organization agenda

The drumbeat for an international sports program to challenge the “collective West” continued on Tuesday with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin urging new competitions to be led by members of the China/Russia-led Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

“The SCO member states are unanimous that sports competitions should remain an effective and accessible tool for building trust and mutual understanding between peoples. Together we must fight any attempts to destroy the lofty principles of Olympism.

“It will bring together representatives of such structures of the states that are members of the SCO, BRICS [Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa], the EAEU and the CIS, while being open to other participants. Athletes from our countries will be able to demonstrate their achievements in a fair fight at major competitions. Moreover, the emphasis will be placed not only on professional, but first of all – for mass sports.”

Despite all of the organizations mentioned, Mishustin’s catalog essentially names mostly former Soviet Republics. The SCO includes Russia, Kazakhstan, Kygrystan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, plus China, India and Pakistan. Several other countries are more loosely affiliated as observers (including Iran) or “dialogue partners.”

The “EAEU” refers to the Eurasian Economic Union – Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia – and “CIS” is the Commonwealth of Independent States, which includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

5.
Skate Canada Int’l audience almost level with Skate America

NBC has transferred most of its coverage of the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix to its Peacock subscription streaming service, but did showcase last weekend’s Skate Canada International on one program on NBC, last Sunday at noon Eastern time.

Slotted in just prior to the start of NFL games on CBS and Fox, the Skate Canada show drew a respectable television audience of 747,000 and a 0.49 rating.

That’s only slightly behind the viewership for Skate America, with many more U.S. stars, held a week earlier. The one NBC show from that event, on Saturday at 3 p.m. Eastern, drew 760,000 and had a 0.48 rating. Three other sessions were shown on cable, drawing from 200-230,000 on either USA Network or E!

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Winter Games 2030 ● Japan’s Asahi Shimbun reported last week that the projected costs to operate Sapporo’s proposed 2030 Winter Games have risen due to inflation and a reduction in the value of the yen.

The budget projection increase is ¥17 billion (about $114.7 million U.S.), bringing the expected cost to between ¥297-317 billion, or about $2.00-2.14 billion U.S. Funding for venue construction from the city of Sapporo was now estimated at ¥49 billion (about $330.6 million U.S.)

The Salt Lake City 2030 budget, released in May, required no government subsidy and was estimated at $2.2 billion.

For the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games, the International Olympic Committee is committed to pay the organizers $452 million in cash from television rights fees and $200 million from its worldwide sponsorships. Those amounts are expected to rise for 2030.

● World University Games ● In the battle for the 2027 World University Games between the Korea’s Chungcheong region and the North Carolina bid from the U.S., the Koreans circulated an interesting newsletter this week with Hosung Chang, President of the Korean University Sports Board (KUSB) and chairman of Dankook University.

His pitch was for Chungcheong’s “four unbeatable strengths,” led by:

“First and foremost, the central Government and four local Governments have guaranteed generous financial and administrative support, including a budget of €440 million for the operation of the Games. Financial stability is the most important pillar for the Games’ success.”

The others were Korea’s experience in hosting prior World University Games (1997-2003-2015), the cohesiveness of its four host cities, and its existing facilities. And he notes:

“Among the 31 venues, 19 are existing, and two facilities will be built as temporary facilities; 10 stadiums will be built anew with the local Government budget, and only one out of 10 will be covered by the Organising Committee budget.”

The building of new sites places the €440 million (about $434.5 million U.S. today) funding guarantee in a slightly different light, as does the need for 10 new venues. The North Carolina bid is quite different, in the use of existing facilities and a far smaller budget of about $100 million.

The International University Sports Federation (FISU) is expected to make its decision on the 2027 host on 12 November.

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TSX REPORT: FIFA World Cup furor continues, in Tunisia and Germany; 2023 World Relays in China collapse; Miller on Putin, Russia and Olympism

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. FIFA warns Tunisia on World Cup spot due to government issues
2. Storm over German Interior Minister complaint on Qatar hosting
3. Ukraine asks FIFA to exclude Russia, remove Iran from World Cup
4. Pandemic postpones 2023 World Athletics Relays in China to 2025
5. Australian Olympian Watson launches UIPM President campaign

Never underestimate the power of football to create headlines, especially right in front of a major event like the FIFA World Cup. Even with less than three weeks to go to the start of the 2022 World Cup, Tunisia has been threatened with the potential loss of participation in the tournament due to government interference with the operation of its national football federation. Comments by the German Interior Minister critical of the choice of Qatar as the World Cup host on human rights issues touched off a furor, with the Qatari Foreign Minister calling in the German ambassador for “clarification,” in advance of a trip by German officials to Doha. The Ukrainian Football Association asked FIFA to suspend Russia for claiming authority over teams and matches in Ukrainian territory it has “annexed,” and to remove Iran from the World Cup for its assistance to Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. China’s immovable anti-pandemic rules have forced the postponement – to 2025 – of the 2023 World Athletics Relays that were scheduled for Guangzhou. Australia’s three-time modern pentathlon Olympian Alex Watson opened his “longshot” campaign to be UIPM President on Monday, seeking to lead the sport back onto the Olympic program for 2028.

Long-time British Olympic historian and observer David Miller has shared a brilliant guest column, “While Putin exists, Russian Olympism perishes,” which can be read here.

1.
FIFA warns Tunisia on World Cup spot due to government issues

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar begins on 20 November, but the BBC reported that FIFA is concerned over possible government interference with the operation of the Federation Tunisienne de Football (FTF) that could jeopardize its place in the World Cup.

FIFA’s Chief Member Associations Officer, Kenny Jean-Marie (FRA) wrote to the FTF Secretary General, Wajdi Aouadi last week, explaining that the Tunisian body is “legally obligated to conduct their affairs independently and without undue influence from third parties.

“Any failure to comply with these obligations may result in the imposition of penalties under the FIFA laws, including suspension of the relevant association.”

The BBC reported that FIFA expects a reply by Friday, to resolve worries about possible actions by Tunisian Youth and Sports Minister, Kamel Deguiche, who has indicated that the government has the authority to “dissolve federal bureaux,” taken by the FTF as a direct threat against it.

Tunisia qualified for its sixth World Cup and was drawn into Group D, with defending champion France, Australia and Denmark; its first match is against the Danes on 22 November.

FIFA, like the International Olympic Committee, is highly sensitive to government control or interference with its national federations. The BBC story noted that Kenya and Zimbabwe are both currently on suspension.

2.
Storm over German Interior Minister complaint on Qatar hosting

“For us as the federal government, this is a very difficult award. … There are criteria that have to be adhered to and then it would be better if it weren’t awarded to such countries.”

That’s German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser in an interview with the ARD newsmagazine show “Monitor” last week, expressing displeasure with the awarding of the 2022 FIFA World Cup to Qatar.

Faeser said that the placement of major events should take into account “compliance with human rights and sustainability principles” and “No World Cup takes place in a vacuum. Human rights always apply everywhere – and now the whole world is paying special attention.”

This set off a furious reaction from the Qatar government, with the Foreign Ministry calling her comments “unacceptable and provocative” and asking for a meeting with the German ambassador in which he was given a letter. Per the Foreign Ministry:

“The memo expressed the State of Qatar’s complete rejection of those remarks made towards a country whose hosting of the World Cup was justice done to a region suffering from an unjust stereotype for decades.”

On Monday, Faeser, German football federation President Bernd Neuendorf and others traveled to Qatar for meetings concerning the World Cup, reportedly including FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI).

However, the German Commissioner for Human Rights, Luise Amtsberg, did not go and told the ARD “Sportschau” program:

“The developments this weekend made it clear to me how difficult it is in the current situation in the run-up to the soccer World Cup to hold the open and critical talks I planned about the human rights situation in Qatar with the Qatari government.”

Neuendorf told the German ZDF channel that football itself has been changed by the experience of placing the FIFA World Cup in Qatar:

“It has become much more political. And we will – I don’t think – experience an award without taking into account issues such as sustainability and human rights – I don’t think – any more. You have to discuss these things in advance.”

The 2022 FIFA World Cup opens on 20 November.

3.
Ukraine asks FIFA to exclude Russia, remove Iran from World Cup

“I would like to urge UEFA and FIFA to take a step further and cancel or suspend Russia’s membership in their ranks.

“In the 70s, South Africa was expelled from FIFA for the policy of apartheid, and Russia should be expelled for the policy of genocide of Ukrainians and the bloody war they unleashed in our homeland.”

While the participation of Russian teams is already banned, Serhiy Palkin, chief executive of the Shakhtar Donetsk club, in agreement with the Ukrainian Football Association, has asked the worldwide and European football governing bodies to remove the Russian Football Union from membership in the organizations.

The Russian news agency TASS reported that the Russian Football Union will include teams from the “annexed” regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporozhye going forward and that teams from Crimea and Sevastopol will join in 2023-24. All of these areas are legally part of Ukraine, but have been invaded by Russia, in 2014 (Crimea) and 2022 (Luhansk and Donetsk).

The Ukrainian Football Association also asked FIFA to remove Iran from the 2022 World Cup in view of its “systematic manifestations of human rights violations” and “probable involvement” in the invasion of Ukraine.

Palkin added:

“[T]the only way to defeat Russian aggression is to combine our efforts. It’s necessary to tighten the sanctions against Russia in all possible directions. It is important to limit Russia’s resource and information capabilities so that they feel isolated and stop.

“What can we do in the field of sports? To isolate Russia from participation in international sports competitions, and this, by and large, has already been done. But I would like to urge UEFA and FIFA to take a step further.”

4.
Pandemic postpones 2023 World Athletics Relays
in China to 2025

China’s zero-tolerance policy on Covid-19 has struck again, as World Athletics announced the postponement of the 2023 World Athletics Relays, in agreement with the Chinese Athletics Association.

The event was slated to be held in Guangzhou on 13-14 May, but will now be held sometime in 2025. No replacement event will be arranged, which means that a change in relay qualifications for Paris 2024 was needed; now:

“[T]he World Athletics Competition Commission, upon approval of the Council, has revised the qualification system to include the top eight teams from the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 and the top eight teams from the performance lists.”

The cancellation of the 2023 World Relays quickly brings into question whether China can host either of the two Wanda Diamond League meets scheduled for 27 April in Shenzhen and 06 May in Shanghai. China was scheduled to host two Diamond League meets in 2022, but both were scrubbed due to the pandemic.

At present, the Diamond League schedule still shows both Chinese meets.

5.
Australian Olympian Watson launches UIPM President campaign

“I’m not confident at all. If I said it would be easy, I’d be lying. No, it’s going to be tough, and the reason it’s even tougher is that so many of the national federations are frightened to stick their head out.

“They have been so used to this style of leadership , that if you don’t agree, you get intimidated, that they’re really nervous. So, we need to change that culture, and yes, it’s a longshot.”

Three-time Australian modern pentathlon Olympian Alex Watson told a London news conference on Monday that he wants to be the new leader of the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM). To do so, long-time UIPM chief Klaus Schormann (GER) would have to resign, as he was re-elected for an eighth term in 2021. Said Watson:

“I’m not going to underestimate the odds, but I like tough odds, and I think if history goes the right way, and the athletes remain behind what we’re doing – it will be, inevitably – there must be change.”

Modern pentathlon has been in crisis after the horse-punching incident at the Tokyo Games last year, when the horse Saint Boy refused to jump for German star Annika Schleu and was punched by her coach. The UIPM Executive Board announced that it would replace riding with a different discipline, settling on obstacle course racing and to propose approval at the upcoming UIPM Congress – to be held online – on 12-13 November.

The International Olympic Committee, not only distressed by the Tokyo incident, but by the small participation numbers in the sport and its low public profile, left the sport off of its initial sports program for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

The UIPM Congress agenda includes a motion for a vote of no-confidence in Schormann, but as Watson noted, its passage is chancy at best.

Watson was the competition manager for the sport at the Sydney 2000 Games, and has produced a 21-page manifesto, and a 10-page question-and-answer document, which includes:

● “It recently came to light that in 2016 UIPM was in advanced discussions to merge with World Obstacle, despite this never having been minuted at the [Executive Board] or discussed at Congress. A fully negotiated legal merger agreement between the two international federations was disclosed. …

“In January 2017 UIPM committed to campaign for the inclusion of obstacles in pentathlon. This does not appear to have been discussed at Congress. … It appears that this long standing agenda from certain members of the EB is the reason that obstacles were chosen.”

● “There has been no test of how obstacles could be combined into a 5-discipline pentathlon, and not even a proposal for how that could happen. A proper test would require that the actual format of the discipline had been decided, and was being properly tested under international competition conditions, as part of a 5-discipline pentathlon. None of that has yet happened.”

● Watson noted the heavy push beginning in 2015 to increase the number of national federations from about 60 to 131 today. But: “Around 50 NFs have not hosted or had any athletes at all compete in any official UIPM competition in the last 4 years in any of the sports in the UIPM sports pyramid. A large proportion of those NFs didn’t even have any athletes licenced or registered on the UIPM website as at mid-September this year.”

As Watson said, it is hard to see the UIPM Congress removing Schormann. But he has the backing of the Pentathlon United athlete group, and that group’s efforts has energized some of the national federations, but how many is yet to be seen.

The UIPM posted a statement on Monday that included, “UIPM is a democratic membership organisation and the will of its National Federation members will be fully respected at the upcoming UIPM 2022 Congress.”

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ≡

● Gymnastics ● The men’s qualifying was held Monday at the FIG World Artistic Championships in Liverpool (GBR), with six-time Team winner Japan leading the parade.

The Japanese, who last won the Team title in 2015, were solid throughout and ended with a commanding lead at 260.695, ahead of Great Britain (252.793) and the U.S. (252.295).

Japan’s Tokyo Olympic Team silver medalist Wataru Tanigawa and Olympic All-Around champion Daiki Hashimoto were 1-2 in the All-Around qualifying, scoring 84.731 and 84.665, ahead of Carlos Yulo (PHI: 84.664) in third. The U.S. also qualified two for the final, with Asher Hong in sixth (83.299) and national champion Brody Malone in eighth (82.631).

On the individual apparatus, the leaders included 2019 World Champion Yulo on Floor (15.266), Rhys McClenaghan (IRL: 15.233) on Pommel Horse, Courtney Tulloch (GBR: 14.666) on Rings, Armenia’s Tokyo bronze medalist Artur Davtyan on Vault (14.900), China’s Tokyo Olympic champ Jingyuan Zou on Parallel Bars (15.700) and Olympic gold medalist Hashimoto on the Horizontal Bar (15.100).

The U.S. qualified defending World Champion Stephen Nedoroscik on the Pommel Horse: (2nd: 15.233); national champion Donnell Whittenburg on Rings (8th: 14.333); and 2021 Worlds medalist Malone on the Horizontal Bar (5th: 14.433).

Tuesday has the women’s Team final, with the U.S. in good position to win its sixth straight title. The men’s Team final comes on Wednesday.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● International Olympic Committee ● The IOC reported that the first 70,000 seedlings of a planned 590,000 trees in Mali and Senegal have been planted as part of its Olympic Forest project. Scheduled over four years, the concept is to re-forest parts of the Sahel region and restore as much as 5,000 acres of forest and farmland.

The project is designed to capture the equivalent of 200,000 tons of carbon, to allow the IOC to become carbon-neutral or better by 2024.

● Russia ● The Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Dmitry Chernyshenko, announced that the second Friendship Games, focused on aquatics, will draw athletes from 23 countries.

Russia’s response to its ban in almost all international sports, the next Friendship Games will be held in Kazan, a popular venue for major swimming competitions, from 10-25 November, with swimming, diving and artistic swimming events. Said Chernyshenko:

“The government has developed new formats for competitions in various sports with the participation of representatives of friendly countries. In November, the second stage of the Friendship Games international competitions is scheduled to be held in Kazan. Compared to the first stage, which took place in July and August this year, we have expanded the geography of participants – from 16 to 23 countries. Over 100 sets of awards will be played among 800 athletes.”

The countries were not named.

● Athletics ● Another step in the move to streaming coverage of track & field was last week’s announcement of a new mobile application for the 2022 TCS New York City Marathon, “with a groundbreaking Second Screen feature that will transform the marathon experience for runners and fans alike.

“For the first time in the history of major marathons, the professional men’s and women’s wheelchair and open division races will be livestreamed on the app in their entirety, empowering fans to swipe between feeds and watch the race of their choice.”

The race, coming this Sunday (6th) will still be shown locally on WABC and nationally on ESPN, but the app brings more data and video to spectators:

● “The app allows spectators to track the elapsed time and pace of an unlimited number of runners.

● “The first of its kind Course Camera feature lets fans watch a live feed of their favorite runners at five key points along the course – at the start, mile 8 in Brooklyn, mile 17 in the Upper East Side, mile 20 in the Bronx, and at the finish.”

There’s more: “cheer cards” on social media, a live race leaderboard, a tracking device for individual runners and more. A next step.

● Cycling ● British Cycling’s chief executive, Brian Facer, resigned after heavy criticism directed at the federation after multiple controversies, including environmentalist anger at a major sponsorship agreement with Shell UK, a dip in revenues and membership totals and a reversal by the Union Cycliste Internationale of the British federation’s lenient policy on competition opportunities for transgender athletes.

British Cycling also requested that people not ride bicycles during the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, but had to recant, with some embarrassment.

The deal with Shell UK was blasted by environmental groups as “greenwashing,” especially after British Cycling had touted its commitment to low emissions in its annual report.

Facer may be gone, but the British Cycling Board confirmed that the eight-year Shell UK agreement – with its badly-needed funding – will continue. Fascinating.

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MILLER TIME: While Putin exists, Russian Olympism perishes

By
David Miller
-
The logo of the Russian National Olympic Committee.

/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 perceived ambition of Vladimir Putin is to recreate the empire of Peter the Great (1672-1725). We should recall that the resplendent Tsar in 1718 had his son and heir Alexei tortured to death … for being disloyal. Five hundred years on, Russia’s generic psychological deformity remains: mounting evidence emerges of tortured Ukraine civilians.

Alarm at Olympic HQ in Lausanne intensifies, President Thomas Bach alert to the potential – if Russia/Belarus are inevitably excluded from Paris ’24 – for a breakaway echo of the USSR era of Spartakiads: multi-sport events originated by the Red Army 1923-37, then regular festivals in parallel with the Olympic Games 1956-91, most notably the Friendly Games of 1984 for those boycotting Los Angeles.

The Russian threat poses disintegration of Bach’s idealistic ‘universality’ of all nations, championed by the United Nations. The ancient Greek tradition of military truce during a Games was feigned to be upheld during the Beijing Winter Games early this year: a strategic deceit by Russia to stall global opinion for a few days. Last week, the International Olympic Committee’s desperation was evident with the blatant appeal, by Vatican clerics together with Bach, “to seek peaceful solution to all conflicts.” For Putin, truce is for the birds.

Despite the continuing appalling war crimes in Ukraine, with torture/assassination of civilians by retreating Russian soldiers, perhaps Bach should not over-estimate latent Russian Olympic rebellion, attempting to keep the nation emotionally on side: suspending neither Russia’s National Olympic Committee nor their IOC Members, while ‘protecting’ Russian athletes by requesting International Federations to exclude them from competition at which ‘they might be insulted’.

I discussed the issue with Dick Pound, the IOC’s senior member. The Canadian lawyer and Olympic swimmer doubts if a Russian-led exodus could commercially survive. He observes:

“Thomas would like to keep Russian athletes ‘inside the camp’, for global integration, believing mute athletes are innocent of political and military intrigue. Yet not all of them are. And it has to be accepted that in an outlaw country, ordinary citizens have to pay the price for illegality.”

Pound should know: indirectly himself the emotional victim of political issues. Delegated in 1999 by then-IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch to head the legal investigation into voting bribery allegations in Salt Lake City’s Winter Games election in 1995 for 2002, Pound’s ensuing suspension/dismissal of a dozen Members inevitably embedded resentment among IOC colleagues; relegating Pound to third place in the Presidential election of 2001 … which he might otherwise have won. It was Pound’s constitutional revision commission, under elected Jacques Rogge, which implanted many constitutional reform principles then evident in Bach’s Agenda 2020 when he was elected in 2013.

“A Russian breakaway is certainly possible,” Pound reflects. “But if you exclude yourself from an idealistic arena, it’s inevitably self-defeating. You look bad. A rekindled Spartakiad would have no revenue, no momentum, no magic. In the sporting environment, if a nation or individual tumbles off stage, is alienated, then only if they reassemble are they welcomed back. Russia must face that reality. Yes, the Olympic Games welcomes everybody, but not an outlaw state.”

Leaving aside Russia’s exposed institutional drug manipulation of 2011-14, which poisoned the Games of London 2012, Sochi 2014, Rio 2016 and Pyeongchang 2018, recorded history has contaminated the nation’s inestimable evolving impact upon Europe. My memories of exhilarating Russian sports achievement – from Moscow Dynamos’ post-World War II enchantment of London, through Vladimir Kuts, a myriad of performers in athletics and the Davis Cup, plus the intellectual charm of Olympic officials such as Mikhail Bobrov, legendary hero of the Leningrad/St.  Petersburg siege, and of Vitaly Smirnov, 60-year totem of Russia’s NOC – are profound. Yet ultimately whom can one trust, within the complex national characteristic of entrenched misinformation espionage? Minds as corrupted as Stalin’s or as inspirational as Tchaikovsky or Solzhenitsyn.

Aware of totality of corrective political indoctrination came when taking the Trans-Siberian Railway to Tokyo ’64. During a train-change at Siberian capital Khabarovsk, the guide for my compulsory two-hour sightseeing tour – enabling KGB to search my hotel luggage – charmingly but categorically denied that Britain and USSR “were united in World War II”. Conversely, neither would she have been aware of the horrific Katyn massacre – ordered by Lavrentiy Beria, Stalin’s diabolical head of NKVD Security – of 22,000 Polish officers. My mother, a 17-year-old escaping a staid Victorian family in which women were irrelevant, innocently adored everything Russian when enlisting with an immigrant Belarus orchestra fleeing demonic Bolshevik revolutionaries.

My first direct view of Soviet extremity was as an unsuccessful member of the UK football squad for Melbourne ’56: the Games blotched by Soviet invasion of Hungary, students versus tanks on the Danube’s historic Gellert Bridge transferring to Melbourne’s water polo pool. A subsequent close friend Istvan Agics, young journalist reporting the Soviet horror, antagonised puppet communist premier Imre Nagy by confronting airport security to gain my entry, without visa, to scrutinise England’s imminent famed opponents in World Cup ’62. Several years later, the secret police finally nailed him: a faked car crash on the river’s idyllic Margaret Island … his widow presented with the derelict vehicle but not the body. That is totalitarianism.

Onwards trundled the world’s would-be integrated Olympics: Alexander Dubcek’s Prague Spring democracy uprising of 1968, likewise crushed by Soviet tanks, with the symbolic public suicide by torch of Jan Palac and the domestic dehumanising of fellow protestor and iconic Olympian Emil Zatopek. No impediments, of course, to Soviet collection that year of 90 medals at Mexico ’68, Cold War tensions thankfully eased by JFK having averted the Soviet/Cuban missile crisis six years earlier.

As the epitome of civil conduct within the free world, the Olympic emblem bravely fluttered through the Seventies, entrenched opposing political principles sparking boycotts in 1980-84. Yet Communist indoctrination was faltering: the bravado of Poland’s striking Baltic shipyard workers in the Solidarity Movement accelerated Kremlin fissures. I was the only UK journalist in 1990 at Gdansk’s Solidarity Games, presenting The Times 200th anniversary memento to Lech Walesa, iconic motivator of “the revolution without a broken window”. Within a year the Berlin Wall and Moscow had crumbled.

Brief rejoicing with reformative Gorbachev. Yet subversive, KGB-disciplined Putin emerged to reinstate corrupt, now capitalist, totalitarian rule. The aura of Beria’s evils re-emerged; unattributed assassinations on the street, political lockdowns, empire lust, reviving the dictum of 19th-century French historian Astophe de Custine: “Russia propagates tyranny as palliative to anarchy, despotism an endemic gene.” Following Afghanistan, heroic Ukraine is the latest victim: Putin’s ‘black death’ demands banishment from Paris ’24. Be warned, would-be African admirers such as Mali and Burkino Faso.

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: Vancouver 2030 winter bidders want to talk; Infantino calls football “official happiness provider”; Ledecky crushes world 1,500 m Free record

By
Rich Perelman
-
The no. 3 800 m Free performance ever for Freestyle superstar Katie Ledecky (USA).

