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THE BIG PICTURE: Team USA Council on Racial Justice asks USOPC to acknowledge it is “expressive of structural racism”

By
Rich Perelman
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“Acknowledge the Organization’s Role in Perpetuating Racial Inequities: The first step in creating antiracist environments devoid of discrimination is to acknowledge that the organizations that make up the Olympic and Paralympic community are expressive of structural racism and other social ills.”

That’s the opening paragraph in the 25-paragraph fourth recommendation of the Team USA Council on Racial and Social Justice, posted Thursday by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.

This was the final set of recommendations for the Council, formed in August 2020 to “provide solutions and recommendations with the aim of eradicating social injustice and cultivating change through strengthened athlete voices.” Thursday’s release was from the eight-member “Racism and Acts of Discrimination” Steering Committee whose mandate was to “enhance reporting and dispute resolution processes.”

The recommendations call for a long list of actions by the USOPC and the allied U.S. National Governing Bodies, including, but not limited to:

● “Demonstrate the Value of Black Athletes Beyond the Field of Play,” including “programs and initiatives that demonstrate their organizational commitment to racially minoritized groups and the value these groups bring to the movements, with a particular focus on the elite level.”

● Conduct a “racial equity audit” which will examine – among other items – “the demographic make-up of the governing bodies (e.g., USOPC, NGBs), units (e.g., Athletes’ Advisory Council, Board of Directors) and stakeholder groups (e.g., coaches, NGB membership) that make up the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic movements” and identify “the gatekeepers hindering the organization from achieving racial equity and equity in other areas.”

● “Counteract the Dehumanization and Exploitation of BIPOC and All Minoritized Members of the Olympic and Paralympic Community:

“Over the past year, Black Olympic and Paralympic athletes have shared with the Council powerful and brave stories about navigating structural racism and white supremacy within the USOPC and NGBs. At the heart of these stories was the perception that athletes are often reduced to the athletic value they bring to the organization rather than be seen as humans with various intersecting identities.”

● “Invest in Programs that Promote Belonging: To provide a stronger sense of belonging for minoritized individuals in the Olympic and Paralympic community, the USOPC and NGBs should work collaboratively to create programs that nurture a sense of belonging for these individuals. … The Council recommends the creation of caucuses committed to providing space and elevating the voices of minoritized groups within the movements (e.g., Black Caucus, LGBTQ+ Caucus, Disability Caucus).”

● “Provide Authentic Visibility for Minoritized Athletes Beyond Their Sport: … We recommend that the USOPC and NGBs give increased focus in their strategic communication efforts to the lives of athletes from minoritized groups (e.g., athletes of color) outside of their sport.”

● “Educate Members of the Community on the Impact of Racism: … Such education is needed for all members of the organization, but is particularly important for those who do not experience racism (i.e., white members of our community). Resources should be set aside to teach members of the organization how to combat racist behavior, unconscious bias, and microaggressions.”

● “Extend Definitions of Abuse to Include Racial Discrimination (and Other Forms of Discrimination): Discrimination (e.g., racial discrimination) is a form of abuse and should be treated as such. … The Council recommends extending the work of the U.S. Center for SafeSport to include identity-based discrimination, emotional discrimination, and racial abuse.”

The document asks for legal support for athletes in discrimination filings, better reporting opportunities, to change the make-up of all USOPC and NGB boards and committees to have “representation of minoritized athletes on these councils [to] reflect (and be proportional to) the nation’s diversity.”

(A CNN study of 2020 U.S. Census data pegged the racial and ethnic make-up of the country as 57.3% “White,” 19.5% “Hispanic or Latino,” 11.9% “Black,” 5.9% “Asian,” and others at 5.4%).

Under “Structural Support for Antiracist Efforts,” the recommendations double down on the request from the third set of recommendations for the USOPC to “consider increasing the hiring of leadership and staff from historically underrepresented, marginalized, oppressed, or minoritized groups by 15% and 20%, respectively, by 2025” and “[r]egular antiracism training should be required of staff leading the USOPC and NGBs.”

The release of the first set of recommendations, on protests and demonstrations, included supporting comments from USOPC Chair Susanne Lyons and chief executive Sarah Hirshland, and the second set – on athlete advocacy – included a comment from Hirshland. The announcements of the third and fourth sets of recommendations did not include comments from either.

The USOPC created the 44-member Team USA Council on Racial and Social Justice to collect ideas on how the organization can improve itself and the sports organizations allied with it. Now that the recommendations are in, it will be fascinating to see what actually comes from them as the nation’s priorities and perspective around culture, race, identity politics, institutions, hiring quotas and accountability continue to change.

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LANE ONE: Modern Pentathlon to replace riding after Tokyo embarrassment, but with what?

By
Rich Perelman
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(Errata: Reader Paul Roberts notes that the yesterday’s item about the European audience for the Tokyo Games for EuroSport was incomplete: it was 372 million. Thanks for the sharp eyes!)

“The news is that a consultation process will soon begin work on identifying a suitable replacement for Riding.

“First, we know that this information will be surprising and even shocking to you. It is not very long since we made a commitment to review and protect the Riding discipline in the wake of the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. But life within the Olympic movement changes fast. While our sport is confirmed for Paris 2024 with our exciting new format in place (including Riding), Los Angeles 2028 is a different matter and we must be flexible and embrace change once again.”

That’s from an open letter to modern pentathletes from the Executive Board of the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM), the sport’s international federation. Erroneous reports had claimed that cycling would be announced as the replacement for riding, but instead, the UIPM announced that its Executive Board had agreed to recommendations from UIPM Innovation Commission from its meeting in the last week of October.

Riding was decided to be removed after the embarrassing incident during the Tokyo Games in which German coach Kim Raisner punched the horse Saint Boy when it would not complete the Show Jumping course with German medal contender Annika Schleu. In the Modern Pentathlon, horses are provided by the organizers and the ability of the athlete to be able to work with a strange horse is part of the event.

A “consultation process” will begin to identify a new discipline to replace riding for the 2028 Los Angeles Games; the sport is projected to be held at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California in the southwest area of Los Angeles County. Ostensibly, the new format would debut not later than 2025.

UIPM President Klaus Schormann (GER), 75, at the helm of the federation since 1993 (!) has spent his career ensuring that Modern Pentathlon remains on the Olympic Program. It has been cited as a sport past its time and its existence is dependent on the television rights share it receives from the International Olympic Committee. In the only financial statement ever made public, the UIPM’s 2018 financial review showed $12.95 million from the IOC in 2016 and 2017, but only $600-700,000 in other annual revenues; it spent about $4.2 million a year from 2016-18.

Said Schormann in today’s announcement, in part:

“On behalf of the UIPM Executive Board I ask our global community to embrace change and grasp the momentous opportunity before us. A new discipline will provide fresh impetus to our sport and strengthen the position of Modern Pentathlon within the Olympic movement.

“The Modern Pentathlon will remain a five-discipline sport and will continue to provide the ultimate moral and physical examination of an athlete, as Coubertin envisaged.”

The sport was introduced by modern Games founder Baron Pierre de Coubertin (FRA) for the 1912 Games in Stockholm and included the then-important disciplines for soldiering: fencing, swimming, shooting, horsemanship and running. Actual shooting was replaced with a laser device in 2010 and the shooting and run phases were combined in 2009 with the “laser run” introduced in 2013.

There has been considerable discussion about whether having the shooting and running together actually makes the event a “quadrathlon.” Now, the replacement for horsemanship will be determined by discussions which consider 13 criteria listed by the Innovation Commission.

These include being quick, so as to be part of the new 90-minute final, fit within the new “Pentathlon Stadium” concept, be low-cost and easy for current athletes to adapt to, not fall within the purview of another International Federation (like cycling) and “Be attractive and relevant for global youth and future generations.”

Given the inclusion of digital technology in today’s militaries, sounds like the opening for eSports in the Olympic program, yes? After all, isn’t Laser Shooting already essentially digital? Is this the IOC’s opportunity (via the UIPM) to create a bridge to the eSports community?

Given Schormann’s 28-year effort to protect the inclusion of Modern Pentathlon in the Games, there can be little doubt that the elimination of riding was made in close consultation with the International Olympic Committee. However, even the installation of a new discipline will raise questions about the sport and its future on the Olympic program:

● Why does a sport which has just two events, a total of 72 athletes and just three days to complete require its own venue, with the attendant costs, including a temporary swimming pool?

● With the elimination of horses, why isn’t the event held – at the Games – near the swimming venue?

● If the replacement discipline for riding can be determined in the next few months, why not implement it immediately, include it in the 2022 World Cup circuit, 2022 World Championships and the 2024 Games in Paris?

● Why continue to include riding when it only reminds Olympic-sport insiders of the Tokyo incident?

● If this is the modern “pentathlon” and as the laser shooting is already a digitized event, why not separate the running and “shooting” so there really are five distinct events? The event can still be held over two days and will actually make better sense to spectators.

On the sidelines of the Modern Pentathlon discussion, there are continuing worries in the Equestrian community about its Olympic future. It seems secure at present and the horses in that sport are as much the stars as the riders, traveling with them and endlessly pampered to ensure their health, stability and relationship with their rider. But it is a sport which seems to some to be a little outdated, as are some of the other Olympic sports with very modest participation on a worldwide basis and modest interest from television viewers at the Games. Equestrian is in the fourth group (of five) in terms of its television share from the IOC, with Modern Pentathlon in the lowest group, along with new sports Golf and Rugby.

This is a big moment for the UIPM, its athletes and for Schormann. If it makes the right moves, it will make itself more attractive to future competitors, and the eSports lure might be too strong to resist. If it misses the mark, it may not make it to Los Angeles in 2028.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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For our 743-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

THE TICKER: China’s men hockey team will be in Winter Games; get your Misha doll now; UIPM could trade horses for bikes?

By
Rich Perelman
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Want a 1980-style Misha plush toy? (Photo: IOC Olympic Shop)

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

≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

“To be clear, the IIHF is not going to remove the Chinese team from the Olympic Games, the status of the men’s national team as a host nation participant in the Olympic ice hockey tournament was confirmed by Congress and remains unchanged.”

That’s International Ice Hockey Federation President Luc Tardif (FRA) declaring that the Chinese men’s hockey team will compete at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games in February. Tardif had raised the question of whether a non-competitive host-nation team should be allowed to compete in mismatches against Canada, Finland, Russia, the U.S. and others. Instead, the IIHF is trying an emergency development program:

“The IIHF and the Chinese Ice Hockey Association are working together to schedule two games with the Chinese national team in a joint effort to evaluate the status of the team’s preparations for Beijing 2022. The eligible national team players will compete as part of Kunlun Red Star in the [Russian] KHL team’s league games on 15 and 17 November. Following the games, the IIHF Council will reconvene to discuss the next steps forward.”

The “next steps” will be interesting indeed.

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● U.S.-based Discovery, Inc., which owns EuroSport, reported third-quarter earnings on Wednesday which includes its broadcast for European audiences of the Tokyo Games.

The company’s filing indicated that 372 million people across Europe (excluding Russia) watched some part of the Games and that advertising revenues rose $102 million over 2020 primarily due to the Games. EuroSport’s primary income from the Games is sub-licensing to national broadcasters in the European footprint; these revenues rose to $290 million for the third quarter of 2021 vs. 2020, mostly due to the Games.

However, due to increased operating costs for the Games, Discovery’s international networks showed a loss of $79 million for the third quarter of 2021.

● Games of the XXXIV Olympiad: Los Angeles 2028 ● The Los Angeles City Council had been expecting to at least see a draft of a several-times-delayed agreement between the City and the organizing committee of the 2028 Los Angeles Games by 1 November, but no such document has been publicly filed as yet.

The Unite Here Local 11 labor group asked for a court order on 22 October to make the agreement public before it is signed. An October 15 tweet from the group stated:

“Hoping to convince the city to learn from prior examples, Unite Here local 11 is pushing for the Olympics agreement to include a binding promise of more long-term, benefited, hospitality industry jobs; for an employment diversity commitment, in which the Olympics’ organizers promise to hire and retain more African American workers; and for significant investments in housing as part of a larger effort to end the city’s staggering homelessness crisis.”

It is unlikely to get any housing help from LA28, whose entire premise is based on not building anything new at all, nor will the organizers be able to dictate the hiring practices of accommodations providers for events which will come and go in just over a month in 2028.

For the 1984 Games, the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee – in a vastly different Los Angeles – had 1,629 employees at the time of Games operations, with 54% women and 23% of the staff from various minority groups (this does not include the 33,000-plus volunteers).

● International Olympic Committee ● While announced with great fanfare, the “Olympic Shop” authorized by the IOC and operated by American-based Fanatics, Inc. has opened with a modest showcase of products from past Games.

A lot of the items are aimed at children. The “Olympic Collection” has 30 items, including pencil cases in various designs; youth wallets; quiz-card sets; a folding, cardboard loudspeaker; foldable scooters and even a five-color nail polish set ($39.99).

The “Heritage Collection” has 29 items, with nine different styles of $89.99 scarves; coaster sets with logos of prior Games ($64.99), and pins and posters celebrating prior Games (not authentic reproductions). The “Home & Office” section has severely-discounted licensed Barbie products from the Tokyo 2020 Games and Hot Wheels toy cars, plus the re-appearance of some plush toys of past Olympic mascots.

The first Olympic mascot, “Waldi” – a dachsund from Munich ‘72 – re-appears after almost 50 years, as does the iconic “Misha” from Moscow 1980. Also: “Hodori” from Seoul ‘88 and bad versions of “Cobi” from Barcelona 1992 and the Vancouver 2010 mascots. All are priced at $44.99, with Misha almost sold out!

There are some T-shirts on sale, including an LA28 Paralympics heather gray Camo design reduced from $27.99 to $17.99 (while available).

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● Ralph Lauren, the USOPC official outfitter, announced its Beijing 2022 uniforms for the closing ceremony. The outerwear features a Buffalo Plaid theme, using recycled polyester and recycled down. Pants, leggings, gloves, boots, hats and a turtleneck sweater with the American flag are all included in the kit.

The items are available for sale on the Ralph Lauren site, with the Closing Ceremony jacket going for $1,798.00 and the sweater for $495.00.

● Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation ● The University of Utah became the permanent host of the 2002 Olympic and Paralympic Torch Cauldron in a new facility outside Rice-Eccles Stadium in a ceremony on 29 October. Per the announcement:

“The newly revitalized plaza, costing the U just over $2.4 million, retains and highlights the 2002 Winter Games’ iconic fire and ice theme. The 72-foot-tall cauldron now sits on a pedestal that features a cascading water element. All 738 panes of glass have been replaced and the entire structure is wired with LED lights. The flame mechanisms have also been updated to improve efficiency and reduce emissions when lit.”

The base of the cauldron has plaques which tell the story of the 2002 Games and the flags of each country which competed in the Games are shown on a special wall.

The new display brings the Cauldron from inside the stadium to an outside area where no admission is required. The ceremony was attended by the top two executives of the 2002 Winter Games organizing committee: U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-Utah; then SLOC chief executive) and former SLOC Chief Operating Officer Fraser Bullock, now the chief executive of the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games, trying to bring another Winter Games to the area, perhaps as soon as 2030.

● Athletics ● World Athletics announced the implementation of a change in its rules on lane-infringements, often the source of controversy in recent years.

The 2021 rule had been that a single step on an inside lane line, or one step inside the curb of a track was sufficient for disqualification and

“Lane infringement rule changes had been on the agenda of the World Athletics Technical Committee since January 2018. At that year’s World Athletics Indoor Championships in Birmingham [GBR] … there were 21 disqualifications relating to lane violations, including four in two races, and since then there has been a heightened debate about these rules.”

As of 1 November, the new rules in effect allow one touch of a foot on the inside lane line around a curve, but NOT inside another lane; a second touch of a lane line will result in disqualification. Same for a single step inside the curb in a non-lane race, with a second step bringing disqualification.

Another new rule allows world records to be set on indoor tracks larger than 201.2 m! So a world record could be set on a 300m indoor track!

A further demonstration of the Covid-19 issues in China is the postponement of the World Half Marathon Championships in Yangzhou (CHN) from 27 March 2022 to 13 November 2022.

This is not a good sign for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, already designated not to have foreign spectators. It may not have any spectators at all.

● Football ● Swiss federal prosecutors charged former FIFA President Sepp Blatter (SUI) and former UEFA President Michel Platini (FRA) with fraud, misappropriation, forgery and mismanagement as members of the FIFA Council.

Blatter is now 85 and Platini is 66 and they will be tried in Bellinzona (SUI); fraud and forgery charges in Switzerland could include jail sentences of up to five years each. The Associated Press reported that the case

“centers on Platini’s written request to FIFA in January 2011 to be paid backdated additional salary for working as a presidential adviser in Blatter’s first term, from 1998-2002. Blatter told FIFA to make the payment within weeks. He was preparing to campaign for re-election in a contest against Mohamed bin Hammam of Qatar, where Platini’s influence with European voters was seen as a key factor.”

Blatter resigned as FIFA President in 2015 under the shadow of widespread corruption within the federation and investigations into his conduct have been ongoing ever since.

CONCACAF President (and FIFA Vice President) Victor Montagliani is under pressure from former players for the Vancouver Whitecaps women’s team of the USL-W League, alleging he did not respond properly to misconduct against players in 2008 and 2011.

The Whitecaps women’s team folded in 2012, but then-Whitecaps coach Bob Birada was accused of abuse in 2008. The Guardian (GBR) reported that “Birarda was arrested in December 2020 and faces six counts of sexual exploitation, two counts of sexual assault and one count of child luring, involving allegations spanning 20 years from 1988 to 2008.”

Former coach Hubert Busby, Jr. (CAN), was also accused to soliciting sex with a potential player in 2011; he is currently the head coach of the Jamaican women’s team.

Major League Soccer is organizing an investigation into the matter and the Canadian players’ association is demanding an independent investigation in addition. The response of Canada Soccer – of which Montagliali was a board member at the time – is under question, as Birada was allowed to coach youth soccer for girls after leaving the Whitecaps.

● Handball ● In one of the least-surprising moves of 2021, the International Handball Federation approved the wearing of shorts by women in beach handball competitions in a rules change available on Tuesday (2nd).

The change stems from the ruckus over a fine levied on the Norwegian beach handball women’s team at the 2021 European Championships for failing to wear bikini-style bottoms in their match against Bulgaria in mid-July. The fine for “improper clothing” – the team wore elastic shorts – was €1.500 from the European Handball Association’s Disciplinary Commission.

Shorts are fine now.

● Mixed Martial Arts ● This came from the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF), which is campaigning to get MMA into the Olympic Games:

“Following the reported inter-sex MMA bout at the MMA-VIP event in Czestochowa, Poland on 29 October, IMMAF CEO Densign White [GBR] has issued the following statement on behalf of the world governing body for amateur MMA:

“‘Media coverage has brought our attention to an inter-sex MMA bout that took place in Poland over the weekend. Although neither the promoter nor competitors have any association with IMMAF, as the international governing body for amateur mixed martial arts, I feel it is important that I state our position. IMMAF categorically disagrees with this intentionally scandalous form of entertainment, which does not represent the sport of MMA or its values and puts women at risk. It is unacceptable that women and men should compete against each other in combat sports, essentially for reasons of safety but also fair play, and we in no way endorse this.’”

Observed: Remember, this is a sport trying to get onto the Olympic program. Then again, gender equality is an IOC theme, isn’t it? Isn’t it?

● Modern Pentathlon ● A report is due tomorrow (4th) from the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) on its Executive Board discussions about the possible replacement of equestrian in the sport with cycling.

The Guardian (GBR) broke this story on Tuesday, reporting

“Multiple sources have said the decision was taken by the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne’s executive board in recent days, and was hastened by the distressing scenes at the Tokyo Olympics when a horse was punched by a German coach after it refused to jump a fence.”

The incident, which cost German Annika Schleu a shot at a medal, involved the horse Saint Boy, which was punched by German coach Kim Raisner, raising questions about horse safety. In the Modern Pentathlon, horses are provided by the organizers and the ability of the athlete to be able to work with a strange horse is part of the event.

The UIPM released a tweet noting only

“As part of UIPM’s commitment to maintaining a strong, dynamic profile for modern pentathlon, a series of strategic meetings are being held. These meetings will include an upcoming call with national federations later this week. The outcome of these meetings will be detailed in a press release to be published on 4 November.”

All of this comes as the UIPM prepares for an online Congress coming up on 26-28 November, which would have to approve such a major change to the event. Long rumored to be a possible cut from the Olympic program, any such change could only be undertaken with prior consultation with the IOC, which, incidentally, is expected to confirm the core sports for Los Angeles 2028 as soon as December. Boxing and weightlifting are already in trouble; maybe pentathlon as well?

≡ THE LAST WORD ≡

Fabulous Halloween costume saluting U.S. sprint star Sha’Carri Richardson:

Shared the sprinter: “She won Halloween … She’s THAT GIRL” with lots of emojis.

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For our 743-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

LANE ONE: Future of gymnastics on the line as Watanabe and Gayibov battle for FIG Presidency at weekend Congress

By
Rich Perelman
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FIG presidential candidates Morinari Watanabe (JPN/left) and Farid Gayibov (AZE/right).

A record 130 national gymnastics federations will meet in the Turkish resort city of Antalya beginning on Friday for the 83rd FIG Congress, with a fascinating vote for President set for Saturday. The future path for gymnastics is at stake.

Japanese incumbent Morinari Watanabe, 62, will be standing for a second term, but unlike many International Federations, he is being challenged. The head of the European Gymnastics Union, Farid Gayibov, 42, the Minister of Youth and Sports in Azerbaijan, is considered a meaningful opponent, and both have issued a “manifesto” reflecting their views for the future.

There’s a big difference in approach.

Let start with where the FIG is right now. It’s a “Group A” Olympic federation, along with World Athletics and FINA (aquatics), receiving more than $40 million from the International Olympic Committee as a share of the television rights sales from each Olympic Games.

But it’s a very modest organization compared with either track & field or aquatics. Using the pre-Covid year of 2019 for comparison:

FINA in 2019: (1 Swiss franc = $1.09 U.S.)
● CHF 68.670 million operating revenues ~ CHF 106.512 million reserves

World Athletics in 2019:
● $51.144 million operating revenues ~ $28.862 million reserves
(even after years of hemorrhaging money due to mismanagement).

FIG may be in the same Olympic revenue-sharing tier, but is nowhere close to that level of commercial success, even though it holds a World Championship annually instead of every two years as with athletics and aquatics. FIG finances:

● 2018: CHF 16.100 million revenues ~ CHF 22.867 million reserves
● 2019: CHF 16.652 million revenues ~ CHF 26.010 million reserves

To Watanabe’s credit, FIG finally published financial statements during his term and FIG’s reserves are reasonable good. But as one of the top-tier sports in the Olympic Games, it has not progressed financially during his term.

At this weekend’s Congress, FIG is expected to vote in seven new federations: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guam, Haiti, Lesotho, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Togo, and Antigua and Barbuda as an associated member. That will bring the total membership to a new high of 156. But that’s far behind the 214 members of World Athletics or the 209 members of FINA.

These differences are at the core of Gayibov’s candidacy. In his six-page statement, he declares that growth is a priority. On the first page, he outlines four “pillars”:

(1) “Adapt Code of Points, Technical Regulations & other rules to make our sport more inclusive and attractive to the audience”

(2) “Increase the number of medals at the Olympics”

(3) “Stable and reliable relationships with partners”

(4) “Effective management”

In order to help expand the sport, he suggests “a fund that would assist developing countries with equipment and development projects just like in the European Gymnastics. This has proven to be very effective.”

He also notes that with 18 Olympic events, gymnastics is way behind aquatics (49) and athletics (48); “the increase of these medals will benefit considerably to further development, strengthening and popularity of our disciplines.”

Gayibov also suggests the radical – in the Olympic world – idea of “Seek global sponsorships for outstanding gymnasts. This will benefit the sport, federations and inspire the youth” and “Provide more exposure to current Champions at cost of FIG. Use them as competition ambassadors, commentators, within different disciplines. This will unite our gymnasts and create a direct relationship between all our disciplines.” Athlete-first indeed.

He also suggests multiple ways to increase FIG’s marketing effort and bring it into the 21st Century (or at least into the late 20th Century).

Watanabe’s 12-page brochure is a graphical tour de force: beautiful to look at, but also a little complex to follow. He spends the first eight pages reviewing his actions and achievements during his first term (from 2017), the introduction of new competitions and three new FIG sponsors that brought sponsorship revenue for the 2017-20 period to CHF 8 million; the FIG also received CHF 8 million in broadcast rights sales for the quadrennial.

He spends three pages on future concepts, including using continental meets as qualifiers for the World Championships to create more interest at the national levels, to promote Acrobatic and Aerobic Gymnastics and to get to 180 member federations by 2024. He also wants to re-introduce gymnastics into people’s everyday lives as a form of exercise and well-being.

Page 11 outlines his “dream that one day like the Olympics, the World Championships of all our disciplines Artistic, Rhythmic, Trampoline, Acrobatic, Aerobic, Parkour, the World Gym for Life Challenge, and if possible, Team Gym sometime in future, will be held in the same host city in the same period of time together. Realizing ‘Gymnastics Olympics’ will surely raise the value of Gymnastics.” This is hardly a new concept; FINA has had a combined championship for all of its disciplines since 1973 and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is introducing the same for all of its disciplines in 2023. It’s a good idea; why hasn’t it happened already?

Watanabe’s organizational skills cannot be challenged. In addition to being FIG President, he also oversaw the IOC’s Boxing Task Force, which operated the successful Tokyo 2020 boxing competition in the place of the suspended International Boxing Association (AIBA). But FIG’s quadrennial sponsorship and television revenues of CHF 16 million (~$17.50 million U.S.) are frankly pathetic.

The delegates have a real choice here. Watanabe is the ninth FIG President and the first to be elected from outside Europe; that will be an important consideration for some federations. Gayibov is the head of European Gymnastics and his vision – based on his brochure – is focused on FIG’s future expansion through marketing of its stars in its current Olympic events (and paying them to do so), and expanding FIG’s footprint at the Games as FINA has done successfully in the past.

The IOC is not likely to be receptive to more gymnasts within the Olympic quota of 10,500 athletes, but the marketing concepts and the reformation of the FIG calendar and competition system can create new opportunities for a federation that is lagging behind in money, profile and energy outside of the Olympic Games.

Watanabe, as the incumbent – and from outside of Europe – has to be considered the favorite, but the 20-years-younger Gayibov offers the potential of a new magnetism for the sport that can draw more public enthusiasm for its competitions and for participation in a sport which has roots in ancient times. That’s view from outside; the delegates will know both candidates well from their own experiences with them.

The outcome will say a lot about how the national federations see the future of gymnastics.

Rich Perelman
Editor

You can receive our exclusive TSX Report by e-mail by clicking here. You can also refer a friend by clicking here, and can donate here to keep this site going.

For our 743-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

HEARD AT HALFTIME: Romney proposes diplomatic boycott law for Beijing 2022; Japanese voters liked Olympic hosting; remember ski jumping at Dodger Stadium?

By
Rich Perelman
-
The U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

(For our Highlights of the weekend’s major competitions, click here)

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

≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

Utah Senator Mitt Romney, the former head of the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games organizing committee submitted an amendment to the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act for 2022 (H.R. 4350) last Thursday that would define a U.S. diplomatic boycott of the Beijing 2022 Winter Games.

Romney’s amendment was buried in the Congressional Record and was one of 231 amendments proposed to the massive defense bill. But it followed his already-suggested formula of allowing athletes to compete in Beijing and making the U.S. anger over China’s human-rights policy felt off the playing field.

Proposed by Senators Romney (R-Utah), Tim Kaine (D-Virginia), Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts) and Todd Young (R-Indiana), and titled “Diplomatic Boycott of the XXIV Olympic Winter Games and the XIII Paralympic Winter Games,” it includes:

● “It shall be the policy of the United States – (1) to implement a diplomatic boycott of the XXIV Olympic Winter Games and the XIII Paralympic Winter Games in the People’s Republic of China; and (2) to call for an end to the Chinese Communist Party’s ongoing human rights abuses, including the Uyghur genocide.”

● “The Secretary of State may not obligate or expend any Federal funds to support or facilitate the attendance of the XXIV Olympic Winter Games or the XIII Paralympic Winter Games by any employee of the United States Government.” An exception is made for Federal support of the U.S. teams and “to provide consular services or security to, or otherwise protect the health, safety, and welfare of, United States persons, employees, contractors, and their families.”

Romney noted in a tweet that “It’s outrageous that China is hosting the Olympics while the Chinese Communist Party commits genocide against Uyghurs. Our bipartisan amendment would impose a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, seeking to harm the [Chinese Communist Party] rather than punish American athletes.”

The massive bill is a long way from being passed, in any form, but Romney and his co-sponsors were ready with the amendment right at the start of the process for consideration.

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● Those who predicted a voter backlash against the Japanese government for hosting last summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games saw their predictions vaporized on Sunday as the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and the smaller Komeito Party won 291 seats (62.6%) in the National Diet, a net loss of 14 seats, but still well ahead of all others combined (174).

This means that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will continue for a full term after replacing Yoshihide Suga, who was Prime Minister during the Games but was also blamed for a slow roll-out of anti-Covid measures, especially vaccines.

Comcast Corporation announced its third-quarter earnings in government filings and presentations to the investment community last week, showing impressive revenues from the delayed Tokyo Games.

In its Security & Exchange Commission document filings, Comcast’s NBCUniversal division showed advertising revenues of $1.238 billion and distribution fees of $522 million, a total of $1.759 billion compared to a reported $1.62 billion from the 2016 Rio Games.

Sportico.com reported that the rights fees for the 2020 Olympic Games was $1.42 billion, so although no comment was made on profitability of the 2020 Olympic project, it likely showed at least a modest profit for the broadcaster. NBC has said that 3,400 staff worked on the Games, but 1,600 were in Tokyo and the majority – 1,800 – were in the U.S.

Tokyo Olympic Gold Partner NEC Corporation revealed some of its technologies that were used at the Games – now that the event is over:

● “Athletes, staff, volunteers and other attendees at the Tokyo 2020 venues, as well as the Athletes’ Village, Main Press Center and International Broadcasting Center, were admitted after being cleared with a face-recognition system, the first of its kind to be used at the venerable sports event. Their faces were scanned at entry points and compared to images on a database of registered photos; accreditation cards equipped with IC chips were also linked to the system.”

● A “congestion visualization system was implemented at the Athletes’ Village, which hosted over 10,000 Olympians and Paralympians. In a first at the Games, athletes were able to check congestion levels at village cafeterias, fitness centers and other facilities via displays and a smartphone app that received data from a network of cameras. The technology was also used to support security measures around the Olympic Stadium.”

● “NEC provided real-time security information to the Games Security Coordination Center. This consisted of automatic updates on traffic, weather, emergencies and accidents related to 43 event venues, in addition to relevant social media messages. A risk analysis was performed for each incident, giving security personnel an immediate understanding of important threats so that security issues could be prevented.”

Look for all of these systems to be used for Paris 2024 and beyond.

● Games of the XXXIII Olympiad: Paris 2024 ● One of the key – perhaps the key – evolution of the Paris 2024 organizers is the introduction of mass-participation events during the Games.

This project got its first public taste of the program on Sunday, as 3,600 runners came to the Champs-Elysees in Paris to “race” against two-time Olympic Marathon champ Eliud Kipchoge (KEN). Some 1,000 runners finished “ahead” of Kipchoge – who jogged along at a 14-minute pace and had a handicap in addition – and earned an entry into the mass-marathon that will be run after the Olympic race in 2024.

“This is the first time I am happy to have lost! My defeat is a victory for several hundred people to whom I look forward to meeting in 2024 here in Paris,” said Kipchoge. The during-the-Games Paris marathon will be accompanied by a 10 km race as well.

● International Olympic Committee ● Continuing its commercial expansion into areas previously only run locally by Games organizing committees, the IOC announced the opening of its worldwide online store in conjunction with U.S.-based Fanatics, Inc.

“The Olympic Shop will offer the largest assortment of Olympic-branded merchandise to date, distributed through Fanatics’ vertical, on-demand manufacturing model and globally connected supply chain,” which will include licensed products of future Games organizers in Paris (2024), Milan Cortina (2026), Los Angeles (2028) and eventually Brisbane 2032.

In addition, the “Olympic Heritage Collection” will offer “products featuring art and design elements from previous Games editions, such as apparel, mascots and souvenirs.” So, if you’ve always wanted to get that plush Misha bear from the 1980 Moscow Games, you may get a chance!

Other items will be offered that are currently only sold at the Olympic Museum Shop in Lausanne. The Olympic Shop is currently live for the U.S., Mexico and Europe and has a separate (of course) site for China. Availability is expected by summer 2022 “except for China and Russia.”

● National Olympic Committees: France ● A fascinating program was relaunched in France, where the national minister for sports, Roxana Maracineanu announced a new version of the “Coordination du Sport Francais a l’International” or CFSI.

Originally created in 2013 to coordinate international support for the Paris bid for the 2024 Olympic Games, the new edition of the CFSI will be tasked with advancing France’s “sporting influence, hosting strategy for major events [and] international impact” in the sports sector.

The project is a joint effort of multiple players in French sport at the national and local levels (computer translation of the original French):

“These stakeholders are the Ministry in charge of Sports, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the French National Olympic and Sports Committee, the French Paralympic and Sports Committee, the Paris 2024 organizing committee, the Agence nationale du Sport, the Association of Mayors of France, Business France, the GIE France Sport Expertise, the Union Sport et Cycle, the Territoires association of sporting events.”

This is about events, about creating a larger role for France in international sport and to use the Paris 2024 Games as leverage for the future. Among the 16 recommendations were aggressive concepts to set up a French “outpost” in Lausanne to be closer to the IOC and the many International Federations headquartered there, and to host a “state summit” during major events in France such as the 2023 Rugby World Cup and the 2024 Olympic Games to promote the “French sporting model.”

Observed: This is good, forward thinking, looking for a decade or more past the Paris 2024 Games. If successfully organized – and that’s a big if – this will make a significant difference for France going forward and leave other countries behind.

One element of this which the French appreciate already is the opportunity to use sport to further support its relations with other French-speaking countries in the world, especially in Africa. Other countries would do well to consider such possibilities, especially in offices outside their embassies.

● Doping ● After last week’s World Anti-Doping Agency report which slammed Ukraine’s national anti-doping organization for warning athletes ahead of what were supposed to be surprise out-of-competition tests, the top two executives of the Ukrainian National Anti-Doping Organization (NADC) have resigned.

Ukrainian Sports Minister Vadym Huttsait announced last Wednesday that “The NADC has violated the international testing standard. Today, the director of the NADC, Ivan Kurlishchuk, and his deputy, Yaroslav Kruchek, resigned. The ministry states that we take a clear position in the fight against doping and will not allow anyone to violate anti-doping rules.”

On Friday, the WADA Compliance Committee announced that the anti-doping organizations of Romania, Montenegro and the German Community of Belgium are on the compliance “watchlist,” meaning they have four months to complete the required, corrective actions.

These three join five others who are also currently non-compliant: Indonesia, Russia, North Korea, Thailand and the Deaf International Basketball Federation.

● Athletics ● Kyodo News reported that the Japanese government “has settled on a policy of retaining the National Stadium’s athletics track rather than carrying out its original plan to remove it after the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.”

The Olympic stadium track is obviously crucial to a planned bid for a future World Athletics Championships, with a bid for 2025 already made to the federation. It’s a welcome development for the sport, with so many tracks being ripped in order to offer closer seating for football and rugby.

USA Track & Field released a strange document last Tuesday (26th), outlining the procedures for selecting the U.S. entries into the men’s and women’s marathons at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene.

In a change from prior procedures, the new protocol specifies that up to three athletes can be selected in each gender, with one coming from the top American finisher in the Tokyo Olympic marathons, if in the top 10. That would be Galen Rupp for the men (8th) and bronze medalist Molly Seidel, if they want to go.

The other team members would be selected in their finish places in the top 10 from World Athletics Platinum Label Marathons held in the U.S. in 2021. That’s the Chicago, Boston and New York Marathons, held on 10 October, 11 October and 7 November.

So, the selection process uses results from races already run, plus one to be run two weeks later? What happened to planning for “trials”? Further, if the placements are the same for two runners, the faster time will be used. Would runners have opted for Chicago’s flag course vs. Boston’s hills or the winding New York course if they wanted to make the Worlds team? No way to change that strategy now.

The New York Marathon is this Sunday (7th), so at least the American runners know the task ahead of them. From the others already done:

● Men/Chicago: (2. Rupp, 2:06:35); 6. Colin Mickow (2:13:31), 7. Nico Montanez (2:13:55), 9. Reed Fischer (2:14:41); 10. Wilkerson Given (2:14:55).

● Men/Boston: 7. Colin Bennie (2:11:26), 10. C.J. Albertson (2:11:44).

● Women/Chicago: 2. Emma Bates (2:24:20); 3. Sara Hall (2:27:19); 4. Keira D’Amato (2:28:22); 6. Meagan Krifchin (2:30:17); 7. Carrie Verdon (2:31:51); 8. Sarah Pagano (2:33:11); 10. Lindsay Flanagan (2:33:20).

● Women/Boston: 6. Nell Rojas (2:27:12).

For a deeper look at the impact of this late announcement, see the in-depth report by Jonathan Gault at LetsRun.com here.

● Fencing ● The Russian news agency TASS reported that Federation Internationale de Escrime (FIE) President Alisher Usmanov of Russia is the only candidate for the office and will be re-elected for a fourth term during the FIE Congress on 27 November.

This is hardly a surprise as Usmanov, a Russian billionaire, has donated more than $82 million directly to the federation during his tenure beginning in 2008.

● Football ● “[T]he 10 countries that make up CONMEBOL confirm that they will not participate in a World Cup organised every two years.”

The statement by the South American confederation CONMEBOL is the latest broadside against the concept of biennial World Cups which is being explored (and promoted) by FIFA. A discussion of the concept will be held by FIFA in December; CONMEBOL, the European confederation UEFA and the IOC are all against the project, but federations in Africa, Asia and the Americas are thought to be more amenable.

● Gymnastics ● The irrepressible Scott Reid of the Southern California News Group reported late last week that the security firm “Security Concepts Group was terminated less than four months after its CEO reported potential misconduct at a USA Gymnastics event to the U.S. Center for SafeSport.”

The lengthy story goes on to explain actions by Security Concepts Group chief James Cameron which he believes led to the end of his firm’s service contract with USA Gymnastics. The story focuses not on artistic gymnastics – in which Larry Nassar was involved – but on rhythmic gymnastics and actions by coaches with athletes which Cameron believes were not in line with the U.S. Center for SafeSport guidelines.

“Everything that has happened to me is because I reported the SafeSport violations,” said Cameron. USA Gymnastics provided a statement to Reid that the termination of Cameron’s firm was due to performance issues, which Cameron denies.

Observed: The next question is whether this ends up in court, or in another Congressional hearing. Given the already thin ice that USA Gymnastics is on with the Congress, this is not a good time for an issue like this to surface. Under the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic and Amateur Athletics Act of 2020, the Congress now has the authority – by Joint Resolution – to de-certify USA Gymnastics as the National Governing Body for the sport in the U.S.

Such a move would place the U.S. in violation of the Olympic Charter and make the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee subject to IOC sanctions, but does the Congress (other than Sen. Romney of Utah) know this?

● Swimming ● Two-time Olympic medal winner Cody Miller of the U.S. told SwimSwam.com that a boycott or strike against the International Swimming League for slow payments is not realistic. Of a strike, he explained:

“[T]hat is an option. But to say that swimmers within this [Swimmers] Alliance were actively considering a strike is a far cry… I mean, everyone understands that a strike, for the ISL, would be stupid, because it wouldn’t help the sport; it wouldn’t move the sport forward.”

Miller said that monies due to athletes have been made. The ISL playoff rounds begin on 11 November. Miller said he believed that a fourth season for the money-losing ISL is likely.

● Triathlon ● Another Russian doping positive, this time of Alexander Bryukhankov “for the presence of EPO in his urine sample on an in-competition doping control on 19 June, 2021, at the Europe Triathlon Sprint & Relay Championships in Kitzbuhel, Austria, in which he finished in the 5th place in the Final B.”

Bryukhankov received a three-year suspension through 25 August 2024.

● Wrestling ● United World Wrestling completed its 2020 Congress a year late due to the pandemic, but re-elected President Nenad Lalovic (SRB), 63, for a second full term, through 2026.

Lalovic outlined a five-year plan for the federation which will focus on “youth engagement, women’s wrestling, associated styles, the image of wrestling and digital transformation.”

≡ SCOREBOARD ≡

● Curling ● Top-seeded Vicky Persinger and Chris Plys defeated Jamie Sinclair and Rich Ruohonen, 7-6, with a score on the final stone in the eighth end to win the championship match of the U.S. Olympic Mixed Doubles Trials in Eveleth, Minnesota. It was exactly the same score by which Persinger and Plys had won their round-robin match against Sinclair and Ruohonen, also with a score in the final end.

Persinger and Plys now head to the Mixed Doubles Olympic Qualification Event 2021 from 5-9 December in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. The top two finishers will qualify for the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.

≡ AT THE BUZZER ≡

Amazing tweet from baseball researcher Tom Shiber last Wednesday, marking 58 years since Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles hosted a three-day ski jumping event in 80-degree weather and sunshine!

Yes, really, and he has the video to prove it. He added, “Some past and future Olympians competed in the event, including Frithjof Prydz Jr. (NOR) and a pair of future United States Ski and Snowboard Hall of Famers: Gene Kotlarek (USA) and Ansten Samuelstuen (competed for USA but born in Norway).”

With former World Surf League chief Sophie Goldschmidt – her office was in Santa Monica – now in charge of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, will we see a repeat?

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For our 743-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

HIGHLIGHTS: Chen storms to win at Skate Canada; five golds for Dina Averina at Rhythmic Worlds; first Short Track win for U.S.’s Santos

By
Rich Perelman
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Five-time U.S. National Champion Nathan Chen (Photo: ISU)

Headline results of noteworthy competitions around the world:

● Badminton ● Japan and Korea split the five titles at the Yonex French Open that concluded on Sunday.

Japan swept the singles finals, with Kanta Tsuneyama defeating Tien Chen Chou (KOR) by 15-21, 21-8, 21-17 in the men’s final, and Akane Yamaguchi defeating countrywoman Sayaka Takahashi, 21-18, 21-12, in the women’s final.

Koreans won the men’s and women’s doubles: Sung Hyun Ko and Baekcheol Shin won in straight sets from Indonesia’s stars Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sukamuljo, 21-17, 22-20, and Sohee Lee and Seungchan Shin took the women’s title with a 21-17, 21-12 win over fellow Koreans Soyeong Kim and Yeeyong Kong.

Japan’s Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino had little trouble with Danes Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Bjoe for the Mixed Doubles title.

● Curling ● USA Curling’s Olympic Trials for the Mixed Doubles Curling will conclude this evening at 8 p.m. Eastern time in Eveleth, Minnesota with the final between top-seed Chris Plys and Vicky Persinger and Jamie Sinclair and Rich Ruohonen. The match will be televised on NBCSN.

In the round-robin competition, Plys/Persinger compiled the best record at 6-3, followed by Sarah Anderson and Korey Dropkin (also 6-3, but lost to Plys/Persinger). In the Page system playoffs, Persinger/Plys managed an 8-4 win in the 1 vs. 2 semifinal to advance to the final over Anderson/Dropkin.

Sinclair/Ruohonen defeated Tabitha Peterson/Joe Polo, 6-5, in the 3 vs. 4 semi to get to the semi against Anderson/Dropkin for the right to get to the final. That match went to Sinclair and Ruohonen by a 9-7 final.

The Trials winner does not qualify for Beijing 2022, but must try to qualify at the World Curling Federation’s final qualifier in December.

● Cycling ● The final week of the UCI BMX SuperCross World Cup was also the second consecutive week of racing in Sakarya (TUR), with seasonal titles on the line.

Colombia swept the first four places in Saturday’s men’s race, with Diego Arboleda winning at 33.324, followed by Vincent Pelluard (33.894), Carlos Ramirez (33.550) and Mateo Carmona (34.679). On Sunday, Swiss Simon Marquardt won his second World Cup race of the season, ahead of Arboleda, 33.671-34.046.

The women’s medal winners were the same – and in the same places – for both races. Dutch star Laura Smulders won both, followed by American Felicia Stancil and Colombian star Mariana Pajon. Smulders won by 37.800-37.968 on Saturday and 37.752-37.846 on Sunday.

The seasonal victories went to Marquardt over Carlos Ramirez on the men’s side and Pajon over Smulders and Stancil for the women.

● Figure Skating ● American Nathan Chen rebounded from a disappointing performance at Skate America to hit four quad jumps and pile up 307.18 points to win his eighth ISU Grand Prix at the Skate Canada International in Vancouver, B.C.

Said the winner: “I definitely did have better outings here than I did in Skate America, so I think this is a good step forward. In all the competitions I want to push myself a little bit forward. The programs weren’t perfect but overall I’m happy with where I am this season.”

Chen led the Short Program with 106.72 points, way ahead of the field with American Jason Brown second (94.00). Chen won the Free Skate with 200.46 points, with Russian Evgeni Semenenko (168.30) next. Chen’s overall score was 307.17, with Brown finishing second (259.55) and Semenenko third (256.01).

Russia swept the women’s competition, with Kamila Valieva taking both the Short Program and Free Skate and compiling 265.08 points. She was followed by Elizaveta Tuktamysheva (232.88) and Alena Kostornaia (214.54). Japan’s Mai Mihara was fourth (210.01) and Alysia Liu of the U.S. finished fifth (206.53).

Two-time World Pairs Champions Wenjing Sui and Cong Han also won easily, scoring 224.05 over Daria Pavliuchenko and Denis Khodykin (RUS: 193.08) and Americans Ashley Cain-Gibble and Timothy Leduc (189.90).

Home fans cheered Canada’s win in Ice Dance with Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, who scored 210.97 to win against Italy’s Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri (200.05) and Olivia Smart and Adrian Diaz (ESP: 192.93). Americans Caroline Green and Michael Parsons were fourth (186.51).

The Grand Prix moves to Europe now, with the Gran Premio d’Italia next week in Turin.

● Gymnastics ● Russia’s Dina Averina dominated the FIG Rhythmic World Championships in Kitakyushu (JPN), winning five events and a silver in a sixth.

Averina was controversially upset in the All-Around at the Tokyo Games by Israel’s Linoy Ashram, but starred at the Worlds, which Ashram skipped. Averina won the All-Around over Bulgaria’s Alina Harnasko and sister Arina Averina, 108.400-105.300-103.200, then won the Hoop, Ball and Clubs title, plus a silver in Ribbon.

Arina Averina won silvers in Ball and Clubs and took the bronze in Ribbon. Harnasko took silver in Hoop and bronze in Ball. Those three won 13 of the 15 individual medals available.

The Averinas also won the two-woman Team-All-Around and Russia took the five-woman Group All-Around. In the Group finals, Russia won the 5 Balls and Italy took the 3 Hoops + 4 Clubs.

For Dina Averina, still just 23, she now owns a stunning 18 Worlds golds from 2017-21! Wow!

● Short Track ● American Kristen Santos will celebrate her 27th birthday on Tuesday and she got an early birthday present in Nagoya (JPN), with her first-ever ISU World Cup victory in the women’s 1,000 m.

Santos announced her presence on the tour with two bronzes at the season-opening Beijing World Cup, but stepped up to the top of the podium with a 1:30.013-1:30.077 win over Dutch star Suzanne Schulting, the 2018 Olympic champion!

Schulting came back to win the 1,500 m by 2:25:230-2:25.313 over Italy’s Arianna Fontana (with Santos fourth: 2:25.456), and Fontana – the 2018 Olympic winner at 500 m – winning the 500 m sprint by 43.593-43.780 against Pole Natalia Maliszewska.

The men’s racing saw Korea’s Daeheon Hwang take the 500 m gold over China’s Ziwei Ren, then Ren winning the 1,000 m (American Brandon Kim was fourth), and Hwang taking the silver to Italian Yuri Confortola.

The World Cup tour has some time off now, with the third leg scheduled at Debrecen (HUN) starting on 18 November.

● Swimming ● Japan’s four-time World Champion Daiya Seto won four events to highlight the final FINA World Cup of 2021, held in Kazan (RUS).

Seto won all three Medley events at 100-200-400 m, to go along with a win in the 200 m Breaststroke for four golds, the most in the meet. Two women won three: Dutch star Kira Toussaint in the 50-100-200 m Backstroke events and Australian star Emma McKeon in the 50-100 m Freestyles and the 50-100 m Butterflys.

McKeon won the women’s overall points race and a $100,000 bonus, while South Africa’s Matthew Sates – winner of the 200-400 m Frees and medalist in the 100 and 200 m Medleys – won the men’s points race.

The individual highlight was the world short-course (25 m pool) record in the men’s 100 m Free, with Australian’s 2016 Rio gold medal winner Kyle Chalmers timing 44.84 to remove the 13-year-old mark of 44.94 by France’s Amaury Leveaux! Chalmers also won the men’s 50 m Free.

Two-event winners also included American Tom Shields in the men’s 100-200 m Fly, Swiss Maria Ugolkova in the women’s 100-200 m Medleys, Hungary’s Zsusanna Jakabos in the women’s 200 m Fly and 400 m Medley and Australia’s Leah Neale in the women’s 400-800 m Freestyles.

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THE TICKER: Vancouver Olympic interest cools; now Ukraine’s doping org is cheating; U.S. women win 6-0 in Carli Lloyd farewell

By
Rich Perelman
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The medals for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games (Photo: Beijing 2022)

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

≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

An online poll of 800 adults in British Columbia from 18-20 October reported a substantial decline in interest in having Vancouver bid for the 2030 Olympic Winter Games.

Polling company Research Co. chief Mario Canseco wrote on Monday (25th) that prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, some 60% of British Columbians were supportive of another Winter Games in Vancouver, which successfully hosted the 2010 Winter Games. And 62% were excited about exploring an Olympic Games bid.

Now, however:

“The nostalgia towards a new Olympic bid that we observed in early 2020 has been supplanted by skepticism in late 2021. Support for Vancouver attempting to host the Winter Olympics in 2030 stands at 43% across British Columbia, down 17 points since January 2020. More dramatically, support in Metro Vancouver plummeted from a healthy 63% in 2020 to a subdued 43% this month.

“A bid for the Summer Olympics is not a dream scenario either, with support in British Columbia dropping from 62% in January 2020 to 38% this month. …

“A majority of British Columbians (55%) also think it is impossible for Vancouver to host the 2030 Winter Olympics without any public or government funds, as has been irresponsibly suggested.”

Last April, Vancouver 2010 chief executive John Furlong told the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade that a 2030 Vancouver Games “would involve multiple communities and need neither new venue construction nor need government funding outside a federal security commitment.”

Observed: The big winner from this poll is Salt Lake City. Already selected as the U.S. bid city and well advanced with a bid for either 2030 or 2034, Vancouver’s candidacy was a potential roadblock if it were to win for 2030 and Salt Lake City went for 2034.

The other publicly-known candidates include Sapporo (JPN), whose interest will be tempered by the expense of the just-completed Tokyo Games; a Spanish bid for Barcelona and the Pyrenees, which has been marked by political infighting; a not-yet-detailed level of commitment from the Ukraine, and Vancouver.

The stumbling block for Salt Lake City has been the conflict with Los Angeles 2028 on domestic sponsorship sales, but this issue is being discussed by the Salt Lake bidders with LA28 Chair Casey Wasserman and Chief Executive Kathy Carter (who is also the head of the joint U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Properties sales organization).

A breakthrough there could lead to serious discussions with the International Olympic Committee about how the Utah city could be targeted for selection sometime in 2022. A delegation from Salt Lake City and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee will visit the IOC in November.

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● XXIV Olympic Winter Games: Beijing 2022 ● The Beijing organizers hit the 100-days-to-go mark on Tuesday (27th) and revealed the designs of the medals to be awarded at the Games.

“They are composed of rings and a centre, based on the ancient Chinese jade concentric circle pendants, with five rings representing the Chinese cultural connotation of ‘the unity of heaven and earth and the unity of people’s hearts’ …

“The name of each medal event will be engraved on the outermost ring on the back of the medal, while there are also 24 points and arcs engraved on the rings, similar to an ancient astronomical map. This symbolises the vast starry sky, the harmony between humans and nature and the ambitions of athletes to reach the very peak of their performance during the Games.

“The medal ribbon is woven using the traditional mulberry silk method. The ice and snow pattern is printed with the emblem of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, the words ‘Beijing 2022′ and other elements. The red ribbon reflects the cultural characteristics of the Chinese Spring Festival and extends the festival’s warm wishes to the athletes.”

The uniform designs for staff and officials was revealed in a ceremony in Beijing on Wednesday.

● International Olympic Committee ● The International Olympic Committee updated its report on assistance to athletes and sports officials in Afghanistan, noting that with the help of many other organizations, “more than 300 members of the Olympic Community from Afghanistan [have been taken] to safety.”

Its announcement also noted “there are still more than 700 people who are at risk and who remain in the country. They are mainly women and girls practising sport, as well as those supporting them and promoting women’s access to sport.

“With regard to these members of the Afghan Olympic Community, the IOC is continuing its assistance in two different ways. Firstly, it is making every effort to get them evacuated to safe countries. Secondly, the IOC has been informed that a number of those having to remain are suffering from the humanitarian crisis in the country with regard to the availability of food and clothing. The IOC will therefore establish a humanitarian fund to provide assistance to them in these difficult times. In both matters, the NOC of Qatar has offered logistical cooperation with regard to transport from Kabul and the distribution of the humanitarian assistance. …

“All Afghan Olympians from Tokyo, as well as the two Beijing hopefuls, are confirmed to be outside the country. For these athletes, Olympic Solidarity has committed to supporting them through scholarships and training grants. The IOC has also provided safe passage to the NOC President, NOC Secretary General and a number of National Federation members.”

● Awards ● The recent Association of National Olympic Committee (ANOC) General Assembly in Crete included awards related to the Tokyo 2020 Games:

● Best Male Athlete of Tokyo 2020: Eliud Kipchoge (KEN)
● Best Female Athlete of Tokyo 2020: Maggie MacNeil (CAN)
● Best Male Multi-Athlete Event: Italy Track Cycling Team Pursuit
● Best Female Multi-Athlete Event: Estonia Fencing Epee Team
● Best Male Team of Tokyo 2020: Japan Baseball
● Best Female Team of Tokyo 2020: New Zealand Rugby Sevens
● Outstanding Athlete Performance: Mijain Lopez (CUB)

Observed: These were all fine performers in Tokyo, but the selections raise plenty of questions.

What about Australian swimming star Emma McKeon, who won a Games-high seven medals? MacNeil won three. What about American Caeleb Dressel, who won five golds?

What about the U.S. women’s basketball team, which won its seventh straight gold and now has 55 Olympic wins in a row? And so on.

More appropriately, the AAU’s 91st James E. Sullivan Award, given annually to America’s best athlete, was co-awarded to Dressel and gymnastics icon Simone Biles for 2021 last Friday (22nd) in a live ceremony in Orlando, Florida.

Unfortunately, neither Dressel or Biles could attend; Olympic women’s 800 m champion Athing Mu, women’s water polo double Olympic gold medalist Maddie Musselman and college baseball Player of the Year, Arkansas pitcher Kevin Kopps, were the other finalists.

● National Olympic Committees ● The British government signaled Tuesday that it is prepared to spend £41 million (about $56.3 million U.S.) to support bids for the 2025 for the Women’s Rugby World Cup, the “Grand Depart” of the 2026 Tour de France and a joint Britain-Ireland bid for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

This isn’t for the events, but for the bids for the events!

Rishi Sunak, the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, spoke of the opportunity to have world-class events in Britain in the future. “That’s why I’m backing these British bids, with over £40m of funding to make our case. Our bids will include events taking place across the country, and I’m hopeful that everyone will get a chance to cheer on their sporting heroes.”

Nadine Dorries, the British Secretary for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, added: “The UK has a proven, world-beating record for staging the biggest events in sport. We are backing both ambitious bids with funding because they will give people the chance to see fantastic world-class sport on home soil and hosting such prestigious events will boost local economies, jobs and opportunities.”

UK Sport, the government agency responsible for investments in Olympic and Paralympic sport in the country, has spent money far off the field of play before. It spent £120,000 (~$165,000 U.S. today) on the campaign of Brian Cookson to be UCI President in 2013 and £63,000 (~$86,600 U.S. today) on the Sebastian Coe’s run for IAAF President in 2015. Of the Coe expenditure, The Guardian reported that “it covered the cost of the Vero Communications consultancy of £52,000 plus VAT.”

The World Anti-Doping Agency announced Tuesday that an investigation “known as ‘Operation Hercules’, was launched in 2019, and has uncovered evidence to suggest that since 2012 [the Ukranian Anti-Doping Agency: NADC] has conducted unjustified advance-notice sample collections, arranging to test athletes – including groups of athletes – by appointment at the NADC offices. The [anti-doping rules] states that, save in exceptional and justifiable circumstances, sample collection must take place with no advance warning to the athlete – a fundamental feature of an effective, unpredictable testing program.”

This is a serious problem.

WADA’s intelligence and investigations chief Gunter Younger (GER) said: “‘Operation Hercules’ has convincing and corroborated evidence that NADC was engaged in the practice of telephoning athletes or contacting them through their coaches to request their attendance at the NADC, the following day, for testing. The evidence suggests that NADC would adopt this practice often before important international events and there were times when an entire discipline of the national team was present at the NADC awaiting testing.”

Further, WADA stated that the evidence suggests that six in-competition tests were reported as out-of-competition samples in order to meet the required number of out-of-competition tests for an athlete to compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

A “compliance process” has been started by WADA, so look for a future suspension of the Ukranian anti-doping agency.

● Athletics ● The Oregonian’s Ken Goe reported on Monday a lengthy story titled, “Women athletes allege body shaming within Oregon Ducks track and field program.”

The lead:

“Six women athletes who left the University of Oregon track and field program in recent seasons say they felt devalued as individuals and at risk for eating disorders because of the program’s data-driven approach to their weight and body fat percentages.”

The Oregon coaching staff uses blood tests, hydration tests, and DEXA scans that determine a person’s bone density and body fat percentage as tools to design workouts. Some athletes complained that the emphasis on body fat percentage, in particular, caused them to reduce their food intake, sometimes dangerously.

Others had no problem with the program. Multiple comments on Goe’s Twitter account recounted past experiences at other schools related to weight loss in both men’s and women’s sports programs.

