ATHLETICS: Winkler hammers American Record at U.S. Trials, while Bromell (9.80), Harrison (12.50), Norman (44.07), Hayes (49.78) and Felix (50.02) star

June 20, 2021

tsx pix 50917 harrison keni — World record holder Keni Harrison is now on her way to Tokyo!

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Day three of the U.S. Olympic Trials at Eugene’s rebuilt Hayward Field was scheduled to last eight hours, from the decathlon 110 m hurdles through the final of the men’s 100 m, but it was worth it! The highlights, as they happened:

● Men’s hammer: The first final of the day saw the world’s no. 2 thrower, Rudy Winkler, set a meet record of 80.75 m (264-11) in the first round, his third-best throw ever and further than he ever threw prior to 2021!

He then unleashed his second throw further than anyone in American history: 82.71 m (271-4), erasing Lance Deal’s 1996 mark of 82.52 m (270-9)! It’s still no. 2 in 2021, but moves him to no. 20 on the all-time list. Wow!

Winkler came back to 80.98 m (265-8) in round three, a distance only he and world leader Pawel Fajdek (POL) have reached in 2021. Second and third were Daniel Haugh (76.93 m/252-4) and Alex Young (76.01 m/249-4), nos. 7 and 9 on the year list so far.

No let-up for Winkler, who reached 82.10 m (269-4) in round four, the no. 7 throw in U.S. history. Haugh improved in round five to 78.97 m (259-1) to strengthen his grip on second, Winkler finally showed he was human, throwing 79.61 m (261-2), a distance only four other American throwers have ever reached.

Young uncorked his best of the day in the final round at 78.32 (256-11) – a lifetime best – finishing third. That inspired Haugh, who got a lifetime best himself at 79.39 m (260-5), moving to no. 6 in U.S. history. Winkler then finished at 80.28 m (263-5), and will lead both Haugh and Young to Tokyo. Impressive.

● Women’s 100 m hurdles: The semifinals started with a non-false start, but on the re-start, LSU star Tonea Marshall stormed to the lead and never gave it back, winning in 12.50 (+1.2 m/s), holding off Christina Clemons (12.51), with Rio 2016 champ Brianna McNeal third in 12.56. Because McNeal is running under a stay of her doping suspension while her appeal is ongoing, a ninth runner will be added to the final.

Marshall, injured during the 4×100 m at the NCAA Championships last week, held out of the hurdles final and that looks like a good decision right now.

In semi two, world-record holder Keni Harrison was in front from the gun and ran away with the race in 12.50 (+1/3 m/s), same as Marshall. NCAA champ Anna Cockrell was second in 12.59 and Payton Chadwick was third in 12.64.

In the final, Harrison got a good start and took control of the race by hurdle three, winning by daylight in 12.47 (+0.8 m/s). Three lunged at the line for second, with McNeal getting there in 12.51, Clemons leaning perfectly for third (12.53) and Gabbi Cunningham fourth, also in 12.53 (actually, 12.521-12.526). Cockrell was fifth in 12.58 and Marshall was sixth in 12.63.

Cunningham – who missed by 5/1000ths – may yet be on the team pending McNeal’s appeal of her doping suspension to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

● Men’s 100 m: World leader Trayvon Bromell and the legendary Justin Gatlin were in the same heat and in the same semi. Off the gun, Bromell got an excellent start and his small lead after 20 m got bigger and he won in 9.90 (-0.3 m/s), with Kenny Bednarek overtaking Gatlin in the final 10 m, as Gatlin leaned too early, 9.96-10.00. The 9.96 was a lifetime best for Bednarek.

Noah Lyles, Ronnie Baker and Fred Kerley were supposed to be the stars in semi two, and they finished 3-2-1 at the tape, with Kerley coming on in the final 10 m to win in 9.92 (+0.7 m/s), passing Lyles (9.97) and then Baker (9.94). Marvin Bracy-Williams, who had run 9.85 this year, pulled up after 30 m and had to talk across the line last in 17.82.

The final had Gatlin (at 39), Bednarek, Kerley, Bromell, Baker and Lyles in lanes 2-7 and Bromell got the best start and separated from the field in the final 10 m to win in 9.80 (+0.8 m/s). Baker and Kerley, on each side of Bromell, were right with him and finished 2-3 in 9.85 – lifetime best – and 9.86 – lifetime best – leaving the U.S. 1-2-3 on the 2021 world list.

Bednarek was fourth in 9.89, with Oregon’s Micah Williams fifth (possibly on the plane for relay duty) in 9.91. Lyles was slow off the start and was unable to mount his usual late charge, finishing seventh in 10.05. He’ll hope for better in the 200 m, Gatlin appeared to be hurt and jogged after 80 m, finishing in 10.87.

● Men’s 400 m: Michael Norman wanted to leave no doubt and he took off from the start, clearly in the lead heading into the far turn. He was challenged by Michael Cherry heading into the final straight, but Norman had the extra gear he’s famous for and ran away to win in 44.07, a seasonal best and still no. 2 in the world for 2021. Cherry had a lifetime best of 44.35, still no. 4 on the year in second.

Elija Godwin looked like a potential third-placer, but he faded badly in the final 75 m, while NCAA champ Randolph Ross stormed down the straight and passed Godwin (6th: 44.94), Vernon Norwood (5th: 44.92) and then North Carolina A&T teammate Trevor Stewart (44.74) to finish third in 44.74. With much more rest in Tokyo, Ross could challenge Norman for gold.

● Men’s decathlon: Former Georgia star Garrett Scantling, now 28, was fourth at the 2016 Trials, and dominated the field, piling up a 279-point lead going into the 1,500 m. He started the year with a lifetime best of 8,232 from 2015 and hadn’t competed in a decathlon since 2016 at the start of this year. But he scored 8,476 in April, and finished here in a startling 8,647, no. 2 in the world for 2021.

Former Big 10 champ Steven Bastien was third entering the 1,500 m and kept fourth-place Harrison Williams in his sights during the 1,500 m and ran away in the final 200 m to finish with the no. 2 time (4:22.21) and moved up to second with a lifetime best of 8,485, fourth on the year list. Williams finished fourth with 8,306; Rio seventh-placer Zach Ziemek, the 2018 national champion, scored a lifetime best of 8,471 (no. 5 in 2021) and ended up third.

● Women’s 400 m: All eyes were on Allyson Felix in lane eight and she charged from the start, taking the lead on the backstraight. But Quanera Hayes took control heading into the curve, passing Kendall Ellis for the lead. Wadeline Jonathas ran hard on the far turn and was even with Hayes heading into the straight, with Ellis third and Felix fading.

But while Hayes steamed home to win in a season’s best of 49.78, Felix charged from the back and passed Ellis in the final 20 m and then Jonathas at the line for second. Felix earned a season’s best 50.02, with Jonathas at 50.03 and Ellis at 50.10. Hayes moved from sixth to fifth on the 2021 world list and Felix – on her fifth Olympic team – is suddenly no. 8 in 2021, with her fastest time since 2017.

● Women’s high jump: The jumping really started at 1.90 m (6-2 3/4), with only five women left. Favorite Vashti Cunningham and Rio Olympian Inika McPherson both cleared 1.93 m (6-4) on their first try, joined by Nicole Greene on the second try, and Rachel McCoy on her third try, leaving four jumpers for three spots.

McCoy, Greene and McPherson all missed their tries at 1.96 m (6-5), but Cunningham sailed over, sending her to Tokyo. The other three all missed at 1.96, with McPherson second and Greene third; McCoy’s extra miss at 1.93 was the difference. Cunningham took three tries at 2.02 m (6-7 1/2), but missed all three times.

● Women’s triple jump: The three finalists with the Olympic standard were American Record holder Keturah Orji, former American Record holder Tori Franklin and Jasmine Moore. Orji took the lead right away at 14.40 m (47-3), then Franklin got a season’s best of 14.20 m (46-7 1/4) in round three, with Moore at 14.15 m (46-5 1/4) through three rounds.

That’s the way they finished, although Orji improved to 14.52 m (47-7 3/4) in round six and Franklin finished at 14.36 m (47-1 1/2).

The only qualifying-only event on the program is the women’s 3,000 m Steeple, with American Record holder Courtney Frerichs falling on the second lap of the first heat, but leading a couple of laps later in order to get out of trouble. She strung out the field and led a breakaway pack of five, with Marisa Howard and BYU’s Courtney Weymant closest. At the bell, Frerichs led by 5 m, but the pace clearly offered the chance for the Olympic qualifying standard of 9:30.00 and Grayson Murphy and Weymant surged off the last water jump to run 1-2 in 9:25.37 and 9:27.17 – getting the standard – with Frerichs jogging in third at 9:27.75. Howard was an auto-advancing fifth.

Former World Champion Emma Coburn had no interest in repeating Frerichs’s fall and she took off from the start and stayed out of trouble. She was joined by Leah Falland and Mel Lawrence in the breakaway after four laps and Coburn sailed home in 9:21.32, ahead of Falland (9:23.36) and Lawrence (9:29.30).

Worth noting: As this is the U.S. national championship meet for 2021, there is prize money at stake. The top eight places win $10,000-8,000-6,000-4,000-3,000-2,000-1,000-1,000 or $35,000 per event. Across 40 events, a total of $1.40 million is at stake.

The first half of the Trials concludes on Monday, with six finals, in the men’s 800 m, pole vault, triple jump and javelin, and the women’s 1,500 m and 5,000 m, before rest days on Tuesday and Wednesday.

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HIGHLIGHTS: U.S. women dominate FIBA AmeriCup and FINA Water Polo World League Super Final with title game wins

Rich Perelman

June 20, 2021

tsx pix 2021-619 us women fiba americup 750 (usab) — The U.S. women team of all collegiate stars celebrates another FIBA Women's AmeriCup title! (Photo: USA Basketball)

Headline results of noteworthy competitions around the world/updated/:

● Archery ● The World Archery final qualifier for the Tokyo Games was in Paris (FRA) this weekend, prior to the World Cup from the 21st to the 27th, with the United States looking for top-three finishes that would allow a full team of three shooters in Tokyo.

The men, with World Champion Brady Ellison, Jack Williams and Jacob Wukie, led the qualifying round at 2,031 and advanced to the second round of the team elimination matches. First was Slovenia and a 6-2 U.S. win, then another 6-2 win over Spain in the quarterfinals.

With three team slots available, winning the semifinal sent the U.S. to Tokyo and the American trio shut out France, 6-0. With a spot in the Games – and two individual spots for Wukie and Williams – the U.S. men won the qualifying tournament with a 5-3 score over Indonesia in the final.

Jeff Henckels of Luxembourg was the men’s individual leader after qualifying, ahead of Russian Galsan Bazarzhapov, 682-675, with the elimination matches coming on Monday.

The U.S. women’s team of Mackenzie Brown, Casey Kaufhold and Jennifer Mucino-Fernandez shot on Sunday, finishing third in the qualifying behind Mexico and India. In the elimination matches, the U.S. advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-2 win over the Czech Republic and then faced a powerful team from Turkey. The U.S. won the first end, 54-50, and the third end, 57-52. Turkey tied it by winning the fourth, 55-52, requiring an extra end. It couldn’t have been closer, as both teams scored 25 points, and the Americans squeezed out a victory with a closest-to-the-center measurement making the difference.

That brought the U.S. into the semifinals, with a win guaranteeing a full team in Tokyo. No problem, as the U.S. shut out Spain, 3-0, while Mexico advanced to the final (and to Tokyo) with a 5-1 win over Italy. In the final, the U.S. took the first end, 56-53, but then saw Mexico win the next two – 56-53 and 59-56 – and a 56-56 tie in end four to take the title, 5-3.

The women’s individual competition saw Poland’s Magdalena Smialkowska lead after the qualifying round at 653, ahead of Uzbek Ziyodakhon Abdusattorova (648). The elimination will be held on Monday.

● Athletics ● Although the U.S. Olympic Trials are center stage, meets are continuing around the world with excellent marks.

On Saturday in Madrid (ESP), Colombian World silver 400 m medalist Anthony Zambrano zoomed to a 44.51 win, now no. 6 on the world list. He edged reigning Olympic 400 m champ Wayde van Niekerk (RSA) who finally got his Tokyo qualifier at 44.56.

The triple jumps were outstanding, with Hugues Fabrice Zango of Burkina Faso facing off with Portugal’s Pedro Pablo Pichardo in a memorable duel. Pichardo struck first, landing at 17.65 m (57-11) in the first round and then 17.59 m (57-8 1/2) in round two. But Zango got to 17.49 m (57-4 3/4) in round three, then exploded for 17.83 m wind-aided (58-6w) in round four to take the lead. Pichardo responded with a world-leading 17.69 m (58-0 1/2) with legal wind in round four, but could do no more and finished second.

Venezuela’s Olympic favorite Yulimar Rojas won the women’s TJ as expected, but had four jumps over 15 m (49-2 1/2) to dominate the event. She started with 15.19 m (49-10), then jumped 15.16 m (49-9), a foul, 15.19 m (49-9 3/4), 14.99 m (49-2 1/3) and finished with a wind-aided 15.34 m (50-4w) for the victory. She’s one of the near-locks for Olympic gold in Tokyo.

On Sunday in Chorzow (POL), the 2021 European men’s Indoor 800 m Champion Patryk Dobek (POL) won with a lifetime best and world-leading time of 1:43.73, all the more amazing because it’s his first year in the event! Britons Jamie Webb and Elliot Giles followed in 1:44.14 and 1:44.2, outdoor lifetime bests for both.

World men’s hammer leader Pawel Fajdek (POL) won at 82.14 m (269-6), a distance only he has reached this season and Isaac Makwala (BOT) won the men’s 400 m in 44.47, no. 6 in the world for 2021.

Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay was after the world record in the women’s 1,500 and won in 3:54.01, the no. 2 performance in 2021, with only teammate Hirut Meshesha anywhere close (3:59.43). It’s a lifetime best for Tsegay and moves her up to no. 12 on the all-time list.

Namibian 400 m sensation Beatrice Masilingi showed that her high-altitude times are for real, winning in 49.88, just short of her 49.53 mark from April. Freweyni Hailu (ETH) won the women’s 800 m in a speedy 1:57.57 – no. 2 for 2021 – ahead of Catriona Bisset of Australia (1:58.09: no. 4) and Renelle Lamote (FRA: 1:58.11: no. 5). It’s getting crazy out there.

● Basketball ● The all-collegiate U.S. women’s team won the 16th FIBA Women’s AmeriCup and defended its 2019 title with a 74-59 win over host Puerto Rico at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan on Saturday.

The U.S. steamed through the group stage with a 3-0 record, then stomped the U.S. Virgin Islands by 97-46 in the quarterfinals. Then things got tougher. In the semifinals against Brazil, the U.S. was down, 21-13, at the end of the first quarter and 31-18 with two minutes left in the first half.

But five points from Kentucky guard Rhyne Howard helped get the U.S. to 33-25 by halftime, before the Americans took over. They out-scored Brazil by 25-10 in the third quarter and 21-17 in the fourth for a convincing 71-60 victory and a place in the final. North Carolina State center Elissa Anne Cunane led the U.S. with 19 points and Rhyne and Michigan forward Naz Hillmon-Baker had 12 each.

Puerto Rico defeated Group A winner Canada, 65-61, in the other semi to set up a rematch from Group B, where the U.S. had won earlier, 87-65. But Puerto Rico led the final at halftime, 36-34, before the U.S. got going for good. A 10-0 run in the middle of the third quarter put the U.S. ahead by 51-40 and coach Dawn Staley’s team had a 55-47 lead at the end of the quarter. A 19-12 final quarter sewed up the victory, with Howard scoring 22 points and South Carolina forward Aliyah Boston adding 17 and 19 rebounds. Cunane added 12 points and Hillmon-Baker had 12 rebounds.

The game did not end without more drama, however; USA Basketball reported:

“The USA was on the verge of closing out the win as Boston stepped to the free throw line at 1:59, and then the overhead lights in the arena went out. As staff worked to get the lights back on, the USA and Puerto Rico had enough light to shoot around on the court, while fans treated it like a concert, waving the flashlights on their cell phones. After about 15 minutes of that, an impromptu dance battle broke out between the two teams at half court, delighting everyone in the arena.”

This was the fourth U.S. women’s AmeriCup title, now equal with Cuba for the second-most, behind Brazil’s five total wins. South Carolina coach Staley headed the U.S. squad and also coached the 2019 winners; she’s 12-0 lifetime in this tournament!

In the bronze medal game, Brazil beat Canada, 87-82, in double overtime. The top four teams – the U.S., Brazil, Canada and Puerto Rico – qualified for the 2022 FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournaments.

Howard was named as the Most Valuable Player in the tournament, with Cunane, Jennifer O’Neill of Puerto Rico, Manuela Rios of Colombia and Clarissa dos Santos of Brazil on the All-Star 5. O’Neill ended as the tournament’s leading scorer at 16.8 per game and Boston led all rebounders at 9.3 per game.

● Canoe-Kayak ● The ICF Slalom World Cup tour was in Markkleeburg (GER), a late tune-up for the forthcoming Tokyo Games. And the stars were out in force.

In the women’s K-1, three-time World Champion Jessica Fox (AUS) confirmed her Olympic favorite’s status with a decisive win in 96.76 seconds (2 penalties). Germany’s three-time Worlds medalist Ricarda Funk was second (100.28 and 2 penalties) and teammate Elena Apel (103.00 with 2 penalties) was third.

Germany’s Andrea Herzog, the reigning World Champion from 2019, won the women’s C-1 in 103.91 seconds with no penalties, beating two-time Worlds medalist Teresa Fiserova (CZE: 108.26 with 2 penalties) and 2019 Worlds bronze winner Nadine Weratschnig (AUT: 112.80 with 2 penalties). Fox, a four-time World Champion in this event, finished fourth (115.18 with 2 penalties).

The men’s K-1 final was a win for unheralded Jakub Grigar of Slovakia in 88.91 with no penalties, over Felix Oschmautz (AUT: 90.92 with 2 penalties). France’s 2014 World Champion Boris Neveu was third, at 91.86 with two penalties.

In the men’s C-1, France’s 2011 World Champion, Denis Gargaud Chanut, edged 2012 Olympic silver medalist Sideris Tasiadis, 94.75-96.87, with neither suffering penalties. Slovenia’s 2017 World Champion, Benjamin Savsek, had the fastest time through the course, but with six penalties, he ended up third at 99.59 seconds in third.

● Cycling ● /Updated/The USA Cycling Road Nationals returned once again to Knoxville, Tennessee for racing in three events each for men and women.

In the men’s 34.9 km Individual Time Trial, veteran star Lawson Craddock won his first national title, finishing well ahead of Chad Haga, 41:33.9 to 41:51.4, with Tejay van Garderen third in 42:03.2.

The 2019 World Time Trial Champion, Chloe Dygert, won her first U.S. road cycling title in the 23.2 km Individual Time Trial in 30:11.2 over 23.2 km, breaking free from five-time U.S. Time Trial champion Amber Neben (30:38.7) and Leah Thomas (31:01.6).

In Friday’s Criterium races, Luke Lamperti took the men’s title in 1:17:02.3 in a mass finish over Samuel Bassetti (1:17:02.5) and Eric Young (1:17:03.2). The women’s title was won by Kendall Ryan (1:09:20) in another mass sprint, beating Megan Jastrab, Coryn Rivera and Alexis Ryan (all 1:09:22).

Sunday’s road races started with the women contesting a 114.6 km (9 laps) on a hilly course in and around Knoxville. Lauren Stephens, the 11th placer in the 2020 World Road Champs, won her first national title on a breakaway, finishing in 3:11:19, 1:06 up on Coryn Rivera and Veronica Ewers (both 3:12:25), followed by Krista Doebel-Hickok (3:12:29) and Tayler Wiles (3:12:30).

The men’s race was a 15-lap, 190.9 km program on the same course, with Sam Boardman, Kyle Murphy and George Simpson breaking away in mid-race and sprinting to a 5:45 gap on the rest of the field. Inevitably, their advantage dwindled and with four laps to go, Chad Haga, Robin Carpenter and Nate Brown had narrowed the lead to just 15 seconds. The lead group was caught and a new pack expanded to nine with two laps to go, then two-time U.S. Time Trial champ Joey Rosskopf attacked and built a 15-second lead with a lap to go. There was lots of action on the final lap, with six in contention into the final kilometer, but it was Rosskopf who crossed the line first in 4:38:12, ahead of Brent Bookwalter (4:38:15), Murphy (4:38:17), Alexey Vermuelen (4:38:18) and Lawson Craddock (4:38:22).

● Modern Pentathlon ● The UIPM World Championships finished last Monday with the Mixed Relay, a triumph for Sehee Kim and Changwan Seo of South Korea. They finished with 1,432 points, ahead of Anastasiya Prokopenko and Ilya Palazhov of Belarus (1,422) and Germans Rebecca Langrehr and Patrick Dogue (1,415).

Seo and Kim won the Fencing, second in the Riding and seventh in Swimming and with a sixth-best time in the Laser Run held off the Belarusian team, which had the fastest time in the field.

● Swimming ● The Olympic Marathon Qualifier was held in Setubal (POR), with 15 individual spots available, and won by Hungary’s Anna Olasz in 2:01:55.5, just inches ahead of Spain’s Paola Ruiz Bravo (2:01:58.0) and Canada’s Kate Sanderson (2:01:58.4).

Sunday’s men’s race was a 1-3 finish for Great Britain, as Hector Pardoe won by daylight in 2:02:07.60, with Athanasios Kynigakis (GRE) and Tobias Robinson (GBR) third touching almost together in 2:02:13.10. The amazing Ous Mellouli of Tunisia, now 37 and the gold medalist in the 1,500 m in the pool in 2008 and the 10 km open-water in 2012, qualified for his sixth Olympic Games with a 10th-place finish in 2:02:55.60.

(The U.S. has already secured its spots for Tokyo and did not compete at Setubal.)

● Volleyball ● The FIVB Nations League is moving toward the end of the long round-robin schedule, with the playoffs looming for both men and women. All matches are being played in a sequestered environment in Rimini (ITA).

The women’s Nations League has been a showcase for the Karch Kiraly’s United States squad, which cruised to a 14-0 record before dropping its last match to China, 25-10, 25-20 and 25-17. OK, so 14-1 isn’t too bad; the U.S. won 42 of 49 sets in its 15 matches.

Behind the U.S. are Brazil (12-2 with one game to play), Japan at 12-3, Turkey at 11-3 (playing Brazil later today); China (10-5) finished fifth and out of the playoffs. The semifinals are scheduled for 24-25 June.

In the men’s Nations League, Brazil continues to lead after four of five weeks of play, with an 11-1 record, trailed by Poland (10-2), Slovenia (9-3) and Russia, France and Serbia (all 8-4).

The U.S. has moved up to 6-6 – with three other teams – but only the top four teams will participate in the playoffs, on 26-27 June.

● Water Polo ● The 17th edition of the FINA World League Super Final underlined the dominance of the U.S. women’s team – the Olympic favorites – winning its seventh straight title and 11th in the last 12. In all, the U.S. has won 14 of the 17 tournaments all-time, including the 2021 edition held in Athens (GRE).

In the group stage, Canada was 3-0 to take Group A and the U.S. zipped through Group B with a 3-0 record and a 54-20 goals-against total. In the quarterfinals, the U.S. cruised past Japan by 20-6 and 17-8 against Russia in the semis. Canada was surprised in its semi, 14-10, by Hungary and ended up playing for third against Russia.

In the final, the U.S. had some trouble with Hungary, taking a 4-2 lead after a quarter and 6-3 at half, but leading only 9-8 in the fourth period. But the American squad scored the last five goals of the match and won by 14-8. Maggie Steffens led the U.S. in scoring with four goals, and Rachel Fattal and Maddie Musselman had three each. Russia edged Canada, 10-8, to win the bronze medal.

The U.S. finished with a 51-22 goals-against edge in the playoffs and 105-42 overall in the tournament. Musselman led the U.S. scorers with 18 goals, followed by Steffens with 16, Fattal with 15 and Stephanie Haralabidis with 13. The U.S. also had some of the best goalkeeping in the tournament, as primary keeper Ashleigh Johnson had the fourth-best save percentage at 52.9% and Amanda Longan saved 72.0 percentage of her chances (18-25), the best in the tournament!

Japan’s Yuri Arima led all scorers in the tournament with 23 goals.

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SWIMMING: Dressel crushes 50 m Fly field for second U.S. Trials win; Ledecky gets fourth Trials win in 800 m Free

Rich Perelman

June 19, 2021

The penultimate day of the U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha showcased the two superstars of the American team for Tokyo: Caeleb Dressel and Katie Ledecky.

Dressel left no doubt in his first event, the men’s 100 m Butterfly final, storming to a win by more than a second in 49.87 over Tom Shields (51.19) and Luca Urlando (51.19). Not quite as fast as his world-leading 49.76 in the semis, but still the no. 5 performance in history. Dressel now owns eight of the top 11 times in this event ever.

He then had the 50 m Freestyle semifinals 37 minutes later, and watched Michael Andrew dominate the first race, winning in 21.55 – no. 3 in the world for 2021 – trailed by Bowe Becker (21.83).

Dressel and 2012 Olympic 100 m Free champ Nathan Adrian – now 32 – were next to each other in semi two, with Dressel taking the lead at about 20 m and won by daylight in 21.51, making him no. 3 for 2021, with Adrian out-dueling Michael Chadwick for second, 21.78 to 22.01. Dressel is well positioned for win no. 3 tomorrow night, but can veteran Adrian out-swim newcomer Andrew for second?

There was no doubt that Katie Ledecky was going to win in the women’s 800 m Freestyle. And she delivered in 8:14.62 for her fourth win, with the second-fastest time of the season (she’s already the world leader). The race for the second spot was tight between open-water star Haley Anderson and 15-year-old Katie Grimes, who scored a huge lifetime best of 8:20.36 to get second, with Anderson at 8:20.51. Grimes is now no. 5 in the world for 2021.

Rhyan White finished second to Regan Smith in the women’s 100 m Backstroke, but got to the touch first in the women’s 200 m Backstroke final in 2:05.73, no. 3 in the world for 2021. Smith – the world-record holder in the event – got out in front and led at 150 m, but White passed her on the final lap as did Phoebe Bacon, who got second by 2:06.46-2:06.79, the nos. 4-5 performers on the year list. But Smith will not be swimming this event in Tokyo.

The winner of the men’s 800 m Freestyle – Bobby Finke – led the men’s 1,500 m Freestyle heats in the morning in 15:04.66, ahead of 400 m Free runner-up Michael Brinegar (15:07.93) and open-water star Jordan Wilimovsky (15:14.67). The final is Sunday.

In the women’s 50 m Freestyle, Rio co-100 m champ Simone Manuel had the second-fastest time in the morning heats, then won the first race, out-touching Erika Brown, 24.50-24.57 with Catie Deloof third in 24.68. Manuel will be the sentimental favorite for tomorrow.

Heats leader Abbey Weitzeil won the second semi in 24.27, no. 9 on the 2021 world list, just ahead of Torri Huske (24.45).

Only three events on the final night of the Trials tomorrow: the men’s and women’s 50 m Freestyles and the men’s 1,500 m Freestyle.

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ATHLETICS: Richardson sensational in 10.64w and 10.86 in women’s 100 m at U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials

Rich Perelman

June 19, 2021

tsx pix 2021-618 richardson, shacarri (paul merca tktwnusa) — Sprint star Sha'Carri Richardson (Photo: Paul Merca for Tracktown USA)

The second day of the U.S. Olympic Trials for track & field was packed with drama, with the spotlight firmly on the women’s 100 meters, and deservedly so. The highlights:

● Women’s 100 m: It was showtime for Sha’Carri Richardson in the semis and she zoomed to the front by 30 m and ran away in semi one and started celebrating with 20 m left, finishing in a wind-aided 10.64 (+2.6 m/s). She told NBC afterward, “I’m that girl” and right now, she is! Teahna Daniels was second in 10.84w and Jenna Prandini was third (10.96w).

Semi two started with a false start for former U.S. champ Aleia Hobbs (more on this later). On the re-start, it was Javianne Oliver who took charge in mid-race in a wind-aided 10.83 (+2.5 m/s), followed by Gabby Thomas (10.95w) and the fast-closing former Oregon star English Gardner (10.96w).

Between the semis and the final, Hobbs’s false start was reviewed and discarded, and she was assigned lane nine! Richardson was right in the middle of the track in lane five, but it was Oliver who blew away the field at the start. Richardson was undaunted and took over in mid-race and ran away from the field in 10.86, into a headwind of 1.0 m/s. She ran almost as fast into the stands after the final to find her family and celebrate her ticket to Tokyo.

Oliver was second in 10.99 and Daniels finished third in 11.03, with Jenna Prandini fourth in 11.11 and Thomas fifth in 11.15.

● Women’s discus: Valarie Allman came in as the overwhelming favorite in the final and the American Record holder and she was hot right from the start. She spun out to 69.45 m (227-10) in the first round and then 69.92 m (229-5), the nos. 3-4 throws in U.S. history, behind her American Record of 70.15 m (230-2) in 2020 and her 70.01 m (229-8) toss in qualifying.

The rest of the throwing was ordinary, with Micaela Hazelwood second at 62.54 m (205-2) and Rachel Dincoff third at 60.21 m (197-6). Hazelwood has not met the Olympic qualifying standard of 63.50 m (208-4) and will not go to Tokyo.

In the qualifying-only events:

● Men’s 100 m: Isiah Young broke first in heat one and cruised home, edged in the final 10 m by Kenny Bednarek, 10.07-10.08; Cravon Gillespie got third in 10.20. There was plenty of buzz for heat two, with the ageless Justin Gatlin – now 39 – in lane one and world leader Trayvon Bromell in eight, and Bromell exploded out of the blocks and was challenged by Gatlin on the way to the finish. Bromell finished in 9.84 wind-aided (+2.7 m/s), with Gatlin in 9.93 and Oregon’s Micah Williams third in 9.95. Wow!

Heat three went sideways at 30 m as teen star Jaylen Slade’s right leg buckled and he fell to the track; Marvin Bracy-Williams won in 10.00 (+2.0 m/s), over Chris Belcher (10.01). Slade said afterwards that he took a bad step and was not badly hurt. Three contenders faced off in heat four, and Ronnie Baker blasted out best, with World 200 m Champion Noah Lyles chasing and sudden sprint (instead of 400 m) star Fred Kerley coming on in the final 15 m. Baker won in 9.88 (+1.9 m/s), with Kerley edging Lyles, 9.93 to 9.95. Good news for Lyles: it was a seasonal best, as he had run only 10.03 in 2021.

● Men’s 400 m: Michael Cherry is having a career year and looked in perfect form as he came off the final turn in semi one slightly in front and then extended his lead to win easily in 44.50, his second-fastest ever (!). Georgia’s Elija Godwin was strong down the straight as well and was second in 45.10 and Texas A&M Bryce Deadmon got third in 45.17. LSU’s Noah Williams, who was the world leader in the early season, faded to seventh (45.73).

All eyes were on superstar Michael Norman in semi two, but Vernon Norwood – twice a World Championships relay gold medalist – blasted to the lead around the second turn and came into the straight in the lead. But Norman surged as Norwood fell back and Norman passed Wil London and held off NCAA star Randolph Ross to win in 44.73. Ross was second in 44.85, just ahead of London (44.92) and Trevor Stewart (45.05), with Norwood fifth in 45.12. Both Stewart and Norman will advance to the final as time qualifiers.

● Men’s 800 m: World Champion Donavan Brazier and Rio medalist Clayton Murphy were both in semi one and playing a waiting game to get in position for the final straight. They came off the final turn in traffic, but ran away from everyone else in the last 50 m, with Murphy winning in 1:46.26, Brazier second in 1:46.57 and Brannon Kidder third in 1:46.97.Quanera Hayes,

Front-runner Isaiah Jewett led most of the second semi, but coming around the final bend, former Kansas star Bryce Hoppel accelerated down the straight and he and Isaiah Harris finished 1-2 with Jewett third: 1:46.00-1:46.16-1:46.18. All three are on to the final.

● Men’s pole vault: The 12 finalists all qualified at 5.65 m (18-6 1/2), with World Champion Sam Kendricks and new star Chris Nilsen clearing all four heights without a miss.

● Men’s triple jump: Will Claye came in as the favorite and he led the qualifying at 16.85 m (55-3 1/2), ahead of Donald Scott (16.81 m/55-2) and Chris Benard (16.55 m/54-3 3/4).

● Men’s javelin: The qualifying round was led by Marc Anthony Minichello at 76.63 m (251-5), with 2021 U.S. leader Curtis Thompson second at 76.23 m (250-1). It took just 68.04 m (223-3) to reach the final in one of the U.S.’s weakest events.

● Men’s decathlon: The first day concluded with Harrison Williams posting the fastest time of 48.21, but he was only in sixth overall with 4,291 points at the halfway mark. The leader is Garrett Scantling with 4,494, trailed by Georgia’s SEC champion Kyle Garland (4,424), who skipped the NCAA Championships to compete here. Veteran Zach Ziemek is third (4,409).

● Women’s 400 m: Kendall Ellis took the lead around the final turn of semifinal one, with Allyson Felix ready to strike down the straightaway. Felix got to the lead with 50 m to go, but Ellis pushed hard and won – as Felix backed off – in 50.83 to 51.01. UCLA’s Shae Anderson was third in 51.27 and advances to the final. Phyllis Francis, the 2017 World Champion, finished seventh in 52.12.

Lynna Irby went out hard in semi two, but Quanera Hayes caught Irby with 100 m to go and won in a much-faster 50.07. Former NCAA champ Wadeline Jonathas came up in the final 10 m to get second in 50.24, with Kaylin Whitney third (50.35) and Irby a time-qualifier for the final in fourth (50.58).

● Women’s 1,500 m: The first semi was slow, with Elle Purrier St. Pierre kicking best to finish in 4:09.18, just ahead of 2011 World Champion Jenny Simpson (4:09.92) and Dani Aragon (4:09.94). The second race was more honest, with Nikki Hiltz winning in 4:05.87, edging Cory McGee in the final meters in 4:05.96, with Sinclaire Johnson third in 4:06.04.

● Women’s 100 m hurdles: World-record holder Keni Harrison ran powerfully in the first heat to win in 12.49, only 0.01 off her seasonal best; only three others have run faster in 2021. Taliyah Brooks came on during the run-in to edge Christina Clemons in heat two, 12.61-12.64.

NCAA champion – and now a professional – Anna Cockrell won heat three in a blanket finish in 12.63, out-leaning Rayniah Jones of Central Florida (12.64) and Payton Chadwick (12.66). Rio Olympic champ Brianna McNeal, competing under a stay from the Court of Arbitration for Sport while she appeals a five-year suspension for tampering with doping protocols, was superb in winning heat four in 12.50, ahead of Gabbi Cunningham (12.67) and Tonea Marshall (12.76).

Sunday’s finals include the men’s hammer, women’s high jump, women’s triple jump, the men’s decathlon, women’s and men’s 400 m, the women’s 100 m hurdles and the men’s 100 m.

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SWIMMING: Dressel blasts to world lead and no. 3 time ever in 50 m Fly at 49.76, while Lazor shocks King in women’s 200 m Breast final!

Rich Perelman

June 18, 2021

tsx pix 2019-728 dressel, caeleb fly wch 750 — American sprint star Caeleb Dressel (Photo: FINA)

There were four finals at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha on Friday, but the day and the night belonged to sprint superstar Caeleb Dressel.

His tight win in the men’s 100 m Freestyle on Thursday night seemed to relax him and he re-wrote the all-time list in the men’s 50 m Butterfly in the heats and semifinals!

In the morning, he blew away the field, winning in a world-leading 50.17, the no. 9 performance of all time, saying afterwards “We’ve still got to clean some stuff up.” especially on the finish.

He was more than ready in the semis, finishing the evening’s program with a dominant win in 49.76, the third fastest time ever, behind his world record of 49.50 from the 2019 World Championships semifinals in Korea and his 49.66 in the Worlds final. Dressel owns this event: he has seven of the top 10 times in history.

And there is still the final to go! Tom Shields was a distant second among the qualifiers at 51.20, followed by Coleman Stewart (51.54).

In the women’s 200 m Breaststroke, Annie Lazor just barely missed beating 100 m Breast winner (and Olympic champ) Lilly King in the semis, but got her in the final. King was out strongly and led at the 100 m mark, but Lazor took over on the third lap and never let up, splitting 35.97 and 36.20 over the last two laps to 37.02 and 36.55 for King. Their final times were 2:21.07 for Lazor (no. 3 on the 2021 world list) and 2:21.75 for King (still no. 5). Emily Escobedo was third in 2:22.64.

Rio double Olympic Backstroke champ Ryan Murphy showed he’s planning a double-double for Tokyo with a clear victory in the men’s 200 m Backstroke. Already the 100 m Back winner, he led wire-to-wire to win in 1:54.20, moving to no. 2 on the year list, ahead of Bryce Mefford, moving up from fourth in the 100 m Back final. Mefford’s time of 1:54.79 ranks him no. 5 in 2021; Austin Katz finished third in 1:55.86.

Michael Andrew claimed the world lead in the semis of the men’s 200 m Medley at 1:55.26 and was on world-record pace after the first three legs in both the heats and semis. Same in the final, with Andrew storming to the lead and winning by a second and a half over 2017 World Champion Chase Kalisz in 1:55.44 (but well of the record of 1:54.00). Kalisz used his brilliant Breaststroke leg to move from fifth to second and stayed there, finishing in 1:56.97, with Kieran Smith – who won the 200 m and 400 m frees – third in 1:57.23. World-record holder Ryan Lochte, trying for fifth Olympic team, was seventh in 1:59.67.

The women’s 100 m Freestyle was marked, of course, by the absence of 2016 Rio co-champion Simone Manuel, but former national champ Abbey Weitzeil led all the way and won in 53.53, a couple of 100ths better than her semifinal time. Erika Brown was a steady second and made the team at 53.59, beating veteran Olivia Smoliga, who will go to a second Olympic Games on at least relay duty in third (53.63). Natalie Hinds was fourth (53.64) and also on the plane for relays; 200 m Free runner-up Allison Schmidt finished sixth in 54.12.

In the women’s 200 m Backstroke semis, superstar Regan Smith had the fastest time, winning semi two in 2:07.23, ahead of Phoebe Bacon from semi one (2:07.46), Rhyan White (2:08.39 in heat two) and Kathleen Baker – remember her foot injury – was third in semi two in 2:08.58 and onto the final. Hali Flickinger, the winner of the 200 m Fly, was the final qualifier in 2:09.81.

The U.S. Trials continue though Sunday; Saturday’s finals include the men’s 100 m Fly, women’s 200 m Back and men’s 800 m Free.

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ATHLETICS: He did it! Crouser explodes to world record 23.37 m (76-8 1/4) to mark U.S. Olympic Trials opening day!

Rich Perelman

June 18, 2021

tsx pix 62517 crouser ryan — Shot Put superstar Ryan Crouser (USA)

Track & field’s U.S. Olympic Trials got going in Eugene, with a historic moment in the first five minutes of the meet:

In the shot qualifying, Rio Olympic champ Ryan Crouser got the Trials off to an explosive start, just after noon, when he stepped up as the fifth thrower and reaching a stunning 22.92 m or 75-2 1/2, the no. 5 throw of all time! Crouser wasn’t done either, throwing 22.64 m (74-3 1/2) in the second round, a distance only nine others – including Crouser – have ever reached. His opinion?

“I am really excited based on the fact that I was able to throw my second farthest throw ever. It was a static throw. I can add a chunk to that with a full throw. It was really easy. I was nervous hopping in that first round. Iron some stuff out this evening, and find some patience.”

He still had the final to go.

Crouser left no doubt that he was on the team with his first throw, reaching 22.61 m (74-21/4), followed two throwers later by World Champion Joe Kovacs, who sent the ball to 21.55 m (70-8 1/2). Crouser followed up with 22.55 m (73-11 3/4), while Kovacs improved slightly to 21.56 m (70-9).

In round three, Crouser was great again, out to 22.73 m (74-7), meaning all of his throws were better than everyone else’s best throw. Kovacs responded with an improvement to 22.06 m (72-4 1/2) to end any debate about second place.

Throwing now in reverse order in the finals, Kovacs threw 21.38 m (70-1 3/4), but then Crouser got the throw of his life on the final throw of the fourth round. He spun and yelled and the sphere landed further than ever before: a stunning world record of 23.37 m or 76-8 1/4!

Crouser didn’t get break the record, he annihilated the mark of 23.12 m (75-10 1/4) by Randy Barnes (USA) from 1990 at the Pepsi Invitational in Los Angeles. It’s a record Crouser was sure would come, but he didn’t know when. Here’s how dominant Crouser is: he owns five of the top 10 throws of all time.

Moreover: only 30 men in history have thrown the shot 22.00 m (72-2 1/4). Crouser has – by himself – 134 throws at 22.00 m or more. Astonishing, and the greatest of all time.

After foul in the fifth round, Crouser finished at 22.62 m (74-2 1/2) in perhaps the greatest series of all time: 22.61 m (74-2 1/4), 22.55 m (73-11 3/4), 22.73 m (74-7), 23.37 m (76-8 1/4 world record), foul, 22.62 m (74-2 1/2).

Behind him was Kovacs with his best throw coming on his last, at 22.34 m (73-3 1/2) and Payton Otterdahl, who made a late charge to 21.92 m (71-11) in the fifth round to finish ahead of Darrell Hill (21.89 m/71-10).