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

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Vancouver 2030 bid team wants to talk to Province
2. FIFA World Cup: evacuations, Infantino sees worldwide benefits
3. Sullivan Award 2022 nominees include 13 Olympians, 11 gold medalists
4. Plush resigns as USA Curling chief amid NWSL report blowback
5. Tokyo 2020 winner Choong rips UIPM’s “shambolic mismanagement”

The Canadian Olympic Committee and the leaders of the four First Nations leading the bid for a 2030 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver decried the decision of the British Columbia government not to support the bid, especially not with more discussion. The bid may be ended, but there will be political ramifications into the future. The upcoming FIFA World Cup in Qatar has brought enormous scrutiny to the country, with Reuters reporting that workers were evacuated from a dozen or more buildings in Doha, sometimes on just a few hours notice. FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) told a conference in Saudi Arabia than bringing the event to the Middle East will “help to get more mutual understanding between people of different cultures and backgrounds.” The 19 nominees for the 2022 AAU’s Sullivan Award have been released, with 12 Olympians, including 11 gold-medal winners. Further fallout from the Yates Report on abuse in the National Women’s Soccer League, as Jeff Plush – a former NWSL Commissioner – resigned as chief executive of USA Curling. Tokyo Olympic men’s modern pentathlon champion Joe Choong (GBR) called for a change in the leadership of the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne, alleging mismanagement that could cost its place on the Olympic program for 2028.

At the FINA swimming World Cup in Toronto, American distance star Katie Ledecky destroyed the short-course world record in the women’s 1,500 m Freestyle and almost broke the 800 m record en route!

1.
Vancouver 2030 bid team wants to talk to Province

Thursday’s announcement by British Columbia’s Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Lisa Beare, that the province will not support a bid for the 2030 Olympic Winter Games was met with frustration by the four First Nations and the Canadian Olympic Committee.

The Vancouver bid was framed as a vehicle for continuing reconciliation with First Nations, with the bid effort being led by the Lil’wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh. Said Squamish Nations councilor Wilson Williams:

“Our canoe is stalled right now. Truly, if we don’t get the provincial or federal government in the canoe, we are still here. We aren’t going anywhere. And the power of us working together, it’s not going away.”

Williams acknowledged, “No support from the governments would kill the bid. But we’re saying that we’re still here to have that conversation.”

Tsleil-Waututh Nation Chief Jen Thomas told CTV News, “We felt we weren’t respected enough to be a part of this decision with the province. … For true reconciliation, we have to find a way to work together on this journey and right now we just took 10 steps backwards.”

Beare’s comments on the bid were framed in terms of cost:

“The current bid is cost estimated at C$1.2 billion and an additional billion dollars in risk. And when we measured that against our government’s priorities we believe we need to focus on people.”

Tricia Smith, head of the Canadian Olympic Committee, stressed that British Columbia is being asked to support 17% of the total Games cost, while a private organizing committee would cover 52%:

“We need to have some clarification on those numbers and that’s all we’re asking for. Let’s get in a room. If it doesn’t make sense at the end of the day, it doesn’t make sense and we don’t go forward.”

The Canadian Press reported that a request by the Four Nations to meet with incoming British Columbia Premier David Eby has been turned down.

Without Vancouver, the remaining bids for 2030 are from Salt Lake City in the U.S. and Sapporo in Japan. The International Olympic Committee expects to target one city as its preferred host by the end of the year.

2.
FIFA World Cup: evacuations, Infantino sees worldwide benefits

The tumult of the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Qatar continues, with Reuters reporting on Friday:

“Qatar has emptied apartment blocks housing thousands of foreign workers in the same areas in the centre of the capital Doha where visiting soccer fans will stay during the World Cup, workers who were evicted from their homes told Reuters.”

The story noted that a dozen or more buildings were evacuated, in one case with two hours notice before the doors were locked. The Qatar government told the news service that those evicted have been “rehoused in safe and appropriate accommodation” and that the removals were not related to the World Cup, but to long-term plans for areas of Doha.

Last Thursday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) made an appearance by video at the VI Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh (KSA):

“This FIFA World Cup 2022 is already having a huge impact on the Middle East. …

“We will have the opportunity for millions of people to discover a new part of the world: the Gulf, the Arab world. New people, rich culture, welcoming, new customs.

“And on the other side, it is also an opportunity for Qatar and the whole [Gulf] region to present itself to the world in another light and get rid, I think, once and for all, of some of the prejudice that sadly still exists. It will definitely help to get more mutual understanding between people of different cultures and backgrounds, I am convinced of that.

“And despite some critics who don’t know what really happens, we had 23 million ticket requests – a record – over three million tickets were sold, and we’ll be sold out. We’ll have five billion people watching on TV, and when it comes to Qatar itself – you were asking about the impact – some changes, some real changes have already happened.”

Infantino also added a unique view on the impact of football and the World Cup on healthy living, while smiling broadly:

“Football is joy … and we also know that, actually, FIFA is [an] official happiness provider, since over 100 years. And happiness is, obviously, one of the best medicines for all sorts of diseases as we know as well.

“So, I think, already by bringing the world together in the Gulf region, through the World Cup … enjoying and being happy and showing to the world – a world which is more and more aggressive, and tense – that, yes, people can live together whether they come from east, from west, from south, from north, they can stay together, they can enjoy together, they can feel together the same passion and for at least one month, show to the world that humanity can live in peace together.”

Also last week, the Security and Safety Operations Committee for the Qatar World Cup completed its leadership and training program, with 32,000 government security officers and 17,000 private-security personnel scheduled to support the tournament.

3.
Sullivan Award 2022 nominees include
12 Olympians, 11 gold medalists

The 92nd AAU Sullivan Award, presented annually to “the outstanding amateur athlete in the United States,” will be awarded on 8 December in Santa Monica, California, with the nominees announced last week.

The 19 nominees include 12 Olympians and 11 gold-medal winners (six won golds at Tokyo 2020 and four at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games):

Olympians:
● Jordan Burroughs, wrestling
● Nathan Chen, figure skating
● Allyson Felix, track & field
● Kallie Humphries, bobsled
● Erin Jackson, speed skating
● Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, track & field
● Chloe Kim, snowboarding
● Katie Ledecky, swimming
● Elana Meyers Taylor, bobsled
● Carissa Moore, surfing
● Athing Mu, track & field
● Maddie Musselman, water polo

Non-Olympians:
● Jocelyn Alo, softball (Univ. of Oklahoma)
● Aliyah Boston, women’s basketball (Univ. of South Carolina)
● Sophie Jaques, women’s ice hockey (Ohio State Univ.)
● Jaime Jaquez Jr., men’s basketball (UCLA)
● Ivan Melendez, baseball (Univ. of Texas)
● Logan Wisnauskas, men’s lacrosse (Univ. of Maryland)
● Bryce Young, football (Univ. of Alabama)

First awarded in 1930, the 2021 winners were gymnast Simone Biles and swim star Caeleb Dressel.

Fan voting is available through 9 November, with a maximum of one vote per day

4.
Plush resigns as USA Curling chief amid NWSL report blowback

Under pressure from a report that he did not act decisively on reports of player abuse during his tenure as Commissioner of the National Women’s Soccer League, Jeff Plush resigned as chief executive of USA Curling on Friday.

The federation’s statement included:

“The USA Curling Board of Directors has unanimously accepted Jeff Plush’s resignation. …

“[W]e are pleased to announce the appointment of Dean Gemmell as the Interim CEO of USA Curling. … A former national champion, Dean has served as the President of his home club in New Jersey, led clinics and camps for juniors and adults, worked closely with other [U.S. National Governing Bodies] as our sport’s athlete representative, and has worked most recently as our Director of Development.”

Plush was NWSL Commissioner from 2014-17 and was hired by USA Curling in 2020. The Yates Report, commissioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation, was delivered on 3 October and noted Plush’s inaction when informed of abuse accusations against then-Portland coach Paul Riley (GBR) in 2015, and did not respond to requests from Yates for information or an interview.

USA Curling’s Board of Directors had cleared Plush; in a 13 October statement, the Board stated it had initiated an investigation into the Yates Report findings concerning Plush and was “confident in Jeff’s ability to continue as an effective leader of the organization.”

However, members of the federation’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force asked for Plush to resign last week, citing the Yates Report.

There was also controversy concerning the 21 October decision during the Members Assembly to confirm the Board’s vote “to remove the Grand National Curling Club (GNCC) as a member region due to its failure to uphold USA Curling bylaws regarding membership compliance.”

5.
Tokyo 2020 winner Choong rips UIPM’s “shambolic mismanagement”

Britain’s Joe Choong was the Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medalist in the men’s modern pentathlon, the country’s first-ever medal in the men’s competition, and he intends to defend his title at the Paris 2024 Games. But he told a news conference in London on Monday that he fears for the Olympic future of his sport, not currently on the program for the Los Angeles 2028 Games; in a written statement he added:

“The [Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne] has caused our sport to be removed from the Olympic program through its shambolic mismanagement over the last two decades. In this period they have failed to modernise our riding discipline, and have made weak attempts to promote the sport beyond its current audiences. They then sought to introduce a completely unrelated fifth discipline without proper consultation or testing with the very athletes upon which the sport depends.

“If we don’t resolve this now, we will see most athletes and support staff around the world lose their livelihoods but, worse, we’ll lose the sport we all love.”

Choong is backing former Australian penathlete Alex Watson (1984-88-92) and the competition manager for the sport at the Sydney 2000 Games to replace current UIPM President Klaus Schormann (GER, first elected in 1993). At Monday’s news conference, Watson called for Schormann to resign, with the idea that he could be elected.

On Friday, the Pentathlon United athlete group posted an 11-slide “The pathway back to the Olympics” presentation, criticizing the federation’s current leadership, dissecting the IOC’s directives and comments on the sport’s situation, and making the case that a reformed riding discipline is better than the currently-proposed obstacle course program, concluding:

“New riding is our best chance to get back to the OG – we can meet and exceed IOC requirements.

“UIPM lost our place in the OG. They have misled us for too long. It is time for change. It is time for new leadership. We thank President Schormann for his past service and contribution to pentathlon. But it is time for him to go.”

The UIPM Congress is scheduled for 12-13 November 2022. Expect much more from both sides over the next two weeks.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Football ● Spain won its second consecutive FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup with a 1-0 victory over Colombia on Sunday, as striker Laia Mertrat’s shot caromed into the goal after hitting defender Ana Guzman for an own goal.

The final and the third-place match were played in Navi Mumbai (IND), and Spanish midfielder Vicky Lopez was awarded the Golden Ball as the top player in the tournament. Nigeria won the bronze medal by defeating Germany, 3-2 on penalty kicks, after a 3-3 tie in regulation time.

● Gymnastics ● The U.S. women led all qualifiers in an impressive showing during the initial sessions of the 2022 FIG World Artistic Championships in Liverpool (GBR).

The American squad of Shilese Jones, Jade Carey, Leanne Wong, Jordan Chiles and Skye Blakely scored 167.263 points, nearly three points ahead of Great Britain (164.595), with Brazil third (163.563). The top three finishers in the team final will qualify for Paris 2024.

In the individual All-Around, Brazil’s Olympic runner-up Rebeca Andrade was the leading qualifier at 57.332, trailed by Jones (55.766) and Carey (55.132). Chiles finished 12th and would have qualified for the final except for the limit of two per country.

In the apparatus qualifying, Carey and Chiles were 1-2 at 14.483 and 14.316, with Wong ninth, averaging 13.433 on her two vaults. China’s 2021 Worlds bronze medalist Rui Luo led on Uneven Bars (14.900) with Belgium’s Tokyo gold medalist Nina Derwael second (14.700) and Andrade third (14.666); Jones made the final in fifth (14.566).

China’s Yushan Ou led the qualifying on Beam (13.900) with Blakely second (13.733) and Jones the first reserve in 10th (13.200). Brazil’s Flavia Saraiva and Andrade were 1-2 on Floor (both 14.200), with Chiles fourth (14.100), Tokyo Olympic champ Carey fifth (14.066), and Jones sixth (13.800), but not allowed to advance as the third from her team.

The men’s qualifying will be held on Monday, followed by the women’s Team final on Tuesday.

● Rugby ● The 15-a-side Women’s Rugby World Cup is down to its final four in New Zealand, with the hosts, France, England and Canada still in contention.

In the quarterfinals, France (3-1) clubbed Italy, 39-3, to advance, while New Zealand (4-0) ran by Wales, 55-3. England (4-0) had no trouble with Australia, 41-5, and Canada (4-0) dispatched the U.S., 32-11.

The remaining games will be played in Auckland, with the semis on 5 November and the final and third-place matches on the 12th.

● Sailing ● The 470 Class World Championships followed the change in the protocol for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and held a mixed-team race for its 2022 World Championships off Sdot Yam (ISR), after holding separate men’s and women’s championships from 1985-2021.

The German pair of Luise Wanser and Philipp Autenreith were clear winners, taking three races on the way to a net of 71 points. Wanser had been sixth in the women’s 470 class in Tokyo, with Anastasiya Winkel.

Spanish veteran Jordi Xammar – the Tokyo 2020 Olympic men’s bronze medalist – won silver with Nora Brugman (82 points) with France’s Camille Lecointre (bronze winner in Rio and Tokyo) and Jeremie Mion winning the bronze (85).

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● World University Games ● The II FISU Americas Games concluded in Merida (MEX) on 26 October, with the hosts dominating the medal table. About 1,000 athletes from 13 nations competed in 11 sports.

Mexico won 182 total medals, with 89 golds, 52 silvers and 41 bronzes. The U.S. was second at 66 (13-30-23), followed by Brazil (20-12-13).

● National Games ● Worth noting are the first Saudi Games, which opened on 21 October in Riyadh (KSA), with about 6,000 athletes competing in 45 sports and a prize pool of $53 million U.S.!

Medal winners in each event are to receive one million Riyals for gold (~$266,170 U.S.), SAR 300,000 for silver (~$79.851 U.S.) and SAR 100,000 for bronze (~$26,617 U.S.). Wow!

The competitions continue through 7 November.

● Athletics ● “Kenya is in a major doping crisis and it needs to end now. World Athletics needs to suspend Kenya for the foreseeable future.”

That’s from Canada-based Athletics Illustrated on Saturday, quoting Kenyan Sports Cabinet Secretary, Ababu Namwamba:

“Kenya is in the midst of a doping crisis. This year alone, there have been no less than 30 cases of doping which threatens to tarnish the good and shining image of Kenya as a sporting nation.”

The site further noted:

“Imagine if 30 Canadian, British, Australian, or American athletes were suspended in a 10-month stretch. For many countries, the athletics program would be decimated. Currently, there are approximately 70 athletes from Kenya serving suspensions for reasons related to anti-doping.”

Any move toward suspensions would have to come from World Athletics, which has had the Russian Athletics Federation on suspension for its state-sponsor doping program since 2015, under the watchful eye of a specially-commissioned task force. No such review group has been formed for any other country, yet.

● Badminton ● China won two titles at the 2022 French Open in Paris, with Bing Jiao He taking the women’s title from Spain’s Rio 2016 champion Carolina Marin (16-21, 21-9, 22-20) and Si Wei Zheng and Ya Qiong Huang winning the Mixed Doubles over surprise Dutch finalists Robin Tabeling and Selena Piek, 21-16, 14-21, 22-20.

The all-Danish men’s Singles final saw top-seeded Viktor Axelsen won in straight sets over Rasmus Gemke; India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty win the men’s Doubles and Malaysia’s unseeded Pearly Tan and Muralitharan Thinaah take the women’s Doubles victory, upsetting fourth-seed Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara (JPN).

● Figure Skating ● Japan dominated the 2022 edition of the Skate Canada International stop of the ISU Grand Prix, held this year in Mississauga, Ontario, winning three of four events with veterans and newcomers.

Two-time Olympic medalist Shoma Uno won his third Skate Canada International title, overtaking teammate Kao Miura in the Free Skate by 183.17-171.23 to win the men’s event, scoring 273.15 to 265.29 for Miura. Camden Pulkinen was the top American in fifth (219.06).

Rinka Watanabe, 20, made an even more dramatic impression in her Grand Prix debut, standing only sixth after the Short Program, but winning the Free Skate at 134.32 to take the victory with 197.59 points. American Starr Andrews, 21, also flew up the standings, from fifth to second after scoring 126.57 in the Free Skate with a lifetime best 191.216 score. Young You (KOR) was third (190.15) and American Ava Marie Ziegler finished fourth (186.76).

World Championships silver medalists Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara posted Japan’s first-ever Pairs win at Skate Canada, scoring 212.02 to beat Americans Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe, who posted their best-ever score at 186.48.

Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, the 2021 Worlds bronze medalists, won their third straight Skate Canada Ice Dance title, taking both the Rhythm Dance and the Free Dance for a 215.70 point total. Britain’s Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson were second (209.18); the top American finish was in fourth by Caroline Green and Michael Parsons (194.19).

The Grand Prix tour moves to Europe next week for the Grand Prix de France in Angers.

● Short Track ● Dutch women dominated the first ISU World Cup of the season, in Montreal (CAN), with Beijing Olympic gold medalists Xandra Velzeboer and Suzanne Schulting winning two events apiece.

Velzeboer, an Olympic relay gold winner and 2022 World Champion at 500 m, won the 500 m in 42.123 and the first 1,000 m race in 1:29.070. Schulting, who won two golds, a silver and a bronze in Beijing, won the second 1,000 m (1:31.717) and the 1,500 m final, in 2:31.052. Korea’s Min-jeong Choi, silver medalist in Beijing at 1,000 m and the 1,500 winner, was second again in the second 1,000 m final. American Kristen Santos-Griswold won the 1,500 m bronze. The Dutch, with Schulting and Velzeboer, won the 3,000 m relay.

Home favorite and Olympic 1,500 m runner-up Steven Dubois won the men’s 500 m (40.345), and teammate Pascal Dion won the second 1,000 m race in 1:23.530. Dubois was second in the 1,500 m to Ji-won Park (KOR), 2:14.152 to 2:14.312. Latvia’s Roberts Kruzbergs took the country’s first-ever Short Track World Cup medal in the first 1,000 m final in 1:23.959. The Koreans won the 5,000 m relay, and the Mixed 2,000 m relay.

● Swimming ● American Freestyle superstar Katie Ledecky was very much the center of attention at the second of three legs at the 2022 FINA World Cup, held in Toronto.

The meet was reportedly only her third career appearance in a 25 m pool, meaning that she was a threat to the record book. And she did not disappoint.

On Friday, she was the top qualifier in the women’s 400 m Free, then led for much of the final before being passed on the final lap by Canadian star teenager Summer McIntosh, 3:52.80 to 3:52.88, the nos. 2-3 times in history (short-course), and an American Record for Ledecky (lowering her own 3:54.06 mark from 2019). Said McIntosh, 16, fourth in this event in Tokyo and already a two-time 2022 World Champion in other events, “I’m a little bit in shock right now.”

Undaunted, Ledecky, 25, came back on Saturday and mauled the women’s 1,500 m Free record, winning in 15:08.24 to take near 10 seconds off the 2019 mark of 15:18.01 by German Sarah (Kohler) Wellbrock. Ledecky passed 800 m in 8:00.58, just missing the short-course world mark of 7:59.34 (Mireia Belmonte/ESP in 2013) en route, but setting another American Record! She won by more than 40 seconds, and said afterwards:

“I didn’t have it as a set goal [to break the record]. I really didn’t know what to expect coming out of this meet, being my first meet of the season, taking most of August off, getting back into training rhythm, didn’t have any type of super preparation for this meet, just wanted to come in and race international swimmers being a meet in North American soil.”

Just 10 minutes after her record swim, Ledecky came back for the 200 m Free final and finished second to Hong Kong star Siobhan Haughey, 1:51.13 to 1:52.31. Ledecky will be back in action, with the 800 m Free world mark in her sights in Indianapolis next week.

The U.S. (31 total) and Canada (21) combined for just more than half of the 102 medals awarded at the meet. Americans won 15 events, with Shaine Casas taking the 100-200 m Backstrokes and the 100-200 m Medleys for four total golds, most in the meet. His win in the 200 m Medley in 1:50.37 was the second-fastest swim all-time (to Ryan Lochte’s 1:49.63 from 2012) and his 48.84 victory in the 100 m Back moves to no. 3 on the all-time short-course list.

Beata Nelson was the women’s 100-200 m Backstrokes and the 200 m Medley and Nic Fink tripled in the men’s 50-100-200 m Breast events. Lilly King won the women’s 200 m Breast and was second in the 50 and 100 m events; Brooks Curry won the men’s 200 m Free; Trenton Julian won the men’s 200 m Fly and Kelly Pash won the women’s 200 m Fly.

Canada’s McIntosh also won the 400 m Medley in World Junior Record time (4:21.49, moving to no. 4 all-time), but teammate Maggie MacNeil, the Tokyo 100 m Fly champ, won the women’s 50-100 m Fly races and the 50 m Back for three golds.

Haughey, who won three events in the first World Cup stop in Berlin, won the 100 m Free as well as the 200 m Free over Ledecky and was third in the 400 m Free. Lithuanian star Ruta Meilutyte doubled in the women’s 50-100 m Breast events.

The other men’s stars included Dylan Carter (TTO), who tripled again in the 50 m Free, 50 m Fly and 50 m Back. South Africa’s Matt Sates won the men’s 400 m Free and 400 m Medley.

Denmark’s Pernilla Blume, the 2016 Rio Olympic winner in the women’s 50 m Free, announced her retirement last Thursday (27th).

Blume, 28, competed in the 2012-16-20 Olympic Games and won three medals, with a women’s 4×100 m Medley bronze in Rio and a women’s 50 m Free bronze in Tokyo to go along with her Rio gold. She also won a FINA World Championships bronze in 2017 in the women’s 100 m Free and two European Champs silvers in the women’s 50 m Free in 2018 and 2020.

● Triathlon ● Mexico’s Crisanto Grajales and Brazil’s Luisa Baptista won the Americas Triathlon Championships in Montevideo (URU) over the weekend.

Two-time Pan American Games champ Grajales won the men’s race in 1:51:12, 12 seconds up on Chile’s Diego Moya. Baptista, the 2019 Pan Am Games gold medalist, led a Brazilian 1-2 in 2:02:18 with teammate Vittoria Lopes finishing in 2:02:31.

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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: WADA calls for Valieva case decision, or it will take over; U.S. has only one sport that matters; Vancouver 2030 Winter bid implodes

By
Rich Perelman
-
World Anti-Doping President Witold Banka (POL)

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

★ Want TheSportsExaminer.com insights for your team? Yes! Click here for info on speaking, research and consulting from editor Rich Perelman. ★

★ To get our new, exclusive 951-event International Sports Calendar for 2022-23 and beyond, click here! ★

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

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. WADA tells Russians to finish Valieva case or face direct appeal
2. “There is only one sport in the USA.”
3. Vancouver 2030 Winter bid collapses as province bows out
4. Griner’s sentence can be appealed again in six months
5. Russian athletes banned, officials still present in International Federations

The President of the World Anti-Doping Agency, Pole Witold Banka, announced that the Russian Anti-Doping Agency had been informed that if it does not conclude the doping hearing of figure skater Kamila Valieva, WADA will take over the case, moving it to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Following our story on how much larger the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup are than any other international sporting events, veteran Olympic writer Phil Hersh (USA) pointed to a compilation of the top 100 television programs in the U.S. in 2021: 95 were sports events, with 75 of those being NFL games. The Tokyo Olympics had 11 of the top 100. The province of British Columbia has decided not to support the Vancouver bid for the 2030 Olympic Games, effectively ending the effort and leaving the International Olympic Committee with a choice of Salt Lake City (USA) and Sapporo (JPN). Brittney Griner’s Russian lawyer says she can appeal her nine-year “drug smuggling” sentence once again in about six months. Although Russian athletes are banned, Russian sports officials are being heard in meetings of the International Federations of gymnastics and wrestling.

1.
WADA tells Russians to finish Valieva case or face direct appeal

In response to the announcement by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency that it would not announce the outcome of the review of the Kamila Valieva doping case, the head of the World Anti-Doping Agency got irritated.

In a Thursday tweet, WADA President Witold Banka (POL) stated:

“WADA is concerned with the ongoing delay in Kamila Valieva’s case and has now put RUSADA under formal notice that unless the matter is resolved promptly it will use its right to take it directly to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.”

Valieva’s case has been in the news since February, when her positive doping test from December 2021 was revealed the day after the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games figure skating Team Event was concluded. The International Olympic Committee has held up the results and no medals were awarded; Russia, the U.S. and Japan were the top three teams on the ice, with Canada fourth.