USA Track & Field was mentioned with reference to Oregon coach Robert Johnson, whose authority was characterized by one athlete as:

“There are people who would lose their ability to go to the Pre Classic or lose USATF funding, because speaking up against him is like speaking up against basically USA Track & Field.”

USATF posted a statement in reply, including “USATF strongly believes in a culture of safe sport, promoting respect, and preventing abuse, bullying, and harassment to create a healthy environment for athletes to safely train and compete” and “USATF does not provide support to college athletes.”

Observed: As many of the Twitter replies to Goe noted, this is not a new issue. And Oregon and other schools with money to spend are all trying to find an edge, whether body fat percentage or something else. Reports on this will continue to pop up for months and years. Don’t be surprised. The new question is finding new (old?) ways to coach and to motivate today’s youth who make the choice to participate in sports.

● Ice Hockey ● As further fall-out from the lack of action by the Chicago Blackhawks front office to allegations of sexual abuse in 2010, Stan Bowman resigned as the General Manager of the U.S. Olympic men’s Hockey Team for Beijing 2022.

Bowman “stepped aside” from his roles as General Manager and President of Hockey Operations for the Blackhawks after an outside report concluded that no action was taken after allegations of abuse were made against former video coach Brad Aldrich in 2010.

Said Bowman in a statement, “In light of what’s happened today, I think it’s in the best interests of USA Hockey for me to step aside. I’m grateful to have been selected and wish our team the very best in Beijing.”

USA Hockey is expected to name successor soon; Minnesota Wild General Manager Bill Guerin is currently the Assistant General Manager for the men’s team.

● Swimming ● Australian businessman David Brandi, said to be a principal investor in the to-be-launched Australian Swimming League was sentenced to two years in jail after pleading guilty to fraud against the government.

The Australian Swimming League was announced in July and has targeted its launch in the fourth quarter of 2022, working in conjunction with Swimming Australia. No indications yet if the loss of Brandi will significantly impact the project.

≡ SCOREBOARD ≡

● Football ● After a surprising 0-0 tie with South Korea on the 21st, the U.S. Women’s National Team got back to scoring on Tuesday evening with a 6-0 win over the Koreans in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The game was mostly a salute to retiring star Carli Lloyd, 39, playing in her 316th international game for the U.S. She did not score, but finishes with 134 goals, no. 3 on the all-time U.S. list and no. 4 on the all-time world list.

She still has a few games to play with Gotham FC in the NWSL, but she was saluted prior to the games and by 18,115 fans in attendance, especially when she was subbed for in the 66th minute. As a two-time FIFA World Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017, a two-time Women’s World Cup winner and twice an Olympic gold medalist, she’s one of the greatest players in the history of the women’s game.

Lloyd and her teammates struggled to score in the first half, with Lindsay Horan getting a goal in the ninth minute, but then nothing for almost the rest of the half. But just before the whistle, a corner kick from Catarina Macario was headed toward the Korean goal by Andi Sullivan and deflected off of defender Sohyun Cho for an own goal and a 2-0 U.S. lead.

Alex Morgan got the third U.S. goal in the 69th minute and then the Koreans tired badly at the end of the game and the U.S. got late scores from Megan Rapinoe in the 85th minute, Rose Lavelle in the 89th minute and Lynn Williams at 90+2 for the 6-0 final.

The U.S. women now have a 62-match unbeaten streak on U.S. soil (56-0-6). Keeper Jane Campbell got the shutout, but didn’t have a lot to do, as the U.S. outshot Korea, 29-2.

A two-game trip for the U.S. women to Sydney (AUS) for late November is being worked on, but still requires Covid-19 protocol approvals to be finalized.

● Ice Hockey ● Canada defeated the U.S. women for the second straight time in the seven-game My Why Tour series, 3-2, in Hartford. Connecticut on Monday (25th).

The Canadians scored on their first two shots of the game, getting a goal from Victoria Bach just 36 seconds into the first period and a second by Sarah Fillier at 5:03. The U.S. cut the deficit to 2-1 with a power-play goal from Cayla Barnes at 12:32 and that’s how the period ended, despite an 11-4 edge for the Americans in shots.

The U.S. drew even at 5:34 of the second period, with Amanda Kessel scoring off a Brianne Decker assist.

The third period was tightly contested, but Canada was on the offensive and Fillier scored the game-winner at 16:02 on a power play, set up by Brianne Jenner. The U.S. managed only three shots in the period to Canada’s nine.

The next set of games will be on 21 and 23 November in Kingston and Ottawa; one game will be played in December and two in the first week of January.

≡ THE LAST WORD ≡

The 43rd Empire State Building Run-Up was held at the Art Deco icon on New York’s 34th Street on Tuesday (26th). The race was up 86 stories, 1,576 steps and 1,050 feet from the lobby to the Observatory.

The winner was Malaysia’s Wai Ching Soh, who finished in 10:46, followed by Frank Carreno of Colombia (11:23). Soh moved up from second in 2019 and won in his second try in the race.

A total of 191 runners contested the event; American Cindy Harris was the top women’s finisher at 11th overall in 14:01.

This event makes you tired just thinking about it!

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LANE ONE: USA Gymnastics reorganization plan approved to go to a vote that could see 60% of 510 abuse claims paid in 2022

By
Rich Perelman
-
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana

“The Disclosure Statement is approved is approved pursuant to Section 1125 of the Bankruptcy Code and provides holders of Claims entitled to vote on the Plan with adequate information to make an informed decision as to whether to vote to accept or reject the Plan.”

That statement, part of a 76-page order released Tuesday by U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana Judge Robin L. Moberly, allows the comprehensive reorganization program for USA Gymnastics to go to a vote. If passed, it would create a fund of possibly more than $427 million to pay the abuse and other claimants resulting from the Larry Nassar abuse scandal and related events. Next:

● 29 Oct. 2021: Information and ballots will be distributed to those Claimants eligible to vote on the Plan.

● 29 Nov. 2021: Ballots must be received by this date.

● 02 Dec. 2021: Voting report to be filed with the Court.

● 03 Dec. 2021: Objections to the confirmation of the plan must be filed (with replies due by 10 December).

● 13 Dec. 2021: Hearing to consider confirmation of the Plan.

The Plan can be confirmed by a majority vote in each class of claims which are eligible to vote (there are six classes). Both USA Gymnastics and the Additional Tort Claimants Committee of Sexual Abuse Survivors filed letters of endorsement of the Plan, which will be sent with the ballots. If approved, USA Gymnastics, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and numerous other parties – including for U.S. national team coaches Bela and Martha Karolyi – would be released from any and all liability related to the abuse scandal.

In Class 6, which is the sexual abuse claims group, a total of 510 validated claims have been filed (59 against someone other than Nassar) and the potentially available funding in the settlement pool is $400,659,129.

However, not all of the insurers of USA Gymnastics and the USOPC have agreed to participate. The Disclosure Statement notes that the eight settling insurers’ commitments total $292,332,331 or 73.4% of the total settlement offer, but that TIG Insurance Company ($106,201,818 or 26.6% of the total) has not agreed to participate.

Houston-based TIG had total assets of $926.2 million at the end of 2020, including $410.1 million in retained earnings and paid-in capital. It insured USA Gymnastics from June 1986 through July 1998 and then from August 2001 to July 2004 and the USA Gymnastics Plan of Reorganization shows a total of 199 claims (out of 510 total or 39.0%) against TIG.

So, if the Plan is approved, USA Gymnastics and the Survivors Committee can elect for a “Partial Settlement Option,” under which all of the claims made against insurers other than TIG Insurance will be paid from the already-agreed $292.3 million fund, and those with actions against TIG can pursue them directly in court. USA Gymnastics and the Survivors Committee could decide on a “Litigation Only Alternative” and it’s everyone for themselves, with lawsuits to be filed by all Claimants directly against insurers if they wish to pursue a claim; that’s seen as unlikely.

USA Gymnastics also received 339 non-abuse claims, mostly for “amounts due for services provided by chaperones, instructors and coaches at various training camps, competitions and other gymnastics events.” These will also be paid from the insurers’ funding pool.

The actual amount to be received will be determined by a complex “points system” which compiles the harm to each survivor under the direction of retired Judge William Bettinelli.

If the Plan is confirmed and the Partial Settlement Option is selected (as is likely), then Bettinelli and his staff will ask each of the survivors whose claims are covered by the participating insurers (all but TIG at this time):

● To file – within 30 days of a request – a “written (personal) statement” which “shall be no longer than 5 pages in length, single sided, double spaced with 12-point font.”

● An optional personal interview with Bettinelli can be arranged if desired by telephone, videoconference or in-person.

● A points system will be used to evaluate each claim, including

1. “Pre-Existing Risk and Resiliency Factors” (up to 20 points);
2. “Nature of the Sexual Abuse” (40);
3. “Post-Abuse Mental and Physical Functioning” (40);
4. “Legal Considerations” (20);
5. “Post-Abuse Employment Issues” (30);
6. “Assessment of Global Severity of Impact/Suffering” (20)
7. “Additional Factors for Olympians and National Team Members and other Survivors” (20).

The actual payout will be determined by adding up all the points from all Claimants and dividing the available funding by the points total. This will give a value for a single point; the Plan explains it as “if there are 100 Abuse Claimants, who are awarded a total of 5,000 points, with a total net Settlement Fund of $1 million, each point would be valued at $200.” Then each Claimant would be paid by their number of points multiplied by the single-point value.

An individual’s point total can be appealed for reconsideration with 14 days.

A 1% reserve will be established for “Future Claimants,” who did not properly make their claims, but will have them separately considered apart from the 510 confirmed Abuse Claims now before the Court.

Complicated? Yes. But the agreement of the Court to this program as proposed by USA Gymnastics and the Survivors Committee is a major step forward towards the outright settlement of as many as 311 abuse claims and many of the other outstanding claims in this proceeding, which started with the bankruptcy filing by USA Gymnastics on 5 December 2018.

The understated conclusion of the Disclosure Statement includes “The Debtor believes that confirmation and implementation of the Plan is preferable to any other alternative.”

There is little doubt that this is true, and if adopted by mid-December, the Plan will lead to more than 60% of the claims being concluded and paid by the middle of 2022. But if TIG Insurance decides to litigate its 199 claims – which appears a real possibility at the moment – the court cases surrounding the Nassar scandal – and the retelling of his abuses – will likely go on into the middle of this decade.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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For our 743-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

HEARD AT HALFTIME: Beijing 2022 playbooks released; 2019 World Beach Games cost $23.5 million; Bruce Jenner almost lit the ‘84 torch!

By
Rich Perelman
-

(For our highlights of a very, very busy past week in sport, click here.)

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

≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

The Beijing 2022 “Playbooks” were released Monday with instructions on Covid protection for everyone involved in the Winter Games.

The athlete and team officials edition notes that vaccination is required 14 days prior to entering China; if not, a 21-day quarantine in-country is mandated. Two PCR tests are required with 96 hours of entering China, and upon arrival and daily while at the Games.

Exceptions will only be made for medical reasons, as judged by Beijing 2022 and the IOC or International Paralympic Committee. As for access to vaccines, “The IOC and the IPC are working with the NOCs and NPCs to encourage and assist all Games participants in their territories to get vaccinated before they go to China, in line with national immunisation guidelines.”

A “closed loop management system will be in place on arrival with accommodation, transport and venues to be visited agreed with Beijing 2022 in advance; free movement allowed after 21 days as long as the integrity of the loop has been maintained.”

There can be no doubt that strict adherence to the “bubble” will be maintained in China. The Covid Liaison Officer (CLO) program will be in place for all organizations as it was in Tokyo. Participants will be required to check in daily on a smartphone app to report their health status.

Limiting physical contact, social distancing, constant hand washing and “Masks should be worn at all times when providing assistance to others” are all emphasized repeatedly. There will be partitions in dining halls.

And as with Tokyo, “Avoid shouting, cheering and singing – show support or celebrate by clapping instead.”

Privacy advocates will not be happy with these provisions:

“Some of the countermeasures in this Playbook require collecting and processing personal data of accredited Games participants. This includes biographical information (such as name, date of birth, accreditation number) and health-related data (such as body temperature, symptoms, health status report, vaccination status).”

and

“Personal data will be processed in accordance with applicable laws and regulations by the following entities (each for their respective operations): Beijing 2022, Chinese authorities (including the Chinese National Government, local authorities and other authorities in
charge of health and safety protocols), the IOC, the IPC and others involved in the implementation of the countermeasures, including NOCs/NPCs/IFs (where applicable), healthcare and medical service providers.”

Compliance regulations looked to be the same as for Tokyo, with warnings, following by temporary or permanent withdrawals of accreditation, disqualification and potential fines.

As with Tokyo, this will not be an easy Games.

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● XXIV Olympic Winter Games: Beijing 2022 ● Three activists from the Students for a Free Tibet group that demonstrated during the lighting of the Olympic Flame at Olympia were released from Greek custody a day later and ordered to return for trial on 3 February 2022.

The SFT statement noted that “Chemi Lhamo (Tibetan-Canadian), Jason Leith (United Kingdom) of London-based campaign organization Free Tibet, and activist Fern MacDougal (USA), were arrested” at Olympia and charged with “destruction of a monument” although no damage to the site was observed. A total of nine activists protesting the Beijing 2022 Games were arrested in Greece and all have been released.

● International Olympic Committee ● The IOC announced that it will reduce its atmospheric emissions by 30% by 2024 and 50% by 2030, explaining “Its action plan to deliver on this commitment will now be updated with increased efforts to reduce emissions in the areas of travel, energy use and procurement.”

This places the IOC in line with the United Nations Sports for Climate Action Framework, adopted in 2018, requiring a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030.

Observed: This is a nice show of support by the IOC, but if you want to reduce emissions, have fewer events … a lot fewer. Olympic Agenda 2020+5 talks about reforming the international sports calendar: here’s the opportunity to do it. By the way, this will slash competition opportunities across the globe and hurt athlete development, but that’s the price of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, isn’t it?

● Association of National Olympic Committees ● The ANOC General Assembly was held in Crete on 24-25 October, with 148 National Olympic Committee representatives on site and another 57 participating online.

A long set of resolutions was unveiled at the end of the program, but interestingly included a major swipe at FIFA’s ongoing consideration of a biennial World Cup:

“The 205 NOCs share the concerns voiced by many within the sports movement that FIFA’s plan to change the football calendar and to hold the World Cup every two years will pose a great threat to the survival of many sports other than football that are under the NOCs responsibility. The proposals tabled by FIFA will increase the congestion of the global sporting calendar. This will have a negative impact on sports events organised by the national member federations of NOCs as well as regional and Continental Games under the authority of the NOCs. Furthermore, it will negatively affect the football athletes’ welfare. The NOCs noted the lack of consultation by FIFA in this process in particular with regards to the IOC that showed a regrettable lack of solidarity and respect to other sports.”

Another resolution was to ask for the inclusion of more Olympic qualifying events within continental Games (such as the Pan American Games). This is an important way to guarantee better attendance by star athletes in such Games.

The financial presentation showed a loss for calendar year 2019 of $4.69 million and $3.58 million for calendar year 2020. ANOC is almost completely subsidized by the IOC, to the tune of $16.25 million in 2019 and $12.25 million in 2020, about 97% of ANOC’s total revenues. ANOC spends about $3.5 million a year on its operations, but in 2020 distributed an additional $11.65 million to NOCs for support during the pandemic.

ANOC showed reserves of $20.51 million at the end of 2020, with three-quarters of this amount consisting of unspent IOC subsidy funds. The IOC will severely reduce its subsidy to just $4.0 million per year from 2021-24 – due to its increased direct support to NOCs due to the pandemic – and so the ANOC’s finances will be challenged going forward.

There was also a breakdown of the costs of the inaugural World Beach Games in Doha in 2019. The total costs were $23.5 million, with $16.1 million covered by the Qatar National Olympic Committee and $7.4 million by ANOC (with $5.5 million in 2019). Almost half of the cost was for athlete and staff accommodations and 17% for media support, including the television production.

Indonesia was announced as the site for the 2023 World Beach Games, but the total ANOC financial support is projected at just $1.3 million.

● Athletics ● World Athletics released the nominees for its World Athlete of the Year, with 10 selections for both men and women:

● Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) ~ Olympic 5,000 m champion
● Ryan Crouser (USA) ~ Olympic Shot champion
● Mondo Duplantis (SWE) ~ Olympic Vault champion
● Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) ~ Olympic 1,500 m champion
● Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) ~ Olympic Marathon champion
● Pedro Pichardo (POR) ~ Olympic Triple Jump champion
● Daniel Stahl (SWE) ~ Olympic Discus champion
● Miltiadis Tentoglou (GRE) ~ Olympic Long Jump champion
● Damian Warner (CAN) ~ Olympic Decathlon champion
● Karsten Warholm (NOR) ~ Olympic 400 m hurdles champion

● Valarie Allman (USA) ~ Olympic Discus champion
● Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PUR) ~ Olympic 100 m hurdles champion
● Sifan Hassan (NED) ~ Olympic 5,000 m and 10,000 m champion
● Faith Kipyegon (KEN) ~ Olympic 1,500 m champion
● Mariya Lasitskene (RUS) ~ Olympic High Jump champion
● Sydney McLaughlin (USA) ~ Olympic 400 m hurdles champion
● Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH) ~ Olympic 400 m champion
● Athing Mu (USA) ~ Olympic 800 m champion
● Yulimar Rojas (VEN) ~ Olympic Triple Jump champion
● Elaine Thompson-Herah (JAM) ~ Olympic 100-200 m champion

Italian fans and media were livid that surprise men’s 100 m and 4×100 m champ Lamont Marcell Jacobs was not nominated (and they are right).

Fans can vote on the World Athletics pages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; these votes could for 25% of the total, with half the vote coming from the World Athletics Council.

More sadness, with the announcement of the death of Ecuadorian sprinter Alex Quinonez last Friday in Guayaquil, 32, apparently shot along with another man outside a shopping center.

The bronze medalist in the men’s 200 m in the 2019 World Championships, he had a best of 19.87 from 2019 and is the national record holder.

This is on top of the horrific death of Kenyan distance star Agnes Tirop, the 2017 and 2019 World Championships 10,000 m bronze medalist, who was stabbed to death by her husband on 13 October 2021, ten days short of her 26th birthday. On what would have been her birthday on Saturday, she was buried.

Another Kenyan athlete, 400 m runner Edith Muthoni, 27 (56.65 in 2019), was murdered by her boyfriend on the 12th in Kerugoya. The boyfriend (not named) was promptly arrested.

Hosea Macharinyang, a distance runner who was a member of three Kenyan World Cross Country Championships teams, was found dead at his home in Murkwijit Village on 9 October, apparently a suicide.

Sunday’s Standard Chartered Marathon in Hong Kong was not only a race for about 15,000 entrants, but also a show of censorship in the wake of a “national security law” passed in 2020.

Instructions to runners included “Do not wear outfits with political messages. Those who fail to comply will not be allowed to take part. The Organiser may report the case to law enforcement agencies for follow-up.”

Multiple runners were told, on-site, to cover tattoos and change or remove their shirts for various slogans. Apparently, no arrests were made.

● Boxing ● Another black eye for boxing as the AIBA men’s World Championships in Belgrade (SRB) opened, but without the Kosovo team, which was not allowed to enter the country.

Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008 and was prepared to send three boxers to the 2021 Championships. The Associated Press reported:

“The boxers tried to cross the border with Serbia on Saturday but were asked not to wear their sports uniforms featuring their country’s logo. A repeat attempt on Sunday also failed despite efforts from the International Boxing Association, according to the Kosovo federation’s secretary general Latif Demolli.”

AIBA released a statement that noted that this situation “was foreseen,” but despite its regulations to allow all participants into the host country, “a solution could not be found with the local organizing committee and Serbian Government.”

Reuters reported the IOC response to include:

“It appears that AIBA has not applied the necessary due diligence before allocating this tournament to Belgrade, despite the fact that the IOC has repeatedly advised the international federations of the necessity of such due diligence.”

Already under deep scrutiny by the IOC as regards Paris 2024, this is another stumble for AIBA to be considered as the worldwide governing body for boxing, and for the sport to remain on the Olympic program.

Los Angeles 1984 Olympic 48 kg boxing champion Paul Gonzales pled no contest to two charges of lewd conduct with minors and “was sentenced to three years and four months in state prison and ordered to register as a sex offender for life.”

Now 57, Gonzales committed the acts in 2017; he had been a coach at an East Los Angeles boxing club that was part of the City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department.

● Figure Skating ● On Friday, from the International Skating Union:

“The ISU is currently investigating the reported homophobic comments by a Coach who is not an ISU Official relating to participants of the recent Finlandia Trophy. This investigation may result in disciplinary proceedings in line with the ISU Code of Ethics.”

The reference is to Russian coach Alexander Vedenin, who objected to France’s Guillaume Cizeron as being gay as part of the star Ice Dance team with Gabriella Papadakis. The pair are four-time World Champions.

Said the federation, “Any person involved in ISU activities who does not respect the prohibition of discrimination is subject to disciplinary proceedings.” Stay tuned.

● Football ● Los Angeles’s Angel City FC announced a new player compensation bonus last week:

“One percent of the net ticketing revenue from all of Angel City’s home regular season NWSL games will be divided equally amongst each player on the ACFC roster who opts in and supports marketing initiatives to drive ticket sales on their own social media channels, utilizing their name and likeness.”

Angel City President Julie Uhrman also revealed that the club had sold 11,000 season tickets ahead of its 2022 season debut at Banc of California Stadium (capacity 22,000). That’s easily no. 2 in the NWSL – behind Portland – and the team has not played a minute yet.

Observed: This is a really good idea and a way to get players promoting the club for a little extra money. AngelsonParade.com calculated the bonus might only be worth $1,000 a season, but it’s an interesting and forward-looking idea for an expansion team in a league which is attendance-challenged except for Portland.

● Swimming ● The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Saturday “A number of Australia’s biggest Olympic swimming stars are caught up in the financial maelstrom engulfing the International Swimming League (ISL), with talks of a boycott of November’s finals emerging due to lack of payment for athletes, staff and contractors.”

The story reported that ISL has not paid all of its swimmers for the 2020 season, not to mention 2021, with the regular season completed and playoffs to begin in November. Reports have also indicated that event venues in Great Britain and Hungary have not been paid and will not allow ISL back in.

ISL’s founder, Ukranian billionaire Konstantin Grigorishin has acknowledged losses of possibly $20 million in each of the first two seasons and has said that the league must get to break-even to be able to survive.

● Triathlon ● Another Russian doping positive as Igor Polyanskiy was suspended for three years due to a positive test for Erythropoietin (EPO) on 21 July 2021, just prior to the Tokyo Games. He finished 43rd in the men’s event and was on the Russian Mixed Relay team, which was 14th. Both results will now be nullified.

His suspension will run until 10 August 2024.

● Volleyball ● Another athlete murder, this time of Mahjabin Hakimi, a member of the Afghan junior women’s national volleyball team. She was apparently beheaded in August, but reports only filtered out on social media – including pictures – last week.

It may be that she was killed before the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan, but she was killed in the capital city of Kabul. The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) has promised to investigate and try to prevent future such incidents.

● Weightlifting ● More bad news from Russia, as the International Testing Agency reported an anti-doping violation against Rodion Bochkov, 28, who competed in the 105 kg and 109 kg classes, winning a European Championships silver at 109 kg in 2019.

A 6 September 2021 test came back positive “for the prohibited steroid dehydrochloromethyl- testosterone metabolite (DHCMT)” and a re-analysis of a 2015 sample also showed positive for DHCMT. The Russian disciplinary panel ruled that no violation had occurred with the 2015 sample, but this is being appealed by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

The ITA will now process the second sample from Bochkov taken in September and if also positive, he could be sanctioned for up to eight years if the “no-fault” decision from his 2015 sample is overturned.

Observed: Current doping positives are bad news for this sport, which is already on the edge of exclusion from the Olympic program. With so much bad doping history in this sport, the IOC might decide to cut it loose and not have to worry about it any more. No decision will be made until after the International Weightlifting Federation’s elections in December.

≡ AT THE BUZZER ≡

During last Thursday’s celebration of the life of 1960 Olympic gold medalist Rafer Johnson, fellow Olympic champion (from 1976) and Los Angeles Olympic Committee Board member John Naber recalled the famous lighting of the torch to start the 1984 Games, and the plan if Rafer couldn’t make it:

“During the 1984 Olympic Opening Ceremonies, I was among a few athletes to be honored to escort the Olympic flag – the five-ring flag – into the stadium. Included on that were divers Sammy Lee and Patty McCormick, boxer Richie Sandoval, runners Wyomia Tyus, Mack Robinson, Billy Mills, the discus champion Al Oerter, the shot putter Parry O’Brien, the decathlete Bruce Jenner, and Jim Thorpe’s grandson, Bill Thorpe, Jr.

“After raising the flag, we stood at the track edge, and I noticed as the Olympic Torch was making its way around, Bruce Jenner was bending over, pulling down his pants. ‘Bruce, what on earth are you doing,’ I said. He smiled and he said, ‘You know, [ceremony producer] David Wolper was concerned, because in dress rehearsal, Rafer had difficulty climbing up those tall stairs, so Wolper asked me to wear some running shorts under by parade uniform and in case Rafer stumbles, I’m supposed to go on in and grab the torch and finish the relay.’

“I said, ‘Bruce, if Rafer stumbles, it’s every man for himself, ‘cause I want to carry that torch.’ Right then, I felt Al Oerter’s big paw on my shoulder – boom! – ‘John, it’s not who gets the torch, it’s who keeps the torch’ (laughter in the crowd).

“We all stood to attention as Rafer came by, and I smiled, thinking to myself, ‘Wow, I wish I was given the honor of carrying the Olympic Flame the final leg of the Torch Relay.’ Thirty-one years later, as he again lit the cauldron in the Coliseum of the 2015 International Special Olympics, I realized that such an honor is never given, it has to be earned.”

Johnson had suffered a bad leg cramp – a charley horse – during the rehearsal and Wolper needed a back-up (Jenner). But Rafer, in one of his best-ever feats of athleticism, climbed the staircase as it was rising (!) and got to the top to light the cauldron. The wind had been blowing hard enough during the rehearsal that Johnson required the installation of a pole he could hang on to at the top of the steps, which he said later he absolutely needed during the ceremony, especially when the staircase came back down!

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HIGHLIGHTS: Shiffrin opens season with 70th World Cup win; Zhou surprises at Skate America; U.S.’s Nedoroscik wins Pommel Horse gold

By
Rich Perelman
-
American skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin

Headline results of noteworthy competitions around the world:

● Alpine Skiing ● The FIS Alpine World Cup season opened in Soelden (AUT) with Giant Slaloms for men and women and the return of American superstar Mikaela Shiffrin to the top of the podium.

Shiffrin trailed Swiss rival Lara Gut-Behrami by 0.02 seconds after the first run, but stormed down the hill with the fastest second run (1:04.40) and ended with a tight, 2:07.22-2:07.36 win for the 70th World Cup victory of her career. It was her first in Soelden since 2014.

Gut-Behrami was second and Slovakian star Petra Vlhova (2:08.52) was third. American Nina O’Brien was ninth.

Swiss Marco Odermatt recorded his fifth career World Cup win on Sunday, edging Austria’s Roland Leitinger, 2:05.94-2:06.01. American River Radamus was sixth (2:06.62).

The skiers will rest for a month and then start the season in earnest in Levi (FIN) on 20-21 November.

● Athletics ● Another weekend, another world road record, as Ethiopia’s Letsenbet Gidey mauled the Half Marathon mark, winning in Valencia (ESP) in 1:02:52, destroying the 1:04:02 mark by Kenyan star Ruth Chepngetich in April.

Sunday’s race was the debut at the distance for Gidey, who won the 10,000 m bronze in Tokyo and owns the world records on the track for 5,000 m (14:06.63 in 2020) and 10,000 m (29:01.03 in 2021).

Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw was a distant second, but also under the old mark at 1:03:51, and Kenyan Sheila Chepkirui was third at 1:04:53.

The men’s race was also speedy, won by Abel Kipchumba (KEN) in a world-leading 58:07, followed by Rhonex Kipruto (KEN: 58:09) and Daniel Mateiko (KEN: 58:26), with seven under 59 minutes.

For Kipchumba, he moves to no. 6 on the all-time list (no. 6 performance) and Kipruto’s time is the seventh-fastest performance in history.

Olympic bronze medalist Bashir Abdi (BEL) won the always-fast Rotterdam Marathon in 2:03:36, no. 2 on the world list for 2021.

Abdi beat Kenya’s Marius Kipserem (2:04:04: no. 6 in 2021) and Dawit Wolde (ETH: 2:04:27) to the line and is now equal-14th fastest ever, in his sixth career marathon.

Kenyan Stella Barsorio won the women’s race in 2:22:08 over Natalya Lehonkova (UKR: 2:30:28) and Bornes Kitur (KEN: 2:30:41).

● Badminton ● The BWF Thomas and Uber Cup in Aarhus, Denmark got new champions as the 2020 tournament was finally played – thanks to Covid – in 2021.

In the Thomas Cup (for men), Indonesia won its first title since 2002, defeating China in the final by 3-0. The Chinese had won six of the last eight.

The Uber Cup final (for women) saw China sail past Japan, 3-1, in the final, for its 10th victory in the last 12 editions of the event.

In the Victor Denmark Open that concluded on Sunday, home favorite – and Tokyo Olympic champ – Viktor Axelsen won the men’s Singles over no. 1-ranked Kento Momota of Japan by coming from behind: 20-22, 21-18, 21-12.

Japan won three other divisions, with Akane Yamaguchi winning the women’s Singles, Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi winning men’s Doubles and Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino taking the women’s Doubles. China’s DongPing Huang and Yu Zheng won the Mixed Doubles.

● Cycling ● Germany, the Netherlands and Italy dominated the UCI World Track Cycling Championships in Roubaix (FRA), with Dutch sprinter Harrie Levreysen and Germany’s Lea Friedrich both taking three golds each.

Lavreysen, the Olympic champ in the Sprint, won his third Worlds Sprint title over teammate Jeffrey Hoogland, then also won the Keirin over Hoogland and teamed with Hoogland and Roy van den Berg to win the Team Sprint.

Hoogland got an individual gold in the 1,000 m Time Trial. American Ashton Lambie won the only U.S. men’s medal with a win in the Individual Pursuit. France’s Donovan Grondin and Benjamin Thomas won the Scratch and Points races, respectively and Italian star Elia Viviani took the Elimination Race. Danes Lasse Norman Hansen and Michael Morkov won the Madison and Ethan Hayter (GBR) won the Omnium.

German women won six of the 11 races, with Friedrich winning the 500 m Time Trial, Keirin and teaming with Emma Hinze (who won the Sprint) and Pauline Grabosch to win the Team Sprint. Lisa Brennauer won the Individual Pursuit and led the German Team Pursuit squad to victory.

Italy got wins from Martina Fidanza in the Scratch Race and Letizia Paternoster won the Elimination Race. Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky won the Points Race and British star Katie Archibald won the Omnium. Amy Pieters and Kirsten Wild (NED) won the Madison.

American Jennifer Valente, the Tokyo Omnium champ, won bronzes in the Scratch and Elimination races, giving her a career total of 11 Worlds medals at just age 26!

The UCI Women’s World Tour concluded on Saturday with the famed Ronde van Drenthe race in the Netherlands, won by home favorite Lorena Wiebes in a final sprint ahead of Italy’s Elena Cecchini and Eleonora Gasparinni, with all times in 4:07:34 for the 134.1 km route.

The final seasonal standings saw Dutch star Annemiek van Vleuten win her second title with 3,177 points, well ahead of Demi Vollering (NED: 2,563).

In Sakarya, Turkey, the first of two weeks of BMX SuperCross World Cup racing was held, with Swiss Simon Marquardt winning the first race over French veteran Joris Daudet. On Sunday, it was Colombia’s Carlos Ramirez – the Tokyo bronze medalist – who got to the line first in 35.682, over Romain Racine (FRA: 36.276).

American Felicia Stancil – fourth in Tokyo – won the first women’s race, out-distancing Czech Elena Bartunkova, 37.656-38.445. Stancil was strong again on Sunday, but Dutch star Laura Smulders – the 2018 World Champion – prevailed by 39.603-39.829.

● Figure Skating ● American Vincent Zhou won his first ISU Grand Prix title with a sterling 295.56-point performance at Skate America at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, finishing well ahead of Japan’s Shoma Uno (270.68) and World Champion Nathan Chen (USA: 269.37). Zhou won both the Short Program and the Free Skate, while Chen was fourth and second, with his worst finish in a Grand Prix since 2016. American Jimmy Ma was fifth (228.12).

Russians took the top two places in the women’s skating, with Alexandra Trusova taking her third Grand Prix title at 232.37 points, winning both the Short Program and Free Skate. Daria Usacheva was second (217.31) and Korea’s Young You (216.97) third. American Amber Glenn finished sixth (201.02).

In Pairs, Russia’s Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov won easily at 222.50, ahead of Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara (JPN: 208.20) and Aleksandra Boikova and Dmitrii Kozlovskii (RUS: 205.53). Americans Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier were fourth (202.97) and Jessica Calalang and Brian Johnson fifth (197.42).

The U.S. claimed gold and silver in Ice Dance, with Worlds silver medalists Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue winning at 209.54, followed by Madison Chock and Evan Bates (208.23), both finishing well ahead of Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Sorensen (CAN: 190.13).

● Football ● The U.S. Women’s National Team played to a dreary 0-0 tie with South Korea on Thursday (21st) in Kansas City, ending a 22-game win streak on home soil thanks to star goalkeeping from Younggeul Yoon for the visitors.

The U.S. had a 19-8 edge in shots and 8-1 on goal, but Yoon was equal to the challenge every time. American keeper Adrianna Franch had only one shot to face, but saved a dangerous shot near the end of the first half.

The U.S. women will face the Koreans once again, in what is expected to be the final game of Carli Lloyd’s brilliant international career, on Tuesday (26th) in St. Paul, Minnesota at 8 p.m. Eastern time (shown on FS1 and TUDN).

● Freestyle & Snowboard ● The FIS World Cup seasons got going in Chur (SUI), with Big Air events in both disciplines and big results for the local favorites.

In Freestyle, Swiss fans cheered home hero Matej Svancer – the 2021 World Junior Champion – to a tight win in the men’s Big Air, scoring 99.00 to just edge Canada’s Teal Harle (98.00) and Norway’s Birk Ruud (97.25); all three got their scores on their second (final) run. The women’s event was won by 2019 World Champion Tess Ledeux (FRA), who beat 2018 Olympic Slopestyle winner Sarah Hoefflin (SUI), 95.25-93.25.

In Snowboard, Swiss Jonas Boesiger won his first career World Cup title, easily winning the men’s division by 162.00-141.00 over Finn Rene Rinnekangas. It was 16-year-old Kokomo Murase (JPN) with an upset in the women’s competition, taking her first career World Cup title and beating 2018 Olympic champ Anna Gasser (AUT), by 173.75-150.00.

● Gymnastics ● The 50th World Gymnastics Championships in Kitakyushu (JPN) produced several surprises, not the least of which was a Worlds gold for American Stephen Nedoroscik on the Pommel Horse.

Second in the qualifying at 15.366, Nedoroscik received the best score in the final for execution at 8.766 and won with 15.266 points, ahead of co-silver medalists Hao Weng (CHN) and Kaya Kazuma (JPN), both 14.900. American Alec Yoder was fifth (14.766).

It was the first-ever Worlds Pommel Horse title for the U.S. and first men’s gymnastics Worlds golds since Danell Leyna won on Parallel Bars in 2011!

The U.S. men also got a bronze on the Horizontal Bar from Brody Malone for his first career Worlds medal.

The men’s All-Around saw Olympic champ Daiki Hashimoto drop to silver, as China’s Boheng Zhang won by 87.981-87.964. The difference ended up being on Rings, where Zhang scored 14.600 to Hashimoto’s 13.966. Ukraine’s Ilya Kovtun was third (84.899) and American Yul Moldauer was fourth (84.365), the best American finish in the men’s All-Around since 2010.

The individual events went to Nicola Bartolini (ITA: 14.800) on Floor, beating Minami Kazuki (JPN: 14.766); Xingyu Lan (CHN: 15.200) over Marco Lodadio (ITA: 14.866) on Rings; Carlos Yulo (PHI: 14.916) defeated Yonekura Hidenobu (JPN: 14.866) on Vault; Huwei Hu (CHN: 15.466) bested Yulo (15.300) on Parallel Bars (Moldauer was fifth), and Hu (15.166) outscored Tokyo winner Hashimoto (15.066) on the Horizontal Bar with Malone third.

Many of the stars of the Tokyo Games skipped this Worlds, and the U.S. women entered a team of emerging stars. The American women won three medals – one silver and two bronzes – but missed out on a Worlds gold for the first time since the 2006 event.

In the All-Around, Olympic bronze medalist Angelina Melnikova (RUS) was the favorite and won in a tight battle with Americans Leanne Wong and Kayla DiCello, 56.632-56.340 and 54.566.

Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade won the Vault – as she did in Tokyo – scoring 14.966, ahead of Italy’s Asia D’Amato (14.083); China’s Xiaoyuan Wei (CHN) took the Uneven Bars (14.733) ahead of Andrade (14.633); Urara Ashikawa (JPN) won the Beam at 14.100, with Pauline Schaefer-Betz (GER: 13.800) second, Wong fourth and DiCello eighth, and Japan’s retiring Mai Murakami won on Floor, scoring 14.066, with Melnikova second (14.000) and Wong third (13.833); DiCello was fifth.

● Ice Hockey ● The “My Why Tour” between arch-rivals Canada and the U.S. opened with a 3-1 Canadian win in Allentown, Pennsylvania on Friday (22nd).

Canada went up, 1-0, on a Sarah Fillner goal in the first period, but Hayley Scamurra tied for the U.S. in the second period. But two goals from Emily Clark in the third period – one on a power play – proved to be too much for the Americans. The U.S. out-shot Canada, 29-19, but it didn’t matter.

The tour will continue on Monday (25th) with a re-match in Hartford, Connecticut (shown on NHL Network).

● Shooting ● The ISSF President’s Cup in Shotgun was held in Larnaca, Cyprus, ending on Sunday, including good performances from two U.S. stars.

In the Men’s Skeet final, it was Gabriele Rossetti (ITA) with the win; American Vincent Hancock – the Tokyo gold medalist – was fourth. The women’s division saw Austen Smith of the U.S., still just 20 and the youngest 2021 U.S. Olympian in shooting, defeated Slovakian star Danka Bartekova, 33-32 for the victory.

In Trap, Tokyo silver winner David Kostelecky (CZE) won the men’s final by 31-29 over countryman Jiri Liptak (the Tokyo gold medalist), and Spain’s 2015 World Champion, Fatima Galvez, edged Olympic silver medalist Kayle Browning of the U.S. in the women’s event by 32-29.

● Short Track ● The ISU World Cup opener in Beijing was also the test event in advance of the 2022 Winter Games.

The races were highly competitive, with five different countries winning the six individual events. Hungarian star Sandor Shaolin Liu took the 500 m Sprint in 40.711; Korea’s Daeheon Hwang won the men’s 1,000 m (1:26.020) and Russia’s Semen Elistratov won the 1,500 m (2:18.285).

The women’s 500 m was an impressive win for Natalia Maliszewska (POL): 43.226); Dutch star Suzanne Schulting won the 1,000 m (1:28.275) with American Kristen Santos third (1:28.433), and Korea’s Yubin Lee won the 1,500 m (2:21.833) with Santos third again (2:22.176).

● Swimming ● The third leg of the FINA (25 m) World Cup was held in Doha (QAT), with five-time World 25 m Championships gold medalist Daiya Seto of Japan showing he is in form, even though Japan will not be sending a team to the 2021 World 25 m Championships in December due to quarantine restrictions.

Seto won four events in Doha, taking the men’s 200 m Breast, 200 m Fly and the 100 m and 400 m Medleys. He was followed by South Africa’s Peter Coetzee, who won all three Backstroke events – 50-100-200 m – and three men who won twice: Matthew Sates (RSA: 400 m Free, 200 m Medley), American Tom Shields (50-100 m Flys) and Dutch star Arno Kamminga (50-100 m Breast).

The top women’s winner was Dutch backstroker Kira Toussaint, who won the 50-100-200 m events, and Russian Breaststroke star Yuliya Efimova, who won the 50-100-200 m events in that stroke. The double women’s winners included Swiss Maria Ugolkova (100-200 m Medleys), Madison Wilson (AUS: 200-400 m Frees), Emma McKeon (AUS: 100 Free, 100 m Fly), Hungary’s Zsuzsanna Jakabos (200 m Fly, 400 m Medley) and Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED: 50 m Free, 50 m Fly).

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LANE ONE: Rafer Johnson admired, praised and remembered as a true role model at touching UCLA ceremony

By
Rich Perelman
-

“He always saw himself as being like everyone else. But there was no denying that when you were in his company, you knew that he was not like everyone else.”

The amazing Rafer Johnson (1934-2020), the 1960 Olympic decathlon champion, founder of Special Olympics California and the final torchbearer for the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, was lovingly remembered by friends and family before a crowd of about 700 at UCLA’s Drake Stadium on Thursday afternoon (21st).

UCLA basketball star Mike Warren, a two-time NCAA champion in 1968 and 1969 and who later starred in television’s “Hill Street Blues” series, evoked the feelings of the 12 presenters and the audience with that simple statement.

Johnson was special and while initially intimidating at 6-3, 200 pounds and chiseled “like a Greek god” as one speaker remembered, he was so warm and so accessible that no one who ever met him ever referred to him as anything other than as “Rafer.”

UCLA staged the event in Drake Stadium, named for Johnson’s coach, Ducky Drake, with the track named for Rafer and Betsy Johnson, his wife of 50 years when he passed last December.

None of the speakers knew Rafer during his collegiate days in the 1950s, although some of his track & field teammates and fraternity brothers – he was the first Black to pledge to a national fraternity in UCLA history when he was there – were present in the stands. But Jazz Kiang, a current student and the Vice Chair of the Associated Student UCLA Board of Directors – remembering Johnson’s service as Student Body President in 1958 – noted his continuing impact:

“Rafer, the student leader, is a multi-generational call to action: identify issues, present solutions, do the work. Give time to this place, to help this place address the needs of its time. Few students understand that, and fewer students actually accomplish that. Rafer was one of those fewer students.”

Fellow Olympic champion John Naber, who attended cross-town rival USC and served with Rafer on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee for the 1984 Olympic Games, captured perfectly the way so many remembered him:

“He used his notoriety to help others, not to promote himself. He was a humble giant, not because he thought less of himself, because he thought of himself less. ..

“The measure of a man is less about what people think whenever he’s around, but more about what they remember after he’s gone. I’ll remember a gentleman’s gentleman. The dapper dresser, dapper in behavior, gentle in speech, warm of heart, Rafer left behind an adoring wife, two remarkably-well-adjusted children, loving grandchildren, and shoes too big for anyone to fill.”

UCLA Chancellor Gene Block also framed Rafer’s life in terms of service and not so much for his achievements in sports which brought him worldwide fame:

“As a civic leader, a humanitarian, as an advocate for people with disabilities, an ambassador for UCLA, and a devoted family man, Rafer was one of the greatest ever.

“Rafer’s life was exceptional, but it was not a fairy tale. He enjoyed triumph at the Olympics, and he endured the tragedy of the Robert Kennedy assassination.”

Johnson was not simply an athlete and a devoted member of his communities. He also appeared in motion pictures, was a weekend sports anchor for KNBC Los Angeles, worked for the Peace Corps and was the one who wrestled the gun away from assassin Sirhan Sirhan after he shot Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles in 1968. Johnson was a Vice President of Continental Telephone, responsible for community and government relations and personnel across its offices in 42 states from 1971 until his retirement (during his time there, ConTel was the third-largest independent telephone company in the U.S.).

Those professional elements of his brilliant life were not mentioned on Thursday, because Rafer was never about himself or his achievements; he was always about others.

His daughter, Jenny Johnson Jordan – herself a UCLA All-American and a U.S. Olympian in beach volleyball – thanked UCLA for the event and for the opportunity to remember her father, delayed for months due to the Covid-19 pandemic:

“For us, today’s been nothing short of a gift, a celebration of Dad, who he was and what he embodied, not only Dad, but who he was to his family and having this opportunity to celebrate him.”

Betsy Johnson, who married Rafer in 1971, was the final speaker. She thanked UCLA and the attendees and shared some of the trials of his final years after he suffered a stroke in 2018:

Betsy Johnson, speaking at the Rafer Johnson Celebration of Life ceremony at UCLA on 21 October 2021. (Photo: The Sports Examiner)

“The last few years for Rafer were difficult ones. They were. … At times, he was self-conscious, being first with a walker, then a wheelchair, and lost a tremendous amount of weight. I can’t imagine what that felt like. I knew he was self-conscious and I said, ‘Rafer, don’t worry, I’ve got your back.’ And anyone that knows me, knows what that means.

“As his health declined, he was not alone. His family continued to surround him with love, and some friends were able to come, but some people would call him on the phone, and even if he couldn’t talk on the phone, I would say, ‘so-and-so called and this is what they said,’ and his eyes would light up, [also] when he would see Jenny and Josh, our children and our grandchidren …

“Even when things were so difficult for him, he thanked everybody.”

She remembered how today, months after Rafer’s passing, how he still impacts her life:

“The other day I was over at a doctor’s appointment. I was done and, I don’t know, I had to go somewhere – I have no idea where I was going – but I was kind of in a rush and I saw a man – elderly, probably my age! (laughter in the crowd) – standing there with his phone. He was trying to figure out how to get to the doctor’s office that he had to [get to]. And, I don’t know, I was in a rush – I said I don’t know where I was going – but I got to the meter to pay my parking, and I said [to myself], ‘what are you doing? Go back and help that man.’

“And I did. You know, wherever I had to be was not important but I went back and helped this man to find where he needed to go. The reason I’m sharing that is because when I did it, I thought of Rafer. ‘What, you’re rushing and here’s somebody that needs your help?’

“My hope is, when you think of Rafer, you will remember everything that he embodied, not just as an athlete, but as a human being. The person he was; to me, that’s his legacy.”

Rich Perelman
Editor

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THE TICKER: Athletes Council decries no funding for USOPC review Commission; Brisbane 2032 cost already increasing; FIFA World Cup debate boiling over

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s Athletes Advisory Council sent a letter to U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) and Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) asking for the Commission on the State of the U.S. Olympics and Paralympics to be funded so that it can begin its review.

Blumenthal and Moran were the driving forces behind the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic and Amateur Athletes Act of 2020 (EOPAAA), which created the 16-member commission. But no funding has been arranged and thus nothing has happened. Under the bill as written, the Commission’s work was supposed to have been completed in July, but in fact it has not yet even met once yet.

The 27 September letter, included in an 18 October tweet, is signed by co-chairs Han Xiao and Prof. Dionne Koller and includes:

“As you know, we have submitted an operating budget for the Commission to Congress … Additionally, Congress must extend the timeline for the Commission to conduct its work as the original authorizing legislation (S. 2330) provided that the Commission complete its work within 270 days of the enactment of the legislation.”

The budget request was for $2,078,860 in the FY2022 budget cycle with a 15-month timeline. Xiao and Koller noted:

“If we miss this opportunity altogether or if the Commission is unnecessarily limited in the scope or timeframe under which it is permitted to operate, we fear we won’t be able to help solve the real problems that demand attention now, and the credibility of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic movement will be further eroded.”

Experienced Congressional observers noted the lack of funding and support for the Commission in S. 2330 as it moved through the legislative process. In fact, the Commission concept did not come from Blumenthal or Moran, but was created by former Colorado Senator Cory Gardner, introduced as a separate bill and incorporated into the final bill.

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● XXIV Olympic Winter Games: Beijing 2022 ● The Olympic Flame has arrived in China, being passed to the Beijing organizers in Athens on Tuesday and then flown to Beijing, arriving on Wednesday morning.

The flame was used to light a celebration cauldron at the Beijing Olympic Tower, where it will be on display, along with other sites in China to help promote the Games.

The International Olympic Committee noted that the usual Torch relay program has been curtailed “to ensure the relay is held in a safe and orderly manner.” In specific:

“There will be a traditional Olympic Torch Relay for the three days prior to the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 on 4 February. The Olympic flame will be carried by approximately 1,200 torchbearers in the Beijing, Zhangjiakou and Yanqing competition zones.”

● Games of the XXXV Olympiad: Brisbane 2032 ● The budget guessing game is underway, with Australian Sports Minister Richard Colbeck saying in a radio interview “It’ll probably be a bit more than five [billion A$], given the infrastructure for transport and the infrastructure for the Games.”

(That’s a target of $3.77 billion U.S.; consider that the proposed LA28 budget – which includes no construction of any venues – is forecast at $6.88 billion U.S.)

He said that while the Australian government had agreed to fund 50% of the infrastructure costs associated with the Games, it was caught by surprise when the Queensland government decided to do a $A1 billion upgrade of the area around the Brisbane Cricket Ground, known as “The Gabba”:

“The Gabba announcement was a bit of a surprise to a lot of us, but that’s what’s prompted the process that we’ve put in place now, the agreement … with respect to 50/50 funding of the Game’s infrastructure.”

Yes, the Games have arrived in Brisbane.

● Bobsled ● At the online USOPC Media Summit, women’s star Kaillie Humphries, who won Olympic golds in 2010 and 2014 and a bronze in 2018 before changing allegiance to the U.S., was asked about whether she will receive U.S. citizenship in time for the Beijing Games:

“The status is the same. I am still waiting for my citizenship to come through. I have faith in my government, in the process that, and please have faith in me that I am doing everything humanly possible, connecting with everybody possible. And you know, I’m approaching citizenship the same way I do the Olympics, having no regrets whatsoever. So we’re doing everything we possibly can to make this happen as fast as we can, but it’s still an unknown at this point. And so I have to have faith in the process and the system, in the people that are there that are actively helping me work through the situation. And it’s scary.

“Definitely as the Games get closer, the pressure goes up. But you know, this is part of the
situation that I’m in and no athlete is guaranteed a spot until you’re at the Olympics, physically competing, with COVID, with so many things that happening in this world, and every athlete has a very different story. This is just part of mine. So right now there is no more status update, except for I’m still in process and we’re doing everything we can to make this dream a reality.”

Humphries won the World Championship in the two-women sled for the U.S. in 2020 and 2021 and was World Monobob Champion in 2021 as well.

Brakeman Lolo Jones, who famously led the Beijing 2008 Olympic women’s 100 m hurdles until stumbling at the end and then became a Winter Olympian in bobsled, was asked about possibly returning to Beijing 14 years later:

“Horrific and a blessing at the same time? I never thought I’d have a chance to even go back. Beijing was my first Olympic experience. I was one hurdle away from winning Olympic gold medal and many therapy sessions later, here I am. And now I’m on a bobsled team. So it’s been a process and I wouldn’t be here without my teammates. …

“And I think it’d be pretty cool to go back to where it all started and finish the dang thing. So, not as long winded an answer as you wanted, but I’m here for results.”

● Cycling ● The World Anti-Doping Agency released a summary report of an investigation into allegations of private doping sample screening in cycling in Great Britain in 2011:

“‘Operation Echo’ confirmed that in February 2011, as part of a study into potential contamination of supplements, British Cycling collected samples from elite riders and screened these samples for the androgen and anabolic steroid, nandrolone. Contrary to the rules laid down by the World Anti-Doping Code and the relevant International Standard, the samples were collected by British Cycling staff rather than doping control officers, analyzed by a non-WADA-accredited laboratory, and provided by the athletes on the basis that [U.K. Anti-Doping] would never know the results.

“‘Operation Echo’ also established that at least one UKAD employee was aware of the study and that the samples could be collected and analyzed at a non-WADA-accredited laboratory. To this day, UKAD has no record of ever receiving the analysis results and emails that would have showed UKAD’s real-time knowledge of key events.”

The report has been turned over to WADA’s compliance arm for consideration, and to the cycling’s international federation (UCI) and the British government for follow-up.

The individuals at UKAD who were involved in this in 2011 are not there now and new safeguards to avoid another such action have been installed. Also, all the samples that were improperly tested in 2011 came back clean.

● Figure Skating ● The French all-sports newspaper L’Equipe published an explosive story on Wednesday, quoting the veteran Russian national coach and now international judge Alexander Vedenin on Russia’s Match TV after the Ice Dance competition on 10 October at the Finlandia Trophy, won by four-time World Champions Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron (computer translation into English):

“The French Papadakis and Cizeron are very good! During their absence, they continued to skate, improved their speed and gained in physical condition. They skated beautifully. And will be hard to beat. It will be necessary to play on an idea of the dance, new elements, as well as feelings! The French skate with class, but are cold. The partner does not have a traditional orientation (euphemism for gay) and he cannot hide it. [Russians Victoria] Sinitsina and [Nikita] Katsalapov can express true love, like last year, and it can lead them to a victory.”

The French federation wrote to the International Skating Union on 12 October, asking for action against the comment, but no reply has been reported. Informed of the quote, Cizeron opined, “They are afraid, because they saw our programs are good.”

Papadakis and Cizeron won the silver at the 2018 Winter Games and are expected to contend for gold in Beijing next year.

Observed: This is now a storyline which will now continue right through the Beijing Winter Games. Both Russia and France were allocated one judge each in the Olympic Ice Dance judges pool of 13, from which nine will be selected to form the actual judging panel. The roster of Ice Dance Judges for the 2021-22 season, posted 6 October, does not include Vedenin.

● Football ● The Associated Press reported Tuesday that “More than a dozen European nations are considering the option of last resort in the fight to prevent biennial World Cups: quitting FIFA.”

This comes as FIFA chief Gianni Infantino (SUI) has begun a series of online discussions about the every-two-years World Cup, but as the AP’s Rob Harris pointedly notes:

“While UEFA is only one of six continental confederations it generates more cash than FIFA, which serves as the umbrella organization overseeing football worldwide. FIFA generates about $6 billion in a four-year cycle compared to UEFA’s $14 billion fueled by the lucrative men’s version of the annual Champions League for elite European clubs.”

UEFA – the European Football Union – has been in discussions with the South American confederation – CONMEBOL – about possible co-promotions in the future and it is possible that countries from both confederations could withdraw from FIFA. How impactful would that be? Of the 21 World Cups ever held, the only champions have come from Europe (12) and South America (9), and there has never been a finalist from any but those areas.

FIFA announced Wednesday that a “virtual global summit” will be held on 20 December and that the 72nd FIFA Congress – where a change to the FIFA World Cup schedule could be considered – will be held on 31 March 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

Said Infantino of the 20 December meeting, it has “the aim of a joint proposal – an agreed proposal – to all 211 FIFA member associations on the future of football – men’s football, women’s football and youth football.”

He also warned that the revision of the match calendar – including the World Cups – is critical to the future of the game on a worldwide level:

“The young generation has many, many other things that they are focusing on, and football is risking to lose its appeal, and that is what we are discussing about here. And that is why this process of having a global consultation of letting everyone speak, of giving everyone the possibility to express themselves, is so important for us.”

UEFA imposed sanctions for the chaos surrounding the UEFA 2020 final between Italy and England at Wembley Stadium on 11 July. A fine of €100,000 and a ban on spectators for one UEFA competition match (a second is suspended for two years).

The sanctions are “for the lack of order and discipline inside and around the stadium, for the invasion of the field of play, for throwing of objects and for the disturbances during the national anthems.”

“FIFA can confirm, following complex negotiations, it has, with the support of Qatar, evacuated almost 100 members of the football family from Afghanistan, including female players.”

FIFA’s 15 October announcement adds to the list of federations which have brought athletes and sports administrators out of Afghanistan.

● Gymnastics ● Tuesday’s hearing at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana dealt with the proposed USA Gymnastics reorganization plan and the disclosure statement which must be agreed with to allow a vote by claimants on a possible settlement.

There was no outcome, as the matter was continued to the 25th (Monday).

A motion to accept a $50,000 insurance settlement with Caitlyn Cantello (claim no. 251), who suffered injuries unrelated to any abuse by Larry Nassar, was approved by the court.

The Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) released a “10 Golden Rules of Gymnastics,” “an awareness campaign reflecting the strong desire within the Gymnastics community to ensure a safe and respectful environment in the sport”:

1. I do gymnastics for fun.
2. I pursue my own dreams, not someone else’s.
3. I know that I will have good days and tough days
4. I listen to my body.
5. I balance my passion for gymnastics with other big goals in my life.
6. My health is more important than medals.
7. I have the right to be respected as I am.
8. I have the right to express myself freely, be heard and be treated fairly.
9. I understand and respect the roles of people around me.
10. I act with fairness and integrity.

The roll-out over the last two weeks was timed to lead into the 50th World Artistic Championships in Kitakyushu, Japan and FIG is encouraging the placement of posters in gyms worldwide.

● Rugby ● USA Rugby announced Wednesday that it has formally launched its bid for the 2027 or 2031 Rugby World Cup and the 2029 Women’s Rugby World Cup. Neither event has ever been held in the Americas.

The actual proposals are due in January. The event was created in 1987 to showcase the highest level of rugby competition in the world and hosted 20 teams over a month and a half in Japan in 2019, with South Africa winning its third title. Average attendance was 37,745 per match.

The 12-team Women’s Rugby World Cup was first held in 1991 (won by the U.S.) and last held in 2017 in Ireland.

≡ SCOREBOARD ≡

Lots of action coming up this weekend as – believe it or not – the Alpine Skiing World Cup gets going; some of the highlight events:

● 20-24 October: The FIG World Artistic Gymnastics Championships continue in Japan.

● 20-24 October: The UCI Track World Championships in Roubaix (FRA).

● 21 October: Football friendly:  U.S. Women’s National Team plays South Korea in Kansas City.

● 21-23 October: The third FINA Swimming World Cup, in Doha (QAT).

● 22-24 October: The start of the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix season with Skate America in Las Vegas.

● 23-24 October: The opener of the FIS Alpine World Cup season, with Giant Slaloms for men and women in Soelden (AUT).

And a lot more.

≡ THE LAST WORD ≡

Rio 2016 Canadian 48 kg Freestyle wrestler Jasmine Mian, 31, won election on Monday (18th) as a city council member in Calgary, Alberta, Canada in Ward 3.

The Canadian Press noted that she joins other Olympians in Canadian public office, including Members of Parliament Adam van Koeverden (kayaking) and Lyne Bessette (cycling).

Said Mian, “It actually felt very similar to when I made the Olympic team in that so much of the work of getting elected as a city councillor is done in the many months prior to election day.”