In the men’s 10,000 m, the starting field of 25 was barely dented through 8,000 m, with 16 men in contention. Georgetown All-American Robert Brandt was leading through 8,800 m, but the pace suddenly increased to 66.0 on the next lap as Reid Buchanan took over, trailed by Grant Fisher and Joe Klecker. Fisher then took charge with a 63.33 lap to reach the bell, and then it was a mass sprint with 10 men still in it on the final lap. It was Woody Kincaid who found a 53.47 final lap to win in 27:53.62, followed by Fisher (27:54.29), Klecker (27:54.90) and then Ben True in fourth (27:58.88) and BYU’s Connor Mantz in fifth (27:59.37). Marathon Trials winner Galen Rupp moved from seventh to sixth on the final lap and finished in 27:59.43. Brandt was 12th in 28:09.92.

In the qualifying:

● Men’s 400 m: The heats were insanely fast, with North Carolina A&T’s Trevor Stewart powering down the straight to win heat one in 44.75 over LSU’s Noah Williams (45.21). Michael Cherry, no. 4 on the 2021 world list, looked easy and won heat two in 44.86, ahead of Ryan Willie (45.34) and Texas A&M’s Bryce Deadmon (45.46). LaShawn Merritt was fifth in 45.81 – pretty good for a heat – and was the last qualifier to the semis (at age 34).

Tokyo favorite Michael Norman headlined heat three, but Georgia’s Elija Godwin – third in the SEC, but who didn’t make it to the NCAAs – started in lane eight and had a huge lead coming into the straight and held on to win in 44.61, with Norman at 45.18. In heat four, NCAA sensation (and world leader at 43.85) Randolph Ross had to run from lane seven, and looked to be in trouble off the last turn, but moved up to qualify third in 45.61. Wil London won at the line in 45.46, in the same time as Vernon Norwood (45.46).

● Men’s 800 m: Former BYU star Abraham Alvarado surprised 2019 NCAA champ Bryce Hoppel in heat one, 1:48.35-1:48.38, holding him off on the final straight. The second heat was fast, with World Champion Donavan Brazier charging past three others in lane one in the final 100 m to win in 1:45.00 – wow! – with Brannon Kidder second in 1:45.06 and Isaiah Harris third in 1:45.25, with Erik Sowinski at 1:45.47 in fourth!

Heat three was slow and another mass sprint, with Michael Rhoads of the U.S. Air Force winning in 1:48.64, ahead of Sean Dolan of Villanova (1:48.68) and Brandon Miller of Texas A&M (1:48.75). Rio medal winner Clayton Murphy and NCAA champ Isaiah Jewett were the expected leaders in heat four, and Jewett led at the bell and right through the finish (1:47.83), with Murphy right alongside (1:47.84).

● Men’s hammer: American leader and world no. 2 Rudy Winkler led the men’s hammer qualifying at 79.13 m (259-7), but the no. 2 American on the season, Sean Donnelly (79.27 m/260-1) – no. 5 on the world list – failed to record a valid mark and was eliminated.

● Women’s 100 m: The racing got crazy right away, as Gabby Thomas – known for the 200 m – won the first heat in a lifetime best of 11.00 (+0.8 m/s), beating former national champ Aleia Hobbs (11.04) and Dezerea Bryant (11.09). Cam Sturgis of North Carolina A&T then showed that her NCAA win was no fluke, beating big names like Jenna Prandini (11.22) and Tianna Bartoletta (11.27) in 11.15 into a 0.7 m/s headwind.

Javianne Oliver, an under-appreciated sprinter, won heat three in 10.96 (+1.1 m/s) ahead of Kayla White (10.99) and Teahna Daniels (11.02). Then came Sha’Carri Richardson – in flowing golden hair – in heat four, who blew away the field in a sensational 10.84 (+0.9 m/s), way ahead of Mikiah Brisco (11.15) and English Gardner (11.17). Impressive; very, very impressive.

● Women’s 400 m: The modest crowd at Hayward cheered hard for Allyson Felix in the first heat, winning in 50.99, ahead of veteran Jessica Beard (51.10). Quanera Hayes romped to a huge lead by 300 m in heat two, then cruised into the finish in 52.34, just ahead of Taylor Manson (52.37). A lot of questions were to be asked in heat three, but 2019 NCAA champion Wadeline Jonathas had the best answer with a strong finish to win in 50.64 – fastest of the day – over Lynna Irby, who had a huge lead at 300 m, then struggled a little down the straight. Former USC star Kendall Ellis controlled heat four and won in 51.02, with UCLA’s Shae Anderson second in 51.32. Four-time NCAA 400 m champ at Texas and Rio 4×400 m gold medalist Courtney Okolo was fourth in 52.37 and did not advance to the semis.

● Women’s 1,500 m: The 2011 World Champion and 2016 Olympic bronze winner, Jenny Simpson, won the first race on the track on Friday in the 1,500 m heats in 4:11.34. Dani Aragon won heat two in 4:13.34 and 2021 U.S. leader Elle Purrier St. Pierre took heat three in a bunch finish in 4:11.78, with a 62-second final lap.

● Women’s 5,000 m: Abbey Cooper, who made the Rio 2016 team as Abbey D’Agostino, ran away with the first heat, taking dead aim at the Olympic qualifying standard of 15:10.00 and gritting her teeth for the last four laps, finished in 15:07.80. That was way ahead of Rachel Schneider in second (15:23.45) and allows Cooper to simply try and finish in the top three in the final to make the U.S. team.

Seven runners ran together at the bell in the second heat and four separated with 120 m to go, with Josette Norris winning in 15:32.58, ahead of Karissa Schweizer (15:32.63), Elise Cranny (15:32.71) and Elly Henes (15:32.75), with a 57.7 final lap for the leaders.

● Women’s high jump: The 12 qualifiers to the final all cleared 1.87 m (6-1 1/2), including favored Vashti Cunningham and 2016 Olympian Inika McPherson.

● Women’s triple jump: Favorite Keturah Orji led all qualifiers at 14.29 m (46-10 3/4), ahead of Jasmine Moore (14.04 m/46-0 3/4) and former American Record holder Tori Franklin (13.84 m/45-5).

● Women’s discus: The star coming in was American Record holder Valarie Allman and she caught the wind on her second-round throw and got out to the no. 2 throw in the world in 2021 and the no. 2 throw in U.S. history at 70.01 m (229-8). That was the top mark, with Rachel Dincoff following at 61.63 m (202-2) and 2012 Olympian (and former American Record holder) Gia Lewis-Smallwood third (60.94 m/199-11).

The U.S. Trials continue through the 27th; Saturday’s finals include women’s discus and the women’s 100 m.

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THE TICKER: Squabbling continues over Tokyo attendance, French government worried about Paris 2024 costs; Houlihan out of U.S. Trials

Rich Perelman

June 18, 2021

tsx pix 2021-321 tokyo olympic stadium empty 750 — Will there be any fans at Tokyo 2020's Olympic Stadium for the Games? NOPE. (Photo: Tokyo 2020)

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(For coverage of Thursday’s Olympic swimming trials in the U.S. and Australia, click here.)

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

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● There is no let-up in the announcements, pronouncements and posturing about the Tokyo Games, especially now concerning whether spectators will be allowed and if so, how many. The recent headlines:

● 16 June: The state of emergency in Tokyo and eight other prefectures, including Hokkaido, in which Sapporo – site of the marathons and walks – is located, is scheduled to end on Sunday, 20 June. A “quasi-state of emergency” will remain in place until 11 July, 12 days prior to the Olympic Opening Ceremony.

Wednesday’s announcement also noted that up to 10,000 spectators would be allowed at sporting events in the “quasi-state,” but this does not apply to the Games.

● 17 June: Kyodo News reported that the “Japanese government is considering setting a cap of 10,000 spectators” at Olympic venues.

● 17 June: Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told reporters he would like to see spectators at the Games.

● 18 June: Vaccinations for Olympic staff, volunteers and domestic news media started at multiple centers around Tokyo.

● 18 June: The Tokyo 2020 organizers said Friday that the number of “overseas-based staff and officials” allowed to come to Japan for the Games will be cut from 78,000 to 53,000, primarily through cuts to “Olympic family members.” If true, the originally-expected total of about 180,000 such visits will have been cut by an impressive by 70.5%.

Comment: This is a signal to future organizing committees of how many people are really needed to organize a Games vs. the usual demands for more and more accreditees.

● 18 June: An online meeting on Monday (21st) is expected to resolve the policy over spectator attendance at the Tokyo Games.

● 18 June: The head of the Japanese government committee on coronavirus control advised that holding the Games without spectators is the best way to prevent problems. Shigeru Omi included this recommendation in a set of proposals to the government on further virus control, as the infection rate has seen a recent decline.

Stay tuned.

The International Olympic Committee published the third-edition “playbooks” for both broadcasters and press on Wednesday (16th), outlining many of the same restrictions – and possible penalties – as in the third edition of the playbook for Athletes and Officials.

Media members will be required to observe a limited quarantine for three days after arrival, but can perform their Games-related duties if “You test negative for COVID-19 every day; and you operate under a higher level of supervision by Tokyo 2020, which may involve use of GPS data (subject to your consent) or direct supervision where necessary, to confirm your movements.”

A booking system is required to go to any venue and requests must be made in advance, for up to 10 sessions per day, offering some options for coverage, but not for any breaking news.

The World Anti-Doping Agency noted a significant rise in the number of anti-doping tests now being done as the pandemic recedes in some areas:

“The latest figures … show that 24,430 samples were collected in May 2021 by 152 ADOs, which is the highest number of samples collected since the pandemic started in March 2020.”

Out-of-competition testing is also up, even compared to 2019. Testing in April 2021 totaled 14,560 vs. 12,713 in 2019 and in May, the totals increased to 16,149 vs. 13,691 for the same month in 2019, the highest number of out-of-competition samples collected the prior 29 months.

● Games of the XXXIII Olympiad: Paris 2024 ● The French government’s Court of Auditors released a summary of its review of the financial standing of the 2024 Games, noting caution over the agreed-to budgets of the Paris 2024 organizers (€3.9 billion, about $4.63 billion U.S.) and Solideo, the government-formed construction unit (€3.4 billion, about $4.04 billion).

It not surprisingly warned that (as translated) “respect for these envelopes is an essential stake, in itself and as one of the criteria for the success of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, in particular in the face of the expectations of public opinion.” The report also worried about ticket revenues and sponsorship sales if Covid-19 issues remain in France.

● XXV Olympic Winter Games: Milan Cortina 2026 ● The IOC announced that its Executive Board has endorsed a recommendation from the Milan Cortina organizers to include Ski Mountaineering in the Games, with five events and 48 total athletes within the overall athlete total of 2,900..

The IOC has noted that while the number of competitors in the Olympic Games must be controlled at 10,500, it feels there is room to expand the Winter Games. The proposal for Ski Mountaineering is for 2026 only, as the sport is quite popular in Italy, and must be approved by the IOC Session in Tokyo.

● Athletics ● It wouldn’t be the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials if there wasn’t some controversy and Thursday brought considerable drama around American 1,500 m and 5,000 m record-holder Shelby Houlihan.

She announced on an Instagram post that she had been suspended for doping due to a finding of nandrolone in her system – a prohibited substance – during a test last December, possibly from eating a burrito with tainted pork. She appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which informed her that her suspension was upheld, for four years from 14 January 2021.

Houlihan can appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, which has only limited jurisdiction to modify or overturn a decision and on this basis, USA Track & Field allowed her to run at the Olympic Trials, tweeting “Given there is an active appeal process, USATF will allow any athletes to continue competing until the process is completed.”

This brought a furious reply from the Athletics Integrity Unit, which included:

“[A] final and binding CAS decision confirmed that Ms Houlihan committed Anti-Doping Rule Violations… Ms Houlihan’s status during the period of ineligibility means that participation in any Competition or activity authorised or organised by a World Athletics Member Federation, such as USATF (i.e., the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field) is strictly prohibited.”

USA Today reported that the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee “stepped in Thursday evening” to assure adherence to the CAS decision. Houlihan was removed from the start list from Friday’s heats of the women’s 1,500 m.

It’s worth noting that this is different than the case of 2016 Rio women’s 100 m hurdles champ Brianna McNeal, who was also suspended for “Tampering with any part of Doping Control” back in April. In her case, the suspension was imposed by the AIU Disciplinary Tribunal and is under review by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Houlihan’s suspension was confirmed by CAS and is considered “final and binding,” even with the limited appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal available.

The Olympic Trials at the rebuilt Hayward Field at the University of Oregon will be allowed to host about 9,000 spectators according to announcements earlier in the week. Tickets are still available, running from a low of $52 to a high of $175 for the best seats on the final day.

On the track, Nigerian star Blessing Okagbare sizzled at the Nigerian Championships in Lagos, winning the women’s 100 m in a startling 10.63, but with a +2.7 m/s wind, over the allowable for record purposes.

That’s the same time as the wind-legal 10.63 for Jamaica’s Shelly-Anne Fraser-Pryce earlier in the year and the fastest time – under any conditions – since world-record holder Florence Griffith-Joyner back in 1988. Rosemary Chukwuma was second in 11.07 and Grace Nwokocha third in 11.11. Wow!

In Nairobi (KEN), Geoffrey Kamworer, the world record holder in the Half Marathon and 2015 Worlds 10,000 m silver medalist, won the Kenyan 10,000 m title in 27:01.06 to punch his ticket to Tokyo. It’s the fastest time ever run in the event in Kenya, and at 5,495 feet above sea level no less!

Rodgers Kwemoi was second in 27:05.51, his second-best time ever, and Weldon Kipkirui Langat was third in 27:24.73 and also qualified for Tokyo.

In the women’s 5,000 m, reigning World Champion Hellen Obiri qualified for Tokyo, but finished second to Lilian Rengeruk in another fast final, 14:52.18-14:52.51. Twice World Championships medalist Agnes Tirop was third in 14:53.91 as seven runners broke 15 minutes at high altitude.

Rio Olympic silver medalist and 2017 World Long Jump Champion Luvo Manyonga was suspended for four years from 23 December 2020 for “whereabouts” failures, his second such violation of the World Anti-Doping Code.

This is a decision of the AIU Disciplinary Tribunal and is appealable to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Manyonga had previously been suspended in 2012-13 for methamphetamine use and has battled drug addiction and depression. Even with these problems, he still finished fourth at the 2019 World Championships in the long jump and his seasonal best of 8.37 m (27-5 1/2) ranked sixth in the world. He has not jumped in a competition since the 2019 Worlds.

● Basketball ● The FIBA Women’s AmeriCup has rolled into the semifinal round, after disqualifying Argentina on Tuesday for multiple positive Covid-19 tests and cancelling its games against Venezuela and the U.S.

That left the U.S. – playing with an all-collegiate team – as the winner of Group B with a 3-0 record, trailed by Puerto Rico (2-1), Venezuela (1-2) and the Dominican Republic (0-3). Canada won Group A at 4-0, followed by Brazil (3-1), Colombia (2-2), the U.S. Virgin Islands (1-3) and El Salvador (0-4).

In the quarterfinals, Canada crushed the Dominicans, 90-53; Puerto Rico edged Colombia, 77-69, the U.S. stomped the Virgin Islands, 97-46 and Brazil defeated Venezuela, 90-59. That leaves Canada and Puerto Rico and the U.S. and Brazil in the semis to be played later today (Friday). The medal matches will be on Saturday.

● Boxing ● The crazy, uneven process of selecting boxers for the Tokyo Games reached the U.S. team, with three more athletes added last week … and all professionals.

A lengthy notice was posted by USA Boxing, explaining the process of selection which was thrown into disarray by the coronavirus.

After USA Boxing held its Olympic Trials in 2019, the winners were supposed to move on to an Americas Olympic Qualifying tournament in April 2020 that was canceled. A World Olympic Qualifier tournament was also canceled. So the IOC’s Boxing Task Force changed the qualification program to use ranking points based on past competition results.

This allowed only six of the 13 U.S. Olympic Trials winners to be eligible for selection, essentially those with international competition records prior to late 2019. An added quota was created to assign places to individual boxers – not countries – based on their ranking points from 2017-19.

USA Boxing asked to allow countries to name their fighter rather than using rankings from fighters no longer in Olympic boxing. The Boxing Task Force refused, a filing with the Court of Arbitration for Sport did not succeed and so USA Boxing accepted the naming of three current professionals to the U.S. team for Tokyo:

● Duke Ragan (57 kg/125 lbs., now 3-0); 2019 Pan American Games silver medalist

● Keyshawn Davis (63 kg/138 lbs., now 4-0); 2019 Worlds silver medalist

● Troy Isley (75 kg/165 lbs., now 1-0); 2017 Worlds bronze medalist

USA Boxing noted that while its rules do not allow professional boxers to be part of its national teams, the IOC’s rules prevail in this instance. But seven boxers – Anthony Herrera (men’s 52 kg), Andrea Medina (women’s 57 kg), Bruce Carrington (men’s 57 kg), Charlie Sheehy (men’s 63 kg), Joseph Hicks (men’s 75 kg), Rahim Gonzales (men’s 81 kg) and Darius Fulghum (men’s 91 kg) – never got the chance to get to Tokyo.

● Football ● The U.S. Women’s National Team finished up its “Summer Series” with a 2-0 win over an athletic Nigeria team in the new Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas on Wednesday (16th).

The Americans dominated the game, with 72% of the possession, but had a hard time with the Nigerian defense and some athletic defending, especially by keeper Tochukwu Oluehi. The U.S. got 14 shots to seven for Nigeria, but could only score in extra time at the end of each half.

Christen Press sailed a shot in at the 45+2 minute mark for a 1-0 lead and Lynn Williams finally got around a tired Nigerian back line to line-drive a shot for the 2-0 final at 90+4, with an assist to Press.

Trying to get ready for Tokyo, the U.S. defeated Portugal, Jamaica and Nigeria from a combined 7-0 as coach Vlatko Andonovski considered the selection of the 18 members of the Olympic squad. The U.S. women will have two more tune-ups, both against Mexico, on 1 and 5 July, both in East Hartford, Connecticut.

U.S. Soccer Federation chief Cindy Parlow Cone, a former U.S. Women’s National Team member, told reporters during a Tuesday news conference:

“You all know that largest hurdle is the massive and frankly unfair difference in FIFA World Cup prize money for men and women, a funding source that U.S. Soccer does not control. It’s solely controlled by FIFA. As it stands, the women’s team wants U.S. Soccer to pay for past and future discrepancies in FIFA prize money. This is well over $50 million for the past two World Cups and an unknown amount for the future.”

She was clear that “to make up the difference in FIFA prize money is untenable, and would likely bankrupt the Federation.”

The women’s team sued in a class action filing under the U.S. Equal Pay Act, but the action was dismissed by summary judgement in May 2020 by U.S. District Court Judge R. Gary Klausner; this is now under appeal at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

The U.S. women’s team’s collective bargaining agreement expires at the end of the year and the men’s national team has been playing without one since 2018 (which has continued in operation since). USSF chief executive Will Wilson indicated that good progress has been made on both agreements.

One of the most anticipated games at Euro 2020 was the Germany-France match in Munich (GER) on 15 June, won by the World Cup Champion French by 1-0 after an own goal by Mats Hummel in the 20th minute.

But the match almost got stopped before it started as a publicity stunt by Greenpeace went all wrong and a paraglider trying to fly over the stadium with an anti-oil message instead lost control and ended up flying into the stadium, hitting two camera guide wires, then falling towards the stands and finally on the field. Two stadium workers were slightly injured, but it could have been much worse.

The flyer was arrested and removed from the field and later released while charges are pending against him. Security measures for the tournament were beefed up. Greenpeace, in a rare action, apologized.

Meanwhile, a smaller uproar has been caused by the removal of bottles of sponsor drinks – Coca-Cola and Heineken – from the dais at post-match news conference. Last Tuesday, Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo removed two bottles of Coke and held up a bottle of water instead. On Wednesday, French star Paul Pogba removed a Heineken bottle, noting that he does not drink as a practicing Muslim, and Italian midfielder Manuel Locatelli moved the Coke bottles aside and put his own water bottle on the table.

UEFA released a statement noting, “UEFA has reminded participating teams that partnerships are integral to the delivery of the tournament and to ensuring the development of football across Europe, including for youth and women.” Any sanctions against the players would be made by the national federations, not UEFA.

As of Thursday, the number of Covid-19 cases at the Copa America tournament in Brazil has risen to 66. The Brazilian health ministry stated that 6,521 tests had been made, with 27 team members (players and officials) and 39 tournament staff infected. Teams with positives apparently include five of the 10 teams: Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru and Chile. No matches have been canceled as yet.

● Weightlifting ● Doping continues to dog the International Weightlifting Federation, which announced actions against two national federations:

● 11 June: The International Testing Agency – which manages the IWF’s anti-doping program – asked the IWF’s Independent Sanctioning Panel for action on the national federation of Colombia, after three athletes tested positive for steroids on 20 January 2020. All three received four-year suspensions and Colombia could be banned from weightlifting at the Tokyo Games.

● 17 June: The Independent Sanctioning Panel suspended Romania for one year, which will keep it out of the Tokyo weightlifting competition. Five doping violations from 2012 were cited, uncovered only in 2019 as a result of the IOC’s re-testing program.

On a positive note, the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s suspension of Thai weightlifters was lifted, due to their compliance with a number of conditions. The Thai federation remains suspended into 2023 and cannot participate in the Tokyo Games.

● The Last Word ● It doesn’t have anything to do with the Olympic Games directly, but the International Olympic Committee announced details of its Olympic Forest project in Mali and Senegal:

“It will involve planting around 355,000 native trees across approximately 90 villages in Mali and Senegal – host of the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 – and will cover a combined area of around 2,120 hectares (~5,239 acres).”

This is part of the “Great Green Wall” initiative in the Sahel region, and is a key element of the IOC’s program to be “climate positive.” Its statement notes:

“The IOC has committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 30 per cent by 2024, and by 45 per cent by 2030, in line with the Paris Agreement. By compensating for more than 100 per cent of the IOC’s residual emissions, the Olympic Forest will help the organisation become ‘climate positive’ by 2024. The Olympic Forest is expected to sequester 200,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (t CO2e), which is more than the IOC’s estimated emissions for the 2021-2024 period.”

It’s an important program and a worthwhile contribution to the often-less-attended African continent. But let’s not say that the IOC has “eliminated” its emissions, but is compensating for them by activities elsewhere.

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SWIMMING: Dressel storms to win in men’s 100 m Free, but Manuel fails to qualify; two more world leads as Oz Trials conclude

Rich Perelman

June 17, 2021

tsx pix 2019-826 dressel caeleb splash 750 — Three World Championships gold medals in two hours for Caeleb Dressel (USA).

There were four finals at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha on Thursday, but all eyes were on Caeleb Dressel in his first final of the week in the men’s 100 m Freestyle. And he delivered.

Dressel powered to the lead right away and made the turn just ahead of Brooks Curry and Ryan Held in 22.46 and then held a small advantage to the wall to win in 47.39, second in the world for 2021.

He was pressed all the way, with Zach Apple (47.72: no. 5 in 2021), Blake Pieroni (48.16) and Curry (48.19) following for the top four places that will earn relay duty in Tokyo. Bowe Becker (48.22) and Held (48.46) may also be on the plane; the U.S. will be the favorite in the 4×100 m Free relay.

In the men’s 800 m Free, Bobby Finke – the no. 2 American in 2021, but the 800 m and 1,500 m national champion in 2019 – swam a steady pace to win in 7:48.22, the no. 8 performer on the world list. Behind him was a fight to the touch with Michael Brinegar overtaking Ross Dant in the final 20 m to grab second in 7:49.94, with Dant at 7:50.66 and open-water star Jordan Wilimovsky fourth in 7:53.07. It was Dant’s second third-place finish – also in the 400 m Free – missing a Tokyo spot by 0.13 and 0.72.

The men’s 200 m Breast final came down to the final 25 m, with five swimmers within a meter of each other. Nic Fink charged to the touch and got clear in the final 5 m to win in 2:07.55, now no. 6 in the world for 2021. A member of the U.S. World Championships team way back in 2013, Fink – at 27 – is a first-time Olympian.

Right behind him were Andrew Wilson, a member of the 2019 U.S. Worlds team, Will Licon – an 11-time NCAA champion at Texas from 2015-17 – and Rio fourth-placer Kevin Cordes. The first to break was Cordes with about 35 m left, then Wilson (in lane 2) and Licon (in lane 6) reached for the wall, with Wilson getting there first (2:08.32) and Licon just 0.18 later.

Hali Flickinger came in as the favorite in the women’s 200 m Fly final, sitting no. 3 on the world list for 2021, almost a second faster than Backstroke star Regan Smith and Charlotte Hook. Smith gave her an argument, and Flickinger grabbed the lead only at the final turn and then went back and forth on the final lap until the last 20 m, winning in 2:05.85, the no. 2 performer in 2021 and a lifetime best by 0.02. Smith was close at 2:06.99 and is now fourth on the 2021 list. Hook was third at 2:07.92, staying at no. 11.

The shocker in the women’s 100 m Free semifinals was that 2016 Olympic champ Simone Manuel qualified only sixth in the morning heats, and then failed to advance out of the semis, to the final. Swimming in semi one, Manuel was last off the start but was third at the turn, but didn’t have her normal surge in the final 20 m and faded to fourth in 54.17, well back of her seasonal best of 53.83 from late May.

The winners were veterans Olivia Smoliga and Natalie Hinds, who tied for the best mark at 53.55, a lifetime best for both; Smoliga had a prior best of 54.15 and Hinds, 54.29, and more can be expected in the final. Former national champ Abbey Weitzeil won heat two in 53.66, ahead of Catie Deloof (53.77). Allison Schmitt, already on the team from the 200 m Free, made the final at 54.08.

Olympic 100 m Breaststroke champ Lilly King was the top qualifier the women’s 200 m Breast semifinals, with only her training partner Annie Lazor close, just 0.09 behind at the final turn in the second semi. But King stayed steady and got to the wall first in 2:22.73, with Lazor at 2:22.80; both have faster seasonal bests. Emily Escobedo won the first semi and had the third-fastest time overall (2:23.87), ahead of Ella Nelson (2:24.80).

Reigning Olympic champion Ryan Murphy looked like he might have been in trouble in the men’s 200 m Back semis, only third at the final turn in semifinal two. But he rocketed his underwater and popped up in the lead and won in 1:55.60, a seasonal best and no. 4 on the world list for 2021. Austin Katz won the first semi in 1:56.26 (no. 10 in 2021), just ahead of Bryce Mefford (1:56.57), the second and third-best times on the evening.

The final race of the night was perhaps the most amazing, as sprint star Michael Andrew – the fastest in the heats at 1:56.25, no. 2 in 2021 – destroyed the field in the second semifinal. He blazed to the lead from the start and was ahead of world-record pace through 150 m, slowing slightly to finish in 1:55.26, fastest in the world for 2021 and moving him to no. 5 on the all-time list! Carson Foster was second in 1:57.77, two and a half seconds back.

Chase Kalisz, the 2017 World Champion in the men’s 200 m Medley, took care of business in the first semi, using his famed Breaststroke prowess to shoot to the lead on the third and win in 1:57.19, moving him to no. 9 in the world for 2021. He was trailed by 200 m Free and 400 m Free winner Kieran Smith (1:57.61) and then Ryan Lochte, trying for a fifth Olympic Games, in 1:58.66 (and making the final).

The U.S. Trials continue though Sunday; Friday’s finals include the women’s 200 m Breaststroke, men’s 200 m Backstroke, men’s 200 m Medley and the women’s 100 m Freestyle.

The Australian Swimming Trials concluded in Adelaide with six finals, and two more world leaders from stars Kaylee McKeown and Emma McKeon.

McKeown got her third world leader of the meet in the women’s 200 m Back, winning in 2:04.28, a slight improvement on her pre-Trials mark of 2:04.31. She was more than two seconds clear of Emily Seebohm in second – 2:06.38 – which still ranked no. 3 on the 2021 world list!

McKeon concluded her domination of the women’s sprints with a world-leading win in the 50 m Free, just out-touching two-time Olympic relay gold medalist Cate Campbell, 23.93 to 23.94. They’re now 1-2 on the year list and McKeon moves up to no. 7 on the all-time list. Cate’s younger sister Bronte Campbell was third in 24.46 (no. 13 in 2021).

Distance star Ariarne Titmus won the women’s 800 m Free in the fastest time in the world … outside of Katie Ledecky. She finished in 8:15.57 and ranks no. 2 worldwide, while runner-up Kiah Melverton timed 8:19.05 and is now no. 3 for 2021. It’s a lifetime best for both, and Titmus remains at no. 7 all-time (prior best: 8:15.70) while Melverton moved up to no. 21.

The men’s finals included the 50 m Free, won by veteran Cameron McEvoy in 22.07, no. 33 on the world list for 2021, and the men’s 1,500 m Free, won by Jack McLoughlin in 14:52.69 (no. 6 on the world list), with Samuel Short second in 14:57.22 (no. 12). The men’s 100 m Butterfly was taken by Matthew Temple – also the winner of the 100 m Fly – in 1:55.25, now no. 12 for 2021.

The meet finished with world-leading marks in nine events – two men’s and seven women’s – and a world record for McKeown in the women’s 100 m Backstroke. No doubt whatever that the Dolphins will be tough to beat in Tokyo.

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LANE ONE: LA28 picks up the pace on sponsorships, while 2019 financials show slowed spending

Rich Perelman

June 17, 2021

la 2028 emblems set-10 2020-110 781x500 — A July poll said Americans like the 2028 Olympics being in Los Angeles by 78-4%!

(For coverage of Wednesday’s Olympic swimming trials in the U.S. and Australia, click here.)

/Updated/While the Olympic world has been focused on the drama in and around the oncoming Tokyo Games and the political implications of next February’s Winter Games in Beijing, there is promising marketing activity – as well as a welcome lack of other activity – around the 2028 Olympic Games to be held in Los Angeles.

After announcing its first major sponsor – Delta Airlines – in March of 2020, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Properties (USOPP) group that combines the sales efforts of the LA28 organizing committee, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and U.S. broadcaster NBC was quiet during the pandemic.

Until now. The combined marketing entity has announced three significant sponsorship agreement in the last 90 days:

● 15 March: Comcast joins as a Founding Partner for communications services.

● 19 May: Deloitte joins as a Founding Partner for professional services.

● 16 June: Salesforce joins as a Founding Partner for its customer-relationship management software systems “to deliver an engaging fan and athlete digital experience.”

The Comcast and Deloitte agreements were extensions of existing sponsorship agreements with the USOPC, but the Salesforce announcement is highly significant as it brings a major new business technology player into the U.S. Olympic Movement.

Salesforce revenues exploded to $17.1 billion in fiscal 2020 and it has announced expected revenues of $25.5 billion for fiscal 2022. It has already been a key part of a mega-event in Los Angeles as it was used for volunteer registration and processing for the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, managing the 29,616 volunteer applications and assignments for support for the eventual 8,560 volunteers who worked on that Games.

Its announced focus on “fan and athlete” experiences could signal an important shift for the company to direct-to-consumer programs in addition to its famed business-to-business applications.

These deals are welcome signs of progress for LA28, which has a domestic sponsorship target of $2.517 billion in its $6.884 billion budget (36.6%). Tokyo 2020 set all-time records with a domestic sponsorship program of more than $3.3 billion in cash, goods and services from 67 companies (15 Gold Partners, 32 Official Partners and 20 Official Supporters). Paris 2024, however, has a much lower target of €1.3 billion (~$1.55 billion U.S.) for its Games, of which about half has been raised so far.

At the same time, LA28 was fairly slow in hiring and spending in 2019, as the City of Los Angeles released the “2021 Annual Report from the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2028” on 10 June.

LA28 does not post its financial statements or Form 990 tax returns on its Web site, as the USOPC does, but releases them through the City of Los Angeles in an “annual report” in mid-year. The 10 June 2021 package includes a review by the City’s Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Legislative Analyst and the financial statements and tax return for 2019 (2020 was reported as being in process).

The City staff’s review was positive:

“LA28 indicates the business operations were adjusted due to COVID-19 and transitioned to a fully remote workforce. Activities were focused on ensuring a solid financial foundation to minimize risk caused by near-term business disruption created by COVID-19. Operating reserves remain healthy due to a combination of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) quarterly payments ($9,000,000) as well as a substantial reduction or deferral of planned contractual, administrative, and travel spending.”

The report also noted that the LA28 commitment to youth sports support was not derailed by the pandemic:

“While [youth sports] programming was placed on hold due to COVID-19, LA28 continued to support youth sports through partnerships with various local entities, such as the LA84 Foundation’s Play Equity Fund, Los Angeles Unified School District’s Beyond the Bell Program, and Students Run L.A.. With support from Nike, LA28 donated approximately $600,000 in sports equipment to kids in Los Angeles. LA28 also donated outdoor safety equipment to facilitate safe outdoor play activities at [Recreation & Parks] facilities converted to outdoor childcare centers. LA28’s additional support and contributions for youth sports are provided outside of the [Youth Sports Partnership] Agreement and do not impact the available funding for future project plans.”

There’s little doubt that Nike will come on as an LA28 Founding Partner at some point.

The financial statements don’t reveal a lot because LA28 didn’t do that much during 2019. It received $36 million from the International Olympic Committee as contracted and $1.39 million in interest and some contracted revenues from its long-term sales partnership with Legends.

LA28 spent $12.9 million on staff in 2019 vs. $7.2 million in 2018, adding to both its own team and to the USOPP effort:

● LA28 staff: $8.09 million in 2019 vs. $5.31 million in 2018 (+52.3%)

● USOPP staff: $4.83 million in 2019 vs. $1.92 million in 2018 (+152%)

The employee counts shown on LA28’s Form 990 tax return were 34 in 2019 vs. 28 in 2018; this does not include the USOPP staff. The organization had $36.7 million in cash on hand at the end of 2019.

With the pandemic in 2020, the LA28 situation was likely more of the same, although Linkedin watchers noted a pick-up in hiring in some areas. The USOPP was busy hiring more folks to come up with more ideas for partnership programs.

The IOC Executive Board did not even receive a report on LA28 at last week’s meeting, and the focus continues to be on the sponsorship program. Happily, the recent news on that front is good.

Rich Perelman
Editor

(The text was updated to reflect the declaration of a pandemic in 2020, not in 2019. Thanks to reader Dr. Bill Mallon for noting this.)

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SWIMMING: Ledecky breezes to wins in 200 m and 1,500 m Free; London gold medalist Schmidt makes U.S. team at 31; Aussie McKeon swims world lead 52.19 in 100 Free

Rich Perelman

June 16, 2021

tsx pix 41317-ledecky, katie 2016 750 — American swimming superstar Katie Ledecky: now a 17-time World Championships gold medalist!

Katie Ledecky wrapped up her second and third spots in Tokyo at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha, winning the 200 m Freestyle and the 1,500 m Free.

She took control of the 200 m Free by the 150 m mark and won by daylight in 1:55.11 over 31-year-old Allison Schmidt (1:56.79), Paige Madden (1:56.80) and Katie McLaughlin (1:57.16). However, with the 1,500 m Free final later, Ledecky didn’t even set a season’s best (1:54.40 in early April) and remains second on the year list.

Schmidt, the 2012 Olympic champion who took a break after Rio, returned to the pool in 2018, will be in Tokyo for her fourth Games: she’s won medals in Beijing, London (200 m Free gold!) and Rio. She’s still the American Record holder at the distance at 1:53.61 from 2012.

(The U.S. 4×200 m Free relay will have its work cut out for them in Tokyo, after finishing in 1:55.11-1:56.79-1:56.80-1:57.16. By comparison, the top four at the Australian Trials earlier this week timed 1:53.09-1:54.74-1:55.68-1:56.08.)

In the 1,500 m final, Ledecky came in with the fastest time in the world at 15:40.55 and led wire-to-wire, finishing in a world-leading 15:40.50. It’s the 14th-fastest performance in history and Ledecky owns the top 10 and 13 of the top 15.

Behind her was a three-way battle for second, with Erica Sullivan maintaining that position for most of the race and finishing in 15:51.18, but with company coming fast as Katie Grimes touched in 15:52.12, trailed by open-water star Haley Anderson, in 15:55.60. Sullivan is now no. 4 on the 2021 world list and Grimes is no. 5.

Madisyn Cox entered the women’s 200 m Medley with the second-fastest time in the world this season at 2:08.51, but it was Alex Walsh, 20, who took over on the third (breaststroke) leg and barely held on to come home the winner in 2:09.30, about a half-second behind her season’s best mark from the semis. Cox was second heading into the final lap, but was passed by a season’s best from Kate Douglass, 2:09.32-2:09.34, as all three touched within 0.04!

Semifinal co-leader Zach Harting won the men’s 200 m Fly in the final 50 m, overhauling Trenton Julian and Luca Orlando on the final lap, finishing in 1:55.06, moving to no. 7 on the 2021 world list. As Julian faded to fifth at the touch, Rio Olympian Gunnar Bentz moved up from fifth to second in 1:55.34 and Urlando got third (1:55.43).

In the men’s 100 m Free qualifying, Ryan Held led the morning heats at 48.07, with Caeleb Dressel a comfortable fifth in 48.25. But Dressel warmed up in the semis, racing to the no. 5 spot on the 2021 world list in 47.77, just 0.01 ahead of Zach Apple (47.78, now no. 6) in semi two. Blake Pieroni (48.13) won semi one. One sad note: 2012 Olympic champ Nathan Adrian did not qualify for the final, placing 13th in a creditable 48.13.

Will Gallant led the morning heats in the men’s 800 m Final in 7:53.76; that’s the best time by an American in 2021, but 26th on the year list (with the final to come).

No American had broken 2:09 this season in the men’s 200 m Breast, but Matt Fallon posted the fastest semi time in 2:08.91 to move to 15th in the world this year. Nic Fink won the first semi in 2:09.13 and Kevin Cordes (2:09.31) and Will Licon (2:09.39) went 2-3 in Fallon’s first semi.

Favored Hali Flickinger led the morning qualifying in the women’s 200 m Fly in 2:08.14, then dominated the semifinals impressively, winning the second semi in 2:06.73, just off her seasonal best of 2:06.68, which is third in the world for 2021. Backstroke star Regan Smith won the first semi in 2:07.89 and is well positioned to make the U.S. not only in a second event, but in a second stroke!

The U.S. Trials continue though Sunday; Thursday’s finals include the men’s 800 m, men’s 100 m Breaststroke, women’s 200 m Butterfly and the men’s 100 m Freestyle.

At the Australian Swimming Trials in Adelaide, sprinter Emma McKeon improved on her own world-leading mark in the women’s 100 m Free, racing to a 52.19 finish in the morning heats.

She won the final in 52.35, ahead of 2013 World Champion Cate Campbell (52.59, Madison Wilson (52.76) and Meg Harris (52.92), giving Australia positions 1-2-3-5 on the 2021 world list, and the favorite’s role in the 4×100 m Freestyle relay.

McKeon’s 52.19 is the eighth-fastest performance ever, and only Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), Cate Campbell, American Simone Manuel and German Britta Steffen have ever swum faster.

Jenna Strauch won the women’s 200 m Breast final in 2:23.17, slightly slower than her season’s best of 2:23.12, 12th on the 2021 world list.

Mitch Larkin, best known as a two-time World Champion in the Backstroke, sizzled in the men’s 200 m Medley, winning in 1:56.29 to move to no. 2 in the world for 2021. He finished well ahead of Brendon Smith in second (1:58.82).

Tristan Hollard took the men’s 200 m Back in 1:56.44, slower than his 1:56.40 in April; he remains at no. 11 for 2021.

The Australian Trials conclude on Thursday, with the women’s 200 m Back, men’s 100 m Fly, women’s 800 m Free, women’s 50 m Free, men’s 50 m Free and the men’s 1,500 m Free.

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SWIMMING: Rio Olympic stars Murphy and King on the way to Tokyo after Trials wins; Oz’s Stubblety-Cook scares men’s 200 m Breast record

Rich Perelman

June 15, 2021

tsx pix 2019-514 king, lilly breaststroke 750 (uss) — Three more national titles for Olympic and World Breaststroke champ Lilly King (USA) (Photo: USA Swimming)

It was a good night for defending champions at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha, as Rio gold medalists Ryan Murphy and Lilly King will try to repeat in Tokyo in the men’s 100 m Backstroke and the women’s 100 m Breaststroke.

Murphy, the double gold medalist in the 100 and 200 m Back events in 2016, won as expected in the men’s 100 m Back final in 52.33, slower than his semifinal win in 52.22. He had to come from behind, as Shaine Casas zipped out to the lead at the turn, but won by daylight; Casas was then passed coming home by Hunter Armstrong (52.48, no. 4 on the 2021 world list) for second, with Casas finishing third in 52.76 (no. 5).

Matt Grevers, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist in the event – now 36 – finished sixth (53.27) and Michael Andrew, the 100 m Breast winner, finished eighth (53.59).

King, the dominant women’s Breaststroke swimmer since Rio, won the women’s 100 m Breast in 1:04.79, a little slower than her 1:04.72 in the semifinals, but still the no. 9 swim in history in the event. She led wire-to-wire, but the fight for second was a ferocious three-way battle between Bethany Galat, who turned second in 30.69, ahead of Annie Lazor (30.82). But on the final lap, it was Lydia Jacoby, 17, who charged from fifth all the way to second, touching in 1:05.28 – no. 2 in the world for 2021 – to 1:05.60 for Lazor and 1:05.75 for Galat. The top four in the final now rank 1-2-3-6 on the 2021 world list.

The reigning World Champion in the women’s 200 m Back and former world-record holder in the 100 m Back, Regan Smith won the women’s 100 m Back final as expected, in 58.35, well off of her season’s best of 57.92 in the semifinals. She won convincingly, but the battle behind her was epic, as Katherine Berkhoff was second at the turn, but was passed during the final 50 m by Rhyan White and 2016 Trials winner Olivia Smoliga. Although Smoliga had the fastest final lap in the field, she ended up short of White, 58.60-58.72, and finished third.