Section 13.3 of the World Anti-Doping Code provides:

“Where, in a particular case, an Anti-Doping Organization fails to render a decision with respect to whether an antidoping rule violation was committed within a reasonable deadline set by WADA, WADA may elect to appeal directly to [the Court of Arbitration for Sport] as if the Anti-Doping Organization had rendered a decision finding no anti-doping rule violation.”

RUSADA announced on 21 September that its inquiry into the Valieva case had been completed and that a hearing would take place with the independent RUSADA Disciplinary Committee on the case. So far, nothing.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER), in a Thursday interview with the Spanish newspaper Marca, joined the call for a conclusion at RUSADA:

“Already in Beijing we clearly showed our position by appealing to the [Court of Arbitration for Sport] together with the World Anti-Doping Agency after the RUSADA decision was known. We lost, and now the proceedings are following WADA’s rules of confidentiality (being a minor she is protected by the Code). Although RUSADA’s position is to remain silent until there is a final verdict, WADA and the IOC can appeal the outcome.

“This would be the legal side. But in terms of transparency, we join WADA in asking RUSADA to make the data public to give everyone more credibility in this procedure.”

In response, Viktoria Loginova, the head of RUSADA, told the Russian news agency TASS:

“The process of processing the results in this case, as well as in all other cases that are under the jurisdiction of RUSADA, is carried out in strict compliance with Russian and international anti-doping standards.

“Due to the dissemination of false information in the press and a large number of media requests for comment, on October 21, RUSADA issued an official statement that it did not intend to voice details on this case and answer questions about the hearings. In accordance with the standards, the process from the very beginning should have be confidential. The decision to publicly disclose the data on the case after the final decision is made remains with RUSADA in accordance with paragraph 17.3.7 of the All-Russian Anti-Doping Rules.”

2.
“There is only one sport in the USA.”

Further to Thursday’s Lane One comment on how the two biggest sports events in the world are the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup was an observation by Phil Hersh, the long-time Olympic writer for the Chicago Tribune, who continues to write on figure skating and other sports.

“There is only one sport in the USA.”

And that would be NFL Football, as shown by a Sports Business Journal story from 1 October that showed that in 2021, 95 of the top 100 shows on television – over-the-air or cable – were sports events and 75 were NFL games. The top 100 included:

● 75 NFL games;
● 11 Tokyo Olympic shows;
● 7 college football games;
● 2 NCAA basketball tournament games;
● 2 political events (inauguration, State of the Union);
● 2 entertainment shows (The Equalizer, Oprah with Meghan & Harry);
● 1 parade (Macy’s Thanksgiving Day).

The NFL had nine of the top 10 (six were playoff games), 18 of the top 20 and 41 of the top 50. The top Olympic broadcasts from Tokyo came in at nos. 41 and 43, with the next highest at 62nd.

The SBJ commentary noted that the sports domination – 95 of the top 100 – is up from 92 in 2019 and 75 in 2020, when political programming was strong in a U.S. election year.

3.
Vancouver 2030 Winter bid collapses as province bows out

“For more than a year, the Province has engaged in evaluating a potential bid for B.C. to host the 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

“I know that the prospect of hosting these Games is exciting to athletes and sports fans. However, the Province has the responsibility to weigh the benefits with the costs and possible risks of the project. There are billions of dollars in direct costs, and potential guarantee and indemnity liability risks on this project that could jeopardize our government’s ability to address pressures facing British Columbians right now. Based on careful consideration, the Province is declining to support a bid.”

That’s from a statement by British Columbia Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport Lisa Beare on Thursday, vaporizing the already-behind, 2010 host Vancouver bid for a second Olympic Winter Games in 2030. A clear choice was made:

“Planning and hosting an event of this magnitude requires significant attention and resources. We have existing commitments to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2025 Invictus Games. These world-class events will bring the international spotlight to British Columbia, as well as economic benefits to support the province’s tourism-sector recovery for the next decade and beyond.

“Our government is focused on expanding the services British Columbians need, while building a more secure future. While there are many competing priorities and challenges, we are putting people first by focusing on the cost of living, health care, housing, public safety and building a strong work force.”

Canada-based GamesBids.com noted that “Without the support of the Province potential federal funding will not be activated, making the project impossible.”

The Vancouver bid was well behind the bid preparations from 2002 host Salt Lake City (USA) and 1972 host Sapporo (JPN), which appear to be the IOC’s actual choices for 2030. The IOC confirmed last week that it still expects to target one potential host by the end of the year and complete the process with a formal selection at its 140th Session in India in October of 2023.

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee has said that it would prefer a 2034 slot for Salt Lake City, in part due to today’s challenging economic conditions and the back-to-back hosting with Los Angeles in 2028. But it has also said it would accept 2030, and the folks in Salt Lake City appear eager to get the Winter Games back sooner rather than later.

Sapporo has been touted as a favorite after the Japanese staged a postponed 2020 Olympic Games in 2021. However, the interest in the 2030 Winter Games in Japan itself has been lukewarm and the expanding Tokyo 2020 sponsorship scandal is not helping.

4.
Griner’s sentence can be appealed again in six months

Two-time Olympic basketball gold medalist Brittney Griner’s Russian attorney, Alexander Boykov, said on Wednesday that a petition to the Court of Appeal can be filed against her sentence of nine years for “drug smuggling.”

“We have six months to file an appeal,” said Boykov. “In practice, it usually takes three months from the time [the complaint] is filed until it’s heard.”

A TASS report specified that Griner pled guilty to charges under Part 1 of Article 228 of the Russian Federation Criminal Code for “illegal acquisition, storage, transportation of drugs without intent to sell” and Part 2 of Article 229.1 for “smuggling of drugs in a significant amount” in February when she arrived at the Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow

Griner’s appeal of 25 October was turned down; she has been detained since mid-February. The U.S. State Department considers Griner “unlawfully detained” and the WNBA Players Association called her a “hostage.”

5.
Russian athletes banned, officials still present
in International Federations

Although its athletes are banned from international competitions, Russian sports officials continue to be heard at the International Federation level, following the IOC’s protocol which has maintained the status of their members.

In gymnastics, seven delegations have announced they will not attend November’s FIG Congreess due to the presence of Russian and Belarusian officials. FIG President Morinari Watanabe (JPN) maintains they should be heard:

“As for the officials from Russia and Belarus, the FIG decided not to exclude them.

“We as an international federation had to do exactly that. When a representative of this or that country is elected as a member of an international organization, his nationality should take a back seat, and he himself becomes, in fact, a neutral person. But if these principles are not adhered to, then international federations cannot fully exist.

“That is why the U.N. and the IOC have not excluded Russia and Belarus from their ranks. International federations should make efforts to maintain relations, not to break them. The FIG will not only explain its position to colleagues from Russia and Belarus, but should listen to their opinion itself. After the war we must again become a team, otherwise we will not be able to create a bright future.”

In wrestling, Russian federation chief Mikhail Mamiashvili spoke to the United World Wrestling Bureau concerning the ban and told TASS (Deepl.com online translation):

“[UWW President Nenad] Lalovic [SRB] voiced at a meeting of the organization’s bureau that events on admission are not developing in the way we would all like, but things change in life.

“We have voiced our position; it is not unreasonable to recall that in none of the conflicts that took place on our planet, no sanctions were applied to any of the countries, including the initiators, participants. It never occurred to anyone – not Iraq, not Iran, not Libya, not Yugoslavia – to take the initiative to keep athletes out. There were radical outrages of the powers that be, but it never occurred to anyone to take the initiative to suspend the athletes.

“Everything is politicized and depends on the IOC, on a purely political whim. We live in the conditions we are in. There are no other thoughts except that we are with our country and president. I hope that the same position is held by all industries that are in a similar situation, the unanimous position is that the imposed restrictions are extremely unfair.”

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Football ● The FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup Final is set for Sunday, with Colombia and Spain meeting for the championship and Nigeria facing Germany for the bronze medal.

A scoreless semifinal between Colombia and Nigeria was resolved in penalty kicks, with Colombia finally winning, 6-5. Spain defeated Germany, 1-0, in the other semi, on a goal in the 90th minute by Lucia Corrales.

● Gymnastics ● The 2022 FIG World Artistic Championships will commence in Liverpool (GBR) on Saturday (29th) with women’s team qualifying and run through the following Sunday.

The top three men’s and women’s teams will qualify for the Paris 2024 Games, with the U.S. fielding strong teams for both men and women. The team medal finals will be on 1 November for women and 2 November for men, followed by All-Around and apparatus competitions.

NBC’s Peacock streaming service will carry the medal sessions live; the only broadcast coverage will be an NBC highlights program on 5 November (Saturday).

● Shooting ● The ISSF World Championships in Rifle and Pistol concluded in Cairo (EGY), with German Olympic gold medalist Christian Reitz winning the men’s 25 m Center Fire Pistol event. Reitz won the 25 m Rapid Fire Pistol event in Rio and took bronze in Tokyo last year; he defeated Ruslan Lunev (AZE) in the final by 588-584.

The other finals were all for the 300 m Rifle, distance which last appeared on the Olympic program in 1972. France’s Emilien Chassat won the 300 m/3 Positions gold for men (592) and Norway’s Jeanette Hegg Duestad (588) took the women’s title. Both won a second gold with France taking the men’s team event and Norway winning for the women. In the Mixed Team final, Poland was a 17-3 winner over Finland.

Norway’s Simon Claussen took the win in the 300 m Rifle/Prone Position (599/600!) and Swiss Anja Senti won the women’s gold, also hitting 599/600. Wow! Denmark took the men’s team title and Norway won the women’s team, with Duestad getting a third gold.

Duestad got a fourth gold, with Claussen, in the 300 m Rifle/Prone Mixed Team event, defeating Senti and Pascal Bachmann (SUI), 17-9.

Denmark’s Steffen Olsen won the 300 m Standard Rifle Open over Claussen, 591-586, with American Tim Sherry third (586).

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Errata ● Two corrections on our Wednesday report of ex-IOC Marketing Director Michael Payne’s comments on the future of the Olympic Games on television. He was the head of marketing for the IOC from 1988-2004 (not 1998-2004 as initially shown) and is now an Irish, rather than British, citizen.

● Olympic Games 2036 ● Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs Marcelo Ebrard and Mexican Olympic Committee President Mari Jose Alcala announced Wednesday that Mexico has entered into a dialogue with the IOC concerning the Olympic Games of 2036 or 2040.

Mexico City hosted the 1968 Olympic Games, and will be a FIFA World Cup host with Canada and the U.S. in 2026. It hosted the Pan American Games in Mexico City in 1955 and 1975 and in Guadalajara in 2011.

● International Olympic Committee ● Buried inside the lengthy weekly Highlights post from the IOC for 26 October was:

“Back in Lausanne, on 23 October the IOC President [Thomas Bach] attended the finish of the 2022 Lausanne Marathon and participated in the 10km.”

The German-born Bach, 68, participated in the 10 km walk event and finished in 1:11:51.6. He can now truly say that he has “walked the walk.”

● Russia ● The IOC’s sanctions against Russia and Belarus are taking on a new dimension as the qualification competitions for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games get going.

Russia was not included in the list of teams eligible for the first qualifying tournament, to be held in Japan next fall (30 September-8 October for men, 16-24 September for women). Three tournaments will be held in all, to qualify six teams – two each – to go along with host France and five teams to be selected from the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) world rankings as of June 2024.

The All-Russian Volleyball Federation said in a statement:

“In accordance with the Olympic selection regulations, the list of qualifying participants was formed according to the world ranking as of mid-October 2022.

“And at the moment, Russia is suspended from participation in official international competitions, and qualification will begin at the end of September 2023. If the temporary suspension from Russia is lifted, then it is likely that our teams can be admitted to the selection.”

Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin reacted predictably:

“In recent years, we have repeatedly encountered discrimination in sports, which fundamentally destroys the Olympic ideals, absolutely contradicts sports principles, deprives fans from all over the world from watching the performances of the strongest. It is a pity that the political component is more important than a beautiful and fair game.

“The qualifying tournament will lose a lot, because our volleyball teams are consistently at the top of international rankings, and their games attract the interest of sports fans around the world. We do not lose hope for the admission of Russian teams to the Olympic Games in accordance with the FIVB rating. The essence of the Olympic Games is equal rights for all participants. And we hope that this will be the case.”

● Football ● Australia’s men’s team, getting ready to compete in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, posted a video that seeks to “embed reforms and establish a lasting legacy in Qatar.”

Midfielder Jackson Irvine said, “This must include establishing a migrants resource centre, effective remedy for those who have been denied their rights and the decriminalisation of all same-sex relationships.

“These are the basic rights that should be afforded to all and will ensure continued progress in Qatar.”

Football Australia posted a statement that included:

“We acknowledge the significant progress and legislative reforms have occurred in Qatar over recent years to recognise and protect the rights of workers, and we encourage all stakeholders to continue this path to reform.

“However, we have also learned that the tournament has been associated with suffering for some migrant workers and their families. …

“With this in mind, Football Australia, together with the Socceroos and Professional Footballers Australia, support the establishment of a Migrant Workers Centre that will continue to represent the rights of the workers beyond December 2022. …

“As the most multicultural, diverse, and inclusive sport in our country, we believe everyone should be able to feel safe and be their true authentic selves. Whilst we acknowledge the highest levels of assurances given by HH Amir of Qatar and the President of FIFA that LGBTI+ fans will be safely welcomed in Qatar, we hope that this openness can continue beyond the tournament.”

● Modern Pentathlon ● The tug-of-war between the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Modene (UIPM) and the Pentathlon United athlete group continues unabated:

● On 17 October, a reply from UIPM Secretary General Shiny Fang (CHN) to Pent United on arranging a meeting noted that “In normal circumstances, please understand that International Federations with a democratic structure would not be obliged to communicate with unofficial organizations, let alone arrange a physical meeting.”

She also explained that UIPM President Klaus Schormann (GER) cannot meet with the group until after the upcoming UIPM Congress on 12-13 November. And:

“[W]e are sorry if some of your representatives have felt ignored, denied, insulted or threatened (your words) at any point during the New Pentathlon Discipline process. This was never our intention.

“We have more than once provided information to you throughout the process and we invited you to our Athletes Meeting in Ankara and subsequent Test Events – where you would have had the opportunity to talk to the UIPM President – despite the fact that your approach towards UIPM has been continuously hostile from day one.”

The Pent United reply on 26 October stated disappointment that Schormann could not meet, and “We can only conclude that President Schormann does not feel it a sufficient priority to listen to the views of athletes that might differ from his own.”

● Meanwhile, the UIPM hosted a news conference on 25 October in Monaco, with athletes in favor of the change to Obstacle Course Racing, including Tokyo silver medalist Ahmed Elgendy (EGY), fourth-placer Jinhwa Jung (KOR) and 2005 and 2007 World Champion Yasser Hefny (EGY). Rio 2016 silver medalist Elodie Clouvel (FRA) said in a statement:

“I am talking about ‘evolution’ and not ‘change’ because we are looking at a new discipline which will be more dynamic, more inclusive, more current. All of that summarises the DNA of our sport: the Modern Pentathlon.”

Hefny said, “I can tell you that this new discipline is going to change our sport forever. For athletes, it is an exciting new challenge that will make the sport more accessible around the world. For fans, especially young fans, it will make the sport a lot more appealing. For the Olympic Games, this will attract a whole new audience and add value to the Games.”

● Pent United followed up with an 18-part reply on Twitter, noting it has been asking for a meeting with the UIPM leadership for more than a year, and calling the UIPM’s news conference “a social media campaign of pictures and statements from a small handful of athletes who are actually aligned with UIPM, primarily UIPM’s Ath Comm, attempting to create a perception of athlete support.”

None of the back-and-forth actually addresses how a change to obstacle or retaining riding will meet the IOC’s issues for the sport, especially lowering costs and raising its profile with the public.

● Swimming ● A very large field is entered in the second leg of the FINA World Cup, to be held in Toronto from Friday through Sunday.

As expected, a large American contingent will be present, including a rare appearance by Freestyle superstar Katie Ledecky, making a rare appearance in short-course competition. She swam in 25-yard pools during her NCAA career at Stanford, and, according to SwimSwam.com, her only 25 m appearances came in 2013 and more recently in her one appearance in the International Swimming League in October 2019 (where she set the American Record in the 400 m Free).

She’s entered in the 200-400-1,500 m Freestyles and the 200-400 m Medleys, and she certainly could challenge some short-course records, including Thursday’s new mark in the 400 m Free by Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Bingjie Li:

● World 400 m Free Record: 3:51.30, Bingjie Li (CHN), 2022
● U.S. 400 m Free Record: 3:54.06, Ledecky, 2019

● World 1,500 m Free Record: 15:18.01, Sarah Kohler (GER), 2019
● U.S. 1,500 m Free Record: 15:32.90, Katie Ziegler, 2007

No U.S. television of this meet; coverage should be available on the FINA YouTube channel.

● X Games ● Private equity firm MSP Sports Capital purchased a majority stake in the X Games, created by ESPN in 1995 to showcase so-called “extreme sports” including BMX Freestyle, skateboarding and snowboard.

The event never turned into the mass-audience giant that ESPN had hoped for and the sale to MSP – with ESPN retaining a minority interest – is a play for a wider online audience. The events will continue to be shown on ESPN’s cable channels, but MSP will take over the streaming programming, which is where it sees growth.

The X Games has been a huge draw for many athletes, especially in winter sports, often more so than the FIS World Cup circuit in Freestyle and Snowboard. It will be fascinating to see if this continues under the new ownership.

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LANE ONE: In international sport, there’s the Olympics, the FIFA World Cup and then there is everything else

By
Rich Perelman
-

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It wasn’t that long ago that the International Olympic Committee was a small, uncommunicative, sometimes sullen organization that rarely spoke up outside of its 10-times-a-year magazine, Olympic Review. Not any more.

On Wednesday, the IOC’s Web site proclaimed:

“Olympic Games confirmed as the world’s most appealing sports and entertainment event“

The story was sharing proprietary consumer research from Publicis Sports & Entertainment which shows that the Olympics came across best in a rating of “the appeal of leading global and national sports and entertainment events.”

One would have expected that a ranked list of events and how appealing they were would be shown, but this was not provided and the link for more information was to a 12-slide presentation of the Beijing 2022 Audience & Insights Report.

There, we found out that the Beijing Olympic Winter Games were “followed” by two out of three people among the 9,601 folks aged 13-65 in 16 countries or territories polled by Publicis. And more importantly that:

● The global audience on television – over-the-air, cable and online – was an impressive 2.01 billion for the 2022 Winter Games, up 5% from the 2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang (KOR).

● Cumulative watch time on rights-holding broadcaster channels was 11.88 billion hours, up 18% over the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games.

● Total global coverage by broadcasters was 62,305 hours of over-the-air and cable television and 120,670 hours on digital channels.

Olympic audience reporting is not new and the IOC has provided this kind of data since the 2000 Sydney Games. But the statement that the Games is the “most appealing” event in the world – without any back-up – is unusually cheeky, especially for a usually sober organization like the IOC.

What you did not see was a bald, boastful claim that the Olympic Games is the “biggest” or the “best.” And good for the IOC on that. Because there are other contenders.

As for the most athletes, Tokyo had a reported 11,319 total competitors, contesting 339 events, but the Paris 2024 organizers and the IOC are committed to reducing that number to 10,500. The 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia had 11,300 athletes contesting 465 events, the most of any multi-sport event.

As for television viewing and the postponed Tokyo Games, held in 2021:

● The global TV audience was 3.05 billion, down 5% from the 3.20 billion who saw the 2016 Rio Games.

● Cumulative worldwide watch time on rights-holding broadcaster channels was 21.3 billion hours, down 29% from the 30.0 billion hours reported for Rio 2016.

● Total coverage offered by broadcasters was 150,426 hours on over-the-air and cable television and another 217,512 hours on digital channels, both up about a third from 2016.

That’s a lot bigger than the Winter Games, and far more than any other event on the planet, except for one: the FIFA World Cup. For the 2018 edition held in Russia, FIFA also released an audience report from Publicis Sports & Entertainment, which noted:

● The global TV audience on television was 3.572 billion, slightly higher than for the 2014 tournament in Brazil.

● Cumulative worldwide watch time on rights-holding broadcaster channels was 34.66 billion hours, down from the 36.52 billion hours for Brazil in 2014.

● Total coverage by broadcasters – live matches, replays and highlight programs – was 90,424 hours on over-the-air and cable television, down 7.8% from the 2014 tournament in Brazil.

At the World Economic Forum in May, FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) said the 2022 World Cup will break all records:

“The last FIFA World Cup was watched by four billion people, the last FIFA Women’s World Cup by 1.2 billion people.

“This World Cup in Qatar will be watched by five billion people, way above half of the world’s population. All these people who follow and pursue the same passion, they all feel the same way and they all know that football has this uniting force.”

An interesting table in the 2021 World Athletics Annual Report on “Share of Voice and Tonality” showed the shares of worldwide coverage, ostensibly in “mainstream and social media” from January to October in 2021, with football at 61%, the Olympic Games (and the IOC) at 23% and the next closest being athletics at 4%, followed by rugby at 3%.

Hey, 61% is a lot, and a lot more than everyone else combined. Wow.

The IOC can legitimately claim to be the most inclusive multi-sport event in the world, with the most delegations attending, just ahead of the World Athletics Championships, which has had more than 200 countries attend its events in 2013 (203 in Moscow), 2015 (205 in Beijing) and 206 in 2019 in Doha. The Rio 2016 Games had 207 delegations, including the IOC’s Refugee Team and 206 in Tokyo last year.

So there’s a lot for the IOC to talk about, and the Olympic Games is the originator of the concept of an international, multi-sport Games that brings the world together in one place at one time – starting in 1896 – which is eight years before FIFA was founded and 34 years ahead of the first FIFA World Cup, in 1930.

But as it stands today, and heading into next month’s extravaganza in Qatar, Zurich-based FIFA has the most-watched sporting event in the world, challenged only by its fellow Swiss sports organization in Lausanne.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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TSX REPORT: Griner loses appeal of Russian sentence; Payne sees Olympics on TV for a while; Qatari Emir questions harsh criticism as World Cup host

By
Rich Perelman
-
Two-time Olympic basketball gold medalist Brittney Griner, playing for the Phoenix Mercury in 2019 (Photo: Lorie Schaull via Wikipedia)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Brittney Griner’s appeal in Russia turned down
2. Ex-IOC marketing director Payne sees Olympics on TV … for a while
3. Qatar’s Emir questions campaign against it as World Cup host
4. Russia sees new sports organization four times bigger than IOC
5. U.S. skater Bates frustrated over Valieva verdict secrecy

A Russian court turned down U.S. women’s basketball star Britney Griner’s appeal on her sentence for “drug smuggling,” with the WNBA Players Association stating “she is very clearly a hostage.” Former International Olympic Committee marketing chief Michael Payne said at the SPORTEL Conference in Monaco that he foresees the Olympic Games remaining on “free-to-air” television for years to come, but that there is a place for subscription streaming services for some special coverage. The Emir of Qatar said in a televised address to the national legislature that the country has been subject to an “unprecedented campaign” that has included “fabrication and double standards,” such that questions can be raised about the “real reasons and motives behind this campaign.” In Moscow, the Deputy Prime Minister told Russia President Vladimir Putin that a new sports organization led by China and Russia could have an audience of four billion people and would be much larger than the Olympic Movement, led by the International Olympic Committee. As the figure skaters involved in the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games Team Event continue to wait for the resolution of the Kamila Valieva doping case, American Ice Dance star Evan Bates expressed frustration at the delay and the announcement that the Russians will not reveal the outcome of Valieva’s hearing, saying “I think we’ve been pretty respectfully quiet through these months.”

1.
Brittney Griner’s appeal in Russia turned down

Although not surprising, two-time Olympic basketball gold medalist Brittney Griner’s appeal against a nine-year sentence for “drug smuggling” was turned down in Moscow on Tuesday.

The Associated Press reported that Griner was not present in the courtroom, but watched the court action online “from a penal colony outside the capital where she is held.”

One of Griner’s Russian attorneys, Alexander Boykov, told the three-judge panel:

“No judge, hand on heart, will honestly say that Griner’s nine-year sentence is in line with Russian criminal law. The severity and cruelty of the sentence applied to Griner shocks people around the world.”

Her attorneys told the AP that Griner’s “punishment is excessive and contradicts to the existing court practice.