/Update: Thanks to sharp-eyed readers Brian Springer and Sid Marantz for identifying errors, which are now corrected above!/

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For our 743-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

HEARD AT HALFTIME: No protest sanctions for Raven Saunders; Beijing 2022 receives Olympic flame; fifth marathon in 23 days for Flanagan!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Lighting of the Olympic Flame in Greece to begin the journey to the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games (Photo: IOC/Greg Martin)

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

≡ SPOTLIGHT I ≡

There were widespread expectations of athlete protests at the Tokyo Olympic Games over the summer, but there was very little protest activity. One of the few actions which drew attention was the post-awards ceremony posing of women’s shot put silver medalist Raven Saunders of the U.S.

After the medal ceremony concluded, she crossed her arms over her head for photographers and later told Lewis Johnson of NBC that “X is the intersection of where all oppressed people meet.”

The International Olympic Committee opened an inquiry, and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee cleared her, stating her gesture was a “peaceful expression in support of racial and social justice [that] was respectful of her competitors.”

Saunders, 25, did not protest during the awards ceremony itself.

The IOC suspended its investigation after news of the passing of Saunders’ mother a couple of days after the event. Asked on Saturday about the status, the IOC indicated that the matter has been concluded, noting:

“The IOC wrote to Raven Saunders and reminded her that such demonstrations contravene the Olympic Charter and go against the clearly expressed wishes of the vast majority of her fellow athletes, as the consultation process before the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 has shown. We have asked her, should she qualify for future editions of the Olympic Games, to keep the rules and the wishes of the athletes’ community in mind and to use many opportunities provided in the [Rule] 50.2 guidelines to express her view at the Olympic Games.”

≡ SPOTLIGHT II ≡

The USOPC has its pre-Beijing 2022 Media Summit online on Monday and today, with the organization’s leadership taking questions on Tuesday morning. Highlights:

● USOPC Chair Susanne Lyons spoke about the Beijing 2022 situation, including virus-prevention: “We await the new Covid playbooks, which will be coming out any day now and we expect that that ‘bubble’ environment that succeeded in Tokyo will be replicated with perhaps even more strenuous measures in Beijing.”

As for the continuing tumult over China’s human rights abuses, she observed:

“We’re not expecting further calls for an athlete boycott. I think that’s been well discussed. But we know there’s still continuing political tension. … We’re trying to stay in our own lane, where we can best support global peace and cooperation through sport.

“We’re sure that our athletes will be safe. We’re taking security very seriously during difficult times in the world.”

Asked about the situation in which U.S. athletes will be plunged:

“We expect that China is going to be a unique situation, to really allow sport to speak for unity and for global peace and for the rights of people around the world. That really is the place where sport can make its stand and we [USOPC] really have no opportunity, since we are not a government, to influence the activities of another country’s rules and regulations and treatment of people within their own country.

“But certainly our athletes will have points of view about that. And it is our job to ensure that they are able to express themselves but also to ensure they are kept safe.”

● Chief Executive Sarah Hirshland added “The focus here is really on, ‘how do we make sure athletes have all the information they need?’, [so] they understand the rules that are set out, they understand the risks, they understand their opportunities and that we give them every opportunity to make choices for themselves with information in hand and make the best choices for them.”

and

“We are very focused on ensuring that we understand both the laws of the country that we’ll be in, which is always critical, and making those laws – where they are relevant to our delegation – widely known and understood. We’re also focused on making sure that we have the right partnerships in place to ensure that we have resources at our disposal. We always work closely with the embassy, we work closely with the federal government: we’re going to make sure we’re focused on what the country of China and the challenges [that will be] present.”

● USOPC Chief of Sport Performance Rick Adams said the U.S. would field teams of 230-240 for the Olympic Winter Games and 65-75 for the Winter Paralympics.

● Bahati VanPelt, the Chief of Athlete Services, described the expansion of services for Beijing that were developed from the Tokyo experience:

“Those include creation of more wellness spaces that better incorporate our mental-health officers and the USOPC clinical team, more domestic engagement with friends and family during the Games, and creating further opportunities to celebrate individual athlete accomplishments and milestones on the ground in Beijing during the Games.

“In Tokyo, we found these simple gestures significantly strengthened interpersonal relationships with the athletes that were there. …

“I think another takeaway I had was just how instrumental the mental-health officers were, being on the ground in Tokyo … just that everyday interaction and the everyday opportunities for those mental-health officers and the clinical team to engage with athletes.”

This was especially important with integrating the severe Covid protocols into a daily routine that helped lessen athlete stress levels and improve performance.

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● XXIV Olympic Winter Games: Beijing 2022 ● The Olympic Flame was lit at ancient Olympia on Monday and began its journey to Beijing for the Winter Games in February.

The traditional ceremony was held near the Temple of Hera, with the flame lit by the High Priestess – Greek actress Xanthi Georgiou – and transferred to 2018 Olympic skier Ioannis Antoniou (GRE), who was also the first torchbearer for the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014. It was then passed to five-time Olympic speed skating medalist Jiajun Li (CHN).

The official handover to the Beijing 2022 organizers is on Tuesday (19th) at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, site of the 1896 Games. A welcome ceremony in Beijing will be held on the 20th, with details of a tour to be released later.

UPI reported that “Greek police arrested three activists who entered the grounds of the ancient stadium in Olympia, Greece, and unfurled a Tibetan flag and banner reading ‘No genocide games’” outside the ceremony, and another four protesters were arrested on the grounds, but later released.

Two other protesters, both Americans, were detained at the Acropolis in Athens on Monday after they tried to hang banners protesting the Games from scaffolding at the site. Both were from the “No Beijing 2022″ activist group: Tibetan student Tsela Zoksang and Hong Kong activist Joey Siu.

● Games of the XXXIII Olympiad: Paris 2024 ● The IOC approved the qualification framework for the Paris Games, with a view to ensuring that all 206 National Olympic Committees enter at least one man and one woman in 2024.

Qualification periods may not exceed two years in any sport and all qualifying events must be completed by 23 June 2024, with the Games to start on 26 July. The sports entry deadline is expected to be 8 July 2024.

International Federations will now design their qualifying programs using these requirements, expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2022.

The Olympic Village project in Saint-Denis was showcased on 14 October, with French President Emmanuel Macron and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo visiting the site. Work has been ongoing for 18 months and will continue for another 26 months, with the handover expected at the end of 2023. In a statement on the project’s progress:

“In summer 2024, it will accommodate 14,250 athletes, coaches and support staff, and 8,000 para-athletes during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. In 2025, it will be redeveloped into a new urban district, including 2500+ new homes, a student residence and a hotel. Two new sets of schools will also be built, catering to the children of the 6,000 new residents; new office spaces will accommodate 6,000 new workers; and three large expanses of green space will offer residents an enriching life.”

The Village is expected to get 70% of its energy from geothermal sources. By February 2022, more than 3,500 people will be working on the site, making it one of the largest single-site construction projects in the country.

France-based facilities and food-service management giant Sodexo, a “Supporter” of the Paris 2024 organizers has been selected as the Olympic Village food-service contractor and the food-service operator at 15 Paris 2024 venues.

At the Village, Sodexo Live! will utilize 1,000 staff per day to prepare and serve 40,000 meals daily over five weeks of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

● International Olympic Committee ● The IOC revealed the record-high candidate list for the two available spots on the IOC Athletes’ Commission, to be voted on by the Games participants at Beijing 2022.

There are 17 candidates – 10 men and seven women – from six different sports, vying for eight-year terms. The elected athletes will replace current member Hayley Wickenheiser (CAN) and fill the spot of the resigned Ole Einar Bjoerndalen (NOR).

The candidates include Olympic medal-winning stars such as France’s Martin Fourcade (biathlon), Czech Eva Samkova (snowboard cross) and Dutch speedskating ace Ireen Wust. No Americans are on the list; cross-county skiing star Kikkan Randall of the U.S. was elected in PyeongChang in 2018, but had to resign from the IOC due to health issues.

The IOC Executive Board met in Athens, Greece over the weekend, celebrating the re-opening of the International Olympic Academy in ancient Olympia. The renovation of the facility, located next to the archeological site of the ancient Games, was made possible by a €12.5 million (~$14.6 million U.S.) grant from the IOC in 2020 and completed in time for the 60th anniversary celebration.

There was also a ceremony at Olympia, in front of the memorial to modern Games founder Baron Pierre de Coubertin (FRA), to mark the 100th anniversary of the first meeting of the IOC’s Executive Board. First convened on 7 November 1921, “the minutes of the very first EB meeting say that the raison d’etre of the Executive Commission, which was what it was called at the time, was to ensure the smooth operation of the IOC during periods when the IOC President would be absent. One hundred years ago, the newly created board was responsible for managing the finances and ensuring that the IOC’s rules with regard to the Olympic Games were observed and implemented.”

Not much has changed.

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● The USOPC’s College Sports Sustainability Think Tank released a list of seven recommendations to help maintain the U.S. collegiate sports system as a pipeline for American Olympic teams in the future.

Sport-specific concepts were noted for swimming and diving for a compacted recruiting calendar and deregulating men’s gymnastics recruiting rules to allow “varsity programs to partner with youth programs and USA Gymnastics to share facilities, streamline expenses and generate revenue through expanded camps/clinics.”

Important cross-institutional ideas include “NCAA championships efficiencies through (1) National Governing Body/NCAA championships hosting partnerships, (2) NGB/NCAA efficiency partnerships and/or (3) NGB/NCAA auxiliary partnerships” and sharing of Olympic and Paralympic content “and develop a recognition program to increase storytelling and elevate national awareness of the role colleges play in developing Olympians and Paralympians. Over time, these efforts may strengthen commercial interest in the collegiate Olympic and Paralympic marketplace.”

Observed: The Think Tank program was begun when the NCAA structure was more stable than today; the introduction of athlete earning opportunities for name-image-likeness, the wild shifts in conference affiliations and the impact of a possible spin-off of major-conference football into a separate organization have the entire collegiate sports system in flux. The outlook for NCAA programs as continued incubators of Olympic talent for the U.S. – and other countries – is murky at best.

● National Olympic Committee: China ● The China Media Group announced the launch of an all-Olympics channel in the country, offering 4K Ultra HD service on channel “CCTV16″ and a digital platform:

“The priority of the CMG Olympic Channel is to serve the coming 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, tell quality Chinese stories of the two events in a comprehensive way, continuously create a positive atmosphere and public opinion for the 2022 Winter Games, bring winter sports to 300 million Chinese citizens and provide the most exciting Winter Olympic programs to the whole world.”

In the U.S., NBC began offering its own Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA in 2016 and was later joined by Brazil.

● National Olympic Committee: Russia ● A report from the TASS news agency noted that the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) has reported 69 doping positives through September of 2021.

It also cited figures of 108 suspected positives out of 8,294 samples collected in 2020 and 202 positives in 2019, out of 11,316 samples.

For comparison, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency completed 14,509 tests in 2019 (75 new or modified sanctions) and 8,599 (59 sanctions) in Covid-impaired 2020. For 2021, only first-quarter testing figures of 3,424 – in line with testing in 2019 – have been reported so far. New or modified sanctions for 2021 through mid-October totaled 35.

Observed: On a raw-data basis, the rates of positives in Russia remains high in comparison with those recorded by the USADA: 379 reported by RUSADA from 2019-20-21 according to TASS vs. 169 from the USADA Web site. Oh boy.

● Alpine Skiing ● During a news conference in advance of the 23 October start of the FIS Alpine World Cup season, American superstar Mikaela Shiffrin told reporters that she would like to compete in all five individual events in Beijing in February.

That includes, in order, the Giant Slalom (February 7), Slalom (9th), Super-G (11th), Downhill (15th) and the Combined (17th).

Shiffrin has an amazing 69 World Cup wins to her credit and has won World Cup races in all of those events: 45 in Slalom, 12 in Giant Slalom, four in Super-G, two Downhills and one Combined. She still has to be chosen to represent the U.S. in these events, but if she can return to her World Cup champion form of 2017-18-19, she could well be picked to ski all of them.

She owns three Olympic medals from wins in the Slalom (2014), Giant Slalom (2018) and a bronze in the Combined in 2018.

● Athletics ● In an at-home marathon in Oregon to take the place of the postponed-until-2022 Tokyo Marathon, U.S. star Shalane Flanagan finished 26.2 miles in 2:35:14, her third completed marathon run in nine days!

She is now 5/6ths of her goal to complete five of the World Marathon Majors plus the Tokyo replacement within 43 days. She has run Berlin (2:38:32), London (2:35:04), Chicago and Boston back-to-back (2:46:39 and 2:40:34) and now the Tokyo replacement. All that remains is New York on 7 November – with three weeks of rest this time – a race which she famously won in 2017.

All this at age 40! Wow!

Ibrahim Rotich (also identified as Emmanuel Rotich), the husband of murdered distance star Agnes Tirop (KEN) was arrested in Mombasa last Thursday (14th), reportedly trying to leave the country. He was arraigned on Monday and will continue in police custody; he will be examined to determine if he is mentally fit for trial.

The Kenyan National Police Service tweeted Thursday that Rotich “was arrested together with Silas Chilla Chellile and are both helping the police with investigations. John Kipkoech Samoe was earlier arrested for complicity in the murder and already arraigned in court for custodial sentence.”

Tirop, 25, a two-time World Championships bronze medalist at 10,000 m, was found stabbed to death at her home in Iten on the 13th.

● Fencing ● Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov announced his candidature for a fourth term as President of the Federation Internationale de Escrime (FIE), which is a good thing for the federation. Elections are scheduled for 27 November.

Usmanov, with interests in mining, metals and telecommunications, has been the financial backbone of the FIE since he became its President in 2008. Based on a review of the FIE financial statements posted on the federation’s Web site, he has donated more than CHF 75.624 million, or about $82.055 million U.S. – at current rates – to the FIE during his term as President, through the end of 2019:

● 2019: CHF 4,854,500
● 2018: CHF 16,335,000
● 2017: CHF 4,950,000
● 2016: CHF 4,850,000
● 2015: CHF 7,312,400
● 2014: CHF 1,000,000 (last six months)
● 2013-14: CHF 4,310,751
● 2012-13: CHF 9,976,749
● 2011-12: CHF 5,326,004
● 2010-11: CHF 6,201,500
● 2009-10: CHF 4,916,000
● 2008-09: CHF 5,591,000

Wow!

● Football ● The fight over having the FIFA World Cup every two years is now boiling over.

Of special note was the announcement on Saturday that the IOC Executive Board “takes note of FIFA’s plans to change the football competition schedule and to hold the World Cup every two years” and after listing the primary counter-arguments – the move “would undermine the diversity and development of sports other than football,” would retard gender equality in football itself and a strain on the players – added:

“The IOC shares these concerns and supports the calls of stakeholders of football, International Sports Federations and major event organisers for a wider consultation, including with athletes’ representatives, which has obviously not taken place.”

In other words, the IOC is against the idea; it was widely reported that FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) did not discuss the concept with IOC chief Thomas Bach (GER), even though Infantino is an IOC member!

Further, the European Football Union (UEFA) is trying to block the concept, apparently due to be voted on by the entire FIFA membership – 211 national associations – in December. In addition to the Europeans, the South American federation (CONMEBOL) has come out against the concept and it would impact domestic clubs and leagues around the world by requiring major changes to the annual calendar of when club matches would be played and when national-team games would be mandated by FIFA for qualifying purposes.

FIFA, meanwhile, is conducting “consultations” this week with the head coach of every men’s national federation team. At the same time, a 21-member Women’s Technical Advisory Group is being led by Jill Ellis, who coached the U.S. to two Women’s World Cup titles, and will consider having a Women’s World Cup every two years. Her 21-member committee includes Americans Lindsay Horan, Kristine Lilly and Alex Morgan.

Infantino is promoting the concept more strongly, saying during last week’s visit in Israel:

“Precisely because it is a magic tournament is perhaps why it should happen more often. The prestige of an event depends on its quality, not its frequency. You have the Super Bowl every year, Wimbledon or the Champions League every year, and everyone is excited and waiting for it.”

The future of FIFA and online football gaming is up for grabs after announcements from EA Sports on 7 October and FIFA on 15 October about the future of the mega-popular “FIFA” game, produced by EA Sports beginning in 1993.

EA Sports Group General Manager Cam Weber wrote in a Web post, “As we look ahead, we’re also exploring the idea of renaming our global EA SPORTS football games. This means we’re reviewing our naming rights agreement with FIFA, which is separate from all our other official partnerships and licenses across the football world.”

The company licenses FIFA’s name, but also has to get licenses from more than 300 other partners for the use of player names and likenesses, team names and so on. Would the franchise be just as valuable without FIFA’s name?

FIFA replied it’s time to end the EA Sports monopoly:

“FIFA will adopt a new commercial positioning in gaming and eSports to ensure that it is best placed to make decisions that benefit all football stakeholders.

“FIFA is bullish and excited about the future in gaming and eSports for football, and it is clear that this needs to be a space that is occupied by more than one party controlling all rights. …

“Consequently, FIFA is engaging with various industry players, including developers, investors and analysts, to build out a long-term view of the gaming, eSports and interactive entertainment sector.”

Sounds like a divorce in process.

The continuing fallout from the player abuse and working conditions complaints within the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) saw Washington Spirit controlling owner Steve Baldwin agree to sell his stake in the club.

Reported last Friday (15th), Baldwin was being pressured by the Spirit players to sell his stake amid the removal of former coach Richie Burke (GBR) on abuse allegations.

On Tuesday, the NWSL announced that Marla Messing, who memorably led the organizing committee for the transformative 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, will serve as interim commissioner, following the resignation of Lisa Baird over the abuse scandals. Messing was most recently the chief executive of the U.S. Tennis Association’s Southern California office.

Messing posted an introductory note on the NWSL site, which included:

“As I step into this interim role, I fully recognize the meaningful change that still needs to occur, the trust that needs to be rebuilt and the accountability that must be enforced. I can assure you that while I am in this role, I am committed to working closely with the board of governors, the players and all of you to make important changes across the league that will allow us to emerge as a stronger, more inclusive organization where player safety, welfare and respect are central to everything that we do.”

Observed: The NWSL made a good choice here. A lawyer by trade, Messing is calm, insightful, a good listener, but not afraid to make hard decisions. She will lower the temperature among the players and work to find workable solutions to the abuse and workplace issues which are plaguing the league.

Do not be surprised if she becomes the permanent Commissioner.

● Gymnastics ● The Federation Internationale de Gymnastique will be holding elections for its Athletes Commission in Kitakyushu. One spot each is available for men’s Artistic, women’s Artistic, Rhythmic and Trampoline, with a total of 15 candidates for terms from 2022-25.

The U.S. has no candidates in these elections.

The FIG Congress will be held from 5-7 November and features an actual contest for President between incumbent Molinari Watanabe (JPN) and challenger Farid Gayibov (AZE). There are also elections for:

● Vice President (3), with two incumbents – Nellie Kim (BLR) and Vassily Titov (RUS) – running among the seven candidates.

● Executive Committee (7), with six incumbents running and 21 total candidates, including USA Gymnastics chief executive Li Li Leung.

● Council (21), with nine incumbents (no Americans).

Technical Committees will also be elected. American Butch Zunich is a candidate for the Men’s Technical Committee; Lori Laznovsky is running for a seat on the Gymnastics For All committee.

Observed: These positions are where power within federations is developed. Given the enormous impact that the U.S. women’s Artistic team, especially, has made on the sport over the last decade, it’s unfortunate that no current or former American gymnast is running.

Leung, despite only joining USA Gymnastics in February 2019, has jumped right into the fray, a worthwhile step in trying to give the U.S. a seat at the table in the FIG’s central committee.

● Swimming ● More infighting to report, this time within the European Swimming League (known as “LEN” by its initials in French), the confederation of national aquatics federations in Europe.

During its 25 September Congress in Budapest, significant unhappiness with the reports of President Paolo Barelli (ITA) and the LEN Bureau reports was registered and the financial report was accepted by only 46-44 with two abstentions.

Then, 24 member federations petitioned for the holding of a LEN Extraordinary Congress next February to consider:

“Dismissal of actual LEN Bureau and Election of a new LEN Bureau as per FINA Constitution article C 17.5.2, including LEN continental members to the FINA Bureau and LEN General Secretary.”

The confederation has not acknowledged the request or the scheduling of the Extraordinary Congress, reportedly required to be called when 20 or more member federations request it. The petition offered by the 24 national federations listed complaints including:

● “The lack of integrity, transparency and good governance in LEN, without any information to general assembly regarding the financial problems, under investigation by Swiss prosecutor”;

● “The constant oppression, and punishing behaviour from LEN President against whom express different opinions;” and

● “And finally the lack of confidence on the President, Treasurer, General Secretary and Bureau members.”

Observed: This is not a happy family.

≡ SCOREBOARD ≡

● Gymnastics ● The 2021 FIG World Artistic Championships started on Monday in Kitakyushu, Japan and will continue through Sunday (24th).

Russia’s Olympic All-Around bronze medal winner Angelina Melnikova led the women’s All-Around qualifying at 57.065, trailed by two Americans: Leanne Wong (55.749) and Kayla DiCello (55.700).

In the individual event qualifying:

● Vault: Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, the Olympic All-Around silver medalist, led at 14.800, ahead of Elze Guerts (NED: 14.350).

● Uneven Bars: Andrade led again, scoring 15.100, with China’s Xiaoyuan Wei second (14.733) and Rui Luo (14.500) third.

● Beam: China’s Luo had the top score of 14.566, with Melnikova second (14.033). Wong qualified for the final in fourth (13.700) as did DiCello in seventh (13.500). Konnor McClain of the U.S. was eighth (13.466), but did not advance as the U.S. already had two qualifiers.

● Floor: Tokyo Floor Exercise bronze medalist Mai Murakami (JPN) led all qualifiers at 14.166, with Melnikova second (14.100), Wong third (14.000) and DiCello fourth (13.800). American eMjae Frazier was ninth (13.166) and did not advance.

Competition continues with men’s qualifications on the 19th and 20th and the All-Arounds on the 21st (women) and 22nd (men). Apparatus finals will be held on 23-24 October.

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LANE ONE: Gymnasts’ letter calling for USOPC Board removal includes striking inconsistencies, and dangers for U.S. athletes and LA28

By
Rich Perelman
-

(Errata: Some readers of Sunday’s story on USA Fencing saw the
new Board Chair listed as Donald Arias. It is David Arias.)

“Today, we write to respectfully request that Congress act on November 1, 2021 to adopt a joint resolution dissolving the USOPC Board of Directors (the ‘Board’) pursuant to ‘The
Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and Amateur Athlete Act of 2020.’”

That request from a letter to U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) and Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) by current and former U.S. women’s gymnastics stars Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney, Maggie Nichols and Aly Raisman last Wednesday, asks for actions which will be available to the U.S. Congress as of 30 October, one year after the EOPAAA was passed in 2020. It further states:

● ”High-ranking USOPC Officials who presided over the USOPC while Nassar was abusing gymnasts remain in positions of influence and power at the USOPC and the USOPC’s Foundation.”

● “We believe it is time for Congress to exercise its authority over the organization it
created by replacing the current USOPC Board with leadership willing and able to do what
should have been done long ago: Responsibly investigate the systemic problem of sexual abuse within Olympic organizations-including the USOPC-and all efforts to conceal it. Unless and until this happens, nothing will change, excuses will continue, and athletes will remain at-risk.”

This is in line with the testimony of these four women at the 15 September Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, but some of the positions taken in the letter raise more questions:

(1) The letter asks only for the replacement of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee Board of Directors and does not mention – at all – USA Gymnastics, the national federation directly responsible for the administration of the sport in the U.S. and which maintained serial abuser Larry Nassar as its women’s team medical officer for many years.

USA Gymnastics did remove and replace its entire Board in the aftermath of the exposure of the Nassar affair and has recently – in cooperation with the USOPC, the Survivors Committee and most of its insurers – proposed in mediation a $425 million fund to compensate hundreds of claimants against USA Gymnastics and/or the USOPC.

(2) The USOPC Board lambasted in the gymnasts letter has mostly been replaced since Nassar’s departure from USA Gymnastics in 2015. In fact, of the 13 U.S.-elected or appointed members of the current USOPC Board, only four were involved by the time the Indianapolis Star exploded the story on 4 August 2016 (timeline):

● Susanne Lyons, who joined the Board in in December 2010, was chief executive from March to August 2018 and became Board Chair on 1 January 2019;

● Steve Mesler, an Athletes Advisory Council member (bobsledder), who joined the Board in March 2015;

● Kevin White, the athletics director at Duke University, who joined the Board in March 2015;

● Robert L. Wood, who joined the Board in July 2015, having previously served as a member of the USA Gymnastics Board from 1994-2008.

That’s it. The nine others on the current Board all came later:

● January 2017: Cheri Blauwet (independent member);
● January 2019: Rich Bender (NGB Council member);
● January 2019: Beth Brooke (independent member);
● January 2019: Brad Snyder (Athletes Advisory Council member);
● January 2021: Donna de Varona (at-large member);
● January 2021: John Naber (at-large member);
● January 2021: Dexter Paine (NGB Council member);
● January 2021: Daria Schneider (Athletes Advisory Council member);
● June 2021: James Higa (independent member)

Three other Board members are required to be included by their status as members of the International Olympic Committee or International Paralympic Committee Governing Board:
Anita DeFrantz (since 1986 as an IOC member), David Haggerty (head of the International Tennis Federation; since January 2020 as an IOC member) and Muffy Davis (since January 2021 as an IPC Governing Board member).

Gordy Crawford, the head of the fund-raising USOPC Foundation, joined the Board as a non-voting member in January 2021.

Current chief executive Sarah Hirshland joined the Board as a non-voting member in August of 2018.

The gymnasts are requesting that everyone be removed; does this include Hirshland, DeFrantz, Haggerty and Davis?

As for the USOPC Foundation, a check of its Board roster does not show any past USOPC senior staff members or Board officers. In fact, the only Foundation executive with any specific role within the USOPC is Christine Walshe, the USOPC’s Chief Development Officer (a staff position) and head of the Foundation. She joined in 2008 and helped create the Foundation in 2013.

(3) The letter demands that the USOPC Board “Responsibly investigate the systemic problem of sexual abuse within Olympic organizations-including the USOPC-and all efforts to conceal it,” but two paragraphs earlier trashed the December 2018 report by the Ropes & Gray law firm “which promoted the notion that culpability did not extend beyond that which had already become known.”

Since that report, developed by a former federal prosecutor and a former Assistant United States Attorney, is insufficient for the gymnasts, how can any report commissioned or funded by the USOPC be trusted?

Then there is the question of the collateral damage that a Congressional removal of the USOPC Board would entail. It’s no secret: removal by a government of officials of a National Olympic Committee is a violation of Rule 27 of the Olympic Charter, which insists on the independence of the NOC from the government.

The International Olympic Committee has suspended multiple NOCs for government interference in the past and will take action against the USOPC seriously. While the current members of the IOC Executive Board will not say so publicly, senior IOC member (and former longtime Executive Board member) Richard W. Pound of Canada told Reuters in January of the EOPAAA provisions:

● “The Congressional legislation focusing on the U.S. Olympic Committee gives Congress the power to rule over the board of directors is on the statute books and is clearly a violation of the Olympic Charter, kind of like it is in Italy at the moment.”

● “All these things are not just going to go away just because it is the U.S.”

● “We will have to wait and see but at some point if the U.S. becomes a rogue state I think we will start looking at whether the [2028] Games in Los Angeles should proceed.”

There is a widespread disbelief in the U.S. that the IOC would take such drastic action against the world’s leading Olympic nation. Oh yes, it certainly would. And the gymnasts’ requested timing would be perfect, with the Beijing 2022 Winter Games coming up, an excellent time to send a signal to every National Olympic Committee in the world that even the U.S. is subject to sanctions.

The U.S. team for Beijing might or might not be impacted, but the American flag and anthem might not be available to the team and they could be marching into the Opening Ceremony behind the Olympic Flag instead of the Stars and Stripes.

The Congress could then pass a law – a resolution won’t do – to prohibit U.S.-based NBCUniversal and Discovery, Inc. from making payments on its television rights agreement or companies like Coca-Cola, Dow, General Electric, Proctor & Gamble and others from paying on their TOP sponsorship agreements.

Which will then open the door for China to humiliate the U.S. by picking up most or all of the payments and allowing the Olympic Movement to carry on unaffected. How about Beijing for the 2028 Games? They have the venues, after all.

Chatter among some members of the EOPAAA-created, but yet-to-meet (or be funded) Commission on the State of the U.S. Olympics and Paralympics has recognized the danger of this section – 36 USC 220551-220552 – to the U.S. Olympic Movement and want to see it changed. But if the gymnasts have their way, they will be too late.

Aesop’s Fables, originally compiled around 260 B.C.E., is usually identified as the source of famed maxim “Be careful what you wish for, because it might come true.” He was right then and right now.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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THE BIG PICTURE: USA Fencing Board removes Board Chair Burchard after 14 months in office; treasurer David Arias takes over

By
Rich Perelman
-

USA Fencing is shaking apart, with the resignation of longtime Executive Director Kris Ekeren and now the removal of Board Chair Peter Burchard, only elected 17 months ago.

The USA Fencing board held its “annual meeting” by teleconference on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. Eastern time and by 7:45 p.m. a post titled “New USA Fencing Board Chair Addresses the Fencing Community” appeared on the USA Fencing Web site. Attributed to USAF Treasurer David Arias, it began with:

“The Board of Directors selected me to serve as chair and Sam Cheris as treasurer. I didn’t plan or ask for this. At a time when circumstances demanded steady and decisive leadership, our previous Board chair chose to lead with division and grandstanding, damaging relationships internally and with nearly every partner organization.

“There are serious problems that demand our attention. That requires transparency and the kind of communication that builds trust. That requires effectively managing the work of 20 committees and hundreds of volunteers that dedicate themselves to our sport. That requires leading with integrity and respect for others and building accountability into everything we do.

“One of our first actions will be to hold open forums at least every other month. I also ask that you consider joining a committee or taking time to offer ideas if you believe something needs to change. We have an opportunity to actually move forward instead of just talking about it.”

Burchard – the head of the U.S. Fencing Coaches Association – had only been elected in May 2020, defeating two-term incumbent Don Anthony by 1,367-1,154 in a surprise result. Arias, an accountant by profession, was elected Treasurer in 2016 and re-elected unopposed in 2020. Both of their terms began in August 2020.

Burchard had promised to bring more support to local clubs and to increase fencing’s profile in the U.S., saying in an interview in 2020:

“[P]eople know me and they trust me and they want me to run for president. So one more time, clear and transparent communication. Frequent communication, and talking and listening to the constituents. That’s what makes me run.”

The USA Fencing Bylaws state that a Director can only be removed upon a 2/3rds vote of the Board, after a Board resolution has been voted on at least 30 days prior. So, if the Bylaws were followed, Burchard’s removal has been cooking for some time.

Reports in late September indicated dissent within the organization from an August meeting called by Burchard to discuss the divisive situation concerning Tokyo Olympic men’s Team Epee reserve fencer Alen Hazdic. Suspended by the U.S. Center for SafeSport on 2 June due to allegations of sexual assault from 2013-15 – allegations he vociferously denies – Hazdic petitioned to be on the Olympic team and his appeal was upheld, requiring SafeSport to withdraw its suspension on 30 June on a temporary basis.

Hazdic traveled to Tokyo, but was kept apart from the team, did not live in the Olympic Village and did not appear in the men’s Epee Team’s one match at the Games, a loss to Japan.

A Yahoo! Sports report on the August meeting explained:

“Burchard reportedly viewed the meeting as an opportunity to address the Hadzic situation, but the rest of the board did not agree. Seven of the nine board members voted against the meeting. It still proceeded, and parents and athletes criticized the board for its handling of Hadzic and other allegations of sexual misconduct and assault around the sport.”

Ekersen and communications director Nicole Jomantas resigned at the end of September – Ekersen will reportedly stay on until November to help with the transition to a new Executive Director – and general counsel Jim Neale has moved on from assisting USA Fencing.

Now Burchard is gone, characterized by Arias as choosing “to lead with division and grandstanding, damaging relationships internally and with nearly every partner organization.”

Arias’s note said the situation “requires transparency and the kind of communication that builds trust” but, of course, says nothing about the circumstances that led to Burchard’s removal.

What caused Burchard’s removal? Is the Board hoping the Hazdic matter specifically and the question of sexual abuse in the sport in general go away? What of Burchard’s well-regarded initiative to merge USA Fencing and the U.S. Fencing Coaches Association?

The federation’s financials show a deficit of $198,720 through May 2021 (10th month of the fiscal year), and $1.6 million in reserves. So the issue apparently isn’t directly related to finances.

The signs point to a conflict on the Hazdic affair and a possible power struggle between a new president and the board. Because of the implications around athlete safety, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee will have to investigate the circumstances and this is another issue for the yet-to-meet (or be funded) Commission on the State of U.S. Olympics and Paralympics.

USA Gymnastics. USA Swimming. USA Taekwondo. USA Fencing. Who else?

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PANORAMA: U.S. men edge Costa Rica, 2-1, in World Cup qualifying; call to dissolve USOPC Board; Kenyan star Tirop killed; a FIFA World Cup in Israel?

By
Rich Perelman
-
Bills Mills' incredible dash to the tape in the 1964 Tokyo Olympic 10,000 m, ahead of Mohammed Gammoudi (TUN) and Ron Clarke (AUS). (Photo: U.S. Marine Corps via Wikipedia)

Key status updates on the urgent stories in Olympic sport:

≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

Despite giving up a goal in the first minute, the U.S. Men’s National Team pressured an aging Costa Rica side throughout the game and came away with a 2-1 victory in its sixth match of the 14-game schedule of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.

Held in front of a noisy, partisan crowd in Columbus, Ohio, a long cross by Costa Rica’s Ronald Matarrita found the foot of midfielder Keysher Fuller, who booted a right-footed shot that bounded away from U.S. keeper Zach Steffen and into the net for a 1-0 lead.

Stunned by the goal, the U.S. began a long, continuous pressure on the Costa Rican goal, holding 65% of the possession in the first half. It took some time, but a series of long passes, from the left side of the field to the right side and then a pass by midfielder Yunus Musah in the 25th minute found defender Sergino Dest at the top of the box. Dest took a dribble to his left and then sent a hard, crossing shot across the goal and into the net, past Costa Rican keeper Keylor Navas. The goal elated the nervous crowd, but the Americans maintained the pressure, finishing the half with a 6-3 edge in shots.

Navas suffered a shoulder injury and the Ticos changed keepers at half, bringing in Leonel Moreira, who would be involved quickly. The U.S. attack continued, but without success until the 66th minute.

Then a cross from Dest found forward Tim Weah, who sent a right-footed rocket towards Moreira which was ruled to have hit the post, then rebounded off Moreira for what was technically an own goal. No matter: U.S. 2, Costa Rica 1.

The U.S. had a 6-1 edge on second-half shots and maintained pressure throughout the final half and came away with a crucial win on home soil.

American coach Gregg Berhalter had nine new starters from the team that lost to Panama, 1-0, on Sunday, with a starting 11 that averaged just 22 years old. But they were far stronger than the veteran Costa Ricans and moved into sole possession of second place in the qualifying standings after six of 14 matches.

The other games on Wednesday included a surprising 4-1 win by Canada over Panama in Toronto; Jamaica scored a sensational 2-0 win over Honduras in San Pedro Sula, and Mexico prevailed over El Salvador in San Salvador, 2-0, in a game with 26 fouls, four yellow cards and two red cards.

At the close of the second window, that leaves Mexico with 14 points (4-0-2), the U.S. with 11 (3-1-2), Canada with 10 (2-0-4) and Panama with 8 (2-2-2). The next window comes in early November, with the U.S. facing Mexico in Cincinnati on the 12th.

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● XXIV Olympic Winter Games: Beijing 2022 ● Australian Olympic Committee chief John Coates told a National Press Club audience in Canberra that it will not be pressuring Winter Games host China on human rights violations ahead of February’s event:

“[T]he IOC’s remit is to ensure that there is no human rights abuses in respect of the conduct of the Games within the national Olympic committees or within the Olympic movement.

“We have no ability to go into a country and tell them what to do. All we can do is to award the Olympics to a country, under conditions set out in a host contract … and then ensure they are followed.”

Coates, one of the most influential International Olympic Committee members, noted that the IOC’s efforts to help move athletes and sports officials out of Afghanistan related to protecting them, not changing government policies.

“Having athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees and the IOC Refugee Olympic Team united in competition, living together, exchanging opinions, sharing their life stories and dreams – that really matters.”

● Games of the XXXV Olympiad: Brisbane 2032 ● It hasn’t taken long for a political fight to develop over the 2032 Games, with the Premier of Queensland naming herself as Olympics Minister and a fight over the allocation of seats on the to-be-formed organizing committee board of directors.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk added the role of Minister for the Olympics – she is already the Queensland Minister of Trade – last week, which has drawn criticism from her usual critics, but continues to raise her already-high profile.

Then, Ted O’Brien, a Member of Parliament serving as Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s envoy to help with the formation of the organizing committee, said that Queensland was trying to take control of the board and potentially appoint nine directors, while the national government would get four. Since this would not be in line with the agreement to “share power,” O’Brien said:

“If the Premier wishes to impose her will in breach of the federal and state agreement I will be left with no choice but to recommend to the Prime Minister that we withdraw from the 50-50 partnership – everything will go,” including the Federal funding for the Games!

O’Brien withdrew his remarks and work on the bill creating the organizing committee continues. All this a little more than three months after Brisbane was awarded the Games in Tokyo.

● Games of the XXXVI Olympiad: 2036 ● India was one of the countries irritated by the swift selection of Brisbane for 2032, so it is wasting no time in making sure the IOC knows it is interested in 2036.

Indian Olympic Association chief Narinder Batra told local media that the bid would have events in multiple cities to use existing facilities. He suggested the newly-rebuilt, 132,000-seat Narendra Modi Stadium – the Motera – in the western India city of Ahmedabad as the site for the Opening Ceremony and for track & field.

Batra said he projects that the site for the 2036 Games “will be finalized in two-three years, and we are currently discussing with IOC.”

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● U.S. gymnastics stars Simone Biles, McKayla Moroney, Maggie Nichols and Aly Raisman sent a letter to Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) and Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) on Wednesday, asking the U.S. Congress to remove the board of the USOPC.

Congress will have this power as of 30 October per the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic and Amateur Athletes Act, passed in 2020, and largely the handiwork of Blumenthal and Moran. The letter included:

“We believe it is time for Congress to exercise its authority over the organization it created by replacing the entire USOPC board with leadership willing and able to do what should have been done long ago: Responsibly investigate the systemic problem of sexual abuse within Olympic organizations — including the USOPC — and all efforts to conceal it,” and

“Since being aware of Nassar’s abuse, the USOPC’s top priority has been to hide culpability and avoid accountability. We believe the Board’s past actions demonstrate an unwillingness to confront the endemic problems with abuse that athletes like us have faced and a continued refusal to pursue true and necessary reform of the broken Olympic system.”

Blumenthal and Moran noted in a joint statement: “This oversight mechanism requires that Congress develop procedures to appoint a new board before dissolving the old one, and must be approved by the House and Senate before being signed by the President.”

Observed: The Congress will have this power as of 30 October, but if it were to use it and unseat the USOPC Board, the International Olympic Committee will begin considering suspension of the USOPC. Such an act by a government against a National Olympic Committee is a direct violation of the Olympic Charter and the IOC has suspended numerous NOCs on this issue in the past.

Individual IOC members have noted that the organization would pursue sanctions on this issue against the U.S., which could have an impact on American participation in the upcoming Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

If so, would then Congress then try to pass legislation barring American broadcasters NBCUniversal and Discovery, Inc. – the IOC’s two largest rights-holding broadcasters – from paying their rights fees?

A lengthy investigative report by Scott Reid in Wednesday’s Orange County Register details the departure of 1984 triple Olympic gold medalist Nancy Hogshead-Makar from her position as a legal advisor and senior director of the Women’s Sports Foundation in 2014 because she would not agree to refrain from publicly discussing sexual abuse or harassment.

The story explains that Hogshead-Makar, a well-known lawyer and activist on women’s issues, was offered a two-year, $10,000-per-month contract extension as senior director for advocacy for the Foundation, but on the express condition that “Hogshead-Makar could not publicly discuss or write about sexual abuse or harassment, according to a letter of agreement and other WSF documents obtained by the Southern California News Group.”

Hogshead-Makar said that the Foundation “gave in to pressure” from the U.S. Olympic Committee (as then known), “at a time when the relationship between the WSF and the USOPC was strained over Hogshead-Makar’s criticism of the USOPC, USA Gymnastics and USA Swimming’s handling of sexual abuse cases.”

Said Hogshead-Makar in the story, speaking for the first time publicly about the incident, “If you don’t want me talking about sexual abuse just fire me.”

Hogshead-Makar is a member of the potentially-powerful Commission on the State of U.S. Olympics and Paralympics, authorized by Congress, but which has yet to meet.

● Athletics ● Completely shocking announcement from Athletics Kenya on Wednesday that distance star Agnes Tirop, 25, had died.

“Tirop was found dead at their home in Iten after she was allegedly stabbed by her husband. We are still working to unearth more details surrounding her demise.”

Tirop was in the prime of her career, having won World Championships bronze medals in the 10,000 m in 2017 and 2019, was fourth in Tokyo at 5,000 m and set a women’s-only world record at 10 km at 30:01 in September.

Kenyan police are looking for her husband, Emmanuel Rotich, as a suspect.

This comes only days after three-time World Cross Country Team champion Hosea Mwok Macharinyang, 35, was found dead at his home in Murkwijit, a possible suicide. He was a member of Kenya’s winning teams at the 2006-07-08 Cross Country Worlds and retired in 2012, but was considering a comeback.

● Canoeing ● New Zealand superstar Lisa Carrington, winner of three Kayaking golds in Tokyo this summer, had hinted that she might retire, but posted a photo of her on the water on Instagram, adding “Feels good to be back at the office … The next adventure awaits #paris2024″.

In Tokyo, Carrington, 32, won the K-1 200 m, K-1 500 m and teamed with Caitlin Regal to win the K-2 200 m. She won a gold and a bronze at Rio 2016 and will be 35 at the time of the Paris Games.

● Cycling ● The woman who wanted to get a sign on television during the opening stage of the Tour de France and ended up causing a massive, 50-rider crash, appeared in a French court in Brest on Thursday.

The woman, 31, who has not been named, is charged with endangerment and “unintentional injury.” In addition to the criminal charges, the Professional Cyclists Association (CPA) has joined, asking for a symbolic one Euro fine. She expressed remorse for her actions, with the crash considered an accidental follow-on to her attempt to get on television.

Prosecutors asked for a four-month suspended sentence; the ruling was postponed to 9 December.

● Football ● Just when the FIFA universe could not get more crazy, FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) visited Israel and was due to visit the member federation in Palestine earlier this week and:

● After meeting with Infantino, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett released a statement including:

“During their meeting, the FIFA president raised the idea that Israel, in addition to the countries of the region, led by the United Arab Emirates, participate in hosting the 2030 World Cup.”

● Speaking at the 10th Jerusalem Post Conference, Infantino was asked about the possibility of having FIFA events in Israel:

“You need to have vision, dreams and ambitions. In recent months, I was in Dubai where the UAE Football Association and the Israel Football Association have signed an historic agreement. I think that co-hosting is the future, so why not dreaming and thinking about it, be it at youth or senior level, men or women, because the FIFA World Cup has this unique magic in bringing people together and in uniting people”

and

“We have been speaking a lot in recent months after the UAE and Israel signed their normalization agreement. So perhaps co-hosting is an option. The next World Cup after Qatar will be hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States – obviously three huge countries. So why not Israel?”

● Infantino was supposed to meet with the Palestinian Authority and its football federation, but this was canceled in protest of Infantino’s attendance at an event at the new Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem, which it said was a “violation of the Islamic religion.” The facility is reported to be on the site of ruins of an ancient Islamic cemetery in Jerusalem.

Observed: There is no chance of FIFA returning to the Middle East in 2030 after the 2022 World Cup will be held in Qatar. But Infantino, ever the promoter, places himself as an accelerator of bridge-building in the region after the signing of the 2020 Abraham Accords, which created first-time, formalized relations between Israel and the UAE and Israel and Bahrain.

More impactful for the region and more within its combined capabilities would be a FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will be in Australia and New Zealand in 2023. The next available edition will be in 2027.

● Ice Hockey ● The new President of the International Ice Hockey Federation indicated that harsher sanctions for racist behavior must be enabled in the IIHF rules.

In a Reuters interview, Luc Tardif (FRA) noted that the Ukrainian Ice Hockey Federation’s 13-game suspension given to forward Andriy Deniskin (HC Kremenchuk) for racial taunting of HC Donbass defender Jalen Smereck (USA, who is black) is not enough.

“Thirteen games, that’s a third of the [Ukranian Hockey League] season. That’s still a lot, but we don’t think it’s enough.”

Tardif has asked the IIHF’s ethics committee to determine if further sanctions by the IIHF itself are warranted and can be imposed. And, “We will have to spend the year encouraging federations to introduce a scale of sanctions. If not, they won’t have any tools to hand them out.”

Smereck has left HC Donbass under a contract buy-out, and Tardif said he would be contacting him. “He needs to feel that things will be changing.”

● Short Track ● The possibility of race-fixing has been raised in the aftermath of the removal of South Korean star Suk-hee Shim – a four-time Olympic Winter Games medalist – from the national team and the ISU World Cup season, after the disclosure of text messages from Shim back in 2018.

The Yonhap news agency reported that the text messages surfaced from a leaked document from the trial of former national team coach Jae-beom Cho, who was found guilty of abuse and is serving 13 years in prison. The messages included “Shim’s expletive-laden text exchanges with a coach during the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.”

In one message, Shim wrote she would try to make fellow star Min-jeong Choi “the female Steven Bradbury,” referring to the 2002 men’s 1,000 m race in which everyone except Bradbury (AUS) crashed, allowing him to win an improbable gold in Salt Lake City.

As it turned out in 2018, Shim and Choi crashed on the final turn in the women’s 1,000 m in PyeongChang; Shim was disqualified and Choi ended up fourth. The story noted:

“With the collision originally seen as being unfortunate now being viewed in a much different light, Shim is faced with questions that she tripped up Choi out of spite, as Choi was trying to make a move on the outside.”

The Korean Skating Union is now investigating the matter further.

● Ski Jumping ● Norway’s Maren Lundby is the defending Olympic Winter Games champion in the women’s ski jump, but will not compete in Beijing in 2022.

She told NRK television, “Ski jumping is a sport with a lot of demands, weight is part of it. My body has changed naturally lately and for this reason I don’t want to sacrifice everything to be at the best level in Beijing.

“It’s a difficult decision to make, because I would like to jump, but this season, it doesn’t work.”

There are weight requirements in ski jumping and pressure on jumpers to maintain a low weight to get better results. Lundby, still just 27, indicated she will return to jumping in the future, but not now. She would have been one of the gold-medal favorites in Beijing; rest assured, there will be more to this story in the future.

● Triathlon ● A bitter campaign has been waged over the past seven weeks against Triathlon Australia by 1994 and 1997 World Champion Emma Carney, now 50, accusing the federation of incompetence, inappropriate spending, lack of communication and now, possible race manipulation. In last Sunday’s Brisbane Courier-Mail:

“Three Australian coaches have independently said they were told by Triathlon Australia that they only wanted certain athletes to win qualifying races in the lead up to Tokyo so they could boost their [ITU] rankings and secure the extra [Olympic] quota spots.”

The coaches said they did not cooperate and the matter is now being reviewed by Sport Integrity Australia. Triathlon Australia responded this way in the Sunday Telegraph:

“No race results are predetermined, particularly in an open, international field. As with all sport, athletes must perform to win. However, Triathlon Australia unashamedly maximised its opportunity to qualify its quota of athletes through specific race scheduling.” Even with a full team, Australia did not win a medal in the sport in Tokyo, a major disappointment.

The federation posted an open letter on its Web site on 6 October, calling Carney’s attacks a “relentless, unfounded, concerted campaign of destabilisation,” and

“Since this concerted campaign of destabilisation began, Triathlon Australia has repeatedly offered to meet with the former elite triathlete to provide an opportunity to discuss their concerns directly, but all of these offers have been rejected. In addition, we have respected the independent processes that have been undertaken as a result of these serious allegations, and we have undertaken our own internal reviews, choosing to remain respectfully silent whilst these processes were undertaken. We have complied in full with all requests for information and cooperation made by Sport Integrity Australia, Sport Australia and the AIS, and we have remained in close contact with the Federal Minister for Sport throughout the protracted campaign.”

Observed: In today’s report alone: stabbing and suicide in Kenya, racist abuse in Ukraine, sexual abuse and possibly corruption in South Korea and accusations of malfeasance and possible race-fixing in Australia.

It’s not just in the U.S., folks.

≡ AT THE BUZZER ≡

One of the most improbable, seemingly impossible finishes in the Olympic history took place on 14 October 1964, on the first day of track & field in Tokyo.

American Billy Mills – the U.S. Trials runner-up – hardly considered a threat to world-record holder Ron Clarke of Australia, had the lead in the final of the men’s 10,000 m final at the halfway mark, and he was surprisingly in contention for medal with two laps remaining, running with Clarke and Mohammed Gammoudi (TUN) and well ahead of the rest.

On the final lap, Gammoudi squeezed between Clarke and Mills on the back straight, but his lead evaporated as Clarke closed on the home straight. But Mills unleashed a brilliant sprint to pass them both and win in an American Record 28:24.4, with Gammoudi second (28:24.8) and Clarke third (28:25.8)! Wrote Cordner Nelson in Track & Field News:

“Then suddenly happened a rare moment which made even mediocre track fans say, ‘That was worth the trip, alone’. A hundred and fifty pounds of fighting man went into action with an all-out sprint which abruptly turned sane men into screaming hysterics. With each stride of his 5′-11″ frame the Marine Lieutenant bore down on his rivals, surging past a mass of lapped runners, past Clarke and Gammoudi 50 yards from the tape so fast that Clarke was stunned and gave up the chase. With a wild grin, Billy Mills hit the tape, arms upraised in a leap of sheer joy.”

Mills, an Oglala Sioux, became an overnight immortal; it’s not well remembered that he finished 14th in the Olympic marathon in 1964 as well. He is a member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame and the National Track & Field Hall of Fame and has devoted his life to bettering the lives of tribes across the country.

His come-from-nowhere victory in the Tokyo 10,000 m has been a coach’s lesson for decades in what belief, training and perseverance can achieve. In that, Mills really is immortal.

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For our 743-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

THE TICKER: Hockey Stars awards yield protests and 300,000 fan contacts; Commonwealth Games reduces core sports to two (!), Mary Cain sues Nike

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

The annual “Hockey Stars” awards program by the Federation Internationale de Hockey (FIH) is designed to honor the top performers and teams of the year. But the 2021 announcement shocked the worldwide hockey community and meant a lot more to the future of the federation than any embarrassment over the results.

Keep in mind that Belgium defeated Australia in the men’s Olympic final, with India third, and the Netherlands won the women’s gold over Argentina, with Great Britain beating India for the bronze medal.

However, last week’s awards saw India take the awards in all eight categories!

The awards were determined by combining three separate votes in each category: by 79 national associations (only about half), from news media, and by fans and players. The latter included more than 300,000 votes – many from India – that had a major impact. Even so, the winners led their vote in all three groups:

● Men/Player of the Year: Harmanpreet Singh (IND)
● Men/Keeper of the Year: P.R. Sreejesh (IND)
● Men/Rising Star: Vivek Prasad (IND)
● Men/Coach of the Year: Graham Reid (AUS, coached India)

● Women/Player of the Year: Gurjit Kaur (IND)
● Women/Keeper of the Year: Savita (IND)
● Women/Rising Star: Sharmila Devi (IND)
● Women/Coach of the Year: Sjoerd Marijne (NED, coached India)

Hockey Belgium, home of the men’s gold medalists, ripped the awards as unfair and there was wide condemnation elsewhere. So much so that FIH President Thierry Weil (FRA) replied in a Q&A on the FIH Web site on Monday. Highlights:

● “If, in an Olympic year, the Gold medallists don’t win any Award and another nation gets all of them, it is clear that this won’t come across well! Therefore, I of course do understand the disappointment and also, to some extent, the anger, especially of the teams concerned. At the same time, I want to congratulate the winners!”

● “[M]any National Associations did not cast their vote. Clearly this had by far the biggest impact on the results. If you set up a jury but half of this jury doesn’t vote, how can you expect that people will unanimously accept the results? In our analysis, we will have to establish why this situation happened.”

● “I can tell you that we will work on the future Stars Awards with the global hockey community. We will engage with many stakeholders to come up with a process which receives the support of most, and then go with it for next year. These Awards are here to promote hockey, athletes and coaches. It isn’t good for anybody if they lead to controversy.”

● “[C]learly we need to involve the fans one way or the other. After all, thanks to this vote, we will have the opportunity to engage with almost 300’000 fans! This is not only good for India – where most of these fans are coming from – but for the growth of our sport overall and therefore the whole hockey community!

“Also, as we’ve mentioned on the day of the vote, all winning athletes have topped the standings in each of the three voting groups (National Associations / Fans and Players / Media). In other words, even if fans wouldn’t have voted, the winning athletes would have been the same.”

Observed: Weil’s comment on the addition of 300,000 fans to the FIH database recognizes the invaluable contribution to the federation’s future marketing efforts. Even with the controversy, those contacts are the most important outcome of the entire Hockey Stars process.

The marketing future of any sport or team today is its ability to develop an owned, addressable audience: not simply likes or followers on social media – access to whom is controlled by those platforms – but a directly-reachable database that can be contacted at will and with whatever type of message is desired: text, images or video.

The FIH stumbled onto a bonanza with its Hockey Stars Awards voting “gaffe.” It’s actually the biggest winner of all.

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● International Olympic Committee ● The re-shaping of the IOC and its highest-profile commissions continued on Monday, as former Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic was appointed to head the Future Host Commission for the Games of the Olympiad.

Elected President in 2015 and narrowly defeated in a bid for re-election in 2020, Grabar-Kitarovic, 53, has close ties to the U.S,, having spent a year as an exchange student in Los Alamos, New Mexico and graduating from Los Alamos High in 1986.

After college and graduate school back home at the University of Zagreb, she attended George Washington University in the U.S. as a Fulbright Scholar and had a fellowship at Harvard and was a visiting scholar at Johns Hopkins. She was the Croatian Ambassador to the U.S. from 2008-11.

What is amazing about her appointment is that she was recruited into the IOC only in 2020 and now heads the Commission that will sort out the host or hosts for the 2036 and 2040 Olympic Games. (She has nothing to do with the Winter Games selection, where Salt Lake City is a candidate for 2030 or 2034; that’s handled by a separate commission.)

The prior chair, Kristen Kloster Aasen (NOR) had to be replaced as she was elected to the IOC Executive Board, and cannot – by rule – be part of the Future Hosts Commission. Grabar-Kitarovic was already a member of the Future Hosts Commission and the open spot is being filled by World Triathlon President Marisol Casado (ESP).

That’s good news for triathlon, a small sport on the Olympic program, but one which is considered “modern” and is growing in profile if not size.

Observed: This is only the beginning for Grabar-Kitarovic. The next new member to watch out for is Saudi Princess Reema Bandar al-Saud, 46, the Saudi Ambassador to the U.S. since 2019, and a graduate of George Washington University. She has already been assigned to the Coordination Commission for the Games of the XXXV Olympiad in 2032 as a learning platform to start her ascent within the IOC. As an Arab woman, her impact on the availability of sport to women in her region could be very significant, of which IOC chief Thomas Bach (GER) is keenly aware.

● XXIV Olympic Winter Games: Beijing 2022 ● The International Agency announced that its “Beijing 2022 Pre-Games Expert Group has issued over 5,400 testing recommendations that support all concerned international federations and national/regional anti-doping organisations in implementing an anti-doping program ahead of the games that is as extensive and robust as possible.”

This is up from the 3,500 tests recommended for the 2018 Winter Games in Korea; the selections for testing now were based on a “layer of intelligence-led and targeted doping control recommendations” with the task force “considering issuing a complementary wave of recommendations closer to the event when more information on potentially participating athletes is available.”

● Commonwealth Games ● Necessity is the mother of invention, and while the 22nd Commonwealth Games will be held next summer in Birmingham, England, the future of the event is cloudy.

No host has stepped forward for the 2026 edition and American David Grevemberg left as the head of the Commonwealth Games Foundation in March 2021 after six years. So the CGF needed to take a look at its event and what is needed to revive interest as the event nears its centennial in 2030.

So the new Strategic Roadmap for 2026 and 2030 shakes the event down to the core:

● Just two required sports: Athletics and Swimming. That’s it. The Olympic program has 28 core sports.

● A recommendation to have 15 total sports or disciplines, with the other 13 chosen from a list of 22 others, including two Paralympic-only events. But the total number of sports is flexible.

● “Allow hosts to be able to propose entirely new sport(s), relevant to their nation, culture or wider strategy, to drive innovation or enhance cultural showcasing and community engagement (eg wall climbing, lacrosse).”

Further, co-hosting concepts “across multiple cities, regions, countries” are encouraged and possibly even with non-Commonwealth hosts! Would any city in the U.S. be interested? Europe?

Observed: Now we are at ground zero. The sports that make an event a Games are track and swimming. The rest is window dressing. As recently as 1994, there were 10 sports and 2,557 athletes for the Commonwealth Games in Victoria (CAN). Next year in Birmingham, 20 sports will be contested, with 5,504 athletes expected. Too big to be desirable and the Commonwealth Games desperately needs to become desirable.

Cause for worry: 18 of the first 21 editions of the Commonwealth Games were held in just four countries: Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales: 6), Canada (4), Australia (5), New Zealand (3). The only others were held in Jamaica (1966), Malaysia (1998) and India, which held an exceptionally poorly organized event in 2010. There are 54 Commonwealth nations.

● Athletics ● The drama surrounding the Nike Oregon Project and now-suspended coach Alberto Salazar is now in court as former teen middle-distance star Mary Cain filed suit in Multnomah County, Oregon (case no. 21CV40258), against Salazar and Nike.

Her complaint alleges emotional abuse by Salazar that caused substantial physical and mental injury to the then-teen star, and that Nike knew about it and did not get involved.

The suit asks for $20 million in damages; the Nike Oregon Project was closed in 2019 and Salazar’s appeal from four-year sanctions by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in September. But this is not over yet.

Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsony withdrew from the second stage of the National Opposition Primary in Hungary and threw his support to Peter Marki-Zay in an attempt to unite against first-poll leader Klara Dobrev. Karacsony and Marki-Zay were 2-3 in the first primary and their combined vote would seriously challenge Dobrev.