Kieran Smith doubled his pleasure and doubled his Trials win total with an impressive win in the men’s 200 m Free, clocking 1:45.29: no. 7 on the world list for 2021. He took the lead on the second lap and was never headed, touching ahead of 2016 Olympian Townley Haas (1:45.66), Drew Kibler (1:45.92) and Andrew Seliskar (1:46.34). With Haas and Kibler’s times, the U.S. now has three of the top 20 on the 2021 world list and with the possible addition of Caeleb Dressel (1:46.63 in heats), could make for a formidable 4×200 m Free Relay squad.

Superstar Katie Ledecky had a busy day, swimming in the women’s 200 m Free heats in the morning and then coming back to swim the 1,500 m Free heats just 51 minutes later. She won her 200 m Free heat in 1:57.58, the second-fastest time of the day behind heat five winner Leah Smith, the 2016 Olympic 400 m bronze medalist (1:57.52).

With only one race in the evening, Ledecky posted the fastest time in the 200m Free semis in 1:55.83, well ahead of Paige Madden’s 1:56.44. The 2012 Olympic champion, Allison Schmidt – now 31 – reached the final with the fourth-fastest time in the semis at 1:57.53. Both the 200 m and 1,500 m Free finals are tomorrow.

In the women’s 200 m Medley semifinals, Madisyn Cox came in with the no. 2 time in the world for 2021 at 2:08.51, but it was Alex Walsh who dominated race two, winning in the fastest time of the day in 2:08.87 (no. 3 in 2021). She finished ahead of Kate Douglass (2:09.99) in her race, with race one winner Meghan Small out-touching Cox, 2:10.09-2:10.22. Veteran Melanie Margalis and 100 m Butterfly winner Torri Huske qualified for the final in fifth and sixth place.

The men’s 200 m Butterfly semifinals produced a tie, as Luca Urlando and Zach Harting both won their heats in 1:55.21, moving to no. 10 on the 2021 world list. Trenton Julian was third in 1:55.35, ahead of Gunnar Bentz (1:55.42).

The U.S. Trials continue though Sunday; Wednesday’s finals include the women’s 200 m and 1,500 m Freestyles – both starring Ledecky – plus men’s 200 m Butterfly and women’s 200 m Medley.

At the Australian Swimming Trials in Adelaide, 22-year-old Zac Stubblety-Cook charged to a decisive win in the men’s 200 m Breast, finishing with the no. 2 performance of all time in 2:06.28, just 0.16 behind the world mark of Russian Anton Chupkov from 2019.

It was the sixth world-leading mark from the Australian Trials and one of four finals on Tuesday.

The men’s 100 m Free was all about Rio Olympic gold medalist Kyle Chalmers, who won in style in 47.59, placing him no. 3 on the world list for 2021 and way ahead of runner-up Matthew Wilson (48.32).

The women’s winners were Brianna Throssell, who won the 200 m Fly in 2:07.63, and Madeleine Gough in the 1,500 m Free. Gough, a 2019 Worlds finalist in the event, won in 15:46.13, no. 2 on the world list in 2021 to Ledecky.

The Australian Trials continue through Thursday.

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HEARD AT HALFTIME: Final athlete’s Playbook includes sanctions; LA28 events list in December; U.S. 15/5 star Houlihan suspended for bad burritos

Rich Perelman

June 15, 2021

(For coverage of Monday’s Australian and U.S. swimming trials, click here.)

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

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● The third edition of the International Olympic Committee’s “playbook” for athletes and team officials was published on Tuesday, with expanded details on the procedures for Tokyo, and the penalties for non-compliance.

The basic tenet of the 70-page document is expressed in its “Principles” statement on page 5:

“The COVID-19 countermeasures described in the Playbook are designed to create a safe
Games environment for all Games participants. Equally, they offer an additional layer of
protection for our hosts, the residents of Japan. You must fully adhere to the Playbook in the 14 days before you travel, throughout your journey and throughout your time in Japan – keeping your interaction with non-Games participants to a minimum.”

In terms of instructions:

● “Wear a face mask at all times to protect you and everyone around you. … By wearing a face mask at all times – except when eating, drinking, training, competing or sleeping – you’ll help keep the Games safe for everyone.”

● Remember this acronym: CLO. It stands for “Covid-19 Liaison Officer” and will be part of every delegation and at every Olympic venue. It’s not much of a stretch to say that the CLOs are in charge of the Tokyo Games.

● The pre-departure protocols have not changed: health must be monitored for 14 days prior to leaving for Japan, two Covid tests are required within 96 hours of leaving for Japan, a quantitative saliva antigen COVID-19 test will be taken on arrival, and quarantine for three days, with access allowed during that time – under Tokyo 2020 supervision – for access to training and team facilities.

● During the Games, a daily temperature check will be required and most be reported on a smartphone app, saliva testing will be required daily, and if you test positive, you will be moved to a hotel for quarantine according to Japanese health regulations.

Making new friends over a leisurely meal in the Olympic Village? Forget it: “Diners should keep mealtimes as short as possible and leave as soon as they have finished eating.”

A new section, “Compliance and Consequences” has been added. An IOC Disciplinary Commission will be formed and will issue notifications of charges of violating the Playbook rules, will conduct a hearing and determine whether sanctions are merited. The sanctions menu includes five levels: (1) warning; (2) withdrawal of accreditation; (3) temporary or permanent ineligibility or exclusion from the Games; (4) disqualification; (5) financial sanctions.

The decision of this Disciplinary Commission “shall constitute the decision of the IOC,” except where the IOC Executive Board has retained jurisdiction and then the Disciplinary Commission report will be a recommendation only. Decisions may be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Further Playbooks for other groups will be issued shortly. But the motto for Tokyo 2020 can be summarized as “Come, compete and leave.”

The debate within Japan and especially Tokyo, about whether spectators will be allowed at the Games continues unabated. The issue is, of course, political as well as safety-related.

There is a Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election on 4 July and the Tomin First no Kai (Tokyoites First party) – currently holding the largest delegation – has asked for a no-spectator Games as part of its platform.

Kyodo News reported last Friday (11th) that the Tokyo organizers have sold tickets to the Games for up to 42% of each venue’s capacity, meaning about 225,000 domestic spectators could attend the Games daily. About 70% of the tickets have been sold to people living in the same prefecture as the venue, indicating reduced local travel for attendees. Shigeru Omi, Japan’s primary Covid-19 adviser, said the spectator question was still under study.

Worth noting: Attendance at recent Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) games included 8,588 at Hiroshima on Monday; 9,960 in Chiba on Saurday; 9,914 in Sapporo on Saturday and 13,060 in Tokorozawa – near Tokyo – for Seibu’s 4-3 win over the Chunichi Dragons.

On Tuesday, the Japanese government agreed to receive a total of 40,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, allowing vaccination – if they desire it – of athletes, officials, volunteers in the Olympic Village, Tokyo 2020 staff and domestic news media.

There was a small protest in front of the Japanese Olympic Committee office on Monday against the Games, with about 30 people standing in the rain, chanting and showing off anti-Games banners.

NBCUniversal chief executive Jeff Shell told attendees at the online Credit Suisse Communications Conference on Monday that he sees Tokyo 2020 as a success in the making, including making a profit on the event.

“I think we’re pretty optimistic about both the ratings and the economics of the Olympics and advertisers have embraced it.

“I lived in London: everybody was worried about the traffic. And last time [2016] it was Zika, and then once the Opening Ceremony happens, everybody forgets all that and enjoys the 17 days. And I think this is going to be the same thing.”

NBCUniversal reported selling $1.25 billion in advertising for the Games in 2020, but has not reported an updated figure for the postponed event.

● Games of the XXXIII Olympiad: Paris 2024 ● Barely noticed alongside last week’s announcement that Brisbane, Australia will be offered for confirmation as the site of the 2032 Olympic Games were some important announcement concerning the Paris event program.

In Athletics, the men’s 50 km Walk – part of the Games since 1932 – will be dropped in Paris in favor of a mixed-gender team walking event. The 50 km race has been for men only in the Games and the mixed team event will provide better gender equity in the sport, an obsession of the IOC. The format will be determined in December.

In Sailing, the revolutionary (and expensive) mixed offshore event was dropped in favor of a Kiteboard event for men and women. This leaves the sport with its existing total of 10 events.

● Games of the XXXIV Olympiad: Los Angeles 2028 ● It’s not too early to consider the Los Angeles event program as well, as the IOC also announced:

“The IOC EB today decided that the LA28 initial sports programme will be determined at the IOC Session in February 2022. The IOC EB will carry on its discussions around the sports programme at its next meeting in December 2021 upon the sport-specific recommendations of the [Olympic Program Commission].”

The City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department submitted a revised plan for fiscal year 2021-22 for use of funds from the LA28 organizing committee in view of the relaxed Covid-19 restrictions in force as of today (15th) in the State of California.

The new plan will use $7,708,922 from LA28 – part of its commitment to youth sports in the City through 2028 – in addition to $1,925,992 left over from the prior fiscal year for recreational leagues and classes at 81 sites, aquatics swim classes at up to 53 sites, track & field programs at 15 sites, a new judo program conceived in cooperation with USA Judo and smaller programs in golf, tennis, marathon training adaptive sports and $500,000 for the U.S. Center for SafeSport “to provide training and tools to ensure the safety of all youth participants in RAP sports and fitness programs.”

The goals remain “to remove barriers to youth sports and fitness participation and grow enrollment in programs Citywide … specifically in low-income communities of color.”

The Recreation & Parks Department had 92,938 registrants in affiliated programs in 2018-19; this receded during the pandemic and now forecasts 83,426 in these programs for 2021-22, a decrease of 10.2% overall. The report notes “The decreased forecast is due to RAP slowly transitioning back into sports leagues and programming that meets post pandemic health and safety guidelines.”

● International Olympic Committee ● The IOC Executive Board also added six International Federation to its list of “recognized” affiliates. These are sports have “a minimum of 50 affiliated national federations for summer IFs and 25 affiliated national federations for winter IFs, from at least three continents, that exercise a specific, tangible and ongoing sports activity in the one or several sports (or disciplines) the IF administers.” The newly recognized federations include:

● International Cheerleading Union (ICU)
● International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA)
● International Sambo Federation (FIAS)
● International Federation Icestocksport (IFI)
● World Association of Kickboxing Organisations (WAKO)
● World Lacrosse (WL)

This step does not mean that any of the sports will be added to the Olympic program any time soon, but it is helpful in demonstrating a willingness to comply with the IOC’s requirements when the discussions for Los Angeles 2028 and beyond come up.

● Athletics ● A complete shock to the U.S. distance community came Monday afternoon, as Shelby Houlihan, the American Record holder in the 1,500 m and 5,000 m – announced that she has been suspended for four years by the Athletics Integrity Unit, and confirmed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Her Instagram post included in part:

“On January 14th, 2021, I received an email from the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), informing me a drug testing sample that I provided on December 15th, 2020 has returned as an Adverse Analytical Finding for an anabolic steroid called Nandrolone and that I am therefore subject to an immediate Provisional Suspension. When I got that email, I had to read it over about ten times and google what it was that I had just tested positive for. I had never even heard of nandrolone. I have since learned that it has long been understood by WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) that eating pork can lead to a false positive for nandrolone, since certain types of pigs produce it naturally in high amounts. Pig organ meat (offal) has the highest levels of nandrolone.

“In the following 5 days after being notified, I put together a food log of everything that I consumed the week of that December 15th test. We concluded that the most likely explanation was a burrito purchased and consumed approximately 10 hours before that drug test from an authentic Mexican food truck that serves pig offal near my house in Beaverton, Oregon. I notified the AIU that I believed this was the source.”

The AIU posted her on its disciplinary list only on Tuesday, and Houlihan, now 28, also noted that she was informed only last Friday (11th) that the Court of Arbitration for Sport “did not accept my explanation of what had occurred and has subsequently banned me from the sport for four years.”

Houlihan’s appeal options are only to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, where her chances of success are extremely low. CAS posted a news release today, including:

“The CAS Panel (by majority) found that the athlete neither rebutted the presumption that the [adverse finding] was properly reported pursuant to the ISL, nor rebutted the presumption that the [doping violation] was properly managed, asserted and notified pursuant to the International Standard for Results Management (ISRM).

“Finally, the CAS Panel unanimously determined that Shelby Houlihan had failed, on the balance of probability, to establish the source of the prohibited substance.”

The penalty is four years ineligibility from 14 January 2021 and a nullification of results from 15 December 2020. This will eliminate her from both the Tokyo and Paris Olympic Games, the 2022 World Championships to be held in Eugene as well as 2023 in Budapest (HUN).

U.S. Anti-Doping Agency head Travis Tygart has campaigned against these kinds of circumstances. He told ABC News Australia last March in the wake of swimmer Shayna Jack being sanctioned for four years after a low level of ligandrol indicated inadvertent ingestion rather than a planned doping program:

“We’ve had dozens of cases where athletes are dealing with low-level positives caused by meat contamination or intimacy with a partner, multivitamin, mineral or supplement contamination. The rules then demand that an athlete who has a positive is automatically assumed to be an intentional cheater that deserves a four-year sanction.

“The only question is going to be how many innocent athletes are railroaded before the rules finally change?”

Injuries have caused Olympic Trials withdrawals by Molly Huddle, the American Record holder in the women’s 10,000 m, Shannon Rowbury, the former American Record holder in the women’s 1,500 m and men’s Steeple American Record holder Evan Jager.

Huddle reported left ankle and hip trouble since the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials and Rowbury noted a stress fracture which will keep her from running until July. Huddle was a U.S. Olympian in 2012 (5,000 m 11th) and 2016 (10,000 m: 6th) and Rowbury was trying for her fourth Games after making the 1,500 m final in 2008 (7th), 2012 (4th) and 2016 (4th).

Jager, 32, sixth in the 2012 Olympic Steeple and the Olympic silver medalist in Rio in 2016, is still having problems with muscle tears and cannot compete. He tried to race, but did not finish in a Steeple on 9 May in Walnut, California.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport also handed down a decision last Friday (11th) against Paralympic star Blake Leeper, dismissing his appeal from the holding by the World Athletics Mechanical Aids Review Board that he cannot use a new set of Running Specific Prostheses in open competition.

Leeper was disallowed from using his original set of prostheses and now a revised set on the basis of the International Paralympic Committee’s “Maximum Allowable Standing Height” regulations. Adopted in 2018, the “MASH” rules allow an athlete to use prosthetics that make him no taller than he would be if had biological legs.

In October 2020, Leeper’s application to use prosthetics that gave him a standing height of 189.20 cm (6-2 1/4) was rejected, so he had a new set made with a standing height of 185.42 cm (6-1), and this was also rejected in April of this year.

The CAS news release noted that the MASH calculation “is based on an equation that adds
together the lengths of his/her thigh, upper arm, forearm, and sitting height, after weighting each metric by an empirically determined coefficient. MASH also includes a pure error factor of 1.91 cm to account for normal variation. Thus, the MASH formula adds 1.91 cm to the predicted height.”

World Athletics calculated that Leeper’s allowable height in prosthetics should be 174.44 cm (5-8 1/2). Leeper’s counsel argued that the MASH equation is racist, since it was calculated using Caucasian athletes and not Blacks. The CAS release noted:

“Before being adopted by the IPC, the MASH formula was validated through studies of small groups in Japan and Australia. This validation was on the explicit scientific premise that geographic distance, not race, is the main driver of differences in relative bodily proportions from one population to another. The scientific validity of this premise has not been challenged by affirmative evidence in these proceedings. Further, there is some evidence in the record which lends a degree of support to the proposition that the MASH methodology accurately predicts the lower-leg length of Black athletes of African descent. This evidence is however limited. In the Panel’s view, the key point about this body of evidence, limited as it is, is that it does not cast doubt on the MASH methodology, especially given the pure error factor of 1.91 cm.”

The CAS panel advised that it would be helpful for research on MASH be undertaken with Black athletes as soon as practical, “[i]n the interest of avoiding future disputes.”

● Basketball ● “It is alleged that the FIBA President knew or should have known about the sexual abuses in the Mali Basketball Federation particularly during his time at the helm of that Federation from 1999 until 2007. The FIBA President, who strongly denies the allegations, has taken the decision to temporarily step aside while the investigation is conducted. He has also offered his full collaboration to the investigation.”

The International Basketball Federation announced on Monday that federation chief Hamane Niang of Mali – elected in 2019 after a long career in corporate and governmental financial posts – has stepped down during the investigation, created in response to a story in The New York Times. The federation also noted:

“The following Malian individuals have been suspended from all FIBA activities while the investigation is conducted: coach Amadou Bamba, coach Oumar Sissoko and official Hario Maiga.”

The allegations have been turned over to the federation’s independent Integrity Officer, Canadian law professor Richard McLaren, well-known from his work on the Russian doping scandal and International Weightlifting Federation. His reported is expected shortly after the Tokyo Games conclude.

The FIBA women’s AmeriCup is ongoing in Puerto Rico, with the U.S. fielding an all-collegiate team that is 3-0 in its group stage games and headed to the quarterfinals. It opened with a 102-39 won over the Dominican Republic on 12 June, then defeated Puerto Rico, 87-65, and hammered Venezuela, 102-53 on Monday. Forward Aliyah Boston (South Carolina) leads the U.S. in scoring at 13.3 a game.

Canada is 3-0 in the five-team Group A and plays Columbia (2-1) today in its final group game. The quarters, semis and finals will be played on the 17th, 18th and 19th.

● Boxing ● In the latest in a long line of inquiries into horrifying refereeing and judging, the International Boxing Federation (AIBA) has engaged McLaren Global Sport Solutions – headed by Canadian law professor Richard McLaren – “to conduct a two-phase independent investigation, starting with the refereeing and judging of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games boxing tournament.”

This report is due at the end of August 2021, when a second phase will begin:

“Upon completing the first phase of the mandate, Professor McLaren together with his team will work to identify the presence of any acts of corruption carried out by the individuals involved in past administrations of AIBA. A number of loans and questionable business decisions were previously entered into. While AIBA’s financial integrity and continued solvency have now been addressed, here too there may be lessons to be learned.”

This is all part of the AIBA’s effort to try and regain the support of the IOC to manage boxing at future Olympic Games, if the sport is maintained on the program. McLaren’s group is the current gold standard and its findings will be critical to AIBA’s Olympic future (or not).

AIBA is supposed to be out of the Olympic boxing business, but it announced on Monday that it is organizing a pre-Tokyo training camp from 3-23 July.

“AIBA received several requests from various National Federations from Africa, the Americas and Asia with a plea to organize a training camp for their athletes, as they prepare for competitions, in the light of the impossibility of arranging such an event in their countries due to multiple restrictions caused by the pandemic. The training camp will be held in Khabarovsk, Russia.”

National federations had one day to apply to attend the camp (due today); this is another step in AIBA’s charm offensive from new President Umar Kremlev (RUS), the former Secretary-General of the Russian Boxing Federation.

● Football ● The 47th Copa America is indeed under way in Brazil after the Brazilian Supreme Court dismissed three suits asking that the tournament not be held in the country, citing danger from the Covid-19 virus.

The tournament was originally to be held in 2020 and was postponed to 2021, but both Colombia and Argentina resigned in late May as hosts due to Covid problems in their own countries. Brazil agreed to host, holding the matches in four stadiums, all without spectators.

The virus has not left the tournament alone, however. At least eight Venezuelan players and four coaches tested positive on Friday, a day before the tournament’s opening match with Brazil (a 3-0 loss) and were being quarantined. Three Bolivian players and a staff member tested positive on Saturday, ahead of its 3-1 loss to Paraguay on Monday.

Two member of the Colombian delegation tested positive on Sunday and were quarantined. Colombia defeated Ecuador, 1-0, on Sunday in its opening game.

On Tuesday, Brazilian officials announced that 52 virus cases had been identified: 33 players or team officials and 19 tournament workers. The elimination round begins on 2 July, if the tournament makes it that far.

Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen, who collapsed on the field last Saturday during a Euro 2020 game with Finland due to a cardiac arrest, shared a positive comment on the team’s Twitter account on Tuesday:

“Big thanks for your sweet and amazing greetings and messages from all around the world. It means a lot to me and my family. I’m fine – under the circumstances. I still have to go through some examinations at the hospital, but I feel okay. Now, I will cheer on the boys on the Denmark team in the next matches.”

● Gymnastics ● USA Gymnastics announced its 2021 Hall of Fame class last Friday, with four athletes and two coaches to be inducted on 26 June.

The athletes includes Dianne Durham, the 1983 U.S. All-Around Champion and the first Black gymnast to win at the nationals (she passed away in February 2021); Rebecca Bross, a six-time World Championships medalist, including Team silvers, an All-Around silver in 2009 and bronze in 2010; four-time national Trampoline champion and 2008 Olympian, Chris Estrada, and the 2004 U.S. Olympic men’s team, which won a silver in Athens, the first medal by a U.S. men’s team since 1984, and included Jason Gatson, Morgan Hamm, Paul Hamm, Brett McClure, Blaine Wilson and Guard Young.

Coaches included Jim Aamodt in Trampoline and Tumbling, and Gene Watson in Artistic Gymnastics, who passed away in April.

● Swimming ● Please check TheSportsExaminer.com daily for ongoing coverage of the U.S. Olympic Trials and the Australian Olympic Trials; these posts are not send to our e-mail subscribers, but are announced on our Twitter feed.

Rio Olympic medal winner Maddie Groves (AUS) pulled out of the Australian Trials for Tokyo last Thursday, announcing on Twitter:

“Let this be a lesson to all misogynistic perverts in sport and their boot lickers – You can no longer exploit young women and girls, body shame or medically gaslight them and then expect them to represent you so you can earn your annual bonus. Time’s UP.”

Swimming Australia President Alex Baumann has created a panel to look into the sport’s “culture” issues, and has asked for more information from Groves, who has not responded to him. She won silvers in Rio in the women’s 200 m Fly and 4×100 m Medley.

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SWIMMING: Titmus scares another world record in Adelaide, while Ledecky, Huske and Andrew claim wins at U.S. Trials

Rich Perelman

June 14, 2021

tsx pix 2019-728 ledecky, katie 800 free (usas) — Olympics-bound American Freestyle superstar Katie Ledecky (Photo: USA Swimming)

Katie Ledecky breezed to her first win at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha, winning the women’s 400 m Free in 4:01.27 in the first of four events she expects to win on the way to the Tokyo Games in July.

Ledecky led from start to finish and posted only her third-fastest time of the season, unchallenged all the way. Behind her, there was a fierce fight for second with 22-year-old Paige Madden taking over second place with two laps to go to finish in 4:04.86, a seasonal best by nearly five seconds. That was enough to move 2017 Worlds silver medalist Leah Smith to third (4:06.27), with open-water star Haley Anderson fourth (4:07.42).

As is so often the case in swimming, youth will be served and 18-year-old Torri Huske followed up on her American Record in the women’s 100 m Fly in Sunday’s semifinals with an even faster swim in the final, lowering her record from 55.78 to 55.66, leading from start to finish. It’s not only the world leader in 2021, but the no. 5 performance in history (she’s still the no. 3 performer). Second in 56.43 was 16-year-old Claire Curzan, who has timed 56.20 earlier this year. The 2016 Trials winner, Kelsi Dahlia – now 26 – was fourth (56.80).

The men’s 100 m Breast final was a win for Michael Andrew as expected; he had set American Records in the heats and semis. But the final was almost too close, as the top three places were separated by just 0.07. Andrew blasted to the lead and was clear of the field at the turn, but Nic Fink was chasing him down on the final lap, only to be passed by Andrew Wilson, who came from fourth to second, out-touching Fink by 58.74-57.80. Andrew remains at no. 3 on the world list for 2021 and Wilson and Fink are now nos. 8-9.

In the men’s 200 m Free, Kieran Smith – already the 400 m Free winner – led the heats at 1:46.54 with sprint superstar Caeleb Dressel second-fastest at 1:46.63. Dressel dropped out of the semifinals, but has made a case for being on the 4×200 m Free Relay in Tokyo. Smith continued with a win in the semifinals in 1:45.74, fastest by an American this year, ahead of Zach Apple (1:46.22) and Townley Haas (1:46.30), finishing 1-2-3 in the second semi. The final is Tuesday.

Defending men’s Olympic 100 m Backstroke champ Ryan Murphy made a statement in the semifinals, winning the first race in 52.22, making him the no. 3 performer in the world for 2021, with the final still to come. Hunter Armstrong, 20, won the second heat in 52.67, making him the fourth-fastest of 2021. London 2012 Olympic champ Matt Grevers, now 36, was sixth overall (53.18) and earned a spot in the final.

The women’s 100 m Back semifinals proved that former world-record holder Regan Smith isn’t conceding anything to Australian star Kaylee McKeown. Smith won the second semi in 57.92, the no. 4 time in history and second this season only to McKeown’s mark of 57.45 at the Aussie Trials on Sunday. Veteran Olivia Smoliga won the first semi in 58.50. Former world-record holder Kathleen Baker (58.00 in 2018) suffered a fractured foot in early May and finished a non-qualifying 11th in 1:00.51.

Reigning Olympic gold medalist in the 100 m Breaststroke, Lilly King, is serving notice she is going to be hard to handle in Tokyo. She already had the world lead at 1:05.32 from a meet in March, but zoomed to the fastest heat time in 1:05.67 and then re-set her world lead in the semifinals, winning in 1:04.72, the no. 8 performance ever. Her world record of 1:04.13 from 2017 is in jeopardy in the final. Annie Lazor was second-fastest at 1:05.37, now no. 2 in the world for 2021 and a lifetime best, moving her to no. 10 all-time!

The U.S. Trials continue though next Sunday; Tuesday’s finals include the men’s 200 m Free, women’s 100 m Back and the women’s 100 m Breaststroke.

There were plenty more fireworks at the Australian Olympic Trials in Adelaide on Monday, with Ariarne Titmus scaring another world record.

Fresh off the no. 2 performance in history in the 400 m Free, Titmus roared to victory in the women’s 200 m Free in 1:53.09, again the second-fastest swim in history, just 0.11 off of the world mark of 1:52.98 by Italy’s Federica Pellegrini in 2009. Worth noting: Pellegrini’s performance was made in a non-textile suit, making Titmus’s mark worthy of world-record appreciation.

Also claiming a second world lead was McKeown, already the new world-record-setter in the women’s 100 m Backstroke. This time, she grabbed the 2021 lead in the women’s 200 m Medley, finishing in 2:08.19, replacing American Madisyn Cox’s 2:08.51 from May.

Jack McLoughlin won the men’s 800 m Free in 7:42.51 to take the no. 2 spot on the year list.

The Australian Trials continue through Thursday.

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LANE ONE: NBC warms up the country before Tokyo: two weeks of U.S. Olympic trials, so set your viewing schedule now

Rich Perelman

June 14, 2021

(For Sunday’s Highlights of major international events and U.S. trials, click here and here)

/Updated/While the whining continues over whether the Tokyo Games should be held or will be held, the time for talk has ended over picking the U.S. team in the three biggest medal sports for the American delegation: swimming, track & field and gymnastics.

Consider this: in these three sports alone, the U.S. won 77 medals in Rio in 2016 – 33 in swimming, 32 in track and 12 in gymnastics. That’s more – in just three sports – than any other nation won in the entire Games, as China was second with 70 total medals. The U.S. won another 44 medals for a total of 121.

The U.S. diving trials concluded on Sunday, when plenty of surprises (see the links to Sunday’s coverage above) and the swimming trials started Sunday night from Omaha. The track & field trials start on Friday (18th) from Eugene and the gymnastics trials start the 24th, from St. Louis.

All of this action is on NBC, of course – over the air, on cable and online – hoping to get you primed to spend two full weeks watching the Tokyo Games. In many ways, the trials are just as compelling as the Games; in swimming, for example, there are three medals to be handed out in Tokyo, but only the top two make the U.S. team at the Trials and even that is not assured given the squad-size limitations.

So here’s a day-by-day roster of what to expect, and who to expect to see in live finals broadcasts (see the link above for the entire TV schedule, including prelims, and delayed broadcasts):

● 14 June (Monday: 8 p.m. Eastern on NBC): Swimming, with women’s 100 m Fly (Torri Huske), men’s 100 m Breast (Michael Andrew), women’s 400 m Free (Katie Ledecky).

● 15 June (Tuesday: 8 p.m. Eastern on NBC): Swimming, with men’s 200 m Free (Kieran Smith), women’s 100 m Back (Regan Smith), men’s 100 m Back (Ryan Murphy), women’s 100 m Breast (Lilly King).

● 16 June (Wednesday: 8 p.m. Eastern on NBC): Swimming, with women’s 200 m Free (Ledecky), men’s 200 m Fly (Chase Kalisz), women’s 200 m Medley (Madisyn Cox), women’s 1,500 m Free (Ledecky).

● 17 June (Thursday: 8 p.m. Eastern on NBCSN): Swimming, with men’s 800 m Free (Jordan Wilimovsky), men’s 200 m Breast (Nic Fink), women’s 200 m Fly (Hali Flickinger), men’s 100 m Free (Caleb Dressel).

● 18 June (Friday: 9 p.m. Eastern on NBC): Swimming, with women’s 200 m Breast (King), men’s 200 m Back (Murphy), men’s 200 m Medley (Andrew), women’s 100 m Free (Simone Manuel).

+ Track & Field (10 p.m. Eastern on NBC): men’s 10,000 m (Grant Fisher) men’s Shot (Ryan Crouser).

● 19 June (Saturday: 9 p.m. Eastern on NBC): Swimming, with men’s 100 m Fly (Dressel), women’s 200 m Back (Smith), women’s 800 m Free (Ledecky).

+ Track & Field (10 p.m. Eastern on NBC): women’s 100 m (Sha’Carri Richardson), women’s Discus (Valarie Allman).

● 20 June (Sunday: 8 p.m. Eastern on NBC): Swimming, with men’s 50 m Free (Dressel), women’s 50 m Free (Manuel), men’s 1,500 m Free (Wilimovsky).

+ Track & Field (9 p.m. Eastern on NBC): women’s 400 m (Allyson Felix), men’s 400 m (Michael Norman), women’s 100 m hurdles (Keni Harrison), men’s 100 m (Trayvon Bromell), men’s decathlon (Harrison Williams) plus men’s Hammer (Rudy Winkler), women’s High Jump (Vashti Cunningham) and women’s Triple Jump (Keturah Orji).

● 21 June (Monday: 8 p.m. on NBC): Track & Field, with women’s 1,500 m (Shelby Houlihan), women’s 5,000 m (Karissa Schweizer), men’s 800 m (Donavan Brazier) plus men’s Pole Vault (Sam Kendricks), men’s Javelin (Curtis Thompson), men’s Triple Jump (Will Claye).

● 22-23 June: rest days

● 24 June (Thursday: 6:30 p.m. on NBCSN): Gymnastics, with the men’s first day (Sam Mikulak).

+ Track & Field (9 p.m. Eastern on NBCSN): women’s 3,000 m Steeple (Emma Coburn), women’s Shot (Felisha Johnson).

● 25 June (Friday: 5 p.m. Eastern on NBCN): Track & Field, with men’s 3,000 m Steeple (Hillary Bor), men’s Discus (Mason Finley).

+ Gymnastics (8 p.m. Eastern on NBC): women’s first day (Simone Biles).

● 26 June (Saturday: 4 p.m. Eastern on NBC): Gymnastics: men’s second day (Mikulak).

+ Track & Field (9 p.m. Eastern on NBC): men’s 110 m hurdles (Grant Holloway), 400 m hurdles (Rai Benjamin), women’s 200 m (Richardson), women’s 10,000 m (Emily Sisson), plus women’s Hammer (DeAnna Price), women’s Javelin (Maggie Malone), women’s Pole Vault (Sandi Morris), women’s Long Jump (Brittney Reese).

● 27 June (Sunday: 7 p.m. Eastern on NBC): Track & Field, with women’s 400 m hurdles (Dalilah Muhammad), women’s 800 m (Ajee Wilson), men’s 1,500 m (Matthew Centrowitz), men’s 200 m (Noah Lyles), men’s 5,000 m (Paul Chelimo), women’s heptathlon (Kendell Williams), plus men’s High Jump (JuVaughn Harrison), men’s Long Jump (Jeff Henderson).

+ Gymnastics (8:30 p.m. Eastern on NBC): women’s second day (Biles).

Check your local listings, as NBC is slotting these events in primetime, so those of us in the western states won’t see the events live, but only on delay.

(TSX readers: please note that although there will be daily posts on these Trials, not all of these will be sent by e-mail. The best way to be sure you’re informed of new posts is to follow TSX on Twitter here).

Those wondering if the Trials could be scheduled even closer to the Games should note that the qualification deadline set by the Tokyo organizers is Tuesday, 29 June, and the final entry deadline is 5 July, so this is cutting it about as close as you can get. Rest assured, lawyers and arbitration panels are standing by.

(Thanks to sharp-eyed reader Duffy Mahoney of USA Track & Field for updating the qualification vs. entry deadlines.)

Crazy things happen in sports and especially under the pressure of the U.S. Trials, as well as the Olympic Games. Check the schedule above, and from your local stations, as well as the steaming opportunities, mostly on NBCOlympics.com.

I have extra popcorn ready to go. This is going to be epic.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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HIGHLIGHTS II: U.S. Swim Trials open with American records for Andrew and Huske, shocking world leader for Weyant; Downs stuns with 3 m diving win

Rich Perelman

June 13, 2021

tsx pix 2019-309 andrew, michael 750 (fly) — Two American Records on the first day of the U.S. Olympic Trials for Michael Andrew

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Headline results of noteworthy competitions around the world/updated/:

● Diving ● The men’s 3 m Springboard and women’s 10 m Platform concluded the U.S. Olympic Trials in Indianapolis, proving once again that nothing is sure in an all-or-nothing trials format.

Tyler Downs, 18, won the men’s 3 m final, scoring 1,333.75 and moving up from 2019 U.S. Junior Champion to 2021 Olympian. Downs was only a quarterfinalist at the 2019 senior Nationals, but finished ahead of Andrew Capobianco (1,319.40) as well as David Boudia, the two-time Olympic Platform medalist in 2012 (gold) and 2016 (bronze), who scored 1,314.95 for third and will not go to Tokyo. Michael Hixon, the 2016 3 m Synchro silver medalist, was fourth with 1,309.65.

Capobianco and Hixon were already on the team via their win in the 3 m Synchro event. Downs is a first-time Olympian and was fifth in the Trials 10 m Platform final.

The women’s 10 m Platform final came down to the fifth and final round with Delaney Schnell – already on the team from her 10 m Synchro win with Jessica Parratto – and Murphy Bromberg battling for the lead, with Schnell at 945.10 and Bromberg at 938.55, trailed by Katrina Young at 911.10.

Schnell stayed strong and extended her lead in the final round, finishing at 1,021.90, but Young scored 73.60 on a back 2 1/2 somersault with 1 1/2 twists to just 43.20 for Bromberg on the same dive. That put Young into second and onto the Olympic team, scoring 984.70 to 981.75 for Bromberg. Parratto finished fourth with 973.75.

Laura Wilkinson, the 2000 Olympic Champion in Platform and 2005 World Champion, now 43, finished a creditable 10th in the final (804.30) after returning to competition in 2017 to try for her fourth Olympic team.

● Football ● /updated/The U.S. Women’s National Team continued tuning up for Tokyo against Jamaica on Sunday evening at the BBVA Stadium in Houston, Texas with a decisive 4-0 win.

The American squad scored in just 24 seconds, with Rose Lavelle sending a cross to captain Carli Lloyd at the far post, who popped it in for a 1-0 lead. It was Lloyd’s 125th career goal for the U.S., now 38 and looking for another Olympic medal chance in Tokyo.

The U.S. got another goal in the seventh minute on a penalty by Lindsey Horan, after a foul in the box against Christina Press. Fifteen minutes later, Press sent a cross from left to right toward the far post, right to the feet of Midge Purce, who scored easily for 3-0 lead. The half ended at 3-0 with the U.S. holding 67% of the possession and ahead by 9-1 on shots.

The U.S. substituted liberally in the second half, but didn’t get a fourth goal until stoppage time when Sam Mewis sent a cross to the head of Alex Morgan, who scored her 110th goal for the national team. Adrianna Franch got the shutout for the U.S., which ended with 73% possession and a 19-3 edge in shots. The U.S. is now 23-0 all-time vs. Jamaica.

The U.S. women will finish their three-match “Summer Series” tour on Wednesday (16th) vs. Nigeria at the new Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, at 9 p.m. Eastern time.

● Swimming ● The first night of finals at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha produced two American Records and a flurry of fast times and a new world leader in the women’s 400 m Medley. The records:

● Men/100 m Breast: 58.19, Michael Andrew in the heats (old: 58.64, Kevin Cordes, 2017)
● Men/100 m Breast: 58.14, Andrew in the semifinals

● Women/100 m Fly: 55.78, Torri Huske in the semifinals (old: 55.98, Dana Vollmer, 2012)

Andrew, who turned professional at age 14 and is now 22, moved to no. 3 all-time and no. 3 on the 2021 year list behind Olympic Champion Adam Peaty (GBR: 56.88 in 2019 and 57.39 this year) and Dutch star Arno Kamminga (57.90 in 2021). Nic Fink was second to Andrew in 58.50, now no. 6 on the 2021 world list. The final is tomorrow.

Huske shattered her prior best of 56.69 from earlier this year and is now no. 2 for 2021 and the no. 3 performer in history behind only Sarah Sjostrom (SWE: 55.48 ‘16) and Yufei Zhang (CHN: 55.62 ‘20). Zhang is the year leader at 55.73. The final is on Monday.

The finals weren’t bad either:

● In the men’s 400 m Medley, Carson Foster claimed the fastest qualifying time at 4:10.50, trailed by 2017 World Champion Chase Kalisz. In the final, Foster led early, but Kalisz took over after the Breaststroke leg and built his final edge on the final (Freestyle) leg. Jay Litherland had to come from third to pass Foster only on the final lap, making it to Tokyo by just 0.53 seconds in 4:10.33.

Kalisz’s winning time of 4:09.09 moves him to no. 2 on the 2021 world list, just 0.07 behind Japan’s Daiya Seto. However, it’s well behind Kalisz’s lifetime best of 4:05.90 – no. 3 all-time – from the 2017 World Championships. Kalisz and Litherland represented the U.S. in this event at Rio in 2016.

● The men’s 400 m Free has not been a strong event for the U.S. in 2021, with Kiernan Smith the fastest coming in at 3:47.71, no. 27 in the world. Smith led the qualifying, then won going away in 3:44.86, moving to equal-8th in 2021 among eligible swimmers for Tokyo. Jake Mitchell finished second in 3:48.17.

● The women’s 400 m Medley again saw the qualifying leader – Hali Flickinger – fade in the final, but she held on to get a ticket to Tokyo. She led for the first 300 m of the final, but was passed going into the final lap by Melanie Margalis, a Rio Olympic relay gold medalist and no. 3 on the world list for 2021. But Emma Weyant, 19, had the fastest lap coming home at 30.35 and moved from third to first, touching in a world-leading 4:33.81!

Flickinger stayed in second, finishing in 4:33.96 (no. 2 in 2021) with Margalis fading to third in 4:34.08, still faster than any swimmer from any other country. That was also true for Leah Smith in fourth (4:34.55).

The U.S. Trials continue though next Sunday.

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HIGHLIGHTS: Ross takes world 400 m lead at NCAAs, Mu sets 400 m record; Australia’s McKeown sets 100 Back world record

Rich Perelman

June 13, 2021

tsx pix 2021-612 athing mu NCAA 750 (TxAM) — Another collegiate record for the unstoppable Athing Mu at the NCAA Championships! (Photo: Texas A&M)

Headline results of noteworthy competitions around the world:

● Archery ● USA Archery completed its selection process for the U.S. team to compete at the 2021 World Archery Championships last Monday (7th) on the final day of the SoCal Showdown in Chula Vista, California.

World Champion Brady Ellison won six of seven round-robin matches to finish with a three-stage Trials total of 36.00 points and will lead the team that will compete in September in Yankton, South Dakota.

As at the Olympic Trials, Jack Williams finished second with 28.00 points, ahead of Matthew Nofel (17.00) and Matthew Requa (17.00).

The women’s Recurve winner was Rio 2016 Olympian Mackenzie Brown, who topped Olympic Trials winner Casey Kaufhold, 30.00 to 29.00, with both winning six of seven round-robin matches. Third was 15-year-old Gabrielle Sasai (19.00), too young to compete in the Olympic Trials, but who will be on the Worlds team in Yankton. Jennifer Mucino-Fernandez, third at the Olympic Trials, finished fourth (16.00).

● Artistic Swimming ● The combined FINA World Series Super Final and Olympic Qualification Tournament in Barcelona was the portal to Tokyo for eight teams and three Duets.

In the Olympic Qualification Duets final, Austrian sisters Anna-Maria and Eirini Alexandri won with a combined total of 182.8053, over Vasilina Khandoshka and Daria Kulagina (BLR: 176.6593) and French sisters Charlotte and Laura Tremble (176.4061). The American pair of Ruby Remati and Lindi Schroeder finished fifth (174.6085).

The Olympic Qualification Team final was won by Italy with a combined (Technical + Free) score of 184.0249, well ahead of Spain (182.8506) and Greece (175.9990). The U.S. was fourth at 175.7882, with France, Korea and Hungary also finishing.

In the Super Final, Canadian star Jacqueline Simoneau won the Solo Technical (90.4573) over Lara Mechnig (LIE: 84.1573) and American Nicole Dzurko (82.0876), then won the Solo Free (92.1000) ahead of American Anita Alvarez (88.1332) and Mireia Hernandez (ESP: 86.3668).