“Brittney’s biggest fear is that she is not exchanged and will have to serve the whole sentence in Russia. She had hopes for today, as each month, each day away from her family and friends matters to her.”

With credit for time already served since she was detained on mid-February, Griner still has eight years to go if she were to serve her full sentence. The U.S. government has held that she is “unlawfully detained” and has made a prisoner swap offer for Griner and another American also held in Russia, Paul Whelan, to which no “serious” response has been made.

U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement on Tuesday, “We are aware of the news out of Russia that Brittney Griner will continue to be wrongfully detained under intolerable circumstances after having to undergo another sham judicial proceeding today.”

The WNBA Players Association posted a lengthy statement that included:

“This appeal [result] is further verification that BG is not just wrongfully detained – she is very clearly a hostage. … No athlete should be used as a political pawn.”

2.
Ex-IOC marketing director Payne sees Olympics on TV
… for a while

/Updated/The annual SPORTEL Conference in Monaco has been an intersection of sports media and technology and an opportunity to get a glance at the future.

Michael Payne, the now-Irish sports marketing savant who was the International Olympic Committee’s marketing director from 1988-2004, was asked whether the future of Olympic viewing will be online as opposed to over-the-air and on cable:

“First of all, with regard to the Olympics and television, the IOC is already got – pretty well – all the contracts in place for still another decade. So, they’re only going to be looking at the future of television for the Games of 2032 or 2034.

“And, I think, a fundamental principle that has always been there and I don’t believe will change, is to ensure you have the widest possible audience. And I think the IOC will continue to ensure that the basic coverage is free-to-air.

“But, there is so much coverage; I mean, in a summer Games, in two weeks, there’s 10,000 hours, 30 sports. So, So the opportunity for specialist coverage – OTT [Over-the-Top, i.e., streaming] – will grow, but I hope it never replaces the basic free-to-air.”

In the U.S., NBC has secured rights to the Olympic and Winter Games through 2032.

On the media build-up – and heavy criticism – of Qatar as the host of the upcoming FIFA World Cup, he spoke from experience:

“I think all major competitions are taken hostage by the media in the last two or three months before the event. Whether it’s the Olympics or the World Cup, whether it’s held in China, Asia or the Middle East …

“The media is dealing with an event that is being taken over by other players in the world. You have a big debate about politics, about human rights … But if the event didn’t take place, nobody would have talked about it.

“One thing is certain: as soon as the first ball rolls, the focus is on soccer. At the Olympic Games, as soon as the torch is lit, the focus is on sports. Today, the build-up has been greater and the media has become more aggressive on every issue, somewhat because of social networks. But even if sometimes people lack a little perspective, as soon as the sport starts, the sport becomes the hero.”

Payne also noted the critical change in the way fans are now part of the and not simply quiet observers, as in the role of social media:

“It’s incredibly important. It allows fans to express their opinions, connect with other fans or friends, respond and participate. They are no longer passive, but become active participants in the debate.

“This is very interesting for the media in particular. Fans can react and comment not only on sports but on all aspects of the media. This is positive!”

Payne sees the future for all forms of media to work toward a closer link with their audiences, to become more involved and therefore more attached to the medium or outlet which has drawn their interest.

3.
Qatar’s Emir questions campaign against it as World Cup host

On Monday, the Human Rights Watch organization posted a lengthy story starting with “Qatar Preventive Security Department forces have arbitrarily arrested lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people and subjected them to ill-treatment in detention.”

On Tuesday, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, called into question the continuous criticism of the country in a televised speech to the national legislature, including:

“Since we won the honour of hosting the World Cup, Qatar has been subjected to an unprecedented campaign that no host country has ever faced.

“We initially dealt with the matter in good faith, and even considered that some criticism was positive and useful, helping us to develop aspects of ours that need to be developed.

“But it soon became clear to us that the campaign continues, expands and includes fabrication and double standards, until it reached a level of ferocity that made many question, unfortunately, about the real reasons and motives behind this campaign.”

He added:

“This is a great test for a country the size of Qatar that impresses the whole world with what it has already achieved and is achieving.”

This includes significant labor reforms, but activists have been calling for many more changes in Qatari law, procedures and compensation for the impact of laws that have been changed, as well as injuries to workers on the World Cup construction projects.

Sheikh Tamim’s comments mirror those of Nasser Al Khater, chief executive of Qatar’s Supreme Committee for the Delivery and Legacy of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, from a mid-October interview with Sky News. Asked if he thought the unending criticism of Qatar since its selection was racist, Al Khater replied, rather diplomatically:

“I’m not going to get into what the intentions of other people are, I’m not going to get into the minds and souls of other people. But you know, who knows? Possibly.”

The Associated Press reported Tuesday on a one-man protest by a British activist against jailing of gays, and subsequent claims that “he was arrested but later acknowledged that police had only briefly questioned him on the sidewalk.”

The Qatar authorities said the arrest claim was “completely false,” and that “An individual standing in a traffic roundabout was cordially and professionally asked to move to the sidewalk, no arrests were made.”

The FIFA World Cup begins on 20 November.

4.
Russia sees new sports organization four times bigger than IOC

Russian chatter disparaging the Olympic Movement and talking a new sports organization to challenge the International Olympic Committee continues non-stop, with Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko saying Monday in a meeting with President Vladimir Putin:

“Also as part of your [16 September] proposal is the creation of an association of sports organizations [of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation].

“You see the number of participants, the potential audience of the population involved is four billion people – just our future audience – not the segment that serves the International Olympic Committee, about a billion.

“It’s a shame, of course, but I think everything will go back to normal.”

The SCO was founded in 2001 as an economic and security collective, with Russia and China as the prime movers, but also including India, Pakistan and the former Soviet Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia are “observers.”

The chorus singing the praises of the idea of an anti-IOC sports organization was added to by Irina Viner, head of the All-Russia Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation, who told the Russian news agency TASS (DeepL.com translation):

“We have a change of focus now. We are rearranging our work for interaction with members of the SCO, BRICS [Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa] and other countries that treat us in a friendly and respectful way. We need to host as many competitions as possible in our country, and we are doing so. All the World Cups that we had in the past years, we now make in Russia. They are open, they have a pretty decent representation of different athletes from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, India, China, Mexico, Syria, Belarus.

“In addition, all regions of our country cultivate and do rhythmic gymnastics. We’ve never had so many countries at the World Cup, and every region of Russia is like a whole country in terms of both territory and skill level. When we have the Cup of Russia, Russian Championship or club competitions, we have a huge representation of different regions, it’s comparable to the world championship. The competition is very big, and if we have different countries at these competitions, it will be the Olympic Games. We can call them something else: the SCO Games, the BRICS Games, the Games of another community, which we will be related to, but they will not be at a lower level than the one where we are not allowed to go now.”

Fact check: Contrary to the silly “a billion” comment about the reach of the Olympic Games were the recently-released reports on the actual viewing audiences for the Tokyo 2020 Games – held in 2021 – of 3.05 billion, and February’s Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, which drew 2.01 billion.

5.
U.S. skater Bates frustrated over Valieva verdict secrecy

Amid the furor over Russian star skater Kamila Valieva’s positive drug test reported during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games last February, the results of the Team Event in figure skating were not finalized and no medals were awarded.

Last week’s announcement by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency that it would not be announcing the verdict of its Disciplinary Committee continued leaving the skaters who represented Russia (first in the standings), the U.S. (second) and Japan (third), plus Canada in fourth, in limbo.

American Evan Bates, who with Ice Dance partner Madison Chock, won the Free Dance segment of the Team Event, told reporters after their win at last weekend’s Skate America:

“It’s been so frustrating. Extremely disappointing to be at this point, eight months later, and to still have it so shrouded in secrecy. And I feel like, you know, as a base line we should hope for transparency, and not only for the public but especially for the athletes involved. It seems only right.

“[The RUSADA announcement] was hugely disappointing, but it seems to be growing and becoming exponentially more disappointing as the days and months go by and there’s no resolution, and the most recent release by RUSADA about not making anything public compounds the frustration quite a bit. We’re just waiting like the rest of us to hear.

“Again, like, 19 athletes or however many are waiting for their medals all competed clean, and I think we’ve been pretty respectfully quiet through these months.”

The Skate America opener of the International Skating Union’s Grand Prix circuit drew modest U.S. television audiences on cable last weekend. While most of the coverage was on NBC’s Peacock streaming service, the television broadcasts on cable drew (per Nielsen):

● 200,000 on Friday night for the Short Program for Men and Pairs, on USA Network;

● 233,000 on Saturday evening for the Free Skate for Men and Pairs, on USA Network, and

● 200,000 on Sunday afternoon for the women’s Free Skate and Free Dance on E!

Showing once again the continuing power of the over-the-air network, the Saturday afternoon show on NBC with the Rhythm Dance and women’s Short Program drew 760,000, more than the three cable shows combined.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ≡

● Rugby ● The 15-a-side Women’s Rugby World Cup has reached the playoff stage in New Zealand, with the hosts, Canada and England all undefeated in pool play.

The quarterfinals will pit France (2-1) against Italy (2-1) and New Zealand (3-0) and Wales (1-2) in the upper half of the bracket on 29th October, in Whangarei. The bottom of the bracket – in Auckland on the 30th – has England (3-0) against Australia (2-1) and Canada (3-0) playing the 1-2 U.S. team that finished third in Group C. The Canadians already beat the U.S., 29-14, in group play.

The semifinals will follow on 5 November and the medal matches on 12 November, all in Auckland.

Attendance in the group phase – 18 games – was 34,235, or an average of 1,902 per match.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Paris 2024 ● French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told a French Senate committee that the Opening Ceremony on the Seine River will host the promoted 600,000 spectators.

Some 100,000 will be able to watch from the river banks and will purchase tickets for their places, while the other 500,000 will be able to watch for free from the street level.

Security will be provided by 35,000 guards, plus 3,000 private security provided by the Paris 2024 organizing committee. During the Games proper, “an average of 30,000 police and gendarmes” will be on duty daily.

● Alpine Skiing ● The back half of the daring, across-two-countries World Cup Downhill to start in Zermatt (SUI) and finish in Cervinia (ITA) was canceled due to a lack of snow and the resulting safety concerns.

After the men’s 29-30 October races were called off last week, FIS announced Tuesday that the 5-6 November women’s races in the “Matterhorn Cervino Speed Opening” had to be canceled and will not be replaced.

● Football ● As part of a plan to return Chinese women’s football to elite status, the country’s General Administration of Sport announced its intention to bid for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2031.

China has hosted the event twice, starting with the inaugural Women’s World Cup in 1991 and also in 2007. The Chinese women placed fourth in 1995, won Olympic silver in 1996 in Atlanta, and famously made the 1999 Women’s World Cup final against the U.S. in 1999 and played to a scoreless tie at the Rose Bowl, but lost on penalty kicks, 5-4.

The new plan, called the Chinese Women’s Football Reform and Development Programme, aims for a top-eight finish at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, then in the final four at the 2027 Women’s World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games and as medal winners in a home 2031 World Cup and at the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.

● Skating ● Buried at the bottom of a summary of the International Skating Union Council meeting in Geneva (SUI) that finished on 12 October was the flip side of the continuing ban on Russian and Belarusian skaters:

“Further to the support for the Ukrainian Skating Federations and their members announced in Communication No. 2466, the Council has decided to secure an additional budget of Swiss Francs 200’000 with the purpose of supporting the Skaters from Ukraine who are living and training outside Ukraine.”

This is about $200,882 U.S.; the exact distribution between the disciplines will be determined in cooperation with the ISU’s Development Commission.

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!

TSX REPORT: New Russian 2012 doper may elevate U.S.’s Demus; USA Gym names women’s Worlds team; is the UIPM riding vs. obstacle fight missing the point?

By
Rich Perelman
-
American Lashinda Demus on her way to a silver medal in the women's 400 m hurdles at the 2009 World Championships. Following a doping positive by the London 2012 winner, she might be upgraded to Olympic Champion! (Photo: Andre Zehetbauer via Wikipedia).

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Russian Antyukh disqualified for doping, with U.S.’s Demus in line for gold
2. Jones leads U.S. women’s Worlds gymnastics squad
3. FIFA sells 2023 Women’s World Cup rights in 28 European countries
4. What does it mean to be an IOC member?
5. Pentathlon fed promotes its athlete view, but is everyone actually off-topic?

London 2012 women’s 400 m hurdles gold medalist Natalia Antyukh was found to be doping during the Games period and was disqualified by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency and if confirmed, would elevate American Lashinda Demus to Olympic Champion. USA Gymnastics named its 2022 World Championships women’s team, led by national All-Around champ Shilese Jones and including Olympic veterans Jade Carey and Jordan Chiles. After complaining about the television rights offers from the larger European nations for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the federation announced the sale of rights to 28 smaller European countries on Monday. France’s David Lappartient, the head of the International Cycling Federation (UCI) said in an interview that being a member of the International Olympic Committee gives him access to data he would not otherwise be able to access, even as the head of a major federation. The Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) circulated a declaration of its own Athletes Commission in favor of obstacle-course racing as the replacement for riding, but is the fight over the fifth discipline actually missing the IOC’s core issues concerning the sport’s Olympic future?

1.
Russian Antyukh disqualified for doping, with U.S.’s Demus in line for gold

Yet another Russian doping positive from the 2012 London Olympic Games has been announced by the Athletics Integrity Unit, this time in a tweet:

“Following AIU charges based on LIMS data, Russian athlete Natalia Antyukh has been banned for the use of a Prohibited Substance/Method. DQ results from 15 July 2012 until 29 June 2013.”

The decision was actually made by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, which informed the AIU.

Antyukh was the gold medalist in the 400 m hurdles, running the fastest times in the heats, semis and then taking over the final in mid-race from American Lashinda Demus and winning in a lifetime best of 52.70, moving Antyukh to no. 6 all-time. Demus, the 2011 World Champion in the event, was second in a seasonal best of 52.77.

The AIU announcement refers to the information provided to the World Anti-Doping Agency (and passed on to the AIU and the relevant national federations) from the infamous “Laboratory Information Management System” (LIMS) of the Moscow Laboratory of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, headquarters of the state-sponsored doping program from 2011-15.

Antyukh was previously held to be doping in 2013 in a Court of Arbitration for Sport decision announced in April 2021. Her results from 30 June 2013 to 31 December 2015 were nullified and she did not compete internationally after June 2014; she is still banned through 6 April 2025.

The new doping charge, which can be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, extends the period of nullified results back to 15 July 2012 and includes the London Games, where the women’s 400 m hurdles were held from 5-8 August. Antyukh’s lifetime best will move back to 52.92 from 2010.

If the RUSADA decision is endorsed by the International Olympic Committee, Demus will become the London 2012 gold medalist, with Zuzana Hejnova (CZE: 53.88) moving up to silver and Jamaican Kaliese Spencer taking the bronze (53.66). Hejnova went on to win the World Championships golds in the event in 2013 and 2015.

If Demus, now 39, is declared the London 2012 winner, it will give her an Olympic gold to go with her 2011 Worlds gold, Worlds silvers in 2005 and 2009 and a bronze in 2013. She made the U.S. Olympic team in the 400 m hurdles in 2004 in Athens, but did not progress beyond the semifinals.

Reuters reported that the Antyukh disqualification is the ninth doping sanction against Russian medalists in track & field at London 2012 (there were many others who did not medal). Previous disqualifications include Mariya Savinova (women’s 800 m gold), Olga Kaniskina (20 km walk gold), Svetlana Shkolina (high jump bronze), Darya Pishchalnikova (discus bronze), Tatyana Lysenko (hammer gold) and Tatyana Chernova (heptathlon bronze), and men’s medal winners Sergey Kirdyapkin (50 km walk gold) and Ivan Ukhov (high jump gold).

2.
Jones leads U.S. women’s Worlds gymnastics squad

The USA Gymnastics women’s squad for the FIG World Artistic Championships in Liverpool (GBR) starting on the 29th was finally determined in a closed camp setting in Katy, Texas over the weekend, with plenty of familiar faces:

● Skye Blakely, Pan Am Championships 2022 All-Around bronze; U.S. Nationals 2022 All-Around sixth.

● Jade Carey, Tokyo Olympic champ on Floor, eighth in the All-Around and on Vault; 2019 Worlds Team gold and Vault silver; 2017 Worlds silvers on Vault and Floor.

● Jordan Chiles, Tokyo Olympic Team silver; 2017 U.S. Nationals All-Around silver, third in 2021 and 2022.

● Shilese Jones, 2022 Nationals All-Around silver medalist and winner on Uneven Bars and Floor Exercise.

● Leanne Wong, 2021 Worlds All-Around silver, Floor Exercise bronze and fourth on Beam; 2019 Pan Am Games Team gold.

Lexi Zeiss, 16, will be the traveling alternate; she was seventh at the U.S. Nationals All-Around.

During the Friday All-Around competition, Jones was the winner at 56.700, followed by Chiles (56.100), Carey (55.450), Blakely (54.650) and Wong (53.250). Jones won the Vault (14.500) and Uneven Bars (14.500), Carey won on Beam (13.750) and Chiles took the Floor Exercise at 14.250.

Only three events were held on Saturday, with Jones scoring 14.600 to win on the Uneven Bars. Blakely led on Beam (14.550) and Addison Fatta was tops on Floor Exercise (13.700).

The Liverpool squad has some experience, with Carey and Wong having competed at the Worlds previously and Chiles and Carey both members of the Tokyo Olympic team.

3.
FIFA sells 2023 Women’s World Cup rights in 28 European countries

Just days after FIFA’s Chief Business Officer Romy Gai (ITA) reported refusing broadcast rights offers from major European countries for the 32-nation 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the federation announced a deal with 28 European countries with the European Broadcasting Union on behalf of free-to-air public broadcasting companies in:

Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland and Turkey.

That’s 28 of the 55 members of the European football federation UEFA; of these, only Ireland and Switzerland are qualified for the tournament. The deal does not cover 15 major federations, including nine qualifiers and one in a playoff for a spot:

● Denmark (qualified)
● England (qualified)
● Finland
● France (qualified)
● Germany (qualified)
● Greece
● Italy (qualified)
● The Netherlands (qualified)
● Norway (qualified)
● Poland
● Portugal (in playoff)
● Scotland
● Spain (qualified)
● Sweden (qualified)
● Wales

In addition, there are 12 smaller or troubled markets also remaining for rights sales, including Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Israel, Kazakhstan, Northern Ireland, Russia, San Marino, and Ukraine.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) told reporters at the Women’s World Cup Draw over the weekend that the event could cost $400 million (U.S.) to stage and he hopes the federation will break even.

The tournament, being held in Australia and New Zealand kicks off on 20 July 2023. Negotiations with the large European broadcasters are complicated by the time difference: Paris is nine hours behind Sydney and 11 hours behind Auckland, so night games will kick off before noon in central Europe and day games will be seen in the wee hours of the morning. Although unavoidable, that won’t help with viewership.

4.
What does it mean to be an IOC member?

The French-language FrancsJeux.com site asked David Lappartient (FRA), the President of the Union Cycliste Internationale, what it actually means to be a member of the International Olympic Committee, in many ways a smaller role than being the head of a large international federation.

Just elected at the Beijing Winter Games Session in 2022, Lappartient said:

“I knew the IOC, I attended the Sessions in my capacity as president of the UCI. Becoming a Member allows you to be better recognized, to really feel like you belong to this big family.

“For the rest, the difference is not very great, except that I can now express myself, I have access to documents and information which are not available to the presidents of International Federations. Since my election last February, there has not been a new Session. But my membership of the IOC comes with new positions in the Olympic movement: I am a member of the board of directors of the [French National Olympic Committee] and I sit on the board of directors of the Paris 2024 [organizing committee].”

Asked about his role as an IOC member and UCI chief:

“I feel very concerned by the development of the values conveyed by sport, and everything that can be done through these values, especially today in Afghanistan and Ukraine. Ultimately, the Games are only a tool at the service of this ideal. They were designed with this in mind. I also like diplomacy through sport. At the UCI, we were leaders in the international effort to evacuate athletes and officials from Afghanistan after the Taliban took over Kabul. We have succeeded where the political world had failed.”

And as for carrying the flag of the UCI?

“[Y]ou don’t join the IOC to defend your sport or your international federation. We do it to carry our values.”

5.
Pentathlon fed promotes its athlete view,
but is everyone actually off-topic?

With the Olympic future of a sport not presently on the program of the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad in Los Angeles in 2028 hanging in the balance, the back-and-forth between the Union Internationale de Penathlon Moderne (UIPM) and the Pentathlon United athlete group continues.

In response to Pent United’s announcement of multiple motions for the forthcoming UIPM Congress on 11-12 November, the federation distributed a statement by its Athletes Commission, calling for acquiescence to the replacement of riding with obstacle course as a fifth discipline, to go along with fencing, swimming and the laser-run combo of shooting and running.

It included:

● “In December 2021, the UIPM Athletes Committee had a meeting with senior decision-makers from the International Olympic Committee. We were told, in no uncertain terms, that if the Modern Pentathlon format proposed for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games included Riding, it would not be successful – and we all know what exclusion from the Olympics would mean for our sport.”

● “[W]e have unanimously reached the conclusion that Obstacle Discipline is the only way forward for Modern Pentathlon. Not only that, we believe it can be much more than a source of salvation, and actually can transform the global popularity, accessibility and commercial appeal of our sport.”

● “We will all miss our Riding discipline when it is consigned to the past, but we urge all athletes who care about the future of Modern Pentathlon to move forward, embrace change and stand together to seize the unique opportunity now in front of us.”

● “Today, with leading pentathletes from around the world declaring solidarity with the Athletes Committee’s stance, we launch a new movement entitled #OurFuture.

“#OurFuture gives a voice to athletes who may not have felt comfortable revealing their true feelings, or even joining a conversation about the pros and cons of the change, because of the negativity expressed in some quarters. We will continue to listen to all opinions, but we cannot let negativity become the reason we fail to save our beloved sport.”

The frothy point-counterpoint argument between the UIPM and Pent United may be unbecoming, but it’s quite real and deeply felt within the sport. And it isn’t going away.

Observed: The UIPM Athletes Commission statement simply mirrors what the federation’s leadership has been saying: if riding is maintained, modern pentathlon is off the Olympic program.

The back-and-forth between the UIPM and the Pent United group obscures the IOC’s instructions to “demonstrate a significant reduction in cost and complexity and an improvement across the areas of safety, accessibility, universality and appeal for young people and the general public.”

There are arguments to be made on retaining riding and for changing to obstacle. Riding is accessible, as shown by the presence of equestrian in the Olympic Games, with 137 national federation members. Obstacle courses seem easier to install, but the sport at the international level is so small that it isn’t even a “recognized sport” by the IOC and wasn’t even included in the 2022 World Games – the showcase for could-be-Olympic sports – held in Birmingham, Alabama this summer. But is this the IOC’s fault?; more on this below.

Critically, the continuing argument over riding vs. obstacle misses the IOC’s request to know how modern pentathlon is going to improve “universality and appeal for young people and the general public.”

Translation: not many people care about this sport, so why should we bother? The riding vs. obstacle debate has completely eliminated any explanation of how a change to obstacle is going to make kids want try modern pentathlon. And UIPM Secretary General Shiny Fang (CHN) underscored the problem in a recent post, which included:

“And the hard fact is that UIPM Laser Run events have reached around 100 countries, while the full Modern Pentathlon has only reached half of them.”

While the UIPM says horse availability is an issue, why isn’t it an issue for equestrian? The two federations have almost the same number of members: 137 for the FEI and 131 for UIPM. Where’s the disconnect?

The Pent United folks contend that keeping riding in the sport maintains the format created by Olympic Movement founder Pierre de Coubertin (FRA) for the 1912 Games in Stockholm, and says the UIPM is responsible for not promoting the sport over the last 30 years or more. But, focused on the riding vs obstacle issue, it has not put forth its own promotional plan that fixes the lack-of-interest difficulty.

Is the IOC part of the problem? Back in November 2021 – before the IOC’s announcement about the 2028 program – the UIPM listed 13 criteria for a new fifth discipline which it stated “must” be met, but interestingly cited the UIPM Innovation Commission as the source of the requirements. One of them – and it’s a killer – is that the new discipline must “[n]ot fall under the governance of another IOC-recognized International Federation.” Why?

If that’s an IOC requirement, it makes little sense, as the other elements of even a revised pentathlon would include fencing, swimming and running (and maybe shooting), all governed by other IFs. Is this something that the UIPM Innovation Commission decided on, by itself?