Karacsony’s threat to refuse to hold the 2023 World Athletics Championships is not impacted; his issue there is the use of land slated for university student housing and services being taken by the national government to build a Chinese-funded campus of Shanghai’s Fudan University. Karacsony got permission from Hungary’s Election Commission to collect 200,000 signatures to take the issue to a referendum, which he can now undertake.

● Cycling ● This is fairly amazing. The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), governing body of the sport, announced Monday:

“As part of a vast operation carried out in conjunction with Sylvan Adams, owner of the UCI WorldTeam Israel Start-Up Nation, the NGO IsraAID and also with help from various governments, the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) and FIFA, the UCI has participated in the evacuation of 125 Afghan citizens, including female cyclists and members of cycling management, artists, a judge, a number of journalists and human rights campaigners, all of whom have been able to reach Europe via Tirana in Albania. Thirty-eight are being settled in Switzerland with the others going to Canada, France, Israel and the USA.”

The UCI noted “In total, 165 Afghan citizens have been able to leave the country as part of the efforts of the UCI and its partners.”

Multiple federations have made similar efforts, but this is one of the largest yet reported.

● Football ● The U.S. Men’s National Team will play its third and final CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying game in the second match window on Wednesday (13th), facing Costa Rica in Columbus, Ohio at 7 p.m. Eastern time (TV: ESPN2, Unimas, TUDN).

The U.S. sits in second place in the CONCACAF qualifying standings with eight points (2-1-2), behind Mexico (11: 3-0-2) and ahead of Panama (8: 2-1-2) on goal differential. Costa Rica is fifth with six points (1-1-3).

The U.S. has won its last three from Costa Rica by a 7-0 total score, taking the lead in the all-time series by 18-16-6. The Ticos have been tough on defense in World Cup Qualifying, allowing only three goals in five games, but only scoring three themselves. The U.S. has seven goals and given up three in its games.

● Gymnastics ● It appears that one case in the USA Gymnastics bankruptcy proceeding is about to be settled.

A Monday filing showed that Caitlyn Cantello’s claim (no. 251) for $3 million in damages against USA Gymnastics, filed on 25 April 2019, will be settled – with court approval – for $50,000 in an agreement with National Casualty Company, one of USA Gymnastics’ insurers.

A hearing is set for 19 October to accept the agreement, which would include the withdrawal of her bankruptcy claim and releases for all parties involved. Cantello suffered injuries to both ankles at an event in Maryland in late 2016 or early 2017 and did not file suit, but did file a claim in the USA Gymnastics bankruptcy matter. She was not involved in any sexual abuse, but the court documents indicate that the re-organization plan may benefit significantly by the elimination of this claim.

● Judo ● Majlinda Kelmendi, who won the first-ever Olympic medal for Kosovo, announced her retirement at age 30.

Kelmendi won IJF World Championships in the women’s 52 kg division in 2013 and 2014, addition to her 2016 Olympic gold in Rio. She was a three-time Olympian, competing in London for Albania – Kosovo was not yet accepted by the IOC – and in Tokyo in 2021.

She was a 17-time winner on the IJF World Tour, including three events in 2019. Wrote the IJF in tribute:

“She felt the responsibility to shine positivity on her small country, to never let them down and we have seen it clearly, time and time again. She doesn’t fight just for Majlinda or even for her teammates. She fights for Kosovo, knowing that her achievements give space for other girls, other young judoka to believe in the beauty of possibility.”

● Speed Skating ● With the backdrop of the Salt Lake City bid for the 2030 or 2034 Olympic Winter Games, the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation is hosting two major skating events at the hyper-fast Utah Olympic Oval in December.

An ISU Speed Skating World Cup will be held from 3-5 December and the U.S. Short Track Olympic Team Trials will take place from 17-19 December, with a capacity of 3,000 each.

How much do such events cost? World Cup tickets are $12.50 per day in advance and $17.50 at the door (parking included!). The Olympic Trials is priced at a modest $22.50 per day in advance and $27.50 at the door, also with parking included (!).

A major element of Salt Lake City’s appeal for the 2030/34 Games is that it has existing venues for all Winter Games events, especially the Olympic Oval in Kearns, Utah, which has been in continuous use since the successful 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games. The state of Utah has been making a major tourism push, especially for winter sports in the state, with these events part of the overall promotion.

● Taekwondo ● The World Taekwondo Congress met online on Monday and elected Korea’s Chungwon Choue, 73, for a fifth consecutive term as President, from 2021-25. He has been in charge since 2004. He ran unopposed and received 129 of 131 votes.

Observed: The IOC has frowned on “lifetime” Presidents of federations; it will be interesting to see if it takes notice of the “stability” at the head of World Taekwondo.

● Wrestling ● Announced: a unique “Bout at the Ballpark” event which intersperses a USA vs. Iran Freestyle dual meet with a collegiate match between 34-time NCAA champion Oklahoma State and 24-time champion Iowa at Globe Life Field, the home of the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, on 12 February 2022.

Seating for about 27,000 is expected to be available and the matches will be held on two different mats, with matches alternating between mat.

The event is being staged by REV Entertainment, which is the Rangers’ in-house promotion agency for non-baseball events at its ballpark. The event will be shown on subscription-based FloWrestling only.

Observed: This is a really good idea and the latest out-of-the-box concept from USA Wrestling, now working in conjunction with outside promoters to further rise the profile of one of the ancient Olympic sports. If this is successful, watch for many more of these kinds of events to pop up not only in wrestling, but with other National Governing Bodies and their collegiate counterparts as well.

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For our 743-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

LANE ONE: FINA publishes roadmap for systemic change on doping, governance, integrity, marketing and events

By
Rich Perelman
-

(For coverage of today’s 2021 Boston Marathon, click here.)

Money can’t buy happiness, or respect. But it allows you to try harder.

The international federation for the aquatic sports – the Federation Internationale de Natation, known as FINA – is one of the most financially successful in the world. Its 2020 financials showed reserves of almost $85 million and future (deferred) income of more than $70 million already received.

But there is widespread agreement that FINA and its constituent sports – especially its Olympic disciplines of swimming, diving, water polo and artistic swimming – can do much more. And the federation’s governance and anti-doping performance have come under severe criticism in the past.

New President Husain Al-Musallam (KUW) promised change upon his election in June 2021, first with the surprise appointment of American Brent Nowicki, the Managing Counsel and Head of Anti-Doping Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, as the new FINA Executive Director.

Al-Musallam created a 12-member FINA Reform Committee headed by former International Olympic Committee Director General Francois Carrard (SUI), which delivered its “first phase” report of 19 pages last Wednesday. If approved by an Extraordinary FINA Congress to be held alongside the World 25 m Swimming Championships in Abu Dhabi (UAE) in December, it will have far-reaching impacts on FINA and others.

Fully half of the report deals with governance, ethics, anti-discrimination, anti-harassment and health. Here’s the quite-candid opening to the governance section:

“For years FINA has been criticized for the way in which it handles not only alleged anti-doping rule violations, but all other matters of integrity such as ethical violations and corruptible offenses. Alleged offenses were referred to the respected adjudicatory body in clandestine fashion, often without explanation why certain matters were considered alleged offenses and others were not. The adjudicatory bodies within FINA – while facially independent – where not operationally independent from FINA. Athletes, in particular, have had little faith in the integrity of the FINA anti-doping, adjudication and ethical system.”

From that point, there’s nowhere to go but up. And the report lays out the steps:

● Formation of an independent “Aquatics Integrity Group,” tasked with oversight of anti-doping, event manipulation and ethics violations. This was widely hoped for and follows the path originated by World Athletics, which established the first such group in June, 2017. That federation funded its AIU with $8.3 million in 2019 and $7.9 million in 2020. The FINA integrity unit is hoped to begin operations in mid-2022.

● The FINA Integrity Unit would take over all anti-doping work not handled by the International Testing Agency – which does the out-of-competition testing only – and prosecute violations with the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s Anti-Doping Division (from which Nowicki came). This would replace judgements by the FINA Doping Panel, separating doping prosecutions from the federation completely.

● The Integrity Unit would also be responsible to ferret out competition manipulations, meaning not just possible betting issues, but also the falsification of times for qualifying purposes, an issue which popped up in meets in Uzbekistan in 2020 and 2021. Ethics violations would also be handled directly, instead of the current system of referring inquiry to the all-volunteer FINA Ethics Panel.

Instead, a new “Investigation Chamber” and a new “Adjudicatory Chamber” would be set up, with five members each, elected by the FINA Congress. None of the members would be allowed to be affiliated with any national federations or other bodies of FINA.

Constitutional reforms are proposed to enlarge the percentage of women on the FINA Bureau (its Executive Committee), expand anti-discrimination language and the implementation of a mental health and support program.

The other sections of the report outline changes for FINA regarding its marketing, events, communications strategy and digital presence. In fact, all four of these aspects are part of the same program. Consider, for example, the National Football League in the U.S. Everything starts with its teams and their schedule of games and related activities. From that, the supporting elements of communications, marketing and other programs are built up around the core.

The report once again hits the nail on the head in the first sentence of the section on marketing:

“FINA’s marketing strategy has been best characterized as passive.” No kidding!

The report recommends moving through the 2021-24 years for which broadcast and sponsorship agreements are in place and then creating a new, more serious program beyond 2024.

Then there is the question of the events themselves, with the report noting, “With over 70 events per year, the calendar has become too dense … more than 70% of FINA Events have been organised in two continents – Asia and Europe.” A working group is suggested, with athlete input to be incorporated from the start.

Even the name “FINA” is to be re-considered in a re-branding effort. Multiple federations have done this: “World Rowing” instead of “FISA”; “World Archery” instead of ‘FITA”; “World Athletics” instead of “IAAF” and so on.

And on communications? “[T]he Reform Committee is mindful to note that FINA’s historical ‘no communication communication’ approach with its members, partners, Athletes and the media must immediately cease.” Wow! And completely correct.

To further engage anyone and everyone, a thorough re-boot of the FINA digital-outreach program is recommended; that will be a lot of work.

The conclusion?

“The Reform Committee is aware that many of the recommended actions need sufficient and possibly substantial resources to be implemented. While the Reform Committee encourages FINA to act swiftly on the reform set out above, it must do so with great detail and care to ensure that a solid foundation for the future of Aquatics is forged.”

The fate of this reform program within FINA will be closely watched by other federations. If FINA can change, everyone can change and no federation will be able to say they can’t make the changes that FINA is making.

This is an important first step for FINA, but the Extraordinary Congress will need to embrace the report and the action items which are recommended in December. And a second report of the Reform Committee is coming in May, to be considered in another Congress.

Many have felt FINA could never be reformed, but the new undertaking is an impressive start.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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For our 743-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

ATHLETICS: Kenya’s Kipruto (2:09:51) and Kipyokei (2:24:25) win Boston Marathon; Flanagan finishes back-to-back runs in 2:40:34

By
Rich Perelman
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American C.J. Albertson (far right) took the lead right away in Monday's Boston Marathon, but it didn't last (Photo: video screenshot)

A runaway attempt failed on the men’s side of the 125th Boston Marathon on Monday, but a late attack secured a win in the women’s division on the hilly Hopkinton-to-Boston course.

American C.J. Albertson, a 2:11:18 marathoner running on his 28th birthday, attacked right from the start and broke away from the men’s field so quickly that some of the elite runners had no idea he was in the lead.

He ran the first three miles in 4:32, 4:41 and 4:45 and was out of the sight of the field. At the halfway mark, he had a 2:13 lead (!) on the rest of the field, but then began to tire. The lead was down to 23 seconds at 20 miles – the start of Heartbreak Hill – and he was soon passed by a group of 15, but he attached himself to the back of that pack.

The lead group ran together only for about another mile and then Kenya’s Benson Kipruto made the decisive move in the race. He powered ahead and had a clear lead of more than 20 m by the 22-mile mark and then ran away to victory in 2:09:51.

It was Kipruto’s second win of the year, after the Prague Marathon in May and equal to his third-fastest marathon ever. He has finished in the top seven in none of his 10 career marathons.

Behind him, Ethiopians Jemal Yimer, Tsedat Ayana and Lemi Berhanu were struggling for the remaining medals with a mile to go. Berhanu, the 2016 Boston winner who had failed to finish in three of his last four marathons, sprinted on the final straight to get second in 2:10:37 and Yimer – making his marathon debut – was third in 2:10:37, 11 seconds ahead of Ayana.

To his credit, Albertson did not fade and hung with elements of the elite pack for the rest of the race. He fell from the lead to 16th by mile 21, but rebounded to come back up to 10th overall in 2:11:44, his second-fastest marathon ever!

The women’s race also had plenty of late drama, but a lead group of 15 ran through the half in 1:14:11. After mile 17, Kenyan Diana Kipyogei – running her third career marathon – took command and raced out to a solid lead and looked like she might run away with the race.

But Ethiopian Netsanet Gudeta – the 2018 World Half Marathon Champion – closed the gap by mile 21 and with the remaining contenders more than 20 seconds back, these two were going to fight for the win. Kipyogei slowly forged ahead and by the 22-mile marker had a small lead that kept expanding.

By 24 miles, Kipyogei was 15 seconds up and ran steadily to the finish, under cloudy skies, in 2:24:45, for her first World Marathon Majors title at age 27.

Gudeta was spent, and was passed by two-time World Champion Edna Kiplagat (KEN) by the 25-mile mark, with Gudeta falling to fifth. Kiplagat finished second (2:25:09), her third Boston medal performance, trailed by fellow Kenyan Mary Ngugi (2:25:20). Gudeta was fifth (2:26:09), just ahead of the top American, Nell Rojas (2:27:12).

Well behind the leaders, but authoring a remarkable performance, was 40-year-old U.S. star Shalane Flanagan. Now a coach, she decided to try to run all six of the World Marathon Majors within a seven-week period and all under 3:00. After finishing in the top 20 at London and Berlin in under 2:40, she was 25th in Chicago on Sunday in 2:46:39 before getting on a plane to Boston.

In cloudy and damp conditions on Monday, she ran steadily through the first half and actually picked up the pace in the last 20 km to finish 33rd in the women’s race in 2:40:34! Amazing!

She now has the luxury of a full week (!) before she tackles the Portland Marathon next week, her replacement race for the postponed Tokyo Marathon. That will be three marathons in eight days!

Flanagan’s achievement ranks right up there with any of the medal winners on Monday.

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HEARD AT HALFTIME: WADA suspends Moscow lab again; U.S. men lose, 1-0, at Panama; Tura beats Rupp in Chicago Marathon

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

When the World Anti-Doping Agency suspends a testing laboratory, often for a minor technical issue, it’s usually barely worth notice. When the lab is in Moscow, it’s news.

Of course, the Moscow lab was the operations center for the giant Russian doping program from 2011-15, but WADA has seen dramatic improvements from the Russian Anti-Doping Agency under its supervision over the last several years. But on Friday, WADA’s Executive Committee revoked the “approved status” of the Russian National Anti-Doping Laboratory, located at Moscow State University.

Already under a provisional suspension, the action means that the Moscow lab “remains ineligible to carry out any work related to the analysis of blood samples in connection with the ABP or any other form of anti-doping analysis …” It can appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

This suspension emanates from the tampering of data provided to WADA in January 2019, when the state-sponsored Russian doping program was being unraveled. WADA declared the lab to be provisionally suspended in January 2020, but wanted to wait until after the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s decision on WADA’s first set of sanctions to consider the matter further; that decision was handed down in December 2020.

Now, the ethical breach of falsifying the data provided to WADA in January 2019 is being addressed with the suspension of the Moscow lab.

Will this ever end? Russian President Vladimir Putin is asking too. The Russian news agency TASS reported on Friday:

“President Vladimir Putin ruled on Friday that the Russian Sports Ministry as well as all of the involved national sports organizations must resort to measures aimed at the reinstatement of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) with WADA and of the All-Russian Athletics Federation (RusAF) with World Athletics.”

WADA’s sanctions on Russia, as modified by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, continue through December 2022.

Folks, this isn’t over.

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Athletics ● A 14 October hearing will be held concerning doping sanctions for now-retired Jamaican sprinter Nesta Carter.

The Jamaica Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel will hear a new case concerning Carter, whose sample from the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games came back positive in a re-test in 2016. He was disqualified from the 4×100 m relay, won by Jamaica, but subsequently awarded to Trinidad & Tobago.

Carter, now 35, ran 9.78 for 100 m at his best, still no. 9 on the all-time list. He stated in August that he was retiring due to a medical condition that required treatments that would be in violation of the World Anti-Doping Code.

● Baseball ● Last week’s WBSC U-23 men’s Baseball World Cup concluded in Mexico, with Venezuela beating Mexico, 4-0, in the championship game and Colombia getting past Cuba, 5-3, for the bronze medal.

Also reported was the defection of 11 or 12 members (out of 24) of the Cuban team. Reports speculated that bad conditions in Cuba itself are part of the problem, as is the possibility to play professionally in the U.S.

Cuba’s National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER) called the actions of the defectors “vile abandonments” and accused the players of “weak morals and ethics” adding:

“Is it so difficult to learn, from the cradle, that one doesn’t pursue dreams or personal projects by putting universal values such as commitment, responsibility and patriotism to one side?”

No official reports of the whereabouts of the defecting players have been issued as yet.

● Gymnastics ● The U.S. will send a women’s team full of new faces to the 2021 FIG World Artistic Championships in Japan next week.

Olympic alternates Kayla DiCello and Leanne Wong head the team, which also includes eMjae Frazier and Konnor McClain. The team was selected based on a training camp in Indianapolis, with DiCello posting the highest All-Around score of 55.35. Frazier was second (54.05), Wong third (53.40) and McClain came in fourth (52.00).

● Skiing ● The Federation Internationale de Ski held an Extraordinary Congress on 8 October and voted – barely – to remain the Federation Internationale de Ski.

Two alternatives were proposed, with “International Ski and Snowboard Federation” receiving 57 votes and “International Snowsports Federation” receiving 51. In the second round of voting, the “Ski and Snowboard Federation” name won by 66-49 (57%), but that was short of the 2/3rds majority required. So the federation’s name is unchanged for now.

The Congress did adopt, for the first time, term limits: “With effect from the 2022 Ordinary Congress, the President and the Council Members may be re-elected but shall serve no longer than twelve (12) years from the date of the 2022 elections of President and Council Members, and if a Council Member is elected as President, the overall maximum combined term shall not exceed twenty (20) years.”

The five presidents in the history of the federation served 10 years (Ivan Holmquist/SWE: 1934-34), 17 years (Nikolai Ramm Ostgaard/SWE: 1934-51), 47 years (Marc Hodler/SUI: 1951-98) and 23 years (Gian Franco Kasper/SUI: 1998-2021), with Johan Eliasch (SWE) elected in 2021.

● Swimming ● More sad news about allegations of abuse and forthcoming investigations.

At the University of Southern California, SwimSwam.com reported that head swimming and diving coach Jeremy Kipp has been placed on administrative leave. An investigation into allegations of abusive conduct towards athletes is apparently in the beginning stages.

Kipp is beginning his second season at the helm of the legendary USC program, following the retirement of Dave Salo in May 2020.

In Australia, a 5 October report on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) detailed accusations of abuse of four swimmers in the 1980s by well-known coach John Wright. One was 1980 Olympian Shane Lewis, who died earlier this year from a prescription drug overdose at age 47.

Lewis contacted Swimming Australia about the incidents in 2016, but when the federation asked for more details in an e-mail, he didn’t think that was sufficient. Lewis then received a letter asking “to hear from you further – either in writing, verbally by phone, or in person – as soon as you are able.”

Child protection advocate Hetty Johnston, working with Lewis at the time, told ABC:

“Swimming Australia wrote a lovely letter. But the word sorry didn’t appear in it anywhere. And what a survivor always looks for is that everyone wants to know, deep in your soul, that what happened is not your fault. And he was, you know, he was discouraged by it, most definitely discouraged by it.”

Current Swimming Australia chief executive Eugenie Buckley noted that in 2016, the federation had asked Lewis for more information, spoke to Johnston, the police and referred the allegations to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses into Child Sexual Abuse.

● Volleyball ● The first major development from the formation of Volleyball World, a promotion entity own by the FIVB and CVC Capital Partners was announced Saturday: the Beach Pro Tour.

This is a re-organization of the FIVB World Tour, which has been the top-level program for professional beach volleyball, but which was badly splintered into five levels of tournaments, from one-star to five-star.

The new program, to begin in 2022, separates play into three clearly-defined levels: Elite for the top 16 men’s and women’s teams over four days: Challenge, for the next 24 teams (and others who can player in a qualifying round), and Futures, for another 16 teams. The pre-tournament qualifications are over and the top teams are supposed to face each other continuously during the season.

Eight Elite tournaments have been scheduled for far, beginning in March in Brazil and continuing in Mexico, South Africa, Czech Republic, Latvia, Switzerland, Qatar and Australia (in November). A Beach Pro Tour final will be organized for the top 10 teams.

The details on prize money, ranking points, relegation, injury replacements and so on are yet to be announced. But this is a disciplined attempt to sort out what tournaments are important and which are not. That’s a promising start.

≡ SCOREBOARD ≡

● Athletics ● Ethiopia’s Seifu Tura and Kenyan World Champion Ruth Chepngetich turned in stellar performances to win the Chicago Marathon on Sunday morning, with Americans Galen Rupp and Emma Bates finishing second.

In the men’s race, Tura won his third career marathon, but first World Marathon Majors title with a steady performance, while Rupp had to come from behind. A group of eight separated from the field early, but it was down to six by the halfway point as Rueben Kipyego (KEN) led at 1:02:29. Rupp was seventh, but 10 seconds down to the lead pack.

The American star had rejoined the lead group by 25 km and was fourth at 30 km, with Kenyan Eric Kiptanui in the lead. Then the racing really started. Tura, Kiptanui and Rupp had broken free by 35 km and were 28 seconds up on Japan’s Kengo Suzuki. Tura then turned up the heat, running 14:33 for the next 5 km and dropping Rupp, 1:59:44 to 1:59:53 with Kiptanuti third at 2:00:05, at 40 km.

That’s how they finished, with Tura winning in 2:06:12 – his third-fastest ever – and Rupp following in 2:06:35 (also his third-fastest) and Kiptanui at 2:06:51. Suzuki was fourth in 2:08:50. Rupp’s time is the no. 6 performance in U.S. history (and he now has three of the six).

The women’s race was owned by 2019 World Champion Chepngetich. She had a five-second lead at 5 km, 27 seconds at 10 km and 1:04 by 15 km! She crossed the half in 1:07:34 and had fallen off of world-record pace, but powered on to win easily in 2:22:31, the no. 14 performance of 2021.

Behind her, Americans Sara Hall and Bates were third and 6th at the half, but were 3-4 by 25 km, both chasing Kenya’s Vivian Kiplagat. Bates passed Hall for third by 35 km, but then Kiplagat blew up over the next 5 km and Bates and Hall passed by to finish 2-3 in 2:24:20 and 2:27:19.

That was a lifetime best for Bates, 29, by more than a minute and moves her to no. 9 on the all-time U.S. list. It was Hall’s fifth-best time and her second medal in a World Marathon Major. Kiplagat got home in 2:29:14 for fifth.

What about Shalane Flanagan’s effort for six sub-3:00 marathons in seven weeks? She’s still on track – pun intended – with a 25th-place finish in 2:46:39. Now she has to go again on Monday in Boston!

If you have ever wondered about how professional runners get paid for races, David Monti of Race Results Weekly explains it nicely in a story reprinted on RunnerSpace.com.

● Beach Volleyball ● The FIVB World Tour Final in Cagliari saw the confirmation that Norway’s Anders Mol and Christian Sorum are the best men’s pair on the planet.

The Olympic champions won their second World Tour final with a straight set (22-20, 23-21) thriller over Ondrej Perusic and David Schweiner (CZE) completing an impressive run through the tournament. It’s their 14th career World Tour win. The Dutch pair of Christiaan Varenhorst and Steven Van de Velde took third, defeating Paolo Nicolai and Daniele Lupo (ITA), 23-21, 21-17.

The women’s title went to Germany’s 2021 European Championships bronze medalists Karla Borger and Julia Sude, winners over 2019 World Champions Sarah Pavan and Melissa Humana-Paredes (CAN), 21-13, 23-21. Olympic champs Alix Klineman and April Ross of the U.S. finished third, defeating Nadezda Makroguzova and Svetlana Kholomina (RUS), 21-8, 21-17.

● Cycling ● The UCI World Tour is nearing its end when the famed Il Lombardia comes on the schedule, the last of five “Monument” races that date back to the 1890s. Last Saturday’s 118th Il Lombardia was a misery-inducing, seven-climb marathon over 239 km from Como to Bergamo that ended with another win for Slovenian star Tadej Pogacar.

Already the Tour de France champion in 2021 and winner of the Liege-Bastogne-Liege Monument race in April, Pogacar attacked with 35 km remaining in the race and broke free on the final major climb up the Passo di Ganda. Only Italy’s Fausto Masnada came up the challenge with about 16 km left, but Pogacar had more than enough to win in 6:01:39. Britain’s Adam Yates outdueled Slovenia’s Primoz Roglic for third (+0:51).

At The Women’s Tour in Great Britain, Dutch star Demi Vollering won the overall title, taking charge after a win in the third stage and holding on for the final three. Vollering crushed everyone in the Individual Time Trial, winning by more than a minute and then finishing with the pack in the other stages.

Vollering finished with a winning margin of 1:02 over Juliette Labos (FRA) and 1:05 in front of Clara Copponi (FRA).

● Football ● The U.S. Men’s National Team went into Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City (PAN) never having lost in a World Cup Qualifier, having won twice and tied twice.

Until Sunday, when a Anibal Godoy header off an Eric Davis corner kick in the 54th minute found the net in a 1-0 defeat. It was the U.S.’s first loss in World Cup 2022 qualifying (now 2-1-2) and ended a 13-game unbeaten streak.

With seven new starters in the line-up from Thursday’s 2-0 win over Jamaica, the U.S. attack was simply listless, with five total shots at goal and none on goal! Panama had eight shots and found U.S. keeper Matt Turner on four of them. The Panamanian defense was quick to the ball and the American attack found no shooting lanes, and not enough speed to get behind the defense.

The game was physical, with 22 fouls and plenty of work for the training and medical staffs on both sides. The U.S. is now 16-2-6 vs. Panama all-time.

In the other games, Costa Rica beat El Salvador, 2-1; Jamaica and Canada played to a scoreless tie and Mexico defeated Honduras, 3-0. That leaves Mexico on top of the standings with 11 points, followed by the U.S. and Panama (both 8) and then Canada and Costa Rica (both 6).

This was the fifth match-day of 14 in the eight-nation CONCACAF qualifying tournament; the final match of this window comes Wednesday, with the U.S. hosting Costa Rica in Columbus, Ohio.

In the UEFA Nations League final in Milan, France bounced back from its Euro 2020 disappointment to win a tight, 2-1 battle with Spain.

The French, the reigning World Cup champions, came back from an 0-2 deficit to defeat Belgium in their semi and fell behind, 0-1, by a 66th-minute, left-footed strike by Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal across the goal. But the deficit was erased two minutes later by French striker Karim Benzema with a long line drive that landed in the far top corner of the Spanish goal and the sides struggled at 1-1.

Then midfielder Theo Hernandez found superstar striker Kylian Mbappe at the left of the Spanish goal and he converted with a sharp, left-footed liner past Spanish keeper Unai Simon for a 2-1 lead in the 80th minute. Replay showed Mbappe offsides, but the goal was allowed to stand.

Spain pressured wildy in the final minutes, but could not equalize and the French – after being eliminated in the Round of the 16 at Euro 2020 – took home the Nations League trophy.

Italy defeated Belgium, 2-1, in Turin to take third place and rebound from its first loss in a record 37 matches in the semifinal.

● Swimming ● The second stage of the FINA World Cup was held in Budapest (HUN) in a 25 m pool, with American Tom Shields claiming four wins and a piece of history.

Shields, 30, won the 50 m Butterfly in 21.99 to set the American Record and replace Caeleb Dressel’s 22.04 mark from 2020, and move to no. 6 all-time in the history of the event, Shields also won the 100 m and 200 m Fly events, as well as the 100 m Back for four wins overall.

But he wasn’t the biggest winner of the meet. That was South African teen Matt Sates, 18, who won the 100-200-400 m Medleys, the 200 m Free and the 400 m Free, the latter in a World Junior Record of 3:37.92. In the World Cup opener in Berlin, he set World Junior marks in the 200 m Free and 200 m Medley. By the way, he’s headed to the U.S. to swim for Georgia!

Australia’s Emma McKeon was one of three women to win three events, including the 50-100 m Frees and the 50 m Fly. Kira Toussaint (NED) took the 50-100-200 m Backstrokes and Swiss Maria Ugolkova won the 200 m Butterfly and the 100-200 m Medleys.

● Wrestling ● The UWW World Championships concluded in Oslo, with the U.S. picking up its 15th medal of the event with a bronze by G’Angelo Hancock in the Greco-Roman 97 kg division.

In his fourth Worlds, Hancock lost his semifinal against Hungary’s Alex Szoke on criteria after a 4-4 tie in regulation. In the bronze-medal match, Hancock piled up a 3-0 lead on Peter Oehler (GER), who was unable to continue after an injury at the 3:32 mark.

Iran won four titles in the Greco-Roman division, with victories by Meisam Dalkhani (63 kg), Mohammad Reza Geraei (67 kg), Mohammad Hadi Saravi (97 kg) and Ali Akbar Yousefi (130 kg). However, Russia won the team title.

In the overall medal table, Russia led with 18 total medals (4-5-9), with the U.S. following at 15 (5-5-5) and Iran at 13 (7-3-3). Japan also had five wins and 12 medals overall (5-3-4).

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For our 743-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

PANORAMA: Team USA Council asks 20% of USOPC hires to be social-justice compliant by 2025; U.S. men stop Jamaica, 2-0; U.S.’s Gray and Maroulis win world wrestling titles!

By
Rich Perelman
-
A third World Championships gold for American Helen Maroulis at the United World Wrestling Worlds in Norway! (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Key status updates on the urgent stories in Olympic sport:

≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

The third set of recommendations from the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s Team USA Council on Racial and Social Justice included seven dictates designed to increase “institutional awareness about racial and social justice” and promote “cultural change.”

Drafted by the “Institutional Awareness and Cultural Change Steering Committee,” the recommendations include the creation and funding of a USOPC office of “Access, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” to “develop and enforce policies and practices for all USOPC employees” then to be extended to the U.S. National Governing Bodies.

The recommendations outline benchmark metrics, to be measured by external auditors each quadrennial, including:

● “demographic make-up of executive leadership and board of directors”;

● “sense of belonging across identity categories, with a particular focus on historically underrepresented, marginalized, oppressed, or minoritized groups”;

● “For the USOPC specifically, consider increasing the hiring of leadership and staff from historically underrepresented, marginalized, oppressed, or minoritized groups by 15% and 20%, respectively, by 2025.”

The National Governing Bodies are directed to “identify their own access, diversity, equity, and inclusion benchmarks with a focus on hiring and retention at all levels” and that “benchmarks should be based on (a) the demographics of the athlete populations within the sport and (b) the demographics of the U.S. population.”

The recommendations further require the USOPC to “Create and implement a plan for moving oversight of Paralympic sports currently managed by the USOPC exclusively to their respective NGBs” and to provide financial support where necessary to implement this change over a five-year period.

The creation of a “ADEI Advisory Council” is included to “Establish an ongoing access, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging Advisory Council charged specifically with identifying barriers to racial and social justice in their respective sporting context, with a particular focus on barriers at the grassroots level that prevent certain social groups from participating in the sport.”

The requirements cite the need to “[i]dentify or establish a permanent means to provide financial resources to sustainably address systemic barriers to access, diversity, equity, and inclusion.” However, no definition of “historically underrepresented, marginalized, oppressed, or minoritized groups” is listed.

Published on Thursday (7th), this was the third of four groups of recommendations from the Council on Social and Racial Justice. The statement included: “A final recommendation is expected later this year that will address racism and acts of discrimination and aim to enhance the reporting and dispute here [sic] resolution processes.”

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● International Olympic Committee ● Lots of reaction to Thursday’s Lane One column about Zimbabwean Kirsty Coventry’s appointment as chair of the Brisbane 2023 Coordination Commission, notably about who was not mentioned as possible candidates as IOC President.

Chief among those suggested as possible candidates was Spain’s Juan Antonio Samaranch, Jr., son of the legendary IOC chief from 1980-2001. A skilled operator within the IOC, he is the Coordination Commission chair for the upcoming Beijing 2022 Winter Games. His candidature for IOC President in 2025 would create a generational choice for the membership: he will be 65 at the time of the election and would serve to age 73 in his first term.

What about World Athletics President Sebastian Coe (GBR), the two-time Olympic gold medalist at 1,500 m in 1980 and 1984 and the chair of the London 2012 organizing committee? He’s 65 now and will be at least 68 at the time of the vote in 2025.

Also highly regarded, but who is already 75 is Fijian Dr. Robin Mitchell. The IOC has an age limit of 70 for members elected after 1999. Mitchell was elected in 1994 and can serve until age 80; Samaranch (2001) and Coe (2020) are subject to the age-70 rule.

● Games of the XXXIII Olympiad: Paris 2024 ● The Paris organizing committee has expanded the number of possible sites for use by National Olympic Games for pre-Games training to 780. A third group of sites will be added in spring of 2022.

Impressive.

● Games of the XXIII Olympiad: Los Angeles 1984 ● The LA84 Foundation, the living legacy of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, is hosting a “Taste of the World” on Monday, 11 October at the famed Riviera Country Club, the venue for equestrian and modern pentathlon at the 1932 Games.

The foundation is continuing its efforts in support of its “Play Equity Fund,” which is committed to creating access to sports and play programs for youth. Beyond the event itself, there is also a silent auction with special packages to attend local sporting events, but also for golf at Pebble Beach and first-round attendance at the 2022 Masters in Augusta, Georgia.

A very special commemorative package to auctioned live on-site includes an authentic 1984 Olympic torch, a 1984 Olympic participation medal and a giant Star-in-Motion logo poster by the late Robert Miles Runyan.

● World Anti-Doping Agency ● WADA announced Thursday that five organizations have been declared non-compliant, including the National Anti-Doping Organizations in Indonesia, Thailand and North Korea.

The Thai federation’s problem is due to an incomplete integration of the World Anti-Doping Code into the country’s legal system. For Indonesia and North Korea, “the non-compliance is a result of non-conformities in implementing an effective testing program.”

The sanctions are so far limited to not having national flags flown at world championships and the Indonesia and North Korea will have their anti-doping organizations “subject to supervision by an approved third party, at the Signatories’ expense, including up to six site visits per year.”

Comment: Good luck with supervising the North Koreans!

● Athletics ● A comprehensive bid for the 2025 World Athletics Championships was filed by Athletics Kenya with the idea to hold the event in Nairobi. Athletics Kenya chief Jackson Tuwei said:

“We organised two very successful world junior championships at the Kasarani stadium in 2017 [U-18] and in August 2021 [U-20], where a number of world records and personal bests were realised. We learnt a lot of lessons in staging both events, and realistically it is our time to bring the biggest event.”

Tuwei indicated that the decision will be made prior to the 2022 Worlds in Eugene, Oregon. Other interested nations include Japan (for Tokyo); the event is expected to cost $70-80 million U.S. to stage.

The Athletics Integrity Unit announced Thursday that it has changed Nigeria’s four-time Olympian and 2008 Olympic long jumper silver medalist Blessing Okagbare, 32, with (1) possession and use of Human Growth Hormone from a 19 July out-of-competition test, which was what disqualified her from the Tokyo Games; (2) possession and use of recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) in a sample collected on 29 July and (3) “the athlete failed to comply with a formal requirement to produce relevant documents, records and electronic storage devices.”

Okagbare has denied all of the charges and the case will be heard by the independent Disciplinary Tribunal. She could face a four-year ban.

WADA’s independent Intelligence and Investigations Department reported that it has closed its inquiry into the Nike Oregon Project and possible anti-doping violations. The review indicated that other than coach Alberto Salazar and physician Dr. Jeffrey Brown – both suspended – there was insufficient evidence to warrant proceedings against anyone other than “Witness A,” who was not identified. Proceedings concerning “Witness A,” who admitted to an anti-doping violation in 2012, are continuing.

● Figure Skating ● Covid has once again scrambled the world skating calendar as the annual ISU Four Continents Championship – created as a balance to the European Championships – will now be held in Europe!

Scheduled for Tianjin, China for 17-22 January – a couple of weeks prior to the start of the Beijing Winter Games – the Chinese Figure Skating Association canceled the event. The ISU decided to (provisionally) hold the event at the site of the 2022 Europeans in Tallinn, Estonia from 18-23 January instead. That would follow immediately after the Europeans on 10-16 January.

This will work for the Four Continents contestants, but it’s another worrysome sign for the Beijing 2022 Winter Games.

● Football ● More on the firing of North Carolina Courage coach Paul Riley for past sexual harassment has come in a post from club owner Steve Malik on the team’s Web site. Of note:

“Following the news of last week, many of you were left with a key question – what did we know?

“When we bought the Western NY Flash in 2017, we conducted due diligence to continue with Mr. Riley and the coaching staff. We were made aware of an investigation into Mr. Riley’s behavior in 2015 and were subsequently assured that he was in good standing. During his employment with the Courage, we had no knowledge of allegations of sexual harassment or coercion. When we learned of the horrific allegations in last week’s reporting, we took those seriously and immediately terminated Mr. Riley.”

Malik moved the team to Cary, North Carolina in 2017. Riley has denied the allegations.

The NWSL was reported to have conducted an inquiry into accusation against Riley in 2015; an April 2021 request by a former Portland Thorns player to re-open the investigation, but was told by now-resigned NWSL commission Lisa Baird that the matter had been concluded. The league is re-opening the inquest.

On Wednesday, the Portland Thorns tweeted that “Effective immediately, Portland Thorns FC have placed General Manager/President of Soccer Gavin Wilkinson on administrative leave from Thorns duties pending the results of the outside independent investigation, which is ongoing.”

Wilkinson (NZL) was the Portland Timbers coach from 2005-10 when it was in the United Soccer Leagues before moving to Major League Soccer in 2011 and was part of the Portland Thorns front office – founded in 2013 – when Riley was coach there. Wilkinson is continuing with his role with the Timbers.

The Russian TASS news agency reported that Qatari officials stated the cost of staging the 2022 FIFA World Cup will be about $6.5 billion U.S., a small part of a $200 billion investment in the country’s infrastructure.

That larger figure represents projects such as new roads, a subway, an airport, hotels and other tourist facilities. Qatar has a population of a little more than 2.9 million people, and comprises 4,416 sq. miles, smaller than the state of Connecticut.

● Weightlifting ● Another Russian lifter has been sanctioned due to a doping positive. Sergei Bondarenko was given a four-year ban as of 19 May 2020 by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency; he competed in the +105 kg division and had won bronze medals in national tournaments.

≡ SCOREBOARD ≡

● Football ● The second window of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying matches opened on Thursday evening, with the U.S. Men’s National Team defeating Jamaica, 2-0, before a loud crowd in Austin, Texas.

The game got crazy in the first 20 seconds, as Jamaican midfielder Blair Turgott tackled Paul Arriola on a breakaway shot opportunity and received a yellow card, while fans called for red. In the 34th minute, U.S. striker Brendan Aaronson was tackled on a contested ball just outside the box by defender Damion Lowe and also received a yellow card; that also could have been a red. The half ended 0-0, but with the U.S. holding 67% of the possession.

The U.S. finally broke through in the 49th minute, on a cross by sub Reggie Cannon from the right side of goal to the middle of the field that was headed in by 18-year-old striker Ricardo Pepi for a 1-0 lead.

In the 62nd minute, Aaronson exploded down the left side of the pitch and sent an expert cross toward the middle of the field that was met by a sprinting Pepi for a second goal and a 2-0 lead. An El Paso native, Pepi has now scored three goals in his first games with the U.S. men’s team.

The U.S. ended with 62% possession and a 17-5 overall edge in shots.

In the other qualifying games, Mexico and Canada drew, 1-1; Honduras and Costa Rica played to a 0-0 draw and El Salvador defeated Panama, 1-0. The results leave the U.S. and Mexico atop the group with eight points each, followed by Canada (6) and Panama (5).

Next up for the U.S. men is a 10 October game at Panama City and then a 13 October match with Costa Rica in Columbus, Ohio.

The UEFA Champions League semifinals started with a stunning win by Spain, which defeated Italy by 2-1 at the famed San Siro Stadium in Milan. It not only vaulted Spain into the final, but ended Italy’s record 37-match unbeaten streak.

Italy had not been beaten since a 1-0 loss to Portugal in September 2018, but made their situation difficult with a red card to defender Leonardo Bonucci in the 42nd minute. Already down 1-0 on a Ferran Torres goal in the 17th minute, Italy had to play with 10 men the rest of the way.

And Torres made them pay with a second goal two minutes into stoppage time at the end of the half for a 2-0 lead. Italy was frustrated during most of the second half, but got an 83rd-minute goal from Lorenzo Pellegrini to cut the deficit to 2-1. But they could not score again.

There was more drama in Thursday’s semi in Turin, where Belgium raced out to a 2-0 lead in the first half against World Cup champ France, on goals from Yannick Carrasco in the 37th minute and Romelu Lukaku in the 40th.

But the French came roaring back in the second half, with goals by Karim Benzema (62nd) and Kylian Mbappe on a penalty in the 69th for a 2-2 tie. Lukaku thought he scored in the 87th minute, but was called offside after a video review.

French midfielder Theo Hernandez then launched a left-footed strike from the corner of the box in the 90th minute for the decider in the 3-2 final.

Spain and France will meet on Sunday for the 2021 Nations League title.

● Wrestling ● The U.S. women celebrated victories from superstars Adeline Gray and Helen Maroulis at the UWW World Championships in Oslo, Norway as they won seven medals in the 10 classes and finished second in the women’s team standings.

On Wednesday, Gray won her sixth World Championships gold – the most ever by an American – in the 76 kg class with a pinfall in 5:58 over Estonia’s Epp Maee. How dominant was Gray? She pinned all four of her opponents, in 1:17, 2:33, 4:00 and 5:58. Wow!

On Thursday, Maroulis, who has battled concussion issues since winning the 2017 Worlds, pinned India’s Anshu in 4:00 at 57 kg to win her third world title: also in 2015 (55 kg) and 2017 (58 kg), to go along with her Olympic gold (2016: 53 kg) and a Tokyo bronze at 57 kg.

The U.S. women claimed a silver medal at 50 kg, as Sarah Hildebrandt lost to Japan’s Remina Yoshimoto, 5-3, in the final, and bronze medals by Forrest Molinari (65 kg) and Olympic champ Tamyra Mensah-Stock at 68 kg. The U.S. women had previously won a 62 kg silver with Kayla Miracle and a bronze with Jenna Burkert at 55 kg.

Japan won the women’s team title at 196 points to 147 for the U.S.

The Worlds conclude on the 10th as the men’s Greco-Roman division continues.

≡ THE LAST WORD ≡

The newest sport to be associated with the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) is World Obstacle.

Known formally as the Federation Internationale de Sports d’Obstacles (FISO), it gained Observer Status on 27 September and is now on the road to becoming a recognized international sport. The federation World Obstacle “was formed in 2014 and formalised in 2018 to unify and develop obstacle sports worldwide. Disciplines include Ninja, Obstacle Course Racing and Adventure Racing.”

It lists national federations and contacts in 98 countries so far.

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

LANE ONE: Has IOC chief Bach proposed his successor? Kirsty Coventry named chair of Brisbane 2032 Coordination Commission

By
Rich Perelman
-
IOC member and Zimbabwe Minister for Youth, Art, Sports and Recreation Kirsty Coventry

While hardly unexpected, the choice of Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry as the head of the International Olympic Committee’s Coordination Commission for the Games of the XXXV Olympiad unmistakably propels her as a candidate to become IOC President in 2025.

The IOC announced Thursday that Coventry, 38, will chair the 12-member Coordination Commission for the Brisbane Games, strongly reflecting the desires of current President Thomas Bach (GER), including, but not limited to:

● Eight of the 12 members of the Commission are women, continuing Bach’s efforts to include more and more women on a path to leadership in the IOC.

● The selections continue the engagement of two important women whose terms of service on the IOC Executive Board were concluded after the Tokyo Games: Coventry and senior U.S. member Anita DeFrantz, who will serve as Vice Chair.

● Bach said: “Kirsty Coventry is leading an exciting new generation of IOC members in this Commission. As a double Olympic gold medallist and a former IOC Executive Board member, she has all the experience for this important task.”

The Brisbane Coordination Commission is a high-profile assignment that will not have an enormous amount of work to do prior to 2025, as the vast majority of Brisbane’s venues are already in place. But the oversight task of ensuring that the organizing committee is properly formed and the government’s development plans surrounding the Games do not interfere with the staging of the event will be critical to the success of the 2032 Games.

Why is 2025 so important? Because that’s when Bach’s 12-year term as President will end. At 71, he will be subject to term limits, and will turn over the reins of the most important organization in world sport to someone else.

Coventry is certainly not the only possible candidate. But her election would check a lot of boxes that Bach and others would like to see filled:

● First woman President of the IOC

● First IOC President from Africa
(Let us not forget that the IOC’s first major event in Africa will be the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar (SEN) in 2026.)

● First individual Olympic gold medalist to be IOC President
(She won the 200 m Backstroke at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, along with five other medals in swimming, also in the 100 m Back and 200 m Medley. She competed in five Games from 2000-16. Bach won a Team gold in fencing in Montreal in 1976; no prior IOC President had won an Olympic medal.)

● First IOC President who was also a full-time government minister
(Coventry was appointed Minister for Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation in 2018, but is an independent, not affiliated with any political party.)

● First Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission to become IOC President
(Bach was a member of the first IOC Athletes’ Commission in 1981, but was never its chair. Coventry joined the IOC as a member of the Athletes’ Commission in 2013, became chair in 2018 and was elected as an individual IOC member in 2021.)

Coventry, born in Harare in 1983, would be 42 or 43 in 2025 and would become the touchpoint for a worldwide youth movement in sports administration in the National Olympic Committees and International Federations. Really? Yes.

Consider these comments, which very much reflect Bach’s thinking and the IOC’s current policy direction – in a slightly different context – from IOC Sports Director Kit McConnell (NZL) during a news conference on 26 July during the Tokyo Games:

“I wanted to highlight also why gender equality for us is not just about numbers and percentages. We know for every opportunity we give to a female event in the Olympic program, this often leads to the same event being added to other multi-sport Games, to being further promoted in World Championships, World Cup events in the IF’s own programs, so it really has a ripple effect beyond the Olympic Games as well.

“And equally, for every additional female quota place we bring into the Olympic Games we often see that being reflected also in increased quotas outside the Games. [So] that leads to a lot of investment, a lot of development around the world in different countries, through National Olympic Committees, through sport ministries, through others who invest in female athletes to go for that qualification place, to go into a qualification process to qualify to the Games.

“So there is really a positive ripple effect that amplifies the impact for every single one of those additional quota places that we create for women athletes and that’s why it’s so important to reach the numbers we have here in Tokyo and reach that absolute equality in terms of numbers of athletes in Paris as well. So it has a wider impact than just the Olympic Games, and why it’s so important that we lead on that change as well.”

This is why Coventry’s candidature for 2025 is already being widely talked about and will be accelerated by Thursday’s appointment.

She is certainly not the only possibility being discussed for the IOC Presidency in 2025 and even with Bach’s endorsement – whether explicit or implicit – she is no shoo-in as yet. Others being whispered about include IOC members Nicole Hoervertsz (ARU), a 1984 Olympic in Artistic Swimming, a member of the Aruban government and the chair of the Los Angeles 2028 Coordination Commission; Pierre-Olivier Beckers-Vieujant (BEL), head of the Paris 2024 Coordination Commission and former chief executive of the massive Delhaize Belgium supermarket chain, and the highly-respected Federation Equestre Internationale President Ingmar de Vos (BEL), among others.

To Coventry’s credit, her experience under pressure – something she was already used to as a politician in her home country – was brilliantly displayed in her leadership within the Athletes’ Commission, in news conferences and private meetings around the review of the IOC’s protest guidelines in Rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter. She led a months-long process that sampled worldwide opinions, engaged thousands of athletes in direct polling and then delivered a set of recommendations which surprised everyone by actually enlarging the in-Games opportunity for “athlete expression” during pre-event introductions.

For whatever the reasons, the expected outpouring of protests in Tokyo didn’t happen. Give Coventry credit for a calm demeanor, willingness to tackle what appeared to be a no-win situation and a result which was more liberal than expected but retained the core dignity around the Games ceremonies.

Coventry has a lot on her plate, beyond her ministerial and Olympic obligations, as she is married and has a two-year-old son. But her IOC star is rising and Thursday’s appointment will continue the spotlight on her.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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For our 743-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

THE TICKER: Hazdic abuse fight continues to roil USA Fencing; Spanish star Pau Gasol retires; fifth Worlds gold for Jordan Burroughs!

By
Rich Perelman
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U.S. wrestling star Jordan Burroughs celebrates his fifth World Championships gold, after a win in the 79 kg Freestyle division! (Photo: Jordan Burroughs Twitter page)

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

≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

One of the strangest events of the Tokyo Games has morphed into continuing turmoil for USA Fencing, including the departure of Executive Director Kris Ekeren.

One of the causes was the drama surrounding Alen Hazdic as an alternate for the U.S. men’s Epee team in Tokyo. He had been accused of sexual misconduct three times between 2013 and 2015 – all of which he vociferously denies – and filed and won an appeal in arbitration to be on the U.S. team. However, he was housed outside the Olympic Village and when the American team appeared for its one and only match in Tokyo – a 45-39 loss to Japan – Jake Hoyle, Curtis McDowald and Yeisser Ramirez appeared in pink-colored masks, while Hadzic was the object of an obvious protest, as he wore black.

Last week, the Business Insider reported that an August meeting called to discuss the Hazdic situation went awry, with athletes and parents attacking the Board and staff for the Hazdic affair and concerns over other allegations of assault and misconduct in the sport.

Ereken was accused of mishandling other instances of misconduct in addition to Hazdic and on 27 September, it was announced that she would leave after 10 years with the federation, including eight as the senior executive. It was noted that during her tenure, USA Fencing membership doubled to more than 40,000 at the end of 2019 and that the organization’s finance were significantly better. She will serve through 5 November.

The Business Insider story reported that communications director Nicole Jomantas and general counsel Jim Neale have also left; Neale apparently for another job. Jomantas had also been with the federation since 2011 after stints with USA Judo and USA Weightlifting.

Fencing is among many sports to surface abuse issues in recent years; the USA Gymnastics and Larry Nassar saga has grabbed most of the headlines, but there have been allegations and/or documented abuse in other sports, such as the recent National Women’s Soccer League incidents and with U.S. National Governing Bodies in swimming, taekwondo and water polo. Internationally, a horrifying report was filed in September concerning the abuse of female basketball players, especially young girls, in Mali.

There will be more revelations to come; this is only the latest.

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● World Anti-Doping Agency ● The International Standard Prohibited List effective 1 January 2022 has been released, with hundreds of individual substances on the prohibited lists.

The 24-page document spells out prohibited substances that are banned all of the time, only in competition and for specific sports.

Anabolic agents, peptide hormones and other growth agents, beta-2 agonists, hormone and metabolic regulators and diuretics and masking agents are prohibited at all times. Specific stimulants, narcotics, cannabinoids and glucocorticoids are prohibited in-competition and beta-blockers are proscribed in archery, golf, shooting, ski jumping and some events in freestyle and snowboarding, and in some non-Olympic sports.

It’s a long list and a challenge to all athletes to keep up with it. An unintentional or unknowing mistake can cost a month, a year, two years or more.

● Athletics ● Four-time U.S. Olympian and Beijing 10,000 m silver medalist Shalane Flanagan has completed one-third of her goal to complete five of the World Marathon Majors and a substitute marathon for the cancelled Tokyo race – six total – in just seven weeks.

Keen observer David Monti (USA), publisher of the influential Race Results Weekly, tweeted Sunday:

“In running #BerlinMarathon & #LondonMarathon on consecutive Sundays in 2:38:32 & 2:35:04, respectively, @ShalaneFlanagan demonstrated another advantage of super shoes: they are highly protective and allow for much quicker recovery.”

Flanagan (and her shoes) will now be tested with three marathons in eight days: Chicago on 10 October, Boston on 11 October and the Portland (Ore.) Marathon on 18 October.

Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsony, who has threatened to refuse to allow the city to host the 2023 World Athletics Championships, advanced to the run-off from 10-16 October in the unique national opposition primary.

Karacsony (Green Party: 27.2%) finished second to Democratic Coalition (liberal) candidate Klara Dobrev (34.7%), both ahead of Peter Marki-Zay (Hungary For All/conservative: 20.4%) in the first round from 18-28 September. One of these three will now be elected to face the ruling Fidesz party, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, in 2022.

Karacsony’s threat concerning the 2023 Athletics Worlds is centered around a Fidesz program to essentially allow China to build a Budapest campus of its Shanghai-based Fudan University. The site would replace a planning “student city” of housing and services to support existing universities. Karacsony got approval to collect signatures to place the Fudan University site-use question in September, but must now collect 200,000 signatures to create a national vote.

● Basketball ● Spanish icon Pau Gasol, 41, announced his retirement on Tuesday (5th) in Barcelona, ending a sensational career on the court and clearing the way for his ascent in the world of international sports management.

Gasol won two NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2010 and averaged 17.2 points during his career with the Lakers, Memphis, Chicago, San Antonio and Milwaukee. He was a five-time Olympian for Spain and won silvers in Beijing 2008 and London 2012 and a bronze in Rio in 2016. He was a member of Spain’s FIBA World Championship team in 2006.

He was elected as a member of the IOC Athletes Commission at the recent Tokyo Games and will serve through 2028. Smart, widely experienced and multi-lingual, Gasol will have every opportunity to become a major player in international sports administration.

● Boxing ● Stung by its commissioned report that showed years of cheating and cover-ups in governance and judging, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) announced a new “Fair Chance, Fair Fight” program being implemented for the forthcoming men’s World Championships beginning 24 October in Belgrade (SRB), and the Women’s World Championships in December in Istanbul (TUR). The new procedures include:

“[A] new rigorous selection criteria has been introduced for referees and judges. No part [of the] selection process is being left up to the discretion of a single person, [and] a random element has been added to safeguard the participants from attempts at competition manipulation.

“Additional candidate background checks will be carried out by the team of Professor Richard McLaren, an independent expert, appointed by AIBA earlier in the year to conduct an investigation into the organization’s past sporting integrity issues. Beyond that, competition officials will be undergoing further training prior to [the] Belgrade Championships, including but not limited to a module on enhanced ethics and behavioural provisions.”

Dogged by scandal for decades, AIBA is trying to return as the governing body of the sport for the Olympic Games, having been suspended by the IOC in 2019.

● Football ● New fall-out from the National Women’s Soccer League abuse turmoil saw Steve Baldwin, the chief executive and managing partner of the Washington Spirit, resign on Tuesday.

The club has been under stress for some time, after a report of abuse from former coach Richie Burke (GBR), who was fired on 29 September. Charges of his abusive behavior has also led to calls for Baldwin to sell his 35% stake in the club, but he has not agreed to do so as yet.

In Portland, three fan organizations supporting the NWSL Portland Thorns (Rose City Riveters) and MLS Portland Timbers (107 Independent Supporters Trust and Timbers Army) have issued a joint statement protesting:

“[T]he extent of abuse and suppression that has taken place in Portland. It is clear that the Portland Thorns organization is complicit in the NWSL’s failures by actively sweeping incidents and complaints under the rug and passing issues off to others without holding offenders accountable. It is also abundantly evident that the PTFC leadership team knew about the incidents when they were reported in 2015. This is inexcusable.”

It asks “our members to boycott all concessions inside Providence Park and PTFC official team merchandise across all platforms.”

This is noteworthy because Portland is leading the NWSL in attendance by a long way, averaging 15,065 over four games thus far vs. second-best Racing Louisville (6,412). Behind these two, the remaining eight clubs average from 3,153 to 5,796 fans per game so far this season.

● Gymnastics ● An important hearing concerning the USA Gymnastics bankruptcy case and the proposed reorganization plan concluded on Monday with no resolution.

Judge Robin L. Moberly of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana heard arguments on the proposed plan and eight objections. But the matter was continued to 19 October for further discussion.

This will move the matter back once again. The hoped-for date to circulate the proposed plan for a vote was 11 October and now will be near the end of the month at the earliest.

Deputy U.S. Attorney General Lisa Monaco announced Tuesday during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing that the U.S. Justice Department would be revisiting its decision against prosecution of two FBI agents who badly mishandled the agency’s inquiry into abuse by former USA Gymnastics team physician Larry Nassar.

She indicated during the hearing that “new information” had emerged, but did not specify what it was. She added, “I do want the committee, and frankly, I want the survivors to understand how exceptionally seriously we take this issue and believe that this deserves a thorough and full review.”

During a September hearing of the Judiciary Committee, FBI Director Christopher Wray and Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz testified concerning the Nassar affair and the Inspector General’s report that the FBI’s Indianapolis and Los Angeles offices both mishandled the Nassar inquiry. Asked about why no prosecutions were undertaken, they both referred that question to the Justice Department.

● XI World Games: Birmingham 2022 ● The 30-sport, 206-event World Games in Birmingham, Alabama next July is offering a way for fans to memorialize their interest with a commemorative brick offer. The announcement notes:

“The bricks will be ceremoniously placed at The World Games Plaza, located across from the stadium and next to many popular restaurants and attractions in Birmingham’s Uptown District.”

This is across the street from Protective Stadium, site of the Opening Ceremony, home of the University of Alabama-Birmingham football team. Per the release:

“Commemorative Bricks can be purchased online and cost $250 for the 4-by-8-inch brick and $500 for the 8-by-8-inch model. Each brick can be customized with three lines of text or a company logo.”

Orders must be in by the end of the year, and will be installed in April. The Games will open on 7 July 2022.

≡ SCOREBOARD ≡

● Football ● After plenty of drama in the first CONCACAF World Cup qualifying window, the U.S. Men’s National Team will get back on the pitch on Thursday evening against Jamaica in Austin, Texas at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.

The game will be shown on ESPN2, Univision and TUDN.

The American men went 1-0-2 in the first group of matches and will now face Jamaica, will go to Panama on the 10th and play Costa Rica in Columbus, Ohio on the 13th.