Simoneau and Claudia Holzner won the Duet Technical (90.5040), easily on top of Khandoshka and Kulagina (BLR: 87.6593) and the Dutch sisters Bregje and Noortje de Brouwer (87.5620). Alvarez and Schroeder of the U.S. were fourth (87.2417).

Simoneau and Holzner won the Duet Free with 91.8332 points, well in front of Khandoshka and and Kulagina (89.0000) and the de Brouwer sisters (88.4668). Remati and Schroeder were fifth (87.3668).

In the Team Technical, Italy won with 90.7917 points, beating Spain (90.5506) and Canada (88.9380) with the U.S. in fourth (86.8550). The Team Free standings were in the same order,: Italy (93.2332), Spain (92.3000), Canada (90.4668) and the U.S. (88.9332).

Russia’s Aleksandr Maltsev won the men’s Solo Technical (90.9322), while Italian Giorgio Minisini took the men’s Solo Free (88.8668). Maltsev and Olesia Platonova won the Mixed Duet Technical (92.2651), and Maltsev and Mayya Gurbanberdieva won the Mixed Duet Free easily at 94.0000.

Canada won the Mixed Team Highlight event (89.8000), while Hungary was the only entrant in the Mixed Team Free Combination (77.7668).

● Athletics ● The NCAA Track & Field Championships closed in Eugene, Oregon on Saturday, with another startling meet that has re-shaped the upcoming Olympic Trials in several events. The meet produced one world-leading mark (athletes are Americans unless otherwise noted):

● Men/400 m: 43.85, Randolph Ross (USA/North Carolina A&T)

Randolph had control of the 400 m final from start to finish and pulled in the final 60 m from Bryce Deadmon (Texas A&M: 44.44), Noah Williams (LSU: 44.93) and teammate Trevor Stewart (44.96). Randolph, coached by his father, Duane Ross, is now no. 13 on the all-time list and no. 9 all-time U.S. On the 2021 world list, Ross, Williams, Deadmon and Stewart’s season bests rank 1-3-5-6.

Despite overcast and cool weather, the sprints were impressive, with LSU’s Terrance Laird winning the men’s 100 m in 10.05 and a new star, Florida freshman Joseph Fahnbulleh, beating Laird in the 200 m, 19.91-19.94, coming from way behind on the home straight with giant strides.

USC senior Isaiah Jewett won the men’s 800 m in a lifetime best of 1:44.68, ahead of Texas A&M freshman Brandon Miller (1:44.97). Oregon freshman Cole Hocker won the 3:35.35 to the delight of the home crowd and Oregon junior Cooper Tease (13:12.27) did the same in the 5,000 m, as 13 of the top 14 finishers posted lifetime bests.

LSU’s Sean Burrell – a freshman – won the 400 m hurdles in an electrifying 47.85, lowering his lifetime best of 48.86 set at the East Regional and setting a World U-20 Record, as well as moving to no. 4 on the 2021 world list.

In the field, LSU junior JuVaughn Harrison completed his historic double in the high jump (2.33 m/7-7 3/4) and long jump (8.27 m/27-1 3/4). Italy’s Emmanuel Ihemeje, an Oregon freshman, won the triple jump at 17.14 m (56-2 3/4) – his outdoor best – and moved to no. 9 on the year list. Arizona State’s Turner Washington took the men’s shot (21.10 m/69-2 3/4) and discus (63.42 m/208-1).

The women’s finals were mostly on Saturday and Texas A&M frosh Athing Mu put on a show, winning the 400 m in a collegiate record 49.57 (no. 9 all-time U.S.) and then anchoring A&M 4×400 m to another collegiate record of 3:22.34, the world leader in 2021. In fact, that time would rank equal-14th among all nations, all-time! Mu’s split was reported at 48.85, clearly positioning her for a spot on the U.S. 4×400 m team for Tokyo, assuming she makes the team in the 800 m. She’s 19.

The unexpected star was the 5-4 sophomore Cam Sturgis of North Carolina A&T, who stunned herself as well as everyone else by doubling in the 100 m (10.74w: +2.2 m/s) and 200 m (22.12). She ran away from USC’s Twanisha Terry (10.79w) in the 100 and then stormed down the straight in the 200 m to outlast Tamara Clark (USA/Alabama), who finished in 22.17.

USC’s Anna Cockrell won both the 100 m hurdles (12.58) and the 400 m hurdles in 54.66, moving her to no. 8 in the world in the longer race.

Texas A&M’s Tyra Gittens (TTO) might have been the busiest athlete in the meet, winning the heptathlon (6,285), taking second in the long jump (6.68 m/21-11) and third in the high jump (1.87 m/6-1 1/2).

World leader Jorinde van Klinken (NED/Arizona State) was trailing Iowa’s Laulauga Tausaga (63.53 m/208-5) in the discus into the final round, but unloaded a 65.01 m (213-3) final throw to win. The women’s hammer was a showcase for Canadian Camryn Rogers (Cal), who won at 75.52 m (247-9) – a collegiate record – and is now no. 4 on the world list for 2021.

A great meet, with an even better one – the U.S. Olympic Trials – starting on the 18th.

The final Wanda Diamond League meet for three weeks was a barnburner in Florence (ITA) on 10 June, with four world-leading marks:

● Men/Steeple: 8:08.54, Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR)
● Men/5,000 m: 12:48.45, Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR)
● Men/110 m hurdles: 13.01, Omar McLeod (JAM)
● Women/1,500 m: 3:53.63, Sifan Hassan (NED)

El Bakkali was in a group of six at the bell, but finished strongly to win the Steeple from Bikila Tadese (ETH: 8:10.56) and fellow Moroccan Mohamed Tindouft (8:11.65 PR), with the top nine all under 8:20. Ingebrigtsen’s win was a European Record and he ran away down the straightaway from Hagos Gebrhiwet (ETH: 12:49.02), Mo Ahmed (CAN: 12:50.12) and Mohamed Katir (ESP: 12:50.79). Now one of the favorites for Tokyo, Ingebrigtsen was ecstatic:

“Today it was like winning a gold medal. It is pretty crazy. I was expecting a PB, because it has been two years since my last PB. I was most likely to run under 13 minutes, but this European record is incredible. Now I have to able to win a medal, too. If I am able to win against the best runners, then I can also win at the Olympics.”

The women’s 1,500 m was a sensational win for Hassan, just four days after her 10,000 m world record, running away on the final lap from reigning Olympic 1,500 m champ Faith Kipyegon (KEN), 3:53.63 – the sixth-fastest race in history – to 3:53.91 (no. 7), with Laura Muir (GBR: 3:55.59) chasing. Hassan won the 1,500 m and the 10,000 m at the 2019 World Championships and appears well positioned to do so in Tokyo.

Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith dominated the women’s 200 m, winning in 22.06, way ahead of Marie-Josee Ta Lou (CIV) in 22.56. Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, the world leader, ran away with the 100 m hurdles in 12.38, the second-best mark of 2021. Dutch star Femke Bol set a national record in the women’s 400 m hurdles and moved to no. 3 on the 2021 world list in 53.44; have no doubt, she is a medal threat in Tokyo.

In the field, Russian Anzhelika Sidorova moved to no. 2 on the 2021 world list, winning the women’s vault at 4.91 m (16-1 1/4); she’s already the reigning World Champion. Croatia’s Sandra Perkovic got a season’s best in the discus, reaching 68.31 m (224-1), now no. 3 on the world list and in a position to defend her Olympic titles in 2012 and 2016.

New world leaders elsewhere came in Nice (FRA) on Saturday as Britain’s Oliver Dustin won the 800 m in a lifetime best 1:43.82 and on Sunday in Shaoxing (CHN), where Lijiao Gong threw the shot 20.31 m (66-7 3/4).

Dustin, age 20, improved from 1:45.71 in May to win over France’s Gabriel Tual, who also scored a lifetime best of 1:44.44. Australia’s Jye Edwards won the men’s 1,500 in an impressive 3:34.74 and American Mike Rodgers ran in all three races of the men’s 100 m, winning race one (10.38), placing second in race two (10.25) and winning race three (10.09)!

Two-time World Champion Gong wasn’t the only highlight at the Chinese nationals in Shaoxing, as Bingtian Su won the men’s 100 m in 9.98, and Yaming Zhu won the men’s triple jump at 17.39 m (57-0 3/4).

● Canoe-Kayak ● The first ICF Slalom World Cup was in Prague (CZE), with a couple of upsets and some expected results by Olympic favorites.

In the men’s C-1 on Sunday, Czech Lukas Rohan scored a surprise victory in 97.20 seconds (with two penalties), finishing ahead of two-time World Champion David Florence (GBR: 97.44, 0 penalties) and 2017 World Champion Benjamin Savsek (SLO: 99.80, 2 penalties). Two-time World Champion Jiri Prskavec (CZE) won the K-1 in 90.42 seconds (0), ahead of Italy’s Giovanni de Gennaro (90,87) and France’s Mathieu Biazizzo (92.01). American Michal Smolen was fifth (93.62).

The women’s C-1 final was another triumph for four-time World Champion Jessica Fox of Australia, finishing in 105.15 (0 penalties). She was easily the best on the course, with 2019 World Champion Andrea Herzog second (GER: 109.98, 2 penalties) and two-time Worlds medal winner Tereza Fiserova (CZE) third in 110.76 (0).

The shocker came in the K-1 women’s final for Poland’s Klaudia Zwolinska, who took her first World Cup title in 100.58 (0), ahead of Natalia Pacierpnik (POL), timed in 102.49 (0) and then Fox, who had four penalties on the way to a final time of 102.82.

● Cycling ● Mountain stages are almost always the deciders in multi-stage races on the UCI World Tour and Stage 5 of the Tour de Suisse turned the race around.

Ecuador’s Richard Carapaz, the 2019 Giro d’Italia winner, won the 175.2 km stage that featured a starting climb, then a huge descent and finishing with a triple climb and an uphill final run into Leukerbad. He dueled to the finish with Danish star Jakob Fuglsang, but got there first, leaving the rest of the field at least 39 seconds behind.

Carapaz took over the race lead by 26 seconds over Fuglsang and maintained it through Stage 6, another triple-climb stage, won by Dane Andreas Kron over Rui Costa (POR) in an eight-man sprint to the finish.

But the 23.2 km time trial in stage 7 shook up the field again, with Colombia’s Rigoberto Uran winning in 36:02, ahead of France’s Julian Alaphilippe (+0:40) and Swiss Gino Mader (+0:54) with Carapaz fourth (also +0:54). That left Carapaz in the lead, but now by 17 seconds over Uran and 39 seconds over Alaphilippe with one stage left.

Sunday’s final stage of 159.5 km in and around Andermatt included three major climbs, but a mostly downhill finish. But Carapaz was careful to stay with the lead pack of nine riders and while Mader and Canada’s Michael Woods escaped to finish 1-2 in 4:06:25, Carapaz and Uran finished 5-7 and ended up 1-2 in the final standings, with Uran 17 seconds back.

Alaphilippe left the event early to go home to attend to the birth of his first child, so Fuglsang moved from fifth to third on Sunday (+1:15), ahead of German Maximilian Schachmann (+1:19), with Woods fifth (+2:55).

The UCI Mountain Bike Cross Country World Cup resumed after a month off in Leogang (AUT), with Swiss Mathias Flueckiger winning the men’s race after two third-place finishes in the first two legs.

A three-time Worlds medalist. Flueckiger finished the 23.85 km race in 1:15:50, posting the fastest circuit of the race on lap five (11:23.5) to build his lead and finish 14 seconds up on Czech Ondrej Cink (1:16:04) and 45 seconds ahead of third-place Anton Cooper (GBR). Flueckiger is now the only man to medal in all three races this season.

Flueckiger also won the eight-lap short-track race in 20:43, also ahead of Cink (20:48) and Milan Vader (FRA: 20:59).

France’s Loana Lecomte continued her domination of the women’s racing, winning her third race in a row, storming to victory in 1:17:03 over reigning Olympic champ Jenny Rissveds (SWE: +1:45) and Austria’s Laura Stigger (+1:50). Lecomte was in front from the start and never let up. Lecomte won the seven-lap short-track event by four seconds over Rebecca McConnell (AUS), 21:10-21:14, with Swiss Jolanda Neff third (21:21).

● Diving ● The U.S. Olympic Trials in Indianapolis confirmed the American divers for Tokyo, with the last session to be held on Sunday evening (look for a later post for those results).

The women’s 3 m Springboard was all about Krysta Palmer, 29, who ran away with the victory, scoring 1,011.95 points to best 18-year-old Hailey Hernandez (926.55), with Sarah Bacon third (912.10) as the second spot came down to the final dive. Palmer and Hernandez will both be first-time Olympians.

The men’s 10 m Platform was all about Brandon Loschiavo and Jordan Windle, who scored 1,421.00 and 1,401.40 to finish more than 120 points clear of the rest of the field. David Dinsmore was third at 1,278.50. Loschiavo and Windle – who was born in Cambodia, but adopted at 18 months – are also first-time Olympians.

The men’s 3 m Springboard and women’s 10 m Platform will be held on Sunday evening.

The synchronized events had (very) clear winners. The men’s 3 m Synchro ended with Andrew Capobianco and Michael Hixon winning, 1,289.37 to 1,168.80 over Gregory Duncan and Grayson Campbell. The U.S. did not qualify a team for the men’s 10 m Synchro.

In the women’s 3 m Synchro, Alison Gibson and Palmer outscored Bacon and Kassidy Cook by 899.82 to 871.50, and Delaney Schnell and Jessica Parratto won the 10 m Synchro by 930.00 to 888.54 over Katrina Young and Murphy Bromberg.

Hixon was a 2016 Olympic silver medalist in the 3 m Synchro event with Sam Dorman; Parratto was also a 2016 Olympian; Capobianco, Gibson and Schnell will be first-time Olympians in Tokyo.

● Football ● The U.S. women’s National Team continued its warm-up matches prior to Tokyo with a surprisingly close 1-0 win over Portugal on Wednesday (10th) before facing Jamaica on Sunday night (13th), with both games at BBVA Stadium in Houston.

Against Portugal, the U.S. had chance after chance, but could not finish, ending the first half 0-0, but with 69% of the possession and a 14-2 edge in shots. It took until the 76th minute for Sam Mewis to score on a header off a corner from Christina Press, to take a 1-0 lead and that’s how it finished. The American squad ended with 65% of the possession, but a monstrous 26-4 edge on shots; all credit to Portuguese keeper Ines Pereira, who was outstanding. Alyssa Naeher recorded her 41st career shutout for the national team. The U.S. moved to 10-0 all-time vs. Portugal.

On Sunday, the U.S. plays Jamaica at 10 p.m. Eastern time in Houston. The American women have a 22-0 all-time record vs. the Reggae Girlz and are on a 40-match unbeaten streak (36-0-4) since January of 2019. The USWNT is 7-0-1 in 2021, with a 23-1 scoring edge. Coach Vlatko Andonovski is 18-0-1 as the U.S. women’s coach since taking over from Jill Ellis after the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup Victory Tour.

The U.S. women will finish their three-match “Summer Series” tour on Wednesday (16th) vs. Nigeria at the new Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, at 9 p.m. Eastern time.

● Gymnastics ● The FIG World Challenge Cup in Osijek (CRO) was a strong warm-up meet for two-time World Uneven Bars champ Nina Derwael of Belgium, who won both her specialty and the Balance Beam.

Derwael scored 15.000 to win on Bars over Zsofia Kovacs (HUN: 14.266) and 13.933 to take the Beam title, with Diana Varinska (UKR) second with 13.366. Hungary’s Csenge Bacskay won on Vault (13.733) and home favorite Ana Derek (CRO) took the Floor Exercise (12.833).

On the men’s side, Croatia’s 2017 World High Bar Champion Tin Srbic won his specialty (14.900) and three-time Worlds Vault medalist Igor Radivilov (UKR) took that event, scoring 14.766. Milad Karimi (KAZ) won the Floor Exercise (14.866), Italy’s Salvatore Maresca and Vinzenz Hoeck (AUT) tied on Rings (14.900), Albania’s Matvei Petrov won on Pommel Horse (15.166) and the Parallel Bars title went to Ferhat Arican (TUR: 14.833).

● Judo ● The IJF World Championships concluded in Budapest (HUN), with Japan demonstrating that it will be a force at the Tokyo Games next month.

In the 14 individual classes, Japanese judoka won 11 total medals (5-4-2), with the Netherlands next at five (0-0-5) and then Georgia and Spain at four each (both 1-1-2).

Japanese winners included Joshiro Maruyama, who defended his 2019 title in the men’s 66 kg class, and Kokoro Kageura, who won at +100 kg for his first world title. The three winning Japanese women were Natsumi Tsunoda (48 kg), Ai Shishime at 52 kg (her second title) and Sarah Asahina at +78 kg, also her second world title.

Only Maruyama, Jorge Fonseca (POR: men’s 100 kg) and France’s Clarisse Agbegnenou (women’s 63 kg) repeated as champions from the 2019 Worlds. Nicoloz Sherazadashvili (ESP: men’s 90 kg) was also a second-time winner, after taking the title in 2018.

First-time winners were Yago Abuladze (RUS: men’s 60 kg), Lasha Shavdatuashvili (GEO: men’s 73 kg), Belgium’s Matthias Casse (men’s 81 kg) and Kageura. Women’s first-time winners included Tsunoda (48 kg), Jessica Klimkait (CAN: 57 kg), Barbara Matic (CRO: 70 kg) and Anna-Maria Wagner (GER: 78 kg).

The Mixed Team event was held on Sunday, with Japan defeating France for the gold, with Brazil and Uzbekistan sharing the bronze medal.

● Karate ● The final Olympic Qualifying Tournament was held in Paris, with the top three in each of the four competition categories for men and women earning a place in Tokyo.

The women’s class winners included Dilara Bozan (TUR) in Kata; Ivet Goranova (BUL) at 55 kg, Btissam Sadini (MAR) at 61 kg; and Swiss Elena Quirici at +61 kg.

The men’s winners were Ariel Torres Gutierrez of the U.S. in Kata (also the 2019 Pan American champion); Eray Samdan (TUR) at 67 kg; Nurkanat Azhikanov (KAZ) at 75 kg; and Tareg Hamedi (KSA) in the +75 kg class.

● Modern Pentathlon ● The UIPM World Championships for 2021 concluded in Cairo (EGY), showing that age is only a limited barrier to success.

Hungary’s Adam Marosi, the 2009 World Champion and now 36, claimed a second title by scoring 1,435 points to edge Russia’s Alexander Lifanov (1,426) and Egypt’s Ahmed Elgendy (1,417) and Ahmed Hamed (1,412).

Marosi was strong in the fencing (second) and riding (second) events and a respectable 11th in swimming, enough to enjoy an insurmountable lead into the Laser Run, where he finished 19th. Same for Lifanov, but El Gendy and Hamed were first and fourth in the Laser Run to rise in the standings from 15th and eighth!

The women’s title went to a familiar star: 2018 World Champion Anastasiya Prokopenko of Belarus – now 35 – who took the lead on the third lap of the Laser Run and posted the fastest time in the final of 11:59.80. Hungary’s Michelle Gulyas started the Laser Run in first place, but had only the 10th-fastest time and was passed by France’s Elodie Clouvel for second.

Prokopenko scored 1,353 points to 1,341 for Clouvel and 1,339 for Gulyas, with German Annika Schleu fourth (1,330). Prokopenko was the fencing and the Laser Run, but overcame 35th place in swimming and 30th in riding.

Russians Alexander Lifanov and Maxim Kuznetsov won the men’s team relay over Korea’s Jun Woongtae and Jinhwa Jung, 1,491-1,486. Belarus scored again in the women’s team relay, with Iryna Prasiantsova and Volha Silkina winning against Russians Gulnaz Gubaydullina and Uliana Batashova, 1,395-1,383.

Marosi led Hungary to the team gold in a tight race with Germany, 4,185-4,183, with Egypt third (4,171).

● Swimming ● The long-awaited U.S. Olympic Trials got underway on Sunday morning in Omaha, Nebraska at the CHI Health Center. Finals will begin at 7 p.m. local time; look for a separate update on this site.

The Australian Olympic Trials are also underway, finishing on the 17th. So far, the meet has already produced fireworks, including three world leaders and a world record:

● Men/400 m Free: 3:42.65, Eli Winnington
● Women/400 m Free: 3:56.90, Ariarne Titmus
● Women/100 m Back: 57.45, Kaylee McKeown (World Record)

McKeown was already the world leader coming in at 57.63, but smashed the 100 m Back world mark of 57.57 set by American Regan Smith at the 2019 World Championships in Korea (on a relay opener).

Titmus’s sensational 3:56.90 is the second-fastest swim of all-time in the women’s 400 m Free, just behind Katie Ledecky’s 3:56.46 from the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Still just 20, she famously won the 2019 400 m Free world title over an ill Ledecky in the final 20 m.

Emma McKeon won the women’s 100 m Fly in 55.93 to move to no. 2 on the 2021 world list and Chelsea Hodges took the 100 m Breast in 1:05.99 to sit at no. 6 for this year.

Rio Olympic men’s 100 m Free champion Kyle Chalmers won the 200 m Free in 1:45.48 – no. 7 on the world list – to qualify for Tokyo. The 400 m Free win for Winnington also saw Rio gold medalist Mack Horton finish third, so he will not be able to defend his title. Brendon Smith won the 400 m Medley in 4:10.04 and is now no. 4 in the world for 2021.

● Tennis ● A topsy-turvy edition of the French Open concluded appropriately on Sunday, with Serbia’s Novak Djokovic coming back from two sets down to win his career second title by defeating Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas by 6–7(6–8), 2–6, 6–3, 6–2, 6–4 in the final.

Djokovic, seeded no. 1, defeated four-time defending champion Rafael Nadal (ESP) in the semifinals, in four sets. Swiss star Roger Federer, the 2009 champion, was in line to play Djokovic in the quarterfinals, but had to withdraw from his fourth-round match due to injury.

The women’s division was much wilder, starting with the demand of second-seeded Naomi Osaka (JPN) to skip the mandatory post-match news conferences. She won her first-round match, but then withdrew, citing anxiety. Top-seeded Ash Barty (AUS) won her first-round match and then retired in her next match due to a left hip injury. In fact, none of the top seven seeds reached the quarterfinals.

Unseeded Czech Barbora Krejcikova won the final from Russia’s first-time finalist, 31st-seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, in straight sets, 6–1, 2–6, 6–4. It was Krejcikova’s first Grand Slam title, but she made more history by teaming with Katerina Siniakova (CZE) to win the women’s Doubles title over Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) and Iga Swiatek (POL), 6-4, 6-2! Krejcikova became the first since Mary Pierce (FRA) in 2000 to win both the women’s single and doubles at the French Open.

France claimed the men’s Doubles title with Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut defeating Alexander Bublik and Andrey Golubev (KAZ), 4–6, 7–6 (7–1), 6–4, and the Mixed Doubles title went to Desirae Krawczyk (USA) and Joe Salisbury (GBR) over Russians Elena Vesnina and Aslan Karatsev, 2–6, 6–4, 10–5.

● Volleyball ● The condensed FIVB Nations League continues in sequestered conditions in Rimini (ITA), with Brazil continuing to lead after three of the five weeks of pool play.

The gold medalists at Rio in 2016, Brazil is along after nine games with an 8-1 record, trailed by Poland, France, Slovenia and Serbia, all at 7-2. Iran, Russia and Japan all have 5-4 records and the U.S. is currently in 10th place at 4-5. The top four teams will advance to the semifinals in two weeks.

The FIVB Women’s Nations League is halfway through its fourth of five weeks of play, with the United States continuing undefeated at 11-0.

The American women are not only undefeated, but have a 33-2 won-loss record in sets, having yielded only to one set each to Brazil and Italy. With play continuing in week four matches, Turkey is 9-2, followed by Brazil (8-2 and playing Germany tonight), then The Netherlands and Japan at 8-3 and Russia at 7-4.

● Wrestling ● The Poland Open in Warsaw, a UWW Ranking event, had excellent fields and some good results for the U.S., with one notable exception for a reigning Olympic champion.

The U.S. men’s Freestylers won three titles and had a fourth finalist to lead all teams, with Yianni Diakomihalis defeating Poland’s Eduard Grigorev, 7-4, in the 65 kg final. Joe McKenna won the bronze medal for the U.S. over Vasyl Shuptar (UKR) on criteria after a 0-0 final. Alec Pantaleo won at 70 kg, overcoming fellow American James Green in the final, 5-3. Zahid Valencia won the 86 kg division, defeating Sandro Aminashvili (GEO), 10-0 in the final. Nick Gwiazdowski won silver at 125 kg, losing to Amir Zare (IRI), 6-1, in the final.

In addition to Zare, Iran took two other wins, with Mostafa Hossein defeating Italian vet Frank Chamizo on criteria after a 0-0 tie at 74 kg, and Mohammad Mohammadian at 97 kg, defeating teammate Ali Shabanibengar on criteria after a 1-1 tie.

In Greco-Roman, Uzbekistan, Poland and Iran each won two divisions:

● Islomjon Bakhramov (UZB: 63 kg) and Jalgasbay Berdimuratov (UZB: 82 kg)
● Michal Tracz (POL: 60 kg) and Gevorg Sahakyan (POL: 72 kg)
● Mohammad Saravi (IRI: 97 kg) and Amin Mirzazadeh (IRI: 130 kg)

The American women’s Freestyle squad scored two bronze medals, from Amy Fearnside at 53 kg and for Forrest Molinari at 68 kg, and had three fifth-place finishes their best at 50 kg (Erin Golston), 62 kg (Jennifer Page) and Dymond Guilford (76 kg).

Rio 2016 champion Helen Maroulis, set to compete in Tokyo at 57 kg, won her first match, but was defeated 13-0 by Nigeria’s Odunayo Adekuoroye (Nigeria) and then 8-2 by Ukraine’s Tetyana Kit and was eliminated. Trouble or a bad day at the office?

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THE BIG PICTURE: Salt Lake City Winter Games bid committee hints at proposal coming to LA28 and USOPC to allow a bid for the 2030 Games

Rich Perelman

June 11, 2021

On the same day that Australia’s aggressive bid for the Games of the XXXV Olympiad was endorsed by the International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board, Brisbane as the host city for 2032, the Salt Lake City-Utah Commission for the Games was smiling.

They are also well along with a detailed bid to return the Olympic Winter Games to Salt Lake City, Utah, site of the highly-successful 2002 Winter Games which was an athletic, aesthetic and financial success with a $76 million surplus that continues to fund the legacy venues of those Games.

Already the confirmed candidate of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, the sticking point has been about whether to bid for the 2030 Winter Games, or ask for 2034, in view of the 2028 Olympic Games being staged in Los Angeles.

At a Thursday meeting of the Commission’s Strategic Board at the Olympic Oval in Kearns, Utah, the question was discussed publicly, and in detail by Fraser Bullock, not only the President and Chief Executive of the Commission, but the Chief Operating Officer of the 2002 Games organizing committee.

Bullock was candid:

“First and foremost, we need to choose 2030 vs. 2034 … that is our threshold issue. …

“It’s really a collaborative process with and between us and the USOPC. We’re in touch with them all the time, it’s like a couple of times a week, where we’re going through these concepts, and the big factors that we’re working through is safeguarding LA 2028. That is number one. They’ve got those Games, we’re fully supportive of them and anything we do needs to be additive to them.

“But then when we go through it, we say ‘OK, what are the big issues of 2030 vs. 2034?’ and one of the biggest ones is just economics. You have back-to-back Games that close together, that are 18 months apart. Is there a way to solve the domestic sponsorship revenue opportunity and challenge there? Are there enough sponsorship dollars to go around?

“So that has been a big part of our focus. We’ve had a lot of Zoom calls, and a lot of analysis, a lot of numbers going back and forth, and we have made significant progress on this that I’m optimistic in the not-too-distant future we can come up with a proposal of which Games edition we will be pursuing.

“And as part of that we looked at sales models, support models, we looked at how important that through all of this, we’ve prioritized our Games legacy. We have in our budget 300 million dollars that we want to leave behind as our Games legacy to build that winter sports capital of the world – or one of them – that we have that opportunity to continue to do that: hosting events and for our venues.”

Bullock was questioned further about the advantages of the two options. For 2030:

“The disadvantage is really just the economics of domestic sponsorship revenue, but we think there’s a strategy to address that. The advantages: number one is when they are 18 months apart, we can actually do some things jointly and we’ve already talked to this in one of our calls with LA 2028, where we said, ‘between assets that you have, whether its bleachers or technology or televisions or different things like that, there are assets that are very significant that we could purchase from them at a discount, that helps them in liquidation.’ There’s a lot of people we could hire from them; if fact, we did that back in 2002, we hired a lot of people from the Sydney Games, and so there’s people assets, there’s physical assets, but then there’s also planning and strategy and collaboration.

“I think NBC would be thrilled to have back-to-back Games because there’s going to be a lot of energy around Games that close together, and it really hasn’t happened before, and we’re in constant dialogue with NBC as well, so there are a lot of positive elements to that as well, and we just have to look at both to see, OK, can we make this work economically because there is a lot of energy around it on the other side.” (emphasis added)

And what about 2034?

“I think the advantages of going for 2034 is there’s more distance for the sponsors and so we can – for the USOPC it’s advantageous for them to have a Games further out … it’s just easier to raise sponsorship dollars around a Games so they can do that for that [quadrennial]. …

“When they look at [2029-32 quadrennial], they say, ‘OK, we can probably raise more money because it’s more distant and we could probably raise a lot of money in the quad intervening between L.A. and ‘34.’ So economically, it could be advantageous.

“On the negative side, our venues are well supported by the [2002] endowment, but the endowment is declining, and over time, it’s going to get smaller and smaller, and can we keep our venues active? It was never intended to go this long, so there is going to be financial hardship on keeping everything alive until 2034. Frankly, the numbers don’t add up. …

“I think the other thing is – very important – back to the athletes. ‘34 is a long time to wait to get Games back here, and if we want to re-energize Team USA in winter sport, I think ‘30 would be a lot stronger for us.”

Bullock noted that the likely competitors for 2030, as known so far, are Sapporo (JPN), Vancouver (CAN) and Barcelona (ESP).

Brett Hopkins, the Chief Financial Officer of the 2002 organizing committee, explained the continuing work being done already on a detailed budget for 2030 and 2034:

“We’ve been working on this for some time; we’re on version 35, if you can believe it. …

“I recognize that when we talk about budgets, you just want to know the number. We don’t have a number; we do have a picture, but it still is a work in process and we’re really focused right now in working with the USOPC to understand … how would it work with LA28 and Utah 2030 from a sponsorship standpoint. So to make sure we get our revenue targets accurate and complete and feasible. And so we’re doing a real deep dive on that process now. …

‘What I can tell you is that on an inflated basis, it will be less than 2002. Yeah, that’s for sure, because we have wonderful facilities like this that we won’t have to rebuild.”

The Strategy Board session was attended by reporters on Zoom, and the level of detail and frankness of Bullock, Hopkins and others was remarkable.

If they can create a financial framework that would not encumber LA28’s domestic sponsorship program – budgeted to bring in $2.5 billion – that would be much more remarkable. Game on!

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LANE ONE: IOC Executive Board recommends Brisbane for 2032, showing the IOC’s path forward for picking future hosts

Rich Perelman

June 10, 2021

tsx pix 2021-610 australia flag 750 — Australia is now on track to host a third Olympic Games in 2032, with Brisbane recommended to follow Melbourne (1956) and Sydney (2000).

“The IOC Executive Board has decided to propose Brisbane 2032 for election by the IOC Session Tokyo as the host of the Games of the XXXV Olympiad. In this decision, the Executive Board was following the recommendation of the Future Hosts Commission for the Games of the Olympiad, chaired by IOC member Kristen Kloster Aasen. And now it’s in the hands of the IOC members, who vote on this proposal on 21 of July in Tokyo.

“Brisbane 2032 is the first preferred host under the new approach to elections, which has been approved by the IOC Session in May 2019. This Commission looked in depth at all aspects of Brisbane 2032, the master venue plan, sustainability, feasibility, legacy, and highlighting the impressive public support, as well as the strong support across the entire political spectrum in Australia.”

That was International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER), announcing to reporters that the aggressive bid program by Australia and especially the state of Queensland paid off with a likely selection in July for 2032. It will be the second consecutive time that an Olympic host has been named 11 years in advance of the Games, as Los Angeles for 2028 was agreed in 2017.

Bach was asked why Brisbane was selected so early and his answers outlined the themes that are central to a winning bid in the future:

● “It was about Brisbane and Australia. It was about a sports-loving country, it was about the great support from the public and from all levels of government and across the entire political spectrum, it was a clear of a sustainable and feasible Olympic Games, fully aligned with Olympic Agenda 2020 and Olympic Agenda 2020+5.

“And all this together, I think, made it somehow irresistible, for the Commission as well as for the Executive Board today. But we are not there yet; it’s in the hands of the IOC members now to vote on the 21st of July.”

● “This [Games] will go according to the development program for the region, which is in place anyway. There, the Games as such are not concerned. This development plan is there, the ‘10+10+’ [legacy concept] was also in Queensland, and the federal development program.

“And this will go its way and by 2032, the Olympic Games can benefit from being aligned with this long-term development plans, and this is exactly what we want with our reforms, that the Games fit into the overall development plans of the host.”

The IOC noted that 84% of the venues proposed for 2032 are extant (nine to be permanently upgraded) or temporary, with six facilities – four arenas, a swimming center, a canoe slalom course, plus the Olympic Village – identified as to be built regardless of the Games.

This is a major change in approach from what the IOC has done in some of its prior selections, handing the Olympic Games to a shaky host in Greece in 1997 (for 2004) and to Brazil in 2009 for the 2016 Games – when its economy was flying high – when both required very substantial construction work to create the sporting venues and the Olympic Village.

Moreover, Bach was determined to see the elimination of elections for multiple reasons. He explained how much better it would be for the Olympic Movement not have to “losers” in bid elections, where millions of dollars of work results in nothing, and which then creates hard feelings toward the IOC. But as President, he also went through the difficult 2022 Winter Games election in 2015, when potential European hosts Krakow (POL), Lviv (UKR), Oslo (NOR) and Stockholm (SWE) all withdrew, leaving only Almaty in Kazakhstan and Beijing. There was hardly wide enthusiasm to go back to China, as the IOC voted only by 44-40 to have Beijing as host.

While the reports concerning the organization of the Beijing 2022 Winter Games have been glowing, the problems of holding a Games – and the legacy of a Games – in a Communist country were demonstrated in 2008 and will again be front-and-center as soon as the Closing Ceremonies in Tokyo end in August.

Bach didn’t want bid losers and doesn’t want a process that forces votes that could result in more hosts in politically-problematic hosts like Beijing. And he has it.

Through a combination of some good luck and the creation of the Future Hosts Commission program in 2019, the naysayers who say the Games has no future have to be cringing at the future hosts line-up:

● 2024 Olympic Games: France (Paris)
● 2028 Olympic Games: United States (Los Angeles)
● 2032 Olympic Games: Australia (Brisbane), if approved

● 2026 Winter Games: Italy (Milan-Cortina)
● 2030 Winter Games: Possibly in Canada, Japan, Spain or U.S.

All are first-world democracies, spread over four continents. And the IOC is taking the Youth Olympic Games – an event it can control with its staff – to Africa (Dakar) in 2026.

Bach was also asked about the 2030 Winter Games, and why nothing has been heard from the Future Hosts Commission for the Winter Games. His explanation further underscores the new approach:

“They are working and are in dialogue with a number of interested parties. I trust that once they have to tell something to the IOC Executive Board, then they will come, and have a look then at the Olympic Winter Games 2030, where we are not in a hurry. We are still nine years ahead of these Winter Games, so it’s work in progress. Let’s see when they will come up with something.

“It’s not a question of urgency, it’s more a question of opportunity. And this is what this new procedure is about. And you also know that – I don’t know whether I should say this – organizing Winter Games is somehow more complex than organizing summer Games because swimming pools, Olympic size, are available almost all across the globe, but there are not so many mountains, where you can organize a downhill. So, some of this needs a closer study and having a look into it, and, you know, it’s diligence before speed.

“We are not in a hurry.”

The opportunity is now for the IOC to put the Olympic and Winter Games where it wants, rather than waiting for candidates to step forward and then be voted on … possibly after its members are bribed, seduced or both.

That multiple possible hosts in Germany, India, Indonesia, Korea, the Netherlands, Qatar and elsewhere were unhappy that Brisbane was selected so soon is a sign that Bach’s new approach is working perfectly. Watch for this to be expanded and for the IOC to work with continental associations and possible bids for Asian Games, African Games, Pan American Games and similar competitions.

Brisbane was all-in early and won. That won’t always be the case, but for the Olympic Games to follow up the mess in Rio in 2016 with hosts in Japan, France, the U.S. and now Australia is a tribute to the enduring attraction of the event and an inventive IOC leader who saw what the future could be and made it happen.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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THE TICKER: Tokyo will be “pretty exciting” even without fans; ‘22 Winter diplomatic boycott gains steam; U.S. men footballers shut down Costa Rica, 4-0

Rich Perelman

June 10, 2021

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

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● The International Olympic Committee finished the second of three days of its Executive Board meeting, with Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi (SUI) promising a special experience for the competitors, even if attendance is limited or no fans are allowed:

“What we have done is the following. The moment we knew we had no spectators from any countries outside of Japan, we quickly reconvened and said, ‘OK, what does it mean in terms of atmosphere, and you know, this Olympic ambience that we’re all fond of?’

“And we came up with what I consider to be really good responses, and irrespective of whether we have spectators or not, I think we’re going to see one thing: it’s that the outside world will come into the stadium, although digitally.

“Do I prefer to have full stadiums, with all of us shouting. Yeah, but do we have a very good response in case it is not the fact? Absolutely, and what we’re doing will be pretty exciting for everyone. The audience outside, that will be able to contribute inside, but also from the stadium to the outside world, linking the athletes with their families friends, some really stunning pictures that are coming up. So I’m not worried … it’s going to be quite an experience for all of us.”

The IOC confirmed that approximately 8,500 or about 76% of all athletes expected at the Games have now qualified and that 17 sports or disciplines have concluded the qualification process. The entry deadline remains 29 June.

Covid-19 continues to shadow the Tokyo Games, with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga telling the Japanese Diet that more than 40 million vaccine shots will be competed in the country by the end of June and that vaccinations will be completed country-wide by November.

The IOC confirmed that North Korea will not attend the Tokyo Games and that its qualification places will be re-allocated to athletes from other countries.

Australia’s baseball team withdrew from the final Olympic qualifier in Mexico from 22-26 June because it would not have enough time to complete its quarantine in Australia and then compete in the Games. The Dominican Republic, the Netherlands and Venezuela will play for the final spot in the Tokyo tournament.

Tokyo 2020 chief executive Toshiro Muto told reporters that the plan to use GPS to monitor compliance by media and other officials with quarantine restrictions was not intended for real-time monitoring, but to confirm movements if a problem is reported.

There are also ongoing discussions of whether alcoholic beverages will be allowed in the Olympic Village. A decision on whether to allow Japanese spectators to attend the Games is expected about 20 June, with the third edition of the “Playbooks” for athletes, officials and others attending the Games to be published on or about 16 June.

● XXIV Olympic Winter Games: Beijing 2022 ● The verbal tug-of-war between China, the U.S. and other countries over China’s human rights record and the 2022 Winter Games continued this week as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken testified at a House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on Monday.

He was questioned by Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pennsylvania) about the U.S. stance on the Games, with Blinken explaining the current status:

“What we’re doing now is consulting with other concerned countries, and trying to make sure we understand their thoughts an perspectives on this, and then, as I said, developing a common approach which will be much more effective than doing something on our own.”

Reschenthaler asked if holding a successful Games, with international approval, would embolden China to do something aggressive, such as invading Taiwan? Blinken:

“Well, we have real concerns about the increased aggression that the government in Beijing has shown toward Taiwan. Whether there is any relationship or not to China hosting the Olympic Games, I couldn’t say. We’re focused on that, irrespective of the Olympics.”

Reschenthaler stated, “[President Joe] Biden has pressured sponsors of the 2020 [sic] Olympic Games to drop their sponsorship due to human rights concerns, so the Administration has actually taken steps on that.” Blinken did not respond to that assertion.

Also on Monday, the South China Morning Post reported that 11 European and North American countries called for a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Games in China in reply to the country’s persecution of the Uyghur Muslims and aggressive actions in Hong Kong and threatening actions toward Taiwan.

As expected, the Chinese foreign ministry was irritated, with spokesman Lijian Zhao commenting on Tuesday:

“Politicizing sports is against the spirit of the Olympic Charter, and harms the interests of athletes … as well as the international Olympic cause. Relevant parties should immediately stop their use of the Olympic Games to engage in political manipulation.”

However, on Tuesday, the Indian Olympic Association announced that its Tokyo 2020 team would not be wearing apparel provided under sponsorship by the Li Ning sportswear company after receiving substantial public criticism. The team will wear “unbranded” apparel at the Games amid continuing tensions between Chinese and Indian military units.

Said IOA chief Narinder Batra in a statement, “We would like our athletes to be able to train and compete without having to answer questions about the apparel brand. As it is, they have all been challenged by the pandemic over the past year and a quarter and we want them to be not distracted.”

● Olympic Winter Games: future ● The Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games announced a leadership change on Wednesday, with four-time speed skating Olympian Catherine Raney Norman assuming the role of Chair.

She replaces founding Chair Cindy Crane, who served as the head of the bid effort from its formation in February 2020. Raney Norman moves up from being the co-Chair of the bid committee’s Athletes Advisory Committee.