There was wide discussion after the Tokyo Games horse-punching incident of swapping riding for cycling, which is the obvious cure to the accessibility and cost issues, but maintains the spirit of de Coubertin’s five elements from the early 20th Century. But whose requirement was it not to have an IOC-recognized federation involved?

The IOC is watching all of this and seems to hope for an insightful proposal from the UIPM. But that seems to be more of a question than anything else, heading into November’s Congress.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Curling ● Canada defeated home team Scotland to win the WCF Mixed Team Championship in Aberdeen (SCO) on Saturday.

After a 4-4 tie through four ends in the final, Canadian skip Jean-Michel Menard guided his squad to a 6-4 lead with single points in the fifth, sixth and seventh ends and the Scots conceded after the eighth. Switzerland won the bronze medal with a 6-4 win over Sweden.

It’s the third straight World title for Canada in this non-Olympic event, each with a completely different team!

● Shooting ● Team events dominated Monday’s competitions at the ISSF World Championships in Rifle and Pistol in Cairo (EGY), with China winning two golds.

China’s Ranxin Jiang and Bowen Zhang won the Mixed 50 m Pistol gold, defeating Mongolia, 17-9, and Yuehong Li, Zhiming Lu and Jueming Zhang scored a 16-6 victory over Ukraine in the men’s 25 m Team Pistol gold-medal match.

The Norwegian pair of Jenny Stene and Simon Clausson also won a 17-9 decision in the final of the Mixed 50 m Rifle/3 Positions.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Cycling ● The Afghan Women’s Road Championships were remarkably held on a 57 km course in and around Aigle, Switzerland on Sunday, with sisters Farima Hashimi and Yulduz Hashimi finishing 1-2, both timed in 1:32:40.

There were 50 Afghan riders, coming from countries across Europe, Canada and Singapore to race, under conditions that would have been impossible in their homeland. And the race had future implications as the Hashimi sisters were both offered a contract with the professional team Israel Premier Tech Roland for next season!

● Sport Climbing ● The new Paris 2024 event combining Boulder and Lead was tried for only the second time at the final IFSC World Cup of the 2022 season, in Morioka, Japan from 20-22 October.

Only previously tried at the European Championships, the rest of the world had an opportunity to try the new combination, as Speed will be a separate event in Paris.

Japan swept both the men’s and women’s titles, with home stars Tomoa Narasaki (three-time World Champion; 156.4), Yoshiyuki Ogata (138.4) and Kokoro Fujii (132.6) taking the medals. Japan’s Ai Mori – the 2019 Worlds bronze medalist in Lead – won the women’s event with 190.9 points to 171.2 for American Natalia Grossman and 131.8 for Korean Chae-hyun Seo. American Brooke Raboutou was fourth (126.0).

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!

TSX REPORT: Russia will not reveal Valieva doping verdict; Pent United on offense on modern pentathlon and LA28; U.S. wins three at Skate America

By
Rich Perelman
-
American teen Ilia Malinin during his winning Free Skate performance at Skate America (Photo: International Skating Union)

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

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

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. RUSADA announces no announcement coming in Valieva case
2. Iranian climber Rekabi reportedly under house arrest
3. Pent United on offense against UIPM and new fifth discipline
4. U.S. women draw Dutch, Vietnam for FIFA World Cup 2023
5. Our exclusive, 951-event international sports calendar now posted!

The Russian Anti-Doping Agency, citing figure skater Kamila Valieva’s minor status, announced it would not release its decision on her doping case that inflamed the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. The outcome will, of course, be known from other sources such as the World Anti-Doping Agency, but the Russians will say nothing. In the meantime, Valieva won the Russian Grand Prix stage held in Moscow over the weekend. The BBC reported that Iran sport climber Elnaz Rekabi was placed under house arrest after her return to Tehran from the Asian Championships after she did not wear her headscarf during the final. This despite the Iranian National Olympic Committee giving assurances that no action would be taken against her. The Pent United athletes group is on offense ahead of the November Congress of the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM), with multiple national federations filing motions to advance its agenda, including retaining riding as part of the sport. Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Joe Choong (GBR) said in an Instagram post that the IOC did not ask the federation to replace riding, but to make the sport cost raise its profile and lower its costs. The draw for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023 was completed over the weekend, with the U.S. women – ranked no. 1 – to face the Netherlands, Vietnam and the winner of a playoff in Group E.

Our exclusive, 951-event International Sports Calendar – through October 2023 – is now available, and free!

1.
RUSADA announces no announcement coming in Valieva case

The Russian Anti-Doping Agency said on Friday that as figure skater Kamila Valieva is still a minor, it will provide no information on the hearing concerning doping positive revealed during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games:

“In order to protect the interests of the figure skater, a member of the ROC team, who is a protected person [minor], RUSADA declares that in accordance with paragraph 4.1 of the International Standard for Results Management, all processes and procedures related to Results Management, including the charge and the final decision, are confidential.”

“Strictly following the principles of international and Russian anti-doping standards, as well as taking into account the facts and circumstances of the case, RUSADA does not intend to announce the date of the hearings, the decision or other details in the case of the figure skater – a member of the [Russian Olympic Committee] team.”

Although unnamed, this is clearly the Valieva case, with the Russian news agency TASS adding:

“RUSADA’s Disciplinary Committee is set to notify Valieva of the verdict in her case on the day of its announcement and all following statements in this regard should be made by the athlete herself or her official representatives.”

RUSADA Director General Veronika Loginova indicated previously the hearing would be held in October, but gave no date. The reaction to the announcement that there would be no announcement was quick:

● ARD Germany’s Hajo Seppelt, who has chased doping stories for decades, tweeted:

“They lie and lie and lie and lie … always the same by RUS: RUSADA says Valieva doping verdict will be kept confidential – with absurd reasoning Won’t work. Anyway… A desperate (but obviously stupid) move to try to keep Olympic gold in team event.”

● The World Anti-Doping Agency told TASS:

“WADA will carefully consider RUSADA’s decision in this case and reserves the right to appeal it to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, if appropriate.”

● Valieva, now 16, and competing in the Russian Grand Prix, told reporters:

“I won’t say anything about it.”

● U.S. Anti-Doping Agency chief Travis Tygart told USA Today that WADA, the International Olympic Committee and the International Skating Union must make the decision and all available details public as soon as possible:

“Short of this, it’s impossible for athletes or the public to believe what happened at the 2022 Beijing Games was real and not just another fraudulent win by the Russians like so many before, as the evidence has clearly shown. …

“Certainly, keeping the decision and facts secret makes a mockery of the whole process and there is no wonder athletes and the public do not trust the global WADA anti-doping system.”

Still in limbo – now for eight months – amid the controversy are the American (2nd place), Japanese (3rd) and Canadian (4th) squads from the Beijing 2022 Winter Games Team Event, won by Russia, but for which no medal ceremony has been held, pending the outcome of the inquiry into Valieva’s doping positive. Her 25 December 2021 sample came back positive, but was forwarded only after the Team Event was concluded in Beijing; she was initially suspended by RUSADA, but reinstated by its Disciplinary Committee and allowed to compete in the women’s competition by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (she finished fourth).

On Sunday, Valieva won the women’s division of the Russian Grand Prix in Moscow, scoring 244.86 points, ahead of Sofia Akatieva (238.68). Valieva won the Short Program and was second to Akatieva in the Free Skate. Valieva told TASS (DeepL.com translation from Russian):

“Emotionally I was fine. I have read a lot of snide remarks about me and my coaches; let’s leave it at that. But it was hard, it was normal, it was like I was going through it for the first time. And when you get it rolling, it gets calmer. I’m happy to share it, I’m ready to roll this program, if I wasn’t ready, I would have said so.

“The fans’ opinion doesn’t affect me. I only care about the opinion of my coaches and people in authority, I’m not a flower to please everyone.”

She plans to compete next in the third leg of the Russian Grand Prix from 4-6 November, in Kazan.

2.
Iranian climber Rekabi reportedly under house arrest

While a International Federation of Sport Climbing statement issued on Wednesday (19th) noted assurances from the Iranian National Olympic Committee “that [climber Elnaz] Rekabi will not suffer any consequences,” the BBC’s Persian service reported that she has been placed under house arrest on her return to Tehran.

Rekabi did not wear a headscarf (hijab) during the Asian Championships in Seoul, where she placed fourth in the combined Boulder and Lead event, which has special significance after the 16 September death of Mahsa Amini while in police custody after being arrested for “allegedly wearing her headscarf too loosely.”

Her Instagram page showed a post in which she said that her headscarf fell off by accident, but it is not clear that Rekabi made the post, or that it was done for her. The BBC reported that while she received a hero’s welcome at the Tehran airport upon her return, she was forced into a confession. Instead of going home, “she was held at the national Olympics academy under the watch of plainclothes officers until she met [sports minister Hamid Sajjadi].”

The IFSC World Cup schedule has been completed for 2022 and Iran has no entrants for the final Asia Continental Cup event in Manila (PHI) on 5-6 November, so Rekabi will not be seen in any international competition until next April.

3.
Pent United on offense against UIPM and new fifth discipline

The next chapter in the ongoing tug-of-war for the future of modern pentathlon will be written at the 2022 Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) Congress in Guatemala (and online) on 12-13 November, with the Pent United athlete group trying to keep riding as one of the five disciplines, and all sides trying to figure out how to restore the sport to the program for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Since the Tokyo Games and the horse-punching incident revolving around German pentathlete Annika Schleu and an unwilling horse, Saint Boy, the UIPM leadership has moved ahead with a place to replace riding with obstacle course running. But the Pent United group isn’t budging, and is now moving on offense ahead of the Congress. In a tweet last week, the group wrote:

“It is now less than 4 weeks until the UIPM Congress when we hope that our National Federations will represent us and do the rights things to save our sport. … We have motions before Congress that can fix our sport. … These motions have come from a range of different National Federations, including Great Britain, the Czech Republic, Australia, Sweden and Denmark.”

On governance, the tweet cites seven motions, including a no-confidence vote in UIPM President Klaus Schormann (GER; first elected in 1993), a 12-year limit for all elected persons, a financial reporting review, suspension of Russian and Belarusian national federations and officials, and disclosure of commercial agreements with any third parties, especially regarding the obstacle course test events and any relationship with the Tokyo Broadcasting System and its Ninja Warrior series.

On trying to get the sport back onto the program for the Los Angeles 2028 Games, the motions including reincorporating a revamped riding program, a strategic alliance with the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) and an opportunity for the Pent United group to address the Congress.

A motion from eight federations, led by Georgia, asks to keep Modern Pentathlon with riding as a non-Olympic event!

On the central question of whether the change away from riding to something else was requested by the International Olympic Committee, Finnish coach Jouko Pakarinen tweeted last week that IOC Sports Director Kit McConnell (NZL) told Tokyo Olympic champ Joe Choong (GBR, shared in an Instagram post) “that the IOC never asked the UIPM to remove riding:

“‘Kit McConnell confirmed that the IOC did not explicitly or officially request the removal of horse riding, however the IOC confirmed to the UIPM the need to improve accessibility, attractiveness and reduce the cost and complexity of the sport. The IOC therefore supports the UIPM in looking to innovate while reducing cost and complexity of the sport.’”

That’s not a riding problem, that’s a cost and marketing problem, for which trading obstacle course for riding is at best a tactic and not a strategy. The tug-of-war continues.

4.
U.S. women draw Dutch, Vietnam for FIFA World Cup 2023

The draw for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, to be held in Australia and New Zealand, was concluded on Saturday in Auckland, New Zealand, with the no. 1-ranked American women in Group E with the Netherlands, Vietnam and a team to be determined. The groups and current world rankings:

● Group A: New Zealand (22), Norway (12), Philippines (53), Switzerland (21)

● Group B: Australia (13), Canada (7), Ireland (24), Nigeria (45)

● Group C: Spain (6), Costa Rica (37), Japan (11), Zambia (81)

● Group D: England (4), China (15), Denmark (18), play-off winner among Senegal (84), Haiti (56) and Chile (38)

● Group E: United States (1), Netherlands (8), Vietnam (34), play-off winner among Portugal (23), Cameroon (58) and Thailand (41).

● Group F: France (5), Brazil (9), Jamaica (43), play-off winner among Chinese Taipei (40), Paraguay (51), Papua New Guinea (50) and Panama (57)

● Group G: Sweden (2), Argentina (29), Italy (14), South Africa (54)

● Group H: Germany (3), Colombia (27), Morocco (76), South Korea (17)

The U.S. and the Netherlands played in the 2019 World Cup Final and the Americans enter as the two-time defending World Cup champions. If the U.S. should win Group E, it would face the Group G runner-up (Italy?) in the Round of 16 and then either Group A winner (Norway?) or Group C runner-up (Japan?) in the quarterfinals. The U.S. could see Spain or Sweden in the semifinals.

The tournament, which opens on 20 July 2023, has been expanded from 24 teams to 32 for the first time ever and figures to be the most competitive yet. The American women have won a medal in all eight prior World Cups, winning in 1991-99-2015-19, runner-up in 2011 and third in 1995-2003-07.

5.
Our exclusive, 951-event international sports calendar
now posted!

The Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine continue to cause chaos, including within the international sports calendar. But sport goes on, and as your guide, here’s our exclusive 951-event listing for the remainder of 2022 and into 2023 (as 20 October 2022), 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..

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!

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Break Dancing ● Japan dominated the women’s competition at the World Breaking Championships in Seoul (KOR) with 2019 World Champion Yuasa Ami (“Ami”) winning a second title, this time over China’s Qing-Yi Liu (“B-Girl 671″). Defending champion Ayumi Fukushima (“Ayumi” – JPN) took the bronze.

Canada’s Philip Kim (“Phil Wizard”) defeated Japan’s Shigeyuki Nakarai (“Shigekix”) in the men’s championship final, 8-1, 3-6, 9-0 to win the gold. Defending champ Victor Montalvo (“Victor” – USA) won the bronze.

● Football ● The U.S. women’s U-17 team was eliminated by Nigeria in the quarterfinals of the FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup being held in India.

The American women had given up only one goal (vs. 13 scored) in group play, but Nigeria’s Omamuzo Edafe scored on a penalty kick in the 27th minute to go up, 1-0. The U.S. tied it in the 40th minute on a Amalia Villareal goal, but that was the end of the scoring in regulation. Nigeria won on penalty kicks, 4-3, and moves onto to the semis to face Colombia, a 3-0 winner over Tanzania.

Germany defeated Brazil, 2-0 in the lower half of the bracket and will play Spain in the semis, a 2-1 winner over Japan. The semis will be on 26 October and the medal matches on the 30th.

● Shooting ● The ISSF World Championships in Cairo (EGY) are headed into their final week, with the Chinese continuing a strong performance.

Veteran Ukrainian star Serhiy Kulish, the 2021 World Cup Final winner, took the men’s 50 m Rifle/3 Positions title with an impressive, 16-6, final performance over 2018 World Champion Tomasz Bartnik (POL). In the women’s 50 m Rifle/3 Positions, 22-year-old newcomer Wanru Miao (CHN) won the gold, defeating Norway’s Tokyo Olympian Jenny Stene, 17-13, in the final.

Norway captured the men’s Team gold in the 50 m Rifle/3 Positions final, 16-12, over France. Germany took the women’s 50 m Rifle/3 Positions Team event, scoring a 16-4 win over Switzerland.

Korea was brilliant in the Pistol events, with 2018 World Junior silver medalist Gun-hyeok Lee winning the men’s 25 m Rapid-Fire Pistol final, 31-30, over France’s Clement Bessaguet, the seventh placer from Tokyo 2020.

Korea’s Jang-mi Kim, the 2012 London Olympic winner, defeated China’s Yan Chen and German’s 2018 Worlds bronze medalist, Doreen Vennekamp, 32-31-22, in the women’s 25 m Pistol final. Chen came back to get a gold in the women’s 25 m Pistol Team event, with China whitewashing India, 16-0, in the final.

In the non-Olympic 25 m Rapid-Fire Pistol Mixed Team event, Ukraine defeated India, 16-14.

The shooting continues through the 27th.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Paris 2024 ● During a short presentation during the Association of National Olympic Committees General Assembly in Seoul (KOR), the Paris 2024 organizers gave an update heavy on logistical issues and timelines.

Of general note, however, was that the organizing committees has now signed 25 commercial partners, and nine official supporters and has passed the 1,000 mark in total staff, with a little less than two years to go.

The next major announcement will be the Games mascots, in about two weeks.

● Russia ● The International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) Council met in Soelden (AUT) on Saturday (22nd), with a clear decision on Russia and Belarus throughout the 2022-23 season:

“The FIS Council decided, with due regard to the integrity of FIS competitions and for the safety of all participants, and in line with IOC recommendations, to continue its policy to not allow Russian and Belarusian teams and athletes, to participate in all FIS competitions.”

● Alpine Skiing ● Saturday’s FIS World Cup season opener – the women’s Giant Slalom – on the Rettenbach Glacier in Soelden (AUT) … was canceled, due to rain and wet snow, resulting in a surface that was too soft for racing.

The surface hardened enough for Sunday’s men’s race, with Switzerland’s two-time Soelden champ and reigning World Cup champ, Marco Odermatt winning his third straight in 2:04.72, 0.76 ahead of Zan Kranjec (SLO) and 0.97 over Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR). It’s Odermatt’s 12th career World Cup win, with eight in Giant Slaloms. American Tommy Ford was seventh (2:05.88).

One of the most anticipated races of the new season, the across-two-countries men’s World Cup Downhill to start in Zermatt (SUI) and finish in Cervinia (ITA) was canceled due to a lack of snow and the resulting safety concerns.

Although the men’s 29-30 October races of what is called the “Matterhorn Cervino Speed Opening” were canceled, there is hope that the following week’s women’s event can be held. That decision is expected on Tuesday.

● Badminton ● China dominated the BWF World Tour Denmark Open, winning four of five finals, two of which were all-Chinese affairs. Yuqi Shi won the men’s title, and Bing Jiao He took the women’s crown. In the Doubles finals, China posted wins by Qing Chen Chen and Yifan Jia in the women’s division and Siwei Zhang and Yaqiong Huang in Mixed Doubles.

Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto scored a win over countrymen Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo in the men’s Doubles final.

● Curling ● No surprise that Team Edin – named for Swedish star Niklas Edin, skip of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Champions – won the Grand Slam of Curling men’s Tour Challenge, the second of six events this season. Team Edin out-scored Matt Dunstone (CAN) and his squad by 7-3 in the final in the strength of three points in the sixth end and three in the eighth. The surprise was that Edin was not with the squad and it was Oskar Ericsson who piloted the team to victory.

In the women’s final, the all-Canadian final had 2022 Worlds bronze medalist Kerri Einarson’s rink trying for a second straight win this season, against 2017 World Champion Rachel Homan. It was a 5-4 match through five ends, but Homan scored twice in the sixth end and once in the seventh to clinch an 8-4 victory. It’s Homan’s 12th career Grand Slam title.

● Diving ● A year after winning only two of the eight events on the FINA World Cup program, China rebounded strongly at the 2022 World Cup, held in Berlin (GER), winning eight of nine events, all except the Mixed Team Event … which they did not contest.

Tokyo silver medalist Zongyuan Wang (562.20) and Rio 2016 Olympic champ Yuan Cao (513.85) were 1-2 in the men’s 3 m Springboard; Tokyo silver medalist Jian Yang (537.70) and five-time Worlds medalist Hao Yang (472.20) went 1-2 on the 10 m Platform; Wang and Cao won the 3 m Synchronized title (442.68) and Junjie Lian and Yang won the 10 m Synchronized event (444.84). That’s four events and six medals.

World Championships bronze medalist Yani Chang (363.75) won the women’s 3 m Springboard, followed by teammate (and 2022 World Champion) Yiwen Chen (346.95); Tokyo silver medalist Yuxi Chen (449.85) and Tokyo winner Hongchan Quan (430.45) were 1-2 on the 10 m Platform; Chang and Yiwen Chen won the 3 m Synchro event (330.03) and Yuxi Chen and Quan won the 10 m Synchro gold (349.80). Four events and six medals for a total of 12 and the rest of the fields were really not competitive. Impressive, but not unexpected.

The U.S. had a good showing, with six medals overall. These included a bronze from Brandon Loschiavo in the men’s 10 m Platform, a silver from Tyler Downs and Greg Duncan in the men’s 3 m Synchro, a bronze for Nike Agunbiade in the women’s 10 m Platform, a bronze for Brooke Schultz and Kristen Hayden in the women’s 3m Synchro and a silver for Katrina Young and Agunbiade in the women’s 10 m Synchro.

The American team of Young, Hayden, Zach Cooper and Downs won the Mixed Team Event, 375.80-370.85, over Germany.

● Figure Skating ● The ISU Grand Prix season opener at Skate America was a coming-out party for the newest American star, 17-year-old Ilia Malinin, who won the men’s title convincingly at the Albright Performance Center in Norwood, Massachusetts.

Known as the “Quad God” for being the first to land the much-sought-after Quadruple Axel, Malinin stood fourth after the Short Program, but won the Free Skate by 16.06 points – even with a fall – to take the event at 280.37, with Kao Miura (JPN: 273.19) and Junhwan Cha (KOR: 264.05) following. Fellow American Liam Kapeikis was seventh (219.50). Said the winner:

“I felt great, it was a really good skate. I’m still in shock. I just know that I trusted my practice and it worked well. It was very important to forget what I did yesterday [Short Program] and just focus on the long.

“I was really well prepared going into the long. That gave me the confidence to try the quad Axel and I was able to pull it off. I was very happy with how I landed it. I just have to keep that same confidence with every competition I do.”

Japan’s 2022 World Champion Kaori Sakamoto only led American Isabeau Levito by 0.42 points going into the Free Skate, but emerged as a clear winner, 217.61-206.66, after the Free Skate, earning her third career Grand Prix victory. American Amber Glenn was third (197.61) and comebacking Sochi 2014 Team bronze medalist Gracie Gold was sixth overall at 174.09.

The U.S. scored wins in both Pairs and Ice Dance. The 2022 World Champions, Brandon Frazier and Alexa Knierim won both the Pairs Short Program and the Free Skate and scored 201.39 to edge Canadians Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps (197.89). Americans Maria Mokhova and Ivan Mokhov were fourth (145.23) and Valentina Plazas and Maximiliano Fernandez (143.55) were sixth.

Two-time Worlds bronze medalists Madison Chock and Evan Bates won the Ice Dance over fellow Americans Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker, overcoming a 3½-point deficit after the Rhythm Dance, 202.80-202.07. Americans Lorraine McNamara and Anton Spiridonov finished seventh (167.05).

The ISU Grand Prix moves on to the Toronto area for the Skate Canada International next week.

● Freestyle Skiing ● The Freestyle World season opened with Big Air events for men and women at Chur (SUI), with familiar stars at the top of the podium.

Norway’s Beijing 2022 Big Air gold medalist Birk Ruud took the men’s victory with a best-two-of-three scores total of 188.75 to best 19-year-old Noah Porter MacLennan (CAN: 180.00) and 18-year-old American Troy Podmilsak (179.75). It’s the first career medals for both Porter MacLennan and Podmilsak.

Beijing 2022 silver medalist and 2019 World Champion Tess Ledeux (FRA) won the women’s event, scoring 181.00 to 170.75 for Norway’s Sandra Eie and 170.00 for Swiss Mathilde Gremaud, the Beijing bronze medal winner an Slopestyle winner.

● Judo ● The IJF World Tour was in the UAE for the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam, with Czech star – and two-time Olympic gold medalist – Lukas Krpalek winning the men’s +100 kg title.

Worlds 2021 bronze medalist Julia Figueroa won the women’s 48 kg class, and France’s Astride Gneto won her second World Tour tournament of the year, at 52 kg, as did Lucy Renshall (GBR) at 63 kg. China’s 2022 Worlds silver medalist Zhenzhao Ma won the women’s 78 kg division and teammate Xin Su won her first Grand Slam event at +78 kg.

● Snowboard ● Japan swept the FIS World Cup Big Air opener in Chur (SUI), with Takeru Otsuka and Ruki Tobita going 1-2 in the men’s final and Reira Iwabuchi taking the women’s gold.

Otsuka was dominant, scoring 166.50 to outdistance everyone, with Tobita second at 140.00. It’s Otsuka’s fifth career World Cup medal (third win), at age 21.

Iwabuchi, still just 20, won her eighth World Cup gold (seven in Big Air), to edge rival Anna Gasser, the 2018 and 2022 Olympic Champion. 180.75-164.75.

● Swimming ● The first of three FINA World Cups, all in short-course (25 m) pools, was held in Berlin over the weekend, with U.S. swimmers leading the medal table with 16.