● Wrestling ● The iconic career of U.S. star Jordan Burroughs, now 33, might be moving toward the end, but in grand style, with a fifth career World Championships gold medal.

Burroughs defeated Iran’s Mohammed Ashghar Nokhodilarimi by 5-1 in the final, winning his five matches by a combined score of 34-6 plus a forfeit. He won four titles at 74 kg and now his fifth, at 79 kg. That ties Burroughs with Adeline Gray for the most Worlds golds ever by an American.

That was one of two U.S. men’s Freestyle golds on Monday, as top-seeded and Olympic silver winner Tom Gilman won his first world title with a 5-3 win over Iran’s Alireza Sarlak. Gilman’s run in Oslo included a first-round pin and then wins by 11-1, 15-5 and 5-3.

The U.S. team also got a silver medal from Kyle Snyder, who lost to arch-rival Abdulrashid Sadulaev (RUS) by 6-0 in the final, and a bronze-medal performance from J’Den Cox at 92 kg, defeating Andril Vlasov (UKR), by 11-0.

The U.S. men won medals in seven of the 10 Freestyle classes and finished second to Russia (eight medals) in the team standings by 173-168.

The women’s Freestyle division is underway, with Kayla Miracle winning silver at 62 kg, losing to Aisuluu Tynybekova (KGZ) in the final, 7-0. Jenna Burkert won a bronze at 55 kg, out-scoring India’s Pinki Pinki, 5-2.

The Championships continue through Sunday with the women’s Freestyle and men’s Greco-Roman divisions.

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LANE ONE: Salt Lake City organizers to visit IOC in November, in talks with LA28 and USOPC to smooth way for 2030 bid

By
Rich Perelman
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“We’re ready. … I want to make sure that we convey that message that we’re ready. We’re ready to move forward and we’re ready to see this happen.”

That Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games Board Chair Catherine Raney Norman, speaking to reporters during a Tuesday morning briefing that underscored the very real possibility that the 2030 Olympic Winter Games – or perhaps 2034 – could be awarded to Salt Lake by early 2022 at the latest.

Raney Norman and bid President and Chief Executive Fraser Bullock – chief operating officer of the highly successful 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City – went over the Governing Board meeting held online earlier in the morning and answered questions. Key highlights:

● A small delegation from the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee will visit with the International Olympic Committee in Europe during the week of 29 November.

● Discussions are continuing on the main issue that would prevent a 2030 bid: interference with the marketing of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Bullock explained that “the analysis has largely been completed and we’re now sharing that with the USOPC” and with regard to working with the LA28 organizers:

“How do we potentially collaborate with them – because if you have back-to-back Games, both sides want to be involved – but in every case, not hurting L.A.’s hosting of the Games, in fact, enhancing them. …

“I’ve had dialogues with [Chair] Casey Wasserman and with [CEO] Kathy Carter and others [at LA28]. And I always start out the conversation saying that our no. 1 priority is the success of L.A. And we believe that, we support that, so anything we do has to start with that in mind.

“And they get that, they understand our support and they’re tracking closely what we’re doing.”

● Bullock also confirmed that Salt Lake City has no plans to build any new sites at all:

“We’re in the fortunate position of every venue is in place. Even though there are 40% new events, we can fit them into our existing infrastructure, which is just amazing. And in fact, many of our venues – especially non-competition venues – have taken a leap forward.

“I mean, our new airport – are you kidding me? – wow! And then the village at the University of Utah, you go look at that and see the enhancements that have been made there for the athlete experience, and then Rice-Eccles Stadium added the new area in the south end zone, which is off-the-charts.

“Our transportation infrastructure is better, so in every way, we’re stronger, we’re even more prepared, but all of the competition venues: they’re there, we have everything we need.”

Bullock also emphasized that discussions with venue owners to finalize basic commitments for the Games are well underway and are hoped to be completed by the end of the year. Agreements to reserve the required 24,000 hotel rooms for broadcasters, media, officials, sponsors and suppliers are being sought and are expected to be completed prior to the IOC meetings.

All of this points to a potent bid – a written version of which is underway – that could lead to a “targeted dialogue” with the IOC for 2030 as soon as the IOC Session in Beijing in February 2022. This would be consistent with the IOC’s strike-when-you-can approach to the 2032 Olympic Games with Brisbane, Australia. Or the IOC could wait until later in 2022.

Bullock focused on the USOPC making a designation for 2030 or 2034:

“Personally, I’m hopeful we can get a decision by end-of-year, but if it goes beyond that, we understand. We understand the primary focus is Beijing and we support that.”

The forthcoming discussions with the IOC staff and the Future Hosts Commission for the Winter Games will help decide that.

Neither Raney Norman or Bullock discussed any further details of a possible budget for a 2030 or 2034 Salt Lake City Winter Games, although it was on the Governing Board agenda. It’s not hard to guess that with Milan Cortina budget forecast at $1.7 billion U.S. for 2026 that the Salt Lake target will be in the vicinity of $2.1 billion.

The IOC’s Host City Contract for 2026 includes payments of $652 million in cash and another $273 million of in-kind services, including host broadcasting ($925 million total). The 2030 agreement should be considerably higher, since the IOC is now in the process of taking over most of the ticketing and hospitality functions of the Games. The 2002 organizers realized about $1.4 billion in marketing revenues.

Back in June, Bullock explained the Committee in an open session about the 2030 vs. 2034 issue vs. the LA28 Games:

“The disadvantage is really just the economics of domestic sponsorship revenue, but we think there’s a strategy to address that.” It appears that this is being solved, if not resolved already. It’s not hard to see the possibilities, such as extensions of LA28-USOPC sponsorships to cover the 2028-30 time frame and then allowing Salt Lake City to pursue full sponsorships of endemic winter categories, for example, snow and ice sport-related equipment, apparel and services.

Both Raney Norman and Bullock emphasized the wide enthusiasm across Utah for the return of the Winter Games, with Bullock pointing to “having unified support is another distinctive element to our bid preparation.”

That’s a key distinction for Salt Lake City vis-a-vis the political turmoil in Spain over the bid from Barcelona and the Pyrenees, the questions about costs that will be raised in Japan over the Sapporo bid for 2030, the security and funding issues in new-to-the-table Ukraine and what the costs will be for Vancouver, site of the successful 2020 Games. The IOC knows all about this.

Salt Lake City shows ready and it will respectfully make a forceful presentation in late November with the IOC. Look for a USOPC announcement of a bid for 2030 in December and then you’ll know the IOC is ready to play ball.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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For our 743-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

HEARD AT HALFTIME: NWSL cancels weekend matches, commissioner resigns; USA Gymnastics settlement plan 75% funded; Dake strikes wrestling gold

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡
National Women’s Soccer League in turmoil 

A stunning turn of events led to the postponement of all five weekend matches in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) as the players reacted to a report posted last Thursday by The Athletic of allegations of “of sexual coercion spanning multiple teams and leagues since 2010” by now-former North Carolina Courage coach Paul Riley.

Riley denied the accusations, but the NWSL Players Association tweeted on Friday:

“Yesterday was a profoundly painful day for us, as players, and so many. For many players, the pain gas stretched across years …

“Last night, we made the difficult decision to ask NWSL to postpone this weekend’s games to give players space to process this pain.”

The league agreed, posting:

“The National Women’s Soccer League announced today that given the gravity of the events of the last week, matches scheduled for this weekend will not occur.”

But that was only the beginning:

● NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird, who served as the head of marketing for the United States Olympic Committee from 2009-18 and was hired by the NWSL in February 2020, resigned on Friday. Her recruitment was considered a major success for the league to increase its finances and profile.

● NWSL legal counsel Lisa Levine, who came from the U.S. Soccer Federation, also left.

● On Sunday, the NWSL Board of Governors appointed a team of former Commissioner Amanda Duffy, Angie Long and Sophie Sauvage to handle league management until new leadership is named.

● The U.S. Soccer Federation, which has strongly supported the NWSL’s finances, tweeted Friday that it “will immediately launch an independent investigation” and on Sunday tweeted that Sally Q. Yates, an Atlanta-based partner of King & Spalding LLP, would lead the inquiry. She is a former U.S. Attorney and Deputy Attorney General.

● FIFA posted a notice Friday that “FIFA’s judicial bodies are actively looking into the matter and have opened a preliminary investigation” and emphasized that “anyone found guilty of misconduct and abuse in football shall be brought to justice, sanctioned and removed from the game.”

The accusations against Riley came after a 29 September firing of Washington Spirit coach Richie Burke (GBR) for harassment, the 31 August firing of Racing Louisville coach Christy Holly (IRL) “for cause” and OL Reign coach Farid Benstiti (FRA)’s departure on 2 July for “inappropriate comments” to one or more players. Gotham FC general manager Alyse LaHue left the club on 9 July, “fired for violations of the league’s Anti-harassment policy.”

That’s five people from five different clubs – half the league – in the last three months.

Now in its eighth season, the NWSL schedule continues through the end of October, with playoffs in November. Regular-season games are shown online on Paramount+ and Twitch; the playoffs are scheduled to be shown on the CBS Sports Network with the final on CBS.

Comment: This is likely only the beginning of inquiries into abuse in football, not just in the U.S., but with FIFA’s involvement, this could spread to many other countries. Watch not only for the facts uncovered by Yates, but reports of abuse at clubs in other countries that will inexorably be drawn into the discussion.

Horrifying? Yes. More sordid details to come? Yes. Will this overshadow play on the field for the rest of the season? To some extent. Could the league fold? Possibly.

Best possible outcome: NWSL management, the Players Association and U.S. Soccer working together to keep the league alive. That will not be easy, but it is essential; fans of U.S. women’s football remember all too well that four women’s national professional leagues folded before the NWSL formed as the fifth entity in 2013.

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Athletics ● The International Olympic Committee and the Athletics Integrity Unit jointly announced a formal investigation into the incident involving sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya (BLR), who criticized the team’s coaches and was ordered home. She instead sought refuge with Japanese police at the airport and was eventually provided with a humanitarian visa by Poland.

Belarusian coaches Artur Shimak and Yury Maisevich had their accreditations revoked by the IOC in Tokyo and both were sent home. The inquiry will focus on their behavior and the instructions they were given. The Belarus NOC is already under scrutiny by the IOC for political interference from its government.

Kyodo News reported Saturday that the Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF) has proposed Tokyo’s National Stadium as the site for the 2025 World Athletics Championships.

Tokyo hosted the 1991 Worlds in Tokyo at the old National Stadium, used for the 1964 Olympic Games. The deadline for submissions was 1 October, with the decision to be made by next March.

The cost of the event will likely be around $90 million, which will be an issue in the aftermath of the 2020 Olympic & Paralympic Games, but having more major events in Tokyo will be a welcome tourism bonus after the spectator-free Games.

There has much speculation that the 2025 Worlds might go to Africa, specifically Nairobi (KEN). But there would be much goodwill associated with a Tokyo Worlds in 2025 and the 2027 Worlds could be held in Africa.

● Football ● The swirl around FIFA’s study of changing the World Cup cycle from every four years to every two years continues to churn harder and harder. In response, the football confederations for Europe (UEFA) and South America (CONMEBOL) – with the leading national teams in the sport – are making moves toward closer cooperation.

The two announced a match between Italy and Argentina, the winners of this year’s Euro 2020 and Copa America titles to be held in 2022 and a direct working relationship:

“The agreement reached by the two organisations currently covers three editions of this match between the respective continental winners, and also includes the opening of a joint office in London, which will be in charge of coordinating projects of common interest.”

It’s not hard to see the two powerhouses working together more and more, – including their stated opposition to the biennial World Cup idea – and ignoring the other confederations in the Americas (CONCACAF), Asia, Africa and Oceania.

As ordered by the Madrid Commercial Court no. 17, UEFA has ended its disciplinary proceedings against the three unrepentant European Super League club founders – FC Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid – but is fully active in trying to reinstate them, including:

“UEFA has filed a motion for the recusal of the judge presiding over the current proceedings as it believes there are significant irregularities in these proceedings. In line with Spanish law – and in the fundamental interests of justice – UEFA fully expects the judge in question to immediately stand aside pending the full and proper consideration of this motion.

“Further, UEFA shall also be making a formal appeal to a higher court, the Provincial Court of Madrid (Court of Appeal).”

There continues to be widespread concern over the Super League concept and UEFA is determined to kill it, but it will be a long road through multiple courts to untangle the legal ties that still bind the 12 clubs who initially agreed on it together.

CONCACAF confirmed the schedule, venues and times for the October and November matches for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying tournament. Five games will be played by each team with the U.S. schedule including:

● 07 Oct.: Jamaica at U.S. in Austin, Texas
● 10 Oct.: U.S. at Panama in Panama City
● 13 Oct.: Costa Rica at U.S. in Columbus, Ohio

● 12 Nov.: Mexico vs. U.S. in Cincinnati, Ohio
● 16 Nov.: U.S. at Jamaica in Kingston

The U.S. went 1-0-2 in the September matches; for the full schedule of games and times, click here.

● Gymnastics ● In advance of Monday’s hearing on the proposed Disclosure Statement for the re-organization plan in the USA Gymnastics case before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana, another insurer has joined in agreement with the distribution plan.

Great American Assurance Company, which had $41,287,985 in coverage outstanding, has agreed to be part of the settlement plan put forward by USA Gymnastics, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and the Survivors’ Committee. Only TIG Insurance Company, with listed exposure of $106,201,818 – or 25% of the targeted $425 million total – has not agreed so far.

The new plan documents show TIG to have 18 claims against it.

Having all but one (very large) insurer as part of the settlement agreement is a strong argument for the plan to be approved, but there are technical objections to it which will be heard on Monday. No allocation plan of who would get how much money has been filed yet.

● Luge ● Olympic silver medalist Chris Mazdzer suffered a broken right foot during pre-season training runs at the 2014 Olympic sliding track near Sochi, Russia, last week.

He hit a chunk of ice while on a run and had multiple injuries to the foot, causing him to return to the U.S. Mazdzer is also part of the U.S.’s top Double team with Jayson Terdiman, meaning that both entries at the Beijing Games could be in jeopardy depending on how Mazdzer’s recovery comes along.

● Weightlifting ● More bad news for a sport which does not need it, with two major doping sanctions announced by the International Testing Agency, which is now handling doping control for the International Weightlifting Federation.

On Thursday (30th), the ITA issued an eight-year sanction against Boyanka Minkova (AZE), winner of the 2021 European Championship in the women’s 59 kg division. She was tested at the Euros in April and tested positive for the steroid stanozolol. As she was previously sanctioned from 2016-18 after a re-test of her London 2012 sample – and then came back to win the 2021 Europeans – she now gets an eight-year ban, that began on 10 May 2021.

On Friday (1st), former Thai weightlifting federation team doctor and coach Ling Niu was banned for life by the ITA after being linked to doping positives from 10 different Thai athletes competing at the 2018 IWF World Championships and the 2018 Youth Olympic Games. Per the ITA:

“[A]ll 10 athletes stated that the source of the prohibited substances in their respective samples was though a pain-relieving gel administered directly and/or given to them” by him.

The European Weightlifting Federation Congress met in Finland and produced a no-confidence vote against interim president Maxim Agapitov of Russia by 29-4, with an Extraordinary Congress to be held as soon as possible to elect a successor.

Agapitov has been a center of controversy, as the International Olympic Committee revoked his accreditation from the Tokyo Games due to a doping sanction during his competitive career. Agapitov appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and won, leading to a change in the Olympic Charter to clarify the IOC’s absolute authority over who is accredited for the Games.

The IOC has further noted its unhappiness that Agapitov is a member of the IWF Executive Board and has stated that the continued presence of individuals who were part of the IWF governance structure while corruption and fraud were going on at the federation will be a factor in determining whether the sport continues on the Olympic program.

The EWF hurt the sport’s cause further by stating that Dr. Hasan Akkus (TUR) “can come back before Congress and continue with president position.” He had stepped down after an ITA report charged him with a doping violation in June; if he re-assumes the presidency of the IWF, the IOC will certainly take notice.

≡ SCOREBOARD ≡

● Archery ● Just three days after the closure of the 2021 World Championships came the World Archery World Cup Final, also held in Yankton, South Dakota.

The men’s Recurve final was an all-U.S. affair, with Jack Williams upsetting 2019 World Champion Brady Ellison, 6-5 in a sixth end shoot-off, where Williams shot 10 to Ellison’s 9. Olympic champ Mete Gazoz (TUR) won the bronze.

Germany took two medals in the women’s competition, with 2016 Olympic silver winner Lisa Uhruh winning the final over Elena Osipova (RUS) in a shoot-off, 6-5, with both shooting 10s in the sixth end, but with Unruh closer to the center. Michelle Kroppen (GER) won the bronze, also 6-5 in a shoot-off Deepika Kumari (IND) with a 9-6 edge on the final arrow.

● Athletics ● Ethiopia’s Sisay Lemma and Kenyan Joyciline Jepkosgei powered to wins at the London Marathon, winning in impressive times of 2:04:01 and 2:17:43, respectively.

Lemma made his definitive move at 24 miles to distance himself from Vincent Kipchumba (KEN: 2:04:28) and Mosinet Gerenew (ETH: 2:04:41). It was Lemma’s second-fastest time ever and ranks him no. 3 on the 2021 world list (and Kipchumba, no. 5).

Jepkosgei broke away after 22 miles and crushed an excellent field. Her 2:17:43 moves her to no. 7 all-time and is the world-leading mark for 2021 by almost two minutes, and Degitu Azimeraw (ETH: 2:17:58), Ashete Bekere (ETH: 2:18:18), world-record holder Brigid Kosgei (KEN: 2:18:40) and Lonah Chemtai Salpeter (ISR: 2:18:54) rank 2-3-4-5 for the year.

American star Shalane Flanagan, 40, continued on her quest to run all six World Marathon Majors within seven weeks and all under 3:00, finishing 19th in the women’s division in 2:35:04. Next up: Chicago and Boston back-to-back on 10-11 October next week!

Tokyo Olympic 10,000m silver medalist Kalkidan Gezahegne (BRN) grabbed a win and the world record at The Giants Geneva 10 km in Switzerland on Sunday (3) in 29:38.

That lowered Joyciline Jepkosgei’s 29:43 mark from Prague (CZE) in 2017. Kenyan Agnes Tirop was well back in second in 30:20, with Celliphine Chespol (KEN) third in 30:28.

The men’s division was won by world Half Marathon record-holder Kibiwott Kandie (KEN) in 26:51, ahead of fellow Kenyans Felix Kipkoech (26:57) and Boniface Kibiwott (27:13).

● Badminton ● China defended its title in the 17th edition of the BWF Sudirman Cup for mixed teams in Vantaa (FIN).

It was China’s 12th win in the series, defeating Japan, 3-1, in the final. China’s Yuqi Shi defeated world no. 1 Kento Momota (JPN) in three sets in the men’s final, while Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi defeated Olympic champ Yufei Chen in straight sets in the women’s singles.

● Cycling ● Italy’s Sonny Colbrelli, 31, won the biggest race of his career in the 118th edition of a rainy and muddy Paris-Roubaix on Sunday, outsprinting Florian Vermeersch (BEL) and Mathieu van der Poel (NED) in the final 100 meters of the 257.7 km ride.

All three were timed in 6:01:57, with only Gianni Moscon (ITA) anywhere close, finishing 44 seconds behind the leaders. The conditions were so bad that only 96 of the original 173 starters finished within the time limit and 67 did not finish at all.

British star Lizzie Deignan won the women’s division on Saturday, breaking away from the peloton on a solo attack from 81 km from the finish on the 116.4 km route. She won by an impressive 1:17 in 2:56:07. Marianne Vos (NED) was second and Italy’s Elisa Longo Borghini (+1:47) was third.

● Equestrian ● The FEI Nations Cup Final in Jumping concluded in Barcelona (ESP), with the Netherlands winning for the third time in the last seven editions.

Using the best three of four scores, the Dutch compiled a perfect final round with 0 penalties, to edge defending champs Ireland (1) and Belgium (4). The U.S. finished fifth. Maikel van der Vleuten, Willem Greve and Harrie Smolders each had perfect rides for the winners; the Dutch victors shared the first-place prize of €417,000 (about $483,321)!

● Swimming ● A busy weekend in the water, with the start of the FINA World Cup series in Berlin (GER), in a short-course (25 m) pool.

In the men’s competition, Australia’s Matthew Sales took four events: the 200 m Free and the 100-200-400 m Medleys! Kyle Chalmers (AUS) won the 50-100 m Frees and a silver in the 200 m Free. Germany’s Christian Diener won the 50-100-200 m Backstrokes and Arno Kamminga (NED) took the 50-100-200 m Breaststrokes. American Tom Shields won the 50-100 m Butterfly events.

Australia’s Emma McKeon won the women’s 50 and 100 m Freestyles; Dutch star Kira Toussaint took the 50 and 200 m Backstrokes, and Anastasia Gorbenko (ISR) tripled in the 50-100 m Breast and 100 m Medley. Americans Cavan Gormsen won the women’s 800 m Free and Tess Howley won the 200 m Fly.

The 11th match of ISL season three was a play-in match for the ISL playoffs, with four teams competing for two slots. D.C. Trident (USA) and Iron (HUN) moved on, scoring 506.0 and 497.0 points, ahead of the New York Breakers (388.5) and Tokyo (385.5).

Dutch sprint star Ranomi Kromowidjojo (Iron) won the women’s 100 m Free and 50 m Fly; Australian Brendon Smith took the men’s 400 m Free and 400 m Medley.

The playoffs will start on 11 November.

● Wrestling ● The UWW World Championships are on in Oslo (NOR), with American Kyle Dake scoring his third career World Championship gold in the men’s Freestyle 74 kg final.

Dake stopped 2019 World bronze medalist Tajmuraz Salkazanov (SVK), 7-3, in the final for his first 74 kg gold; he had won twice previously at 79 kg.

The U.S. men also won two silvers on the first day of finals, with Daton Fix losing in the 61 kg final to Abasgadzhi Magomedov (RUS), 4-1, and Iran’s Hassan Yazdani defeating David Taylor in a re-match of the Olympic final – won by Taylor – by a 6-2 score.

American Nick Gwiazdowski finished fifth at 125 kg, losing in his bronze-medal match with two-time World Champion Taha Akgul (TUR), 6-4.

Americans Tom Gilman (57 kg) and Jordan Burroughs (79 kg) advanced to the gold-medal finals in their classes for Monday, with J’Den Cox to wrestle for bronze at 92 kg. Burroughs is going for his fifth career World Championships gold.

The Worlds continue all this week, with the women’s Freestyle and men’s Greco-Roman tournaments to come.

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THE BIG PICTURE: McLaren Report confirms corruption in boxing judging in Rio 2016; more inquiries to be made into AIBA’s past

By
Rich Perelman
-

“AIBA has had a long history of match manipulation and corruption.”

That’s a bad way to start a 152-page finding into match fixing at the 2016 Rio Games, but the McLaren Global Sport Solutions report, Independent Investigation of the AIBA Boxing Competitions Prior to and During the Rio Olympic Games 2016, pulls no punches (pun intended):

“The same allegation has been raised consistently – outcomes of bouts have been manipulated because of the specific [referees and judges] assigned to them. In response to the shackles of the legacy of corruption and manipulation, over the years AIBA has continually made changes to the rules governing appointments of R&Js, R&J evaluation system, and boutscoring. However, these reforms have done little to eliminate allegations of R&J manipulation. …

“First and foremost, the problem is the personnel carrying out the duties of AIBA. The formal rules were not applied, and senior level personnel usurped powers to themselves. They used this institutionalised structure to manipulate poorly trained R&Js who wanted little more than the intangible benefits of being recognized in their own right as such and the accompanying tangible benefits of travel, status, and prestige they did not have with their regular day jobs. The fact that they were not well trained and frequently come from modest backgrounds enabled them to be preyed upon by those who had corrupt motives.”

The major findings described an organized crime regime, straight out of the 1920s:

● “A system for the manipulation of bouts by officials existed at Rio.”

● “The qualifying competitions along the route to participation in Rio in 2016 were the
practise ground for the corruption and manipulation of bouts at Rio.”

● “The manipulation methodology relied upon corruption within the cadre of corrupted R&Js
and the Draw Commission.”

● “Vital to the success of the corruption was the connivence, approval and complicit acknowledgement and support of these activities by the Executive Director and the President. The permanent paid staff worked in a command and obey environment where power was concentrated in the Executive Director and exercised on behalf of the President.”

● “Bouts were manipulated for money, perceived benefit of AIBA, or to thank National
Federations and their Olympic committees, and, on occasion, hosts of competitions for their financial support and political backing. The investigation to date has concluded that such manipulation involved significant six figure sums on occasion. The evidence the [McLaren team] found is thought to be the tip of the iceberg.”

● “The President C.K. Wu bears ultimate responsibility for the failures of officiating at Rio and the qualifying events. He was supported by his Executive Director at Rio who were key
actors in organising the field of play to allow the manipulation to flourish.”

The study identified nine bouts that were suspicious beyond two that were talked about as shams in news reports at the time of the Rio Games. There was not enough time to check on all matches and more problems may be found.

“The people are the problem,” says the report, noting that disciplinary action may be warranted against Wu (TPE), then-Executive Director Karim Bouzidi (FRA) and some of the referees and judges.

McLaren was only engaged last June to work on this report, using a 10-person staff to investigate and compile the findings. Unfortunately, many potential witnesses “refused to come forward publicly for fear of reprisal, threat to personal security, or loss of employment opportunities among other reasons. Surprisingly, even those who were no longer part of the organisation, either as staff or appointed, felt comfortable to share their evidence only in confidence.”

The report specified that corruption and manipulation took place at all stages of the competition process: the draw that created the matches, selection of the referees and judges and in the refereeing and judging of actual bouts. One example: “at the 2015 Men’s Amateur Championships in Bangkok where Uzbek judge, Sherzod Akhmedov, gave multiple bribes of 5,000 USD, concealed in toothpaste tubes or something similar to six other 3 star R&Js. This was reported and the money returned.”

This had gone on during Wu’s term as President at least as far back as 2011 and involved the then-Executive Director, Ho Kim (KOR). Bribes, attempted bribes, helping boxers from countries which support AIBA financially were all part of the program. One approach to fix a bout in Rio for as much as $250,000 was reported.

AIBA posted a statement that included:

“Prof. McLaren was appointed by AIBA as part of the recognition by the current AIBA leadership that governance, sporting integrity and financial integrity were not previously satisfactory and that there was a need for reform. Prof. McLaren will investigate not only the Rio 2016 boxing tournament but also all key events till now to reach full transparency.”

AIBA President Umar Kremlev (RUS) added, “AIBA hired Professor McLaren because we have nothing to hide. We will work to incorporate any helpful recommendations that are made. We will also take legal advice with regard to what action is possible against those found to have participated in any manipulation. There should be no place in the AIBA family for anyone who has fixed a fight.”

This report was only the beginning. It was noted that “the full reports of the subsequent Stages will be provided in November 2021 and March 2022 in accordance with the terms of reference. The subsequent stages will involve a broad investigation to identify possible acts of corruption, mismanagement of funds, manipulation of results of elections or the like by AIBA in past and current administrations. The objective of all three stages is to enable AIBA to learn from its past.”

There is a lot of learning to do.

None of this helps AIBA’s standing with the International Olympic Committee, which ran the Tokyo 2020 tournament itself. It has to decide whether AIBA is reformable, start all over with a new international federation or just eliminate boxing from the Olympic program for Paris and beyond. It has its own inquiry ongoing, but the decision will need to come within the next few months.

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THE TICKER: Beijing 2022 to only allow Chinese spectators; China’s ice hockey team may be kicked out; Biles says she should have quit before Tokyo

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● The wrap-up of the 2020 Games is well underway now, with Tokyo 2020 chief executive Toshiro Muto telling reporters on Tuesday that total costs for the Games would be reported in 2022, but with a possible early estimate in December.

The total number of individuals within the “bubble” environment for the Olympic and Paralympic Games who were hospitalized for Covid-19 was 25, not the five reported during the Games. The original total was for “overseas residents” while the larger total included Japanese residents and overseas visitors who were hospitalized after completing their required quarantine.

It’s still an incredibly low figure against a total of more than 100,000 people who were involved in the Games, including 70,000 volunteers.

● XXIV Olympic Winter Games: Beijing 2022 ● The Beijing 2022 organizers, in coordination with the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee, released a first set of guidelines for the February event:

● “All athletes and Games participants who are fully vaccinated will enter the closed-loop management system upon arrival. Games participants who are not fully vaccinated will have to serve a 21-day quarantine upon arrival in Beijing.” Exemptions for specific medical reasons will be considered.

● “From 23 January until the end of the Paralympics, a closed-loop management system will be implemented to ensure the safe delivery of the Games. This closed-loop management system will cover all Games-related areas, including arrival and departure, transport, accommodation, catering, competitions, and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Within the closed loop, participants will be allowed to move only between Games-related venues for training, competitions and work.”

Daily testing for Covid is to be expected.

● “Tickets will be sold exclusively to spectators residing in China’s mainland, who meet the requirements of the COVID-19 countermeasures.”

As with Tokyo, guests will be highly limited and “optimised to focus on essential aspects of Games delivery.”

The elimination of foreign spectators “had to be put in place in order to ensure the safe holding of the Games this winter.” No indication of how many home spectators will be allowed in the venue was announced.

More details are to come in October, but none of these measures are surprises.

Newly-elected International Ice Hockey Federation chief Luc Tardif (FRA) raised the prospect that the host country’s men’s ice hockey team may not be allowed to complete at the Beijing Winter Games. Tardif told Agence France Presse:

“This question really arises for the men’s team, not for the women’s team. There are going to be games for the China team that will be overseen by an IIHF official and a decision will be made afterwards.

“Watching a team being beaten 15-0 is not good for anyone, not for China or for ice hockey.”

China competes in the IIHF Division II, which is the third-tier grouping in world ice hockey, behind the Championship Division and Division I. It has never placed higher than 15th in the World Championships rankings and never higher than 26th in this century.

If China is displaced – a decision is expected in October – then Norway is the likely replacement, currently 11th in the IIHF world rankings.

This is a surprise, but Tardif is quite right that the Chinese men’s team would be embarrassed playing against Canada, Russia, the U.S. and the other top teams.

● Athletics ● The London Marathon comes Sunday, with strong fields, including six of the top 19 all-time in the men’s race:

● Birhanu Legese (ETH: 2:02:48 ‘19)
● Mosinet Geremew (ETH: 2:02:55 ‘19) ~ 2019 London runner-up
● Titus Eriku (KEN: 2:02:57 ‘21)
● Evans Chebet (KEN: 2:03:00 ‘20)
● Sisay Lemma (ETH: 2:03:36 ‘19 )
● Kinde Atanaw (ETH: 2:03:51 ‘19)

All three medalists from 2020 are back: champion Shura Kitata (ETH: 2:04:49 ‘18), Kenya’s Vincent Kipchumba (silver) and Lemma, the bronze medalist.

The women’s field starts with world-record holder Brigid Koskei (KEN: 2:14:04 ‘19) and includes Lonah Salpeter (ISR: 2:17:45 ‘20), Roza Dereje (ETH: 2:18:30 ‘19), Birhane Dibaba (ETH: 2:18:35 ‘20) and Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN: 2:18:40 ‘20). That’s five of the top 15 all-time.

Kosgei will be going for her third straight London win, after finishing second in 2018. Dereje was the bronze medalist in 2019.

The race will be streamed like by FloSports and is not on U.S. broadcast television.

● Cycling ● Retired German road racer Bjorn Thurau was hardly a star during his career from 2005-19, with a best major-race finish of 11th in a stage of the 2015 Criterium du Dauphine. But on 22 September, he was hit with a 9 1/2-year ban and a nullification of all of his results since December 2010.

The German national anti-doping agency found anti-doping violations that included “the use or attempted use of prohibited substances and methods, possession of prohibited substances or methods, placing on the market or attempting to market prohibited substances and administration or attempt to administer prohibited substances.”

Thurau retired in 2019 and has not contested the sanctions, which ban him from the sport until age 42. The sanctions show that you don’t have to be a star to be involved with doping.

● Gymnastics ● American superstar Simone Biles was profiled in The Cut, sharing her difficult time with the postponement of the Tokyo Olympic Games from 2020 to 2021. She shared her Tokyo competition problems in detail, but also:

“If you looked at everything I’ve gone through for the past seven years, I should have never made another Olympic team.

“I should have quit way before Tokyo, when Larry Nassar was in the media for two years. It was too much. But I was not going to let him take something I’ve worked for since I was 6 years old. I wasn’t going to let him take that joy away from me. So I pushed past that for as long as my mind and my body would let me.”

Biles had been clear that the postponement was a major issue for her and that she was ready to be done with the sport after 2020. Now she is headlining a 27-stop post-Olympic “Gold Over America” tour which is built around her; only she knows if there will be more gymnastics in her future.

● Modern Pentathlon ● The Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) certified its candidates for its November elections on Tuesday and Dr. Klaus Schormann (GER) will stand unopposed for an eighth term. He has been the President since 1993.

American John Helmick will run unopposed for another term as Treasurer.

The issue of horse welfare continues to be a headline concern for the federation, after German Annika Schleu was unable to get Saint Boy to jump during the Tokyo competition, eliminating Schleu from any medal possibilities. Questions of cruelty to the horse were raised and the incident is being investigated. Schormann wrote in a long post on the UIPM Web site:

“The issues that arose during the Riding competition of the Women’s Final in Tokyo demanded swift and significant reflection and remedy. Within days, the UIPM had introduced new measures to improve horse welfare in our sport. A working group of the foremost experts has since been established and has set about exploring and addressing both the incidents during the Women’s Final and the proposed changes.

“As much as the incidents themselves were tough for our sport, the process of listening, learning and evolving and adapting to meet not just the moment but all those to come has been a positive experience. As I said at the time, UIPM remains fully committed to Riding as an integral part of the Modern Pentathlon based on the vision of Baron Pierre de Coubertin and we look forward to doing so in an even safer, more secure way.”

● Rugby Sevens ● The pandemic reduced the 2021 men’s World Rugby Sevens Series to just two stops, in Vancouver and Edmonton, Canada, with South Africa wrapping up a sweep last weekend by defeating Great Britain, 24-12, in the final.

The Blitzboks won their fourth men’s series title (40 points) and their first since 2018. Britain finished second (34) with Kenya third (also 34). The U.S. men finished fifth (22).

● Swimming ● Five-time Olympic medalist Klete Keller, 39, pled guilty to a single felony charge related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol on 6 January 2021.

The statement from the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia stated his plea was to “obstruction of Congress.” He was charged on seven counts in his original indictments, but has agreed to cooperate with the prosecutors.

Reports have noted sentencing guidelines on the charge of 21-27 months in prison. A defendant with a similar plea to the riot accepted a sentence of eight months in prison.

Keller won Olympic golds on the 4×200 m Freestyle relays in 2004 and 2008, and World Championships golds in that event in 2005 and 2007.

● Wrestling ● In an ironic twist, Russia’s Bilyal Makhov was suspended for four years for anti-doping rules violations from 27 January 2020 by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency.

Makhov had been a beneficiary of doping by others. He was named as a co-gold medalist in the London 2012 Freestyle 120 kg class after both the original gold and silver medal winners were disqualified for doping in 2019. He had finished third.

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LANE ONE: Olympics haters still angry, but continue losing ground as hosting and sports interest keeps surging

By
Rich Perelman
-

The situation in Tokyo last April was a tough one for the Olympic organizers, amid rising coronavirus infection rates and a slow government response. A Kyodo News national poll showed 70% or more preferred that the Games be postponed again or canceled.

The Wall Street Journal posted a story headlined, “Tokyo’s Anti-Olympic Movement Asks: Why Haven’t the Games Been Canceled?” and included:

“Anti-Olympic activist Misako Ichimura might be expected to be buoyant. But just like the organizers of the Games, she’s feeling under pressure to deliver.

“‘Activists in Paris opposing the next summer Olympics have asked why we haven’t already been able to stop the Games given the situation here,’ she says.”

Ichimura had been protesting the Tokyo Games since it was awarded in 2013. And she got some help in early May as four-time Tokyo gubernatorial candidate Kenji Utsunomiya launched a change.org petition titled “Cancel the Tokyo Olympics to protect our lives.”

The petition garnered more than 200,000 signees in its first 50 hours online, but faded quickly after that. By the end of the Tokyo Games last month, it had 459,303 signatures and was forgotten in a metro area of 37.3 million.

And the Tokyo Olympic Games was held successfully, albeit without spectators, as was the Paralympic Games. Television ratings showed that more than 90% of the Japanese public watched at least some of the Games and the event dominated television viewing around the globe.

Bad news for Ichimura and the anti-Games protesters in Tokyo. There will be one more angry cry when the final costs of the Games are announced, possibly in December but more likely in 2022.

There is already a massive outcry about the selection of Beijing for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in February, given China’s horrific human-rights record, but the calls for boycotts by national teams has been muted given the experience of the 1976-80-84 Games which saw so many athletes miss their chance to participate. A diplomatic boycott is more likely, but as the event is being held in an authoritarian country, there is no doubt that it will be held as planned.

Next up will be Paris for 2024, Milan Cortina for the 2026 Winter Games, Los Angeles for 2028 and Brisbane for 2032. The host for the 2030 Winter Games has not yet been determined, but there are pretty good options in prior hosts Sapporo (1972: Japan) and Vancouver (2010: Canada) and possibly even Salt Lake City, Utah, which hosted in 2002. Ukraine has stated its interest in 2030 as well and there is a confused bid possibly coming from Spain – using Barcelona for ice events and holding the snow-based events in the Pyrenees – but there is a political tug-of-war ongoing there and a referendum to be held, possibly in 2022.

This is rather amazing.

The Olympic Movement was supposed to be dying, after the IOC membership voted 44-40 for Beijing over Almaty, Kazakhstan in 2015. Both candidates were dismal choices after Oslo (NOR) withdrew, and possible bids from Krakow (POL), Lviv (UKR) and Stockholm (SWE) blew up due to a lack of political support. Losses in referendums killed possible bids from Munich (GER) and St. Moritz and Davos (SUI).

And after the difficult, underfunded Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, the Olympic obituary was being written.

But in that same year, the race for the 2024 Olympic Games got hot with serious bids from world-class cities such as Budapest, Los Angeles, Paris and Rome, leading to the award of the 2024 Games to Paris and 2028 to L.A. in 2017. Even Stockholm came back into the picture for the 2026 Winter Games, but lost to the Milan + Cortina d’Ampezzo bid from Italy.

And when the IOC’s bid process was changed from outright voting – with its long and troubled history of bribery and favors – to a more businesslike, less expensive, direct-selection process, howls were heard from multiple countries when Brisbane was targeted for 2032 and then confirmed this past summer … from potential bidders who were not chosen (and didn’t have a chance to waste millions on bids that would have gone nowhere).

Now, bids from Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Korea, the Netherlands, Russia, Turkey and others are all in the works for 2036 and later. The Olympic Movement looks to be quite alive.

None of this impresses the anti-Olympics folks, who charge on with criticisms of every aspect of the Games as a vile wrecker of cities, the environment and local, regional and national finances. Many of the complaints are not actually about the IOC itself or the competitions, but about the way the host cities or areas go about organizing the Games.

These local discussions are fully appropriate. How governments spend money and allocate resources are hot-button issues in democracies and dictatorships alike. But with the IOC’s reforms, notably the public posting of its Host City Contracts, detailing what it expects and what it will provide – $1.8 billion U.S. in cash and services for 2028, for example – the financial terms are much clearer. And the positions of anti-Games protesters, for example in Paris, are often not widely shared: one group has been trying – unsuccessfully – to stop the construction of more housing in a north Paris area which desperately needs it. The housing will initially be used for news media at the 2024 Games, then converted for local use thereafter.

Another sign of the vitality of the Olympic Games is the stampede to be part of it by sports around the world. There is no way that France’s Pierre de Coubertin, the driving force behind the creation of the modern Games, could have foreseen skateboarding, sport climbing or surfing as Olympic sports in Tokyo, or break dancing for Paris.

And for Los Angeles, these sports are asking to be in again, as are cricket, flying disc – which originated in Southern California – karate, mixed martial arts, sambo, parkour and many more.

There continue to be the occasional, silly stories that quote the same Olympics haters who say the Games are doomed, are a bad deal for host cities and should be eliminated. The expanding interest in hosting the Games today shows the critics remain in their private fantasyland; perhaps they should be required to pass a doping-control test before being quoted?

In the meantime, the IOC has stated that it has booked $4.1 billion in revenues for the 2029-32 quadrennial already and has been asking bid cities and organizing committees not to build facilities when existing solutions are available. It lost that argument on the sliding track in Cortina (it will be renovated as part of a regional family amusement center), and has noted that a proposed renovation of the area around the Brisbane Cricket Ground is a civic project that is not needed (or requested or required) for the 2032 Games.

Even Tokyo protestor Ichimura acknowledged in the Journal article last April that even if the Tokyo Games had been vaporized, “it wouldn’t be a decisive victory for the anti-Olympic movement.

“‘The odds of a cancellation have gone up but even if these Olympics are scrapped because of the pandemic, there will still be Beijing, Paris and others in the future.’”

Yes, there will. Get used to it.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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HEARD AT HALFTIME: “Coastal Rowing” coming to LA28?; Suriname V.P. plays in own club’s CONCACAF game at age 60; Goldschmidt new USSA chief

By
Rich Perelman
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Yesss! American Casey Kaufhold's silver at the World Archery Championships breaks a 32-year U.S. medal drought! (Photo; World Archery)

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

● Games of the XXXIV Olympiad: Los Angeles 2028 ● The International Olympic Committee has long loathed the “Lightweight” rowing events in the Games and it appears that for 2028, they will be replaced.

The 2021 World Rowing Congress will be held online on 6 November, but most of the documentation and reports have now been published. President Jean-Christophe Rolland (FRA) noted in his report that while a February 2020 proposal to dump the two Lightweight events in favor of open-water “coastal rowing” could not be implemented for Paris 2024, it could be looked on favorably for 2028.

The International Olympic Committee has been trying to eliminate the Lightweight events since at least 2017, and the coastal rowing events would maintain gender equity in the program and likely share facilities with the sailing venue, eliminating any additional sites.

This was moving forward for inclusion in the Paris 2024 program, but with the pandemic and a move by the Paris 2024 organizers to find €350 million (~$410 million U.S.) budget savings, it was shelved until 2028. Rolland noted the positive comments from IOC Sports Director Kit McConnell (NZL), who called the coastal rowing concept “a solid proposal which will need to be considered for future Games.”

The Congress documentation did not mention the discussions with LA28 about moving the rowing competition from the proposed Lake Perris State Recreation Area in Riverside County to the Long Beach Marine Stadium, site of the 1932 Games, but which would now require a short-course of 1,500 m instead of the usual 2,000 m.

● XXVI Olympic Winter Games: 2030 ● The Barcelona-Pyrenees bid for the 2030 Winter Games has seemed a little unsteady from the start, with a lack of coordination between the two host areas as well as between varying levels of governments.

A new push for a referendum on a Winter Games bid is being pushed now in the Pyrenees region, with a “Stop JJOO” group campaigning to have a vote set for a date certain. Its concerns are supposedly over a rise in housing costs if the Games come and more winter-sport tourism comes into the region.

A referendum is supposed to be held, but is not yet scheduled. In the meantime, the Spanish National Olympic Committee is in discussions with the IOC’s Future Hosts Commission about its bid, but the IOC appears to be in no hurry.

For 2030, there is interest from Sapporo, Japan, Vancouver in Canada, possibly Salt Lake City, Utah and the Ukraine, in addition to Spain.

● Archery ● The archery world came to Yankton, South Dakota for the 2021 World Championships, but it was South Korea that swept the Recurve division – five for five – for the first time ever; it won all four available events in 2009 (also in 1997 and 2005 and multiple times prior by the U.S.).

Woo-Jin Kim won his third men’s World Championships individual title by 7-3 in the final over Brazil’s Marcus D’Almeida, after the Brazilian upset defending champ Brady Ellison of the U.S. in the semis by 6-4. Ellison defeated Olympic champ Mete Gazoz (TUR) in the bronze-medal match by 6-2.

Min-Hee Jang, a Tokyo Team gold medalist, won the women’s title by 6-0 in the final over American teen Casey Kaufhold. For the latter, it was still a mighty achievement: the first U.S. women’s individual Worlds medal since Denise Parker’s bronze in 1989! Kaufhold, 17, got to the final by defeating Olympic winner San An, 6-2, in her semi. An went on to win the Worlds bronze by 6-4 over Mexico’s Alejandra Valencia.

The team events went to Korea’s men by 6-0 as Kim, Je-Deok Kim and Jin-Hyek Oh defeated the U.S. trio of Ellison, Matt Nofel and Jack Williams. The Korean women – Jang, An and Chae-Young Kang defeated Mexico, 5-3. The Mixed Team title went to An and W-J Kim, 6-0 over Russia.

● Athletics ● /Updated/Ethiopian star Kenenisa Bekele wanted to challenge the marathon world record of 2:01:39 at Sunday’s Berlin Marathon, but ended up taking the bronze medal as countryman Guye Adola won in 2:05:45.

Adola, Bekele and Kenyan Philemon Kacheran appeared to be in a three-way battle for the win by 30 km, but Kacheran fell back and Kenya’s Bethwel Yegon came up to join the Ethiopians and then surged past Bekele into second by 35 km. Adola’s late push won the race, with Yegon at 2:06:14 and Bekele third (2:06:47).

Said Bekele, 39, afterwards: “I need some time to prepare, to be honest; I never take a long preparation for the marathon. Even two years ago, I prepared for three months. It’s not enough, I have to train for longer.” He cited the pandemic as an issue for this year’s race.

(Update: Thanks to reader Tom Feuer for noting this was not Adola’s debut! It was actually his fourth marathon; his lifetime best of 2:03:46 came in the 2017 Berlin race.)

The women’s winner was a first-time marathoner, Ethiopia’s Gotytom Gebreslase, who dominated the field and won by 1:14 in 2:20:09. Far behind were her countrywomen Hiwot Gebrekidan (2:21:23) and Helen Tola (2:23:05).

Next up is the London Marathon on 3 October, with Chicago on the 10th and Boston on the 11th! Semi-retired American star Shalane Flanagan, now 40, wants to run all six World Marathon Majors races this year as they are bunched together within 43 days; she finished 17th in Berlin at 2:38:32.

● Canoe-Kayak ● Some new stars emerged at the 2021 World Slalom Championships in Bratislava (SVK), with a couple of Olympic champions still making it to the top of the podium.

The men’s C-1 was won by Czech Vaclav Chaloupka, 23, who won by 92.02-92.17 over three-time silver medalist Alexander Slafkovsky (SVK). Franz Anton (GER), the 2018 World Champion, was third. Veteran Boris Neveu, 35, took his second World title in the K-1, beating Marcelo Beda (ITA), 83.92-87.75.

Britain’s Joe Clarke, the 2016 Olympic K-1 champ, won the Extreme Slalom title, important because the event will be included in the Paris 2024. It’s a more gimmicky, showy event in which – among other things – the riders get soaked by doing a roll-over in their boats.

German Elena Apel, 23, won her first World Championships medals, including gold in the women’s C-1, ahead of Mallory Franklin (GBR), who won her third Worlds C-1 silver, 99.03-99.34. Olympic champ Ricarda Funk (GER) won the K-1 in 94.80, well ahead of Apel (97.31).

Olympic C-1 winner Jessica Fox (AUS) won her eighth individual world title by taking the Extreme Slalom for the first time. She defeated Apel and American teen Evy Leibfarth, 17, who won her first Worlds medal!

● Cycling ● The UCI Road World Championships concluded in Belgium on Sunday with a brilliant second straight win in the men’s road race for France’s Julian Alaphilippe.

The lengthy, 268.3 km race cam down to a series of attacks by Alaphilippe, with 50 km to go and then three separate efforts to break away in the final 20 km. He succeeded and had only four riders anywhere close. He powered home with a win in 5:56:34, 32 seconds ahead of the chase pack. That sprint was won by Dylan van Baarle (NED), followed by Michel Valgreen (DEN), Jasper Stuyven (BEL) and American Nielson Powless in fifth.

The women’s road final was a surprise victory for 23-year-old Elisa Balsamo (ITA), who outran Dutch icon Marianne Vos, 34, to the line in 3:52:27 over the 157.7 km course.

The race was crowded into the final kilometer, with 17 riders in contention. But Italy was perfectly positioned with Maria Giulia Confalonieri, Marta Cavalli and then Elisa Longo-Borghini leading Balsamo up to the front, where she took the biggest win of her career.

Poland’s Kasia Niewiadoma charged home third, one second back, with American Coryn Rivera 10th. Balsamo’s win was Italy’s first in this race since 2011 and ended a four-year won streak for the Dutch.

● Figure Skating ● The U.S. earned its third spots in the Olympic men’s and women’s figure skating competitions in the Beijing 2022 Winter Games thanks to emphatic wins over the weekend by Vincent Zhou and Alysia Liu at the ISU Challenger Series Nebelhorn Trophy event in Obertsdorf, Germany.

A total of 20 skaters earned Olympic quota places for Beijing, with seven spots for Men, six for Women, three for Pairs and four for Ice Dance.

Zhou was an easy winner, with the top scores in both the Short Program and Free Skate and totaling 283.23 points to 243.78 for France’s Adam Siao Him Fa. Liu, still just 16, posted a 207.40 total to win over Ekaterina Kurakova (POL: 193.58).

● Football ● This is a little hard to believe, but here goes:

Ronnie Brunswijk, the owner of the Inter Moengotapoe football club in Suriname, is also the Vice President of the country. Last Tuesday (21st), he inserted himself – at age 60 – into the lineup for Inter’s home game against CD Olimpia of Honduras in the first leg of a round-of-16 game in the CONCACAF League.

Olimpia won the game by 6-0, but Brunswijk became the first man to play in an international club match in his 60s, and also played on the field at the same as his son, Damian. The elder Brunswijk played for 54 minutes, but Damian only for 29 before being substituted out.

After the game, a shirtless Brunswijk was caught on video handing out money to the Olimpia players!

The matter caused a sensation and CONCACAF immediately began disciplinary actions. On Saturday, both clubs were removed from the league and Brunswijk was “banned for three years from participating in any capacity in CONCACAF competitions.”

The matter is still under investigation and more sanctions may be leveled, but this is fairly unbelievable. So far, no penalties against the Suriname national team.

● Ice Hockey ● After 27 years, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has a new President, with France’s Luc Tardif elected on Saturday to succeed Swiss Rene Fasel (SUI) at the IIHF Congress.

Tardif won a four-round election that took three hours thanks to some technical difficulties, finally defeating German Franz Reindel, 67-39.

No Americans were elected to the IIHF Council. Canadian Bob Nicholson was re-elected as Regional Vice President for the Americas.

Tardif will have his hands full with managing the Beijing 2022 tournament and the inclusion of NHL players, but beyond that he will have to figure out how to further grow the international game beyond its current structure and impact.

● Luge ● The World Anti-Doping Agency’s sanctions against Russia, as confirmed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, have caused the Federation Internationale de Luge (FIL) to rescind its award of the 2023 Natural Track World Championships in Moscow.

The FIL board, meeting in Salzburg (AUT), posted a short notice that included:

“The application of the Russian Luge Federation and the decision of the 69th FIL Congress on September 25 to host the World Championships on Natural Track 2023 in Moscow (RUS) is a violation of the CAS decision against Russia.”

A new location will be needed. At the same meeting, the 2025 World Championships (artificial track) was attributed to Whistler (CAN), the track used at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Whistler, site of the 2013 Worlds, was to be the site of the 2021 Worlds, but was unable to host due to the pandemic.

● Skiing ● The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) selected former World Surf League chief executive Sophie Goldschmidt as its new CEO.

She will replace Tiger Shaw on 18 October; Shaw is retiring after eight years as the head of one of the largest and most successful of all U.S. national federations. Goldschmidt has enjoyed a successful career at the Rugby Football Union, with the National Basketball Association (NBA) as the Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) area, the Women’s Tennis Association and others.

● Swimming ● The International Swimming League held its ninth and 10th matches of its third season in Naples, Italy over the weekend, with Energy Standard (FRA) winning the first contest, 568.0-457.5 over the London Roar.

The match featured triple winners Evgeny Rylov (RUS: 50 Back Skins, 100-200 m Back), Ilya Shymanovich (RUS: 50-100-200 m Breast) and Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey, who won the 100-200-400 m Freestyles.

Match 10 saw the Aqua Centurions (ITA) defeat Team Iron (HUN), 570-537. After the 10 events, Aqua, Toronto Titans, Energy Standard, London Roar, Cali Condors, and the L.A. Current are automatically qualified for the 8-team play-offs in November. Iron, Tokyo, D.C. Trident and the New York Breakers will compete in the play-in Match 11 for the final two spots.

Only Daiya Seto (JPN) won three events in the men’s competition, taking the 200 m Fly and the 200 and 400 m Individual Medley. In the women’s events, Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED) won the 100 m Free and 50 m Fly Skins race; Czech Barbora Seemanova won the 200-400 m Frees and Japanese star Yui Osashi won the 400 m Medley and tied with Abbie Wood (GBR) in the 200 m Medley.

● Weightlifting ● The International Testing Agency issued sanctions against three Russian weightlifters for long-ago doping positives uncovered by the World Anti-Doping Agency’s intelligence team and data from the McLaren Reports and Moscow Laboratory data.

The three are Andrei Demanov, fourth in the 94 kg class at London 2012, but disqualified in 2016 for doping; Arsen Boraganov for a November 2013 doping positive and Aleksey Emelyaneko for a 2014 positive. Demanov was suspended for two years and Boraganov and Emelyaneko for four each.

● At the BuZZer ● USA Wrestling and the Stewards of the Living the Dream Medal Fund awarded six of the nine bonuses for Olympic performance that total $950,000 at a private ceremony in New York last week.

Founding Steward Mike Novagratz explained: “Dave [Barry] and I in ’09 thought we would inject some energy in the sport, put up a big-dollar prize out there for a gold medal, and try to draw a lot of people into the sport again.

“[Now] wrestlers get paid more than any other sport in the Olympics, so it makes us just a little more special. We thought we could do something to keep wrestlers excited but mostly to inject energy into the sport and it’s doing that.”

The six prizes awarded went to gold medalists David Taylor and Gable Steveson ($250,000 each); silver medalists Adeline Gray and Kyle Snyder ($50,000 each), and Kyle Dake and Sarah Hildebrandt ($25,000 each).

The Living the Dream Medal Fund has awarded a total of $3.7 million in bonuses to World and Olympic medalists from 2009 through the Tokyo Games.

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For our 743-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

LANE ONE: IOC-led “pivot to Africa” is real as UCI votes for 2025 Road World Championships to go to Rwanda

By
Rich Perelman
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Let’s be clear: FIFA planted the first flag of a major world championship on the African continent with the 2010 World Cup held in nine cities across South Africa. With an average of 46,670 fans per match and a stylish march to the trophy by Spain, it was a clear success – even with the vuvezelas – and the harbinger of more major events to come.

But not right away.

The biggest players in international sports – the International Olympic Committee and the big international federations – had no first-tier events in Africa in the remainder of the 2010s. Perhaps the closest was the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Kampala, Uganda in 2017.

But the 2020s are different.

On Friday, the 190th Congress of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) awarded its most important event, the Road World Championships, to Kigali, Rwanda for 2025.

The UCI revealed the sites for eight different championship events from 2022-27 at the Congress, with six in Europe, one in Canada and the Road Worlds in Rwanda. But this was a major step:

“The announcement that the 2025 UCI Road World Championships are awarded to the capital of Rwanda means this will be a first appearance in Africa of the UCI’s annual flagship event. It is a decisive step in the organisation of this historic event which featured among the major objectives of the UCI’s Agenda 2022.”

Said UCI President David Lappartient (FRA), who was re-elected by affirmation to a second term at the Congress:

“I welcome the attribution of the 2025 UCI Road World Championships to Kigali, in Rwanda. Staging our biggest annual event in Africa was one of our dreams.”

The event was going to Africa in any case, as the other bidder was Tangier, Morocco, which was encouraged to bid again in the future. Choosing Rwanda was controversial given its horrific human-rights past and continued concerns today, but the UCI also noted the strong public interest in the annual, eight-stage Tour du Rwanda, which was held for the 24th time in 2021.

This selection followed the initial step by FIFA, but also a major statement by the IOC in 2018, when it selected Dakar, Senegal was the site for the V Youth Olympic Games in 2022. Due to the pandemic, the IOC pushed the event back to 2026.

But the cycling folks will have them beat by a year, in 2025. And there are more events coming.

World Athletics has been showing more and more interest in Africa and especially in powerhouse Kenya as a site for its World Championships. And it got a partial rehearsal of a possible 2025 Worlds in Nairobi this year with the staging of the 958-athlete (but spectator-free) World U-20 Championships there in August at the Moi International Sports Centre. Further, the Kip Keino Classic invitational meet – a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold event – was held on 18 September and drew some strong American and European entries; Trayvon Bromell of the U.S. ran a world-leading 9.76 to win the men’s 100 meters.

Swimming and gymnastics? FINA is committed through 2027 for its World Aquatics Championships, while the Federation International de Gymnastique (FIG) has named its Artistic Worlds hosts only through 2023, so it might head to Africa in this decade.

More likely might be other big federations in the second tier of Olympic television revenue distribution, including basketball and volleyball. Cycling and football are already in; tennis is wedded to its four traditional major tournaments in Australia, France, Great Britain and the U.S.

But basketball’s FIBA has seen tremendous growth in its AfroBasket championship events and with the debut of the NBA-supported Basketball Africa League in 2021 – with the final held in Kigali – could the 2027 men’s World Cup, or the women’s World Cup in 2026 or 2030 – be held in Africa?

Volleyball’s men’s World Championships have generally been held in Europe or South America and the 2022 FIVB Worlds will be in Russia. The women’s Worlds will be in Poland and the Netherlands in 2022, so both 2026 and 2030 could be open to be held in Africa.

The UCI’s placement of its most important event of the year in the Rwandan capital of Kigali continues a noteworthy – and positive – trend toward placing events in cities which have reasonable tourism infrastructure as opposed to the highly-developed hospitality centers of Europe, North America and 3-4 countries in Asia.

Rwanda, located in the middle of the continent, just to the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has a population of about 12.7 million, just a little more than metropolitan Los Angeles (about 12.4 million today).

Kigali itself is estimated at about 1.1 million people in 2021; why not hold a major world championship there when World Athletics is headed to Eugene, Oregon in 2022; the “metropolitan area” of Eugene-Springfield is just 382,971 per the 2020 U.S. Census!