The Governing Board was expanded with the addition of four new members, including three athlete representatives, including Winter Olympic gold medalists Lindsey Vonn (skiing) and Apolo Ohno (short track).

The larger Strategic Board added seven additional athlete representatives, including figure skating World Champion Nathan Chen, Olympic gold medalists Meghan Duggan (ice hockey), Bill Demong (nordic combined) and Ted Ligety (skiing), Olympic luge medalist Chris Mazdzer and two Winter Paralympics gold medalists, Oksana Masters (biathlon and cross country) and Noah Elliott (snowboard).

Each of the bid committee boards now has 25% or more athlete representation.

The Salt Lake City bid for a Winter Games has been approved by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, but not for a specific Games as yet. It could compete for the 2030 Winter Games – the next available – but this could interfere with the marketing efforts of Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympic Games. Asked whether any discussions had taken place on this topic with the LA28 organizers, Committee President and Chief Executive Fraser Bullock indicated that the group’s primary working relationship is with the USOPC, although some informal exchanges of information had been made with LA28.

More discussion of a 2030 bid vs. a very strong 2034 bid are to be discussed in a Thursday meeting of the Strategic Board.

● Athletics ● The NCAA Championships opened in Eugene, Oregon on Wednesday with rainy conditions holding down the marks during the men’s qualifying day, but with five field-event finals and the 10,000 m final.

The top mark may have been LSU long jumper JuVaughn Harrison, who rode a just-allowable +1.9 m/s wind in round two to 8.27 m (27-1 3/4) for the victory. He also jumped 8.19 m (26-10 1/2) in the first round.

The most interesting race was in the men’s 200 m semifinals, where Florida freshman Joseph Fahnbulleh (USA) got a bad start, but then roared down the straight to equal his lifetime best at 20.05, the fastest time of the day! If he gets a reasonable start, he could challenge world leader Terrance Laird of LSU (USA: 19.81), who won his heat in 20.14.

Britain’s Patrick Dever, running for Tulsa, sprinted past everyone on the inside of the final straightaway to win the 10,000 m in 27:41.87, breaking a 42-year-old meet record by Tanzanian great Suleiman Nyambui of UTEP (28:01.30) from 1979!

The next edition of the Wanda Diamond League comes Thursday (10th) in Florence for the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea. The fields are excellent; the live results are here. The meet will be shown live on NBCSN at 2 p.m. Eastern time.

The World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze Meeting de Marseille in France on Wednesday featured a lifetime best by Abel Kipsang (KEN) in the men’s 1,500 m, winning in 3:32.68 and moving to no. 8 on the 2021 world list, ahead of strong runs by Elliot Giles (GBR: 3:33.80) and Ignacio Fontes (ESP: 3:33.84). Fellow Kenyan Collins Kipruto won the 800 m in 1:43.95, now no. 3 on the 2021 world list, followed by Benjamin Robert (FRA) in 1:44.53.

Britain’s Jemma Reekie ran away with the women’s 800 m in 1:58.41, her second-best performance ever, behind only her 1:58.27 run at Mt. SAC in May. She remains at no. 5 on the 2021 world list with that mark.

● Cycling ● Stage 4 of the Tour de Suisse was a 171 km romp on a hilly course until a significant climb to the finish in Gstaad. The home favorite, Stefan Bissegger, won the race in 3:46:21, out-sprinting Benjamin Thomas (FRA) and American Joey Rosskopf to the line.

Dutch star Mathieu van der Poel continues as the overall leader, one second up on France’s Julian Alaphilippe and four seconds up on Swiss Stefan Kung.

● Football ● The U.S. men’s National Team concluded its three-game test in seven days with a convincing 4-0 shutout of Costa Rica in a friendly in Sandy, Utah.

U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter started almost a completely different line-up that the one in the CONCACAF Nations League final against Mexico on Sunday, with only defenders Mark McKenzie and Tim Ream repeating.

No matter; the U.S. got on the scoreboard quickly with Brenden Aaronson scoring in the eighth minute for a 1-0 lead. While the U.S. dominated the game, it took until the 42nd minute for Daryl Dike to make it 2-0, in a half where the Americans had 72% of the possession.

More of the same in the second half, as Reggie Cannon scored in the 52nd minute and Gio Reyna converted a penalty in the 77th minute for the 4-0 final. Dike and Cannon both scored their first goals for the U.S.

Brazil’s Supreme Court agreed to hear an emergency appeal on Thursday against the country hosting the Copa America, set to begin on Sunday. Brazil’s Covid infection rate is high and prior co-hosts Colombia and Argentina both renounced the tournament due to Covid concerns; Brazil volunteered to host the event last week, to be held without spectators.

The appeal was made by the national metalworkers union (CNTM) and the Brazilian Socialist Party, with other appeals filed in other courts.

The fallout from the European Super League collapse continues, with the English Premier League agreeing with the breakaway clubs Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur on fines of about £20 million each and a penalty of 30 points in the standings if they join an unsanctioned program in the future.

Meanwhile, the European Football Union (UEFA) has suspended its sanctions process on the three unrepentant clubs – FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus – as a Spanish court ruled in April they FIFA and UEFA could not impose sanctions.

A UEFA statement included: “UEFA understands why the disciplinary proceedings needed to be suspended for the time being, but remains confident in and will continue to defend its position in all the relevant jurisdictions.”

● Judo ● The IJF World Championships continued in Budapest (HUN) in the middle weights, with Belgium’s Matthias Casse winning the men’s 81 kg final over Georgia’s Tato Grigalashvili. Casse moved up from silver-medal status in 2019; Grigalashvili won the 2020 European Championships at this weight, but took his first Worlds medal this year.

The women’s 63 kg class was the fifth Worlds gold for French star Clarissa Agbegnenou, who won her fourth consecutive world title over Slovenia’s Andreja Leski, also her first career Worlds medal. The competition continues through the weekend.

● Skateboarding ● “Olympic Statman” Hillary Evans (GBR) noted on Twitter that the average age of the British women’s skateboarding team in Tokyo will be 13: Sky Brown is 12 and Bombette Martin is 14.

Wow. Well, the IOC wants to appeal to youth …

(Update: Thanks to sharp-eyed reader Brian Springer for noting a missing word in the Athletics section above!)

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HEARD AT HALFTIME: IOC names Refugee team; U.S. IOC member Randall resigns; NBC to show 7,000 hours of Tokyo coverage

Rich Perelman

June 8, 2021

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

★ BULLETIN ★ Ethiopia’s Letsenbet Gidey smashed Dutch star Sifan Hassan’s two-day-old women’s 10,000 m world record by winning the Ethiopian Olympic Trials in 29:01.03 in Hengelo (NED). Gidey ran on the same track as Hassan and finished more than a minute up on second-place Tsigie Gebreselama (30:06.01).

Gidey, 23, had pacing help from the Wavelight system of flashing lights around the track and said afterwards, “I expected to run a world record.” And there was a lot more.

Unknown Werkwuha Getachew won the women’s 800 in a world-leading 1:56.67; Freweyni Hailu won the women’s 1,500 m in a world-leading 3:57.33 and Gudaf Tsegay won the women’s 5,000 in a world-leading 14:13.32, the no. 5 performer and performance in history. Men’s Steeple star Getnet Wale won the men’s 5,000 m in a world-leading 12:53.28 and Selemon Barega won the men’s 10,000 m in a world-leading 26:49.51, with Yomif Kejelcha second in 26:49.73. Wow!

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● The International Olympic Committee’s second Refugee Olympic Team was named on Tuesday, confirmed by the IOC Executive Board during the first of a three-day online meeting.

The team includes 29 athletes, with 19 men and 10 women, competing across 12 sports, from 13 host National Olympic Committees. The originating countries from which these athletes have fled include Syria (9), South Sudan (4), Sudan (1), Iran (5), Eritrea (2), Congo (1), Democratic Republic of Congo (1), Venezuela (1), Afghanistan (3), Iraq (1) and Cameroon (1). Seven of the athletes will compete in athletics and six in judo.

The IOC support program for the Games includes assembly “at the Aspire Academy in Doha (Qatar) on 12 and 13 July for their Welcome Experience, before flying to Japan on 14 July. During the Games, the team will be hosted by Waseda University, which will provide accommodation and training facilities, before the athletes move to the Olympic Village for their respective competitions.”

This is almost triple the size of the 10-athlete team for Rio in 2016 and the IOC intends to continue expanding the program, also bringing sports programming directly to refugees worldwide in the coming years.

The United States lost an IOC member on Tuesday when Kikkan Randall’s resignation was accepted by the Executive Board.

Randall, a gold medalist with Jessie Diggins in the Cross Country Team Sprint at the 2018 Winter Games, was elected in PyeongChang as an athlete representative for an eight-year term into 2026. In her resignation letter to IOC President Thomas Bach (GER), she noted “unfortunate and unforeseen personal circumstances have made it difficult for me to contribute the energy and attention necessary to fulfill my IOC role at a level consistent with my values. I wish you and the IOC all the best in continuing to inmspire the world through the positive values of Olympism.”

Randall is a breast cancer survivor and asked to remain a member of the IOC’s Sustainability and Legacy Commission.

This leaves the U.S. with two IOC members: the long-serving Anita DeFrantz, the IOC’s First Vice President, and David Haggerty, the head of the International Tennis Federation. Randall’s replacement as an athlete member of the IOC will be discussed by the Executive Board on Thursday.

NBC announced its massive coverage program for Tokyo, with 7,000 hours available across a variety of networks and online. Coverage will include:

● 250 hours on NBC;

● 1,306 hours on cable, including USA Network (388.5 hours), CNBC (124.5), NBCSN (440), NBC’s Olympic Channel (242) and Golf Channel (111);

● 5,500+ hours online on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app;

● 300 hours on Spanish-language networks Telemundo and Universo.

Programming will begin two days before the Opening Ceremony with the USA-Sweden women’s football match on USA Network, at 4 a.m. Eastern time.

For more details on NBC’s coverage, including multiple announcements on its announcers, click here.

The Tokyo 2020 organizers refuted a report from the Financial Times that its sponsors had asked to have the Games postponed against until September or October.

“There is no such demand,” said the organizing committee in a statement last Saturday.

The NHK broadcast network reported Sunday that 3,500 city volunteers – assisting as city guides for the Games – have withdrawn from their positions in nine prefectures. This is out of a total of 40,000 volunteers who signed up for the positions.

On Tuesday, Japan Olympics Minister Tamayo Marukawa told reporters that the government is considering vaccinating all 70,000 members of the volunteer work force as a further measure against the coronavirus.

Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto also noted that news media entering Japan for the Games will be tracked by “GPS and other means” during their 14-day quarantine period to ensure they do not go anywhere not on their submitted agenda. Media will be required to stay in one of about 150 hotels authorized by the organizing committee and not in private accommodations or with friends.

● Games of the XXXIV Olympiad: Los Angeles 2028 ● Significant financial issues are facing the famed Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, California, as disclosed at an informational meeting of the Pasadena City Council on Tuesday (8th).

A presentation by consultants CAAIcon noted that due to the pandemic, the Rose Bowl Operating Company suffered a loss of $3.13 million for fiscal year 2020 on revenues of just $7.82 million due to the lack of events and a ban on spectators. This is being covered by operating reserves, but the future is ominous.

Looking forward, the financial modeling assumes that the City will pick up $9.3 million of the debt payments in 2021 from the bonds sold to finance the $231.7 million renovation of the stadium in 2014, but even so, a loss of $3.33 million is projected for fiscal year 2022, and are projected – due to the debt service – through fiscal year 2026 and beyond.

This is despite increasing revenues, and the total projected losses grow to $5.44 million in fiscal year 2023 to $6.49 million-$6.76 million-$8.65 million through fiscal year 2026.

The Rose Bowl’s situation is further complicated by the opening of the state-of-the-art SoFi Stadium in Inglewood and the newly-renovated Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in downtown Los Angeles. The Rose Bowl’s future will depend on attracting more large-attendance events within its 15-event envelope agreed with the surrounding community.

The biggest help would be a revival of UCLA’s football fortunes; the projections assume paying attendance of only 22,000 a game for the 2021 season and then averages of just 35,000-35,000-40,000-35,000 through the 2025 schedule.

The Rose Bowl is targeted as a major venue for football matches for the 2028 Olympic Games.

● Games of the XXXV Olympiad: 2032 ● With the IOC Executive Board scheduled to meet from Tuesday through Thursday of this week, it is possible that the Future Host Commission could recommend that the Brisbane 2032 candidature be accepted by the Executive Board, to be confirmed by the IOC Session in Tokyo.

The Future Host Commission report is scheduled for Thursday, and the group has been working with the Brisbane bid group, led by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

IOC Vice President John Coates (AUS) said last month, “If this diligence yields a positive final report, the proposal to host the Games in 2032 will go to a vote of the full IOC membership.”

● World Anti-Doping Agency ● The Russian news agency TASS reported that the Russian Anti-Doping Agency has received a detailed plan from the World Anti-Doping Agency on the steps necessary to be considered compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code at the end of its two-year sanctions period.

The plan is designed to be active by 16 December 2022, at which point RUSADA could be free of sanctions. According to RUSADA’s acting director Mikhail Bukhanov, “The plan’s goal is to carefully monitor RUSADA in the two-year period to confirm with maximum certainty that RUSADA is following the conditions of reinstatement in accordance with the [Court of Arbitration for Sport] ruling and international standards.”

● Aquatics ● Kuwait’s Husain Al Musallam ran unopposed and was elected as the President of the International Federation for aquatic sports, FINA. In acceptance remarks, he told the delegates at the FINA Congress in Doha (QAT) and online:

“I am proud that FINA is the first International Federation to introduce a by-law that protects athletes’ rights. I am proud that 16 members of the new FINA Bureau are athletes who have competed in the Olympic Games, World or Continental Championships. I am proud that for the first time the FINA Executive has a female Vice-President, a great diving champion. Starting at the next year’s World Championships in Fukuoka, 20 active athletes will be elected to the Athletes Committee by the athletes themselves.”

There were 119 delegations in attendance in Doha and another 102 watching online; Al Musallam was elected by 302-7 and moved up from being First Vice President.

The 28-member FINA Bureau was also elected for 2021-25, including American Dale Neuburger as Treasurer, and Bill Hybl of the U.S. was elected as a member of the independent FINA Ethics Commission.

A short meeting of the Bureau included decisions to raise total prize money paid from FINA competitions to $2.4 million in 2021, creation of a Reform Committee, a memorandum of understanding with four universities to create programs for FINA athletes and formal procedures for Athlete Committee elections to take place in 2022.

Al Musallam also nominated American Brent Nowicki as the federation’s new Executive Director. Nowicki comes from eight years as an attorney in the anti-doping division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, a remarkable appointment for a federation which has been accused of lax doping oversight in the past. Strategically, it’s a good early move for FINA to show a new path forward.

The U.S. Olympic Trials in diving are underway in Indianapolis, with preliminaries and semifinals continuing through the week. Finals begin on Thursday (10th) and run through Sunday (13th).

The U.S. Olympic Trials in swimming begin on Sunday in Omaha, and will continue through the 20th (the following Sunday).

On Tuesday, the latest attempt to create a swimmer’s union was unveiled: the International Swimmers Alliance. Its stated goal is to “to improve personal and economic opportunities for all swimmers by elevating swimming into the era of modern sports.”

Its core team are familiar swimming stars – all Olympic gold medalists – who have been advocating for more money and attention for years: Chad LeClos (South Africa), Katinka Hosszu (Hungary), Ranomi Kromowidjojo (Netherlands) and American Matt Biondi, who serves as the Board Chair. Three other Board members were listed, including Tom Shields and Lia Neal of he U.S. and Brent Hayden (CAN). Three Board members were not listed (why?); the Web site states that 120 swimmers from 31 countries are involved.

Also: “All swimming members have either a top 20 individual [long-course meters] world ranking or are under contract with an [International Swimming League] team.”

Comment: The timing of the announcement is hardly coincidental, coming just after the FINA elections over the weekend. But the new FINA leadership has indicated interest in doing more with and for athletes and if the “Alliance” actually does represent the interests of most of the world’s elite swimmers – meaning it could meaningfully negotiate on their behalf – it could be a breakthrough moment for the sport.

In fact, the ultimate loser in all of this, after the FINA elections and formation of this new athlete group, could be the International Swimming League itself!

● Athletics ● At the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku (FIN), Ireland’s Thomas Barr signaled his intention to be a factor in the men’s 400 m hurdles in Tokyo, willing in 48.39, moving him to no. 5 on the world list for 2021. He was fourth in the event in Rio in 2016. He said afterwards:

“Normally I’m still only warming up at this time of year. Considering how compressed this season was, I didn’t have much room for error so I’m back on the horse just in time. Since Rio the 400m hurdles has gotten a lot harder, but in an Olympic final, or in any major championship final, anything can happen, so if I’m there or thereabouts, I’ll be ready to mop up the spillage.”

Kenya’s Cornelius Tuwei ran a season’s best of 1:44.42 to move to no. 5 on the world 800 m list for 2021, with Kenyans now in positions 1-2-5-6. Poland’s Wojciech Nowicki, the three-time Worlds bronze medalist in the men’s hammer, improved his seasonal best to 80.77 m (265-0) to move to no. 3 in the world this year.

France’s Morhad Amdouni won the European 10,000 m Cup in Birmingham (GBR) last Saturday, but the local headlines were about the eighth-place finish of British Olympic icon Mo Farah in 27:50.64.

The time is short of the Olympic qualifying standard of 27:28.00 and Farah, the defending Olympic champion, needs to not only find another race to get the standard, but has to get over a series of injuries to show fitness. Qualifying marks must be made on or before 29 June.

Reigning Olympic women’s 100 m hurdles champ Brianna McNeal of the U.S. was handed a suspension of five years from 15 August 2020 by the Athletics Integrity Unit for “Tampering with any part of Doping Control” on 21 April, but not announced until 4 June.

McNeal immediately filed her notice of appeal and will be allowed to compete at the U.S. Olympic Trials while the appeal is ongoing. This is once again a “whereabouts” case where McNeal is alleged to have missed three tests within a 12-month period.

She posted on her Instagram account in February, on the announcement of her provisional suspension, “As far as my situation goes, I am still me! very clean, very honest and transparent. Once all of this blows over I will provide more details of what’s actually going on. The system is pretty messed up if you ask me but that’s another topic for another day.”

World Athletics announced the approval of 35 additional Russian athletes to compete internationally as “Authorized Neutral Athletes,” bringing the total to 62. Four applications have been rejected.

The limit of 10 Russian athletes in the Tokyo Games continues in force.

An obituary notice for 1948 Olympic 110 m hurdles bronze medalist Craig Dixon was published this past weekend in the Los Angeles Times, noting that he died at age 94 on 25 February 2021.

Born in Los Angeles in 1926, Dixon was a star hurdler from his prep days at University High School, where he was City champion – and “intimidated” sitting in class next to Norma Jean Baker, later known as Marilyn Monroe – then at UCLA, where he won the 120-yard and 220-yard hurdles at the 1949 NCAA Championships, in the midst of a 59-race win streak.

He was part of a U.S. sweep at the London Games in 1948, behind Bill Porter (13.8) and Clyde Scott (14.1). He tried again for the 1952 Games, but fell in the final of the Olympic Trials.

Dixon became a coach, returning to UCLA to assist then-coach Ducky Drake, then went on to a very successful career in industrial publishing, finally retiring in 2004. He was much beloved at UCLA, where he was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985.

● Cycling ● Just as the Criterium du Dauphine concluded in France, the 85th Tour de Suisse – another warm-up for the Tour de France – got underway on Sunday. The eight-stage event will finish on Sunday and so far is a showcase for Dutch star Mathieu van der Poel.

After Swiss riders Stefan Kung and Stefan Bissegger went 1-2 in the opening 10.9 km time trial, van der Poel won the hilly, 178 km second stage by one second over Germany’s Maximilian Schachmann and by four seconds over seven more riders.

Van der Poel then triumphed again on Tuesday, winning a mass sprint at the end of another hilly, 182 km stage, crossing the line ahead of France’s Christophe Laporte and Julian Alaphilippe.

Heading into Wednesday’s uphill route from Sankt Urban to Gstaad, van der Poel holds a skinny one-second lead on Alaphilippe and four seconds on Kung; the top 18 riders are within 59 seconds of each other.

Giro d’Italia winner Egan Bernal (COL) didn’t get to take the trophy back home just yet, as he was diagnosed with Covid-19 last Friday (4th). He will have to quarantine in Monaco – his European base – for a couple of weeks before returning home.

American Hannah Roberts is once again the BMX Freestyle World Champion, defending her title at the UCI Urban Cycling World Championships in Montpelier (FRA) on Monday.

She won her third world title by scoring 91.90 on her first run, good enough to out-score Swiss Nikita Ducarroz (90.30) and Charlotte Worthington (GBR: 88.90). Americans Perris Benegas (85.80), Chelsea Wolfe (80.00) and Angie Marino (78.10) went 4-5-6. It was the second bronze in a row for Worthington, also in 2019.

In the men’s division, Australia’s Logan Martin used a great first run to out-last American Daniel Sandoval, 94.70-92.96 in the final. Marin Rantis (CRO) was third at 90.90, ahead of Americans Justin Dowell (89.56) and Nick Bruce (89.42). Martin moved up from second at the 2019 Urban Worlds to grab the gold this time, his second world title after 2017.

● Football ● Now it’s uniforms that are being protested, as Russia filed a protest against the UEFA-approved uniforms for Ukraine for the upcoming European Championships. According to the TASS news service:

“The Ukrainian national team’s uniforms for the upcoming championship feature slogans chanted by Ukrainian nationalists, namely: ‘Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!’ The uniforms also demonstrate a blurred image outlining Ukraine’s state borders, which include the territories in Donbass and also the territory of Russia’s Crimea.”

Russia, of course, invaded and then annexed the Crimean Peninsula – which had been Ukrainian territory – in 2014 and the action has been the subject of international condemnation ever since. FIFA indicated that the decision on appropriate uniforms was up to the tournament organizer (UEFA).

Russia is in Group B and Ukraine in Group C for the tournament which begins 11 June.

The CONCACAF Nations League Final between the U.S. and Mexico was noteworthy for multiple reasons, not only for the 3-2 win in extra time by the U.S. Men’s National Team.

Spectators were out in force, although capacity was restricted due to the coronavirus. The official attendance was 37,648 at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado.

Unfortunately, the game was marred by fans throwing plastic beverage cups at players, with American Gio Reyna being hit in the face by one cup and Mexican striker Henry Martin suffering a hit from another fan.

Play was also stopped for about two minutes in extra time due to the use of a banned, anti-gay chant by some Mexican fans. CONCACAF has specifically banned the chant and immediately condemned it on the scoreboard and public address system as part of its anti-racist programming.

The lesson? It’s great to have fans in the stands once again, but given incidents of fan violence at NBA games and now in soccer, security will have to ramp up as well.

● Gymnastics ● The USA Gymnastics National Championships showcased the great Simone Biles once again, and drew a reasonable audience on NBC.

Sunday’s women’s finals session drew a 0.4 Nielsen rating in the 18-49 demographic and about 1,932,000 total viewers in its 7-9 p.m. Eastern time slot. It was well behind CBS’s 60 Minutes and Kennedy Center Honors (6.68 + 5.05 million viewers) and America’s Funniest Home Videos and Celebrity Family Feud on ABC (4.45 + 5.46 million viewers).

Japan’s Kohei Uchimura, the 2012 and 2016 men’s Olympic All-Around champ, qualified for the Tokyo Games on the High Bar (only) last weekend at the Japanese national apparatus championships. He finished second, but had the most qualification points, despite a mistake in the finals. Uchimura, now 32, has struggled with injuries after winning in Rio.

● Judo ● The IJF World Championships are rolling in Budapest (HUN), with 664 judoka in action from 118 nations and Japan already dominating the competition.

A heavy program of controls against the coronavirus, including testing, has been implemented, with the competitors sequestered in hotels. But that has not stopped the Japanese.

Joshiro Maruyama defended his 2019 title in the men’s 66 kg final over Italy’s Manuel Lombardo and Natsumi Tsunoda led a 1-2 Japanese finish in the women’s 48 kg class, defeating Wakana Koga in the final. In the women’s 52 kg class, Ai Shishime was the winner, regaining the world title she won at this weight in 2017, this time against Ana Perez Box (ESP).

Yago Abuladze (RUS) won the men’s 60 kg division over Kazak Gusman Kyrgyzbayev, and Georgia’s 2012 Olympic champ Lasha Shavdatuashvili won his second world title – also in 2013 – over Swede Tommy Macias at 66 kg.

Canada won its second straight gold in the women’s 57 kg class, this time by Jessica Klimkait, who defeated Japan’s Momo Tamaoki in the final. Christa Deguchi had won the class in 2019.

The competition continues through Sunday. The event has €800,000 in total prize money, with €26,000 to the winners, €15,000 for the silver medalists and €8,000 for each bronze medalist. Another €200,000 in prize money is available for the Mixed Team event, with €90,000-€60,000-€25,000 for both bronze-medal teams.

● Skiing ● The Federation Internationale de Ski selected new leadership last Friday, with Head sports apparel company chief executive Johan Eliasch winning on the first ballot. Per the announcement:

“He earned 54.82 percent of the vote with 65 votes. Behind him was Urs Lehmann (SUI) with 26 votes (21.85%) followed by Sarah Lewis (BEL) with 15 votes (12.61%) and Mats Arjes (SWE) 13 votes (10.92%).”

He announced on Tuesday that he was resigning as Head chief executive, effective immediately, in order to concentrate on his new responsibilities as well as eliminate the obvious conflict of interest. His time at Head was marked by a significant turnaround of the company’s products, sales and profits; he promised to bring the same abilities to the FIS if elected.

● Triathlon ● Britain’s Alistair Brownlee, the two-time Olympic champion from 2012-16, was disqualified at last Sunday’s World Triathlon Series in Leeds (GBR) after pushing Chase McQueen (USA) underwater during the swim.

Brownlee said the push was accidental, but confirmed that he will skip Tokyo and not defend his titles. He tweeted that he will have needed ankle surgery and “then long distance triathlon in the future.”

● At the BuZZer ● The FIS made another splash last week, announcing an agreement to include ski jumping in the 2023 European Games, a summer event! The announcement noted:

“Although traditionally a winter sport, the International Ski Federation (FIS) already organises a Ski Jumping Summer Grand Prix and the addition of the European Games into the calendar will be a great opportunity for the best European ski jumpers to show off their sport to new audiences.”

The venue will be at the familiar jumping venue at Zakopane, Poland, with an artificial surface used instead of snow. The summer Grand Prix has been a part of the FIS program since 1994 and Poland is one of the top jumping nations in the world, so the attraction to see local stars could make this a surprise highlight of the summer European Games in two years.

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LANE ONE: The power of the Olympics is limited, but isn’t it the international sports version of Make-A-Wish for athletes?

Rich Perelman

June 7, 2021

(For Sunday’s Highlights of top international competitions, click here.)

Amid the dozens of commercials shown during sporting events on local television over the weekend was an appeal from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization created in 1980 to provide life-changing wishes for children with a critical illness and which do so much more:

“Wishes impact everyone involved – wish kids, volunteers, donors, sponsors, medical professionals and communities. For wish kids, just the act of making their wish come true can give them the courage to comply with their medical treatments. Parents might finally feel like they can be optimistic. And still others might realize all they have to offer the world through volunteer work or philanthropy.”

Having heard amazing stories about the impact of Make-A-Wish programs on families and donors, and having seen first-hand what programs like the Special Olympics World Games can do for those with intellectual disabilities, the position of the Olympic Games and the worldwide Olympic Movement becomes clearer.

It is not the answer to the world’s problems. But it can be a catalyst.

Last week, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach of Germany told the European Union Conference on Sport Diplomacy exactly that and underlined its limits:

“There are many examples of how sport diplomacy has opened the door to peace. Over the years, the IOC has mediated between governments, building bridges through sport. This has been the case in the last couple of years for our negotiations with governments in Europe and beyond from Spain to Serbia, Kosovo, Tunisia, Israel, Palestine, Iran, Ukraine, Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, South and North Korea, and many others.

“But our discussions and our negotiations were always restricted to sport and to sport only. They always took place with strict political neutrality. Only in this way, could we be successful with sport diplomacy.

“At the same time, we know very well that sport alone cannot create peace. We cannot prevent conflicts or change the laws of sovereign states – this is the exclusive realm of politics.

“The Olympic Games cannot address all the political and social challenges in our world which generations of politicians were not able to solve. But they can set an example for a world where everyone respects the same rules and one another. They can inspire us to solve problems in friendship and solidarity. They can build bridges leading to better understanding among people and cultures.”

Looking at the Games in this way frames the upcoming Tokyo 2020 project in a somewhat different light.

While not widely reported recently, Bach said repeatedly when the Tokyo Games were postponed from 2020 to 2021, that the IOC would have been better off financially to cancel the Games and cash in its insurance policies. It had the power to do so. But, he noted, the purpose of the IOC is to hold the Games on behalf of the thousands of athletes who want to compete, not to watch its bank balances expand.

There will be financial winners and losers from the postponement. The IOC’s status will hardly change – Bach has noted that it has already booked $4.1 billion in revenues for the period of 2029-32! – but the winners will be the 8,174 athletes for whom this will be their one and only chance to compete in the Games.

Where did that number come from?

The Tokyo Games is expected to have 11,091 athletes from 205 countries competing in its 339 events, including the five sports it asked to have added to the program: baseball-softball, karate, skateboarding, surfing and sport climbing. Of this total, some 73.7% will compete only in Tokyo and in no other Games.

Where did that number come from?

Not from the IOC. Dr. Bill Mallon (USA), a PGA Tour golfer in his day and a highly-respected orthopedic surgeon, is also one of the leading historians and statisticians on the Olympic Games and a co-founder of the amazing Olympedia.org site, which includes comprehensive coverage on every Olympic Games ever held, going back to ancient Greece!

At our request, he provided the breakdown of Olympic (summer) participation for the Games of the Olympiad from 1896 through 2016:

● 114,887 total participants in the Olympic Games
● 84,705 (73.7%) competed in one Games only
● 21,542 (18.8%) competed in two Games
● 6,398 (5.6%) competed in three Games
● 2,242 (1.9%) competed in four or more Games

So, for Tokyo, of the 11,091 athletes expected, some 8,174 – 73.7% – will compete there and in no other Games.

Add to that the essentially amateur nature of 18 of the 28 “core” sports on the Olympic Games program, isn’t this truly a “Make-A-Wish”-style moment?

It’s true that athletes in some sports can make a reasonable (or better) living, especially in the big team sports played worldwide such as basketball and football, and to a lesser extent in handball, rugby and volleyball. It’s also true for the top 500-1,000 athletes in a few of the other Olympic-program sports such as tennis, badminton, cycling, golf and table tennis.

But for the rest, even including aquatics, gymnastics, track & field, only perhaps the top 50-250 make enough from prize money or salaries to be able to live, train and compete. The archers, fencers, rowers, modern pentathletes, weightlifters and others are still really amateurs, getting by on National Olympic Committee or government subsidies, a little prize money and maybe some corporate supporters.

This is why the Olympic Games is so important because it is the enormous popularity of the Games which (1) brings in the money on which so many of the International Federations of the less-popular sports survive, and (2) which fuels the interest of governments – excepting the U.S., of course – to fund their national sports programs, and their athletes.

There is method in this seeming government madness of supporting athletes. South Africa’s 1993 Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela – and his country’s president from 1994-99 – told the audience at the first Laureus World Sports Awards in 2000:

“Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination.”

Seen against this backdrop, the Olympic Movement offers a service that would be hard to duplicate outside of sport. It is international. It is merit-based, especially in the timed and measured sports. It is open to anyone, from any country, who is good enough.

And, in the parlance of the game show, anyone can play the home version. The addition of mass-participation events in Paris for 2024 is a determined step to bring people closer to the mission of the Games to offer sport for the betterment of society.

On this basis, holding the Tokyo Games despite all the local hand-wringing over the coronavirus and the extraordinarily restrictive conditions imposed in athletes, coaches, officials, media and staff, makes sense.

Perhaps even the Japanese public is beginning to agree. Two public-opinion polls released on Monday (7th) showed significant rises in public support for the Games:

● The Yomiuri Shimbun poll showed 50% support for holding the Games as scheduled, up from 39% in early May; there were 48% in favor of cancellation, down from 59%.

● A Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) poll found 44% in favor of the Games being held, up from 35% a month earlier, vs. 24% for postponement and 31% for cancellation.

The Tokyo Games will be austere, anti-septic and sterile compared with prior editions. But they will fulfill once-in-a-lifetime wishes for thousands of athletes and be yet another confirmation of what determination, hard work and belief can bring.

That should be something we all wish for much more of, for today and tomorrow.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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For our updated – as of 1 May – 506-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

HIGHLIGHTS: Fraser-Pryce’s sensational 10.63 second only to FloJo; Bromell screams 9.77; Malone surprises Mikulak at U.S. Gymnastics Champs

Rich Perelman

June 6, 2021

tsx pix 2019-815 fraser-pryce shelly-ann PAG 200 m 750 — Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce celebrates her 200 m win at the Pan American Games in Lima (Photo: Lima 2019)

Headline results of noteworthy competitions around the world/updated/:

● Archery ● The annual SoCal Showdown, in Chula Vista, California, a U.S. Archery Team qualifier series event, was once again a showcase for the American archers who will go to Tokyo.

Jack Williams, the no. 2 men’s qualifier, led the Ranking Round over World Champion Brady Ellison, 674-673, and no. 2 Mackenzie Brown scored 671 to 648 for no. 1 Casey Kaufhold.

In the elimination round, it came down to Ellison and no. 3 Jacob Wukie in the final and Ellison closed him out in three ends, 6-0. Williams won the bronze medal over Olympic alternate Matthew Nofel, 6-5.

The women’s final pitted Brown and Kaufhold once again, and this time it was Brown taking the title by 6-4. Rebekah Hill took the third-place match over Nicole Turina by 6-4.

● Athletics ● Two-time Olympic women’s 100 m gold medalist Shelly-Anne Fraser-Pryce, now 34, set the track & field world on fire on Saturday in Kingston, Jamaica, running a sensational 10.63.

Her victory in the Olympic Destiny Series meet was aided by a modest 1.3 meters-per-second win and was a runaway, with countrywoman Natasha Morrison second in 10.95. It was historic, moving her to no. 2 on the all-time list, with the fourth-fastest time ever run:

10.49 Florence Griffith-Joyner (USA) ‘88
10.61 Griffith-Joyner ‘88
10.61 Griffith-Joyner ‘88
10.62 Griffith-Joyner ‘88
10.63 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM) ‘21
10.64 Carmelita Jeter (USA) ‘09
10.65 Marion Jones (USA) ‘98

Fraser-Pryce improved her old lifetime best of 10.70, set in 2012 and in doing so, claimed the Jamaican record after having been in a tie with 2016 Olympic champ Elaine Thompson-Herah.

Prior world leader Sha’Carri Richardson of the U.S. hardly cowered after hearing the news. She tweeted:

“My presence in this track game making history happen, no need for a thank you.”

That evoked a thunderous response – for and against – on Twitter, which will only raise the interest in the women’s 100 heading into the U.S. Olympic Trials starting 18 June.

Comment: Thanks, Kerrii. This is exactly what the sport needs. Badly.

Thompson-Herah was also on notice after seeing the 10.63 and responded with convincing wins at the NACAC New Life Invitational in Miramar, Florida. She took her heat in a wind-aided 10.92 (+3.0 m/s), then stormed to a win in the final in 10.87 (+1.2), her second-fastest time of 2021.

American Tianna Bartoletta, the reigning Olympic long jump champion, was second in the final with a stunning 10.96, ahead of Jamaica’s Briana Williams (10.97). That’s Bartoletta’s fastest 100 m since 2016 and makes her an instant contender for Tokyo at the U.S. Olympic Trials coming up in a couple of weeks, in addition to the long jump.

Thompson also won the women’s 200 m in 22.54 (+1.2 m/s).

Maybe the men were inspired too, as world leader Trayvon Bromell set a new lifetime best of 9.77 in the men’s 100 m final, breaking his 9.84 prior best from 2015 and 2016. He brought fellow American Marvin Bracy with him to a new best of 9.85 (wind: +1.5 m/s), improving from 9.93 back in 2015!

How special is this? Bromell is only the ninth man in history to run sub-9.80 and is now seventh on the all-time list, and fourth all-time on the U.S. list. Wow! Bracy’s 9.85 tied him for 14th all-time and ties him for sixth all-time U.S. with former world-record holder Leroy Burrell and Mike Rodgers.

Defending Olympic women’s 400 m hurdles champ Dalilah Muhammad ran her second race of the season and moved to no. 4 on the world list at 54.50, beating no. 2 Ronda Whyte of Jamaica (55.65).

Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan won the women’s 100 m hurdles in a wind-aided 12.44 (+2.2 m/s), barely over the allowable, ahead of Costa Rica’s Andrea Vargas (12.76w).

On Sunday, Dutch star Sifan Hassan smashed the world record in the women’s 10,000 m at the FBK Games in Hengelo (NED), finishing in 29:06.82 vs. Ethiopian Almaz Ayana’s mark of 29:17.45 from the 2016 Rio Games.

Hassan cruised through 5,000 m in 14:38.75, then finished the second half of the race in 14:28.07, winning by more than a minute and a half from Kenya’s Irine Kimias (30:37.24). Hassan now owns world marks in the mile, the hour and the road 5 km.

There was other hot running in Hengelo, with American Fred Kerley winning the 400 m in 44.74; Jake Wightman (GBR) winning the 1,500 m in 3:34.67 from Abel Kipsang (KEN: 3:35.63); and Olympic 110 m hurdles champ Omar McLeod running 13.08 ahead of American Devon Allen (13.32). Swede Mondo Duplantis towered over the men’s vault at 6.10 m (20-0).

Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith won the women’s 100 m in 10.92 (+0.8 m/s), which would normally have been an impressive mark! Puerto Rico’s world-leading Jasmine Camacho-Quinn won the women’s 100 m hurdles in a speedy 12.44 (+0.5 m/s), giving her two of the top three times in the world in 2021. Femke Bol (NED) moved up to a tie for no. 2 in 2021 in the 400 m hurdles, winning in 54.33 over Ukraine’s Anna Ryzhykova (54.59: world no. 5).

Also on Sunday, the women’s discus was the star event at the USATF Showcase at Prairie View A&M. American Record holder Valarie Allman got off her best throw of the season, measuring 67.74 m (222-3) on her final effort, equal to the no. 3 throw in U.S. history and no. 3 on the 2021 year list. Her fourth throw of 67.07 m (220-0) is the no. 10 throw in American history; she now has four of the top 10 ever.

The American Track League’s Music City Track Carnival was held in rainy Nashville, but that hardly mattered to Sydney McLaughlin, running her first 400 m hurdles race since 2019. She destroyed the field by more than two seconds, finishing in a world-leading 52.83, her third-fastest race ever. Pretty good, right? “Definitely have things to work on” is what she said afterwards. The U.S. now stands 1-2-4 in the world for 2021.

Steven Gardiner (BAH) won the men’s 400 m in 45.06 and Ashland’s Trevor Bassitt ran a lifetime best of 48.80 in the men’s 400 m hurdles to best fellow American Kenny Selmon (48.96) and move to no. 8 in the world for 2021.

In the field, New Zealand star Tom Walsh won the men’s shot at 22.00 m (72-2 1/4), but was the only finisher as American Nick Ponzio had six fouls!

World leader Katie Nageotte (USA) won the women’s vault at 4.85 m (15-11), short of her 4.93 m (16-2) earlier this year, but higher than anyone else has cleared in 2021.

The parade of new world-leading marks continues, with American Amanda Eccleston taking the mile in 4:30.06 at the Hoka Festival of Miles in St. Louis on 3 June, and Portugal’s Auriol Dongmo reaching 19.75 m (64-9 3/4) in Huelva, Spain on the same day. It was a lifetime best for Dongmo, who was the 2021 European Indoor Champion earlier this year.

On Sunday, Sandra Arenas (COL) won the World Athletics Race Walking Challenge 20 km in La Coruna (ESP) in a world-leading 1:28:24, ahead of Alegna Gonzalez (MEX: 1:28:40). The men’s 20 km was won by 2018 European silver medalist Diego Garcia (ESP) in 1:19:37 in a tight race with Swede Perseus Karlstrom (SWE: 1:19:44).

● Baseball ● The United States punched its ticket to Tokyo by sweeping through the WBSC’s Baseball Americas Qualifier in St. Lucie and West Palm Beach, Florida.

The American squad, managed by former Angels skipper Mike Scioscia, defeated Nicaragua (7-1) and the Dominican Republic (8-6) in the Opening Round, then stomped Canada (10-1) and Venezuela (4-2) on Saturday.

The U.S. was led by outfielder Luke Williams (Phillies minor leaguer) who batted .444 and had six runs batted in; catcher Mark Kolozsvary (Reds minor leaguer: .417, 2 home runs, 5 RBI) and infielders Triston Casas (Red Sox minor leaguer) and Todd Frazier (free agent; two-time All-star for Cincinnati in 2014-15), who both batted .400. Matthew Libertadore (St. Louis minor leaguer) started twice for the U.S., including the final game vs. Venezuela and finished with a 1-0 record and a 1.86 earned-run average.

The Olympic tournament now includes Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Israel and the U.S. One more team will be included, from the WBSC Baseball Final Qualifier in Puebla, Mexico, coming on 22-26 June. Originally slated to be held in Taichung (TPE), governmental restrictions due to the pandemic forced a change of venue and the Chinese Taipei team had to withdraw. Australia, The Netherlands, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela will compete for the final spot.