However, the biggest individual winner was South African Matt Sates, who won the men’s 200-400 m Freestyles and the 200-400 m Medleys for four wins, plus a silver to Rio 2016 Olympic champ Kyle Chalmers (AUS) in the 100 m Free.

Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey, the reigning World 25 m champ in the 100-200 m Freestyles, tripled in the 100-200-400 m Freestyles for three golds. Trinidad & Tobago’s Dylan Carter scored a triple in the men’s 50 m Free, 50 m Back and 50 m Fly. They were matched by Americans Beata Nelson, who took the 100-200 m Backstrokes and the 200 m Medley, and Nic Fink in the 50-100-200m Breaststroke events.

American Shaine Casas won the 100-200 m Back events and Tokyo medal winner Hali Flickinger took the women’s 400 m Medley for nine total U.S. golds during the three-day meet.

The other multi-event winners included Beryl Gastaldello (FRA) in the women’s 50 m Fly and 100 m Medley; South Africa’s four-time World Champion Chad le Clos in the men’s 100-200 m Fly, and Lithuanian star Ruta Meilutyte – the London 2012 100 m Breast gold medalist – who won the 100 m Breast on Saturday and then scared the world 25 m record in the 50 m Breast on Sunday, winning in 28.60, just 0.04 short of Jamaican Alia Atkinson’s 28.56 mark from 2018, and the no. 2 performance in history.

The FINA World Cup heads to Toronto next week and then to Indianapolis in two weeks, with an even stronger American cast expected.

Japan’s 2022 World Championships 200 m Fly bronze winner, Tomoru Honda (JPN) set a world record on the short-course (25 m pool) 200 m Fly at the Japan Nationals in Tokyo, timing 1:46.85. He crushed the prior record of 1:48.24, held by fellow Japanese star Daiyo Seto from 2018.

● Tennis ● Romanian star Simona Halep, winner of two Grand Slam titles, was provisionally suspended for the use of Roxadustat, an anti-amenia drug which boosts the production of red blood cells.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency announced that Halep, 31, had tested positive at the U.S. Open and if her positive test is confirmed, could be suspended for four years. On Friday, she posted on Twitter:

“Today begins the hardest match of my life: a fight for the truth. I have been notified that I have tested positive for a substance called Roxadustat in an extremely low quantity, which came as the biggest shock of my life. …

“I will fight until the end to prove that I never knowingly took any prohibited substance and I have faith that sooner or later, the truth will come out.”

● Wrestling ● Another world title for new American star Amit Elor, 18, who won her third (!) World Championships gold in 2022 with a victory at 72 kg in the United World Wrestling U-23 World Championships at Pontevedra, Spain.

Elor had earlier won the UWW World Junior title in September, then took the World Championships gold in Belgrade, also at 72 kg and defeated two-time European U-23 champion Wiktoria Choluj (POL) last Friday by an 11-0 technical fall. He three matches were won by pin (5:31), pin (0:34) and a technical fall. Wow!

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!

SPECIAL: Updated! Our revised, 951-event International Sports Calendar for 2022-23 now posted!

By
Rich Perelman
-

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 951-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!

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.

TSX REPORT: IOC says 2030 Winter Games selection on for 2023, and Esports should not be medal events yet; USADA chief ready to forgive Armstrong

By
Rich Perelman
-
From the International Olympic Committee presentation to the Association of National Olympic Committees General Assembly

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

★ Want TheSportsExaminer.com insights for your team? Yes! Click here for info on speaking, research and consulting from editor Rich Perelman. ★

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

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. IOC still sees 2030 Winter Games selection in 2023
2. IOC says Esports games should not be medal events
3. USADA chief Tygart ready to forgive Lance Armstrong
4. FIFA rejects European TV bids for 2023 Women’s World Cup
5. L.A.’s 2016 bid legacy Ready, Set, Gold! expands 364% in two years

At the Association of National Olympic Committees General Assembly in Seoul, Korea, a lengthy presentation by the International Olympic Committee confirmed that the plan to award the 2030 Winter Games to either Sapporo, Salt Lake City or Vancouver in 2023 is on track. The IOC also advised that it is not in favor of Esports events being included in multi-sport Games – such as the Pan American Games – as medal events; the 2023 Asian Games has scheduled eight medal events in Esports. In an interview with Germany’s SID, U.S. Anti-Doping Agency head Travis Tygart said the anti-doping situation in cycling is much improved, and since Lance Armstrong has confessed to doping, he could forgive him. FIFA rejected several offers from European broadcasters for rights to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, saying they were insufficient; FIFA is selling the rights to the Women’s World Cup on a stand-alone basis for the first time in many countries. Ready, Set, Gold!, a legacy program from the failed bid by Los Angeles for the U.S. candidate for the 2016 Olympic Games, has expanded greatly during the pandemic and its online program is now being used in 20 U.S. states and reached an unprecedented 40,500 students in the 2021-22 school term.

1.
IOC still sees 2030 Winter Games selection in 2023

The International Olympic Committee made a significant presentation during the Association of National Olympic Committees General Assembly, with IOC Director General Christophe De Kepper (BEL) explaining in detail the current status of bids for future Games:

“Thanks to the new approach to electing Olympic hosts, we have been able to build a strong community of interested parties, and we constantly have new potential hosts coming to the table as part of the continuous and open dialogue.

“Interested NOCs have told us they appreciate the reforms of this new approach, in particular, the fact that it helps them reduce costs, to emphasize the benefits for their communities and to keep their Games vision relevant, exciting and forward-thinking. …

“In respect of the summer Games, we are currently working with 10 NOCs and regions across four continents, without making any commitment and using minimal resources. Taking full advantage of the flexibility of the new approach, these projects are at very different stages, and are developing their missions according to their own regional or national timelines.

“The outlook for future Games, thanks to these reforms, is very positive.

“With regards to the Olympic Winter Games, the IOC is currently in continuous dialogue with three city-regions, with a declared interest for 2030, and their respective NOCs: British Columbia, Hokkaido-Sapporo and Salt Lake City, Utah.

“As part of this dialogue, the IOC is conducting a thorough feasibility assessment of each project, to inform the work of the Future Hosts Commission for the Olympic Winter Games. The Future Hosts Commission, chaired by IOC member Octavio Morariu [ROM] will meet in November to review the feasibility assessments, with a view to the opening of a targeted dialogue for the Olympic Winter Games 2030, to be in position to elect a host for 2030 at the 140th IOC Session, which is planned to be held in October 2023.”

The bids from Sapporo (host in 1972) and Salt Lake City (host in 2002) are considered to have a more complete project thus far than Vancouver (host in 2010). A selection of Sapporo would follow closely behind the Tokyo 2020 Games, while the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee has stated its preference for the 2034 Winter Games, six years after the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games instead of two (and possibly in a better economic environment).

2.
IOC says Esports games should not be medal events

De Kepper also discussed with clarity the IOC’s view of Esports at present. While it is expanding cooperation with online gaming as standalone programs, the IOC declared its position that now is not the time for Esports as medal events:

“We support NOC continental associations in promoting virtual forms of sports, but there should be no medal events for these in multi-sports Games, as we will still need to ensure that all of the areas of athlete protection, anti-doping and integrity considerations and others need to be fully respected.

“Equally, any separate Esports championships or exhibitions need to strictly reflect the Olympic values, in the games selected and must also promote virtual and simulated sports, as we are doing through the Olympic Esports Series.

“Any non-sport titles should only be considered when they strictly respect our values and should not be included as medal events in your multi-sport Games.”

That’s clear enough, but it is also in direct conflict with, for example, the Asian Games, which in 2023 in Hangzhou (CHN), will have eight medal events and two demonstration events. The medal events will include competitions in Arena of Valor, Dota 2, Dream of the Three Kingdoms 2, FIFA, Hearthstone, League of Legends, PUBG Mobile, and Street Fighter V.

Esports were also a demonstration program at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham (ENG), but not part of the medal events.

De Kepper has outlined the IOC’s position; it will be fascinating to see how seriously it is taken.

3.
USADA chief Tygart ready to forgive Lance Armstrong

Travis Tygart, the intense head of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, told the German sports-news service SID that disgraced American cycling star Lance Armstrong, stripped of seven Tour de France title due to doping, should be forgiven in view of his disclosure.

Tygart told SID that the situation in cycling has improved:

“Compared to back then, it’s a difference like day and night. We’re seeing a culture of clean sport returning to cycling,” although there are those in the sport today who would hardly agree with him.

Tygart also cited the improved vigilance of the Union Cycliste Internationale under its new leadership, compared to the early 2010s:

● “President David Lappartient [FRA] has recognized that clean sport is overrun by corrupt practices if it is not protected accordingly.”

● “They initially actively tried to prevent witnesses from cooperating with us and withheld important documents from us. We therefore felt it necessary to publish our evidence.”

The USADA famously pursued Armstrong for years and banned him from cycling in October 2012, a decision which was supported by the World Anti-Doping Agency and the UCI, which nullified his results from August 1998 on, including his seven straight Tour de France wins from 1999-2005. He made a confession of doping in a televised interview in January 2013, saying the stopped doping after 2005. (He rode in the 2009 Tour de France and finished third, and 23rd in 2010.)

In something of a surprise, Tygart told SID that Armstrong and other former dopers need not be persona non grata forever:

“Many of the riders at the time were victims of the system, and it is true that they were able to come back over time – also in another capacity. And we should also forgive Lance Armstrong after his confession.”

4.
FIFA rejects European TV bids for 2023 Women’s World Cup

“This is not a case of being priced out, but rather testament to a lack of willingness of broadcasters to pay what the women’s game deserves.”

That’s Italian Romy Gai, FIFA’s Chief Business Officer, telling Bloomberg that the federation rejected television rights offers for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup from broadcasters in France, Germany, Great Britain and Italy, and expects to do so in Spain.

Gai points out that the 2019 Women’s World Cup – held in France – attracted 1.12 billion viewers – on all platforms – for the Netherlands-U.S. final.

“Audience figures show that the Women’s World Cup 2019 in France was a catalyst for change in terms of TV audience.

“We know the opportunity for women’s football is there. Now, together, we need to capture it.”

However, the time zone difference between a European-hosted Women’s World Cup and one in Australia and New Zealand is severe; Sydney is nine hours ahead of Paris, so an evening match would end up in the late morning in Europe.

Gai, however, points out that rights fees for the FIFA Women’s World Cup have been 2% of those for the FIFA World Cup for men, where the viewership is about 20%. Bloomberg’s story noted that FIFA’s reports showed about $3 billion in broadcast revenue for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia vs. $300 million for the 2019 women’s event in France.

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup rights for the U.S. have already been acquired by FOX Sports and Telemundo.

The draw for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup comes Saturday (22nd) in Auckland (NZL), with the U.S. going in as the no. 1-ranked team in the world.

5.
L.A.’s 2016 bid legacy Ready, Set, Gold!
expands 364% in two years

In 2007, the Los Angeles bid to be the U.S. candidate for the 2016 Olympic Games failed, when the U.S. Olympic Committee selected Chicago. But out of that bid came a remarkable new program called Ready, Set, Gold! that placed Olympic and Paralympic athletes with schools to teach Olympic values.

More than 15 years later, the RSG! program – as it is locally known – has not only survived the Covid-19 pandemic, but has thrived and due to the pandemic, has gone national.

The program, originated by the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games, was originally based on in-person visits to Los Angeles-area schools by an Olympian or Paralympian multiple times during an academic year. By relating their own experiences of success and failure, the athlete’s story could become a launch point for the students to believe in themselves and their future.

Before the pandemic, RSG! reached about 12,000 students a year through 29 schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District. That shrunk to 8,725 in 2020 as school lockdowns came on and just 4,500 at 18 schools in 2021-22.

But the pandemic created the need for online programming, which has become a stunning success. While the in-person program in 2021-22 – aimed at grades 5-9 – reached 18 schools across four school districts in Southern California, the online project featuring stars like Tokyo beach volleyball gold medalist April Ross and Mexican tennis Olympian Giuliana Olmos – a Women’s Doubles quarterfinalist at the 2022 U.S. Open – has reached 36,000 students in 20 states, as far away as New York, Virginia and Florida. Sponsorship by The Foundation for Global Sports Development and Sidewinder Films was the key to creating this project.

The 2022-23 RSG! in-person program will bring Paralympians into seven Special Education centers in Southern California through a partnership with UCLA Health, further expanding its reach. And with in-person education finally returning in California, the projection for the new school year is for 32 schools to be involved, reaching more than 8,000 students.

The roster of 44 Olympians and Paralympians include recognizable stars like boxing gold medalist Henry Tillman (1984), Pairs world champion skater Tai Babilonia (1979), five-time Paralympic medalist Rudy Garcia-Tolson (2004-20: swimming), two-time Olympic hurdles medalist Mark Crear (1996-2000), 2015 World 10 km Open Water gold winner and Rio and Tokyo Olympian Jordan Wilimovsky, and many more.

It’s a remarkable legacy of any bid, let alone a failed one, and has the potential to expand even further.

≡ CALENDAR ≡

● Alpine Skiing ● It’s a little hard to believe, but the 2022-23 FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup opens this weekend with Giant Slalom racing for men and women on Saturday and Sunday.

The site will be, as usual, the Rettenbach Glacier at Soelden (AUT), with Swiss star Marco Odermatt the men’s defending champion in the race and the reigning World Cup overall champion.

American Mikaela Shiffrin won her second Soelden title in 2021 and won her fourth overall World Cup title. Still just 27, Shiffrin owns 74 World Cup wins, no. 3 all-time, trailing only Ingemar Stenmark (SWE: 86 from 1973-89) and fellow American Lindsey Vonn (82 from 2001-19).

The FIS Snowboard World Cup season will open with a Big Air event in Chur (SUI). Canada’s Max Parrot and New Zealand star Zoi Sadowski-Synnott won the only Big Air events held last season. Both ended up winning Olympic medals in the event, with Parrot taking bronze and Sadowski-Synnott a silver.

● Swimming ● The three-stage FINA World Cup begins in Berlin (GER) on Friday, with the final two legs in North America, in Toronto and Indianapolis.

The three-day Europa-Sportpark meet includes some excellent fields, swimming in a 25 m (short course) pool, in advance of December’s 25 m Worlds in Melbourne. Among the entries are Rio 2016 men’s 100 m Free champ Kyle Chalmers (AUS), men’s 2022 World 100 m Back champ Thomas Ceccon (ITA), London 2012 men’s Olympic 50 m Free winner Florent Manaudou (FRA), Olympic men’s 10 km Open Water winner Florian Wellbrock (GER), with women’s stars including 50 m Back World Champion Kylie Masse (CAN), double Olympic Freestyle silver medalist Siobhan Haughey (HKG), London 2012 100 m Breast winner Ruta Meilutyte (LTU) and a lot more.

Americans stars confirmed for the entire series include Shaine Casas, the 2021 World 25 m Champion winner in the 100 m Breast; veteran Tom Shields, a 17-time World 25 m Champs medal winner; Nic Fink, the 2022 50 m Breast World Champion; Hali Flickinger, the Tokyo 200 m Butterfly bronze medalist, and others.

The FINA Diving World Cup is also underway in Berlin, continuing through Sunday.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games ● Also during the ANOC General Assembly was a short presentation by IOC Member Kirsty Coventry (ZIM), who is the head of the new Games Optimisation Working Group. She shared the immediate goals of the group, primarily looking ahead to Paris 2024 and Milan Cortina 2026:

“One of the goals we have is to ensure we have full stadia; that is our ultimate goal. How are we going to achieve that? Well, we believe we need to have a little bit more visibility on where our stakeholders will be prior to the event. This will not only allow us to sell tickets more effectively and efficiently but it will also allow us to provide better service levels to all of our stakeholders.

“We then spoke about transport. Transport was focused on being effective and sustainable, and making the best use of existing infrastructure. We want to focus on breaking the system down to ensure, at the end of the day, you have the effective means to get to where you want to go in the time that you have.”

As if getting the National Olympic Committee executives present ready for some significant changes to come, she closed with:

“The Games of the future may look different, but if we collectively work together, we will ensure that we remain relevant, positive and successful.”

● Olympic Winter Games 2022: Beijing ● The IOC announced that the estimated global television audience for the 2022 Winter Games was 2.01 billion unique viewers, up five percent from the 2018 Winter Games in Korea.

The rights-holding broadcasters showed a Winter Games record 120,670 hours of coverage on broadcast and digital platforms, with the average viewer watching about 5.9 hours of the Games, up 12% from 2018. Television still dominates, with 92% of all viewers watching the Games on TV, with only 8% watching on digital devices only.

● Paralympic Games 2024: Paris ● The Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Paralympic Games – slated for 28 August – will be held in the center of Paris, along the Champs-Elysees and at the historic Place de la Concorde at its eastern end.

It’s the first Paralympic opening not to be held in a stadium and the plan is for 30,000 spectators to watch for free along the Champs-Elysees and then 35,000 in temporary (ticketed) stands in the plaza.

● Association of National Olympic Committees ● Fiji’s Robin Mitchell was elected as ANOC President, running unopposed. Qatar’s Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani was elected as senior Vice President, also running unopposed.

● Russia ● The head of the Russian Olympic Committee, Stanislav Pozdnyakov said on a social media post that the ROC has been meeting with other National Olympic Committee officials during the ANOC General Assembly and will sign coaching and education support agreements with Mali, Peru and South Africa:

“It can be firmly said that the Russian Olympic Committee is expanding the circle of partners and friends. And just today we held meetings with the NOCs of several countries, including the Republic of Korea, South Africa, Mali, Mauritania, Namibia and Peru.”

As for the sanctions against Russian athletes, underscored by IOC chief Thomas Bach in the keynote address in Seoul, Pozdnyakov sees it differently:

“[W]e are grateful for the support of everyone who publicly speaks out for the lifting of sanctions against our athletes. And this opinion is getting louder.”

Anastasia Davydova, 39, the five-time Olympic gold medalist in artistic swimming and former Secretary General of the Russian Olympic Committee, left the country at the end of September with no plan to return.

However, she recently told the Russian artistic swimming federation that she does not plan to give up her citizenship. According to federation Executive Secretary Valentina Nemogaeva:

“I don’t know the reasons for her departure from the country. The only question I asked was whether they are renouncing Russian citizenship? She wrote to me that she does not renounce her citizenship. And that this does not mean that they left forever.”

● Athletics ● More Kenyan doping positives, as the Athletics Integrity Unit announced a three-year ban on Marius Kipserem, 34, the two-time winner of the Rotterdam Marathon, with a best of 2:04:04 from 2021, for use of the prohibited hormone Erythropoietin (EPO). His ban runs from 22 September 2022.

Two more provisional suspensions were announced, of Ibrahim Mukunga Wachira (1:09:55 half marathon ‘21) and Kenneth Kiprop Renju, the 2022 Kenyan 10,000 m national champion and a 58:35 half-marathoner, both for steroid use.

Just in the month of October, the AIU has so far posted suspensions of six Kenyan runners!

● Cycling ● The UCI announced that 49 riders will contest the 2022 women’s national road championships of Afghanistan, which will take place on Sunday (23rd) in Aigle, Switzerland.

Given the situation in Afghanistan, where the Taliban government continues to restrict women’s sports, the UCI is organizing the event with the Afghan federation, the Tour de Pays de Vaud and the Commune of Aigle, to start and finish at the UCI World Cycling Centre, with two laps of 28.5 km route (57 km total).

Afghan women now living in Switzerland, Italy, France, Germany, Canada and Singapore have entered. The UCI said that it, working with other partners, was able to get 165 Afghans out of the country and re-settled.

● Football ● Swiss federal prosecutors filed an appeal against the dismissal of corruption charges against former FIFA President Sepp Blatter (SUI) and UEFA President Michel Platini (FRA).

This was a major case in the football world, at the end of a seven-year inquiry. The prosecutors contended that a 2011 payment, arranged by Blatter and paid by FIFA, to Platini of CHF 2.0 million (about $1.99 million U.S.) for “consulting services” was fraudulent, but judges at the Swiss Criminal Court said last July they saw no wrongdoing in the arrangement.

Prosecutors have asked that the verdict “be set aside in its entirety.”

● Sport Climbing ● The Associated Press reported that the head of the Iranian National Olympic Committee said climber Elnaz Rekabi will not face any disciplinary measures since her failure to hear a headscarf was “unintentional.”

“It’s a small issue. I’m surprised that it is being talked about so much,” said Iranian Olympic Committee President Mahmoud Khosravi Vafa, on the sidelines of the ANOC General Assembly in Seoul.

● Swimming ● USA Swimming announced its team for the 2022 FINA World 25 m (Short Course) Championships to be held from 13-18 December in Melbourne.

The roster shows 15 men and 16 women, including defending Short Course individual champions Shaine Casas (men’s 100 m Back), Nic Fink (men’s 50-200 m Breast) and Rhyan White (women’s 200 m Back).

Familiar Olympic stars such as Ryan Murphy (four Backstroke golds), Lilly King (two Olympic Breast golds in Rio, three Tokyo medals), Michael Andrew (Tokyo relay gold), Hali Flickinger (two Tokyo bronzes), Torri Huske (Tokyo relay silver) and several more are on the team.

Andrew is entered in five individual events and Casas in four; sprinter Claire Curzan has the heaviest women’s workload with five events.

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TSX REPORT: IOC’s Bach insists sanctions continue on Russia and Belarus; 45,000 volunteers for Paris 2024; Seoul wants the 2036 Olympic Games

By
Rich Perelman
-
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER) speaking to the ANOC General Assembly (Photo: IOC/Greg Martin).

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Bach urges continuation of sanctions vs. Russia and Belarus
2. Paris 2024 projects 45,000 volunteers for Olympics & Paralympics
3. Korea leaks start of bid effort for the 2036 Olympic Games
4. Koreans furious over Asian Cup 2023 loss to Qatar
5. “Diana is completely guilty. I am sorry.”

In his keynote address to the Association of National Olympic Committees General Assembly in Seoul, Korea, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER) asserted that unity is the key to survival for international sport, and that means no changes in the IOC’s requested ban on Russian and Belarusian athlete participation in international events. The Paris 2024 organizing committee announced its staffing plan, to use a remarkably sane 30,000 volunteers for the Olympic Games and another 15,000 for the Paralympics, for a total of 45,000; applications will open next March. With the ANOC General Assembly in Seoul, it was leaked that the Korean Olympic Committee will begin efforts to attract the 2036 Olympic Games back to the country, which hosted the Games in 1988 and the Winter Games in 2018. A Korean bid to get the 2023 Asian Cup football championship lost to Qatar and the Korean Football Association railed against an “aggressive attempt to grab control of Asian football” by well-funded Middle Eastern countries. The former agent for now-suspended-for-doping Diana Kipyokei, the Kenyan winner of the women’s Boston Marathon in 2021 told LetsRun.com that “Diana is completely guilty.”

1.
Bach urges continuation of sanctions vs. Russia and Belarus

“I regret that I have to begin by addressing the position of the Olympic Movement with regards to the war in Ukraine.”

That was the start of a lengthy address by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER) to the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) General Assembly, meeting in Seoul (KOR) on Wednesday, in which he insisted that sanctions be continued against Russia and Belarus.

“[T]he situation is unique because of the consequences this war has for the sports world: Some governments are interfering in your autonomy. Some governments are interfering in the autonomy of world sport and with this jeopardising the integrity of international sport competitions. …

“We sanctioned the Russian and Belarusian governments by recommending that the International Federation do not organise any international sport events in Russia or Belarus. We recommended furthermore that no national symbols whatsoever of these countries should be displayed at any sport events.

“By recently annexing Ukrainian territory, the Russian government has even deepened its violation of the Olympic Charter.

“This annexation means that the Russian government is claiming authority over the people living in the annexed areas, including athletes. This is a clear violation of the jurisdiction of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, which is protected by the Olympic Charter.

“All this means for us: the sanctions against the Russian and Belarusian states and governments must and will remain firmly in place.”

But he also made his continuing case to hold athletes blameless:

“On the other hand we had to ensure the integrity of international sport competitions and protect our autonomy by taking protective measures. Therefore we recommended as a principle not to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials to take part in international competitions.

“We needed to do so, because we had to realise that some governments were starting to interfere in the responsibility of sports organisations. We had to react because the autonomy of sport and the functioning of the international sports system is at stake. Governments were and are undermining our autonomy by deciding who would be allowed to participate in international competitions – and who not.

“Some of you here are experiencing this interference first-hand: governments not issuing visas to Russian and Belarusian athletes.