So why would Rwanda be so interested in the UCI Road Worlds?

Exposure.

A fascinating section of the Rwanda Development Board annual report for 2020 noted that its “sleeve sponsorship” of the famed English Premier League team Arsenal:

● “41% of fans aware of the partnership are more likely to visit Rwanda, an increase from 35% in 2019

● “Among the 41%, sleeve branding continues to be the most influential factor

● “46% of those more likely to visit report promotional videos and the [Brazilian midfielder] David Luiz 2019 visit to Rwanda as a factor in this shift.”

From the Arsenal branding exercise, the Development Board review identified that potential visitors do not view Rwanda as being “safe” or “luxurious.” So:

“There is, therefore, an opportunity to emphasise the safety and luxury elements of the holiday experience in Rwanda in future activations.”

There you have it. The Development Board target for foreign investment in the pandemic year of 2020 was $1.5 billion (U.S.), and there are opportunities for a lot more. Who cares if there is modest local ticket revenue from the Cycling Worlds in 2025 if potential foreign  investors can be shown a positive business environment?

We are at the beginning of a fascinating era for international sport, and especially its mega-events, as players in the development of African business – by and for Africans – by bringing the attention of the business world to host cities and countries of major events which are highlights on the international sports calendar.

As the late Aretha Franklin put it in her monster 1985 hit, “Who’s Zoomin’ Who“?

Rich Perelman
Editor

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THE BIG PICTURE: USOPC Chair Lyons says “entirely possible” that no spectators will be allowed for Beijing 2022

By
Rich Perelman
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United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Board chair Susanne Lyons indicated that spectator attendance at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games may be severely curtailed, owing to the continuing public health challenge in China due to Covid-19.

During a call with reporters following the latest USOPC Board meeting, Lyons explained:

“We did learn a lot of lessons particularly as it pertains to the Covid protocols and the like in Tokyo and I would be expecting that at a minimum we would be having similar types of Covid protocols in Beijing, if not even more. …

“In terms of friends and family, I don’t think there’s been an official announcement of any kind about spectators, but it is entirely possible that we will once again have a very limited attendance in Beijing of anyone outside of immediate, operational staff.”

The USOPC is estimating a team size of just about 300 athletes for the Beijing Olympic Winter Games.

USOPC Chief Executive Sarah Hirshland noted that there have been a couple of important, off-the-field achievements for U.S. athletes and their families. As for the inability for family and friends of team members to travel to Tokyo, “We were able to host more than 550 athlete friends and family to a once-in-a-lifetime experience, in Orlando and Colorado Springs, to really ensure that our community felt connected from afar. It was quite the celebration back here at home.” USOPC commercial partner Toyota was cited for its special assistance in this program.

This is planned to be done again for Beijing if travel is not allowed to the Games for international spectators.

She also highlighted the increase scope and success of the pilot Athlete Marketing Platform, operated in conjunction with the LA28 organizing committee through the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Properties group. More than 800 athletes have now enrolled, from 53 National Governing Bodies:

“Though this pilot program, athletes accepted more than 1,000 deals that put just over $2.6 million in Team USA athlete’s pockets, a really successful pilot start to this program. We’re excited to build upon it.” That’s an average of about $2,600 per agreement.

Hirshland also noted that the USOPC’s liberalization of Olympic Charter Rule 40, allowing individual athlete sponsors to congratulate their athletes during the Games, saw “430 brands submit creative, compared to only 160 in Rio.”

She emphasized that where in Rio, 99% of the submissions by athlete sponsors were for Olympic athletes and only 1% for Paralympians, “in Tokyo, that ratio was reduced to 9-to-1, demonstrating a huge shift in Paralympic athlete marketing campaigns.”

As for the American team in Tokyo, the USOPC saw a Covid infection rate of less than 0.5%; just two infections were reported during the Games period. With this week’s announcement of required vaccinations (subject to some minor exemptions), the USOPC is trying to eliminate this issue for Beijing as much as possible.

Hirshland noted that “there is strong support for this in our community, including endorsements from both our Athletes Advisory Council and National Governing Bodies Council.” Not much outside comment has come in yet, since the announcement is only days old, but as the mandate does not come into effect until November, there is time to hear from those who disagree.

Also:

● Olympic gold medalist and Nassar survivor Aly Raisman slammed USA Gymnastics, the USOPC and the U.S. Center for SafeSport during her testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee last week. Lyons replied:

“It’s always very difficult to hear and relive the survivors’ pain, and we all very much were interested at what was said at that hearing last week. We still have tremendous empathy and support for the survivors of the Nassar situation. …

“It’s understandable that athletes would have anger towards the entire system that they believe failed them and we believe we have taken very significant measures over the last three years to try to address athlete safety and to ensure that something like this could never happen again.”

As to SafeSport specifically, Lyons noted that “they’re an independent organization; we are in dialogue with them on numerous issues, but we have not engaged with them specifically on Aly’s comments.”

● The USOPC has had no further communications from the International Olympic Committee regarding its inquiry into the Raven Saunders “protest” following the awards ceremony for the women’s shot put.

The IOC suspended its inquiry in the aftermath of the 3 August death of Saunders’ mother.

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THE TICKER: Paris 2024 coin program revealed; USA Gymnastics bankruptcy settlement getting closer; vote for the Sullivan Award!

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

● Games of the XXXIII Olympiad: Paris 2024 ● The Monnaie de Paris – French Mint – announced its coin and collectibles program for the 2024 Olympic Games, with multiple items released on Tuesday (21st):

● A first-ever hexagonal coin – “reflecting the shape of France itself” – depicting a “running Marianne” on the obverse and the Eiffel Tower on the reverse in gold (€250 face value: 15,000 made) and silver (€10: 100,000 made).

● A series of €2 commemoratives for 2021-22-23-24, also depicting Marianne running; each will be offered in 100,000 Brilliant Uncirculated condition and 10,000 in Proof Quality.

● Medallions celebrating the Olympic and Paralympic Games, issued in 50,000 pieces for the Olympic version and 15,000 for the Paralympic edition at €9.50 each.

The Paris organizers noted that about 60 companies have or will have licenses to produce souvenir merchandise for the Games about 10,000 products to be offered in all.

● Games of the XXXIV Olympiad: Los Angeles 2028 ● Even though surfing and skateboarding aren’t yet on the program for the 2028 Games, the City of Huntington Beach unanimously passed a resolution to try and become the site for those two sports and the cycling BMX events.

BMX is already on the program and has been placed at the temporary Long Beach sports park facility; surfing and skateboarding would have to be proposed by LA28 and accepted by the IOC to be added to the Games. And Huntington Beach is far from the only interested area for these events.

● Games of the XXXVI Olympiad: 2036 ● There is considerable confusion in Madrid about intentions to bid for the 2036 Olympic Games. Mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida (People’s Party) stated that the city is not bidding for the Games, after Vice Mayor Begona Villacis (Citizens Party) announced that it would.

A statement from the Mayor’s Office included:

“The City Council has not made the decision to formally present the candidacy for the Olympic Games in 2036.

“We have to be very cautious. There have been three candidatures (2012, 2016 and 2020) in which we have not obtained the seat and it is essential that we have a minimum guarantee of success and that only part of the unity of the institutions and the complicity with the people of Madrid.”

A 2030 Winter Games bid from Barcelona and the Pyrenees region is ongoing, but is also subject to conflict within the areas and with the Spanish government and Catalonia, where separatist politicians are suggesting the region could be independent by then.

Infighting is not likely to endear either bid to the International Olympic Committee.

● United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● The USOPC posted a directive that requires Covid-19 vaccinations for all employees and for athletes competing for the U.S.

All USOPC employees must be vaccinated by 31 December; all new USOPC staff must be vaccinated by 1 November in order to start, and “By Dec. 1, 2021, athletes must also have submitted proof of vaccination to the USOPC or have been granted an exemption as a condition of participation at future USOPC delegation events, such as Olympic and Paralympic Games, Pan and Parapan American Games and Youth Olympic Games.”

There is a process for exemptions for limited circumstances; a Q&A section on the USOPC Web site explains why the need for this decision now:

“Unfortunately, this pandemic is far from over. The vaccination requirement will increase our ability to create a safe and productive environment for Team USA athletes and staff in Beijing.”

On 30 October, the U.S. Congress will have the power, under the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic and Amateur Athletes Act of 2020 to de-certify any U.S. National Governing Body or to remove the sitting Board of Directors of the USOPC.

The Congress can do this by a Joint Resolution alone, but the results could lead to a suspension of the USOPC by the International Olympic Committee.

On Wednesday, the IOC dispatched a letter to the Pakistan government and the Pakistan Olympic Association that “it will not accept any undue interference from any third parties in the internal governance of the NOC.”

Further, the letter noted that the Pakistan Olympic Association itself is the only body allowed to “elect or dismiss the members of the POA Executive Board according to the NOC’s statutes and the Olympic Charter.”

Conflict between the POA and the Pakstani government has been an ongoing issue for years, but the IOC’s continued vigilance is a guarantee that a move by the U.S. Congress against the USOPC could be disastrous.

● Sports Medicine ● The IOC’s guidelines on transgender participation in the Games will not be updated until after the 2022 Winter Games.

IOC Medical Director Dr. Richard Budgett (GBR) told the Council of Europe’s Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport’s Diversity Conference on Monday:

“There’ll be broad high-level guidelines – more like a framework. It’s the international federations who will determine the specific rules for their sports and their events.

“The particular changes from 2015 are the emphasis on the priority of inclusion, and on the avoidance of harm, but always bearing in mind the importance of fair and meaningful competition. We still have to agree on the framework. It’s challenging. But it will be published in a few months’ time – at the latest just after the Beijing Olympic Winter Games. …

“Transgender women are women. But we also have to separate gender from eligibility. And eligibility needs to be sport-specific in order to have this fair and meaningful competition at all levels, but especially at the elite level where the stakes are that much higher.

“There’s going to be different criteria for different sports. If you compare archery to hockey to rowing, they require very different skills. And an elite athlete from one is unlikely to be an elite athlete in another. And we have to determine what really is a disproportionate or insurmountable advantage.”

This signals more research is needed not only into the difference in testosterone levels between men and women, but also the question of whether a post-pubescent male transitioning to female retains important advantages, regardless of testosterone levels.

● Athletics ● Wonderful feature on the travails of American road runner Jordan Hasay in Runner’s World, where she takes on the question of her poor performances over the last three years and the naysayers:

“You don’t think I feel the exact same way? Nothing you say is news to me. I would like to have a great race, too. It’s been awhile. …

“They have a right to think I’m done. They can’t see my training and my life. I need to prove it. That’s what motivates me. I want to prove that I can be back and be great again.”

Hasay, unimaginably now 30, will line up for the Boston Marathon on 11 October.

Sad news from Estonia, where one-time men’s hammer world-record holder Juri Tamm, passed away at 64.

Tamm, competing for the Soviet Union, won Olympic bronze medals in 1980 and 1988 and set a world mark of 80.46 m (264-0) in May 1980, but was surpassed by teammate Yuriy Syedikh later in the same meet. Syedikh passed away on 14 September.

Tamm competed for Estonia once the USSR was dissolved and was fifth in Barcelona in 1992. He finished competing in 1996 and became a member of the Estonian Parliament from 1999 to 2011.

He still ranks eighth all-time with his best of 84.40 m (276-11) from 1984.

A wonderful tribute to the late British journalist and statistician Mel Watman from 1964 Olympic gold medalist Ollan Cassell (USA):

“It is sad to find such a man has left us but know he is in peace.

“Mel wrote one of the best reviews of my book after giving advice on how to present certain parts of it. Don’t know how to thank him except to say – Mel – you made a contribution to our way of life.”

● Boxing ● The International Boxing Association, stung by IOC criticism of its slow reform process, approved a special Congress for 12 December to begin the process of electing a new Board of Directors.

But elections will not take place; instead, “AIBA aims to adopt enhanced eligibility criteria and verification mechanisms in December, prior to elections that would then take place in 2022.”

Athlete representatives will be elected at the men’s Worlds coming in Belgrade (SRB) on 24 October and also at the women’s Worlds at a site and date still not set.

Whether this will satisfy the IOC is open to question; its next Executive Board meeting is on 7 December.

● Football ● The U.S. Women’s National Team crushed Paraguay again on Tuesday, 8-0, in Cincinnati, taking a 3-0 lead in the first 10 minutes.

Rose Lavelle scored in the fourth minute, Sophia Smith got her first international goal in the sixth and Alex Morgan in the eighth to turn the game into a rout quickly. Morgan scored a hat trick with added goals in the 14th and 53rd minutes and Catarina Macario scored twice (15th and 82nd). Carli Lloyd, who scored five in the first match vs. Paraguay, also got a goal, in the 78th minute. The U.S. had a 29-2 edge in shots.

The American women stretched their home unbeaten streak to 60 with the win; they will face South Korea next, on 21 October in Kansas City.

UEFA announced Thursday that it is doubling its prize money for its women’s European Championship from €8 million in 2017 to €16 million for 2022 (to be held in England). In addition, European club teams will receive money from a €4.5 million pool for releasing players to aid the success of the Women’s Euro tournament.

How does this compare to the prize money for the men’s Euro 2020? That tournament provided a total of €371 million to its participating teams. Big difference.

● Gymnastics ● An agreement to settle the USA Gymnastics bankruptcy case and pay off the Nassar abuse survivors may be getting closer.

Documents filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana showed that Virginia Surety Company and Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Co. have joined the settlement offer, contributing $32.1 million and $1.9 million to the total available fund for survivors.

This leaves TIG Insurance Co. ($106.2 million liability) and Great American Assurance Co. ($41.3 million liability) as the only two not subscribed to the plan. However, their combined total of $141.5 million is fully 33.3% of the total “offer” of $425 million proposed to all classes of potential payees ($427.125 million with added funds from a separate action if the plan is approved).

A new annex to the proposed plan shows that TIG has 199 claims against it and Great American has 244, many of whom are the same plaintiff.

If approved by the Court, the plan would be voted on by the survivor groups and if agreed to, would exempt all of the settling insurers and essentially everyone else in the case, including USA Gymnastics, the USOPC, Bela and Martha Karolyi, coaches John and Kathryn Geddert, many former USA Gymnastics Board and staff members, including Bob Colarossi, Steve Penny and Rhonda Faehn and others.

If TIG and Great American hold out and the plan is approved, then those with claims against those insurers could sue them separately.

A hearing is scheduled for 4 October.

● Judo ● The International Judo Federation’s World Tour restarts this week in Zagreb (CRO) with a Grand Prix including 243 judoka from 35 nations.

Among them is a name not seen for a long time on the entry lists: Asley Gonzalez. The 2013 World Champion at 90 kg, he last competed for his native Cuba in the 2018 Worlds after three Olympic appearances in 2008-12-16 (silver in 2012).

He was friends with Romanian fighter Vlad Visan and visited that country for training; after a while, he asked for citizenship and will now compete for Romania, taking the citizenship oath on 9 August, the day after the Tokyo Games ended. JudoInside.com reported that Gonzalez’s family is still in Cuba, but he hopes to bring them to Bucharest.

Gonzalez, now 32, will compete in Zagreb in the 100 kg category.

● Swimming ● American distance superstar Katie Ledecky announced that she has moved her training base from Stanford to the University of Florida in order to be closer to her home and family.

Originally from Washington, D.C., she went to Stanford for her education and completed her degree during the pandemic. She will now work with Florida coach Anthony Nesty, the 1988 Olympic gold medalist in the 100 m Butterfly and become an assistant coach for the high-profile Gators program.

● The Last Word ● The AAU Sullivan Award, emblematic of the finest athlete of the year in the United States, is being voted on now and you can participate!

Voting ends on 27 September and there are 38 nominees, including many familiar names from the Tokyo Olympic Games:

● Athletics: Allyson Felix, Athing Mu, Erriyon Knighten, Grant Holloway, Ryan Crouser, Sydney McLaughlin

● Gymnastics: Simone Biles, Suni Lee

● Karate: Ariel Torres

● Swimming: Caeleb Dressel, Lydia Jacoby

● Water Polo: Maddie Musselman

● Wrestling: David Taylor, Gable Steveson, Tamyra Mensah-Stock

The ceremony will take place on 22 October in Orlando, Florida.

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For our 743-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

LANE ONE: The shouting over a biennial FIFA World Cup gets louder and louder; does skating actually have the answer?

By
Rich Perelman
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The FIFA World Cup trophy; what impact will be 2026 World Cup have on the National Football League?

“Are we really convinced that playing qualifying games in September, October, November, March, June, September, October, November, March for a competition which takes place in June the second year – whether it’s the Euro or the World Cup, or Copa America or the World Cup, it doesn’t really matter – do we really think this is the right way for football, when we are saying, ‘fans, maybe they want more meaningful games, less meaningless games.'”

That was FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) during the online 71st FIFA Congress in May, opening the discussion on the question of whether the federation’s signature tournament – the FIFA World Cup – should be played every two years.

A proposal by the Saudi federation to study the feasibility of such a change was approved by 166-22, but just four months later the pushback has been epic.

Individual clubs, individual federations and confederations – notably from Europe (UEFA: 55 members) and South America (CONMEBOL: 10) – have come out against the idea. UEFA posted a long list of complaints on Wednesday, including:

“There are real dangers associated with this plan:

● “the dilution of the value of the No.1 world football event, whose quadrennial occurrence gives it a mystique that generations of fans have grown up with;

● “the erosion of sporting opportunities for the weaker national teams by replacing regular matches with final tournaments;

● “the risk to sustainability for players, forced to engage in summer high intensity competitions every year instead of longer recuperation breaks in alternate years;

● “the risk for the future of women’s tournaments, deprived of exclusive slots and overshadowed by the proximity of top men’s events.

“These are just some of the serious concerns that the FIFA proposal provokes at first glance and they cannot be dispelled simply with unsubstantiated promotional slogans on the supposed benefits of a thicker calendar for final tournaments.”

Not as much has been heard from CONCACAF (North and Central America: 41) or the confederations from Africa (CAF: 56), Asia (AFC: 47) or Oceania (OFC: 14). And there are good reasons for this:

● Both UEFA and CONMEBOL already host highly-popular, highly-profitable area tournaments: the European Championship and the Copa America, both held earlier in 2021. Why should they want their premiere regional events to be forced to change?

● Moreover, these two confederations dominate the existing World Cup and the financial return it brings. Consider that in the 21st Century, there have been five FIFA World Cups and that European and South American teams have combined for 35 of the 40 quarter-finalists? That’s 87.5%:

= 2002 quarters: 4 Europe, 1 CONCACAF, 1 S. America, 1 Africa, 1 Asia
= 2002 semis: 2 Europe, 1 S. America, 1 Asia

= 2006 quarters: 6 Europe, 2 S. America
= 2006 semis: 4 Europe

= 2010 quarters: 3 Europe, 4 S. America, 1 Africa
= 2010 semis: 3 Europe, 1 S. America

= 2014 quarters: 4 Europe, 1 CONCACAF, 3 S. America
= 2014 semis: 2 Europe, 2 S. America

= 2018 quarters: 6 Europe, 2 S. America
= 2018 semis: 4 Europe

Added up, out of 40 total quarterfinalists, 23 were from Europe, 12 from South America, two from CONCACAF and Africa and one from Asia.

In terms of semi-finalists, these results show UEFA and CONMEBOL with 19 out of 20 (95.0%)! Europe has 15, South America, 4, and there was South Korea in 2002.

● Both UEFA and CONMEBOL state their worry about sidelining women’s football development if (their) men’s championship events are moved into the same years as the Women’s World Cup.

With the women’s game growing exponentially in terms of interest and money, it’s easy to see why UEFA – especially – would object. Since the women’s tournament expanded to 24 teams in 2015, Europe produced three of the quarterfinalists and two of the semifinalists in 2015, but then seven of the eight quarterfinalists and three of the four semifinalists in 2019.

Why break up a good thing (for UEFA)?

The men’s World Cup is already expanding from 32 to 48 teams for 2026 and the women’s tournament from 24 to 32 for 2023. So more countries – that is, “weaker countries” as UEFA puts it – are going to get on the fun already.

This has a familiar ring to it, and a solution was found by the International Skating Union.

The European Championships is the oldest championship event in the sport, begun in 1891 for men and 1930 for women. It’s a big deal in the sport and pre-dated the World Championships by five years.

But it left everyone outside of Europe – if you will – “out in the cold.” With the commercial expansion of figure skating in the 1990s, some kind of complimentary event was needed to showcase the top skaters from Canada, China, Japan, the U.S. and so on. So in 1999 came the ISU Four Continents Championships, an event for everyone outside of Europe. It has been dominated by the four countries noted prior, but the “4CC” has proved to be popular and important for the Pan-Pacific powers.

With UEFA and CONMEBOL dead-set against a biennial FIFA World Cup, it will be difficult to make it happen at the present moment. But could FIFA bring the other confederations from Africa, Asia, Oceania and North and Central America together for an “InterContinental Cup” championship?

Suddenly, most of the usual suspects in the World Cup quarterfinals and semifinals are gone. This would be a championship of 158 nations, many more than the 55 in UEFA or the paltry 10 in South America. Would such a title be meaningful to current confederation champions Algeria, Qatar, New Zealand or the U.S.? Or traditional powers like Cameroon, Nigeria, Japan or Mexico? You bet it would.

And, given the success of the UEFA Euro 2020 experiment – in the middle of a pandemic – to hold matches across 11 cities, hosted by 11 different federations, an InterContinental Cup could start with matches in four different host cities, representing the four different competing confederations!

Infantino has insisted that FIFA study any possibility that brings more “meaningful games” to fans instead of friendlies with seldom-used players. That’s what fans want.

UEFA and CONMBEOL are fine with things the way they are. That creates an opportunity for the other four confederations to start their own tournament and create a new, meaningful – and potentially lucrative – tradition of their own.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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For our 743-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

HEARD AT HALFTIME: Another reason to love Trayvon Bromell; World Athletics had a 2020 surplus; more bad Climbing camerawork

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

● XXIV Olympic Winter Games: Beijing 2022 ● Reuters reported that continued coronavirus challenges in Greece will curtail the transfer of the Olympic flame to the Beijing 2022 organizing committee on 18 October.

As with the ceremony to present the flame to the Tokyo 2020 organizers, the event will be held in Olympia as usual, but without spectators and the flame will be airlifted to Beijing shortly after a ceremony at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens the next day.

The usual, week-long relay with the flame through Greece will be canceled once again.

● Games of the XXXIII Olympiad: Paris 2024 ● The Paris 2024 Board of Directors approved the outline of its volunteer program, reducing the Tokyo 2020 workforce by a projected 35%.

Where the Tokyo organizers ended with a 70,000-person volunteer corps, the Paris project calls for “only” 45,000. According to the announcement:

“Roles likely to be entrusted to volunteers are grouped in six categories: welcome, orientation and assistance; sports operations support; organisational operational support; transport; medical services support; and ceremonies support.”

The program targets having 3,000 of the volunteer corps (6.7%) to be individuals with disabilities.

● International Paralympic Committee ● IPC President Andrew Parsons (BRA) will stand unopposed for a second term on 12 December, with New Zealand’s Duane Kale running unopposed for Vice President.

The IPC General Assembly will choose among 25 candidates announced on Monday for 10 at-large members of the IPC Governing Board. The U.S. candidate is Muffy Davis, a three-time Paralympian – and seven-time medal winner – from the 1998-2002 Winter Games in skiing and the 2012 Paralympics in cycling. She joined the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee board in 2021.

● Athletics ● American Trayvon Bromell highlighted the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi (KEN) with his 100 m win – at altitude – in a world-leading 9.76. What came afterwards was just as special.

A spectator unfurled a hand-written sign reading “Trayvon Bromell, Kindly Give Me Your Spikes” … and Bromell did!

Wrote Bromell on Twitter a little later:

“Growing up, me and my coach was at a meet and ask one of track and fields previous [world-record holder] for an autograph. He looked at us and kept it moving. I made a promise to never do that. I never forgot that moment.”

A fan replied:

“That guy u gave the spikes actually slept with them. U don’t know the feeling he’s having right now. I was with him when you gave him the spikes. I know it was hard for you to give ’em up considering they gave you a PB but that was a kind gesture. Big up”

Bromell’s story is one of redemption. After making the 2016 Olympic team, he suffered injury after injury, but won the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2021. He didn’t make the Tokyo final for reasons no one seems to know – including him – but he ended the season with a string of good races and then the 9.76 in Nairobi, and a wonderful gift to a Kenyan spectator.

World Athletics published its Annual Report for 2020 on Tuesday, with lots of pictures and a full set of financial statements for 2020. The financial situation was shown to be better than feared; the highlights:

● The best news is that the federation’s reserves, which dipped to $28.9 million at the end of 2019, rebounded slightly to $30.9 million at the end of 2020. This is important; another major loss could have significantly hurt its activities.

● Revenue for 2020 was down from $51.1 million in 2019 to $42.2 million, due primarily to reductions in sponsorships and in-kind services.

● Expenses went way down, from $67.8 million in 2019 – a World Championships year – to $41.7 million in 2020, with costs related to competitions diving from $29.6 million to $15.0 million. Reductions were seen in grants, development, legal, compliance and administrative costs due to the pandemic.

● After investment losses, World Athletics had a net surplus of $2.077 million for 2020. It’s worth noting that the Russian Athletics Federation paid $6.8 million in reimbursements to the federation for legal and oversight work incurred by World Athletics during the year.

The surplus of about $2.1 million is a lot better than the deficit of $17.3 million suffered in 2019 and ends a string of losses that saw reserves drop from $64.8 million in 2017 to $28.9 at the end of 2019.

World Athletics also received a $7.5 million loan from the International Olympic Committee – $2.5 million in 2020 and $5.0 million in 2021 – as an advance on its television rights “dividend” from the 2020 Olympic Games of about $45 million.

Worth noting: funding for the Athletics Integrity Unit was maintained at almost 95% of its 2019 total at $7.86 million vs. $8.32 million.

Very sad news that the much-loved British statistician and track writer Mel Watman passed away on 17 September at age 83, with his wife Pat at his side.

Many tributes have poured in, all noting his fierce love of the sport – since age 12 – and that he contributed to Britain’s Athletics Weekly beginning in 1953 and was its editor from 1968-84. Concerned about the quality and depth of results being published years later, he and fellow British statistician created the Athletics International newsletter in 1993; Watman continued writing through the Tokyo Games but then collapsed at home a couple of days later. Once in the hospital, he was diagnosed with an inoperable cancer in the spine and died just nine days following the Tokyo closing.

Gentle, meticulous and most of all, a rabid fan, Watman will be long remembered not only for his magazine work, but as the author of more than a dozen books that chronicled one of the great periods in world track & field.

Rio Olympic long jump gold medalist Tianna Bartoletta, now long divorced, is returning to her maiden name of Tianna Madison. She won a stunning World Championships gold as a 19-year-old in 2005 after winning the NCAA title for Tennessee. She was married to John Bartoletta in 2012; they divorced in 2020.

So when you see “Madison” in the sprint and long-jump results in 2022, now you know why.

● Cycling ● The 88th edition of the UCI World Road Championships is underway in Belgium, with Italy’s Filippo Ganna defending his 2019 Individual Time Trial title.

Ganna completed the flat, 43.3 km course in 47:47, barely edging home favorite Wout van Aert by just six seconds with fellow Belgian Remco Evenpoel third in 48:31. It’s the second time in a row for a two-peat, as Australia’s Rohan Dennis won in 2018 and 2019.

The women’s Time Trial was a triumph for Dutch star Ellen van Dijk, who covered the 30.3 km course in 36:05, 10 seconds ahead of Marlen Reusser (SUI) and 24 seconds up on two-time champ Annemiek van Vleuten (NED).

American Amber Neben, the 2008 and 2016 winners, was fourth (+1:24). Dutch riders have now won this race in four of the last five years.

● Figure Skating ● “The last Olympic quota places for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games – seven for Men, six for Women, three for Pairs and four for Ice Dance – will be assigned at the ISU Challenger Series and Olympic Qualifying Event Nebelhorn Trophy September 23-25 in Oberstdorf (GER).”

That’s what up for grabs this weekend, with the U.S. looking for third slots in the Men’s and Women’s events in Beijing. They have the favorites in both with 2019 Worlds bronze medalist Vincent Zhou and 2019 and 2020 U.S. Champion Alysia Liu.

Liu, 16, is already a winner this season, taking the Lombardia Trophy in Bergamo (ITA) earlier this month by 32 points, setting lifetime bests in the Short Program (74.31), Free Skate (144.93) and total (219.24).

● Football ● The U.S. Women’s National Team plays Paraguay in the second of two friendly matches tonight in Cincinnati, Ohio at 7:30 p.m., shown on FS1 and TUDN.

The U.S. hammered Paraguay, 9-0, on the 16th with Carli Lloyd scoring five goals on her “retirement tour” that will end after the two matches vs. South Korea in October. U.S. Soccer reported that “Lloyd became just the ninth player the score five goals in a USWNT game, joining Brandi Chastain (1991), Michelle Akers (1991), Tiffany Milbrett (2002), Abby Wambach (2004), Amy Rodriguez (2012), Sydney Leroux (2012), Crystal Dunn (2016) and Alex Morgan (2019).” Lloyd now has 133 international goals, no. 4 all-time and third on the all-time U.S. list.

The national football federations in Germany and Portugal came out against the under-study concept to play the FIFA World Cup every two years.

Reasons cited included player safety and strain, that such a plan must be approved by the regional confederations and that holding a World Cup every two years will force continental tournaments like the European Championships into the same years as the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The German federation – the DFB – explained:

“If either a men’s World Cup or European Championship takes plays every summer, the women’s and junior tournaments would be marginalised in the shadow of the men’s competitions.”

Game on!

● Sport Climbing ● The International Federation of Sport Climbing had to issue its second public apology in the last three months over “inappropriate” television coverage of Austrian climber Johanna Farber’s backside:

“The International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) would like to deeply apologise to Johanna Färber, Austria Climbing, all the athletes, and the entire Sport Climbing community for the images that were broadcast today during the women’s Boulder semi-final at the IFSC Climbing World Championships Moscow 2021.

The IFSC condemns the objectification of the human body and will take further action in order for it to stop, and to protect the athletes.

After meeting with representatives of the Austrian team, IFSC President Marco Scolaris [ITA] issued the following comment: ‘How many times will things have to be done wrong, before we learn how to do them right?’”

The IFSC Worlds were held in Moscow (RUS); the prior incident was from a June 2021 World Cup in Innsbruck, Austria, but with the same athlete involved! The IFSC and broadcaster ORF apologized at the time; no broadcaster has offered an apology this time (so far).

In the Lead competitions at the Worlds, Austria’s Jakob Schubert won his third world title over Luka Potocar (SLO); both reached the top, but Schubert had a better result in an earlier round.

The women’s win went to Korea’s Chae-Hyun Seo, the only one to reach the top. American Natalia Grossman won her second medal of these Championships with the silver, claiming 37 holds in 4:22, ahead of Laura Rogora (ITA), who took 5:01 to reach the same number. American Brooke Raboutou was fifth (35+).

● Swimming ● The International Swimming League is continuing its third season this week with matches nine and 10, but the league is once again being accused of failing to pay its bills. SwimSwam.com reported last Saturday:

“Jean-François Salessy [FRA], the ex-general manager of Energy Standard, and Hubert Montcoudiol [FRA], the ex-commercial director of the International Swimming League, have accused ISL of financial mismanagement in a letter sent to SwimSwam.”

The letter states that many of the vendors providing support services to the league have not been paid for the second season yet, and “One ISL athlete told SwimSwam that they were told they would receive their final season two payment on Friday.”

Salessy and Montcoudiol noted in their letter, “The lack of Media coverage and broadcasters during this season 3, on top of a lack of confidence coming from sponsors, sound obvious in such conditions.”

ISL has not yet replied to SwimSwam’s request for comment.

● Weightlifting ● The International Testing Agency slapped Moldovan Dr. Dorin Balmus with a lifetime ban for tampering and complicity to commit doping.

The ITA charged that in November 2015, Balmus – working for the national weightlifting federation and on behalf of three Moldovan lifters – arranged for substitutes to take place their and provide clean samples to Doping Control Officers.

The scheme was noted in the 2020 ARD documentary, “Lord of the Lifters.”

● At the BuZZer ● Further to French President’s Emmanuel Macron’s tongue-lashing of France’s Olympic athletes over their Tokyo performance and essentially ordering them to do a lot better in Paris in 2024, he might have been better advised to set some sort of reasonable goal.

Legendary judoka Teddy Riner mentioned possible dream targets of 90 medals in 2024, but that’s not going to happen. France won 33 in Tokyo, down from 42 in Rio in 2016, which is one short of the most the French have ever won in a summer Games except at the 1900 Olympics (also in Paris).

France won 43 medals in Beijing in 2008, 42 in Rio and 41 back in 1920 in Antwerp. It’s most golds – outside of 26 in 1900 (101: 26-41-34) in 1900 – is 15 from Atlanta in 1996. So perhaps targets of 44 total medals and 16 golds for the most since 1900 would be reasonable and even achievable.

After all, even during a pandemic, Japan stunned everyone with its best performance ever in 2021! Against an all-time best of 41 medals in Rio, the Japanese won 58 medals in Tokyo, including 27 golds, destroying its prior best of 16 in 1964 and 2004.

Perhaps Macron should encourage, not discourage? Sacre bleu!

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For our 743-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

LANE ONE: French President Macron wants “maximum pressure” for more medals in 2024; asks why France doesn’t win as many as Britain!

By
Rich Perelman
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French President Emmanuel Macron (Photo: official video screenshot)

If you think Olympic sport in the U.S. is contentious, over athlete expression, sponsorship rights and protests, consider what’s going on in France!

Last week’s elegant ceremony to honor France’s Olympic and Paralympic medal winners at the glittering Elysee Palace in Paris was expected to be a time for celebration and salutations. But French President Emmanuel Macron had a different idea – and a sterner tone – in mind.

France won 33 medals at the Tokyo Olympic Games and 54 at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, placing 10th on the total-medals rankings for both the Olympics (10-12-11) and Paralympics (11-15-28). The Olympic medal total was down from 42 (10-18-14) in Rio in 2016, when France tied for fifth in the medal total with Germany. The Paralympic total was the most since 2004.

And Macron saluted many of these stars by name, then slammed his nation’s Olympic medal output (computer translation of Macron’s remarks from French):

“However, I must say to our Olympic medalists that despite these fine results, despite the magnificent return to the front of the stage by [swimmer] Florent Manaudou, despite the Homeric resistance to the pain of [decathlete] Kevin Mayer, we all remember it, and I have besides, a thought for [vaulter] Renaud Lavillenie too, despite the efforts on the water level of [sailors] Thomas Goyard and Charline Picon or on the tatami, [taekwondoin] Althea Laurin and without wanting to damage this united France team, one thing is clear:

“Paralympic sport has crushed you!”

Slap no. 1. But Macron, 43, was only getting warmed up:

“So, dear medalists, your medals belong to you for eternity.

“You must savor these moments, take advantage and the elders who are there, by your side, can testify to it. But don’t enjoy it for too long!

“First of all because these medals are a responsibility for a long time and those who have won medals before know it. We look at you differently, the pressure is not the same. You have a responsibility towards the young and the generations that follow you and which is now different.

“But above all because that is why we are now holding this ceremony, we must all together prepare for the rest and our 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“The overall record of these Olympic Games is not quite at the level we expected. We know that in certain sports, it is even mixed and we cannot build success if we do not tell each other the truth.

“And so, celebrating today, I mean, a few words about how we’re going to prepare for the sequel right now because we don’t have three years to prepare for them. We have a few useful months of making the hardest choices, two years of hard work, and a year of tuning. It is not at the last moment that we will have to tackle the problems that are clearly emerging now.”

Macron noted that the government is already committed to €110 million [~$129 million U.S.] in support of elite sport in the country, plus another €100 million [~$117 million] for the national Centre Technique et Sportif (CTS). Then he got out his paddle:

“We are already doing a lot. We do more than the others, that is not always said, and I want us to be able collectively to be aware of it and to be proud of it. And …we have identified an additional commitment, an investment additional, in particular to accompany the high performance. Because all of this is not enough.

“Our British neighbors, to take just this example, today invest less public funds than us, yet they have better results than ours [65 Tokyo medals] because they have also been able to completely change their methods, concentrate their resources at the time of their own Olympic Games [in 2012]. And we saw them do it, that’s when they passed us in the medal ranking. There is no inevitability, it is up to us.”

Macron explained that money must be put into athletes and events which have the best chance for medals, training programs for French athletes must be individualized and more investment is needed in coaches: “This is the new relationship built with the federations.”

He called for the creation of a collegiate system to advance the progress of talented high school-age athletes, and a program to help retired athletes transition to their next stage in life. But he also laid out the challenge for 2024:

“I’m telling you very clearly, we have to do a lot more.

“Much more because these are our Games, it’s at home and it’s expected. And the higher, faster, stronger together, if it has to apply, it is good for these Games. And so it is necessary for each federation, for each athlete, to put the maximum pressure on ourselves.

“France can very clearly one day integrate permanently into the top-five Olympic and Paralympic [medal winners], I believe. But for that, we have to project ourselves over the long term. I therefore want to say to all those whose profession and passion are of the highest level that what we are going to do together goes well beyond this meeting in Paris.”

He closed by promising to bring sports programming into schools, where it has been missing, as a way to teach lifetime fitness. But that’s not what drew most of the post-speech interest.

Macron’s charge to the medal winners and the French federations to win a lot more medals in 2024 was big news in France. It also placed three-time Olympic gold medalist Teddy Riner, one of the greatest judokas in history and a national hero, in the middle of the debate.

Riner remarked prior to the ceremony, “To think that we are going to win 90 medals in Paris 2024, I would like to believe it! But it was necessary to invest already seven years back in sport, massively,” and then found himself on the defensive, as his remarks were seen afterwards as a slap-back at Macron.

“[I]t is completely false when we say that I tackled President Emmanuel Macron. … No, I never attacked the President of the Republic. His speech Monday night was right. Yes, our results in Tokyo were not as good as we could have hoped, yes, we will make sure to do better in 2024. And what I said about the fact that, to have 90 medals in 2024, it would have been necessary to invest well before, I think, but I said these words before the reception, and therefore absolutely not in response to a so-called shouting at the President.”

This was pretty heavy stuff from Macron, especially a first-term President facing a national election in April 2022, to a room full of French sporting heroes. But he has set the bar: top five on the Olympic medal table in 2024, with the top three – U.S., China and Russia – already set.

And we can expect to hear more from Macron, as he said, “it is necessary for each federation, for each athlete, to put the maximum pressure on ourselves.”

In the 1920s, France’s Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Movement, wrote “the essential is not to have won by to have fought well.” In the 2020s, in France, not so much.

So much for fun, camaraderie and joie de vivre on the road to the 2024 Games. Wow; gone already.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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HIGHLIGHTS: World-leading 9.76 for Bromell in Nairobi; Weitzeil swims U.S. 50 m Free record; U.S.’s Grossman wins world climbing title!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Fastest man in the world for 2021: Trayvon Bromell of the U.S.

Headline results of noteworthy competitions around the world:

● Athletics ● The long World Athletics Continental Tour came to a close over the weekend, primarily with the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi (KEN) and a stunning race in the men’s 100 m.

American Trayvon Bromell had been the top sprinter in the world going into Tokyo, but he had his troubles there and did not qualify for the final. But he exploded out of the blocks in Nairobi and had a clear lead by 30 m. He was suddenly challenged, however, by Kenya’s unheralded Ferdinand Omanyala, who rocketed toward the lead in the final 50 m. It was close as both leaned at the finish, with Bromell winning in 9.76 (wind: +1.2 m/s) – fastest in the world this year and equal-no. 6 all-time – and Omanyala running 9.77, his fifth national record of the year!

Nairobi is at 5,889 feet altitude (1,795 m), a considerable aid, and for Omanyala, completes a season in which he improved from 10.32 in 2020 to 9.77 in 2021 and now no. 8 all-time! He did serve a drug suspension in 2017-18.

Justin Gatlin of the U.S. was third in 10.03.

American Fred Kerley, the Tokyo 100 m silver winner, got a lifetime best in the 200 m over Isaac Makwala (BOT) in 19.76-20.06, with Kerley moving to no. 22 on the all-time list.

Host Kenya enjoyed wins in the men’s 800 m (Noah Kibet: 1:44.97), men’s 1,500 m (Vincent Keter: 3:35.99), men’s 5,000 m (Jacob Krop: 13:23.50), women’s 800 m (Mary Moraa: 2:00.11), women’s 1,500 m (Faith Kipyegon: 4:02.40), women’s Steeple (Celliphine Chespol: 9:30.55) and the women’s 5,000 m (Margaret Kipkemboi: 14:55.27).

Namibian teen sprint star Christine Mboma recorded her fifth win in a row in the 200 m, rocketing to a 22.39 victory (+0.2) over Marie-Josee Ta Lou (CIV: 22.98).

● Canoe-Kayak ● The International Canoe Federation’s Sprint World Championships were held in Copenhagen (DEN), with only a sprinkling of Olympic medal winners, and Hungary dominating the medal count.

German Conrad-Robin Schneider, sixth in Tokyo in the men’s C-1 1,000 m, won both the C-1 500 m and C-1 1,000 m, beating eight-time Worlds medal winner Martin Fuksa (CZE) in both.

In the men’s K-1 1,000 m, Olympic bronze winner Fernando Pimenta (POR) won his second world title, beating Tokyo winner Balint Kopasz (HUN) by 3:25.82-3:26.49.

Canada’s Katie Vincent won her first individual Worlds gold in the women’s C-1 200 m and Denmark’s Olympic bronze winner Emma Jorgensen won her first individual Worlds gold in the K-1 200 m.

In the women’s K-1 500 m, Hungary’s Olympic silver winner Tamara Csipes won silver again, but was beaten by New Zealand’s Aimee Fisher, 1:48.08-1:49.00, with Jorgensen third. Csipes and Danuta Kozak, part of Hungary’s winning K-4 500 m squad in Tokyo, won the Worlds K-2 500 m and were part of the Hungarian team that was second to Belarus in the K-4 500 m final.

Hungary won 18 medals in all (6-8-4) to eight for Belarus (4-2-2) and Russia (3-0-5).

● Shooting ● The U.S. nationals in Trap and Skeet concluded at Hillsdale, Michigan with the Skeet finals both going to tie-breakers.

Olympic champ Amber English was second in the five-round qualifying behind Sam Simonton, 245-238, then both scored 56/60 in the finals. That led to a shoot-off, won by English, 4-3.

That was nothing compared to the men’s Skeet final, with U.S. Olympian Philip Jungman leading the qualifying at 246, then tied with Christian Elliott at 55 each in the finals. That necessitated a shoot-off, which ran for 20 rounds! Jungman won his second career national title, 20-19.

In Trap, Derrick Mein qualified in third place, but won the national title with 45 hits in the final, one better than Jake Wallace. The women’s crown went to Emily London, the final qualifier to the final in sixth place, but then hitting 43 targets in the final to 36 for runner-up Ryann Phillips.

● Sport Climbing ● The 2021 IFSC World Championships continue in Moscow (RUS), with the Bouldering and Speed events completed and Lead still to come.

In Speed, Ukraine’s Danyil Boldyrev won his second career world title and his first in seven years with a 5.73 performance in the final. Spain’s Erik Noya Cardona was second in 5.95 and American Noah Bratschi won the bronze medal in 6.31.

Poland’s Natalia Kalucka won the women’s Speed title (7.18 in the final) over Russia’s Iullia Kaplina and Pole Aleksandra Miroslaw.

In Bouldering, Japan went 1-2 in the men’s final with Kokoro Fujii (4T4Z 6-6) and two-time World Champion Tomoa Narasaki (3T3Z 6-6). American Natalia Grossman broke through to win the women’s title (4T4Z 7-7), with Camilla Moroni (ITA: 4T4Z 13-11) second and Stasa Gejo (SRB: 2T4Z 5-7) third.

● Swimming ● The International Swimming League held matches seven and eight in Naples, Italy, with the defending champs Cali Condors managing a 581.0-529.5 win over Toronto on Thursday and Friday, even without U.S. superstar Caeleb Dressel.

New American backstroke star Coleman Stewart swept the men’s 50-100-200 m Back events and was second in the 50 m Back Skins race to Robert Glinta (ROU) to lead the Condors. Justin Ress (USA) won the 50 and 100 m Freestyles and Italy’s Alberto Razzetti won the 200 m Butterfly and the 400 m Medley.

The Condors also got a three-event sweep in the women’s 50-100-200 m Breast events from superstar Lilly King. Three women won two events: American Kelsi Dahlia in the 200 m Fly and the 50 m Fly Skins race; Beata Nelson of the U.S. in the 200 m Back and 100 m Medley and Britain’s Abbie Wood in the 200-400 m Medleys.

On the weekend, Energy Standard (FRA) won match eight from the London Roar (507.0) and the L.A. Current (395.5). Britain’s four-time Olympic medalist from Tokyo, Duncan Scott, was everywhere, winning the men’s 200 m Free, 400 m Free, the 100 and 200 m Medleys and was runner-up to Japan’s Daiya Seto in the 400 m Medley!

Australia’s Rio 2016 sprint winner Kyle Chalmers won the 50-100 m Freestyles, Brazil’s Guilherme Guido took the 50-100 m Back titles; Russian Ilya Shymanovich swept the 50-100-200 m Breaststroke events and Seto won the 200 m Fly and 400 m Medley. American Tom Shields won the 100 m and triumphed in the 50 m Fly Skins race.

American Abbey Weitzeil, competing for the L.A. Current, won the women’s 50 m Free in 23.44 over Swedish star Sarah Sjostrom (23.47) and Australia’s quadruple gold medalist from Tokyo, Emma McKeon (22.65) to improve her own American Short-Course Record. Weitzeil swam 23.45 in 2020 and now ranks no. 8 on the all-time world list.

McKeon came back to win the 100 m Free and 100 m Fly, Alia Atkinson (JAM) took the 50-100 m Breaststroke events and Siobhan Haughey (HKG) won the 200-400 m Frees. The women’s star, however, was Canada’s Ingrid Wilm, who took the 50-100-200 m Back and the 50 m Back Skins race for the L.A. Current.

● Triathlon ● The 2021-22 World Triathlon Series started in Hamburg, Germany on the weekend, with the home team sweeping all three races!

The sprint course – 750 m swim, 20 km bike and 5 km run – saw Tim Hellweg (GER), second at the World Series final in Edmonton earlier this year, win a photo finish over France’s Paul Georgenthum, with both in 53:08. This was Georgenthum’s debut in the series and he biked strongly to share the lead with Hellweg and both timed 14:34 for the 5 km run. France’s Leo Bergere was third (53:09), out-leaning Lasse Nygaard-Priester (GER).

The women’s race was a triumph for Laura Lindemann (GER), eighth in Tokyo, who had the fastest run time in the field at 16:16 to win in 58:17. That was four seconds better than Nicole van der Kaay (NZL: 58:21), with American Summer Rappoport third (58:26). The U.S. also had Kirsten Kasper in seventh (58:41) and Erika Ackerlund in 10th (58:48).

Hellweg and Lindemann teamed with Nygaard-Priester and Marlene Gomez-Islinger to win the Mixed Relay on Sunday in 1:21:39, over Italy (1:21:45) and Denmark (1:22:32). The U.S. was fifth (1:22:51).

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THE TICKER: IOC slaps AIBA; Doping penalties confirmed for Salazar, Brown and Jack; Lloyd scores five vs. Paraguay in 9-0 rout

By
Rich Perelman
-
Should boxing be knocked out of the Olympic Games? The IOC might be getting ready to do just that!

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

● International Olympic Committee ● The IOC announced a remarkable €1 million grant by the French Sports Ministry to its Olympic Refuge Foundation to enable “a consortium of six partners in order to devise a unique three-year programme to support refugees and asylum-seekers in France.”

PLAY International, Kabubu, Futbol Mas, Ovale Citoyen, Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation and Emmaus Solidarite are the six organizations that will deliver on-the-ground services, beginning in early 2022. The IOC provided seed funding for this project of €300,000.

The Foundation is currently reaching 200,000 people through 12 projects in eight countries – Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Rwanda, Turkey and Uganda – plus the new French program. According to the IOC, “The goal of the ORF is for one million young people affected by displacement to have access to safe sport by 2024.”

Comment: It is especially impressive to see the IOC bringing in funding from national partners in industrialized countries, which will be key expanding this project. Even more noteworthy is that the ORF concept is for year-round programming, not just for athletes attending the Olympic Games. Great idea, hopefully the execution will be just as terrific.

● XXIV Olympic Winter Games: Beijing 2022 ● The Beijing organizers revealed the Games motto of “Together for a Shared Future” in a ceremony on Beijing on Friday. The announcement noted:

“The Organising Committee explained that the motto represents the power of the Games to overcome global challenges as a community, with a shared future for humankind. The words reflect the necessity for the world to work together towards a better tomorrow, especially given the difficulties faced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The motto was selected from 79 proposals from Chinese universities, submitted between May and September 2020, with 11 shortlisted “by experts from various fields.”

IOC President Thomas Bach (GER) released a lengthy letter on Friday which previewed the kind of health scrutiny which will be imposed for the Beijing Winter Games, including:

“While the pandemic is far from over, I would like to reassure you that together with our Chinese partners and friends, we are sparing no effort to make these Olympic Winter Games safe and secure for everyone. As we did in Tokyo, we are putting in place rigorous COVID-19 countermeasures to ensure the health and safety of all Olympic participants in Beijing. We continue to be guided in this by the scientific advice of the World Health Organization and international experts. The first edition of the Playbooks for Beijing, which outline all the countermeasures for each stakeholder group, is scheduled to be published in October.”

Bach also announced that the IOC would again provide Covid vaccination support, “by making vaccines available to all Olympic participants ahead of Beijing, in line of course with national regulations.”

● Doping ● The Court of Arbitration for Sport handed down decisions in three long-awaited cases, confirming doping suspensions in each:

● Former marathon star and Nike Oregon Project coach Alberto Salazar and Dr. Jeffrey Brown had their suspensions for doping activities confirmed, with their four-year bans confirmed. An appeal by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency to further extend those bans was denied.

Brown was found to commit doping violations including “Complicity (Art. 2.8) in Alberto Salazar’s possession of Testosterone; Trafficking (Art. 2.7) of testosterone to Alberto Salazar; Administration (Art. 2.8) of a Prohibited Method; Tampering (Art. 2.5) with the Doping Control Process.”

Salazar’s violations were listed as “Possession (Art. 2.6) of testosterone; Complicity (Art. 2.8) in Dr. Jeffrey Brown’s Administration of a Prohibited Method; Tampering (Art. 2.5) with the Doping Control Process with respect to the issue of L-carnitine infusions/syringes.”

The arbitrators also noted that “the circumstances of this matter, the length of hearings and the allegations made at various stages of those hearings, as well as the way in which the case was conducted by USADA and that the evidence was presented and, in some cases, later abandoned, seemed to be out of proportion and excessive when compared to the severity and consequences of the ADRVs that have been established. It also emphasized that none of the ADRVs directly affected athletic competition, and that there was no evidence put before the CAS as to any effect on athletes competing at the elite level within the NOP.”

● Australian swimming star Shayna Jack had her doping violation confirmed, but with only a two-year suspension, starting on 12 July 2019, and now completed.

Jack had initially been suspended for four years after the steroid Ligandrol had been found in an out-of-competition test. But she “established that she did not intentionally or recklessly consume the prohibited substance and could therefore benefit from a reduction in the period of ineligibility from four years to two years.”

Nigerian star sprinter and long jumper Blessing Okagbare was reported to have had her doping positive confirmed by examination of her second sample and will be suspended for four years.

She was pulled out of the Tokyo Games on 30 July after winning her heat as the Athletics Integrity Unit informed her of her positive, out-of-competition test from 19 July. She will undoubtedly appeal; Okagbare reportedly trains with the Tumbleweed Track and Field club in Florida under the direction of coach Rana Reider.

She was a medal contender in the women’s 100 m, having run 10.89 in 2021 and a sensational, wind-aided 10.63 (+2.9) at the Nigerian Olympic Trials. Now 32, she was the Beijing 2008 Olympic silver medalist in the long jump.

World Anti-Doping Agency President Witold Banka (POL) and Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin met in Istanbul on the sidelines of the WADA Executive Committee and Foundation Board meeting with an eye to eventual reinstatement of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency.

The two-year sanction against RUSADA will run out in December 2022, but reinstatement not automatic; it will depend upon the fulfillment of conditions for a properly-functioning anti-doping program in Russia. Said Banka:

“The need for RUSADA to retain its independence is critical. There must be no attempt by the Russian state or sporting authorities to interfere with any of its operations. Associated with that, the appointment of RUSADA’s next Director General must follow a rigorous process to ensure the right person is hired for this important position and that they are able to function independently in the role.” A guarantee of sufficient funding is also required to ensure proper operation of the anti-doping effort in the country.

● National Olympic Committees ● On Wednesday, the former Sports Minister of Kenya and chef de mission of the Kenyan team for the 2016 Rio Games were both found guilty of corruption related to the misuse of $800,000 of the Kenyan team’s budget for the Games.

Former minister Hassan Wario paid a $32,000 fine while chef de mission Stephen Soi – identified as the main culprit – was fined ~$950,000 or must serve 12 years in jail. Soi has 14 days to appeal.

● Athletics ● If you think the U.S. is the only country wailing about its performance in Tokyo in the sprints and relays, guess again. How about this tweet from Canadian track & field observer Katey Ross:

“British men’s sprint performances @Tokyo2020 included a 100m trio who brought home two DQs and a positive dope test … and a relay team that stole a medal (and Olympic moment!) from the 4th placed team. Remind us again why your Head Coach was a good appointment @JoannaCoates?”

Coates is the chief executive of UK Athletics; the 100 m disqualifications were for false starts by Reece Prescod in the semis and Zharnel Hughes in the final. C.J. Ujah, who was eliminated in the semis, was caught for doping and the British silver in the men’s 4×100 m will certainly be lost. The British women were eighth in the 100 m, had no 200 m finalists, but won bronze in the 4×100 m.

American Quanera Hayes won the U.S. Trials at 400 m, but had a tough time in Tokyo, finishing seventh and being left off the 4×400 m. But she rebounded at the Diamond League final in Zurich, winning in 49.88 … and the crowd made a big difference:

“Although I was really tired, it was really worth it. It’s like a night-and-day difference here compared to Tokyo, then coming here and having this crowd, and hear everyone cheer. It really is like a night-and-day difference. It’s amazing, truly amazing. I really was not expecting to run this fast. I was just praying to God I would come here and just run; didn’t expect any kind of time.”

Dutch star Sifan Hassan won the 5,000 and 10,000 m in Tokyo, but had to settle for bronze in the 1,500 m to defending champ Faith Kipyegon (KEN). Kipyegon won again in Zurich, 3:58.33-3:58.55, but Hassan says 2022 will be different:

“Faith Kipyegon, she is really one of the greatest athletes. Today was my last race and I wanted to give everything. And I did that and I am happy about it. After Tokyo I took a break and it was hard to get back mentally and physically. It was difficult. This year I struggled with my training, I could not go to [her training base in] the U.S. Next year, I will train my speed and I will be amazing.”

More amazing: Jamaica’s Olympic women’s 100/200 m winner Elaine Thompson-Herah after winning in Zurich at 10.65:

“It has been a crazy season, a long one and a tiring one. I was so consistent because I was just keeping the faith in me and did not allow any negativity. I am really happy and grateful.

“I would describe this season with one word: amazing, yet it had ups and downs. … but next year, the [10.49] world record is definitely on my mind.”

There are still a few meets going on; last Tuesday in Bellinzona (SUI), Canada’s 100 m bronze winner Andre De Grasse beat U.S. silver medalist Fred Kerley, 10.06-10.11 with 2004 Olympic champ Justin Gatlin (USA) third in 10.13.

Gatlin will be 40 on 10 February and could be in line to set World Masters records in the sprints. The age-40 record for 100 m in 9.93 by former World Champion Kim Collins (SKN) in 2016, and the 200 m mark is 20.64 by Troy Douglas (NED) from 2003.

Gatlin ran wind-aided 9.93s twice this season and had a legal best of 9.98. He also ran 20.49 in the 200 m! Maybe he can get both?

Also in Bellinzona, Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce won the women’s 100 m in 10.78 for her 13th straight race under 11 seconds and 13 of 15 on the season! That has to be a record.

The continuing Covid issues in Japan caused the organizers of the Tokyo Marathon – a World Marathon Majors race – scheduled for 17 October, to be postponed. The race will now be held in its usual spring date for 2022, on 6 March.

● Basketball ● A horrifying report commissioned by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and conducted by McLaren Global Sport Solutions was released on Tuesday detailing long-term sexual abuse of female players within the Mali Basketball Federation (FMBB). From page 12:

“[T]he evidence shows that the FMBB and certain other individuals linked to the FMBB violated multiple FIBA General Statutes and Internal Regulations including exhibiting little to no concern for the safeguarding of its players, nonexistent safeguarding policies, interference and obstruction with the independent investigation, victim and witness intimidation, harassment of players, failure to report complaints of abuse, among others.

“The [McLaren team] has direct witness evidence that Coach [Amadou] Bamba sexually assaulted multiple players in addition to other forms of harassment and intimidation as defined in the FIBA Internal Regulations. This evidence is reliable and corroborated by other witnesses. The Mali police have taken an interest in the matter because of the MIIT investigation. Various in-person statements and depositions have been given to the Mali Police. Coach Bamba has been arrested and charged with criminal misconduct. According to media reports he was arrested for paedophilia, rape and indecent assault.”

Bamba, head coach of the FMBB U-18/19 Women’s National Team; Cheick Oumar Sissoko, an FMBB coach; and Amadou Ario Maiga, a former FMBB vice-president, were all implicated and were suspended as of 13 June 2021. The report stated that the investigators were “unable to independently verify” the allegations against Sissoko or Maiga, “although the hearsay evidence is concerning.”

Current FIBA President Hamane Niang, of Mali, was alleged to have knowledge of the sexual abuse and did nothing; the investigation “was unable to corroborate any allegations” against him.

The report further noted “[e]fforts to intimidate witnesses and publicly debase the independent investigation were factors that obstructed the investigation” and “[a]lthough there was great reluctance for victims and witnesses to speak to the MIIT, there is an abundance of credible hearsay witnesses that allege and speak to decades long harassment, abuse, and cover-ups within the FMBB.”