● Beach Volleyball ● Americans Sarah Sponcil and Kelly Claes celebrated making the U.S. Olympic team this week by capturing their second straight FIVB World Tour title at the Ostrava Beach Open in the Czech Republic.

They swept aside Brazilians Barbara Seixas de Freitas and Carol Salgado in straight sets in the semis, then defeated Joana Heidrich and Anouk Verge-Depre (SUI), 21-18, 21-15. Said Sponcil:

“We’re on a good roll right now. We had our first gold medal [last week] and qualified for the Olympics, but we tried to put that on the back burner and really focus on this tournament. And we came up with a win. I have an amazing partner and the Czech fans are amazing!”

Salgado and Seixas got past reigning World Champions Sarah Pavan and Melissa Humana-Paredes (CAN) by 21-15, 21-16, for the bronze medal.

In the men’s tournament, Dutch stars Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen – the 2013 World Champions – won a grueling final over home favorites Ondrej Perusic and David Schweiner (CZE) by 13-21, 21-19, 15-13. Brazilians Andre Stein and George Wanderley took the bronze medal from Viacheslav Krasilnikov and Oleg Stoyanovskiy (RUS), 27-25, 21-18.

The U.S. men qualified two teams for Rio at the tournament. Taylor Crabb and Jake Gibb clinched last Friday and Nick Lucena and Phil Dalhausser clinched on Saturday. Going into Ostrava, Crabb and Gibb ranked ninth in the FIVB Olympic Rankings and Lucena and Dalhauser 10th, and when Tri Bourne and Trevor Crabb (ranked 14th; Taylor’s brother) went out in the Round of 16, they were mathematically eliminated from contention.

The theme for the U.S. men in Tokyo has to be “forever summer.” Gibb is 45 and will be participating in his fourth Olympic Games and is reportedly will be the oldest volleyball Olympian ever. Dalhausser, 41, will be making his fourth Olympic appearance and won the 2008 Olympic title with Todd Rogers.

Lucena is also 41 and going to his second Games; he and Dalhauser tied for fifth in Rio. Crabb is the baby of the group at 29, and is making his Olympic debut.

● Cycling ● It was a wild week at the eight-stage Criterium du Dauphine in France, with the overall lead changing after stages 5, 6 and 7.

Austrian Lukas Postlberger took over the leader’s jersey after his win in stage 2 and stayed in front after wins by Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) over Ion Izagirre (ESP) in the Stage 4 time trial and Geraint Thomas (GBR) outrunning Italy’s Sonny Colbrelli in the hilly Stage 5.

But Lutsenko took the race lead with a seventh-place finish in Stage 6, with its difficult triple climb and uphill finish. The stage was won by Spanish star Alejandro Valverde, ahead of Britain’s Tao Geoghegan Hart.

But Lutsenko lost the lead after a 10th-place finish in Stage 7, won by Ukraine’s Mark Padun, who sprinted away in the final 4.7 km. Second was Australian star Richie Porte, 34 seconds behind, but suddenly the race leader by 16 seconds going into Sunday’s six-climb finale with an uphill finish into Les Gets.

Padun won again in stage 8, breakaway from the field with 27 km remaining and taking the victory by 1:36 over Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) and Patrick Konrad (AUT). Porte stuck like glue to the other contenders and finished eighth, right with Lutsenko, Thomas, Wilco Kelderman (NED) and fellow Aussie Jack Haig, who finished 2-3-4-5 by 0:17-0:29-0:33-0:34.

For Porte, 36, he adds the Criterium du Dauphine to a sparkling resume which also include the Tour Down Under, Tour de Suisse, Tour de Romandie and Volta Ciclista a Catalunya. He was third overall in the 2020 Tour de France and will be one to watch again this year.

Also in France was the BMX Freestyle World Championships, in Montpelier, with the Freestyle Park finals scheduled for Monday (7th) and Flatland on Tuesday (8th).

In the Park semifinals, Americans finished 1-2-4 with Daniel Sandoval (94.06), Nick Bruce (92.64) and Justin Dowell (89.48). Australia’s Logan Martin was third (91.94).

The women’s qualification leaders were reigning World Champion Hannah Roberts of the U.S. (84.25), fellow American and former World Champion Perris Benegas (83.80) and American Chelsea Wolfe (80.55).

● Football ● /updated/Mexico has dominated the U.S. over the 87 years since their first meeting in 1934, and the CONCACAF Nations League final showed that misery loves company.

Just 1:11 into the game, U.S. defender Mark McKenzie made a bad clearance in front of the U.S. goal that was taken by Mexican striker Jesus Corona, who dribbled left and sent a laser past keeper Zach Steffen from the left side of the goal into the top right corner for a 1-0 lead. It’s the fastest goal scored against the U.S. since at least 1990.

Mexico scored again in the 24th minute when Hector Herrera sent a cross from the left side to beyond the U.S. goal and Hector Moreno headed it past Steffen, but the goal was disallowed on a video review for a very close offside call.

That sudden change was compounded three minutes later with a U.S. corner that found Wes McKennie for a header past Mexican keeper Memo Ochoa, but it hit the left goal post and rebounded to Gio Reyna standing in front of the net. He slammed it home for a 1-1 tie.

Mexico dominated play in the final 15 minutes of the first half and got Hirving Lozano behind the U.S. defense in the 43rd minute, but Steffen came out and deflected his shot in a one-on-one duel in the middle of the box. Mexico ended with 61% possession and a 7-5 edge in shots.

The U.S. had a better start to the second half and developed a couple of chances, but had to replace Steffen with Ethan Horvath in the 67th minute due to injury. But it was Mexico’s Ochoa under pressure soon after and he made a sensational save in the 72nd minute to deny McKennie on another header off a corner. McKenzie tried the same thing in the 76th minute, but Ochoa saved his header as well.

But in the 79th minute, substitute striker Diego Lainez received a pass with space at the right side of the U.S. goal, moved toward the center and fired a left-footed shot that skipped past Horvath for a 2-1 lead. The U.S. offense came alive quickly, however, finding the equalizer in the 82nd minute on another corner that McKennie stunningly headed into the right side of the Mexican goal for a 2-2 tie.

The game was stopped at 90+6 when a homophobic chant in Spanish was heard in the crowd, under a new CONCACAF anti-discrimination protocol. It resumed two minutes later, and regulation time ran out. Mexico finished the first 90 minutes with 55% of the possession and a 13-11 advantage in shots.

Mexico had a 5-1 advantage in shots in the first extra-time period, but Horvath was not severely challenged.

In the 111th minute, a run by Christian Pulisic into the box was blocked by Mexican defender Carlos Salcedo, who tripped him and was called for a foul. A subsequent video review resulted in a penalty kick, taken by Pulisic in the 114th minute, sending a right-footed rocket into the top right corner of the goal for a 3-2 lead. A hail of bottles from Mexican fans came onto the U.S. players after the goal, one of them hitting Reyna directly.

In the 120th minute, a video review was made on a possible Kellyn Acosta hand-ball and a penalty was given for Mexico. Andres Guardado’s shot flew toward the left side of the goal, but Horvath guessed correctly and blocked it with his right arm, off to the side to a roar from the crowd.

The game was increasingly chippy, with more drinks thrown from the stands, but after 131 minutes, the whistle blew and the U.S. had a 3-2 win and the inaugural CONCACAF Nations League title. Wow.

Mexico ended with 57% possession and a 21-14 lead in shots, but it wasn’t enough.

● Golf ● Yogi Berra was right: it’s not over until it’s over. American Lexi Thompson was sailing through the U.S. Women’s Open at The Olympic Club in San Francisco with a one-under 34 through the first nine holes on Sunday, then it all went wrong.

The final-day leader at -1, she started the back nine with a par, then went double bogey-par-par-bogey-par-par-bogey-bogey to finish at +4 for the day and finish third at -3 (281) for the tournament.

The beneficiaries were Japan’s Nasa Hataoka and Yuka Saso of The Philippines, who shot 68 (-3) and 73 (+2), respectively, to finish in a tie for the lead at -4 (280) after 72 holes. On to a playoff!

Both made pars on the first two playoff holes, then Saso made a brilliant approach from the rough and birdied the third hole and Hataoka could not match, giving Saso her first LPGA Tour win! She had won twice on the LPGA of Japan Tour. Amazing.

● Gymnastics ● /Updated/The annual U.S. Championships took center stage this week in Ft. Worth, Texas, a final prep for the Olympic Trials later this month. The format featured a double All-Around for both men and women.

The first men’s competition showcased NCAA All-Around winner Brody Malone of Stanford (86.250), tying for first place on Vault and second in the High Bar. Stanford’s Brandon Briones and veteran Yul Moldauer tied for second (83.600), with Shane Wiskus fourth (83.350). Star Sam Mikulak was seventh (82.450).

On Saturday, Mikulak came back with the best score of the day at 84.950 to top Malone (84.450) and Moldauer (84.350). In the combined standings, Malone won at 170.700, followed by Moldauer (167.950), Mikulak (167.400), Briones (167.150) and Allan Bower (166.150).

The two-session apparatus winners included Eddie Penev on Floor (29.750), Stephen Nedoroscik on Pommel Horse (30.200), Alex Diab on Rings (29.600), Malone on Vault (29.000), Moldauer on Parallel Bars (29.600) and Mikulak on the High Bar (29.600).

The women’s program was, of course, all about Olympic superstar Simone Biles. She had the first-competition top scores in Vault, Beam and Floor and was second the Uneven Bars, scoring a total of 59.550. Well behind, but still impressive were Worlds Team gold medalist Sunisa Lee in second 57.350, followed by Jordan Chiles (56.900), Jade Carey (55.450) and Leanne Wong (55.300).

Veteran stars Morgan Hurd, Riley McCusker and Laurie Hernandez only competed on one or two of the apparatus. All placed 18th or worse, except for McCusker, who was third on Bars in her only event.

The women’s final All-Around competition on Sunday showed Biles at an even higher level, scoring 60.100, posting wins in the same three events, but scoring 15.500 on Vault, 14.700 on Bars, a much higher 14.900 on Beam and a superb 14.950 on Floor.

Biles’ two-competition total was 119.650, a staggering 4.7 points ahead of Lee’s 114.950 (57.350 + 57.600) in second. Chiles was third (114.450: 56.900 + 57.550) and Emma Malabuyo popped up to fourth (110.450: 54.450 + 56.00) as Wong dropped to fifth, scoring 54.850 on Sunday (110.150 total).

In the combined apparatus scores over two days, Biles won on Vault (31.350), Beam (29.250) and Floor (29.600). She was third on Bars (29.450), behind Lee (30.200) and McCusker (29.750). Hurd struggled again on Beam and Floor and Hernandez did not compete on Sunday.

The Olympic Trials are next, in St. Louis from 24-27 June.

Host Brazil dominated the Pan American Artistic Championships in Rio de Janeiro (BRA), winning men’s and women’s Team event, the individual All-Around titles with Caio Souza (men: 84.450) and Rebeca Andrade (women: 56.700), three men’s apparatus titles (all by Souza) and two women’s apparatus victories.

The American men’s squad of Cameron Bock, Vitaliy Guimaraes, Paul Juda and Riley Loos finished second in the Team event and Juda was second to Souza in the men’s All-Around (83.000), picking up an extra Tokyo qualification place for the U.S.

In the men’s apparatus finals, Souza won the Rings, Vault and Parallel Bars, while Colombia’s Javier Sandoval took the High Bar and won silvers on Pommel Horse and Parallel Bars. There were four different winners in the women’s apparatus finals, with Brazil getting wins from Lorrane Oliveira on the Uneven Bars and Ana Luisa Lima on Floor. Argentina’s Martina Dominici won the All-Around silver, gold on Vault, silver on Floor and a bronze on Uneven Bars, plus a Team bronze for five medals in all.

Ukrainian stars dominated the Artistic World Challenge Cup in Cairo, Egypt, winning five events and 11 total medals. Illia Kovtun, the 2021 European All-Around bronze medalist, took the Floor, Pommel Horse, and High Bar titles and won bronzes in Vault and Parallel Bars. Teammate Nazar Chepurnyi won the Vault and took bronze on Floor and Roman Vaschenko won the bronze on Rings.

Diana Varinska, a seven-time World Cup winner, took the Uneven Bars title and won silvers on Beam and Floor. Romanian Larisa Iordache, a two-time Worlds All-Around medal winner, won on Beam and was third on the Uneven Bars.

The FIG Trampoline World Cup tour landed in Brescia (ITA), with the men’s individual event was won by France’s Allan Morante, a 2015 Worlds Synchro bronze medalist, who scored 60.765, ahead of Japan’s Ryusei Noshioka (60.480) and Belarus’s Aleh Rabtsau (60.340).

Japan’s Hikaru Mori won the women’s individual title at 55.110, over Russian Anna Kornetskata (54.055) and American Nicole Ahsinger (53.905).

● Ice Hockey ● The controversial IIHF men’s World Championships held solely in Riga, Latvia, after being removed from Belarus due to the political turmoil there, finally ended with defending champion Finland facing perennial power Canada for the world title.

The Finns overcame Germany in the semifinal, 2-1, thanks to two first-period goals by Iiro Pakarinen and Hannes Bjorninen, then withstanding a 28-17 shots advantage by the Germans.

Canada dispatched the U.S., which had won its group, by 4-2. After a 1-1 first period, Andrew Mangiapane scored 4:15 into the second period for a 2-1 lead and then Mangiapane scored against 46 seconds into the third period for a 3-1 advantage. The U.S.’s Sasha Chmelevski scored about three minutes later to cut the deficit to 3-2, but Arizona Coyotes keeper Darcy Kuemper held strong against 14 shots by the U.S. in the third period. Canada’s Justin Danforth with 24 seconds left in the game for the 4-2 final.

In the final, Finland got the jump on a goal by Mikael Ruohomaa just as a power play had ended, scoring after 8:57 of the first period. But the challengers even things up on power play with Maxime Comtois getting the goal just 4:30 into the second period. A furious third period saw Petteri Lindbohm score for Finland just 27 seconds in, only to have Canada tie it again 10 minutes later with a power-play goal from Adam Henrique.

Regulation time ended 2-2, so the title would be decided in the 3×3 unlimited overtime and it didn’t take long. At 6:26, Nick Paul scored for Canada and brought home a 27th world title to the home of ice hockey.

That’s a reversal of the 2019 Worlds final, where the Finns defeated Canada and is the first world title for Canada since back-to-back wins in 2015 and 2016. Canada has now won 51 total medals (27-15-9) in the IIHF men’s Worlds all-time and is 8-6 in final-game match-ups since the current playoff format was introduced in 1992. Finland won its 15th Worlds medal, but is now 3-9 in finals.

The U.S. defeated Germany, 6-1, for the bronze medal, expanding a 1-0 lead after the first period to 5-0 after the second with goals from Conor Garland, Jack Drury, Jason Robertson and Trevor Moore in the decisive period. It was the fourth bronze medal in the last eight World Championships for the U.S., previously in 2013-15-18.

Canadian forward Mangiapane (Calgary Flames) was named Most Valuable Player after scoring seven goals and adding five assists. The tournament All-Star team included forwards Mangiapane, Garland of the U.S. and Liam Kirk (GBR), defensemen Korbinian Holzer and Moritz Seider (GER) and keeper Jussi Olkinuora (FIN).

● Rowing ● The third World Cup for 2021 took place in Saubaudia, Italy with a full schedule, and favorable tail winds in the final tune-up for Tokyo.

The men’s Single Sculls was one of the most compelling races, with 2018 World Champion Kjetil Borch (NOR) taking charge early and making 2019 World Champion Oliver Zeidler (GER) and silver medalist Sverri Nielsen (DEN) chase hard. It was tight right to the finish, but Borch held on in 6:39.12, with Nielsen just 0.20 seconds behind and Zeidler third in 6:39.47.

Ukraine’s Diana Dymchenko won the women’s Single Sculls with a late effort to maintain her lead over Anna Souwer (NED) by 7:28.78-7:30.41, with Britain’s Lola Anderson third at 7:32.78.

The men’s Double Sculls was a clear win for Poles Miroslaw Zietarski and Mateusz Biskup in 6:06.50, with only Barnabe Delarze and Roman Roeoesli (SUI) anywhere close (6:07.86). Italy won the Quadruple Sculls from Norway, 5:38.41-5:40.84.

In the Men’s Pairs, reigning World Champions Martin and Valent Sinkovic (CRO) looked superb, winning by more than six seconds in 6:16.79. Italy won the Four in 5:48.16 with Britain second in 5:50.54. World Champion Germany won the Eight, 5:24.87-5:28.00 from Italy.

Roos de Jong and Lisa Scheenaard took the women’s Double Sculls for the Netherlands in 6:44.79, winning by almost three seconds. The Quadruple Sculls was much closer, with Germany defeating Italy and Poland: 6:13.43-6:15.17-6:15.36.

Denmark’s Hedvig Berg Rasmussen and Fie Erichsen won the women’s Pair easily, finishing in 6:57.68, with Ivana and Josip Jurkovic second for Germany in 7:00.74. The Dutch Four also won, in 6:20.21 to 6:26.14 for Denmark.

In the men’s Lightweight Double Sculls – the only lightweight event for Tokyo – Kristoffer Brun and Are Strandli won in 6:14.03 with only Pietro Ruta and Stefano Oppo close (6:14.20). The women’s Lightweight Double Sculls saw Marieke Keijser and Ilse Paulis claim a world’s best time for the event, winning in 6:43.79 over Silvia Crosio and Federica Cesarini (ITA: 6:50.32).

● Skateboard ● The 2021 Street World Championships, held at the Foro Italico in Rome (ITA) showcased Japan as the nation to watch in Tokyo as four of the medal winners – all Olympic qualifiers from this event – were from the host country.

In the men’s semifinals, Nyjah Huston (USA) led all qualifiers at 35.86, followed by Japan’s Yuto Horigome (33.46) and Kelvin Hoefler (BRA: 32.11), with Jagger Eaton (USA: 31.56) and Sora Shirai (JPN: 31.34) also over 31 points.

In the final, it was Horigome who came up with the smoothest run and scored 36.75, to claim the world title over six-time winner Huston (35.75), Shirai (34.58), the U.S.’s Eaton in fourth (34.36) and 2015 World Champion Hoefler (33.71). Horigome moved up from silver in 2019 to claim his first world title.

Brazil’s 13-year-old Rayssa Leal led the women’s qualifiers in the semi, scoring 14.40 over Aori Nishimura (JPN: 14.24), Funa Nakayama (JPN: 13.88) and Mariah Duran of the U.S. (12.93).

Nishimura, the 2018 World Champion and third in 2019, got back to the top with a final-round score of 14.73, followed by countrywoman Momiji Nishiya (14.17; first Worlds medal), followed by Brazilians Leal (13.47), Pamela Rosa (13.44) and 2015 World Champion Leticia Bufoni (13.36). Duran finished seventh (11.64).

● Surfing ● The competitors for surfing’s debut in Tokyo were finally sorted out at the World Surfing Games in El Salvador that finished on Sunday. But when the competition was finally over, new world champions had been crowned.

France’s Joan Duru had to come back into the final from the repechage bracket, but once in the final, he scored 14.94 to edge Japan’s Kanoa Igarashi (13.74) and fellow Frenchman Jeremy Flores (12.94). Japan’s Hiroto Ohhara was fourth (6.83).

It’s the second time for Duru on the podium, as he won a silver medal in 2017.

Australia’s Sally Fitzgibbons also had to come back through multiple rounds in the repechage bracket, but she made it back to the final and conquered, scoring 14.10 to dominate the event and win the world title. Well back were Portugal’s Yolanda Sequeira (9.20) and Teresa Bonvalot (9.04), with Daniella Rosas of Peru fourth (5.26).

● Swimming ● The first phase of the U.S. Olympic Trials is underway in Omaha, Nebraska and will conclude on Monday, with more than 600 swimmers trying to qualify for spots in the main Trials that will start on the 13th. The top two finishers in each event in the first “wave” will advance.

The meet information booklet included a Covid warning:

“An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, senior citizens and individuals with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable.

“USA Swimming, Inc., cannot prevent anyone from becoming exposed to, contracting, or spreading COVID-19 while participating in USA Swimming sanctioned events. It is not possible to prevent against the presence of the disease. Therefore, if you choose to participate in a USA Swimming sanctioned event, you may be exposing yourself to and/or increasing your risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19.”

All competing athletes must have a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test taken 3-6 days prior to arrival and all athletes, coaches and staff must be tested upon arrival and return a negative finding before being credentialed for the Trials. Athletes and coaches will be tested about every four days during the event.

● Taekwondo ● The Pan American Championships was held in Cancun (MEX), with three countries – Brazil, the U.S. and Mexico – winning four titles each.

Mexico won the most total medals with 16 (4-7-5) and got wins from Brandon Plaza (men’s 58 kg), Carlos Navarro (men’s 63 kg), Rene Lizarraga (men’s 74 kg) and Daniela Souza (women’s 49 kg). The U.S. winners were Melvy Alvarez (men’s 54 kg), Alan Nickolas (men’s 80 kg) and women Makayla Greenwood (53 kg) and Madelynn Gorman-Shore (73 kg).

Brazil took home golds in the men’s 87 kg class with Icaro Miguel Soares and women’s winners Caroline Santos (62 kg), Milena Titoneli (67 kg) and Gabriele Siqueira (+73 kg).

● Triathlon ● Britain’s Alex Yee thrilled the home crowd in Leeds (GBR) with a spectacular win in the World Triathlon Series race on Sunday, finishing the Olympic-standard course in 1:43:27, 25 seconds ahead of runner-up Morgan Pearson of the U.S.

Yee’s edge came on the run, where he clocked 29:46 for 10 km, 18 seconds better than everyone else. Pearson had the second-fastest run at 30:04 and that was 19 seconds better than the rest of the field. Belgium’s Martin Van Riel was third (1:44:03) ahead of Fernando Alarza (ESP: 1:44:12) and Hayden Wilde (NZL: 1:44:27).

Maya Kingma (NED) won her first-ever World Tri Series gold, teaming with 2019 Series silver medalist Jess Learmonth (GBR) and Sophie Caldwell (GBR) on the bike to break away from the field and then taking off on the run.

The three completed the 40 km bike segment in 59:40 (Caldwell), 59:42 for Learmonth and 59:43 for Kingma, but the latter was the best on the run, timing 34:59 to 35:08 for Learmonth and 35:17 for Caldwell. Kingma’s overall time was 1:54:26, good enough for a 11-second over Learmonth with Caldwell at 1:54:46.

The rest of the pack was led by Bermudan superstar Flora Duffy, who had the fastest run (33:05) to sprint up to fourth (1:55:25). Taylor Spivey was the top U.S. finisher in sixth (1:57:00).

● Volleyball ● The FIVB Nations League is playing its 2021 schedule in a sequestered environment over five weeks in Rimini (ITA), with two weeks now completed. The top four teams will advance to the semifinals and so far, the men’s leaders include:

1. Poland: 15 points (5-1: 16-5 sets W-L)
2. Brazil: 15 points (5-1: 15-5)
3. France: 14 points (5-1: 17-8)
4. Russia: 13 points (4-2: 15-9)
5. Slovenia: 12 points (4-2: 14-7)
6. Iran: 12 points (4-2: 13-8)

The U.S. men sit ninth at 3-3 overall (nine points), winning 10 sets out of 20.

The Women’s Nations League is now into its third week of action, with current standings:

1. Turkey: 19 points (7-0: 21-6 sets W-L)
2. U.S.: 18 points (6-0: 18-1)
3. Brazil: 18 points (6-1: 19-5)
4. Netherlands: 16 points (5-2: 17-8)
5. Japan: 14 points (5-2: 15-8)
6. Russia: 10 points (4-3: 13-13).

The women’s playoffs will be on 23-25 June, with the men’s playoffs on 26-27 June.

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THE TICKER: Tokyo 2020 loses 10,000 volunteers, still has 70,000; federation elections; World Tri & UWW giving $318,000 to athletes for Tokyo

Rich Perelman

June 4, 2021

tsx pix 2021-603 russia paralympics (jim thompson 16) — From the new book “Toon In!” by Michael Payne (www.OlympicCartoon.com), a favorite cartoon by Jim Thompson (USA) from 2016.

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

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● The Tokyo 2020 organizing committee disclosed that about 10,000 of its 80,000-strong volunteer corps has resigned their positions, but that there are still plenty of staff to support the Games.

A furor over sexist remarks by former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori that led to his resignation as President of the organizing committee led to the exit of some volunteers, but more left as a result of concerns over the coronavirus.

Still, with about 70,000 volunteers remaining, Tokyo’s support staff contingent is more than double the number from Los Angeles in 1984, where the organizing committee had 33,000 volunteers in the first use of the concept in an Olympic Games. By comparison, the Tokyo Games has 57% more athletes than LA84, 53% more events and 43% more sports, but 112% more volunteer staff, which must also support the Paralympic Games (not held in Los Angeles in 1984).

The awards ceremonies podiums for the Games were unveiled in an online ceremony marking 50 days to go to the Games on Thursday. About 24.5 tons of plastic was collected and recycled in the construction of 98 podia, which were designed by artist Asao Tokolo, who also developed the Tokyo 2020 logos.

Some awards 878 ceremonies will be held for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Tokyo 2020 announced that the awards ceremony music was created by Naoki Sato, a popular Japanese composer for films and television. The recordings reportedly used 256 musicians in all.

The Japan Olympic Committee announced that 95% of all of its athletes competing in the Tokyo Games will be vaccinated. About 600 athletes and more than 1,000 coaches and other officials will receive vaccination.

The International Olympic Committee announced it “is in contact with a few NOCs whose athletes are not yet able to access vaccination programmes and who would therefore be eligible to travel to either [vaccination] hub in Doha (Qatar) or Kigali (Rwanda). They have been set up respectively by the Qatar Olympic Committee and the Rwanda Olympic Committee in relation with the relevant government and medical authorities in their regions and with Pfizer’s support. Concerned NOCs can apply for travel support from Olympic Solidarity should they need it.”

In the latest sign of how strongly the Japanese government is determined to host the Games, it announced the cancellation of a special reception for foreign government officials to be held on the day of the Closing Ceremony on 8 August.

These kinds of events are important diplomatic opportunities for the host country and its elimination is a clear response of a “nice–to-have” program in the face of continuing public unease about the coronavirus and the government response to it in Japan.

“You all know well our position in the context of our state symbolic ban at the Olympic Games. We are not simply objecting to it, but we have been protesting and will continue protesting against the process of politicizing the Olympic Games as well as other international sports tournaments.

“We understand that it is an unfair competition. We understand that it is a part of the strategy to contain our country, considering our sports achievements. However, our national [Olympic] team and our athletes are in high spirits and not a single intrigue stands as an obstacle in their set course.”

That’s Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, speaking on Thursday (3rd) at the 2021 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), continuing Russia’s complaints about the sanctions from Russia’s state-sponsored doping program imposed by the World Anti-Doping Agency and watered down by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

● Games of the XXXIII Olympiad: Paris 2024 ● During the French-language news conference following the IOC Coordination Commission meeting, Paris 2024 chief Tony Estanguet confirmed that the organizing committee is examining the possibility of possibly holding the Opening or Closing Ceremony in a public location instead of the Stade de France in St. Denis, near Paris.

The decision could be made by the end of the year and is a pet project of IOC President Thomas Bach (GER), who has often insisted, essentially, “we must bring sport to the people instead of making people come to sport.”

The concept, maybe to use the Eiffel Tower as the centerpiece, or perhaps a parade down the Seine River, was endorsed by IOC Coordination Commission chief Pierre-Olivier Beckers (BEL): “Take the ceremonies out of the stadium to bring them to the neighborhoods, in order to share with the population the values of Olympism, would meet the objective of making the Games useful to people. We encourage the Paris 2024 organizing committee to move in this direction.”

The obvious questions of athlete access, security, creating a program which can be appreciated by the worldwide television audience and, of course, the financial impact of losing most (if not all) ticket sales and increased staging costs, have to be factored in.

The IOC announced it has taken over the on-site hospitality sales – travel, accommodations and ticket packages – for the Paris 2024, Los Angeles 2028 and Milan-Cortina Winter Games in 2026 and has contracted with New York-based On Location as “Official Hospitality Provider.”

On Location is primarily owned by Beverly Hills-based Endeavor, which is itself a conglomerate including the venerable William Morris Agency and the IMG sports agency and events firm. On Location is especially known for its work at the NFL Super Bowl and the National Football league is reportedly a minority owner of the company.

This IOC initiative was telegraphed in Olympic Agenda 2020+5, and ticket sales will be the next area to be absorbed as noted in the announcement:

“The reform is part of the Olympic Agenda 2020+5 vision to deliver long-term turnkey solutions that are provided over several editions of the Olympic Games with the aim of simplifying operations and driving efficiency in delivery, as well as driving new revenue sources.

“In addition, and separate to the agreement with On Location, a new, integrated approach regarding global ticket sales will also be introduced from Paris 2024 onwards. It will provide secure, seamless access to Olympic and Paralympic tickets directly via each Organising Committee at standardised prices for each Games for fans in all corners of the world.”

What does this mean for fans interested in going to the Games in 2024, 2026 or 2028? The price just went up, again.

● Aquatics ● The FINA Congress will be held on Saturday (5th) with a rare hybrid of live and online delegates, as the federation reported:

“119 National Federations, represented by 189 delegates will physically be attending the Congress in Doha, respecting a robust and safe COVID-19 protocol, while another 102 National Federations (202 delegates) will be following the programme via a live stream and cast their vote through a highly secured online system. Some NFs will be represented both on-site and online.”

In addition to the usual reports, elections will be held with Kuwait’s Husain Al Musallam running unopposed for President and long-time American member of the FINA Bureau Dale Neuburger running unopposed as Treasurer.

The candidates for Vice President are also running unopposed: Sam Ramsamy (RSA) from Africa, Juan Carlos Orihuela (PAR) from the Americas, China’s Jihong Zhou from Asia, Italian Paolo Barelli from Europe and Matthew Dunn (AUS) from Oceania.

American Bill Hybl, a former head of the United States Olympic Committee, is also running for a seat on the independent FINA Ethics Panel.

● Archery ● World Champion Brady Ellison and teen sensation Casey Kaufhold have qualified as U.S. Olympians for Tokyo, but hope to have two more teammates each with them if the Americans can qualify full teams for the Tokyo Games.

USA Archery concluded a four-stage Trials process last weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah, with four different events in the final stage alone. Ellison, however, persevered and was easily the winner of the Trials program, piling up 169.00 total points to 129.50 for Jack Williams and 126.00 for 2012 Olympic Team silver medalist Jacob Wukie.

They will have a last chance to qualify a full team of three at the World Archery World Cup in Paris (FRA) beginning on 21 June.

The women are in the same situation, with 17-year-old Kaufhold winning the trials with 181.25 points, well ahead of Rio 2016 Olympian Mackenzie Brown (158.25) and Jennifer Mucino-Fernandez (105.75).

● Athletics ● Kahmari Montgomery, the U.S. national champion in the 400 m in 2018, was suspended for one month, from 30 April, due to a positive test for THC above the disciplinary limit. Per the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency:

“The 2021 World Anti-Doping Code newly classifies THC as a “Substance of Abuse” because it is used outside the context of sport. If an athlete who tests positive for a Substance of Abuse establishes that their use of the substance occurred out of competition and was unrelated to sport performance, the athlete will receive a three-month sanction. If the athlete satisfactorily completes a Substance of Abuse treatment program approved by USADA, the sanction may be further reduced to one month.”

As his suspension period has concluded, he should be eligible to compete at the U.S. Olympic Trials later this month.

A new world outdoor leader for Burkina-Faso’s Hugues Fabrice Zango in the men’s triple jump in Montreuil (FRA) on 1 June at 17.67 m (57-11 3/4). He set the world indoor record in mind-January, reaching 18.07 m (59-3 1/2).

At the Stumptown Twilight in Portland, Oregon on Thursday night, Britain’s Josh Kerr, 23, won the men’s 1,500 m in the no. 2 time of 2021, 3:31.55, a lifetime best and no. 7 in British history.

● Beach Volleyball ● Sarah Sponcil and Kelly Claes have clinched the second U.S. spot in the Tokyo 2020 beach volleyball tournament following their win at the FIVB World Tour 4-star event in Sochi, Russia last week and the elimination of contenders Brooke Sweat and Kerri Walsh Jennings in the qualifying round of this week’s Ostrava Beach Open in the Czech Republic.

Sponcil and Claes have 7,120 Olympic ranking points, sixth overall, and cannot be caught by Sweat and Walsh Jennings, currently at 6,960 and seventh.

USA Volleyball noted that “Claes/Sponcil will become the youngest beach duo to represent the United States in the Olympic Games. They have an aggregate age of 49 years (Claes: 25 years old; Sponcil 24), and Sponcil will become the second-youngest American beach Olympian after Misty May made her Olympic debut at age 23 in Sydney 2000.”

Americans April Ross and Alix Klineman are currently top-ranked in the FIVB Olympic rankings with 9,400 points, just ahead of 2019 World Champions Sarah Pavan and Melissa Humana-Paredes (CAN).

Walsh Jennings, now 42, was trying for a sixth U.S. Olympic Team after playing on the fourth-place U.S. indoor team in 2000, then winning beach golds with May-Treanor in 2004-08-12 and a bronze medal with Ross in Rio in 2016. The U.S. and Brazil both have four teams that could have qualified for the Games based on their rankings points, but only two per country are allowed.

● Boxing ● At a time when the International Boxing Association (AIBA) does not need any more issues, it got a new one after a controversial final at the just-completed Asian Boxing Championships in Dubai (UAE), in the men’s 52 kg/Flyweight division between reigning Olympic champion and 2019 World Champion Shakhobidin Zoirov (UZB) and India’s Amit Panghal, the 2019 Worlds runner up.

Zoirov was declared the winner by 3:2, but Panghal told the Times of India that the match was fixed:

“The scoring was rigged … the judging was unfair. I was robbed of a deserved win … This was deliberately done to make him the champion. The coaches and the people who know boxing told me that I was the deserved winner. That’s why the decision was contested.”

The jury refused to review the fight, after an inquiry by India. AIBA posted a notice yesterday (2nd) that “AIBA is aware of potential issues and allegations concerning the judging of certain bouts at the Asian Boxing Championships held in Dubai. AIBA takes such allegations very seriously.

“After liaising with several National Boxing Federations, AIBA anticipates the Refereeing and Judging (R&J) Committee will conduct an immediate investigation into the work of all relevant appointed officials and report their findings to the AIBA Disciplinary Committee as soon as possible, to determine whether there is a case to answer or not.”

The IOC has been highly critical of AIBA’s inability to install and maintain credible refereeing and judging at its events, and this is an area which will have a bearing on whether the federation is reinstated after the Tokyo Games.

● Football ● The inaugural CONCACAF Nations League semifinals were held in Denver on Thursday evening, with the U.S. and Honduras testing each other for the full 90 minutes in the opener.

Both had excellent first-half chances, with Gio Reyna missing an open net for the U.S., and the Americans holding 65% of the possession and a 6-3 edge in shots. The second half went back and forth inconclusively, with the U.S. looking ready to score, but then Honduras threatening on counterattacks.

The U.S. was again setting up in front of the Honduran goal near the end of the match, with defender John Brooks on the ball a few yards above the box. His pass to the right side was to Wes McKennie, with space as two American strikers ran toward the goal and McKennie’s header flew past Brenden Aaronson and found the second man, Jordan Siebatcheu, for a header that found the back of the net in the 89th minute for a 1-0 lead that stood up as the final.

It was Siebatcheu’s first-ever goal for the U.S., as a sub for starting striker Josh Sargent. U.S. keeper Zach Steffen was sharp in goal when it counted, collecting his 10th career shutout.

The U.S. ended with 65% of the possession and a 10-7 edge in shots in a game which became increasingly physical as it wore on, with a total of 25 fouls and five yellow cards issued (including one to U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter.) The two sides hadn’t played since a 1-1 tie in FIFA World Cup qualifying in September 2017.

Mexico and Costa Rica played to a scoreless tie through regulation time, despite Mexico having 58% of the possession and 13 shots to six. The penalty shoot-out was just as close, tied 4-4 after the first five tries. Jesus Gallardo made the sixth try for a 5-4 Mexico lead, then Allan Cruz’s shot was saved by keeper Guillermo Ochoa and Mexico advances to play the U.S. on Sunday.

Amid an local outcry due to a heavy toll from the coronavirus, the South American confederation CONMEBOL announced four host cities in Brazil for the Copa America, due to open on 13 June.

Rio and Brasilia will host eight matches each, with Goiania hosting seven and Cuiaba holding five. No spectators will be allowed in any of the stadia, and the famed Macarena Stadium in Rio will host the final on 10 July.

The tournament was originally supposed to be held in Argentina and Colombia, but both renounced the event due to the pandemic.

● Ice Hockey ● The U.S. and Canada will meet in the semifinals of the IIHF men’s World Championship after both won their quarterfinals, while defending champion Finland will play Germany.

The U.S. slugged Slovakia in its quarterfinal, 6-1, taking a 3-0 lead in the first period and getting two goals each from Conor Garland and Colin Blackwell. Canada got an overtime score from Andrew Mangiapane at the 2:12 to eliminate Russia.

Finland squeezed by the Czech Republic, 1-0, and Germany upset the Swiss in a shoot-out by just 2-1 as Marcel Noebels got the winner.

Both semifinals will be held at the Arena Riga in Latvia on Saturday with the medal matches on Sunday.

● Judo ● International Judo Federation President Marius Vizer (ROU) was unanimously re-elected for a fifth term at the IJF Congress on Thursday (3rd). He ran unopposed.

Vizer has drawn widespread praise for his condemnation of discrimination in the sport, especially in the case of former World 81 kg Champion Saeid Mollaei, who was instructed by his Iranian coaches to lose matches so as not to meet Israeli Sagi Muki during the 2019 World Championships. Mollaei, feeling under threat, left the event and went to Germany with IJF help and now competes for Mongolia. The IJF suspended the Iranian federation indefinitely, and then – under instruction from the Court of Arbitration for Sport – fixed the suspension period at four years.

● Skiing ● After 23 years, there will be a change at the top of the Federation Internationale de Ski, where Swiss Gian-Franco Kasper is stepping down at age 77. The FIS Congress will meet online on Friday (4th), with elections to take place in addition to a lengthy agenda of other business, including the election of the FIS Council.

The election has been enthusiastically contested by four candidates: former FIS Secretary General Sarah Lewis (GBR), Swedish Olympic Committee President and FIS vice-president Mats Arjes (SWE), former World Downhill Champion Urs Lehmann (SUI), and Head equipment chief executive Johan Eliasch (SWE).

Each will make a 10-minute presentation to the Congress and winning requires an absolute majority of votes, thus making multiple rounds likely. At the end of each round, the candidate with the fewest votes will be eliminated.

Arjes has proposed a deep review and consultation on the right way forward, not only for elite competitors, but for skiing as a whole. Eliasch wants to grow the sport’s global participation and make the professional competitions more compelling for viewers through better technology and presentation. Lehmann, as head of the Swiss skiing federation, has overseen a renaissance both in terms of results on the snow, but also at the bank and promises to bring that expertise to FIS. Lewis promotes her deep understanding of the sport from 26 years as a FIS staff member with a view to bringing skiing forward through new investment from the private sector and an evangelical approach to promotion and support for skiers and federations.

The FIS Congress will be livestreamed here with the election expected around 2 p.m. Central European Time.

● Tennis ● After the withdrawal of Japan’s Naomi Osaka from the French Open after skipping her news conference following her first-round match, the Grand Slam tournament organizers released a second statement on Tuesday (1st), expressing support for Osaka’s mental-health challenges, but also amplifying their first notice. It included:

“Together as a community we will continue to improve the player experience at our tournaments, including as it relates to media. Change should come through the lens of maintaining a fair playing field, regardless of ranking or status. Sport requires rules and regulations to ensure that no player has an unfair advantage over another.

“We intend to work alongside the players, the tours, the media and the broader tennis community to create meaningful improvements. As Grand Slams, we aim to create the stage for the players to achieve the highest accolades in our sport.”

Comment: It’s worth commending Osaka for withdrawing from the tournament and not putting other players in the difficult position of deciding whether to support her by also skipping the obligatory post-match news conferences, and then be fined or risk other sanctions. That in itself showed a respect for the sport and for her fellow players which will help everyone’s attitude in looking for a solution that meets the needs of players, media and professional tennis, which needs all the promotion it can get.

● Triathlon ● World Triathlon, which is not one of the wealthier federations in the Olympic world, is spending $100,000 to provide $3,000 or more in financial support to athletes from multiple countries in advance of Tokyo 2020.

This “support fund” is designed “to provide financial assistance to those athletes from National Federations with the greatest needs in order to help them compete at Continental and World level over the Olympic and Paralympic Qualification Period.”

World Tri received 28 applications for support from 14 countries in its first round of requests and a selection panel from the federation’s Executive Board selected 23 triathletes and para-triathletes from 11 countries: Azerbaijan, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Morocco, Philippines, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine.

The remaining $31,000 of the fund will also be distributed to these athletes, but at the end of June, according to individual needs for travel for qualification purposes.

Comment: This is pretty impressive for a federation with limited resources, especially due to the pandemic; same for United World Wrestling (see next). If there was ever an example of “athlete-centric” focus by International Federations – notably for Paralympic athletes by World Triathlon – this is it.

● Wrestling ● United World Wrestling detailed its own program of direct athlete support for Tokyo, with €180,000 (~$218,325 U.S.) distributed to 121 athletes and coaches from 43 countries through the federation’s Technical Assistance Program, with five of the recipients qualifying for the Tokyo Games from Armenia, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan.

UWW was also able to obtain support from the IOC to fund €40,000 of the total spend.