“Some governments threatening your athletes to withdraw funding if they were to compete against Russian or Belarusian competitors.

“Some prohibiting athletes from participating in such competitions.

“Some governments pressuring your athletes and you through public opinion.

“This is why we had to take these protective measures. We did so with a very heavy heart – because they concern athletes and sports officials who did not start this war, who are not responsible for this war. Athletes should never be the victims of policies of their own government. …

“We had to protect the international sports system from the full politicisation of sport. Because: today it is Russia and Belarus. But if we let politics take over sport then tomorrow it will be you.”

He trashed the idea that the sanctions are a politicization of sport itself and declared:

“The reasons for the sanctions as well as for the protective measures still exist: this is not the time to change any of our sanctions or protective measures. …

“Keep following the sanctions and protective measures. Do not do less, because doing less means you divide the Olympic Movement. Do not do more, because doing more means you divide the Olympic Movement.”

And he also chided those who have asked for Russian and Belarusian sports officials to be sanctioned as well:

“This war has not been started by the Russian people, the Russian athletes, the Russian Olympic Committee or the IOC Members in Russia. Sanctions can and must only be imposed on those who are responsible for something.

“Imagine where the precedence of such a breach of the rule of law would lead to. Every individual, every athlete, every sports official, every sports organisation would have to be punished for any illegitimate political action of their governments.”

While reminding the delegates of the IOC’s impressive financial stability, he also warned against an uncertain future:

“Therefore each one of you has to be prudent. It is in your own interest to now look into all your actions and now set clear priorities. Review now all your planned activities and decide whether every event, every competition, every meeting is really necessary given the precarious situation the world economy is and will be facing.”

He also reminded the assembly of the IOC’s primary goals as regards the Olympic Games, to be illustrated by Paris 2024:

“The Olympic Games Paris 2024 will mark the beginning of a new era: Olympic Games inspired by and aligned with Olympic Agenda from start to finish.

“They will be more inclusive, more youthful, more urban, more sustainable and the very first with full gender parity.”

The heads of the Russian and Belarusian National Olympic Committees were allowed to be seated in Seoul by ANOC, and a letter from 11 NOCs contesting their attendance was cordially received and dismissed.

2.
Paris 2024 projects 45,000 volunteers for Olympics & Paralympics

The Paris 2024 organizers unveiled their volunteer program for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, with 45,000 staff expected to be used in all,

About 30,000 are projected to be needed for the Olympic Games and another 15,000 for the Paralympics, with recruitment to begin with an online questionnaire, in March of 2023. The requirements are simple enough:

● You must be at least 18 years old as of 1 January 2024;

● Speak English or French;

● Be available during the entire duration of either the Olympic or Paralympic Games and commit to 10 days of work;

● The application portal opens in March 2023 and applicants will be informed of their status beginning in September of 2023.

The volunteer application brochure also characterized the roles that volunteers will play:

● 60% are in “Games experience” roles: greeting, directing, answering questions, driving cars or minibuses or assisting medical staff.

● 35% are in sports performance roles, such as competition assistance, scoring and statistics or doping or medical controls;

● 5% are in accreditation, logistics and technical support roles.

All volunteers will be required to agree to the Olympic and Paralympic Games Volunteer Charter, which “sets out the rights, duties, guarantees, conditions for appeal, role categories and conditions of performance applicable to volunteers.” However, the Charter is not provided in the introductory materials.

Some volunteers could also be asked to assist during Paris 2024 test events. Paris 2024 has further committed to a minimum of 3,000 volunteers with disabilities.

Decathlon, the French sporting goods giant – it has stores in 60 countries – will provide help centers at about 50 stories in France beginning next March, to assist applicants with the volunteer process. They won’t be too upset if someone buys some Paris 2024 merchandise, of course.

Observed: The 45,000 volunteer total for Paris 2024 reflects some careful planning. The Tokyo Games had planned for 80,000 volunteers and ended up with about 70,000 after the postponement, many more than was needed for a closed Games. The Paris organizers were not tempted into a propaganda strike by trying to create an inflated number of staff for 2024 and the 45,000 number for both Games seems quite reasonable.

Busy volunteers are happy volunteers.

Veteran organizers have long heard the truism, “it takes money to use volunteers” and the cost of background checks, meals, transport and logistical support is not to be ignored, especially with a tight budget. The originator of the volunteer concept, the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee for the 1984 Games, had 33,500 volunteers, a few more than Paris is projecting for its Olympic Games, but with 32 sports, compared to 23 in L.A. That speaks well to the efficiency, at least in planning, of the Paris organizers. 

3.
Korea leaks start of bid effort for the 2036 Olympic Games

With much of the Olympic world attending the ANOC General Assembly in Seoul this week, it was the perfect time for a media leak about a 2036 Olympic bid for Korea in advance of a formal announcement next week in Lausanne.

Korea famously hosted the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, with IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch (ESP) working furiously to undercut a possible second consecutive Warsaw Pact boycott of the Games. In the end, Cuba, Ethiopia, Nicaragua, North Korea and a couple of others didn’t come, but a record 159 nations did and the event was considered a success.

The Koreans also successfully hosted the 2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang, even under a possible attack by North Korea, which happily never came. And the Koreans will host the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon.

The newest Korean bid, according to local reports, is supported by 72.8% of Seoul residents in a recent poll.

According to GamesBids.com, many of the 1988 facilities will be used and updated:

“By using university sports properties and private sector investment the Games budget has been estimated at about 5.5 trillion won (USD $3.86 billion) with the largest cost being the Athletes Village which would be subsequently sold.”

Korean site Donga.com noted that city planners believe that with sites outside of Seoul to host nine sports, only two sports facilities (plus the Village) need to be built for a 2036 Games.

The polling data showed respondents expected economic benefits from foreign visitors, improved sports facilities and that Korea’s profile would be enhanced, but also included concerns over costs, the legacy of the new and revamped facilities and traffic.

4.
Koreans furious over Asian Cup 2023 loss to Qatar

A very sound bid from South Korea for the 2023 Asian Cup was passed by as the Asian Football Confederation awarded the event to FIFA World Cup host Qatar on Monday, which will delay the event to January of 2024 for cooler weather.

Korea had not hosted the event since 1960, where Qatar has been host in 1988 and 2011 and the UAE had hosted in 1996 and 2019. After the award to Qatar for 2023 (2024), the Korean Football Association made its view known:

“Even though we are a powerhouse in Asian football, we haven’t had the Asian Cup for 63 years, and we felt that it was a logical thing to bring the Asian Cup to East Asia to ensure more regional balance.

“We thought we had put together a strong bid, based on stadiums, transportation, accommodations and our people’s passion for the sport. But we had a tough battle against Qatar, with their abundant financial, human and material resources. …

“We believe Middle Eastern countries’ aggressive attempt to grab control of Asian football has influenced this decision. Saudi Arabia, which hopes to hold the 2027 Asian Cup, also pledged financial support for the AFC if a Middle Eastern nation won the right to host the 2023 tournament.”

The Korean Yonhap News Agency further reported:

“The KFA noted Qatar had pledged substantial financial backing for the AFC, which has been dealing with some difficulties in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, by way of corporate sponsorship and broadcasting rights fees. Qatar’s plan to use new stadiums built for the 2022 World Cup for the Asian tournament also worked in the country’s favor, the KFA said.”

5.
“Diana is completely guilty. I am sorry”

Stunning reporting by Jonathan Gault of LetsRun.com, with an interview with Italian Gianni Demadonna, the former agent for Kenyan distance runners Diana Kipyokei – the 2021 Boston Marathon winner (for now) – and Betty Wilson Lempus, both of whom were provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit for doping, last Friday.

Demadonna said he was not involved in the doping efforts of either athletes and continued with some pretty frank comments:

“We establish a policy: they have to tell us every time they take a medicine. If they don’t tell us, they are guilty. What can I do? I cannot stay with the athletes. I cannot live with them…After 30 years, I am working this business and nobody can say to me you are not correct or you are doing things that are not correct. I can defend myself always without any problem. I am so, so sad about this situation that spoiled my name and spoiled the name of [clean] athletes that are doing their own training – not with something else. …

“I don’t know if she’s afraid of consequences. But as far as we understood, she was trying to cheat us…She gave us some stories, and we said, sorry, but you changed three times the name of the doctor. …

“Diana is completely guilty. I am sorry. She has done something very bad.”

He has discontinued his representation of both athletes, but also noted that the incentive is more than to simple cheat: it’s to win. He noted that the difference between the winner’s purse at Boston in 2021 and 10th place was $150,000 vs. $5,500, “so it’s true that with one race you can change your life.”

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Football ● The quarterfinals are set at the 2022 FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup in India, with Colombia winning Group C and Japan finished 3-0 in Group D.

In the elimination round on Saturday, Colombia (2-1-0) will play Tanzania (1-1-1) and Japan (3-0) will face Spain (2-1-0). The U.S. (2-0-1), winner of Group A, will play Nigeria (2-1), and Germany (3-0) will play Brazil (2-0-1), on Friday. The semis are on the 26th.

● Shooting ● China is dominating the ISSF World Championships in Rifle and Pistol being held in Cairo (EGY), with 20 golds and 43 total medals so far in senior and junior competitions.

In the senior 25 m Pistol, an Olympic event for women, Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist Jiaruixuan Xiao moved up to the top of the podium, with a 575-573 victory over India’s Rhythm Sangwan, with fellow Chinese star Yan Chen (572) third.

The men’s 25 m Pistol is not an Olympic event, but Rio 2016 men’s Rapid-Fire Pistol gold medalist Christian Reitz (GER) won his third career World Championships silver in the men’s final, won by Ukraine’s Pavlo Korostylov, 582-575.

Reitz came back to score a gold in the 25 m Standard Pistol Mixed Team event with Doreen Vannekamp – the 2018 Worlds bronze winner – with a 17-5 win over Korea.

In other non-Olympic events, Serbia’s Damir Mikec outscored China’s Bowen Zhang for the men’s 50 m Pistol gold, with China’s Ranxin Jiang defeated Austria’s Sylvia Steiner, 550-543 for the women’s title.

Swiss Jan Lochenbihler won the 50 m Rifle/Prone title by 631.0 to 630.6 over China’s Yukun Liu, and the U.S. duo of Sagen Maddalena and Ivan Roe won the 50 m Rifle/Prone Mixed Team gold by 16-8 over Ukraine.

Competition continues through the 27th.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Association of National Olympic Committees ● The ANOC General Assembly program in Seoul also included the ANOC Awards, given for the best performances at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games:

● Best Male Athlete of Beijing 2022: Dae-heon Hwang (KOR), gold medalist in the men’s Short Track 1,500 m, and men’s 5,000 m relay silver medalist.

● Best Female Athlete of Beijing 2022: Eileen Gu (CHN), gold medalist in the Freestyle Skiing Big Air and Halfpipe and silver medalist in Slopestyle.

● Best Male Team of Beijing 2022: Sweden Men’s Curling Team (represented by Daniel Wilhelm Magnusson).

● Best Female Team of Beijing 2022: Canada’s Women’s Ice Hockey Team (represented by Ann-Renee Desbiens).

● Best Mixed Team of Beijing 2022: Nick Baumgartner and Lindsay Jacobellis (USA), gold medalists in the Snowboard Mixed Team Cross.

● Outstanding Athletic Career: Sven Kramer (NED), nine-time Winter Olympic medal winner in speed skating, with victories in 2010 (5,000 m), 2014 (5,000 m, Team Pursuit) and 2018 (5,000 m), plus two silvers and three bronzes in five Winter Olympic appearances.

Other awards were given to the Chinese Olympic Committee for its contribution to the Winter Games and to Craig Reedie (GBR) for his contribution to the Olympic Movement as the President of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

● 2020 Olympic Games: Tokyo ● New charges surfaced in the Tokyo 2020 sponsorship bribery scandal, as the ADK Holdings advertising agency saw its president arrested for monies transferred to then-Tokyo 2020 Executive Committee member Haruyuki Takahashi.

ADK President Shinichi Ueno, 68, and two other ADK staff members were detained on charges that the agency paid Takahashi ¥47 million (~$313,683 U.S.) for his influence to get a sponsor to select the agency as its marketing agent.

ADK is the fifth entity accused of paying bribes to Takahashi, a former senior director of ad giant Dentsu and a key marketing advisor for the Tokyo organizers. The so-far-disclosed total of the bribes paid has passed ¥196 million or about $1.31 million U.S.

● Curling ● USA Curling chief executive Jeff Plush joined the organization in 2020, after serving as the Commissioner of the National Women’s Soccer League from 2015-17. Having been mentioned unfavorably in the U.S. Soccer Federation-commissioned report by former Deputy U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates for a lack of response in the widespread NWSL abuse scandal, elements of the U.S. curling federation are now questioning his continued service.

The USA Curling Board of Directors reviewed the Yates Report and did its own inquiry on Plush’s involvement, issuing a statement of support, stating it “is confident in Jeff’s ability to continue as an effective leader of the organization.”

Eight of the 12 members (and three former members) of the federation’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force feel Plush should be removed. The Athletes Advisory Council is withholding comment until an ongoing investigation by the NWSL Players Association is completed.

● Football ● “Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang … we will demolish it and rebuild according to FIFA standards.”

That was Indonesian President Joko Widodo after a meeting with FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) in the aftermath of the stampede at the Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang (INA) on 1 October. The incident, following a league football match, saw at least 132 die, with 96 seriously injured, and 484 with lesser injuries.

A government report noted multiple errors that contributed to the deadly situation, including more spectators than the facility could hold, locked exit doors, the holding of the match at night instead of in daylight (as requested by police) and the indiscriminate use of tear gas.

Indonesia is to host the 2023 FIFA men’s U-20 World Cup next May, an event that will draw considerably less interest than the rivalry match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya, where the tragedy occurred.

● Gymnastics ● The Netherlands became the seventh national gymnastics federation to remove itself from the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique Congress in Istanbul (TUR) over the presence of Russian and Belarusian officials. Dutch Gymnastics Federation President Monique Kempff wrote:

“We support the position of European gymnastics, which has unanimously refused to communicate with the Russian and Belarusian gymnastics federations as the brutal, genocidal Russian war in Ukraine continues. As long as Russia continues this war, it is impossible to involve Russian athletes and officials in international sports. We hope that this war will end as soon as possible and that we can all be part of the Olympic Community in peace.”

● Sport Climbing ● The protests in Iran over the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, on 16 September, while in police custody after being arrested for “allegedly wearing her headscarf too loosely,” have now become an issue in Sport Climbing.

Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi, 33, competed at the Asian Climbing Championships in Seoul (KOR) on 16 October and did not wear the headscarf (hijab) required by Iranian law. An AIPS report noted:

“By deciding not to compete wearing a headscarf, an obligation since the Iranian Revolution in 1979, Rekabi made a strong statement in defiance of the restrictions for female athletes in her country, but now could face prosecution if she chooses to return to Iran.”

On Tuesday, a statement from Rekabi on her Instagram page included, “I must comment on the sensitivities that happened during the Asian Championships finals held in Seoul; due to improper timing and an unpredictable call for me to climb the wall, I unintentionally had a problem with my headcover.”

The International Federation of Sport Climbing posted a statement on Tuesday:

“The International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) is fully aware of the news regarding Iranian athlete Elnaz Rekabi.

“There is a lot of information in the public sphere regarding Ms Rekabi and as an organisation we have been trying to establish the facts. We have also been in contact with Ms Rekabi and the Iranian Climbing Federation.

“Our understanding is that she is returning to Iran, and we will continue to monitor the situation as it develops on her arrival.

“It is important to stress that athletes’ safety is paramount for us and we support any efforts to keep a valued member of our community safe in this situation.”

A Wednesday IFSC statement confirmed that Rekabi had returned home to Iran and was with her family, including:

“A joint meeting took place in Seoul, South Korea, today, between the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the IFSC, and the Iranian National Olympic Committee, during which the IOC and the IFSC received clear assurance that Ms Rekabi will not suffer any consequences and will continue to train and compete. After the meeting, a phone conversation also took place between her, the IOC, the IFSC, and the Iranian National Olympic Committee.

“The IFSC, in close coordination with the IOC, the Iranian National Olympic Committee, and the IMSCF, will continue monitoring the situation and will wait for her to return to the IFSC circuit of events at the beginning of the 2023 season.”

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TSX REPORT: Long’s Berlin ‘36 Olympic silver sells for $488,435; Qatar ready for 2022, gets major 2023 event; Takahashi to be arrested for fourth time!

By
Rich Perelman
-
The Berlin 1936 victory ceremony for the men's long jump (1-r): Japan's Naoto Tajima, winner Jesse Owens (USA) and German silver medalist Luz Long (Photo: Bundesarchiv via Wikipedia)

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

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Luz Long’s Berlin long jump silver sells for $488,435
2. Qatar 2022 ready to go with a month remaining; ‘23 Asian Cup to Qatar
3. Takahashi to be arrested for fourth time on bribery charges
4. Modern Pentathlon federation and athlete group talking … sort of
5. Mauritius swimmer suspended for three years for “disrespectful words”

The silver medal won by German Luz Long at the 1936 Berlin Olympic long jump, behind American star Jesse Owens, sold at auction for $488,435 over the weekend, along with 31 other items that belonged to Long. FIFA and the Qatar World Cup organizers said they are ready to go with a month remaining, with Qatar awarded the Asian Cup for 2023 (to be held in January 2024). Former Tokyo 2020 Executive Committee member Haruyuki Takahashi will be arrested for a fourth time on bribery suspicions related to sponsor selection for the Tokyo Games. The international federation for modern pentathlon and the athlete group Pentathlon United are communicating – at least – and appear to be ready to meet to discuss their differences; the future of their sport on the Olympic program for 2028 depends on it. An 18-time national record setter for Mauritius was suspended for three years for “gross misconduct” at last summer’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. He can’t believe it.

1.
Luz Long’s Berlin long jump silver sells for $488,435

The hammer came down on Saturday (15th) on a remarkable piece of Olympic memorabilia: German Luz Long’s Olympic silver medal in the Berlin 1936 Olympic long jump, where he finished second to American icon (and friend) Jesse Owens.

SCP Auctions offered a trove of Long items, but the centerpiece was his Olympic silver. The opening bid was $50,000 and the item was expected to go for between $500,000-1,000,000 and very nearly got there. Owens’ 1936 long jump gold sold for $1,466,574 in 2013.

All 32 of the items in the Long archive sold; beyond the Berlin silver, the highest-prices sales went for (including the buyer’s premium):

● $6,684 for Long’s Berlin 1936 identification card;

● $4,147 for Long’s Berlin 1936 participant’s badge (and ribbon);

● $3,691 for the 1936 German national long jump championships gold medal;

● $2,339 for Long’s German passport for 1935-40;

● $2,185 for a set of six Berlin 1936 photos of Long and Owens.

Long’s 1938 European Championships third-place medal and participant’s medal sold for a $600. Seven of the items went for the minimum bid prices, but for all 32 to sell was impressive.

2.
Qatar 2022 ready to go with a month remaining;
‘23 Asian Cup to Qatar

The FIFA World Cup organizers in Qatar are busy and will remain busy after the tournament ends on 18 December with a major new tournament coming in 2024. But at a news conference on Monday, FIFA and the organizing committee said they are ready. Per FIFA’s Chief Operating Officer/World Cup, Colin Smith (GBR):

“We operate over 168 official sites through the compact nature of Qatar, and each one of these sites is essential to the running and successful delivery of this World Cup. Way beyond testing the eight stadiums, the volunteers and accreditation centres are now fully operational, with the ticketing centre at the [Doha Exhibition and Convention Center] opening tomorrow and the [International Broadcast Center] and Main Media Centre to follow.

“I can only reiterate FIFA’s confidence and deep appreciation for all the work behind delivering the best FIFA World Cup ever in just over one month’s time.”

Ticket sales have reached 2.89 million and accommodations are still being added for visitors. The strong ticket demand has been from Qatar, the U.S.,, Saudi Arabia, England, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, France, Brazil, and Germany. Sales of hospitality packages have reached a record 240,000, with 63% purchased by international buyers.

On Sunday, the organizers announced that between 1.5 and 1.7 million people have applied for the required Hayya Card, required of all visitors to Qatar during the World Cup period. The card is a sort of omnibus credential incorporating a visa, match ticket (if purchased), transport pass and allows access to some fan zones.

Qatar has a resident population of about 2.99 million, but expects a million total visitors for the FIFA World Cup, which started on 20 November.

But while the World Cup will end on 18 December, the work will continue as Qatar was awarded the 2023 Asian Cup, originally assigned to China, but re-awarded in view of China’s ultra-strict anti-Covid policies.

Qatar beat out bids from Indonesia and South Korea for the 18th Asian Cup, held quadrennially, with 24 teams. In view of the hot weather, the 2023 event is projected to be held beginning on 24 January 2024. It will be the third Asian Cup in Qatar, after 1988 and 2011, and Qatar is the reigning champion from 2019.

3.
Takahashi to be arrested for fourth time on bribery charges

The Tokyo 2020 sponsorship bribery scandal will see a fourth arrest warrant served on former organizing committee executive board member Haruyuki Takahashi, according to Kyodo News.

Takahashi has already been arrested on bribery allegations involving Olympic sponsorship designations for clothier Aoki Holdings, publisher Kadokawa Corporation, Daiko Advertising as an agent for an English-language school operator and now for Sun Arrow, Inc., a maker of plush toys. Per Kyodo:

“Haruyuki Takahashi, 78, who has been at the center of a growing corruption scandal over the selection of Summer Games sponsors, is believed to have received a total of 8 million yen ($54,000) in cash from stuffed toy maker Sun Arrow Inc., the sources said.”

The total amount of money funneled to Takahashi, either directly or through third parties, is estimated at more than $1 million. Takahashi has admitted receiving money for consulting services, but denied these were bribes.

The companies paid Takahashi, a former senior director of the Japanese advertising giant Dentsu, for his assistance in obtaining not only the designation as an “Official Supporter” or licensee, but at favorable terms.

4.
Modern Pentathlon federation and athlete group talking … sort of

You have to start somewhere. The Pentathlon United athlete group has been asking for a serious, face-to-face discussion with the leadership of the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) about its plans to replace riding with obstacle course racing.

In the aftermath of a clear statement from International Olympic Committee Sports Director Kit McConnell (NZL) that it is well aware of the Pentathlon United group, the UIPM appears to be moving toward a meeting.

However, instead of simply asking for preferred dates and locations, UIPM Legal Council Fulvia Lucantonio (ITA) sent a message on 11 October asking for Pentathlon United’s legal status, whether its leadership is elected and a list of its members. As for location, only Monaco was offered.

Better than nothing, so Pentathlon United sent back a next-day letter to UIPM Secretary General Shiny Fang (CHN), characterizing Lucantonio’s message as “legalistic and not constructive, which is a shame because dialogue is essential.”

After describing the group as a free association of hundreds of pentathletes, with no legal or elected structure, that is dissatisfied with the UIPM:

“The very reason Pentathlon United was formed and continues to exist was that the UIPM had lost the trust and respect of their athletes. If UIPM appropriately engaged the community that it is supposed to represent, then Pentathlon United would not exist.

“UIPM’s response to Pentathlon United ha varied between ignoring, denying, insulting and threatening our movement. … PU’s letter of 26 August 2022 raised questions that are critically important to the modern pentathlon community. You ignored them and did not reply, despite repeated requests.”

Pentathlon United’s letter further states that it is ready to meet in Monaco, subject to (1) a list of attendees is confirmed ahead of the meeting, including UIPM President Klaus Schormann (GER) in person, (2) that Pentathlon United “is allowed to provide a proposed agenda” and that sufficient time for discussion is allowed, and that (3) the meeting “is video recorded with a time code.”

Pentathlon United has asked for three dates to be offered, and is willing to have the meeting to open to news media if the UIPM is “amenable.”

That was from 12 October, but as of Monday evening, no reply had been made by the UIPM.

Observed: A meeting between the federation and the athlete group is important and critical to the sport having any chance to be reinstated on the program of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

As the riding vs. obstacle debate has completely dominated the discussion, the IOC’s other, crucial questions to the sport appear to have been poorly addressed, if at all. Beyond the question of the fifth discipline, IOC chief Thomas Bach (GER) said last December that the sport “demonstrate a significant reduction in cost and complexity and show improvements in safety, accessibility, universality and appeal for youth.”

Those issues must be addressed if modern pentathlon is to have a chance for 2028. That the two sides are on the verge of talking face-to-face is a positive, if overdue, development.