FIBA acknowledged the report and created “a safeguard and protection service for the players of the U19 and U16 women’s teams from Mali.” Three other Mali basketball officials were suspended, based on their involvement as noted in the report and a new program to protect players will be presented to the FIBA Board in November.

As Niang was not implicated, he was cleared to resume his position as FIBA President.

● Boxing ● Using its always-polite approach, the IOC blasted the International Boxing Association (AIBA), underlining its concerns about the federation’s fitness to serve as the international federation for the sport.

IOC Director General Christophe De Kepper (BEL) acknowledged the positive aspects of the new AIBA constitution, but:

“it is also noted that so far no new leadership team amongst the elected officials has been put in place to effectively embrace the change of culture in the governance of AIBA. Therefore, the IOC would be pleased to receive information on the schedule for the renewal of the leadership, in particular the planned date for the AIBA Board of Directors’ elections, as well as the eligibility criteria and how they will be assessed.”

Further, the IOC has commissioned the EY consulting firm to “assess” the AIBA’s current financial statements and its public statements relative to eliminating its long-standing debt, “and the terms of any sponsorship contract.”

De Kepper also noted that the IOC “was informed of a number of complaints regarding the judging and refereeing (R&J) by the participants to both the AIBA Youth World Championships and Asian Championships held early this year” and that the practices of the IOC’s Boxing Task Force – which ran the Tokyo 2020 tournament – have not been incorporated into AIBA’s procedures.

The status? De Kepper closed with:

“On the basis of the above, the IOC Executive Board restated its deepest concerns and reiterated its previous position regarding the place of boxing in the programme of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and future editions of the Olympic Games.”

AIBA posted a reply:

“AIBA has been working on comprehensive reform for some time now and is grateful for the IOC’s public acknowledgment that a step forward has certainly been taken in terms of good governance, as confirmed by ASOIF. Wide-ranging reforms are already underway in terms of financial integrity, good governance and sporting integrity, including all the areas mentioned by the IOC and more. Independent experts are involved in each of these sectors. AIBA is confident these reforms will see AIBA meet and even exceed the criteria laid down by the IOC for reinstatement.”

Comment: The IOC took up the issue of what to do about boxing very quickly after the Tokyo Games, where the tournament ran fairly well with AIBA nowhere in sight. AIBA is in a lot of trouble, regardless of its public statements; for the IOC, the question is what to do next? Keep boxing and find a replacement for AIBA? Or just cut boxing loose from the Games?

Speaking of money, AIBA announced a major increase in prize money for its men’s World Championships, to be held from 24 October-13 November in Belgrade (SRB).

Winners in each of the 13 classes will receive $100,000 U.S., with silver medalists to receive $50,000 and each of the bronze-medal winners to get $25,000. That’s a total of $2.6 million.

● Football ● The Carli Lloyd “farewell tour” got off to a historic start on Thursday evening, as the U.S. Women’s National Team clobbered Paraguay, 9-0, in Cleveland, with Lloyd scoring five of the goals herself!

Lloyd, 39, played the first of a four-game coda to her career in front of 14,117 and scored off a header in the third minute, off a cross from Crystal Dunn in the sixth minute and then again in the 34th and 38th minute – four in the first half – and finally in the 61st. She is the 10th U.S. women’s player to score five in a game and now has 133 international goals, no. 3 on the all-time U.S. list behind Abby Wambach (184) and Mia Hamm (158).

Andi Sullivan got her first two goals for the U.S. in the 25th and 49th minutes, Lynn Williams scored in the 30th minute and Tobin Heath got a goal in the 86th minute. The U.S. had a 36-1 edge in shots.

The two sides will meet again on the 21st, in Cincinnati’s new TQL Stadium.

In the aftermath of U.S. Soccer Federation chief Cindy Parlow Cone’s offer of the same contract to both the men’s and women’s national teams, women’s star striker Alex Morgan was optimistic, saying on Wednesday:

“We still need to chat about the statement given by U.S. Soccer. But any commitment to equal pay publicly is good. However, we need to look line by line at what they’re actually providing, because if you have equal but it’s not even what we got before, or to the value that we are, then we still consider that to be not good enough. …

“We don’t want to start the new year without a new [collective-bargaining agreement] in effect, so that’s the number one priority of our [player’s association], of our legal team. Looking at the [USSF] statements, it’s difficult to say, we want to feel encouraged and we want to be optimistic, but we have seen a lot of statements before.”

That’s quite a different take than offered by the U.S. women’s team’s Twitter account, which characterized the same-contract offer as “PR stunts and bargaining through the media.”

In the face of public rejections by UEFA and CONMEBOL of the possibility of a FIFA World Cup every two years, FIFA released the results of a 23,000-person independent survey in July in 23 countries, showing 55% of respondents were in favor of the more-frequent schedule.

A total of 15,008 took the survey, with more replies from Europe (28.4%) and Asia (22.1%) than any other regions. Some 8,234 preferred World Cups every two years and 6,774 liked the status quo.

FIFA has now authorized a 100,000-person survey across more than 100 countries and incorporating questions on both the men’s and women’s World Cups. This is a battle royal in the making.

CONCACAF announced Thursday that its Paris 2024 qualifiers in the men’s Olympic tournament will be the 2022 CONCACAF Men’s Under-20 Championship. This will replace the Olympic-year qualifying tournament held up to now.

A 20-team U-20 tournament will be organized in 2022, allowing the qualifying teams more time to pick their U-23 squad for 2024. No change has been announced concerning the women’s qualifying process.

● The Last Word ● The interest of international federations in the eSports sector continues to expand, but a new study by the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations shows that the future is anything but clear:

“The report shows that there are two ways for IFs to leverage gaming: either traditional sports are replicated virtually (link to the traditional sport, but the gaming activity includes no or very little physical activity, e.g. FIFA, World Sailing, etc) or technology is used to gamify real-world sport action (the focus is on physical activity while integrating augmented/ digital features, e.g. UCI, World Rowing, etc).

“These activities attract young audiences across genders and territories and can open up new revenue streams. At the same time IFs would have to invest financial and human resources to develop such new products, which likewise require significant effort for regular updates. The acceptance of the community is also unpredictable. In the light of these complexities, the report examines different roles IFs can play in the gaming and/or esports segment at their early development stage and without taking too many financial risks.”

Translation: Nothing is easy.

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For our 743-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

THE BIG PICTURE: Raisman, Biles rip FBI, USA Gymnastics, USOPC, Center for SafeSport in Senate hearing, ask for more investigations and prosecutions

By
Rich Perelman
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Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman testifying at the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, 15 September (Photo: C-SPAN video screenshot)

“I ask that you please do all that is in your power to ensure that these individuals are held responsible, and accountable for ignoring my initial report, for lying about my initial report, and for covering up for a child molester, and for endangering others.”

That was 2012 Olympic Team gold medalist McKayla Maroney, now 25, expressing the core proposal of four survivors of serial sex abuser Larry Nassar at Wednesday’s four-hour hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington, D.C.

Maroney, three-time Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman, four-time Olympic winner Simone Biles and 2015 World Team gold medalist Maggie Nichols testified in the first half of the session, devoted to the experience of these survivors.

The hearing followed the devastating July report of the Department of Justice’s Inspector General about the disastrous mis-handling of the Nassar investigation by the FBI in 2015 and 2016 and was designed to explore possible follow-up actions by the Congress.

In the survivor’s session, Raisman’s answer to questions from Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) highlighted their concerns:

“I think it’s really important to look at the connection between the FBI, USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, and we cannot believe there is a safer future for children unless we fully understand every single thing that happened.

“And USA Gymnastics does say that they have done investigations, but those were not completely independent, and the scope of the investigation matters. Nobody should be off-limits. Nothing should be off-limits. It should go back decades and that has not been done.

“It’s been something that we’ve been asking for for years and years and I personally would like to see all three organizations completely investigated, and the scope of it matters, because until we know all the facts, it’s just guesswork. And I hope you guys feel the same way as I do that, if we’re thinking about children going into gymnastics or sports, I don’t want to be guessing that they’re going to be OK, I want to know with 100% certainty that somebody that looked the other way for us isn’t still in a position of power.

“And so I think the investigation is crucial and until that, I don’t have any faith that things will get better in the sport.”

Grassley followed up, asking about confidence in the Congressionally-formed U.S. Center for SafeSport. Raisman was forthright:

“I personally think SafeSport is – I’m trying to be respectful here – I don’t like SafeSport, I hear from many survivors that they report their abuse and it’s like playing ‘hot potato,’ where someone else kicks it over to somebody else and don’t hear back for a really long time.

“I think a really big issue is that SafeSport is funded by USA Gymnastics or the United States Olympic Committee; I’m not sure exactly the correct terminology is. If you’re SafeSport and you were funded by the organization you’re investigating, they’re likely not going to do the right thing.

“And so I think that it needs to be completely separate, and I personally think SafeSport needs a lot of work.”

The irony of Raisman’s comments is that the Congress, in the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic and Amateur Athletes Act of 2020, punitively required the USOPC to fund SafeSport to the tune of $20 million per year!

Maroney followed up:

“Nobody really wants to be held accountable and nobody really knows who to hold accountable. So I think, in order to help, there needs to be a specific person who is in charge of protecting these athletes, and it falls on them when they’re not, instead of it being passed around and everyone just being like, ‘well, we don’t know what happened’, um, ‘who’s job was that?’ There needs to be a specific job for that.”

But in response to a question from Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) about what organization or person could be trusted, none of the four offered a reply.

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) asked “What does genuine accountability look like to you? When do you feel justice will be done for the injustices you suffered?”

Raisman spoke, doubling down on want to know more details than already available:

“A complete and full independent investigation of the FBI, USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and then from there, then we will know the answers of who should be held accountable.

“I also think that there needs to be, when we think about a new USA Gymnastics or a new United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, survivors need to be in the room … they need to feel, we need to feel like we are not adversaries to USA Gymnastics.”

Biles chimed in as well, adding:

“One more to add, we also want to see them at least be federally prosecuted to the fullest extent, because they need to be held accountable.”

During the second session, FBI Director Christopher Wray’s opening remarks included:

“I’m sorry that so many people let you [survivors] down, over and over again, and I’m especially sorry that there were people at the FBI who had their own chance to stop this monster back in 2015, and failed, and that is inexcusable, it never should have happened and we’re doing everything in our power to make sure it never happens again. …

“The action and inaction of the FBI employees detailed in this report are totally unacceptable. These individuals betrayed the core duty that they have of protecting people. They failed to protect young women and girls from abuse and the work we do certainly is often complicated and uncertain and we’re never going to be perfect, but the kinds of fundamental errors that were made in this case in 2015 and ‘16 should never have happened, period. And as long as I am FBI director, I’m committed to doing everything in my power to make sure they never happen again.

“The FBI cannot carry out its vital mission of protecting the American people without trust. And in this case, FBI agents – certain FBI agents – broke that trust repeatedly and inexcusably. And to pretend otherwise would be yet one more insult to the survivors.”

The questioning of Wray and Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz repeatedly came back to whether a referral on criminal charges had been made, particularly on two Indianapolis agents mentioned prominently in the report, former Special Agent in Charge Jay Abbott and Supervisory Special Agent Michael Langeman.

Horowitz said referrals had been made to the Justice Department, which declined to prosecute either. Abbott has retired and Langeman was fired from the FBI within the past two weeks, according to Wray. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco was requested to appear, but declined and the department’s policy is apparently not to disclose why specific prosecutions are undertaken or not. Said Leahy to Wray and Horowitz: “There’s a whole lot of people who should be in prison.”

There was also substantial discussion about former USA Gymnastics President Steve Penny and his interactions with Abbott, including the mention of a possible head-of-security job opening at the (then) USOC, which Abbott did apply for in 2017 (but was not selected).

Discussions about legislative fixes were discussed, principally about the inability to discipline or prosecute FBI personnel who are retired or otherwise have left the Bureau.

Analysis: The testimony of the four survivors was emotional, difficult and, in many moments, tense.

Lining up behind Raisman, however, they made it clear that even with many changes of personnel and procedures, they have no faith in USA Gymnastics or the USOPC as currently constituted. Raisman spoke specifically of “when we think about a new USA Gymnastics or a new United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee …” This will be especially interesting for the Congress in light of:

(1) Its forthcoming power – in October – to vaporize USA Gymnastics as the National Governing Body for the sport in the U.S. and to remove the entire Board of Directors of the USOPC (with either action opening the USOPC to possible suspension by the International Olympic Committee), and

(2) The coming-into-formation Commission on the State of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympics, also expected to begin its work of review and recommendations in October, but which thus far has no funding from the Congress.

Moreover, Raisman’s slam of the U.S. Center for Safeport, created by the Congress in 2017 raises all new questions about that body, which the Judiciary Committee will now have to follow up.

As for the survivor’s incessant demands for another investigation into what happened, moment-by-moment, that’s going to be hard to fulfill. To the extent that ex-FBI agents Abbott and Langeman, former USA Gymnastics chief Penny and a long list of others could be subject to criminal charges, they are not obligated to cooperate with any probe. In fact, Penny invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination in a June 2018 Senate Subcommittee hearing.

It is also up for question as to what another inquiry would find beyond the 233-page report by Ropes & Gray in 2018 and the Justice Department’s Inspector General’s report delivered in July.

This is not over, but it will be interesting to see what Congressional pressure – and funding – there will be for Justice Department prosecutions, for some kind of revision (replacement?) of the U.S. Center for SafeSport and some sort of additional inquiry that would satisfy the survivors.

By the way, the controversial Beijing 2022 Winter Games open in 141 days.

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HEARD AT HALFTIME: Carter named LA28 chief executive; Niyonsaba gets 2,000 m world record, Crouser 74-11 1/4 in Zagreb!

By
Rich Perelman
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Kathy Carter, chief executive of the LA28 organizing committee (Photo: LA28)

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

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● The International Testing Agency reported that it collected 6,200 samples from 4,255 athletes from 171 countries at the Tokyo Games.

The ITA noted that this meant “that more than one-third of the participating athletes were subject to at least one doping control” (actually, 36.5%). So far, just six doping violations have been identified from the Games.

The testing was carried out on a targeted basis, designed to check on the most likely medal winners. The most-tested athletes came from the U.S., China, Australia, Russia and Great Britain in that order; the most-tested sports were Athletics, Aquatics, Cycling, Rowing and Weightlifting.

The positive test for British sprinter C.J. Ujah was confirmed on Tuesday, meaning Britain’s men’s 4×100 m silver medal is almost certain to be forfeited, the only Tokyo Olympic medal to be impacted by doping so far.

● Games of the XXXIV Olympiad: Los Angeles 2028 ● The LA28 organizing committee named its Chief Revenue Officer, Kathy Carter, as Chief Executive Officer.

Carter, 52, has been responsible thus far for the sales of sponsorships for the 2028 Games, working in conjunction with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and NBC Sports. As part of her LA28 role, she has been the President of U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Properties, the entity actually doing the selling.

She will transition from being based in the New York area to Los Angeles and take control of the planning and staging of the 2028 Games, now seven years away. The existing staff of about 100 – many of which are on the marketing side – will expand exponentially; the Tokyo 2020 organizers reported a full-time staff of 7,000 and more than 70,000 volunteers for its Games.

Carter’s career has been in the sponsorship sales area in soccer, and she played a key role in the development of Major League Soccer as the head of corporate marketing from 1994-99 and as Executive Vice President (2003-10) and then head of Soccer United Marketing from 2010-18.

A star goalkeeper at William & Mary, she is the third woman to have the senior executive position in an Olympic organizing committee, after Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki (GRE) in Athens in 2004 and Japan’s Seiko Hashimoto, who is the President of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee.

LA28 has not had a CEO since Gene Sykes stepped down at the end of 2018, after a leading role in the bid effort. John Harper has been the senior executive since, serving as Chief Operating Officer, and is expected to continue.

Although not a veteran of multiple Games organizing committees, Carter has an excellent background for the LA28 position, having been deeply involved in the development and success of the landmark 1994 FIFA World Cup in the U.S. That organizing committee was also headquartered in Los Angeles and incorporated many of the management concepts of the revolutionary 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

● XXVI Olympic Winter Games: 2030 ● The newest interested site for the next open Winter Games is Ukraine.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER) was in Kiev last weekend for ceremonies to mark the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Ukrainian National Olympic Committee and was told by Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the country is determined to become a host for the Olympic Winter Games.

According to a statement, Zelensky indicated that the NOC is ready to enter into the “Dialogue Phase” with the IOC and will visit the IOC headquarters in Lausanne soon.

Said Zelensky in the statement, “The big dream is the Olympic Games in Ukraine and I really believe in it. I am sure that our great state deserves to host the Olympic Games.”

Ukraine joins Canada (Vancouver), Japan (Sapporo), Spain (Barcelona-Pyrenees) and the U.S. (Salt Lake City) in showing interest in 2030.

● Doping ● The World Anti-Doping Agency Executive Board met on Tuesday in Istanbul (TUR), and among other actions, declared eight anti-doping organizations as non-compliant, with a 21-day window to dispute the findings according to the relevant statutes. These include the national anti-doping organizations in Montenegro, Romania, Thailand, the German Community of Belgium, North Korea and Indonesia. If their issues are not resolved in a timely way, they could be suspended (as will the athletes from their countries).

Further, 10 anti-doping organizations were given four months to reconcile not-conformities with the World Anti-Doping Code: Greece, Iran, Latvia, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Uzbekistan and three Belgian organizations for the Brussels, French and Flemish communities.

In terms of testing, WADA reported that total numbers of tests have returned to the pre-Covid levels from 2019, for both in-competition and out-of-competition sampling.

● Athletics ● Ryan Crouser was at it again, dominating the shot put at the Hanzekovic Memorial meet in Zagreb (CRO), winning with his fourth-round throw of 22.84 m (74-11 1/4) on Monday evening. New Zealand’s Tokyo bronze winner Tom Walsh was second (22.39 m/73-5 1/2) and silver medalist Joe Kovacs of the U.S. was third (21.70 m/71-2 1/2).

Crouser’s career year, topped by the world record and his second Olympic title, now includes the 16 best outdoor throws in the world in 2021. Staggeringly great.

In the main portion of the meet on Tuesday, Burundi’s distance sensation Francine Niyonsaba set a world record in the rarely-run 2,000 m in 5:21.56, ahead of Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu (5:25.86). Niyonsaba crushed the 5:23.75 mark by Ginzebe Dibaba (ETH) from 2017. Also:

● The men’s 100 m looked like the U.S. Olympic Trials, with Marvin Bracy emerging as a serious threat for 2022 at 9.86 (wind: +0.8 m/s), ahead of Ronnie Baker (9.97), Trayvon Bromell (10.03) and Kyree King (10.17).

● London 2012 gold medalist Kirani James (GRN) won the men’s 400 m over Isaac Makwala (BOT), 44.46-45.15.

● After five years, American Devon Allen finally got a new lifetime best in the 110 m hurdles, winning in 12.99 (+0.7) – the 22nd man to run under 13 seconds and 13th American – and beating Olympic medalists Ronald Levy (JAM: 13.11) and Hansle Parchment (13.l2). Wow!

● K.C. Lightfoot of the U.S. scored a pole vault win over World Champion and countryman Sam Kendricks, 5.87 m (19-3) to 5.82 m (19-1). Olympic silver winner Chris Nilsen (USA) was fifth, also at 5.82 m.

● The women’s 200 m was another win for Namibian teen Christine Mboma, who won in 22.04 (+0.3), beating Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson (22.30).

● Another big series for Olympic champ Valarie Allman of the U.S., reaching 68.87 m (225-11) in round three and then 69.63 m (228-5) – the no. 5 throw in American history – to win in round six! Two-time Olympic champ Sandra Perkovic (CRO) was second at 66.48 m (218-1).

There’s one more Continental Tour Gold-level meet on the schedule, the Kip Keino Classic on Saturday (18th) in Nairobi, Kenya.

The final standings of the World Athletics Challenge for Combined Events were confirmed, with Germany’s Kai Kazmirek taking his second title in this series, with 24,500 points.

American Kendell Williams moved up from third in 2019 to the top in 2021, scoring 19,574 points to best Maria Vicente (ESP: 18,695). By winning, Williams gets a direct entry into the 2022 World Championships in Eugene.

Russia’s Olympic women’s high jump champion Mariya Lasitskene, a three-time World Champion, is already worried about being able to attend the 2022 Worlds in the U.S. She told the TASS News Agency:

“There is worry for sure. But we want to start training for this event long before and particularly address the visa issues. I intend to draw [Russian Athletics Federation] attention as well as the Sports Ministry and the Foreign Ministry to this because it is not just a commercial tournament that will be held in Eugene. I definitely don’t want to miss a world championship and we hope for real help and not just media statements.”

Lasitskene and Anzhelika Sidorova, the 2019 World women’s vault Champion, could not obtain U.S. visas to compete in the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene in August.

World Athletics announced that a “World Tour” program of gold-silver-bronze level meets would be set up for Cross Country, Combined Events and Race Walking programs beginning almost immediately:

“The development of these tours is part of a concerted effort by World Athletics to create a logical long-term global calendar of international events. It will also ensure more top-level competition opportunities and exposure for athletes in all areas of the sport.”

These Tour programs will replace the existing challenge and permit series; prize money will be available on a per-meet and series-wide basis.

Sad news from Russia that two-time Olympic hammer winner Yuriy Syedikh passed away on Tuesday after suffering a heart attack. He was 66.

Syedikh set four world marks in the hammer – from 1980, 1984 and 1986 (2) – and still owns the world record of 86.74 m (284-7) from 1986. In fact, he owns eight of the top 10 throws of all time and would have been the favorite for a third Olympic gold but for the Soviet boycott of 1984.

He also won the Olympic silver in 1988 and gold in the 1991 World Championships. He was accused of doping, but always denied it.

Devoted fans of track & field are deeply saddened by news of terminal cancer for British author, journalist and statistician Mel Watman, now in a nursing home in Ilford, England. Watman, now 83, has been one of the sport’s leading journalists for decades, writing for Britain’s Athletics Weekly from 1954-88 and co-editing the highly-respected Athletics International newsletter with Peter Matthews since 1993.

He has written numerous books, such as The Encyclopedia of Athletics (five editions), History of British Athletics, the official histories of Britain’s Amateur Athletic Association (AAA) and Women’s AAA, and My Life in Athletics, a memoir, in 2017.

Watman loved covering meets in the U.S. and true to his love of numbers, enjoyed side trips to the gaming tables of Las Vegas, where he always had fun, if not always coming out a winner. All best wishes to Mel and his family in this difficult, difficult time.

● Football ● The sites for the next set of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying matches is now fixed for the U.S. Men’s National Team: 7 October vs. Jamaica in Austin, Texas; 10 October vs. Panama in Panama City and 13 October vs. Costa Rica in Columbus, Ohio.

The U.S. went 1-0-2 in the first match set.

CONCACAF announced that it had been invited to participate in the development of the world football calendar for 2025 and beyond. Of interest was this preview of the approach:

“Our initial analysis is that we recognize the merits of creating entirely new international men’s, women’s, and youth football calendars which are underpinned by fewer international windows, reduced travel for players, friendlies being replaced by meaningful matches, and a more balanced structure for the overall benefit of football development globally.”

That’s a recipe for very substantial change.

The South American confederation – CONMEBOL – issued a statement criticizing the under-study concept of holding the FIFA World Cup every two years, including (via Google Translate):

“Although at some point CONMEBOL supported the project in question, technical analyzes showed that it is highly unviable.”

In addition: “A World Cup every two years could distort the most important football competition on the planet, lowering its quality and undermining its exclusive character and its current demanding standards. …

“A World Cup every two years would represent an overload that is practically impossible to manage in the international competition calendar.”

The Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed that Brazilian “Ricardo Terra Teixeira was found to have violated Article 27 of the FIFA Ethics Code (bribery), fined CHF 1 million, and banned for life from taking part in any football-related activity at national and international level, is confirmed.”

Teixeira was appealing FIFA’s July 2019 decision against him for bribes taken during his term as head of the Brazilian Football Confederation and as a FIFA Executive Committee member; as much as $41 million in bribes related to the sale of World Cup television rights was involved.

● Weightlifting ● The International Weightlifting Federation confirmed two important dates and places, with the naming of Tashkent (UZB) as the location for the 2021 World Championships and elections for its officers and Executive Board.

On the edge of being suspended from the Olympic program of Paris after revelations of doping cover-ups, bribery and bad governance of all kinds, the 2021 Worlds will be held from 7-17 December, followed by the Electoral Congress on 20-21 December.

The federation’s future will be in the balance.

● Wrestling ● London 2012 Olympic champ Jordan Burroughs did not make the U.S. Olympic Team for Tokyo, but he’s back on the U.S. World Championships team after a convincing win over Alex Dieringer, 10-5 and 4-3 in the finals of the USA Wrestling men’s Freestyle World Team Trials in Lincoln, Nebraska last Sunday.

Burroughs made the move up to 79 kg, as his historic 74 kg spot was already taken by Tokyo bronze winner Kyle Dake. It’s an eighth World Champs team for Burroughs, 33, to go along with Olympic berths in 2012 and 2016.

Fellow World Championships medal winners James Green (70 kg), J’den Cox (92 kg) and Nick Gwiazdowski (125 kg) also won at the Team Trials and will compete in the Worlds in Oslo (NOR) in early October.

In the women’s Freestyle finals, three Worlds veterans made the U.S. team: Jenna Burkert at 55 kg (fourth Worlds appearance), Forrest Molinari at 65 kg (third Worlds) and Tokyo Olympian Kayla Miracle (second Worlds) at 62 kg.

Olympic veterans Ben Provisor (82 kg) and G’Angelo Hancock (97 kg) won their Worlds slots in the Greco-Roman Team Trials; it will be the fourth Worlds for Hancock. Patrick Smith made his third U.S. Worlds Greco team by winning at 82 kg.

● At the BuZZer ● The irrepressible Lolo Jones was named to the U.S. women’s National Team for the fifth time in her career, following the USA Bobsled Push Championships. That puts her in the race for Beijing, where three U.S. sleds are expected to compete. She tweeted:

“My First Olympics was The Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics

“13 years later and my last Olympic push is for Beijing Winter Olympics. Here we go…”

and

“[I]t’s back [to] training. Traveling with 6 girls all fighting for the same Olympic spots… add a sprinkle of covid uncertainties and my next 5 months will be more drama than [any] reality tv show I’ve ever been on”

For Jones, now 39 (!), that’s saying something!

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For our 743-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

LANE ONE: Naomi Osaka may have lost at the U.S. Open, but everyone learned her lesson: the press still matters

By
Rich Perelman
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“Like, I didn’t know how big of a deal it would become.”

Although newspaper circulations are way down, the press – reformed for the digital age – is still a very big deal, in the U.S. and elsewhere. Japan’s tennis superstar, Naomi Osaka, found this out directly.

She made headlines in May by refusing to participate in contractually-required post-match news conferences at the French Open. Her announcement post on Twitter included (as posted):

“I’ve often felt that people have no regard for athletes mental health and this rings very true whenever I see a press conference or partake in one. We’re often sat there and asked questions that we’ve been asked multiple times before or asked questions that bring doubt into our minds and I’m not just going to subject myself to people that doubt me.”

She was fined $15,000 after skipping the appearance after her first round victory and then withdrew from the tournament, announcing on Instagram:

“Hey everyone, this isn’t a situation I ever imagined or intended. I think now the best thing for the tournament, the other players and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris.”

She skipped media appearances after her matches at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, where she lost in the third round, then briefly walked out of a post-match news conference (but returned) after a third-round loss at the Cincinnati Open.

At a pre-U.S. Open news conference on 27 August, Osaka, 23, explained:

“Honestly, I feel like there’s a lot of things that I did wrong in that moment, but I’m also the type of person that’s very in the moment. Like whatever I feel, I’ll say it or do it. I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing. I think there’s a lot of things that I learned to do better. Of course, I don’t feel the same situation will happen again.

“I would say maybe think it through a bit more in the way that, like, I didn’t know how big of a deal it would become.”

After all that, Osaka suffered an upset loss to eventual finalist Leylah Fernandez (CAN) in the third round on 3 September and used the post-match news conference to announce she was taking time off from tennis.

“I feel like for me recently, like, when I win, I don’t feel happy. I feel more like a relief. And then when I lose, I feel very sad. I don’t think that’s normal.”

She was sobbing, so the moderator was ready to end the session, but Osaka decided to continue:

“Basically I feel like I’m kind of at this point where I’m trying to figure out what I want to do, and I honestly don’t know when I’m going to play my next tennis match. I think I’m going to take a break from playing for a while.”

That was it, but now Osaka was employing the assembled press to tell her story, which was dutifully reported worldwide.

In this instance, the post-match news conference was exactly the right forum to get her message out. Because the press still matters.

It’s worth noting that news reporting by the “press” – even if tied to a television entity like ESPN – is really separate and apart from the interests of broadcasters, who are geared toward co-promoting events with their owners to drive viewership.

It’s totally true that U.S. print newspapers have fallen on hard times. Britain’s PressGazette.com reported in August that audited figures showed Monday-Friday print circulation averages for the 25 largest U.S. papers are down from a combined 4.7 million from the first quarter of 2019 to just 3.4 million – that’s almost 28% – at the end of the first quarter in 2021.

Former million-circ print dailies like the New York Times (362,763), USA Today (183,270), Washington Post (180,159) and the Los Angeles Times (164,845) are shadows of their print reach of just 10 years ago.

But where there were regional powerhouse papers all across in the U.S., new, national, digital players have taken their place. One ranking of sports-themed Web sites from March 2021 estimated the U.S. sports traffic leaders as:

● 125 million monthly unique visitors: Yahoo! Sports
● 80 million: ESPN
● 40 million: Bleacher Report
● 30 million: CBSSports
● 25 million: Sports Illustrated

This does not include the large audiences for sports for the online posts of legacy newspapers; these are reader totals which were unthinkable prior to the digital age.

Osaka’s experience with the press at the U.S. Open, with its strong media coverage, demonstrates the challenge for most of the Olympic Movement in the United States. True, hundreds of American journalists cover the Olympic Games, but then what?

There are large, dedicated media corps devoted year-round to sports that are coincidentally on the Olympic program, such as basketball, football, golf and tennis, but beyond that?

Sure, there are niche sites – like this one – but the big-traffic sites only occasionally offer direct coverage for track, swimming, gymnastics and the rest. That keeps Olympic-focused sports well down in the public consciousness; where are the dedicated U.S. beat writer(s) on Olympic sports? Are there any left?

There were more than a dozen in the 1990s at the New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and many others. Not now.

What about social media? Once identified as the cure-all, it may not be the answer. A 2021 study by the Association of National Advertisers showed that “the quality of the media exposure is more important than the quantity of the media exposure in driving results” with the no. 1 metric being “return on investment/return on advertising spend.” Familiar Web advertising and social-media indicators such as “Shares,” “Impressions” and “Likes” ranked nos. 31-34-35 in importance. Followers are nice, sales are much better.

The press matters, and the only way to get attention is to reach out and touch them, often. This process is beginning; U.S. National Governing Bodies in wrestling, weightlifting, volleyball, rugby, track and others mounted aggressive e-mail campaigns to news media during the Tokyo Games and several – especially USA Wrestling and USA Volleyball – are continuing.

With another Olympic Games coming in just three years and then Los Angeles in 2028, now is a good time to – if you will – press ahead.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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For our 743-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

INTEL REPORT: Paralympics reaches 4% of U.S. population on TV; Barcelona’s 2030 Winter Games bid plays politics; Allman explodes to 233-5 AR at ISTAF!

By
Rich Perelman
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Tokyo Olympic champion and American Record holder in the discus, Valarie Allman

Key status updates on the urgent stories in Olympic sport:

● XVI Paralympic Games: Tokyo 2020 ● NBC showed 1,200 hours of the Tokyo Paralympic Games, including 220 hours on television and set all kinds of records for Paralympic viewership in the U.S.

But that doesn’t mean that many people actually watched.

NBC’s own report stated that total viewership was about 14.1 million Americans, or 4.2% of the total U.S. population. It’s also about 9.4% of NBC’s reported audience of 150 million for the Olympic Games from Tokyo.

Still, it’s better than Rio 2016, when no primetime Paralympic programming was shown on NBC (over-the-air) at all. In 2021, it had three primetime shows:

● 29 Aug. (Sun): 2,096,000 viewers
● 04 Sept. (Sat): 883,000 viewers
● 05 Sept. (Sun): 1,473,000 viewers

These totals ran third or fourth among network shows at the same time; on 4 September, the Georgia-Clemson college football game had 8.86 million viewers and on 5 September, Notre Dame-Florida State drew 7.75 million.

The average audience for NBC’s 6.5 hours of Paralympic coverage was 1.2 million, almost double the Rio average of 640,000.

No audience over 200,000 was reported for any of its cablecasts; NBC reported “Primetime coverage on NBCSN averaged 180,000 viewers, up 27% vs. Rio 2016 Paralympics primetime coverage (143,000 viewers).”

NBC noted “Tokyo Paralympic Coverage on NBC and NBCSN Up 8% Over Rio Paralympics,” which is really not that much. The International Paralympic Committee has targeted the 2028 Los Angeles Games as a priority to increase awareness of the Paralympic Movement in the U.S. There is a long way to go.

● International Olympic Committee ● The IOC announced a long-term television rights sales agreement with the government-owned China Media Group for the Olympic Games in 2028 and 2032 and the Winter Games in 2026 and 2030.

No terms were disclosed, a considerable departure from announcements of agreements with other countries.

Kuwaiti Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah was found guilty on Friday of forgery by a Geneva court as part of a scheme to implicate rivals in an alleged coup plot in 2013.

Reuters reported “The case had revolved around videos purporting to show former prime minister Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammed and the former speaker of parliament, Jassem al-Kharafi, plotting to overthrow Kuwait’s then-emir.” Sheikh Ahmad turned the videos – which were fake – over to Kuwaiti authorities; he was one of five defendants in the case, all of whom were convicted.

Four received 29-month jail sentences, with 15 months suspended. In statement, Sheikh Ahmad, 58, confirmed he would appeal, but in the meantime, will “temporarily step aside as President as the [Olympic Council of Asia] until he has successfully appealed today’s verdict.” He suspended himself from the International Olympic Committee when the forgery charges were brought in 2018.

● XXVI Olympic Winter Games: 2030 ● A Spanish bid for the 2030 Winter Games in Barcelona and the Pyrenees has now been drawn into the long-running question of Catalonian independence.

During a television interview at the end of August, Catalonia President Pere Aragones said he believed a referendum on making Catalonia an independent nation would be held by the end of the 2020s.

“We want Catalonia to vote in a recognized way and, if it is done before 2030, it will be the first Games in which we will participate under our flag.”

In the meantime, Ada Colau, the Mayor of Barcelona, has demanded a referendum for her city on the question of participation in the bid since Aragones announced the regional bid in July.

Exactly what the International Olympic Committee’s Future Host Commission does NOT want to hear.

● Doping ● The German ARD public television channel made a major splash on 16 July with a documentary claiming to show that prohibited substances could be placed on a person through being touched by a cream.

The World Anti-Doping Agency responded at the time, noting: “[T]his possibility is well known within the anti-doping community. It is considered to be a very rare occurrence based on the small number of such cases that have arisen historically, and its potential is scientifically limited to a very small number of prohibited substances that could be absorbed through the skin into someone’s system.”

On Friday, WADA tweeted a three-part follow-up:

“Since its statement of 16 July, WADA confirms that upon its request, the team that produced a program for German broadcaster ARD has now provided limited information about the experiment it commissioned regarding prohibited substances being passed through the skin of athletes …

“This brief summary of the premise, substances and results of the project is lacking sufficient data for WADA to discern the scientific significance of the project …

“Accordingly, the Agency will await the publication of the peer-reviewed paper, as mentioned by the experiment’s authors in the documentary, to see if further follow-up is required.”

Is ARD being as transparent as it wants its subjects to be?

● Athletics ● The 80th edition of the famed Internationales Stadionfest – ISTAF – in Berlin came Sunday, marking 100 years since its debut in 1921. About 20,000 showed up under overcast skies for Sunday’s event and they got a great performance right at the start.

Tokyo Olympic women’s discus winner Valarie Allman of the U.S. spun the platter to an American Record 71.16 m (233-5) in the first round, improving on her 2020 record of 70.15 m (230-2) and moving her to no. 19 all-time!

How great is that? It’s the third-longest throw of the 21st Century behind two performances by double Olympic champion Sandra Perkovic (CRO). Moreover, everyone ahead of Allman on the all-time list – except for Perkovic – achieved their bests from 1980-92, a period of nearly unrestricted “chemical enhancements” in the Eastern Bloc (and others who have admitted they were doping).

As if to show the record toss was no fluke, her last was 68.80 m (225-9), the no. 8 throw in U.S. history!

Said Allman: “This stadium, the crowd, the competition was so incredible. This season had so many magic moments. One thing I wanted this season is to improve my best. 2021 is coming to an end and I have a PR; that is so good!” More highlights:

● Men/100 m (wind: 0.0 m/s): Marvin Bracy of the U.S. got his third European win in less than a month at 9.95, ahead of Jeremiah Azu (GBR: 10.16).

● Men/110 m hurdles (-0.1): American Devon Allen beat Jamaica’s Tokyo bronze winner Ronald Levy again – but close – by 13.10 to 13.11.

● Men/400 m hurdles: Norway’s Karsten Warholm won easily in 48.08, a slow time for him – at the end of a long season – but well ahead of Rasmus Magi (EST: 48.73).

● Men/Pole Vault: A U.S. sweep with Sam Kendricks beating Chris Nilsen on misses at 5,91 m (19-4 3/4) and K.C. Lightfoot third at 5.81 m (19-0 3/4).

● Men/Javelin: Home favorite Johannes Vetter thrilled the crowd with an impressive 88.76 m (291-2) to win.

● Women/1,500 m: Another European win for American Kate Grace in a lifetime best of 4:01.33, running away from Esther Guerrero (ESP: 4:04.45)

● Women/100 m hurdles (-0.2): Dutch star Nadine Visser ran 12.73 to out-last Americans Payton Chadwick and Christina Clemons, 12.73-12.75-12.86.

● Women/ High Jump: Olympic champ Mariya Lasitskene (RUS) won over Olympic silver winner Nicola McDermott (AUS): 1.98 m-1.95 m (6-6 to 6-4 3/4).

There’s one more major Continental Tour meet coming, in Zagreb (CRO) on Monday and Tuesday.

World road-race records fell in Herzogenaurach (GER) on Sunday, as Ethiopia’s Senbere Teferi ran 14:29 for 5 km and Kenya’s Agnes Tirop won the women’s 10 km race in 30:01.

Teferi, sixth in the Olympic 5,000 m in Tokyo, crushed the women-only mark of 14:44 by Sifan Hassan (NED) in 2019 and the 14:43 mixed-race record by Beatrice Chepkoech (KEN) last February, but also the 14:32 all-time best by Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN) before the distance became an official world record event.

Tirop’s 30:01 destroyed the women-only record of 30:29 by Asmae Leghzaoui (MAR) from 2002. The time moved Tirop – fourth in the Tokyo 5,000 m – to no. 7 on the all-time list. Runner-up Sheila Chepkirui (KEN) was second in 30:17, also faster than the old record.

Kenyans Jacob Krop, Rhonex Kipruto and Abel Kipchumba won in world-leading times in the 5 km, 10 km and Half Marathon races in 13:06, 26:43 and 58:48, respectively. That moves Krop to no. 3 all-time and Kipchumba to equal-20th all-time. Kipruto, already the world-record holder, ran the no. 3 time ever.

In another sign of a return to normalcy, the 5th Avenue Mile was held once again in New York. British stars Jake Wightman and Jemma Reekie won the men’s and women’s elite races in 3:49.5 and 4:21.6.

Ethiopia’s Derara Hurisa won the Vienna City Marathon on Sunday in 2:09:22, but was disqualified shortly thereafter for wearing shoes with 5 cm of thickness in the soles vs. the limit of 4 cm.

Hurisa confirmed his shoe choice – which met the rules – prior to the race, but decided to run in his training shoes instead; Kenya’s Leonard Langat finished in 2:09:25 and was declared the winner.

The race was run in high heat and one death – of an Austrian entrant – took place in the accompanying half marathon.

Comment: Now that this has happened once, look for much more rigorous shoe check programs coming in the future!

● Football ● The U.S. Women’s National Team has complained vociferously to the U.S. Soccer Federation that it should be paid the same as the Men’s National Team if the latter had won the FIFA World Cup, even though the amounts are controlled by FIFA, not the USSF.

The Men’s National Team’s Players Association has made many supportive comments about the women’s demands for “equal pay.” On Friday, U.S. Soccer Federation president Cindy Parlow Cone called them on it.

In an open letter to both the men’s and women’s player associations, she wrote “we have invited the players and both Players Associations to join U.S. Soccer in negotiating a solution together that equalizes World Cup prize money between the USMNT and USWNT.”

Moreover, the letter explained:

“As a federation, we would much rather negotiate a single collective bargaining agreement with both the men’s and women’s teams, but since neither team has agreed to take that approach, we are moving forward separately with each Players Association.”

The men’s team has been continuing to play under a long-expired bargaining agreement and the women’s team agreement ends on 31 December 2021. The appeal of the summary judgement against the women’s class-action suit against the federation is not expected to be heard the end of the year or early 2022.

Comment: This is a brilliant move by Parlow Cone and USSF, demonstrating once again that “equal pay” apparently does not mean the same thing to the men’s and women’s teams, further undermining the position of the women’s team. And the U.S. men’s team does not seem – at least right now – interested in giving away any of its money to the women, despite its claims to be in support of their interests. Stay tuned on this one.

A generational transition at the U.S. Women’s National Team may be accelerated with the announcement by striker Christen Press last Thursday that she is taking some time off:

“I’m very proud of the fact that I’ve been available for nearly every professional match for both club and country. And yet, that has come with a focus, intensity, and prioritization that has left little room for much else. I’ve made the difficult decision to take a couple of months away from the game to focus on my mental health, spiritual growth, and processing grief.”

Press, 32, was the first signee of the NWSL’s new Angel City F.C. team in Los Angeles, which will not begin play until the spring of 2022. So she should be back by then.

CBS Sports has the U.S. television rights to the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying games of all countries except the U.S. and Mexico. That includes rights to most of the U.S. away games, including the first-window matches at El Salvador and at Honduras.

But the Honduras game last Wednesday (8th) was not available on over-the-air or cable television; the English-language telecast was only available on the Paramount+ subscription-based streaming service.

Look for more of this in the future as each network works feverishly to build its subscriber base at the expense of non-subscribers. This is not confirmed to soccer; Saturday’s Toledo at Notre Dame college football game was not on NBC or NBCSN, but only on its Peacock subscription service.

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin (SLO) warned last week that the European and South American federations could boycott the FIFA World Cup if it is played every two years instead of every four.

In an interview, Ceferin said “To play every summer a one-month tournament, for the players it’s a killer. If it’s every two years it clashes with the women’s World Cup, with the Olympic football tournament.”

FIFA is currently studying the proposal made at the last Congress for a two-year World Cup cycle, but has announced no timetable for resolution.

Ceferin said he felt the same way about the European Championship also going to a two-year cycle: “It might be good for UEFA financially but the problem is we would be killing football like that. We are killing the players. I don’t see the clubs allowing the players to go and that would divide us completely.”

● Ice Hockey ● The issue of political interference in sport in Belarus heated up last week with an International Ice Hockey Federation announcement:

“The IIHF Independent Disciplinary Board has issued a five-year suspension to Belarusian Ice Hockey Association (BIHA) President Dmitri Baskov. …

“The Board cited sufficient evidence that Baskov has tried to directly influence others to support the Belarus government and has threatened and discriminated Belarusian athletes because of their political opinion … The Board also determined that Baskov abused his position as a representative of ice hockey in order to support the current President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko …”

Last Friday, Baskov said in a television interview that he would resign in order to keep his federation for being further penalized if he stayed on. Belarus’s National Olympic Committee is under investigation by the International Olympic Committee over such abuses; this will not help.

● Judo ● “For the IJF Disciplinary Commission, it is evident that the two Algerian judoka, with malicious intent, have used the Olympic Games as a platform for protest and promotion of political and religious propaganda, which is a clear and serious breach of the IJF Statutes, the IJF Code of Ethics and the Olympic Charter. Therefore, no other penalty than a severe suspension can be imposed in this case.”

That’s from the International Judo Federation’s Disciplinary Commission finding, imposing a 10-year ban, through 23 July 2031, for their actions at the Tokyo Games, specifically:

“On 23rd July 2021, during the Olympic Games in Tokyo, the Algerian -73kg athlete Mr Fethi NOURINE and his coach Mr Amar BENIKHLEF made public statements in the media that the draw shows they would face Israel in the competition and they are pulling out of the Olympics. They were unwilling to face Israel on the day of the competition, 26th July 2021.”

The decision is appealable to the Court of Arbitration for Sport; to its credit, the IJF has been one of the most rigorous in its oversight of anti-Semitic and other discrimination cases and followed up quickly after the Tokyo Games on this obvious infringement of the IJF Code of Ethics and the Olympic Charter.

● Swimming ● The FINA World 25 m (Short Course) Championships have sometimes gotten lost among other events as it is not seen in the same light as its massive World Aquatics Championships, which will next be held in the spring of 2022 in Japan.

So, in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi (UAE) organizers of mid-December’s 2021 Short-Course Worlds, the event is being significantly expanded with a new “Aquatics Festival” that will include diving, high diving and open-water swimming.

It’s an interesting idea and offers FINA some of the same bandwidth as the IOC uses for its Youth Olympic Games, to showcase new event and test-drive new concepts. For 2021, the program will include (1) the final High Diving qualifier for the 2022 Worlds, (2) a demonstration of a new Diving Mixed Team event, alternating between 3 m and 10 m dives and (3) the final leg of the FINA Marathon Swim World Series with a 10 km open-water race and a new event, a 4 x 1,500 m Mixed Relay. All of these events will have prize money purses for at least the top eight finishers.

FINA also announced that it will expand its individual scholarships program in swimming, open-water and diving to 140 for the 2021-22 time period. This is the highest number of scholarships available to date; the program saw great results in Tokyo where 57 swimmers and five divers qualified for and participated in the Olympic Games.

The fifth and sixth (of 11) regular-season matches of the International Swimming League season were held in Naples (ITA) over the weekend, with Toronto defeating the L.A. Current in the team battle, 536.0-452.5, with the D.C. Trident third (416.5) in the first meet.

American Tom Shields was the only multiple individual winner on the men’s side, taking the 100 and 200 m Butterfly event. Three women won two individual events: Madison Wilson (AUS) won the 100-200 m Frees; Louise Hansson (SWE) took the 100 m Fly and the 50 Fly Skins race, and Bailey Andison (CAN) won the 200-400 m Medleys.

On Saturday and Sunday, the London Roar won the team race with 529.5 points to 478.5 for the Cali Condors and 379.5 for the Aqua Centurions.

The Condors were hurt by losing superstar Caeleb Dressel (USA) to illness on the second day; Dressel won the men’s 100 m Fly on Saturday and was second in his first-ever short-course 200 m Medley in the no. 2 time in U.S. history (1:51.12).

Japanese star Daiya Seto took four individual events, the men’s 200 m Breast, 200 m Fly and the 200-400 m Medleys; Four-time Tokyo Olympic medalist Duncan Scott (GBR) won the 100-200-400 m Freestyles. American Kelsi Dahlia was a three-event winner in the women’s 100-200 m Flys and the 50 m Fly Skins race.

● Tennis ● Lots and lots of history was made at the 141st U.S. Open in New York, mostly on Saturday, with qualifier Emma Raducanu (GBR) defeating unseeded Leylah Fernandez (CAN), 6-4, 6-3.

Both are teenagers – Raducanu is 18 and Fernandez is 19 – and this was the first final in a major tournament between teens since 1999 and the first-ever final between unseeded women’s players in the Open Era (beginning 1968). Raducanu is the first British women’s Grand Slam Singles winner since Virginia Wade in 1977.

Raducanu entered with a ranking of 150, and not only won three qualifying matches and seven Open matches, but never lost a set! She is the 10th to achieve this and the first since Serena Williams in 2014. She’s the lowest-ranked player to win the Open since Kim Clijsters (BEL) in 2009.

Ranked 73rd coming in, Fernandez reached the final by defeating a startling array of talent: defending champion and no. 3 seed Naomi Osaka (JPN) in the third round, 2016 champ and 16th seed Angelique Kerber (GER) in the fourth round, no. 5 Elina Svitolina (UKR) in the quarters and no. 2 Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) in the semis.

On Sunday, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic was trying for a sweep of the 2021 Grand Slams, but was swept by Russian Daniil Medvedev, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Medvedev was seeded second and won his first Grand Slam title; it was the first such win by a Russian since 2005 and first at the U.S. Open since Marat Safin in 2000.

Australian Rod Laver remains the only man in the Open Era to win the tennis Grand Slam, in 1969.

In Men’s Doubles, Rajeev Ram (USA) and Joe Salisbury (GBR) defeated Jamie Murray (GBR) and Bruno Soares (BRA), 3–6, 6–2, 6–2. In Women’s Doubles, Samantha Stosur (AUS) and Zhang Shuai (CHN) won over Americans Coco Gauff and Caty McNally, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3. In the Mixed Doubles, Desirae Krawczyk (USA) and Salisbury swept Giuliana Olmos (MEX) and Marcelo Arevalo (SLV), 7–5, 6–2.

● Wrestling ● More details have surfaced about Olympic Freestyle 125 kg gold medalist Gable Steveson’s deal with the WWE, including a unique structure which will allow him to compete for the University of Minnesota this coming season.

The WWE agreement has been structured as a Name-Image-Likeness deal, allowing Steveson to compete in his senior season for the Gophers. After compiling a 15-0 record as a soph, the NCAA Championships were cancelled in 2020, but he won the nationals in 2021, compiling a 17-0 record; he’s 67-2 all-time at Minnesota.

It’s an outcome that makes all sides happy.

● Worth Noting ● Facebook signed on as “Official Supplier of Social Networks” to the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and while the activation will take multiple forms, France 2023 Managing Director Claude Atcher (FRA) explained the primary goal:

“We sold a lot of tickets but not all tickets. If we count the tickets sold to the general public and those to privileged partners of the competition, we have sold around 1.5 million tickets, so there is still a million left to sell.

“We will have to look city by city for ticket buyers for the less attractive matches. The stake is not France – New Zealand of the opening but America 1-Africa 1 on a Wednesday afternoon in Lyon. We have 60,000 tickets to sell for this match and Facebook will help us, because the network is able to identify all the rugby accounts in France, nearly 14,000 to our knowledge.”

It’s an unusual deal for Facebook, which usually has programs paying them, but news.in-24.com noted “During Euro 2020 football, TikTok signed a partnership contract with UEFA.”

Perhaps just as important is a joint initiative:

“Facebook will train the 3,000 apprentices of the Campus 2023 program in the professional use of social networks. ‘This learning program, designed by France 2023, aims to train the new generation of French sports professionals, with the ambition to leave a legacy to sports clubs and regional leagues new resources to further professionalize them. Digital community communication is now essential for the organization of sporting events, and the development of sports structures, it is therefore essential to train the users of tomorrow.’”

This is an important program worth watching and could be a major legacy program to be adopted by the organizers of almost every mega-event in the Olympic Movement.

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For our 743-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

ATHLETICS: Americans Kerley, Bednarek, Cherry, Allen, Hayes and Allman take Diamond League titles in Zurich; Sidorova vaults 16-5 1/4!

By
Rich Perelman
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Diamond League 200 m champion Kenny Bednarek of the U.S. (Photo: Adam Eberhardt for TrackTown USA)

(For our updated – as of 1 September – 743-event
International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, click here!)

Six American victories highlighted the final day of the 2021 Wanda Diamond League at the Weltklasse Zurich, with many of the winners getting a direct entry into the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

It was a busy day with plenty of drama and money, with the top eight receiving $30,000-12,000-7,000-4,000-2,500-2,000-1,500-1,000, and a 2021 world-leader in the women’s vault:

● Men/100 m: Half of the Olympic final was on the line, including Tokyo silver winner Fred Kerley of the U.S. and bronze medalist Andre De Grasse (CAN). American Ronnie Baker – always a strong starter – had the lead early, but Kerley and De Grasse came alongside at halfway. All three were close at 90 m, but then Kerley had a late surge that carried him across first in 9.87 (wind: -0.4 m/s). De Grasse equaled his lifetime best in second (9.89), with Baker at 9.91 and American Trayvon Bromell fourth in 9.96. American Michael Rodgers was seventh in 10.23.

An amazing year for Kerley, a 400 m star coming into 2021 and one of the world’s top sprinters at the end of it.

● Men/200 m: Tokyo gold and silver winners De Grasse and Kenny Bednarek (USA) were on the line, as was 100 m winner Kerley. But off the start, “Kung Fu Kenny” was strong, taking the lead from lane seven and never looking back. He maintained a clear lead over De Grasse all the way to the finish, only making it close as he slowed across the line, 19.70-19.72 (+0.5), with Kerley third in 19.83. American Vernon Norwood got seventh in 20.46.

For Bednarek, he extended his record of sub-20 performances in the season to 13.

● Men/400 m: London Olympic champ Kirani James (GRN) took the early lead, ahead of American Michael Cherry, but James, Deon Lendore (TTO) and Norwood came off the turn all close. But Cherry rocketed into the lead on the final straight and he and James separated from the field, with Cherry diving at the line for a 44.41-44.22 win. Lendore was third (44.81) and Norwood fourth (44.84).

That’s 14 straight sub-45 second 400s for Cherry this season. Wow.

● Men/800 m: Kenyans Emmanuel Korir and Ferguson Rotich ran 1-2 in Tokyo and when the hard running started with 300 m to go, Korir was leading Canada’s Marco Arop, but both were passed by a sprinting Rotich. He had the lead coming off the turn, but then Korir put on the jets and separated from the field to win 1:44.56 to 1:44.96 for Rotich.

Arop looked to be third, but Clayton Murphy of the U.S. made a major charge in the final 60 m to get third on the lean, 1:45.21-1:45.23 over Arop. Isaiah Harris of the U.S. was sixth in 1:45.70.

● Men/1,500 m: Australia’s Stewart McSweyn gave up the lead at the bell to Kenya’s Tim Cheruiyot, with Olympic champ Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) right behind. Tokyo silver winner Cheruiyot and Ingebrigtsen were set up at the front with 120 m to go and in the straight, Cheruiyot had the best finish and won in 3:31.37-3:31.45. McSweyn got third with a finishing sprint of his own over countryman Ollie Hoare, 3:32.14-3:32.66.

● Men/Steeple: Everyone was in contention with two laps to go, but Kenya’s Olympic bronze winner Benjamin Kigen controlled the race from the front with a lap to go and then tried to run away on the final backstraight.

He opened up a lead, but was still being pressed by teammate Leonard Bett with Tokyo winner Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR) moving up smartly with a half-lap to go. But Kigen had a good final water jump and looked to be running away with the win until he had some trouble with the final barrier and El Bakkali sprinted up to challenge, but fell short, 8:17.45-8:17.70. Kenyans Abraham Kibiwot and Bett were 3-4 in 8:18.16-8:20.20. Hillary Bor of the U.S. was seventh in 8:24.81.

● Men/110 m hurdles: Jamaica’s Olympic gold and bronze winners Hansle Parchment and Ronald Levy were in lanes 5 and 7. Parchment was off well, but American Devon Allen got in front by mid-race and while he and Parchment were dueling in the middle of the track, Levy was coming on strong on the outside. At the lean, Allen and Levy were 1-2, both in 13.06 (+0.6), with Parchment third (13.17) and American Daniel Roberts fourth (13.31).

Despite winning, Allen – who was fourth in Tokyo – won’t get an auto entry into the 2022 Worlds since fellow American Grant Holloway already has it for the U.S. in this event as 2019 World Champion. But it’s a big win for Allen and his no. 2 time ever.

● Men/400 m hurdles: Norway’s Karsten Warholm was in his first post-Tokyo race in this event, but Turkey’s 2017 Worlds silver winner Yasmani Copello was disqualified for a false start. On the re-start, Warholm got his usual rocket start from lane seven and won decisively in 47.35. He was pressed on the home straight by Brazil’s Tokyo bronze winner Alison dos Santos (47.81), with Kyron McMaster (IVB: 48.24) in third.

For Warholm, the time seems ordinary, but by someone else, it would rank 15th on the all-time list. Wow.

● Men/High Jump: Olympic co-champ Gianmarco Tamberi (ITA) cleared five heights in a row to lead at 2.30 m (7-6 1/2), then took two tries to get over 2.32 m (7-7 1/4). Andriy Protsenko (UKR) and Ilya Ivanyuk (RUS) also cleared 2.30 m, but could not go higher.

Tamberi tried 2.34 m (7-8) and with the crowd in a frenzy, made it on his second try to secure the win.

● Men/Pole Vault: The real jumping started at 5.93 m (19-5 1/2), with Olympic champ Mondo Duplantis (SWE) over on his first try, with American Sam Kendricks and Timur Morgunov (RUS) clearing on their second. At 5.98 m (19-7 1/2), Duplantis cleared on his second try, but no one else could. Duplantis then sailed over 6.06 m (19-10 1/2) and raised the bar to a world-record height of 6.19 m (20-3 3/4) once again, but missed three times.

Americans Chris Nilsen and K.C. Lightfoot cleared 5.83 m (19-1 1/2) to place 5-6.

● Men/Triple Jump: Portugal’s Olympic champ Pedro Pablo Pichardo went to the lead at 17.26 m (56-7 1/2) in the first round and no one could match him. Hugues Fabrice Zango, third in Tokyo, finished second at 17.20 m (56-5 1/4). But Pichardo extended his lead to 17.27 m (56-8) in round five and then a terrific 17.70 m (58-1) in the final round. American Donald Scott was sixth at 16.22 m (53-2 3/4).

● Men/Discus: Sweden’s Olympic champ Daniel Stahl got out to 66.49 m (218-1) to take the lead and no one could catch him! Slovenia’s emerging star Kristjian Ceh managed 65.49 m (214-6) for second. It’s Stahl’s 14th straight win on the season and 15 of 17 overall.

● Men/Javelin: Germany’s Johannes Vetter has been the dominant thrower of the season, even with a ninth-place finish in Tokyo. And he got out to 89.11 m (292-4) in the second round to settle the question of the Diamond League winner for 2021. Olympic silver winner Jakub Vadlejch (CZE) reached 85.22 m (279-7) in the first round, but was passed by German Julian Weber (87.03 m/285-6) in round four for second.