● The Last Word ● The often acerbic, sometimes insightful and occasionally entertaining of the editorial cartoonist is being celebrated in a unique look at the Olympic Games.

Michael Payne (GBR), best known as the IOC’s marketing director from 1988-2004, used his enforced idleness during the pandemic to put together a 500-page, large-format look at the Olympic world called “Toon In!”

(The image above is by U.S. cartoonist Jim Thompson from 2016 about Russia’s response to sanctions imposed on it for the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.)

There are more than 1,200 cartoons from some 360 cartoonists from 47 countries. Payne researched more than 3,000 works from all five continents before finally making his selections.

He added more than 100,000 words of back stories and commentary, mixing in context, memories and little-known incidents of his Olympic career that stretches back to 1983.

He said it’s quite a different take on the Olympic Movement than his 2006 work Olympic Turnaround:

“’Olympic Turnaround’ effectively told the story of how the Olympics transformed from bankruptcy prior to the Los Angeles ‘84 Olympic Games to the multi-billion-dollar event that it is today. So ‘Turnaround’ was talking of the business journey on the creation of the modeling of the TV rights, the creation of the TOP program, the development of ambush marketing thinking and strategies.

“’Toon In!’ is a very different book. It’s certainly not a business book. It’s, on the one hand, much more light-hearted. It’s, I think, a very easy read, looking at the cartoons and the stories that go with it. But then when you get into the chapter of the Rio Games and all the challenges that it took in the staging those Games, or you look at the sports program and how the hell was wrestling thrown off the Olympics and other sports try to get on the Olympics: how does it all work?

“So, in some ways, it’s sort of, probably, light-hearted primer on the Olympic world, but a tremendous amount of research, intelligence, putting stories into context.”

Printed on heavy paper, the profits from the $95 work will go to four charities, including Cartooning for Peace, a network of 200+ cartoon artists from 60 countries committed to freedom of speech. A special “collector’s edition” of 250 copies, signed by Payne, is available at $250 each.

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LANE ONE: IOC CoComm happy with Paris 2024, because it needs the French to re-shape the meaning of the Olympic Games (and LA28 too)

Rich Perelman

June 3, 2021

“Paris is on track. Paris is where we expected it to be and Paris is confirming all its commitments.”

So said a highly-satisfied Pierre-Olivier Beckers, member of the International Olympic Committee from Belgium and someone who knows about big projects, having been for 14 years the chief executive of the multinational supermarket chain Delhaize (€21.1 billion in revenue when he retired in 2013).

But in a session with reporters following the IOC’s latest Paris 2024 Coordination Commission meeting on 1 June, Beckers was even more enthusiastic about what the Paris organizers foresee for the 2024 Games beyond the simple staging of the largest sporting event in the world:

“What has impressed us today, I would say, more than anything else, is that what we are facing here is not a project about the organization of Olympic and Paralympic Games. This is much more than that.

“It is a project which started, basically, when Paris received the Games [in 2017] and which will last long after the Closing Ceremonies of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Because the project is really about contributing to transform society in all these aspects: through sports, of course, and trying to make the population in France and inspire other populations to move, to be more healthy – physically, mentally – but it is also about, I would say, incredibly strongly about using the Olympic values to help to contribute to rebuild a world that is beginning to show more friendship, more solidarity.

“And it is so needed now. I mean, I don’t have to describe to you the last 16 months have been more about fears between populations, between countries, between neighbors and with feeling that everyone else is susceptible of creating a danger for you and your family. So we need the Games now, in Tokyo more than ever, and we need the Games of 2024.”

For those who have observed the Olympic Movement – and the Olympic Games – even recently, this is change on a mind-boggling scale. It was not long ago that the Sochi 2014 Winter Games in Russia cost a reported $51 billion to stage the Games as the catalyst to upgrade the area to a year-round conference and resort center. A couple of years later, Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro looked like it might not be able to stage the 2016 Games, either because of a lack of funds – its Olympic organizing committee was so poor that it was the first ever not to publish an “Official Report” of any kind – or due to the Zika virus (remember that?).

Now the question is not whether Paris 2024 will happen, but how large will be the impact on society?

Paris 2024 chief executive Tony Estanguet, a three-time Olympic gold medalist in Canoe Slalom, was asked what would constitute success for this Games:

“One century after the last edition of the Games [in Paris], to position France as a country able to organize an event by keeping the plans and the bests of the Games, but also by proposing a new model.

“A new model of the Games with making sure that we will innovate in a way, and for the first time in history, those Games will be inclusive and we will have the 50% of participation, men and women, for the first time in history we will also have some events open to [public] participation and this is really important for us.

“We wanted also to open those Games to the different territories all over the country. You know that we had it also in our concept to demonstrate also all the variety and the richness of this country of France to, in a way, showcase what France has to offer in its best version. And for us, it’s a combination of spectacular Games, but also meaningful Games, making the demonstration that there will be more sustainable, more inclusive, offer opportunities for this country also in terms of employment and demonstrate that the benefits of such a big event is real, for a country such as France.

“So for us, the success relies on these three main objectives: celebration of really a spectacular event, a legacy where sport and the Games demonstrates what the benefits are for the society, and definitely, our ability to engage all the country and all the French people in living a special moment in regards with Paris 2024, whether it is with Terre de Jeux [community activities related to sport of the Games] or the Club [for individuals], it’s important for us to maximize and develop opportunities for people to be active during this experience of Paris 2024.”

Beckers followed up with:

“The messages and the behaviors of Paris 2024 along the now three years that remain will impact and touch the people to behave themselves differently, with more respect, more solidarity, willingness to win and to be open to the world, more inclusive to one another. That is really what excites us.”

And he explained further:

“Even though [there] are structural priorities to make the Games happen, what is very important for us at the IOC is that Paris demonstrates that the Olympic Games can have a role far beyond the organization of three weeks of sports feast. And that is the commitment from Paris, it is the commitment from the IOC with the Agenda 2020, now Agenda 2020+5 – five years – and we are therefore extremely active in our conversations with Paris to make sure that their commitments around sustainability, legacy, gender equality, climate impact are true and will give a lasting legacy to the world not only in France, but [all] around.

“So, I think we are different in that sense from most previous editions of the Games in that we are putting a lot of emphasis, a big amount of our time in the Coordination Commission and other meetings are put on those elements, where potentially several editions ago, the focus was on, ‘are you ready to organize the Games themselves?’ …

“[The Games] in the context of Paris become powerful means to reach social union, economic and [other] goals that are important to the eyes of the entire society. Because times have changed, we live in a different world.”

Beckers, elected in 2012, represents a much different IOC than was seen during the presidencies of American Avery Brundage and Ireland’s Lord Killanin, where the success or failure of the Movement was totally dependent on the Games organizing committees. Spain’s Juan Antonio Samaranch shepherded the IOC into financial independence following the revolutionary Los Angeles Games in 1984 and his successor, Belgian Jacques Rogge, saw the Games go to China and South America for the first time.

Current president Thomas Bach of Germany has re-engineered the IOC to require less of organizers in construction and spending, has guaranteed by contract – for the first time – the exact financial support that the IOC will provide, in cash and services, and is demanding attention to never-before-important elements such as sustainability and carbon reduction.

What is demanded in return is new ways to make the Games not just relevant, but an instrument of societal change. This is not only true for Paris 2024, but especially for Los Angeles in 2028, where no new venues need to be built. LA28 chair Casey Wasserman (USA) told World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe (GBR) during a December 2020 interview:

“The way I tell our staff every day is ‘if all we do is deliver the Games well and financially responsibly, we will have missed our opportunity.’ We should be able to do that, and a lot more, and that’s the bar we’re holding ourselves to.”

Estanguet’s Paris 2024 may have found its signature element in its plan to create mass-participation events, such as perhaps a 10K or half-marathon on part of the Olympic Marathon course or cycling or swimming events. And those can be continued into the future as annual ties back to the Games … not for elite athletes, but for everyone as a portal to personal fitness and better health.

That’s a move in the right direction, but surely there are more opportunities than this. France and food, France and design, France and agriculture are all historic ties which could be exploited if Estanguet and his team have the (1) time, (2) funds and (3) imagination. Unlike the past, the IOC will now support these initiatives, and can not only contribute some start-up funds, but can bring its multi-national sponsor base in as power amplifiers and enablers.

Perhaps LA28 holds more potential, watching quietly while Tokyo 2020 strains to reach the finish line and Paris 2024 thirsts for the reins. It is right now looking to hire a Vice President/Non-Games Programming, focusing on “Ceremonies, Torch Relay, Live Sites, Music & Entertainment, Cultural Olympiad, Paralympic/Adaptive Sport activities, and other opportunities.”

Already in motion at the same time:

● The legacy of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, the LA84 Foundation, is running full steam ahead on its “Play Equity Fund” movement, raising awareness and funding – guided by continuing, proprietary research – for more physical education and activity opportunities for all children in the greater L.A. area, and

● The Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games – which brought the 1984 Games to Los Angeles – continues to expand its 15-year-old, first-in-the-nation Ready, Set, Gold! program which brings Olympic and Paralympic athletes into direct, continuing contact with students in elementary and middle schools in five Southern California school districts, with marked, measured success in developing and maintaining positive attitudes and higher performance in fitness, schooling and self-belief.

Access to sport, returning physical education as a basic educational element for youth, creating lifetime fitness opportunities and tying them all back to the continuously inspirational engine of the Olympic Games is a worthwhile goal for any city, region or nation anywhere in the world. Paris 2024 will take the first steps on this road; perhaps LA28 should re-name its position as Vice President for “Permanent Legacy.”

As Beckers noted, this is much more than putting on the Games, and also, much harder. To Estanguet, let’s say “Bonne chance”!

Rich Perelman
Editor

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HEARD AT HALFTIME: Tokyo’s mixed signals on the virus; Paris 2024 on track; 400 m hurdles world leader for Shamier Little

Rich Perelman

June 1, 2021

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

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● It is possible that the athletes attending the Tokyo Games will be among the least-remembered Olympians ever as all of the attention continues to be focused on “whether or not” the Games will be held.

The state of emergency due to the coronavirus has been extended in Tokyo to 20 June, as the infection rate has remained at what is considered to be a high level.

The state of emergency was slated to end on 31 May, but was extended on the 28th.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government announced on Tuesday (1st) that Yoyogi Park, slated to be one of two open-air gathering sites for watching the Games, will be used as a mass-vaccination site. There is a public petition to skip using the site for the Games, but its use as a vaccination site will dominate its future use.

Interestingly, large department stores, movie houses and amusement parks (!) re-opened in the Tokyo and Osaka prefectures. Kyodo News reported that Universal Studios Japan in Osaka opened on Tuesday for the first time since 25 April and

“The operator has capped the number of visitors at 5,000 per day and installed acrylic partitions between guest tables at restaurants in the park.”

Kyodo also reported that Games spectators might be required to show proof of vaccination in order to attend events. Also:

“The government and the organizers will also look into the option of only requiring temperature checks before admitting them into venues, a procedure already implemented at many sporting events in Japan held in front of a live audience.”

Australia’s softball team arrived for a training camp in Ota on Tuesday, becoming the first Olympic athletes to enter the country for the Games. About 50 miles northwest of Tokyo, Ota will be the site of a camp through 17 July, when they can move to the Olympic Village in Tokyo.

All 29 members of the delegation had received coronavirus vaccinations, but will be heavily restricted in their movements:

“Members of the national team will also be required to undergo daily virus testing and be prevented from interacting with the general public, with all sleeping, dining and meeting rooms confined to three floors in their hotel.”

On Friday, the International Olympic Committee announced that the National Olympic Committees of Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have all pledged to bring fully-vaccinated delegations to Tokyo. Many more such guarantees are forthcoming.

NBC Sports announced a comprehensive Olympic Trials coverage package of more than 50 hours in primetime and more than 85 hours in all for diving, gymnastics, swimming and track & field across NBC, NBCSN and NBC’s Olympic Channel:

● 04-07 June: Swimming: Olympic Trials I
● 08-13 June: Diving: Olympic Trials
● 13-20 June: Swimming: Olympic Trials II
● 18-27 June: Track & Field: Olympic Trials
● 24-27 June: Gymnastics: Olympic Artistic Trials

The track & field coverage focuses mostly on the finals and skips most of the heats and qualifying competitions.

Given the preoccupation with the pandemic in Tokyo, Trials viewership is key for NBC to build audience interest for the Games.

● Games of the XXXIII Olympiad: Paris 2024 ● The Paris organizers concluded an online meeting with the IOC Coordination Commission today (1st) and held consecutive news conferences with French and English-speaking media online.

Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet and Belgian IOC member and Coordination Commission chief Pierre-Olivier Beckers both reported that the budget, organizational planning and even the sponsorship programs are progressing in line with the existing plan.

The only obvious difficulty in the construction program being managed by Solideo, a special agency of the French government, is construction in the Parc Georges Valbon. Estanguet noted that there are no issues with the shooting venue scheduled for the site, but that the fate of the housing designated as the media village is still to be settled.

Opposed by some local groups, the go/no-go decision is in the hands of a local administrative court and will likely be announced later this month. Estanguet explained that the housing initiative is based on the needs of the area and if not allowed to go ahead, the organizing committee has already secured enough hotel rooms – 45,000 in all, he said – to move media to hotels instead.

He also indicated that sponsorship discussions are continuing, but that announcements won’t be immediately forthcoming in the midst of the pandemic conditions in France.

Both Beckers and Estanguet spent considerable time on the idea that the 2024 effort is not so much about organizing great competitions, but in making the Games stand for much more, both at the time and for the future. This is an interesting concept and they had a lot to say; watch for more on this later this week.

● World University Games ● South Korea has been confirmed as a bidder for the 2027 World University Games, now competing with the U.S. entry from the Raleigh-Durham area in North Carolina.

The Korean city of Gwangju hosted the WUG in 2015, and the 2027 bid is for Daejeon (population: 1.5 million), together with the smaller, nearby cities of Cheongju, Sejong, and Hongseong.

The decision on host is due by the end of 2022, but will likely not be announced until the 2023 Winter World University Games in Lake Placid, New York in January, 2023.

● Athletics ● The American Track League’s Duval County Challenge was held Monday at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida, with strong fields and strong results (U.S. athletes unless otherwise noted), including one world-leading mark:

● Women/400 m hurdles: 53.12, Shamier Little (USA)

Little was in front from the start and crushed a good field; Jamaicans Ronda Whyte (54.33) and Shiann Salmon (54.97) ran 2-3. World no. 2 Gianna Woodruff (PAN) was sixth in 56.68.

Defending Olympic champ Dalilah Muhammad (USA) also raced in her first 400 m hurdles of 2021, winning the first race in 55.01, placing her seventh on the 2021 world list. The 2015 Worlds bronze medalist, Cassandra Tate, was second in 56.34.

The meet included a gimmick in the 100 m, where a 40-yard time was taken mid-race. Jamaican star Yohan Blake ran 4.23 and Andre De Grasse (CAN) clocked 4.24 in the first heat, then Ronnie Baker (USA) ran 4.22 in the second heat, equal to the fastest ever recorded in the NFL Combine (all wind-aided).

At the 100 m distance, De Grasse won the first heat in 9.92w (+3.6 m/s), ahead of Blake (10.05) and Baker cruised to a 9.91w win (+3.1) in the second heat.

De Grasse opted out of the 100 m final, and Baker accelerated past Blake by 30 m and won in 9.99 to 10.09 for Blake and 10.11 for Marvin Bracy. Baker ran through the 40 m mark in a steaming 4.19, to 4.22 for Blake. Baker received a $5,000 check from the Mark Cuban venture, the World1League, for having the fastest 40 m time during the meet.

In the women’s 100 m, Gabby Thomas ran past Jamaican Briana Williams in heat one, 10.94-10.97 wind-aided (+2.5). English Gardner was third (11.10w). Dezerea Bryant won heat two in 11.20 (+2.0). Bryant ran 4.49 in the 40-yard dash, faster than most of the male football players in the Combine.

Thomas skipped the final, and Williams emerged about 40 m and finished in 10.98 (+1.0), a big seasonal best. She crossed the 40 m in an impressive 4.45 (wow!) and she also got a $5,000 check from the World1League.

The most important outcome might have been in the women’s 400, where Allyson Felix got out well, then faded in the middle 200 m, but found an overdrive gear in the final 100 m and won in 50.66. Felix passed 2019 NCAA champ Wadeline Jonathas in the run-in at 51.00 and said afterwards, “kind of a sloppy race, but I wanted to come home strong.” It’s a seasonal best for Felix and her fastest since 2017.

Thomas was third in 51.15, a enormous lifetime best; her prior outdoor best was 55.10 from 2019. The time is an Olympic Trials qualifier; will she try it in Eugene?

In the men’s 400 m, Michael Cherry dealt with winds on the backstraight, then powered down the straight to win in 44.74, with teen Justin Robinson second in 45.00.

In the men’s 200 m, teen sensation Erriyon Knighton (17) – who turned professional in January – came on to edge 100 m world leader Trayvon Bromell at the tape, winning in 20.11 (+1.6) to 20.20, with Britain’s Zharnel Hughes third in 20.30. Knighton is now no. 6 on the all-time U-20 200 m list and set a world U-18 best.

Brittany Brown won the fastest women’s 200 m in 22.43 (+1.0), ahead of Bryant (22.47).

Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PUR) false-started out of the women’s 100 m hurdles final, leaving the door open for Jamaica’s 20-year-old Brittany Anderson with a lifetime best of 12.59 (+0.7), ahead of Christina Clemons (12.64) and 2015 World Champion Danielle Williams (JAM: 12.65).

Camacho-Quinn jumped into the B final, and won in 12.80 (+0.6), ahead of Isabelle Pedersen (NOR: 13.03).

In the men’s 110 m hurdles, Jamaica’s Omar McLeod won the first heat in 13.16 and world-leader Grant Holloway won the second in 13.15, both with legal wind. McLeod skipped the final and was wise to do so, as Holloway exploded out of the blocks and won easily in 13.10 (+1.1), with Devon Allen coming up for second in 13.22 (season best) and Daniel Roberts in 13.23 (season best).

There was another world leader over weekend, at the European Team Championships, where Pole Pawel Fajdek reached 82.98 m (272-3) on his third try.

Good news for fans hoping to see the U.S. Olympic Trials in person, as spectators will be allowed at the event in limited numbers. Per the TrackTown USA announcement:

“‘Oregon health regulations regarding stadium capacity have shifted significantly in the last two weeks,’ said Michael Reilly, CEO of TrackTown USA. ‘We are absolutely thrilled as these changes allow for previously impossible spectator numbers. Alongside our partners, we have developed a plan to maximize attendance while keeping participants and our community safe.

“The policy shift is due to new guidance on outdoor gatherings for individuals who have been vaccinated for COVID-19. There will be both vaccinated and unvaccinated sections in the stadium, with vaccinated sections forming much of the ticket inventory. Ticket holders must provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination in order to sit in a vaccinated section.”

Exactly how many people will be allowed inside Hayward Field – including news media – is still being determined. Stay tuned.

Part of the community support effort of the Super Bowl LVI Host Committee in Los Angeles is its “Business Connect” program, with 225 local businesses offered training and workshops to help grow their businesses.

The 27th Street Bakery is part of the program, run by 1984 Olympic gold medalist and later three-time NCAA champion coach (at UCLA) Jeanette Bolden with her sister Denise and husband Al Pickens. The Los Angeles Times featured her in February, running the shop – founded by her grandparents in 1956 – that features peach cobbler, red velvet cake, pecan pie and their signature sweet potato pie.

More recently, she met with Staples Center officials through the program and the bakery’s pies are now slated to appear at the arena’s dessert carts and concession stands.

● Cycling ● With the Giro d’Italia completed, riders pointing to the Tour de France are in action in southeast France for the 73rd Criterium du Dauphine.

The eight-stage event began on Sunday, with Belgian Brent van Mor breaking away with 17 km remaining for a solo win over Sonny Colbrelli (ITA: +0:25). Monday’s hilly course showcased another breakaway, this time for Lukas Postlberger (AUT), who finished 11 seconds up on Colbrelli and Spain’s two-time winner Alejandro Valverde.

Tuesday’s 172.2 km stage from Langeac to Saint-Haon-Le-Vieux featured an enormous descent to a fairly flat course for the last half of the race. This favored the sprinters and Colbrelli broke through for a win, ahead of a big pack led by Alex Aranburu (ESP) and Brandon McNulty of the U.S.

Wednesday is a 16.4 km time trial, followed by a hilly fifth stage on Thursday, major climbing stages on Friday and Saturday and a significant final test on Sunday, with four climbs and an uphill finish at Les Gets.

Thanks to his solid win on Monday, Postlberger is the overall leader by two seconds over Colbrelli, followed by Aranburu (+0:18) and Valverde (+0:20).

● Football ● The 2021 Copa America will apparently be played in Brazil, with the tournament slated to begin on 13 June and conclude on 10 July.

The South American confederation, known as CONMEBOL, originally selected Argentina and Colombia in 2019 as co-hosts of the event in 2020. It was delayed a year due to the pandemic to 2021, but the political unrest on Colombia resulted in a renunciation of its hosting duties on 20 May. A surge in the coronavirus in Argentina resulted in its default as host on Sunday (30th).

Brazil hosted the last tournament in 2019 and is apparently ready to step in, despite enormous problems of its own with the virus. However, the government said it will host the games without spectators, which is how the Brazil’s league matches have been held successfully so far.

Even so, the tournament will have to be organized at warp speed; it has been noted that the Brazilian league schedule has – of course – not been halted for the Copa America, complicating stadium availability.

But if Brazil can pull this off, who needs bidding?

The implosion of the European Super League continues to reverberate, with FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta (ESP) telling the Associated Press last Friday that “we were not going to apologize and that we were not going to pay a fine that is unjustifiable. If they fine us, we will go to the [Court of Arbitration for Sport].”

Nine of the 12 clubs who were to be the core of the new program have agreed to a settlement with UEFA, the European soccer confederation. These include Italian clubs AC Milan and Inter Milan; Spanish clubs Atletico Madrid, and English Premier League clubs Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City.

FC Barcelona, Italy’s Juventus and Spain’s Real Madrid have not agreed to terms; the settlement with the nine clubs includes five percent of their 2022-23 European-competition prize money and a combined €15 million euros (~$18.34 million) to support youth football programs. UEFA filed disciplinary actions against the three outstanding clubs last week and the clubs have filed an action against UEFA and FIFA in Spain.

The U.S. Justice Department’s prosecution of corruption in FIFA continued with the finalization of a settlement with the Julius Baer banking group in Switzerland, which agreed to pay $79.71 million in restitution and fines.

The bank “admitted it transported, transmitted and transferred funds from February 2013 to May 2015 that it knew represented proceeds of unlawful activity and the transactions were designed in whole or in part to conceal ownership” from Latin American clients.

A one-time Julius Baer staff member, Jorge Arzuaga, pled guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy in June 2017 and forfeited $1,046,000 to the U.S. and Swiss governments.

● Ice Hockey ● The group stage has been completed in the IIHF men’s World Championship in Riga (LAT), with the U.S. winning its group and moving on to the quarterfinals.

The Americans won Group B with a 6-1 record and 18 points, losing only to defending champion Finland in its opening game, 2-1. The Finns had 17 points on four wins, two overtime wins and one overtime loss (4-2-1-0). The U.S. had the best goals-against total in the group at 21:8. Germany (12 points) and Canada (10) also advanced to the quarterfinals.

In Group A, Russia shut out Belarus, 6-0, on Tuesday to claim 17 points and win the group with a 5-1 and one overtime win (5-1-0-1) record. Switzerland was a surprise second with 15 points (5-2), followed by the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

The quarterfinals will start on 3 June, with Russia vs. Canada and Finland vs. Czech Republic in the upper bracket; the Swiss vs. Germany and the U.S. vs. Slovakia are in the lower bracket.

Peter Cehlarik (SVK) and Canadians Adam Henrique and Connor Brown are the top scorers in the tournament with nine points each; Nicklas Jensen (DEN) and Gregory Hofmann (SUI) lead with five goals apiece. American Cal Peterson (1.01 goals-against average) and Finn Harri Sateri (0.95) continue as the top goalies.

● Weightlifting ● On Friday (28th), the International Testing Agency asked for sanctions against the national federation of Vietnam in view of four athletes testing positive for prohibited steroid use. All four were suspended for four years.

The referral to the International Weightlifting Federation’s independent disciplinary panel should result in Vietnam’s ban for multiple years, including the Tokyo Games and possibly Paris 2024. Sanctions of up to four years are allowed in the IWF’s Anti-Doping Rules for 2021.

● At the BuZZer ● As if there wasn’t enough strife in the world, the Global Assembly of International Sports Federations (GAISF) announced that the next World Combat Games will be held in 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The event includes 15 combat and martial-arts sports, with the details to be announced later. First held in 2010 in Beijing (CHN), it was also held in 2013, but planned events for 2019 in Chinese Taipei and 2021 in Kazakhstan have not been held.

The listed sports for the event include Aikido, Arm wrestling, Boxing, Judo, Ju-jitsu, Karate, Kendo, Kickboxing, Muaythai, Sambo, Savate, Sumo, Taekwondo, Wrestling, and Wushu.

Given the sports involved, is security needed for the athletes at this event?

(Update: Thanks to sharp-eyed reader Brian Springer for catching two typographical errors!)

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LANE ONE: Naomi Osaka’s French Open withdrawal only the latest athlete vs. media mental-health train wreck; ask Michael Phelps

Rich Perelman

May 31, 2021

Tennis superstar Naomi Osaka of Japan withdrew from the French Open tennis tournament on Monday, declaring on Twitter, in part:

“The truth is that I have suffered long bouts of depression since [winning] the US Open in 2018 and I have had a really hard time coping with that. … Though the tennis press has always been kind to me (and I wanna apologize to all the cool journalists who I may have hurt), I am not a natural public speaker and get huge waves of anxiety before I speak to the world’s media. …

“I’m going to take some time away from the court now, but when the time is right I really want to work with the Tour to discuss ways we can make things better for the players, press and fans.”

Osaka, 23, announced last Wednesday (26th) that she would not be taking part in any press conferences during the French Open, including:

“I’ve often felt that people have no regard for athletes mental health and this very true whenever I see a press conference or partake in one. We’re [sic] 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 just not going to subject myself to people that doubt me.”

After a first-round, straight-set win on Sunday over Romanian Patricia Tig, she skipped the post-match news conference and was immediately reprimanded with a $15,000 fine and a warning from the organizers of the four Grand Slam tournaments – the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open – that included:

“Following the lack of engagement by Naomi Osaka, the Australian Open, Roland-Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open jointly wrote to her to check on her well-being and offer support, underline their commitment to all athletes’ well-being and suggest dialog on the issues. She was also reminded of her obligations, the consequences of not meeting them and that rules should equally apply to all players. …

“A core element of the Grand Slam regulations is the responsibility of the players to engage with the media, whatever the result of their match, a responsibility which players take for the benefit of the sport, the fans and for themselves. These interactions allow both the players and the media to share their perspective and for the players to tell their story. The facilitation of media to a broad array of channels, both traditional and digital, is a major contributor to the development and growth of our sport and the fan base of individual players. …

“We want to underline that rules are in place to ensure all players are treated exactly the same, no matter their stature, beliefs or achievement. As a sport there is nothing more important than ensuring no player has an unfair advantage over another, which unfortunately is the case in this situation if one player refuses to dedicate time to participate in media commitments while the others all honour their commitments.”

The 2021 Official Grand Slam Rulebook contains a specific section on media obligations:

“Unless injured and physically unable to appear, a player or team must attend the post-match media conference(s) organised immediately or within thirty (30) minutes after the conclusion of each match, including walkovers, whether the player or team was the winner or loser, unless such time is extended or otherwise modified by the Referee for good cause. In addition, all Main Draw players must participate, if requested, in a pre-event press conference to be arranged during the two days before the start of the Main Draw. All media obligations include, but are not limited to, interviews with the host and player’s national broadcaster.

“Violation of this Section shall subject a player to a fine up to $20,000.”

So the responsibilities are clear and Osaka decided to walk away. She is not the first to do so and won’t be the last, but her situation is increasingly uncommon:

● Michael Phelps, whose 28 Olympic medals (23-3-2) are the most in history, made headlines with his comments on depression. In a 2020 story posted on ESPN.com, Phelps told Wayne Drehs:

“Before the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, I shared my mental health issues publicly for the first time. It wasn’t easy to admit I wasn’t perfect. But opening up took a huge weight off my back. It made life easier. Now I’m opening up again. I want people to know they’re not alone. So many of us are fighting our mental health demons now more than ever. …

“I’ve done so many interviews after Rio where the story was the same: Michael Phelps opened up about depression, went into a treatment program, won gold in his last Olympics and now is all better. I wish that were the truth. I wish it were that easy. But honestly – and I mean this in the nicest way possible — that’s just ignorant. Somebody who doesn’t understand what people with anxiety or depression or post-traumatic stress disorder deal with has no idea.

“And really, to be blunt, the media is part of that. They dragged me through the dirt for everything I did wrong over the years – and trust me, I know there was plenty. I’m responsible for every mistake I’ve ever made. Nobody else. I’ve gotten help and I ended my career on a high note, so the nice neat story is to put me back on a pedestal. But here’s the reality: I won’t ever be ‘cured.’ This will never go away. It’s something where I’ve had to accept it, learn to deal with it and make it a priority in my life. And yes, that’s a hell of a lot easier said than done.” (Emphasis added)

● The latest cry for help from the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s “Team USA Council on Racial and Social Justice” is its Recommendations for Athlete Expression and Advocacy, released on 19 May.

Eight pages of recommendations exhort the USOPC to provide athletes with “the power to make meaningful change,” especially for “those from historically underrepresented, marginalized, or minoritized populations” and that the USOPC must make “continuous and systematic efforts.”

The core of the recommendations is this: if you are an athlete competing under the USOPC’s jurisdiction – that’s 50 national governing bodies covering Olympic and Paralympic summer sports and 11 more in winter sports – you are entitled to lifetime support:

“Athletes within the Olympic and Paralympic structure have articulated that they feel unprepared for their life after sports, ultimately continuing a strictly transactional relationship between members and the USOPC. Providing resources to athletes for their journey after sports turns a transactional relationship into a transformational one, thus increasing the success of Team USA athletes upon retiring from competition.”

This includes, according to Recommendation 1, “legal support for athletes facing discrimination and/or harassment in and beyond their athletic career” and “career training, professional development, and/or mental health services as needed (this list is not exhaustive).” Plus financial literacy, more contacts for jobs and – interestingly – media training, use of the USOPC’s platforms for athlete campaigns and – contra to Osaka – “more visibility” for the “athlete brand.”

According to the document, 58% of “Team USA respondents” to a survey – of which no details were disclosed – felt “unsupported, unprotected or devalued” after reporting an incident. So the recommendations state that the U.S. Center for SafeSport, founded by Federal statute in 2017 and funded by $20 million annually from the USOPC, is already insufficient:

“Some athletes do not feel sufficiently heard or protected by the current mechanism for reporting racial and sexual abuse, homophobic and ableist microaggressions. Thus, the USOPC should establish a parallel mechanism outside of SafeSport to which reports can be made and sanctions can be issued (or, if not possible, expand the current ethics and enforcement procedures/practices to include independent individuals/entities). This mechanism would create greater protections for athletes, improve transparency and tracking of reports, and give athletes an additional option for resolution.” (Emphasis added)

But nowhere in anything stated by Osaka, Phelps or the USOPC Racial and Social Justice Council is the core need for sports to grow their audiences, and by doing so, expand the money and exposure available to players. In the middle of the note to Osaka from the Grand Slam tournament organizers was this:

“The facilitation of media to a broad array of channels, both traditional and digital, is a major contributor to the development and growth of our sport and the fan base of individual players.”

Today’s millionaire players got that way because of fans. Period. End of story.

Fans buy tickets to matches, watch them on television and other devices, and in the U.S., create opportunities for online, radio and television advertisers to reach that fan base as well as enlist players in many sports to attract interest to their products and services. That’s sports economics in a nutshell.

No fans, no money. And it is because there are few, to very few, fans outside of the two weeks of the Olympic Games – winter and summer – for 90% of the sports on the Olympic program, that so many Olympic athletes find they are little known and little cared about after their careers end, even with a closet full of medals.

Osaka is at the other end of the scale, immensely rich and appreciated, but depressed about all the eyes on her after a match.

At the Olympic Games, a mixed zone concept that allowed athletes and media to meet informally after athletes exit the field of play came from track & field meets in the 1970s and was implemented in all sports at Los Angeles in 1984. No athlete had to talk; they could just breeze through the mixed zone on their way back to the post-event area. Those who wanted to talk could so, and most did, since they were usually ignored the rest of the time.

It was the stars who wanted to escape.

Osaka and Phelps worry about their personal, mental health. But what is their responsibility to their fellow athletes, who need their presence to draw new fans to the sport and keep it healthy, today and in the future?

From the media perspective, more athletes like Osaka will drive disinterest in their sports. Outside of an Olympic-related event such as the Olympic Trials, once-popular track & field receives barely any mention in U.S. news media. Swimming gets less and let’s not even talk about cycling, volleyball or wrestling. It is not hard to see tennis reporting reduced to their level in the future, with interest limited to the legacy Grand Slam events.

Is that what Osaka wants for tennis?

For the USOPC Racial and Social Justice Council, its eight-member “Athlete Voice and Advocacy” Steering Committee should get ready to be disappointed. The USOPC is so desperately underfunded – amid wide U.S. disinterest in almost all of its constituent sports between Games – that it will be difficult to offer more than a series of digital-only initiatives that will be smartly produced, but barely noticed, as a small tree in a forest of better-promoted, year-round sports on CBS, ESPN/ABC, FOX, Turner, NBC, the FloSports universe and many others.

It is not by accident that Wimbledon will finish 12 days before the Tokyo Games start, and that the Games will end on 8 August, with the start of the U.S. college football season just 20 days later. It is the Olympic Games that is the interloper, not the focus.

It will be fascinating to see if Osaka will be playing by then, and what she sees as her responsibility to others as well as herself.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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For our updated – as of 1 May – 506-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

HIGHLIGHTS: Bernal wins Giro d’Italia; Malone claims American javelin record; Jim Ryun’s U.S. junior 1,500 m mark falls to Kessler

Rich Perelman

May 30, 2021

tsx pix 2021-529 bernal, egan Giro S19 750 (giro) — Colombia's Egan Bernal - in the pink jersey - winner of the Giro d'Italia (Photo: Giro d'Italia)

Headline results of noteworthy competitions around the world/updated/:

● Archery ● USA Archery continued its Olympic Trials in Salt Lake City, Utah, to determine the top American archers eligible to go to Tokyo. According to the federation, “The U.S. has qualified only one men’s and one women’s spot for Tokyo so far, with one more chance to qualify full teams of three at the final qualification tournament in Paris next month.”

Stage 4 will continue through 1 June with elimination matches among the top eight remaining archers. World Champion Brady Ellison leads the men’s qualifying rankings so far with 133.00 points, ahead of Jack Williams (106.50), Jacob Wukie (95.00) and Thomas Stanwood (72.25).

The women’s leader is Casey Kaufhold (128.25) in a tight battle with Mackenzie Brown (112.25), but well ahead of Jennifer Mucino-Fernandez (85.75) and Erin Mickelberry (74.25).

● Artistic Swimming ● The fourth leg of the FINA World Series was held online, with videotaped submissions, and hosted by Canada Artistic Swimming.

The Solo Technical was won by Asaka Hosokawa (JPN: 82.2329), ahead of American Ruby Remati (82.0855) and Lara Mechnig (LIE: 80.8713). Canadian star Jacqueline Simoneau won the Solo Free (90.7000) over Anita Alvarez (USA: 87.0667) and Hosokawa (84.7333).

Americans won the Duet Technical with Alvarez and Lindi Schroeder (84.6649), over Uta Kobayashi and Ami Wada of Japan (85.5193). Alvarez and Schroeder won the Duet Free, scoring 86.3333, ahead of Spain’s Gema Arquero and Gabriela Fernandez (84.5000).

In the Team events, Belarus won the Team Technical (81.0866); Spain won the Free Combination (87.4333); the U.S. took the Team Free Final (89.0667) and Canada won the Team Highlight (87.9667).

The men’s Solo Technical was a win for Russian Alexander Maltsev (89.8282), with the Solo Free won by Jimma Iwasaki (JPN: 81.8667). The Mixed Duet Technical was a clear victory for Maltsev and Mayya Gurbanberdieva (89.8193); Maltsev and Olesia Platonova took the Duet Free at 92.4667.

● Athletics ● The NCAA Division I Preliminary Rounds in Jacksonville, Florida and College Station, Texas continued the hot competitions from the conference championships, breaking into the record books this time.

At College Station, Texas A&M freshman sensation Athing Mu claimed the collegiate women’s 400 m record at 49.68 – fourth on the 2021 world list – with a win at the NCAA Division I West Regionals in College Station, Texas.

Two women went sub-11 in the 100 m, with USC’s Twanisha Terry winning her quarterfinal in 10.89 (no. 5 in the world for 2021) and Kemba Nelson (Oregon/Jamaica) winning the first quarter at 10.98.

In the men’s 400 m, Texas A&M’s Bryce Deadmon (USA) led all qualifiers with a 44.57 win in the quarterfinals.

At Jacksonville, LSU’s Tonea Marshall (USA) screamed to a 12.44 win in the women’s 100 m hurdles to jump to no. 2 on the 2021 world list (and fastest in the U.S.), while Cambria Sturgis (USA/North Carolina A&T) won her women’s 100 m quarterfinal in 10.92.

Tamara Clark (Alabama/USA) won her quarterfinal of the women’s 200 m in 22.13, no. 3 on the 2021 world list. North Carolina A&T’s Trevor Stewart (USA) won the first round men’s 400 at 44.55, moving to fourth on the 2021 world list (teammate Randolph Ross (USA) won an earlier heat at 44.63), and ran a 43.69 anchor on the school’s world-leading 4×400 m relay win (2:59.21). Stewart won the first quarterfinal at 44.59, with Ross taking the second at 44.86.

The USATF Chula Vista Field Festival had world leads, American records and a lot more:

● Maggie Malone grabbed the American Record in the women’s javelin, winning at 66.82 m (219-3) on her third throw. That’s a 10-foot PR, and displaces Kara Winger and her 66.67 m (218-8) toss in 2010. Malone is now no. 2 on the world list for 2021.

● Nigeria’s Ese Brume claimed the world lead in the women’s long jump with a win over 2012 Olympic champ Brittney Reese of the U.S. at 7.17 m (23-6 1/4), to 7.10 m wind-aided (23-3 1/2w) for Reese.

● Vashti Cunningham (USA) took the outdoor world lead in the women’s high jump, clearing a lifetime best 2.02 m (6-7 1/2) and no. 4 on the all-time U.S. list.

The men’s long jump was hot as well, with Rio 2016 Olympic champ Jeff Henderson leaping to no. 3 on the 2021 world list at 8.39 m (27-6 1/2), ahead of fellow Americans Marquis Dendy (8.29 m/27-2 1/2) and Corey Crawford (also 8.29 m).

One of the fastest 1,500 m races in U.S. history was at the Portland Track Festival on Saturday, with six men running sub-3:35, led by a lifetime best for Craig Engels (USA) at 3:33.64, just ahead of Charlie Grice (GBR: 3:33.82), Jake Heyward (GBR: 3:33.99 PR) and American Henry Wynne (3:34.08 PR) in fourth.

Michigan prep star Hobbs Kessler (Ann Arbor Skyline) was fifth in a fabulous 3:34.36, shattering the high school record of Alan Webb of 3:38.26 from 2001 and the U.S. Junior Record of Jim Ryun (3:36.1) from 1966!

Donavan Brazier won the 800 m in 1:45.09, ahead of Jesus Lopez (MEX: 1:45.14) and Emmanuel Korir (KEN: 1:45.74). Grant Fisher of the U.S. won the 5,000 m in 13:19.52.

The women’s 800 m was a lifetime best for Canada’s Gabriela DeBues-Stafford (1:58.70), over Americans Sabrina Southerland (lifetime best 1:58.82), Kate Grace (1:59.04), Chanelle Price (1:59.12) and Cory McGee (1:59.17). American Elise Cranny won the 1,500 m in a lifetime best of 4:02.62, beating Dani Jones (4:04.26 PR) and Canada’s Natalia Hawthorn (4:04.47 PR).

/Update/ Sunday’s late meets included the Pure Summer Invitational in Clermont, Florida, where Isiah Young continues his charge into contention for the U.S. team in Tokyo, winning the men’s 100 m in 9.89 over Noah Lyles (10.05) and 17-year-old Jaylen Slade (10.09). That’s a lifetime best for Young and puts him no. 2 on the world list for 2021.

Trinidad & Tobago’s Machel Cedenio won the men’s 400 m at 45.37, but look who was second: 34-year-old LaShawn Merritt, in 45.45, his fastest since 2017!

The annual multi-event festival in Gotzis, Austria saw not just a world-leader in the decathlon, but one of the greatest competitions ever, as Canada’s Damian Warner ran away with the event and scored 8,995 points.

That’s a national record and the fifth-highest score in history. Only three others have scored more: world-record holder Kevin Mayer (FRA: 9,126), Ashton Eaton of the U.S. (twice over 9,000) and Roman Seberle (CZE).

Warner won his sixth Gotzis gold and set a first-day scoring record with 4,743 points, including a Canadian national record in the long jump at 8.28 m (27-2). He also won the 100 m (10.14), co-led the high jump (2.09 m/6-10 1/4). He was second in the 400 m at 47.90.