5.
Mauritius swimmer suspended for three years for
“disrespectful words”

In Mauritius, apparently, small actions can have large consequences.

The National Olympic Committee of Mauritius, an island nation of about 1.3 million in the Indian Ocean located 1,200 miles off the southeast coast of Africa, has suspended 2016 Olympian and 18-time national record setter Bradley Vincent for three years. Per the announcement:

“This decision was taken upon the submission of the Disciplinary Committee, which was held on 05 October 2022. The Disciplinary Committee found that both charges which were leveled against Bradley Vincent established by the [Mauritius Olympic Committee]. He was found liable of gross misconduct for having used disrespectful words against the representative of the Commonwealth Games Association Mauritius and having negligently and/or recklessly failed to attend the flag raising ceremony, during the recent Commonwealth Games, in Birmingham.”

Three fellow swimmers – Gregory Anodin, Tessa Ip and Alicia Kok Shun – received a “severe warning” after also missing the flag-raising ceremony, but blamed transportation difficulties.

Vincent, 30, a two-time African Championships Freestyle medal winner, denies the charge of misconduct:

“I did not dope, nor made racist or discriminatory remarks. However, I am suspended for three years. Athletes found guilty of doping or acts of discrimination, which are much more serious, from a sporting point of view, have less severe sanctions or are suspended for less than three years.”

He described the incident of “using disrespectful language against a member of the Commonwealth Games Association Mauritius” as innocent:

“There were other people on the bus who can be questioned. I simply asked what had happened with the £100 which was to be given to the sportsmen as pocket money. Because the others had already received the money. I asked the person who was in charge of the village where we were staying about the swimmers’ pocket money. It was completely legitimate to ask him for such information.”

Vincent said he does not have the money to appeal the sanction to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and hopes the Mauritius NOC will reconsider.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Football ● The U.S. women’s U-17 national team stomped Morocco, 4-0, in its final group-stage match at the 2022 FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup being played in India.

Charlotte Kohler’s goal in the 24th minute was the only first-half scoring, but Samantha Smith made it 2-0 in the 68th minute, Kohler got a second in the 73rd and Smith scored again in the 81st for the 4-0 final.

The win gave the U.S. a 2-0-1 record and first place in Group A with a 13-1 goals-against record. Brazil was also 2-0-1 and outscored its opponents by 7-1.

Germany (3–0) won Group B, and the other final group matches will be played on Tuesday. The U.S. will meet Nigeria (2-1-0) in the quarters on the 21st.

● Shooting ● The ISSF World Championships for Rifle and Pistol roll on in Cairo (EGY), with finals in the Mixed Team events for both disciplines.

China’s Yuting Huang – the women’s silver medalist – and Haoran Yang – on the Tokyo gold medalist team – won the Mixed Team 10 m Air Rifle title over Korea, by 16-6, while Austria’s Sylvia Steiner and Richard Zechmeister took the Mixed Team 10 m Air Pistol gold, also by 16-6, again over Korea.

In the non-Olympic women’s 50 m Rifle/Prone, Germany’s Jolyn Beer won with 627.0 points, to 626.7 for Sarina Hitz (SUI) and 625.7 for American Mary Tucker. Competition continues through the 27th.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Volleyball ● The International Volleyball Federation announced that future editions of the quadrennial World Championships for men and women will be expanded to 32 teams and eliminate the odd advancement formulas used this year.

In the men’s Worlds won by Italy in Poland in September, 24 teams competed in six groups of four, with the top two in each pool advancing to the round of 16, along with four of the six third-placed teams. This led to some complex tie-breakers, down to the ratio of points scored vs. points allowed.

The just-completed women’s Worlds, won by Serbia in the Netherlands, had 24 teams in four pools of six, with the top four advancing into a second round of round-robin play, with two groups of eight. The top four in each advance to the quarterfinals.

Now, with 32 teams, eight groups of four will play round-robin matches and the top two teams from each pool will advance to the elimination round of 16. Simple, and therefore better.

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TSX REPORT: Cycling doping drug now popular with Kenyan runners; France worries about Paris ‘24 transport; $9 million grant to build San Jose State track

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

★ Want TheSportsExaminer.com insights for your team? Yes! Click here for info on speaking, research and consulting from editor Rich Perelman. ★

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

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Boston ‘21 women’s champ Kipyokei latest user of favored cycling drug
2. French government sounds alarm on Paris ‘24 transport planning
3. Huntington University separates from two more in abuse scandal
4. California gives $9 million for new San Jose State track
5. India’s two-time Olympic medalist Kumar called with murder

An alarming report from the Athletics Integrity Unit announced a provisional suspension of 2021 Boston Marathon winner Diana Kipyogei of Kenya due to a positive test for triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid which has suddenly shown up in a dozen cases, all from Kenya. The French Transport Minister told reporters that he is concerned about the lack of progress in public planning for the transport needs of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. A new committee has been set up to find solution, but the Paris regional transport director complained her agency needed more money. Huntington University, reeling from a lawsuit alleging sexual assault and doping by its distance coaches, released the two coaches who had been put on leave (with the third already dismissed). The school announced an outside review of its Title IX procedures and student safety program. The State of California gave $9 million for San Jose State to help start up a new track & field facility and a community center at the San Clara County Fairgrounds, a project expected to cost $25 million in all. The 1969 NCAA team champions, San Jose State eliminated its men’s program from 1988-2017 and demolished its track facility in 2019. India’s Sushil Kumar won two Olympic medals in wrestling in 2008 and 2012 and a world title at 66 kg, but is now charged with 17 others in the murder of a former junior wrestling champion. He and his fellow defendants have pled not guilty.

Plus world championships reports in track cycling, football, sailing, shooting and volleyball.

1.
Boston ‘21 women’s champ Kipyokei
latest user of favored cycling drug

Kenyan Diana Kipyogei won the Covid-delayed 2021 Boston Marathon women’s division in October of that year, ahead of countrywoman (and 2017 winner) Edna Kiplagat, 2:24:45 to 2:25:09.

On Friday, the Athletics Integrity Unit provisionally suspended Kipyogei and fellow Kenyan women’s marathoner Betty Wilson Lempus for doping violations following investigations for “Adverse Analytical Findings (AAF) for metabolites of triamcinolone acetonide in samples they provided during in-competition tests last year.”

Kipyogei’s Boston Marathon sample came back positive for triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid used for treat skin conditions. It’s used in the over-the-counter nasal spray Nasacort. She was also charged with “obstructing or delaying the AIU’s investigation through the provision of false information or documentation.”

If proved, Kipyogei would lose her Boston Marathon title, which was her third career marathon and second win, after the Istanbul Marathon in 2020, where she set her lifetime best of 2:22:06. She has been more active as a half-marathoner, with a best of 67:07 from 2018.

Lempus’ positive – also for f triamcinolone acetonide – came in September 2021, after winning the Harmonie Mutuelle Semi de Paris half marathon in a speedy 1:05:46, moving her to no. 12 on the world list for last year. She was initially cleared by the French anti-doping agency, but has now been charged with tampering via providing false information.

Glucocorticoids such as triamcinolone acetonide are banned in competition “because, when administered via prohibited routes, there is clear evidence of systemic effects which could potentially enhance performance and be harmful to health.” They can be used with a Therapeutic Use Exemption, which neither Kipyogei or Lempus had.

The AIU sounded the alarm on the widening use of triamcinolone acetonide among Kenyan athletes:

“The cases announced today are part of a recent trend in Kenyan athletics regarding triamcinolone acetonide, with ten Kenyan athletes testing positive for that prohibited substance between 2021 and 2022.

“Within the same time period in athletics globally, there have been just two positive triamcinolone acetonide AAFs [adverse findings] for athletes from all other countries.

“In the four years from 2017 to 2020, there were only three Kenyan AAFs for triamcinolone acetonide. Yesterday, the AIU announced that it had banned Mark Kangogo – the initial winner of the Sierre-Zinal 2022 mountain race in Switzerland – for three years for the presence of triamcinolone acetonide in his sample. In addition to the Kipyokei, Lempus and Kangogo cases, the AIU currently has four open investigations into AAFs for triamcinolone acetonide for Kenyan athletes; with two matters pending with [Anti-Doping Kenya].”

Matt Lawton, Chief Sports Correspondent for The Times (London) noted that this same drug has long been part of doping in cycling, including by disgraced American star Lance Armstrong during his win at the 1999 Tour de France and Britain’s David Millar, the two-time World Time Trial Championships silver medalist. Lawton’s follow-up tweet included:

“Triamcinolone the new go-to drug in distance running. Difference is, @aiu_athletics are taking the time to investigate if an athlete really has a [medical] need for it.”

2.
French government sounds alarm on Paris ‘24 transport planning

The French Transport Minister Clement Beaune told reporters during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Day that the government has work to do on the mobility planning for the 2024 Olympic Games:

“We have to be honest, we are behind on our accessibility objectives for transport and stations in particular. …

“We’re not ahead at all, we have to work twice as hard. We have to speed up. The Olympic and Paralympic Games are an opportunity for the month of the Games to reinforce things and to show that we are also capable of having innovative solutions, because we cannot make everything accessible immediately.”

Beaune has formed a “Strategic Mobility Committee” to find solutions, and mentioned expanded taxi or shuttle services, but this is contrary to Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s preference to remove vehicles from the streets, not add them.

During the following week, Beaune reiterated his concern as the new committee met, saying:

“If the Olympic Games took place today, I’m not sure that we would be at the level of international standards. The objective is therefore to identify areas for improvement in the logic of the athletes’ journey, from the airport to the Olympic sites, via the city centre.”

He was immediately challenged on costs by Valerie Pecresse, the President of Ile-de-France Mobilite (IDFM), the regional transport authority that actually runs services in the Paris region, who stated that the costs of added transport services for the 2024 Games is estimated at €150 million (about $150 million U.S. today):

“150 million euros is 3 additional euros for the Navigo [public transport] pass. You can imagine that we cannot ask Ile-de-France residents to pay 3 euros more, in order to finance the Olympic Games for tourists. You must not send me back, saying that I can do everything on my own. It’s not true, it’s not what the law provides.”

Beaune said he is all for cooperation, but later in the day added:

“I remain in a spirit of partnership and cooperation. But the organization of transport in Ile-de-France is the region and IDFM. Obviously, the state cannot ignore it. We can be a support and a help. And I’m open to all leads. But we must be clear. It is the region that must manage and organize a budget.”

Observed: For the Paris 2024 Olympic organizers, this is a headache that they could do without. At its best, an organizing committee can bring people together and try to work out solutions that benefit everyone, at least enough to get through the Games.

But with ticket revenue of the IDFM down significantly due to the pandemic and fuel costs, and the French government already providing a €2 billion loan to the transit authority, a bail-out is not the government’s preferred solution. And Pecresse does not want to see the price of a monthly, all-zones Navigo pass rise from the current €75.20 to perhaps €100 a month!

That could start another French Revolution.

The Paris 2024 organizers do not control the transit systems, but they need them to work to make the Games function, and the increased attention to the Paralympic Games puts new pressures for better accommodations for the physically challenged. And that will cost more money.

3.
Huntington University separates from two more in abuse scandal

A Sunday statement from Huntington University (Huntington, Indiana) announced that Lauren Johnson and Curtis Hines, two coaches named – along with the already-dismissed Nick Johnson – in a sexual abuse lawsuit filed 30 September, “were placed on administrative leave on October 6, 2022, and will no longer be affiliated with the University’s women’s running program.”

The statement noted:

“[W]e were devastated and heartbroken when University leadership were made aware of the allegations included in a civil lawsuit filed on September 30, 2022, against three now formerly affiliated University employees, as well as against the University, and Board of Trustees. Following this discovery many have voiced concern, and we want you to know that we hear you. These allegations are not only disturbing, but also antithetical to everything we stand for.”

Former coach Nick Johnson is also being removed from the school’s Hall of Fame and the school has commissioned a full review of its Title IX programs:

“The University has now engaged an external review team to provide an independent review of the University’s Title IX and Sexual Misconduct policies and procedures and to provide recommendations regarding changes the University should consider implementing based on legal compliance and/or best practices. …

“The review will also examine the supportive measures used to protect all students, and to promote a culture of trust, integrity, and safety.”

The suit, filed by former Huntington star runners Emma Wilson and Hannah Stoffel, who alleged a “systematic doping program instituted by the Johnson Defendants during their coaching tenure at Huntington University,” and that the University “knew or should have known about the doping program” that the Johnsons were alleged to be involved at the Nike Oregon Project prior to their hirings at Huntington. Further allegations of sexual abuse were made against Nick Johnson, and a request for a jury trial was made.

4.
California gives $9 million for new San Jose State track

A nine-acre track & field and community center at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds to be jointly operated with San Jose State University has gotten a $9 million grant from the State of California for 2023. But this is only the beginning, as the announcement noted:

“Much work still needs to be done to complete the project, which is expected to be completed in phases. The university will work to secure additional funding for the project, with a total estimated cost of $25 million, as well as set out to plan the physical elements of the site, which will include a nine-lane track and field facility (including lighting and utilities), a Legacy Center and community facilities.”

California Assembly Member Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) asked for $25 million for the project, but the award was whittled down to $9 million.

San Jose State’s track & field heritage is centered on the “Speed City” years of the 1960s, starring 1968 Mexico City Olympic winners Tommie Smith (200 m) and Lee Evans (400 m). The Spartans won the 1969 NCAA men’s title under famed coach Bud Winter, with wins from Olympic 200 m bronze winner John Carlos in the 100 and 220 yards and the 440-yard relay, second from Evans in the 440 yards, third in the 100 yards from Ronnie Ray Smith (who won a Mexico City relay gold) and fourth for discus star John Powell.

Smith and Carlos have been immortalized by their raised-fist salute during the victory ceremony for the men’s 200 m, and a “Victory Salute” statue stands at One Washington Square on the San Jose State campus. But the track & field facility they trained on was demolished in 2019 in favor of a parking structure on the campus.

San Jose State closed its men’s track & field program in 1988 in a “reallocation of university resources,” and reinstated it only in 2018. A new track was planned, but has not been built; that’s where the new grant comes in.

5.
India’s two-time Olympic medalist Kumar charged with murder

Olympic athletes are justly lauded for the enormous effort, dedication and sacrifice to achieve their goals. For some, their post-sport careers go awry.

Indian wrestling star Sushil Kumar won a bronze medal in the men’s Freestyle 66 kg class at Beijing 2008 and a silver in London in 2012 in the same weight division. Kumar won the World Championships golds at 66 kg in 2010.

Last Wednesday, Kumar and 17 others were charged in the murder of former Indian junior wrestling champion Sagar Dhankar last May in New Delhi, in a property dispute

Kumar and the others were charged with varying counts of murder, attempted murder, rioting, criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery, wrongful restraint, robbery, robbery and attempting to cause death or grievous hurt and criminal intimidation. ESPN reported:

“The court said that the facts and circumstances in the present case clearly reflected that all the accused persons had conspired to cause abduction and assaulted the victims resulting in the death of Dhankar. The court noted that the main gate of the Chhatrasal Stadium had been locked, many of the accused persons possessed weapons, and the assault continued for around 30-40 minutes. According to the prosecution, after abducting Dhankar and his friends, Sushil and his associates brutally assaulted them.”

The 18 defendants were to have appeared in court on Saturday (15th), but were not produced in person for security reasons; the hearing took place in a lockup facility and all pled not guilty. The trial is slated to begin on 10 November.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Cycling ● The 2022 UCI Track Cycling World Championships concluded on Sunday in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (FRA) with traditional powers Great Britain and the Netherlands leading the medal table with 10 each.

The men’s individual star was Dutch sprinter Harrie Lavreysen, winner of the Sprint – his fourth straight world title in the event – plus the Keirin, where he won his third straight title, and a Team Sprint silver. Teammate Jeffrey Hoogland was also busy, winning the 1 km Time Trial – his third, after wins in 2018 and 2021 – plus a second in the Keirin, and a silver in the Team Sprint as well. Yoeri Havik won the 40 km Points Race for the third Netherlands gold.

Britain was led by Ethan Hayter, who defended his 2021 title in the Omnium, was on the winning Team Pursuit squad and grabbed a silver in the Madison (with Oliver Wood).

Fresh off his world record in the Hour, Filippo Ganna led an Italian 1-2 in the Individual Pursuit, ahead of Jonathan Milan, and those two were also part of Italy’s runner-up squad in the Team Pursuit. Italy scored a second with road veteran Elia Viviani winning the Elimination Race for the second straight year. Ganna won the Pursuit in 3:59.636, a world record, replacing American Ashton Lambie (3:59.930 in 2021).

The home country’s only men’s win came from Donovan Grondin and Benjamin Thomas in the Madison.

The women’s events saw Germany with three wins, and France, Italy and Belgium each took two golds. Germany’s Lea Friedrich won her second straight world title in the Keirin and was on the Team Sprint gold-medalist team with Emma Hinze and Pauline Grabosch. Friedrich also a silver in the Sprint and Hinze won two more medals with a silver in the 500 m Time Trial and a bronze in the Sprint. Franziska Brausse won her third straight medal in the Individual Pursuit: bronze in 2020, silver in 2021 and now gold in 2022.

Mathilde Gros won the sprint for France and Taky Marie-Divine Kouame won the 500 m Time Trial. Belgium got wins from road star Lotte Kopecky in the Elimination Race and she and Shari Bossuyt teamed to win the Madison. Italy’s Marina Fidanza defended her 2021 world crown in the Scratch race and then added a second gold in the Team Pursuit.

Not to be left out of the discussion is American star Jennifer Valente. The Tokyo 2020 gold medalist in the Omnium, she won her first world title in the event in 2022, 118-109, over Maike van der Duin (NED). Valente also won bronzes in the Elimination Race (won by Kopecky) and Points Race, won by Britain’s Neah Evans. Still just 27, Valente now owns 14 career World Championships medals: five gold, four silver and five bronze.

● Football ● Group play continues in Bhubaneswar, India at the FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup, with the U.S. and Brazil playing to a 1-1 tie on Friday (14th) and both with 1-1 records with one game remaining for each.

The U.S. got the lead in the 33rd minute on a score from Nicollette Kiorpes, but Carol Cheves tied the game for Brazil just four minute later and that ended the scoring. The U.S. had 19 shots to 14 for Brazil, but a 7-2 edge on shots-on-goal. The U.S. plays Morocco on Monday and will advance to the finals with a win or a tie.

Germany, now 2-0 in Group B, and Japan – 2-0 in Group D – are the remaining undefeated, untied teams in the tournament.

● Sailing ● Denmark’s Anne-Marie Rindom dominated the 2022 ILC6 Laser Radial Women’s World Championship that concluded Sunday in Galveston Bay off Kemah, Texas.

Rindom, the Tokyo Olympic gold medalist in the Dinghy class (ILCA6), won two of the 12 races, finished second three times and third once on her way to a net of 47.0 points, far ahead of Swiss Maud Jayet (one win, 67.0) and defending champion Emma Plasschaert (BEL: one win, 69.0).

It’s Rindom’s second Laser Radial world title, also in 2015. Erika Reineke was the top American in 10th (97.0).

● Shooting ● Just as soon as the Shotgun World Championships ended, the ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Championships got underway, in Cairo (EGY).

American Alison Weisz, a Tokyo 2020 Olympian, won her first Worlds medal with a gold in the women’s 10 m Air Rifle, with a 16-14 victory in the final over China’s 16-year-old, Yuting Huang. China won the women’s Team event, 16-12, over the U.S. squad, which included Weisz, Sagen Maddalena and Olympic Mixed Team silver winner Mary Tucker.

The men’s 10 m Air Rifle gold was won by India’s Rudrankksh Patil, 17-13, over Italian Danilo Sollazzo. Patil got a second gold as part of the winning 10 m Air Rifle men’s Team entry, which defeated China, 16-10.

China won the men’s and women’s 10 m Air Pistol titles, with Kaiman Lu defeating Greece’s Tokyo silver medalist, Anna Korakaki, 16-10, in the final. The all-Chinese men’s final had Jinyao Liu as the winner, 17-15, over Yifan Zhang.

In the team events, China swept again, winning the women’s title, 16-8, over India, with the men defeating Iran, 16-10 in the final.

The events continue to the 27th.

● Volleyball ● Serbia defended its 2018 title with a 26-24, 25-22, 25-17 sweep of Brazil in the final of the FIVB Women’s World Championship in Apeldoorn (NED).

The Serbs ended 12-0 in the tournament and had a sensational 36-5 record in sets and swept nine of their 12 matches! Forward Tijana Boskovic was named Most Valuable Player and Best Opposite Hitter. Teammate Bojana Drca was named Best Setter and Teodora Pusic was selected as Best Libero.

Brazil’s Gabriela Guimaraes was the co-Best Outside Hitter with Italy’s Miriam Sylla and Ana Carolina da Silva was co-Best Middle Blocker with Italian Anna Danesi.

The Italians won the bronze medal match from the U.S. (the Tokyo Olympic champs) in a shutout, 25-20, 25-15 and 27-25. The American women ended with an 8-4 overall record.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● International Olympic Committee ● The IOC announced on Sunday that it has suspended the National Olympic Committee on Guatemala due to government interference with its operations.

The immediate impact is that IOC financial support to the Guatemalan NOC is frozen. Moreover, “the athletes of Guatemala can no longer represent the country and compete under the country’s flag/name at the Olympic Games and other international multi-sports events.”

The real-life impact of the previously-threatened suspension was the cancellation of the XII Central American Games, which were to have been held from 27 October-11 November in Costa Rica and Guatemala, and a qualifying event for the 2023 Pan American Games.

● South American Games ● The XII South American Games concluded in Asuncion (PAR) on Saturday, after 404 events were held in 34 sports. A total of 4,476 were reported to compete, from 15 nations.

The big winner on the field was Brazil, which won 319 medals (133-100-86), ahead of Colombia (255: 79-78-98) and Argentina (197: 58-65-74). Every country won at least one medal.

● World University Games ● You’re among the elite of multi-sport event followers if you’re aware of the 11-day FISU Americas Games now underway in Merida, Mexico.

About 1,000 athletes are contesting 11 sports: athletics, chess, basketball, judo, futsal, volleyball, table tennis, weightlifting, football, taekwondo, and archery. The 11 participating nations include Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Dominican Republic, United States, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Colombia, El Salvador, and Brazil.

This is the second edition; the first was in 2018 in Sao Paulo (BRA) with 13 countries competing.

● Archery ● The 2022 World Cup Final in Tlaxcala (MEX) saw Tokyo triple gold medalist San An add to her trophy case.

Still just 21, An won the women’s Recurve final in an all-Korean clash with 2015 World Cup Final champ Mi-sun Choi, 6-4, with Chinese Taipei’s Chia-Mao Peng taking the bronze. From 2020-22, An has won the Olympic individual title, World Championships golds in the Women’s Team and Mixed Team events and now the World Cup Final gold.

The men’s Recurve final had three-time World Champion Woo-jin Kim facing Spain’s Miguel Alvarino Garcia, the 2015 European Games gold medalist, with Kim winning by 7-1. It’s the Korean’s fourth World Cup final win after 2012-17-18. Turkey’s Olympic champ Mete Gazoz won the bronze.

● Athletics ● Ethiopian stars dominated Sunday’s Amsterdam Marathon, with 2016 Rio Olympic 10,000 m champion Almaz Ayana, 30, winning the women’s division in the fastest debut marathon ever, in 2:17:20, no. 4 on the world list for 2022.

Running with Ayana was countrywoman Genzebe Dibaba, the 1,500 m world-record holder at 3:50.07 from 2015, who ran with Ayana to 33 km, but then fell back and eventually finished second in her debut marathon in 2:18:05, no. 9 on the year list. Tsegaye Gemechu competed the Ethiopian sweep in third at 2:18:59.

Ayana’s run moves her no. 7 on the all-time list after her first marathon.

The men’s division was won by Ethiopia’s experienced Tsegaye Getachew, running his 10th career marathon and broke away from a pack of five after 40 km to win in a lifetime best of 2:04:49, equal ninth on the 2022 world list.

He led a parade of nine runners who finished under 2:06, with Titus Kipruto second (2:04:54), Bazezew Asmare (ETH) third in 2:04:57. Adeledelew Mamo (ETH) ran 2:05:45 and could get only ninth!

● Football ● The U.S. Women’s National Team lost games on the road to England (2-1) and Spain (2–0), but remained no. 1 in the new FIFA Women’s Rankings!

While the American women remained on top, Sweden jumped Germany for second, with England remaining fourth and France fifth. Spain’s win over the U.S. moved them from eighth to sixth.

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