● Women/100 m: Jamaica’s double Olympic champ Elaine Thompson-Herah was the focus, and she took control of the race by 35 m and ran away from Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, 10.65 to 10.87 (+0.6). It’s Thompson’s fourth-fastest time ever and her no. 4 time of 2021; that’s how great she has been this season. Asher-Smith was brilliant, only 0.04 from her lifetime best, but not in the same class. American Javianne Oliver was sixth in 11.02.

● Women/200 m: The question is what would Namibian teen sensation Christine Mboma do? The silver winner in Tokyo with her roaring finish was in lane four, but it was 2019 World Champion Asher-Smith running best on the turn and into the straight. But then Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson – 100 m bronze winner in Tokyo – took over, with Mboma charging. Jackson had the lead until the final 15 m, when Mboma got past to win in 21.78 (+0.6), a world U-20 record and an African Record. She’s now no. 19 all-time.

Jackson got a lifetime best of 21.81, now equal-21st all-time, in second with Asher-Smith third in 22.19. American Dezerea Bryant was seventh in 22.99.

● Women/400 m: Olympic fourth-placer Stephenie-Ann McPherson (JAM) had the lead at halfway, but was caught on the far turn by U.S. Olympic Trials winner Quanera Hayes. Dominican Olympic silver winner Marileidy Paulino made her usual late rush on the home straight, but Hayes was equal to the challenge and won in 49.88, just 0.01 behind her winning time in Eugene. Paulino finished in 49.96 and Sada Williams (BAH) nipped McPherson for third, 50.24-50.25.

A sweet end to the season for Hayes, only seventh in the Tokyo final and who did not run on the Olympic 4×400 m team.

● Women/800 m: Jamaica’s notorious front-runner, Natoya Goule, took the lead with 300 to go, but Olympic silver medalist Keely Hodgkinson came up to challenge on the turn. Into the straight, Hodgkinson found the best finishing gear in the final 50 m to win in 1:57.98. Goule looked to be second, but American Kate Grace stormed after her and got second on the lean, in 1:58.34 for both.

● Women/1,500 m: Another match-up of Olympic gold and bronze medalists Faith Kipyegon (KEN) and bronze winner Sifan Hassan (NED). Australian star Linden Hall had lead at the bell, but Kipyegon, Hassan and American Josette Norris blew by on the turn and were headed for the top three places. Kipyegon had a small lead with 200 m and then it was an all-out sprint with Hassan over the last 120 m, with the Kenyan holding her off, 3:58.33-3:58.55. Norris was a quality third in 4:00.41; American Helen Schlachtenhaufen was fifth in 4:02.30.

● Women/Steeple: The fast early pace saw world leader Norah Jeruto (KEN, soon to be KAZ) leading Olympic bronze winner Hyvin Kiyeng, Ethiopia’s Mekides Abebe (ETH) and American Courney Frerichs for much of the race. Abebe took the lead with a lap to go and tried to run away, but Jeruto and Kiyeng passed her on the backstraight. Jeruto had a fabulous final water jump and steamed away alone to the win in 9:07.33.

Frerichs roared off the water jump and edged into second past Kiyeng for a moment before the Kenyan sprinted to get second (9:08.55) with Frerichs third (9:08.74) and Abebe fourth (9:09.59). Olympic champ Peruth Chemutai (UGA) was seventh in 9:20.16.

● Women/100 m hurdles: Clapping for the field events interrupted the first attempt at a start. Once it got quiet, Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan – fourth in Tokyo – was even with Dutch star Nadine Visser and Tokyo bronze winner Megan Tapper (JAM) after four hurdles, but Amusan was the strongest in the final third, winning in 12.42 (+0.4 m/s), no. 3 on the world list for 2021. Visser (12.51: national record) and Tapper (12.55) went 2-3, with Americans Payton Chadwick (12.62) and Gabbi Cunningham (12.79) finishing 4-6.

● Women/400 m hurdles: American Sydney McLaughlin and Dalilah Muhammad were not in, so Dutch bronze winner Femke Bol was the big favorite. She did not disappoint, but was chased by American star Shamier Little over the seventh and eighth hurdles; Bol pulled away on the run-in to win in 52.80 to 53.35 for Little and 53.70 for Ukraine’s Anna Ryzhykova. American Cara Hailey was sixth in 55.06.

● Women/Pole Vault: Olympic champ Katie Nageotte of the U.S. no-heighted. Only 2019 World Champion Anzhelika Sidorova (RUS) and 2016 Olympic champ Katerina Stefanidi (GRE) cleared 4.77 m (15-7 3/4) and while Stefanidi missed once at 4.84 m (15-10 1/2) and twice at 4.91 m (16-1 1/4), Sidorova cleared both for the win. The Russian then took the world lead for 2021, clearing 4.96 m (16-3 1/4) for a lifetime best and then made a sensational 5.01 m (16-5 1/4) on her third try to move to no. 2 in history!

● Women/Triple Jump: Olympic champ Yulimar Rojas (VEN) ended the suspense early, powering out to 15.27 m (50-1 1/4) in the first round, equaling the no. 18 jump in history. No one was close, but Rojas extended on her final jump to 15.48 m (50-9 1/2), the no. 4 jump ever!

● Women/Discus: Olympic champ Valarie Allman of the U.S. took control of the event with a superb fifth throw of 69.20 m (227-0) to win easily; it’s her fourth-best throw ever. Two-time Olympic winner Sandra Perkovic (CRO) was a clear second at 67.22 m (220-6).

● Women/Javelin: Germany’s Christin Hussong, ninth in Tokyo, got out to 64.20 m (210-7) in round three and no one could catch her, improving to 65.26 m (214-1) on her final try. Australia’s Tokyo bronze winner Kelsey-Lee Barber managed to finish second at a very modest 62.68 m (205-8).

The Diamond League is over, but what could be one of the best meets of the year is coming Sunday: the ISTAF meet in Berlin in the renovated Olympiastadion.

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For our 743-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

PANORAMA: IOC helps save Afghans, suspends North Korea; Crouser and Ewen sweep Zurich shot titles; U.S. men crush Honduras, 4-1

By
Rich Perelman
-

(For our updated – as of 1 September – 743-event
International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, click here!)

Key status updates on the urgent stories in Olympic sport:

● International Olympic Committee ● The first post-Tokyo 2020 meeting of the IOC Executive Board was headlined by the IOC’s activities in Central Asia:

“[A] significant number of members of the Olympic community in Afghanistan – around 100 – received humanitarian visas and could leave the country with the help of the IOC and other partners from the Olympic Movement.”

IOC chief Thomas Bach (GER) explained that it was contacted on 8 August – the final day of the Tokyo Games and a week before the Taliban took control of the capital, Kabul – by the National Olympic Committee of Afghanistan for help. He noted:

“As a result of all our efforts, all athletes who participated at the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 are outside the country. Two winter sports athletes are also outside the country and continue training, hoping to qualify for Beijing.”

Bach confirmed that Afghani Samira Asghari, the youngest member of the IOC at 27, is safe, but gave no details of her whereabouts. He also praised the efforts of many individuals within the Olympic Movement who worked to help, including asking governments for humanitarian visas. And this work will continue. As to the five Afghan athletes who competed in Tokyo, the IOC announced:

“[T]he IOC will extend scholarships to all of the Afghan participants of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 so they can continue training, the IOC President announced. The IOC will also continue to support the two winter athletes who are currently receiving Olympic Solidarity scholarships already.”

There will be further developments on this. There were no reports on the continuing inquiry into governmental abuse of athletes in Belarus, on the status of weightlifting for the Paris 2024 Games, or on any disciplinary action to be taken on American Raven Saunders’ post-awards ceremony protest in Tokyo. Maybe in October.

The IOC did slap back at North Korea – formally known as the “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea” – which violated the Olympic Charter by being the only National Olympic Committee not to attend the Tokyo Games, citing Covid-19 concerns.

The North Korean NOC has been suspended through 2022, any IOC funds allocated to it have been forfeited and no support will be forthcoming during the suspension. If any North Korean athletes qualify for the Beijing 2022 Winter Games, the IOC will consider whether and how they might compete.

As regards Beijing 2022, expect new versions of the “playbooks” to be issued in October.

Several reporters questioned on Bach on the IOC’s position on a possible switch in FIFA’s World Cup schedule to every two years, possibly conflicting with the summer Games. Bach noted that the decision is still in discussion within FIFA and that’s who should be consulted.

● Athletics ● The first of two days of the Wanda Diamond League final in Zurich (SUI) took place on Wednesday in the Sechselaeutenplatz in front of the Zurich Opera House in the city center. Facilities for the long jump, high jump and shot put and a three-lane, tri-cornered, partially banked 560 m track were installed along with some home-straight bleachers, supposedly “bringing the sport to the people.”

Inside the oval, Americans Ryan Crouser and Maggie Ewen won the shot competitions, giving them the seasonal Diamond League crowns and a direct entry into the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Tokyo silver medalist Joe Kovacs of the U.S. took the lead at 22.29 m (73-1 3/4) in the second round, but Crouser boomed his third-round try out to 22.67 m (74-4 1/2) in the third round, which proved to be the winner (no sixth-round-takes-all in the Diamond League final).

Ewen, who failed to make the U.S. Olympic Team, got off a big throw to close the first round at 19.41 m (63-8 1/4) and no one could match it! Portugal Auriol Dongmo was second (18.86 m/61-10 1/2) and American Chase Ealey was fourth (18.49 m/60-8).

Olympic champion Mariya Lasitskene (RUS) was yet again in a struggle with silver medalist Nicola McDermott (AUS) and bronze winner Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR), and emerged with a world-outdoor-leading clearance of 2.05 m (6-8 3/4). Mahuchikh finished second at 2.03 m (6-8) and McDermott was third at 2.01 m (6-7).

In the long jumps, Swede Thobias Montler had the lead over American Steffin McCarter going into the final round and got his best mark on his sixth jump at 8.17 m (26-9 3/4). McCarter was second at 8.14 m (26-8 1/2). Rio Olympic bronze medalist Ivana Spanovic (SRB) came from behind in the fifth round over Khaddi Sagnia and then improved in the sixth round to win at 6.96 m (22-10) to Sagnia’s 6.83 m (22-5).

The strange 5,000 m races, run over just short of nine laps on the temporary track, were showcases for Burundi star Francine Niyonsaba and Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi. Niyonsaba outfought two-time World Champion Hellen Obiri (KEN) in the final 300 m, winning by 14:28.98 to 14:29.68. Aregawi was in a five-men fight on the final lap, but finally ran away from Birhanu Balew (BRN) and Jacob Krop (KEN), 12:58.65-13:01.27-13:01.81.

The main part of the program comes Thursday at the famed Letzigrund Stadium, with NBCSN televising the meet in the U.S. beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern time.

● Football ● The U.S. men’s National Team’s struggles on offense continued at the start of its third World Cup qualifying match, Wednesday night in San Pedro Sula against Honduras. Both teams had tied their first two matches and while the possession was roughly equal during the first 25 minutes, Honduras had many more chances and was better organized in the offensive end.

On an innocent-looking ball into the U.S. end in the 27th minute, Honduran defender Edwin Rodriguez sent a hard cross toward the middle of the field and Brayan Moya’s diving header got the ball past U.S. keeper Matt Turner for a 1-0 lead.

The remainder of the half was more of the same: Honduran attacks and an occasional U.S. foray that rarely resulted in a shot. Honduras ended the half with 55% possession and an 11-3 edge on shots.

U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter brought in Antontee Robinson, Brenden Aaronson and Sebastian Lleget for more offense in the second half, and it paid immediate dividends as Robinson found the back of the net off a rebound from a Christian Pulisic pass to the front of the Honduras goal, intended for striker Ricardo Pepi, in the 48th minute for a 1-1 tie.

Pulisic was lost to an injury in the 62nd minute, with Cristian Roldan coming on. But the game had opened up by then and both sides got more frequent chances. Shortly after DeAndre Yedlin replaced James Sands in the midfield, the U.S. was on the attack and Yedlin sent a cross from the far edge of the box to the front of goal and Pepi – in his first USMNT appearance – headed it in for a 2-1 lead in the 75th minute.

Then the roof fell in for the home team. After a loss of possession by Honduras at midfield, Pepi broke loose down the right side and sent a perfect cross to Aaronson in front of the Honduran goal and he finished for a 3-1 lead in the 86th minute to take the air out of the game. In stoppage time, Pepi was open on the left side of goal, and while his shot was saved by keeper Luis Lopez, Lleget was there to knock in the rebound at 90+3 for the 4-1 final. All this despite 47% possession and 12-18 deficit in shots.

The win gave the U.S. a 12-match unbeaten streak (10-0-2) against Honduras and a 18-4-5 all-time match record. It was the fourth World Cup qualifying win at Honduras for the U.S.

The draw-draw-win results of the first group of World Cup qualifiers was less than hoped for, but four goals on the road Wednesday after scoring one in the first two games is a hopeful sign for the future.

Also on Wednesday in European qualifying, Italy stomped Lithuania, 5-0, in Reggio Emilia, to extend its record unbeaten streak to 37 consecutive games (28-0-9).

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For our 743-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

HEARD AT HALFTIME: Putin says Vladivostok for 2036? Diamond League final starts Wednesday in Zurich; wrestling’s Steveson heads to WWE!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Olympic 125 kg Freestyle Champion Gable Steveson ... on his way to the WWE!

(For our updated – as of 1 September – 743-event
International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, click here!)

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

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● The Games really are over.

The 94-ton, 77-foot-long, triple-crescent symbol of the International Paralympic Committee, which had replaced the Olympic Rings on a barge in Tokyo Bay was removed on Monday.

A tug moved the barge out of Odaiba Marine Park and headed for Yokohama, where the structure was created. The materials are expected to be recycled.

A TSX reader who bought tickets for the 2020 Olympic Games reported:

“Co-Sport issued reimbursement at 83%. I expect the Japanese agent will return 100% (as we had tickets from U.S. and Japan agents).”

A class-action suit against CoSport, the authorized ticket reseller for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee for the Tokyo Games continues in the U.S. District Court in New Jersey: Suzanne Caruso et al. v. Jet Set Sports LLC, d/b/a CoSport (Case No. 3:21-cv-09665).

The National Olympic Committee in Belarus is under investigation from the International Olympic Committee after the Krystsina Tsimanouskaya affair, in which the sprinter was removed from the Games after criticizing her coaches on social media. Rather than return under pressure to Belarus, she sought help from Japanese police and eventually was offered a humanitarian visa for Poland.

Now the Belarus NOC is being criticized again, but this time by the country’s President, Alexander Lukashenko. Already facing popular protests over his controversial re-election in August, Lukashenko told a meeting on sports development:

“God forbid we have one more failure like we had in Tokyo. … This is a mess, a total lack of discipline. And there must be discipline.”

Belarus won seven medals in Tokyo (3-1-3), its lowest-ever total since it first competed as an independent country in 1996. Said Lukashenko:

“I understand that the competition has increased, and that we are unlikely to run better than African athletes. But we have always had good results in technical sports, such as athletics. Where have these schools gone to? …

“We will pay money, and good money. We will find money. But don’t even hope for that without good results. You will be responsible for the money you spent. I tell this to you as officials. There will be no more easy money.”

● Games of the XXXVI Olympiad: 2036 ● Russian President Vladimir Putin told the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok last week that the host city – Vladivostok – may be a candidate for the 2036 Olympic Games.

For those not familiar, Vladivostok is a port city at the far southeastern tip of Russia, adjacent to China and the Korean Peninsula. With a population of just 605,000, it’s a impossible choice and is now in competition with St. Petersburg and Kazan as Russian candidates for 2036.

As is usually the case with Putin, his message was all about Russia:

“Regrettably, there have been ever fewer contenders in the world for hosting the Olympics. … If it happens the way I am describing now, we are not excluding the possibility of Russia hosting the Olympic Games. … it is too early to discuss this issue and everything will have to undergo a thorough evaluation.”

● Anti-Doping ● Still smarting from its two-year sanctions imposed by the World Anti-doping Agency – after being slimmed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport – Russia continues to complain that it is being unfairly targeted. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said last week:

“We see the West trying to advance the policy of bringing all international competition under their control … [and] have been trying to actively impose a mechanism on the signatories to the [UNESCO doping] convention that would allow the secretariat to determine those guilty of doping or, in other words, would create opportunities to significantly manipulate this convention.

“Therefore, the implementation of the convention would be taken out of the control of the member states that drafted it. There are many gimmicks but the spirit and the focus on results that are characteristic to all our athletes will help them to overcome any efforts and vain attempts to artificially hinder the development of Russian sports.”

According to a TASS report, “The Minister noted that, out of 14 WADA Executive Committee members, about 12 are NATO countries plus Australia and Japan.

“‘I am certain that the vast majority of Western athletes are not too happy that their competitiveness is being artificially raised via such unscrupulous methods.’”

Comment: Wow. Does he write his own stuff, or is someone doing it for him?

● Athletics ● The Diamond League finale in Zurich (SUI) gets going on Wednesday in a specially-built, mid-city location featuring the men’s and women’s shot, men’s and women’s long jump, women’s high jump and men’s and women’s 5,000 m on an oddly-shaped 560 m elevated track. NBCSN will televise the meet at 11:30 a.m. Eastern time.

The main session comes on Thursday at the famed Letzigrund Stadium, with NBCSN televising the meet beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern.

American Fred Kerley, the Tokyo silver medalist, claimed a Diamond League first by winning the 100 m at the Memorial Van Damme in Brussels. He’s the first man ever to win Diamond League races at 100, 200 and 400 m!

Although the Diamond League ends this week, the competitions are coming thick and fast in Europe with seven meets in September in the World Athletics Continental Tour. Over the last few days:

● 31 August in Rovereto (ITA): American Marvin Bracy continued his career year in the men’s 100 m, winning in 9.98, and Michael Cherry won again in the men’s 400 m in 44.55, his 12th straight race under 45 seconds! American Olympian Shelby McEwen won the men’s high jump over Olympic co-champ Gianmarco Tamberi (ITA) at 2.28 m (7-5 3/4).

● 5 September in Chorzow (POL): Canada’s Tokyo 200 m winner Andre De Grasse won in 2021; Cherry won again in 44.94 (13 in a row sub-45), and Jamaican Olympic gold medalist Hansle Parchment (JAM) beat Devon Allen of the U.S. in the men’s 110 m hurdles, 13.26-13.37. American Chris Nilsen won the men’s vault at 5.86 m (19-2 3/4) and shot superstar Ryan Crouser won the shot with a superb 22.39 m (73-5 1/2), ahead of Olympic silver winner Joe Kovacs (USA: 22.00 m: 72-2 1/4). Germany’s Johannes Vetter impressed with a javelin win at 89.60 m (293-11).

Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce won the women’s 100 m at 10.81 and Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan won the women’s 100 m hurdles over Jamaica’s Olympic bronze winner Megan Tapper, 12.64-12.75.

● 5 September in Padua (ITA): American Michael Norman won the men’s 100 m in 9.97, from Bracy (9.98), Ronnie Baker (10.10) and Justin Gatlin (10.17). Wil London of the U.S. won another 400 m race, this time in 45.22; Australia’s Stewart McSweyn ran another quick 1,500 m, winning in 3:33.49. Add American Josh Awotunde to the 22 meter club (72.2 1/4) in his win in the shot put.

Americans went 1-4 in the women’s 100 m with Javianne Oliver (11.19) beating Sha’Carri Richardson (11.19), Candace Hill (11.26) and English Gardner (11.36).

Next up: the famed ISTAF meet in Berlin (GER) on Sunday (12th).

● Beach Volleyball ● Reports over the weekend noted what is purported to be the final competitive match for U.S. star Jake Gibb, 45, who retired from international play after the Tokyo Games and now from national events following elimination of he and Taylor Crabb on Sunday at the AVP Chicago Open.

Gibb and Tri Bourne tied for ninth in Tokyo; it was Gibb’s fourth Games, finishing fifth in Beijing 2008 (with Casey Patterson) and London 2012 (with Sean Rosenthal) and 19th in Rio 2016 (with Rosenthal). He competed in eight World Championships with a best of fifth in 2007 and 2015.

He won 35 times on the AVP Tour from 2000-21 and seven times in the FIVB World Tour. A two-time cancer survivor, he joins fellow international retirees Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena in making way for the next generation of American men’s beach players, but also as one of the best ever to play the game.

● Football ● The third FIFA World Cup qualifying match for the U.S. Men’s National Team comes Wednesday night in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, at 10:30 p.m. Eastern time. Amazingly, it is only being shown on Paramount+ in English, but on Telemundo and Universo in Spanish.

The U.S. and Honduras have both played to draws in their first two matches. The U.S. played to a 0-0 final in El Salvador and 1-1 with Canada in Nashville. Honduras drew with Canada, 1-1 and also played a 0-0 tie at El Salvador.

The next match window will be from 7-13 October.

Congratulations to Italy, which extended its unbeaten streak to a record 36 matches last Sunday with a 0-0 draw with Switzerland. That eclipsed the old mark of 35 straight set by Brazil from 1993-96 and by Spain from 2007-09.

Italy, which did not qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia – same as the U.S. – started this streak in October 2018 and has won 29 games with seven draws and a 88-12 scoring differential. That includes its win at Wembley Stadium earlier this year against England in the UEFA Euro 2020 final.

Italy plays next on Wednesday (8th) against Lithuania in Reggio Emilia.

Last Sunday’s Brazil-Argentina World Cup qualifying match in Sao Paulo was stopped after seven minutes, when local health officials required that four Argentine players from English Premier League clubs – Emiliano Martinez and Emiliano Buendia (Aston Villa) and Tottenham’s Giovanni Lo Celso and Cristian Romero – be in quarantine instead of on the field!

The Brazilian health agency, Anvisa, said it had told the Argentine team that the players could not be included on the squad, but that their directive was ignored. FIFA is now looking into what happens next with the match having been abandoned, with no score.

The proposal to study the possibility of holding the FIFA World Cup every two years was approved by 166-2 at May’s FIFA Congress, but Reuters reported “that any attempt by FIFA to introduce such a change would face resistance from European governing body UEFA, the European Club Association (ECA) and is unlikely to win the backing of the major domestic leagues.”

According to UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin (SLO): “The value of this competition is precisely because it is held every four years. Playing it every two years would devalue it.”

One major issue for the clubs is the amount of time their top players would be spending with national teams instead. Concerns about overshadowing the Women’s World Cup were also expressed. A feasibility study is being carried out currently.

● Swimming ● The third and fourth matches of the International Swimming League season were completed over the weekend in Naples, Italy, with familiar names once again sweeping multiple events.

In match 3, Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey tripled in the women’s 100-200-400 m Free races, and Swedish sprint star Sarah Sjostrom took the 50 m Free, 50 m Fly and the 50 m Free Skins final. Britain’s Duncan Scott was the only men’s triple winner in the 100-200 m Frees and the 200 m Medley. Energy Standard (FRA) won the match with 640.5 points; the London Roar was second (436.5).

In match 4, American superstar Caeleb Dressel was busy, winning six events: the 50-100 m Flys, 50-100 m Frees, 100 m Medley, and the 50 m Free Skins race. His Cali Condors teammates Lilly King and Kelsi Dahlia (both USA) won three events each; King took the 50-100-200 m Breaststroke events, while Dahlia won the 100-200 m Flys and the 50 m Fly Skins race. The Condors won the team race, scoring 594.0 to 444.5 for the L.A. Current.

● Wrestling ● The stunning story of American Freestyle super-heavyweight Gable Steveson, shock Olympic champion from Tokyo, continues with his agreement to go to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

Steveson, the NCAA champion from Minnesota, stormed through his first three bouts at the Tokyo Games, then faced Georgia’s three-time World Champion Geno Petriashvili in the final. Down 8-5 with less than a half-minute left, Steveson got a takedown to close to 8-7 and then scored again in the final second for a 9-8 lead and eventual 10-8 win. He was the first U.S. winner in the 125 kg division since Bruce Baumgartner in 1992.

He had signed a name-image-likeness deal with Mixed Martial Dave Martin, but announced last Saturday that he has agreed to work with the WWE in the future.

● At the BuZZer ● The International University Sports Federation (FISU) confirmed the receipt of bids on the first day available for the 2027 World University Games from the U.S. and South Korea.

The U.S. bid came from the triangle region of North Carolina; the U.S. has only hosted the summer WUG once, in Buffalo in 1993. Korea has hosted the summer WUG twice recently: in Daegu in 2003 and Gwangju in 2015.

The bid process for 2027 and 2029 will continue open through 31 January 2022.

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For our 743-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

LANE ONE: The Tokyo Games will be long remembered, but now Paris has the burden of re-energizing the Olympic Movement

By
Rich Perelman
-
The Paris 2024 flag flying atop the Eiffel Tower in June 2021 (Photo: Paris 2024)

(For our updated – as of 1 September – 743-event
International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, click here!)

Thank you, Tokyo. With the closing of the Paralympic Games on Sunday, the service of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee and especially the Tokyo Metropolitan Government will be long remembered by the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Movement,  for persevering where others might have quit.

Tokyo did not, and it won.

Yes, there will be costs. First will be the tab for putting on the Olympic and Paralympic Games without spectators, missing an estimated $819 million in expected ticket revenue. But a Kansai University emeritus economics professor has already estimated the benefits of holding the Games at almost $56 billion vs. a net cost of construction and operations of about $29.8 billion. Time will tell.

There were losers. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, unpopular due to the government’s uneven response to the coronavirus pandemic, announced last Friday that he will retire at the end of September. But his Liberal Democratic Party is expected to continue in power, with elections scheduled for 29 September.

But the organizers and the Japanese government kept their promise on keeping Olympic and Paralympic personnel away from the public. To its credit, Tokyo 2020 issued daily reports for more than a month, listing testing figures and positive tests:

● Of the 15,500-plus Olympic and Paralympic athletes in Tokyo, a total of 42 Covid positives were reported.

● Through 4 September, the Japanese government conducted 54,214 airport tests with 54 positives for an infection rate of 0.10%.

● Through 4 September, the Tokyo 2020 organizers completed 993,268 daily tests of accredited personnel, with 309 positives (0.03%).

● The Tokyo 2020 staff of more than 7,000 and more than 70,000 volunteers – almost all from Japan – recorded just 67 total positives.

● Of the grand total of 511 Olympic and 306 Paralympic positives reported – 817 total – local contractors, resident in Japan, accounted for 469 or 57.0% of the total. Another 190 were Games-related personnel such as coaches and competition officials and 49 were news media.

Kyodo News reported that Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told a news conference that not a single infection spread from individuals related to the Games to the Japanese public.

Now comes Paris, in 2024.

Its challenge will be completely different. After the anxiety of the first-ever postponement of an entire Olympic Games and the staging of two massive events during a state of emergency in Tokyo and the surrounding areas, the French organizers must re-establish the joie de vivre that usually envelops an Olympic Games.

Perhaps no city in the world is so well positioned to do so. In the handover program during the Tokyo Closing Ceremony, Paris 2024 promised joy, describing its (by necessity) pre-recorded segment:

“This first Paris 2024 ceremony took the Games out of the stadium: from the national anthem, which was integrated for the first time in the creative sequence, to a BMX race over the rooftops of Paris, to a live celebration in the gardens of the Trocadero attended by more than 5,000 people. Paris 2024 wanted this ceremony to be a meeting of sport and the new host city, from its iconic landmarks to its everyday spaces.”

The Paris organizers, led by three-time Olympic canoeing champion Tony Estanguet, 43, have emphasized their new approach, especially the important addition of public-participation events to accompany at least the marathons, if not the road cycling events and perhaps more.

And this is only the beginning, as Paris 2024 promises:

“[T]he project’s ambition [is] to take sport out of its traditional spaces. The Paris 2024 Games will be open to the city, with temporary competition venues at the foot of the most famous French landmarks and the first Opening Ceremony in the history of the Games to take place in the city, at the heart of Paris, on the Seine.”

On the Seine? Really? That would be something to see, not to mention a logistical and security nightmare of the first order. But the Paris organizers have shown a willingness to consider anything. And so far, the French public is buying in.

An IFOP Institute public poll of 1,018 French adults from 9-11 August showed 82% in favor of the 2024 hosting. Within that number was a 92% positive response from those aged 18-24.

The next three years will not be stress free. Small groups of activists are trying – so far without success – to block some of the infrastructure spending approved for the Games. There will be charges and countercharges. And things will look darker in February when the Winter Games take place in China, widely criticized for its human-rights record.

Whatever Paris can do to bring more joy to the Games will be desperately needed. Food? Wine? Design? Fashion? Music? Dance? Yes to all. And the logistics to back it up are, in significant ways, now directly in the hands of the International Olympic Committee. The IOC now controls, for the most part, ticketing, hospitality and accommodations. A more seamless, streamlined process is promised, but what will be delivered? For those with lots of money … and for those with less, like family members of the Olympians and Paralympians.

There is great opportunity, but also great pressure. Bonne chance.

Meanwhile, the cruelest outcome of many an Olympic Games is that once closed, the organizing committee is almost immediately, totally forgotten. But Tokyo 2020 chief Seiko Hashimoto, 56, herself a member of the Japanese Diet and whose political standing will rise, told reporters that she would be willing to lead a potential Sapporo 2030 Olympic Winter Games organizing committee if the city is selected as host.

That decision is coming in year or two and after what she and her colleagues have done for the Olympic Movement, it will be hard to tell her – a 1992 Winter Games bronze medalist in Speed Skating – and Japan that it cannot get another opportunity … if it wishes to host so soon again.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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For our 743-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

THE BIG PICTURE: Tokyo 2020 closes; Roglic gets La Vuelta three-peat, U.S.-Canada qualifying draw; the worst day in Olympic history

By
Rich Perelman
-

(For our updated – as of 1 September – 743-event International Sports Calendar
for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!)

● XVI Paralympic Games: Tokyo 2020 ● “Together, against the odds, we did it.

“The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games have not just been historic; they have been fantastic. In 12 magical days, athletes gave the world confidence, happiness, and hope. Athletes broke records, athletes won hearts, athletes opened minds. Importantly, athletes changed lives.”

That was International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons (BRA) in his remarks during the closing ceremony of the XVI Paralympic Games in Tokyo, bringing to a close one of the most tumultuous chapters in the history of the Olympic Movement.

Said Seiko Hashimoto, President of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee:

“I am proud of having hosted the Olympics and Paralympics, the first global events in the world since the pandemic, and [to] pass the baton to Paris.”

But she had regrets, especially having to hold the Games without any spectators in view of political realities in Japan, even though Japanese professional baseball and football matches were held with spectators during the Games period.

“As we were not able to host the Tokyo Games in a complete form, I cannot say that they were a 100 percent success. I think history will determine whether they were a success or not.”

They were undoubtedly a success, first and foremost for the athletes. China finished with the most medals in the Paralympics:

(1) 207: China (96-60-51)
(2) 124: Great Britain (41-38-45)
(3) 118: Russian Olympic Committee (36-33-49)
(4) 104: United States (37-36-31)
(5) 98: Ukraine (24-47-27)

There is still a lot of clean-up to do, not the least of which is settling the finances, with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government likely responsible for a major share of the costs. But even with all of the restrictions, the seeds of future successes for Tokyo and Japan from these Games can be seen.

A positive note came on Monday as the coronavirus infection report for Tokyo showed just 968 new cases, the lowest total since 19 July.

● Cycling ● The 76th Vuelta a Espana ended with the same result as the last two, with Slovenian star Primoz Roglic winning his third straight title.

Roglic capped off his victory with a brilliant final-day win in the 33.8 km Individual Time Trial, beating Dane Magnus Cort, 44:02-44:16 for his fourth win in the 21 stages, including the opening and closing stages.

Roglic has sealed the win after Saturday’s difficult Stage, with five hard ascents in the final half of the race, as he finished second to Clement Champoussin (FRA), 5:21:50-5:21:56. Roglic had a 2:38 lead over Spain’s Enric Mas going into Sunday’s finale and ended with a 4:42 edge over Mas, 7:40 over Jack Haig (AUS) and 9:06 over Adam Yates (GBR).

Roglic’s three-peat is the first since Roberto Heras (ESP) did it in 2003-04-05 and only the third overall, with Swiss Tony Rominger achieving it in 1992-93-94.

● Football ● On the second match day of 14-game CONCACAF World Cup 2022 qualifying play, the U.S. Men’s National Team played to a disappointing 1-1 draw with Canada in front of an unhappy crowd of 43,028 in Nashville.

The American men had a 72-28% possession edge and out-shot Canada, 11-6. But aside from a Brendan Aaronson finish off a brilliant cross from Antonee Robinson in the 55th minute, the U.S. attack was mostly stagnant.

The 1-0 lead did not last long as Canada’s Alphonse Davies got loose on the left side of the field in the 62nd minute and sent a near carbon-copy of Robinson’s cross to the front of the U.S. net, where it was tapped in by Clyde Larin. The partisan U.S. crowd booed at the end of the game.

The U.S. may be on an 12-game unbeaten streak (10-0-2), but it now has two draws in its first two World Cup 2022 qualifiers, with a third match in San Pedro Sula, Honduras on Wednesday. Not a must-win with so many games to go, but a victory would lower the anxiety level for both the team and the fan base.

● Ice Hockey ● On Friday, the National Hockey League, NHL Players Union, the International Olympic Committee and the International Ice Hockey Federation announced an agreement that will allow NHL players to compete in the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

There is a possible withdrawal for coronavirus complications, but otherwise the travel, insurance and player support issues were worked out. NHL players were in the Winter Games from 1998-2014, but not in Korea in 2018. A break in the NHL schedule was worked out already.

The Olympic tournament will include the top eight teams from the 2019 IIHF World Ranking – Canada, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Czech Republic, the U.S., Germany, and Switzerland – plus host China and qualifiers Slovakia, Latvia and Denmark.

● In Memoriam ● The worst days in the history of the Olympic Movement took place 49 years ago on 5-6 September 1972 in Munich, West Germany, during the Games of the XX Olympiad.

In an event designed to mark the re-emergence of a democratic, free West Germany from the murderous ashes of World War II, what had been a joyful Games was savaged by the kidnapping and eventual murder of 11 members of the Israeli delegation by Palestinian terrorists.

The Games was halted for 34 hours and a memorial service was held in the Olympiastadion on 6 September. IOC President Avery Brundage (USA) said in part:

“Every civilized person recoiled in horror at the barbarous criminal intrusion of terrorists into the peaceful Olympic precincts. We mourn our Israeli friends, victims of this brutal assault.

“Sadly, the greater and more important the Olympic Games become, the more they are open to commercial, political and now criminal pressure. …

“We have only the strength of a great ideal. I am sure the public will agree that we cannot allow a handful of terrorists to destroy this nucleus of international cooperation and goodwill we have in the Olympic Movement.

“The Games must go on and we must continue our efforts to keep them clear, pure and honest and try to extend sportsmanship of the athletic field to other areas. We declare today a day of mourning and will continue all the events one day later than scheduled.”

But the Games has never been the same.

The International Olympic Committee was long resistant in further honoring the memory of the Israelis, but a special ceremony was held on the day at the Olympic Village prior to the opening of the Rio Games in 2016 and a moment of silence was held during the Opening Ceremony of the 2020 Games in Tokyo.

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For our new, 743-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

SPECIAL: Updated! Our revised, 743-event International Sports Calendar for 2021-22 now posted!

By
Rich Perelman
-

Congratulations to Tokyo 2020 for staging the Olympic and Paralympic Games in such difficult circumstances. But now sport goes on, and as your guide, here’s our 743-event listing of events from September 2021 through September 2022 and beyond.

Our updated International Sports Calendar focuses on sports and events on the Olympic and Winter Games program for 2022 and 2024, plus a few other meetings and multi-sports events.

Please note: this listing will change! The coronavirus will see to that, but this edition is a good checklist for following many of the events coming up.

Two calendars are included in the single PDF download: an 16-page listing in chronological order and a 17-page listing by sport (and in date order within each sport).

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

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HIGHLIGHTS: World lead for Sifan Hassan in Brussels; U.S. gets wins from Kerley, Cherry and McCarter; U.S. men get 0-0 tie with El Salvador in World Cup qualifier

By
Rich Perelman
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Women's mile world-record holder Sifan Hassan (NED) (Photo: Erik van Leeuwen via Wikimedia Commons)

(For David Miller’s new comment, “Remembering Jacques Rogge,
and Dick Pound’s Olympic Near-Miss,” click here)

● Athletics ● A good crowd at King Badouin Stadium in Brussels showed up for the annual Memorial Van Damme – the penultimate stop on the Wanda Diamond League circuit for 2021 and were rewarded with a world-leading performance by Dutch star Sifan Hassan.

The 5,000 and 10,000 m winner in Tokyo, Hassan won the 1,500 m bronze and targeted the women’s mile here.

She was the only one to stay with the pacesetters through 1,000 m, with everyone else 30 m behind with two laps to go. She was all alone with 600 m to go and pushed hard down the final backstraight and all the way to the finish in 4:14.74, the best in the world in 2021 and the no. 5 performance of all time. Very, very impressive.

Ethiopia’s Axumawit Embaye led the chase group in second in 4:21.08, followed by Australia’s Linden Hall with a national record of 4:21.38. Americans Elise Cranny and Josette Norris got lifetime bests in fifth and sixth in 4:21.90 and 4:22.71, now nos. 9-10 in U.S. outdoor history.

While the World Athletics regulations for women with naturally-high testosterone levels do not allow them to compete in events from the 400 m to the mile, two women showed they can win elsewhere:

● Women’s 200 m: Although American Sha’Carri Richardson drew a lot of attention, the focus was once again on Olympic silver medalist Christine Mboma (NAM) – not allowed to compete at 400 m – and Jamaica’s 100 m bronze winner Shericka Jackson.

Off the start, Richardson led early, but Jackson had control of the race coming into the straight. Just as in Tokyo, however, Mboma flew down the straight and won in 21.84 (+0.4), with Jackson second (21.95) and Dina Asher-Smith (GBR: 22.04) third. Richardson was a creditable fourth in 22.45. Mboma at only 18 is the coming star in this event.

● Women’s 5,000 m: What would Francine Niyonsaba (BDI) do against Kenyan star Hellen Obiri? Niyonsaba, the Rio 800 m silver medalist, but not allowed to run that event now, was fifth in the Tokyo 10,000 m, then won the Pre Classic two-mile and the 3,000 m at the Meeting de Paris. She was right with Obiri and Eva Cherono (KEN) through 3,000 m at the head of a big pack.

Niyonsaba took the lead with four laps to go, but Obiri led a still-in-contact pack at the bell. But while Obiri looked strong coming into the final straight, she was passed by Ejgayehu Taye (ETH) and then Niyonsaba came from fourth to first in the final 80 m to win in a lifetime best of 14:25.34, no. 4 in the world for 2021. Taye was second in 14:25.63 and Obiri third in 14:26.23. It was a lifetime best for Niyonsaba by just more than 29 seconds, in her fourth career race at the distance!

American Alicia Monson was ninth at 14:42.56, a lifetime best and now no. 4 all-time U.S.

Elsewhere, the U.S. scored three speed wins:

● Men’s 100 m: Olympic silver medalist Fred Kerley of the U.S. continues to prove that he’s no fluke, winning against world leader Trayvon Bromell of the U.S., 9.94-9.97 with 400 m star Michael Norman third in 9.98 (wind: +0.1 m/s). Norman and Bromell had the best starts, but Kerley came on the in the middle of the race and got to the front in the last 10 m.

● Men’s 400 m: American Michael Cherry punctuated his career year with a brilliant second turn and explosive acceleration into the straight to win in a lifetime best of 44.03 – no. 5 on the world list for 2021 – over 2012 Olympic champ Kirani James (GRN: 44.41) and Isaac Makwala (BOT: 44.83).

● Men’s Long Jump: South Africa’s 2017 Worlds bronze winner Ruswahl Samaai (7.95 m/26-1) and American Steffin McCarter (7.93 m/26-0 1/4) had the best jumps through five rounds. In the Diamond League’s sixth round-takes-all, McCarter improved to 7.99 m (26-2 3/4) for the lead and got his first career Diamond League title as Samaai finished with 7.89 m (25-10 3/4).

In other events:

● Men’s 1,500 m: Australian Stewart McSweyn had the lead with the bell, but was passed by Spain’s Mohamed Katir just after the bell. Fellow Aussie Ollie Hoare came up for third and with 200 m to go, Katir was in charge, but he was passed by McSweyn and Hoare with 90 m go and faded badly. McSweyn charged away for the victory in 3:33.20, with Hoare second in 3:33.79 and Poland’s Michal Rozmys third (3:33.96).

● Men’s 400 m hurdles: Olympic bronze medalist Alison dos Santos (BRA) was favored, but he was trailing Tokyo fourth-placer Kyron McMaster (IVB) into the home straight. But McMaster hit the eighth hurdle and slowed over the ninth and 10th barriers and dos Santos sailed by to win in 48.23 to 48.31.

● Men’s Vault: Five were left at 5.85 m (19-2 1/4), but only Olympic champ Mondo Duplantis (SWE) and Americans Chris Nilsen and K.C. Lightfoot (equaling his outdoor lifetime best) could clear. At 5.91 m (19-4 3/4), Duplantis cleared, but both Nilsen and Lightfoot missed three times each, leaving Duplantis the winner.

He then cleared 6.05 m (19-10 1/4) on his third try and then moved on to a world-record height of 6.19 m (20-3 3/4), but missed all three tries.

● Women’s 800 m: Jamaica’s Natoya Goule – eighth in Tokyo – had the lead with 300 m to go and held off Kelly Hodgkinson (GBR), 1:58.09-1:58.16. Jemma Reekie (GBR: 1:58.77) was third; Kate Grace of the U.S. was fifth (1:59.22).

● Women’s 100 m hurdles: American Gabbi Cunningham got a good start, but Olympic silver winner Megan Tapper (JAM) came on in mid-race, only to be passed by Dutch star Nadine Visser and Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan. It took a photo to separate them, with Visser given the win as both timed 12.69 (+0.7 m/s). Tapper was third (12.77) and Cunningham fifth (12.89).

● Women’s High Jump: The Olympic medalists all cleared 2.00 m (6-6 3/4): Russian Mariya Lasitskene, Australia’s Nicola McDermott and Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR). The Ukranian upped the ante with first-time clearance at 2.02 m (6-7 1/2), and Laskitskene passed after missing once and McDermott after missing twice. At 2.04 m (6-8 1/4), McDermott a third straight try and finished third. Laskitskene missed both tries and was second and Mahuchikh got the win, even with missing her three attempts at 2.04 m.

The non-Diamond League men’s 800 m was an easy win for Kenya’s Olympic silver winner Ferguson Rotich in 1:43.81.

In the in-city discus throw on Wednesday, Sweden’s Olympic champ Daniel Stahl won
his 14th meet in 15 tries in 2021 in 69.17 m (226-11), ahead of Jamaica’s Fedrick Dacres (65.17 m/213-9). Women’s Olympic silver winner Yaime Perez of Cuba defeated Olympic champ Valarie Allman of the U.S., 66.47 m (218-1) to 64.25 m (210-9). Croatia’s two-time Olympic winner Sandra Perkovic was third (65.14 m/210-5).

The Diamond League final in Zurich (SUI) comes on 8-9 September.

● Cycling ● Friday’s hilly, 191.2 km course in stage 19 of the 76th Vuelta a Espana saw a seven-man breakaway hold on through the finish and a third stage win for Denmark’s Magnus Cort.

American Quinn Simmons and Portugal’s Rui Oliveira go away with 32 km left, but were soon joined by five others. The peloton could not catch up and while American Lawson Craddock had the lead with Simmons, Oliveira and Cort chasing, Cort won the final sprint to the line. Oliveira finished second, Simmons third and Craddock seventh.

Race leader Primoz Roglic (SLO) maintained a solid 2:30 lead over Enric Mas (ESP) in front of Saturday’s second-longest stage, with five climbs on the back half, including an uphill finish.

● Football ● The U.S. Men’s National Team opened its 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying trek in Sal Salvador, El Salvador, with a 0-0 draw.

The Salvadorans had a 51% possession edge in the game, which went back and forth and generated 20 shots, but only three on goal. The U.S. had a 13-7 edge on shots, but only got a couple of real chances on headers in the box.

The roughness of the game was described by the 30 total fouls, 19 of which were by the U.S., enlivened by a loud home crowd.

But the game ended scoreless and the U.S. will now go to Nashville on the 5th to meet Canada and on 8 September at Honduras in San Pedro Sula. Canada and Honduras tied, 1-1, in Toronto, in their first match on Thursday evening.

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For our 649-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

MILLER TIME: Remembering Jacques Rogge, and Dick Pound’s Olympic Near-Miss

By
David Miller
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Canadian member of the International Olympic Committee, Richard (Dick) Pound

/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 passing of Jacques Rogge, Belgian successor to Spain’s Juan Antonio Samaranch as International Olympic Committee President in 2001, seemed at the time sensible to the point of being inevitable: an experienced, calm, multi-lingual, three-time Olympic yachtsman and rugby international renowned for moderation and, in the broadest sense, fair play. The background, however, was not as straightforwardly conventional: recollection reminds us otherwise.

The outcome of his election in Moscow, scene of Samaranch’s succession to Ireland’s Michael Killanin twenty-one years earlier – on the eve of a Soviet Union festival compromised by a U.S.-led boycott in protest against the invasion of Afghanistan – was heavily influenced by disaffection of Rogge’s Eurocentric colleagues, an IOC demographic majority, for Rogge’s chief rival, intellectual Montreal lawyer Richard Pound. The eloquent past Olympic swimmer was perversely viewed as disloyal within the self-elected private club.

In the wake of the Salt Lake City host city election scandal for the Winter Games of 2002, exposed by local television in late 1998, Samaranch had appointed Pound as chair of an ad-hoc investigative committee – a poisoned chalice. The verdict from Pound was for the expulsion of six IOC Members at the climax of a controversy, which had threatened the future of Samaranch himself, the TOP sponsorship network, even the IOC itself.

Pound had for two decades been Samaranch’s trusted subordinate, an articulate front behind some of the wily Samaranch’s more obtuse objectives within an organisation too frequently distinguished by closed curtains and willful unanimity. Samaranch, intent on saving his own reputation, adroitly placed the judicial burden on the willing Pound, loyal to principal if not to perceived errant Members.

The Salt Lake verdicts compounded the election odds against Pound, already hampered by North America’s slender numerical geographic hegemony, compared with Europe’s multiple voters within a virtual bus ride of each other: and where, moreover, Rogge was an established, respected head of European Olympic Committees.

Further potentially impeding Pound’s support was the latterly emerging upsurge of Kim Un-Yong, mainspring of Korea’s spectacular Olympic Games in 1988 and inspiration of expanding Asian sporting authority – not withstanding that Kim too had received, unjustifiably on the evidence, a damning ‘Olympic warning’ from Pound’s commission, for employment of Kim’s son by Salt Lake.

A conspiracy of circumstance cleared the path for Rogge’s comfortable victory in Moscow, even resulting in a disappointing Pound finishing third behind Kim, whose tide of admiration also helped suppress a North American electorate, further to secure Rogge. Demure Rogge’s authority was soon undermined by setbacks at the IOC Extraordinary Session of 2002 in Mexico: his worthy contribution was to consolidate the financial advantages achieved by Samaranch. Though Rogge was unable significantly to modernise the Games’ programme of sports, and under-estimated some political issues with Beijing 2008 – notably a controversial torch relay – he was fortunate finally to bask in a celebrated Games contrived by London in 2012.

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

THE TICKER: Not much Paralympic TV audience in U.S.; will the Youth Olympic Games survive?; Houlihan’s doping positive confirmed

By
Rich Perelman
-
Going big: Barranquilla Mayor Jaime Pumarejo signing a giant-sized Host City Contract for the 2027 Pan American Games last week (Photo: PanAm Sports)

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

● XVI Paralympic Games: Tokyo 2020 ● The two Afghan athletes who finally made it to Tokyo to compete in the Paralympics have an offer to go Australia if they wish, but the choice is up to them.

They escaped from Afghanistan to Paris and remained there for about a week before being routed to Tokyo. Kyodo News reported that the Australian “Department of Home Affairs said by email on Tuesday that while the department cannot comment on individual cases, Australia has committed to take 3,000 Afghans initially under the country’s humanitarian program.”

Zakia Khudadadi competed in the women’s Taekwondo K44-49 kg division on Thursday and lost both of her matches, by 17-12 in the round of 16 and 44-38 in the repechage quarterfinals. Hossain Rasouli was supposed to compete in the men’s 100 m, but missed that event and was then allowed to enter the men’s T47 long jump, where he finished 13th, jumping 4.46 m (14-7 3/4).

If one of the measures of the growth of the Paralympics is social-media anger, then perhaps the Paralympic Movement is on the rise.

Malaysia’s Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli won the men’s F20 shot put – he’s the Paralympic record-holder in the event – but he, Australian Todd Hodgetts and Ecuador’s Jordi Congo Villabia all showed up three minutes late for the event. They were allowed to compete under protest, but all three were disqualified after the meet referee determined that there was no justification for being late.

Ukraine’s Maksym Koval and Oleksandr Yarovyi had finished 2-3, but were advanced to gold and silver, respectively. Then came what International Paralympic Committee spokesman Craig Spence (GBR) called “very abusive” comments “on all our social media posts that have nothing to do with the men’s shot put F20 event.” In specific, he noted that the Ukrainian Paralympic Committee “was getting a lot of abuse from Malaysians.”

Spence added, “I’m sorry. Rules are rules. The decision was taken. It wasn’t the Ukrainians fault that the Malaysian was late.”

This is not the first time that the IPC has drawn anger from Malaysian fans. In 2019, the organization removed the World Para Swimming Championships from the country because it would not allow Israeli entrants. Said Spence, “The level of abuse that was directed at the IPC then was through the roof.”

The initially-positive television ratings report on NBC’s first-ever primetime Paralympic Games program turned out to be premature.

Sunday’s one-hour program at 7 p.m. Eastern was preliminarily reported as drawing 4.18 million viewers, competitive with CBS’s “60 Minutes” (6.66 million) and an ABC re-run of “America’s Funniest Home Videos” (4.69 million). But the final report showed that the Paralympics drew only 2,096,000 viewers compared to 6,754,000 for “60 Minutes” and 4,757,000 for ABC. NBC drew 5,063,000 for its Cleveland-Atlanta NFL football telecast that followed the Paralympics.

Further, the Paralympics coverage on NBCSN and Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA has drawn very little interest. SpoilerTV’s daily listing of the top 150 shows on U.S. cable television during the Paralympic Games has not listed a single Games show, meaning audiences were likely less than 100,000 per program.

Has the general awareness level of the Paralympics been raised, through the postponement and a heightened sense of appreciation for the athletes? Yes, a case can be made for that. But as a commercial enterprise, it has not caught. (See below for more ratings news on Athletics and Swimming.)

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● Even the clean-up effort of the Tokyo Games is being scrutinized in Japan, where the Tokyo 2020 organizers apologized on Tuesday for having discarded “Hundreds of boxes full of unused coronavirus-related medical goods for the Tokyo Olympics, including gloves, gowns and masks, worth a total of 5 million yen ($45,000).”

Kyodo News reported that the supplies were thrown out for lack of storage space as four venues in the Tokyo area and five others in surrounding areas were closed down after the close of the Games. The organizers promised not to make the same error when closing down the Paralympics, which end on Sunday.

Spicy comments on Twitter in the aftermath of the passing of former International Olympic Committee chief Dr. Jacques Rogge (BEL), who led the IOC from 2002-13.

One of his signature achievements was the introduction of the Youth Olympic Games, designed to appeal to a younger audience and first held in Singapore in 2010. Michael Payne (GBR), the IOC’s first marketing director, worked with Rogge for four years, but left in 2004, wrote:

“The YOG was a failed strategy from outset & only kept going out of respect to Rogge – as his principal legacy. The objective get more kids engaged in sport correct – solution to problem totally wrong. YOG does not connect back to schools, expensive & does zero to grow youth sport”

Former Irish field hockey star Nikki Symmons replied:

“And the Olympics does what exactly except cost a country billions to host. At least YOG doesn’t have to build hugely expensive stadia that turn into white elephants. If it is so wrong, what is your solution to get youth engaged in sport then?”

Payne:

“Ensure that sport is part of every school curriculum worldwide – learn to play / team spirit / values, as important as learning to read, write and count.

“YOG far more expensive than people realise & does nothing to grow youth interest in sport.”

Former IOC Head of Youth Engagement, Learn and Share Philippe Furrer (SUI) shot back that “YOG more meaningful and life-changing than anyone can realise. Operated within 5 OG and 4 YOG and cannot count how many athletes and local kids could be inspowered [sic] by their YOG experience” but he acknowledged that more “work, education and passion” are needed.

To which Payne underscored his point:

“Fair points on YOG but I still stand by my original premise that the objective to re-engage the global youth community it is not delivering. Maybe solid impact in local host community & elite young athletes but there is a much bigger picture to play for here & global ROI”

Under current chief Thomas Bach (GER), the Youth Olympic Games has become a living laboratory, trying new concepts and sports such as a free, city-center Opening Ceremony in Buenos Aires in 2018 and break dancing, now to be an Olympic sport in 2024. The IOC will stage the 2026 YOG in Dakar, Senegal, the first large-scale IOC event to be held in Africa. Will Bach’s successor feel as kind, now that Rogge has passed?

● Athletics ● The main session of Brussels’ annual Memorial Van Damme – the penultimate stop on the Wanda Diamond League circuit for 2021 – will be held on Friday and televised live in the U.S. on NBCSN beginning at 2 p.m. Eastern time.

Tokyo winners expected to compete include Sifan Hassan (NED: women’s 5000 m), Mondo Duplantis (SWE: men’s vault) and Mariya Lasitskene (Russia: women’s high jump). The sprints will include Americans Trayvon Bromell, Michael Norman and Tokyo silver winner Fred Kerley in the men’s 100 m and Tokyo silver medalist Christine Mboma (NAM), 2019 World Champion Dina Asher-Smith, Tokyo 100 m bronze medalist Shericka Jackson (JAM) and American Sha’Carri Richardson, among others.

The Diamond League stop in Paris on NBCSN (28th) drew an audience of 243,000 and a household rating of 0.12. That trailed Fox’s MLS telecast of LAFC vs. the L.A. Galaxy at the same time, that drew 504,000 (0.28).

The Court of Arbitration for Sport’s 44-page opinion on the World Athletics vs. Shelby Houlihan (USA) doping case was released on Wednesday and confirmed her four-year suspension from 14 January 2021 to 13 January 2025.

Houlihan, now 28, was tested on 15 December 2020 and the sample came back positive for nandrolone, a prohibited steroid. She blamed the result on a contaminated burrito she bought from a food truck, containing pork offal instead of the beef she ordered.

The decision noted that even if true, Houlihan’s test showed nandrolone levels of 6.9 and 7.8 ng/mL vs. normal levels of 2.4 ng/mL in prior urinalysis studies of pork offal consumption and steroid reporting. That was too high to accept her contention that the positive test was the result of contaminated meat, and “that the Athlete has not satisfied her burden of proof on the balance of probabilities that the ADRV was unintentional, and the ADRV must be deemed to be intentional.”

Former Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya – now in Poland with her husband – continued to support freedom in her former home by auctioning off her 200 m silver medal from the European Team Championships in 2019.

According to the Belarusian Sports Solidarity Foundation (BSSF), the medal was purchased on eBay by a U.S. buyer for $21,000 (€17,800). The expectation is that the Foundation will be able to use the money to help other Belarusian athletes who are being persecuted by the Lukashenko regime.

● Cycling ● It just seemed unlikely that Norway’s unheralded Odd Christian Eiking was going to complete a perfect, error-free Vuelta a Espana, leading to an unlikely win in the final Grand Tour of 2021.

He didn’t.

After an uneventful sprinter’s stage 16, win by Dutch star Fabio Jakobsen on Tuesday, the brutal four-climb 17th stage ended with a vicious final ascent to the Lagos de Covadonga at 1,071 m. Despite rainy conditions, Roglic attacked at the base of the ascent – about 8 km out – and broke the race open, winning by 1:35 over American Sepp Kuss and seven others, with Eiking way back, 9:23 behind the winner after a crash on the second descent.

That put Roglic back in the lead, this time by 2:22 over Spain’s Enric Mas.

Thursday’s stage 18 was another misery-inducing, four-climb stage – perhaps the hardest of the race – with Australia’s Michael Storer holding a breakaway position onto the final climb, but he was overtaken about 5.5 km from the uphill finish. Spain’s Miguel Angel Lopez took the lead and behind him Roglic attacked to get clear of his other pursuers.

Lopez won, with Roglic 14 seconds back and Mas 20 second behind the leader. The strung-out finish saw Roglic extend his overall lead at 2:30 over Mas and 2:53 over Lopez. Stages 19 and 20 are hilly, but real challenges as the two just-completed mountain stages were. Roglic is in excellent position to claim a three-peat on Sunday, the first to do so since 2005.

● Football ● The U.S. Men’s National Team starts its 2022 World Cup qualifying chase against El Salvador on the road, at the Estadio Cuscatlan in San Salvador, with kickoff at 10:05 p.m. Eastern time tonight (televised on the CBS Sports Network).

The U.S. has an all-time record against El Salvador of 18-1-5 and has been unbeaten in the last 17 matches.

Two more qualifiers will quickly follow on 5 September in Nashville vs. Canada and on 8 September at Honduras in San Pedro Sula.

● Swimming ● The International Swimming League’s second match was shown on the CBS Sports Network last Saturday and drew no appreciable rating on day one, but the second day program – shown on CBS at noon Eastern – did well at 656,000 total audience and a 0.45 household rating.

Unfortunately, the remaining nine ISL telecasts for the 2021-22 season are all scheduled to air on CBSSN.

“A report produced by the Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau shows the Olympic Swim Trials generated $34.5 million in economic impact to the city and state over the two-week period in June. The financial impact comes primarily from out-of-state visitors paying for hotel rooms, tickets, meals, attractions, shopping and other expenses during their stay.”

Most of the impact came during the second wave – the actual selection meet – with $30.4 million on the total, despite a 50% limit on spectators at the CHI Health Center.

Pretty impressive even with all the restrictions; it’s hard to imagine that USA Swimming won’t reward Omaha once again for 2024, given that the Trials was on its way to selling out completely before the pandemic hit in 2020.

● The Last Word ● OK, here’s the newest wrinkle in the selection of a host city or country for a major Games or championship: public signing of the hosting agreement on a giant-sized contract!

That was done in the announcement of Barranquilla, Colombia as the host of the 2027 Pan American Games – pictured above – being signed by Barranquilla Mayor Jaime Pumarejo.

Future bidders, take note!

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