Warner then opened the second day with a world decathlon best of 13.36 in the 110 m hurdles, and then won the discus (48.43 m/158-10). He cleared 4.80 m (15-9) in the vault and threw the spear 59.46 m (195-1) before winning the 1,500 m in 4:25.19.

Warner now owns world decathlon bests for the 100 m (10.12), long jump (8.28 m/27-2) and the 110 m hurdles (13.36).

Fellow Canadian Pierce LePage was second with a big lifetime best of 8.534, followed by lifetime bests for Thomas van der Plaetsen (BEL: 8,430) and Vitaliy Zhuk (BLR: 8,331).

The women’s heptathlon was also a world-leading performance, this time for Xenia Krizsan of Hungary, who scored 6,651 to best Anouk Vetter (NED: 6,536) and Kendell Williams of the U.S. (6,383).

American Annie Kunz led after day one at 3,897, but had three fouls in the long jump and did not continue.

At the European Team Championships Super League in Poland, Germany’s Johannes Vetter continued his assault on the all-time javelin list, reaching 94.24 m (309-2) in the first round – the ninth-farthest throw in history – and then a sensational 96.29 m (315-11) – no. 3 ever! – in the second round.

Vetter has now thrown past 90 m (295-3) in five straight meets; he and world-record holder Jan Zelezny (CZE) now own the top 12 throws ever, with six apiece. Vetter now has 25 career throws beyond 90 m. Wow!

On Saturday, a new contender in the 800 m emerged with Elias Ngeny winning the Kenyan Pre-Trials meet in a world-leading 1:43.84, shortly after Wyclife Kinyamal’s 1:43.91 winner at the Diamond League meet in Doha. Hillary Biwott was second in 1:44.80.

More world leaders are popping up everywhere, with two in Havana, where Jordan Diaz took the men’s outdoor triple jump lead at 17.46 m (57-3 1/2) on 21 May, and women’s discus star Yaime Perez threw 68.99 m (226-4) the next day.

American women’s vault star Katie Nageotte took the world lead on 23 May in a meet in Marietta, Georgia at 4.93 m (16-2), moving her to no. 6 in world history and no. 3 in U.S. history.

● Basketball ● FIBA ‘s 3×3 Olympic Qualifier in Graz, Austria offered three tickets to Tokyo for the men’s and women’s medal winners, with the U.S. women advancing to the Games and the U.S. men eliminated.

The men’s tournament started with the U.S. as the reigning 3×3 World Cup champions from 2019, but with only half of its roster returning, in Robbie Hummel and Kareem Maddox. The Americans won their pool, but were eliminated in the quarterfinals in the playoffs, beaten by the Netherlands by 21-16. The Dutch then secured their place in Tokyo with a 21-13 semifinal win over France, while Poland edged Latvia, 20-18, in the other semi. Latvia took third by beating France, 21-15, in the third-place game.

The Netherlands and Poland moved on, while the U.S. will stay home. Its team was made up of non-current NBA players who were college stars:

● Robbie Hummel: Purdue, for Minnesota in the NBA, and elsewhere
● Dominique Jones: South Florida, played for a dozen pro teams (NBA and elsewhere)
● Joey King: Minnesota, professionally in Finland
● Kareem Maddox: Princeton, professionally in England and the Netherlands

In contrast, the U.S. women’s team featured four current WNBA players:

● Kelsey Plum: WNBA Las Vegas
● Allisha Gray: WNBA Dallas
● Katie Lou Samuelson: WNBA Seattle
● Stefanie Dolson: WNBA Chicago

The American women won their pool games by 21-7, 22-5, 21-17 and 21-12, then beat Belarus in the quarterfinals (21-10) and Spain, 21-13, in the semifinals vs. Spain. France defeated Japan, 15-14 in the other semifinal (France goes to Tokyo), while Japan defeated Spain, 20-18 in the third-place game, to qualify for Tokyo (home team not reserved a place in 3×3 basketball).

Interesting how the WNBA allowed its players to compete, but not the NBA.

● Beach Volleyball ● Americans Sara Sponcil and Kelly Claes picked a good time to win their first FIVB World Tour event at the Sochi 4-star in Russia, defeating Swiss stars Tanja Huberli and Nina Betschart, 21-19, 21-17 on Saturday.

The victory gave the U.S. pair their fourth World Tour medal and first gold after two silvers and a bronze. But it also moved them into a fight with Brooke Sweat and Kerri Walsh Jennings for the second U.S. spot at the Tokyo Games. The latter pair did not make it out of their group and the top-ranked pair between the two sides will go to Tokyo. There are two FIVB 4-star tournaments left before the Games.

The top-seeded pair coming in, Russians Nadezda Makroguzova and Svetlana Kholomina, also won their fourth World Tour medal together, defeating Anastasija Kravcenoka and Tina Graudina (LAT), 21-18, 21-11, for the bronze medal.

The men’s tournament belonged to Poland’s Piotr Kantor and Bartosz Losiak, who disposed of Italy’s Adrian Carambula and Enrico Rossi in the semis (25-23, 21-16), then out-lasted Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan (QAT) in the final by 17-21, 23-21, 15-10. It was the fifth final of the year for the Qataris and their third silver.

For Kantor and Losiak – seeded 18th – it was their third career World Tour win, but their first medal on the circuit since 2018!

Christiaan Varenhorst and Steven van de Velde (NED) won the bronze over Carambula and Rossi in three sets: 21-16, 26-28, 15-9.

● Cycling ● The challengers tried, but could not knock out Colombia’s Egan Bernal, who added the 104th Giro d’Italia to his resume on Sunday, to go with his 2019 Tour de France championship.

Bernal took control of the race after winning the ninth stage and never let go, winning the difficult climbing Stage 16 and falling back just a little the next day. He faced two determined challenges on the rough climbing stages on Friday and Saturday, but was equal to the task.

Stage 19 was a 166 km route with three major climbs and an uphill finish to the Alpe di Mera in Valsesia. Britain’s Simon Yates, standing third (+3:23) at the start of the day, attacked with 5.5 km remaining and managed to win the stage in 4:02:55 over Joao Almeida (POR: +0:11), but with Bernal staying close in third (+0:28) and still adding to his lead over second-place Damiano Caruso (ITA: +0:32).

That left Bernal up by 2:29 over Caruso and 2:49 over Yates.

On Saturday, another triple climb ended at the Alpe Motta after 164 km, with Caruso breaking away in the last two kilometers from France’s Romain Bardet to win in 4:27:53, but with Bernal second, just 24 seconds behind and countryman Daniel Felipe Martinez third (+0:35) and Bardet fourth. Yates was sixth (+0:51) and so lost time to the leader.

The results saw Bernal standing 1:59 clear of Caruso, 3:23 up on Yates and 7:07 ahead of Russian Aleksandr Vlasov, with only Sunday’s 30.3 km time trial from Senago to Milan remaining.

The final-day time trial held no surprises, with World Champion Filippo Ganna (ITA) winning in 33:48, with Remi Cavagna (FRA) second in 34:00 and Edoardo Affini (ITA: 34:01) third. Bernal finished 24th, some 1:53 behind the winner, but took the overall title by 1:29 over Caruso, 4:15 over Yates and 6:40 over Vlasov.

At just 24, Bernal has won the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia and will try for the career Grand Tour sweep at the Vuelta a Espana in August. He stands to win a lot more of these before he is finished.

Bogota, Colombia was the site for the third and fourth legs of the BMX Supercross World Cup for 2021, with races on both Saturday and Sunday.

This was a big weekend for France’s Joris Daudet, who won the opener in 32.694, ahead of Cedric Butti (SUI: 33.143) and Latvia’s Helvijs Babris (33.823). He came back to take Sunday’s race, winning in 32.663, beating Carlos Ramirez (COL: 33.358) and French countryman Arthur Pilard (33.585).

The first women’s race was a 1-2 finish for Colombia, with star Mariana Pajon taking the win (36.474) by daylight in front of teammate Gabriela Bolle Carrillo (38.060) with Russian Maria Afremova third (38.197). American Payton Ridenour was fourth (38.794).

Pajon doubled up on Sunday, winning again by more than a second from Ridenour, 36.244-37.400, with Afremova third again (37.744).

This was the last BMX Supercross for a while; the season won’t continue until October, with four more rounds of races in Sakarya, Turkey!

● Football ● The U.S. men’s National Team provided another desultory performance against a quality opponent with a 2-1 loss to world no. 13 Switzerland in a friendly at St. Gallen (SUI).

The American side started well, with Sebastien Lleget taking advantage of a Swiss defensive breakdown in the fifth minute for a 1-0 lead, firing a left-footed shot from the center of the box. But the advantage was short-lived as a Ricardo Rodriguez shot deflected off of American defender Reggie Cannon and past keeper Ethan Horvath for a 1-1 tie. That’s the way the first half ended, with the U.S. holding a 7-2 edge in shots and surviving a bad penalty shot by Rodriguez in the 42nd minute that missed the goal completely.

But the U.S. defense was compromised time and again in the second half, and a bad clearance in the 63rd minute allowed Steven Zuber to connect from the left side of the box, beating Horvath for a 2-1 lead.

Switzerland had several more excellent chances, and the U.S. offense sputtered. The game ended with the Swiss with a 55-45 possession advantage and each side had 11 shots.

The U.S. men are now 1-4-4 all-time against Switzerland and 1-2-2 on Swiss soil.

● Gymnastics ● The Artistic World Challenge Cup in Varna (BUL) was a tune-up opportunity for mostly European competitors before Tokyo. Ukraine’s Ilia Kovtun, the 2021 European All-Around bronze medalist, won the Pommel Horse (14.550) and Parallel Bars (15.100), the only men’s double winner.

Tin Srbic (CRO), the 2017 World High Bar champ, won his specialty at 14.850, and Austria’s Vinzenz Hock took the Rings (14.800). Croatia’s Aurel Benovic, the 2020 European Floor silver medalist, won the Floor with 14.950 over Israel’s Artem Dolgopyat (also 14.950).

The women’s event winners included Anastasiia Bachynska (UKR) on Beam (13.250), France’s Coline Devillard on Vault (14.150), Dildora Aripova (UZB) on Floor (13.150) and Uliana Perebinosova (RUS) on Uneven Bars (14.500).

The FIG Rhythmic World Cup was in Pesaro, Italy, with a good look at what the Olympic final in Tokyo might look like, headed by Russia’s Averina sisters.

Three-time World All-Around winner Dina Averina scored 108.800 points to win the All-Around, followed by Arina Averina (106.475) and Alina Harnasko (BLR: 105.150). Israel’s Linoy Ashram was fourth (103.950) and American Laura Zeng was seventh (96.425).

In Sunday’s Apparatus finals, Dina Averina won in Hoop (26.900), with Ashram second (26.850) and Arina Averina third (26.800). Arina got the golds in Clubs (28.800) and Ribbon (24.700), and was third in Ball (28.300).

Dina also won medals in Ball (second), Clubs (third) and Ribbon (second). Ashram won in Ball (28.550) and was second in Clubs (28.600). All together, the Averinas won 10 of the 15 medals awarded in Pesaro.

● Ice Hockey ● Round-robin play is almost complete at the IIHF men’s World Championship in Riga, Latvia with Switzerland, Russia and Slovakia leading Group A and Finland and the U.S. the best so far on Group B.

The Swiss and Slovakians are 4-2 this far and Russia is 4-1, so all three teams have 12 points each. Finland, the reigning World Champion, is 4-0 in regulation games, plus one overtime win and one overtime loss (15 points). The U.S. has 12 points, from a 4-1 record, including a 2-1 opening loss to the Finns. The Americans will play Germany (3-2) on Monday in its final group-stage game.

The top four teams in each group advance to the quarterfinals, beginning on 3 June. The medal games will be on 6 June.

The scoring leader so far is Peter Cehlarik, currently playing in Sweden’s professional league, who has 8 points (3 goals + 5 assists), ahead of Swiss Niklas Jensen (7: 4+3) and Roman Starchenko (KAZ: 7: 3+4). Finnish goalie Harri Sateri is the top keeper so far, giving up only one goal – to the U.S. – in 125 minutes so far.

● Sport Climbing ● The second of two IFSC World Cups in Salt Lake City, Utah included both Bouldering and Speed events, including new world marks for Speed!

Indonesia’s Katibin Kiromal won the men’s semifinal round in 5.258, the best on record for a 15 m event, shredding the four-year-old mark of 5.48 by Iran’s Reza Alipour from 2017.

That didn’t last long, as teammate Veddriq Leonardo ripped up the wall in a stunning 5.208 to win the event and grab the world mark for himself, while Kiromal fell in the final and had to settle for second. Poland’s Marcin Dzienski was third and American John Brosler fourth.

The women’s Speed winner, Poland’s Alexsandra Miroslaw, won her fifth career World Cup title, winning in 7.382 in the final over American Emma Hunt, 18, who managed 7.539, but won the first-ever World Cup women’s Speed medal for the U.S. Miho Nonaka (JPN) was third, ahead of Patrycja Chudziak (POL).

/Update/ Sunday’s Bouldering competition was a good one for the home team, as American teen Natalia Grossman scored her second straight World Cup victory. She edged Olympic favorite Janja Garnbret with 4 tops and 4 zones, to Garnbret’s 3 tops and 4 zones. American Brooke Raboutou was third (3T4Z).

The men’s final produced another shocker, as American Sean Bailey won his first-ever World Cup, climbing to 2 tops and 4 zones to best Japanese stars Kokoro Fujii (1T4Z) and two-time World Champion Tomoa Narasaki (1T3Z). American Zach Galla was fifth (0T1Z).

● Swimming ● Remember this name: Summer McIntosh. The Canadian 14-year-old won a Toronto High Performance meet time trial last week in the women’s 400 m Freestyle in 4:05.13, believed to be one of fastest – if not the fastest – ever for that age.

It moves her to no. 2 all-time on the Canadian list and is a bit faster than American superstar Katie Ledecky at the same stage. The latter swam 4:05.00 just after her 15th birthday at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Earlier in May, McIntosh also set Canadian age-group records in the 200 m Free (1:57.65), 800 m Free (8:35.30), and 1500 m Free (16:15.19). Wow.

● Wrestling ● The United States, as expected, dominated the Pan American Championships held in Guatemala City, Guatemala, taking the team titles in the men’s and women’s Freestyle divisions and Greco-Roman:

/Update/ In men’s Freestyle, the U.S. pulled off an almost unbelievable sweep of all 10 weight classes, finishing the team scoring with a perfect 250 points. The champions: Vito Arujau (57 kg), Shelton Mack (61 kg), Joey McKenna (65 kg), Alec Pantaleo (70 kg), Kyle Dake (74 kg), Tommy Gantt (79 kg), David Taylor (86 kg), Nate Jackson (92 kg), Kyle Snyder (97 kg) and Gable Steveson at 125 kg.

Canada ended up second, at 116 points, with three silver medals.

The superb U.S. women’s Freestylers won nine of 10 weight classes, with gold-medal performances from Sarah Hildebrandt (50 kg), Ronna Heaton (53 kg), Jacarra Winchester (55 kg), Maya Nelson (59 kg), Kayla Miracle (62 kg), Jennifer Rogers Page (65 kg), Tamyra Mensah-Stock (68 kg), Alexandria Glaude (72 kg) and Adeline Gray (76 kg). Hildebrandt won her sixth Pan-American title, while Mensah-Stock won her fourth.

The U.S. also overwhelmed the field in Greco-Roman, winning five of the nine titles and finishing second in the other four. The champions included Xavier Johnson (67 kg), Jamel Johnson (72 kg), Peyton Walsh (77 kg), Ben Provisor (82 kg) and John Stefanowicz (87 kg).

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ATHLETICS: Hot weather in Doha leads to six world-leading marks, including 44.27 win for U.S.’s Michael Norman

Rich Perelman

May 28, 2021

tsx pix 2021-528 diamomd league 400 m 750 — Race of the day: Michael Norman wins the 400 m in Doha, with Anthony Zambrano (COL), Fred Kerley (USA) and Kirani James (GRN) fighting for second (Photo: Wanda Diamond League)

The gloomy, cold conditions in England gave way to bright, dry skies and 99-degree temperatures for the second Diamond League meet of 2021 at the Qatar Sports Club in Doha on Friday. And the performances were as hot as the weather, with six world-leading marks, with four by Kenyans:

● Men/400 m: 44.27, Michael Norman (USA)
● Men/800 m: 1:43.91, Wyclife Kinyamal (KEN)
● Men/1,500 m: 3:30.48, Timothy Cheruiyot (KEN)
● Women/3,000 m: 8:27.49, Beatrice Chebet (KEN)
● Women/Steeple: 9:00.67, Norah Jeruto (KEN)
● Women/Pole Vault: 4.84 m (15-10 1/2), Katie Nageotte (USA) and Sandi Morris (USA)

A fast men’s 400 m was expected with superstars Norman, Fred Kerley (USA) and 2012 Olympic champ Kimani James (GRN) on the line. Norman and Kerley were out strongly and were 1-2 into the home straight, but then Colombia’s Anthony Zambrano came up to challenge and got second at the line (44.57) while Norman won in a world-leading 44.27. Kerley was third (44.60) and James fourth (44.61) in a blanket finish. It was Norman’s sixth-fastest time ever.

In the men’s 800 m, Kimyalal took the lead on the final turn and outsprinted the fast-closing Ferguson Rotich (KEN: 1:44.45) and Britain’s Daniel Rowden (1:44.60). In the 1,500 m, Cheruiyot was second at the bell with Ethiopia’s Sam Tefera, but covered the last lap in 56.4 to run away from the field. Australia’s Stewart McSweyn was second (3:31.57) and Steeple star Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR) was third in a lifetime best of 3:31.95. Tefera finished fourth (3:32.52).

Chebet won the women’s 3,000 m on the final straight, passing fellow Kenyan star Hellen Obiri; Margaret Kipkemboi was second (8:28.27) while Obiri fell to fourth (8:33.98).

The women’s Steeple saw Kenyan stars Norah Jeruto and Hyvin Kiyeng leading for much of the race, but Jeruto took the lead for good on the final lap, with Ethiopia’s Mekides Abebe passing Kiyeng (who stumbled on the final water jump) on the way to a national record of 9:02.52. Winfried Yavi (BRN: 9:02.64) came up for third, with Kiyeng fourth (9:07.58) and American Emma Coburn fifth (9:08.22).

In the vault, Nageotte was the winner based on a perfect record through 4.84 m, while Morris missed twice at lower heights. Neither could clear 4.90 m (16-0 3/4).

American Ken Bednarek won the Diamond League opener in Gateshead in 20.33 and was supremely confident coming into Doha, and with good reason. In much warmer weather, he won in 19.88, just ahead of Canada’s Andre De Grasse (19.89) with Aaron Brown (CAN: 20.25) third. Liberia’s Emmanuel Matadi (20.45) and Justin Gatlin of the U.S. (20.49) went 4-5. Bednarek’s 19.88 moves him to equal-2nd on the 2021 world list, with De Grasse now fourth.

The men’s 400 m hurdles was another showcase for American Rai Benjamin, already the world leader, who cruised to an impressive win in 47.38, the second-best mark in the world for 2021. He had little trouble with contenders like Alison dos Santos (BRA: 47.57, lifetime best and national record), Kyron McMaster (IVB: 47.82) and Abderrahman Samba (QAT: 48.26). American Kenny Selmon was fifth in 49.03.

Home favorite Mutaz Essa Barshim (QAT) looked like a winner in the men’s high jump, cruising over the first four bars, including 2.30 m (7-6 1/2). But world leader Ilya Ivanyuk (RUS) cleared 2.33 m (7-7 3/4) on his first try and Barshim could not match him, missing once at 2.33 m and twice at 2.36 m (7-8 3/4).

The men’s shot featured New Zealand star Tom Walsh – wearing a uniform asking for sponsorship and reading “Space for Rent” on the front – who “won” by having the best throw of 21.63 m (70-11 3/4) in the final round. The best mark of the day, however, was by Serb Armin Sinancevic at 21.88 m (71-9 1/2) in the fifth round. But he fouled in the sixth-round “throw-off” and was officially classified in third place.

The women’s 100 m was supposed to feature world leader Sha’Carri Richardson of the U.S. and Jamaica’s two-time Olympic 100 m champ Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, but Richardson did not show. No difference to Fraser-Pryce, who ran away with the race in 10.84, moving her to no. 3 on the 2021 world list (wind: +1.1 m/s). Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare was second (10.90) ahead of American Javianne Oliver (11.03). Americans Hannah Cunliffe (11.22) and Kiara Parker (11.26) finished 5-6.

Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon, the reigning Olympic 1,500 m champion, won the women’s 800 m with the no. 2 time of 2021: 1:58.26. She took the lead with 200 m to go and raced in ahead of Jamaica’s Natalya Goule (1:59.70) and Morocco’s Rababe Arabe (1:59.83).

World leader and Olympic favorite Yulimar Rojas won the women’s triple jump at 15.15 m (49-8 1/2) in the first round and then jumped 15.11 m (49-7) in round six as well. American Keturah Orji was fifth (14.37 m/47-1 3/4).

American record holder Valarie Allman posted an impressive “win” in the women’s discus … except that she finished second. Allman had the best throw of the day, 65.57 m (215-1), in the fourth round, but in the Diamond League’s oddball sixth-round throw-off among the top three, was second. She threw 58.58 m (192-2), behind 2019 World Champion Yaime Perez (CUB: 61.35 m/201-3), but ahead of reigning Olympic champ Sandra Perkovic (CRO), who fouled. In the regular competition, Perez had a best of 63.75 m (209-2) and Perkovic reached 63.60 m (208-8). Good work by Allman.

Next up will be the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea in Florence (ITA) on 10 June.

THE TICKER: Tokyo 2020 status now a circus; AIBA vaporizes $10 million debt; Belarus flag removed from ice hockey worlds amid protests

Rich Perelman

May 28, 2021

tsx pix 2021-414 olympic rings at mt takao — The Olympic Rings (and a friend) at Mt. Takao outside of Tokyo (Photo: Tokyo 2020)

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

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● The International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 organizers have no doubt that the Tokyo Games will, in fact, open on 23 July, but outside groups continue to complain, moan and groan. On Wednesday, SportBusiness.com reported that organizing committee chief executive Toshiro Muto told reporters:

“‘There has been some feedback pertaining to potential cancellation or postponement, but nobody has explicitly mentioned that we should cancel or postpone the Games,’ he said. ‘Rather, the board members mentioned that Tokyo 2020 has come this far and things are being properly managed. We need to communicate that to the Japanese people.’”

Also on Wednesday, the Asahi Shimbun, a major daily newspaper and one of a half-dozen Tokyo 2020 newspaper sponsors, posted an editorial headlined “Prime Minister Suga, please call off the Olympics this summer” and including:

“Of course, there is always the possibility of everything turning out fine. But staging the Olympics requires multiple layers of risk-minimizing preparations that must function properly.

“If problems arise because of hasty decisions, made even though the preparations were known to be insufficient, who should, or can, take responsibility?

“The organizers must understand that gambling is not an option.”

In its report, The Associated Press noted why the call to cancel is subject to scrutiny: “Asahi is typically liberal-leaning and often opposes the ruling party led by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.” Said Muto later on Wednesday:

“Different news organisations have different perspectives on matters and that is very natural given their role in society. With regard to our [other] partners, they are giving us their commitment in continuing to support the Games.”

In the meantime, Nippon Professional Baseball league games played during the current emergency conditions on Thursday showed 4,879 in attendance at the Meiji Jingu Stadium in Tokyo as Yakult defeated the Nippon Ham Fighters, 5-2, and 8,953 at the Tokyo Dome as Rakuten beat the Yomiuri Giants, 2-0.

On Thursday, the European Union announced a major vaccine relief effort for Japan at the conclusion of an online summit meeting, promising 100 million vaccine doses for the country as a direct step toward supporting the Games.

Another wild economic projection was released on Tuesday, with the Nomura Research Institute suggesting the possible loss from a cancellation of the Games would be about $16 billion, or one-third of one percent of Japanese Gross Domestic Product from 2020.

The continuing state of emergency in Tokyo and other prefectures has had a much greater impact on the economy than any issues related to the Games.

The U.S. Department of State issued a travel advisory on Wednesday that Americans should not travel to Japan, but it was also explained:

“The advisory is based on a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notice that was triggered when Japan met the criteria that its current coronavirus incidence rate reached more than 100 new cases per 100,000 people over the past 28 days.”

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee issued a statement noting:

“We have been made aware of the updated State Department advisory as it relates to Japan. We feel confident that the current mitigation practices in place for athletes and staff by both the USOPC and the Tokyo Organizing Committee, coupled with the testing before travel, on arrival in Japan, and during Games time, will allow for safe participation of Team USA athletes this summer.”

● World Anti-Doping Agency ● The long-awaited delivery of the “dried blood spot” technology for doping tests is getting closer, as the WADA Executive Committee approved the technical specifications for the new process.

This new testing program will begin on 1 September of this year and has multiple benefits, including easy sample collection (e.g. finger or upper arm prick); less invasive methods than current urine and blood collection and therefore, a better athlete experience; the test requires only a very small volume of blood; less expensive collection and transport of samples; less space needed to store samples; and possible benefits with regards to sample stability.

Following up on the multiple cases of positive doping tests due to the ingestion of meat that contains prohibited substances, WADA also approved new technical standards “to provide guidance on the management of clenbuterol cases and to assess the risks of contaminants appearing in natural and unprocessed foodstuffs, in particular with meat in certain regions of the world.”

On Russian sanctions: “In the lead-up to the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, WADA’s Legal Affairs Department and independent Intelligence and Investigations Department are focusing all their energy to prevent athletes or athlete support personnel who were identified as part of Operation LIMS from participating in the Games.”

● Athletics ● Greek long jumper Miltiadis Tentoglou took the world lead with a stunning win at 8.60 m (28-2 3/4) win in a meet at Kallithea (GRE) on Wednesday (26th).

His prior outdoor best had been 8.32 m (27-3 3/4) from 2019, but his new mark places him no. 16 on the all-time list. Amazingly, it’s not a national record, as Louis Tsatoumas reached 8.66 m (28-5) back in 2007!

On Tuesday, the USATF Invitational at Prairie View A&M was truncated by rain and lightning, but not before some good marks were recorded. Rachel McCoy won the women’s high jump with a lifetime best (and Olympic qualifying height) of 1.96 m (6-5), while Morgan LeLeux won the women’s vault at 4.60 m (15-1).

The men’s vault was moved indoors and Chris Nilsen won at 5.90 m (19-4 1/4), with Kyle Pater second at 5.80 m (19-0 1/4).

The Wanda Diamond League opener in Gateshead (GBR) last Sunday (23rd) will be remembered as much for the windy, rainy and difficult conditions as for the competition. Said women’s triple jump winner Shanieka Ricketts of Jamaica: “It was brutal. I am just so happy I didn’t end up injured.”

The one person who wasn’t freaked out by the weather was Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who won the men’s 1,500 m in 3:36.27:

“This is normal weather back in the west coast of Norway. It’s really tricky to run fast in these conditions and it turned out to be a tactical race. Today really didn’t have anything to do with the times, racing in these conditions, because all of a sudden if you get a sudden gust of wind then everything is ruined.

“I feel that spectators are eager to see some athletics live and they’re really cheering us which helps push us further. We needed to race to prepare ourselves for Tokyo.”

Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis settled for second in the men’s vault and summed up the feelings of most of the athletes: “It wasn’t ideal, but what can you do about it? I’m ok, I’m healthy, that’s the main thing.”

On the other hand, American Sam Kendricks – the vault winner at 5.74 m (18-10) – was all smiles:

“That was the most fun I have had all year! You had people, you had rainy conditions and we all had a good old rousing time out there. …

“I haven’t beaten Mondo since the [2019] World Championships but I would never aspire to say we are on an even footing – but he is on another level but perhaps the conditions brought us to the same level. I just need to be consistent and to be consistent on a rainy day as I am on a sunny day. That may be my only chance, but he is too good, too talented.”

Fellow American Kenny Bednarek, the men’s 200 m winner (20.33) left full of confidence:

“I feel happy with my performance; I am in a really good place at this point in the season. I am heading back after Doha for the U.S. trials and I have some things to work on now. I believe the only thing that will stop me making the team is me.”

World Athletics announced approval of 23 Russian athletes – including eight race walkers – to compete as neutrals, bringing the 2021 total to 27.

The list included 2019 World Championships medal winners Vasily Mizinov (men’s 20 km walk silver) and Mikhail Akimenko (men’s high jump silver), plus 2017 Worlds medalist Valeriy Pronkin (men’s hammer silver).

The statement also noted: “Council agreed that for the remainder of 2021, no more than 10 Russian athletes will be granted eligibility to compete as authorised neutral athletes at any championship competition, including the Tokyo Olympic Games, World Athletics Series events and the 2021 European U23 Championships.”

The lowlight of the 19 May Golden Spike meet in Ostrava (CZE) was the right Achilles rupture suffered by Olympic and World Champion triple jumper Christian Taylor. He was on Twitter a few days later:

“I strive to lead, inspire, motivate, encourage, challenge, and entertain. You all have shown me that my career has been more than merely jumping in a sandbox and for that I dry my eyes and push forward. My Olympic dream has been lost but my purpose remains. Thank YOU for that.”

He is now pointing for a recovery in time for the 2022 World Championships in Eugene.

● Badminton ● The Badminton World Federation met online last Saturday (22nd) and considered a major change in scoring that was very narrowly refused by the membership.

The proposal was to change match scoring from three sets to 21 points to five sets to 11 points, similar to that used for table tennis. Per the BWF announcement:

“The proposal put forward by the Indonesian Badminton Association and the Badminton Association of Maldives, and seconded by Badminton Asia, Badminton Korea Association and Chinese Taipei Badminton Association, received 66.31% for and 33.69% against, falling just short of the two-thirds majority required.”

That means it passed, 187-95, falling literally one vote short of passage. Said BWF President Paul-Erik Hoyer (DEN):

“While the proposed scoring system change has been part of my vision to make badminton more exciting and to increase the entertainment value for stakeholders and fans, this will not deter us from continuing our efforts to increase excellence in badminton for all concerned in line with our Strategic Plan 2020-2024.”

Hoyer was re-elected unopposed, so look for the scoring issues to come up again.

● Boxing ● The plagued-by-debt International Boxing Association (AIBA) stunningly announced on Wednesday that it “has paid in full its outstanding $10 million USD debt to Azerbaijani company Benkons LLC, which was the main loan for the organization and which had been at the heart of a period of financial instability, as well as other existed debts from the past. The biggest loan had been part of an unsuccessful venture, the World Series of Boxing.

“The settlement of the loan marks the fulfillment of an election promise by AIBA President Umar Kremlev to return the International Federation to financial stability. It is accompanied by a $7 million round of development funding which will see grants issued to National Federations (NFs) and continental Confederations.”

Where did $17 million come from? The notice specifically mentions AIBA’s new, “significant sponsorship” from the Russian energy giant Gazprom and commented:

“AIBA hopes its settlement and the resulting stability will now prove to be a significant step towards resolving the IOC’s concerns.”

Kremlev, formerly the Secretary General of the Russian Boxing Federation before being elected as AIBA President, has apparently cleared AIBA’s debt issues, but the IOC’s monitoring committee will be asking questions about exactly what the relationship with Gazprom is about.

● Cycling ● Colombian star Egan Bernal already owns a Tour de France victory from 2019 and appears to be on his way to a second Grand Tour title after his Stage 16 win in the 104th Giro d’Italia.

Monday’s route was originally set for more than 200 km with four high-mountain climbs, but bad weather required trimming the stage to 153 km from Sacile to Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Italian Alps that finished with a misery-inducing 50 km climb from 376 m to 2,225 m at the top of the Passo Giau before a downhill finish.

Bernal, 24, attacked the field with 4 km remaining before the top of the Passo Giau and 21 km remaining in the race. He was never headed and cruised home with an impressive win in 4:22:41, a full 27 seconds up on Romain Bardet (FRA) and Damiano Caruso (ITA).

The victory extended Bernal’s overall lead to what appeared to be a decisive 2:24 over Caruso, 3:40 over Britain’s Hugh Carthy and 4:18 over Aleksandr Vlasov (RUS). Britain’s Simon Yates was fifth, 4:20 behind the leader.

Tuesday was a rest day, and Wednesday’s difficult, double-climb route from Canazei to Sega di Ala (193 km) saw Bernal give back some time, as he finished seventh, 1:23 behind winner Dan Martin (IRL). Yates finished third and grabbed back almost a minute, but Bernal still led Caruso by 2:21 and Yates by 3:23 overall.

Thursday’s Stage 18 from Rovereto to Stradella was a long 231 km on a hilly course, but good for sprinters. Italy’s Alberto Bettiol and Simone Consonni went 1-2 (5:14:43 and +0:17), but there was no change in the leaderboard.

Friday’s stage to the Alpe de Mesa features a significant uphill finish and Saturday’s 164 km race to the Alpe Motta features three climbs, with an uphill finish, before Sunday’s flat ride into Milan. Bernal would have to collapse to lose now.

● Football ● The U.S. Women’s National Team booked two games with Mexico for its “send-off series” prior to heading to Tokyo for the Olympic Games.

The matches will be played on 1 July and 5 July, both in East Hartford, Connecticut. Mexico is not participating in the women’s Olympic tournament.

● Ice Hockey ● The IIHF men’s World Championship continues with group-stage games in Riga, Latvia, with the U.S. defeating Kazakhstan (3-0) on Tuesday and Latvia on Thursday (4-2). Through Thursday’s games, Finland leads Group B at 3-1 (overtime loss) while the U.S. and Germany are 3-1. Russia, Switzerland and Slovakia are all 3-0 in Group A.

The tournament took a political turn this week when the Belarus flag – of the country which was originally a co-host of the event – was taken down at the direction of the Latvian Foreign Minister and the Mayor of Riga. The IIHF protested in a statement:

“The actions of the Belarus government are separate from the players who are competing under the Belarus flag at this tournament. The players have been welcomed to Latvia as guests and should not have to see their flag removed without their consent from the public display of the 16 participating countries. …

“Therefore, the IIHF has asked the Mayor of Riga to urgently take down the IIHF flag from the same area, as well as the World Championship flag which bears the IIHF name. In accordance with the IIHF Statutes, we are an apolitical sports organization, and are demanding that the IIHF is removed from any association with the political statements the Mayor and Foreign Minister have made by changing the flag of our Member.”

The Russian news site Tass.com reported:

“The state flag of Belarus, raised near the Radisson Blu Hotel Latvija in downtown Riga, accommodating the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship national teams, was replaced on May 24 by the white, red and white flag, which symbolizes the political opposition in Belarus. According to earlier local media reports, the flag was replaced personally by Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics and Riga Mayor Martins Stakis.

“After the flag was replaced, Mayor of Riga Stakis announced on his Twitter account: ‘We raise the flag of the free Belarus, entrusted to me by Belarusian political refugees, among the Hockey World Cup flags. There must be no flags in Riga that symbolize a regime that engages in state terrorism, so we took it off.’”

The flag incident reflects international outrage over the forced landing of a Ryanair civil aircraft flight from Greece over the past weekend. It was required to land because of a supposed bomb threat, but was in fact a ruse to arrest Belarusian journalist Roman Protasevich, a co-founder of the Nexta Telegram Channel, sparking protests worldwide.

● The Last Word ● The Belarus situation has now spread beyond the IIHF men’s World Championship. On Thursday, the European Cycling Union announced that its 2021 Elite Track Cycling Championships would not be held in Minsk, but at another venue.

“In light of the current international situation, the Management Board has decided to cancel the 2021 Elite Track European Championships scheduled in Minsk (Belarus) from 23 to 27 June 2021.”

UEC Vice President Alexander Gusyatnikov (RUS) said, “Political motivations were not behind this decision since we made it proceeding from present-day options of transporting the participating teams to Minsk. This was the main reason while the rest of the reported reasons are speculations.”

Really? Yeah. Right. Sure.

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LANE ONE: IOC Athletes’ Forum endorses “10 Commandments” for Tokyo; Bach says Olympics is “where we show that we can co-exist in friendship”

Rich Perelman

May 27, 2021

tsx pix 2021-527 ioc athlete forum 750 — IOC President Thomas Bach (standing) during his Q&A at the International Athletes Forum (Photo: Screenshot of IOC video)

The International Olympic Committee’s 10th International Athletes’ Forum was held online on Wednesday and Thursday, with a focus on a variety of issues beyond the Tokyo Games. But Tokyo highlighted the discussions on Thursday, with a reassurance that the event will take place as scheduled.

More than 2,000 current and former athletes, many of whom are members of the Athlete Commissions in their own countries or for their own sports, took part in the program, which began with a taped greeting from Tokyo 2020 chief Seiko Hashimoto. It included:

“Some of you may feel worried or uncertain about the Tokyo 2020 Games. But I am here to tell you that my mission is to make absolutely sure the best possible Covid-19 preventive measures are in place and prepare a Games that all of you can participate in with confidence and pride. …

“To make sure that the Games are safe and secure for all of you, and for the people of Japan, we have compiled the rules and guidelines included in your Playbooks. The final edition will be released in June.

“Next week, on 3 June, Tokyo 2020 will share a first look at the victory ceremonies, and the announcement will be live-streamed worldwide.”

That will be of high interest, especially to the protesters-in-waiting, already planning their demonstration.

The IOC also announced a new program, called the Athlete Moment, where an athlete can invite up to five people to join a video chat for 60 seconds or so following their final competition. As they exit the field, court or pool, a monitor (apparently) is to be set up for them to they can greet their family and friends (up to five) via a Web link, before they head to the mixed zone.

This is a poor substitute for having family and friends in the stands, but as this is not possible in Tokyo with no foreign fans allowed, it’s a technology-based substitute. And, of course, it comes at the expense of the news media, including the rights-holding broadcasters.

As for the Tokyo experience, the IOC’s Olympic Games Operations Director, Pierre Ducrey (SUI), emphasized:

“We feel in the Village we can deliver a protected environment. Outside, it’s much more difficult. … There will be no opportunity to go roam around town and discover Tokyo. We know it’s very unfortunate, but we feel this is the price to deliver safe and successful Games. So this will be, I would say, the biggest change when it comes to the experience of the athletes.”

As for getting the Olympic athletes and staff to do the right thing, a suggestion from the Argentine athlete commission got a smile from everyone:

“We want help for the ‘10 Commandments’ as we call them – those 10 top issues that cannot be forgotten and that athletes have to remember 24/7 – we want to guarantee that those ‘10 Commandments’ are read by everybody, memorized and not forgotten. So if you could help us in setting up these ‘10 Commandments’ with those 10 absolutely essential ideas that they cannot forget when they are in Tokyo, that would be of great help.”

IOC Athletes’ Commission chair Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) replied:

“We love the idea. We’re totally going to steal the ‘10 Commandments’ and make more work for the Commission and team. But we love the idea of taking those ‘10 Commandments’ and putting them into the welcome packs, which now will be on the phones that all of the athletes get, so we love that idea, we’ll definitely look at doing that.”

(Look for something like this as a laminated card that can be worn with an accreditation badge to help keep the points top of mind.)

IOC President Thomas Bach (GER) took the stage for almost two hours, answering questions from athlete representatives from around the world. He was not asked even once about whether the Games will take place, but was thanked again and again for the IOC’s efforts, in cooperation with Tokyo 2020 and the Japanese government, for working to make the Games happen.

Many of the questions had to do with governance issues, especially within International Federations and National Olympic Committees, about more promotion of Olympic athletes and Olympic sports in their regions, corruption and so on. But there was one exceptionally interesting exchange, with China’s Yang Yang – a two-time Olympic gold medalist in short track and a Vice President of the World Anti-Doping Agency – proposing new rules to “protect clean and qualified athletes right to participate” in the Games.

With the Beijing 2022 Winter Games coming next February, this was an obvious invitation for Bach to launch into an anti-boycott address and he was ready, with a 518-word reply, delivered without notes:

“With regards to the politicization of the Olympic Games and boycotts, the position of the IOC and the Olympic Movement is very clear. Our mission, enshrined in the Olympic Charter, is to unite the world and to be the event – the only event – which brings the entire world together in a peaceful competition. And we can accomplish this mission only if we are always building bridges. If we are erecting walls, then we become divisive. And politics, as you know, is divisive. There are always different points of view, and if one wants to impose his or her point of view on others – and vice versa – this becomes very divisive and we could never accomplish the mission. And this means, and I am coming to your proposal with regard to the Olympic Charter, that we have to be politically neutral.

“In the Olympic Games, there can be no discrimination for whatever reason, whether it’s religious, whether it’s political, whether it’s sexual orientation; there, in the Games, we all need to be equal and we all need to respect each other and we need not only to respect the diversity, we need to embrace the diversity. We need to be happy that it’s possible to come together even if you have a very different culture, even if you have a very different political opinion. That we can come together and that we can agree on the Olympic values. And that this is what we are standing for, beyond all the differences we may have.

“Therefore, we have in the Olympic Charter, enshrined not only these values, we have also enshrined the political neutrality of the IOC and the Olympic Games and in order to protect there, the National Olympic Committees from political pressure in their countries which may arise. And myself, I had to make this experience at the time when we had to boycott Olympic Games there in 1980. And as a consequence, we then put later into the Olympic Charter the obligation for National Olympic Committees to take part in the Games of the Olympiad. You cannot make it for the Winter Games because not every country can offer winter sports, but it shows the overall philosophy and obligation on the one hand, political neutrality has to be respected by all the components of the Olympic Movement, and on the other hand, not only the right to take part in the Games, but the obligation to take part in the Olympic Games and in this way to contribute to this unifying mission, to this unifying power of the Olympic Games.

“I think this is what we, now, in this divisive – in this aggressively divisive – world we are living in this moment. This is something what is maybe more needed than ever and what also the world is really looking for, to have at least this one area, of sport and in particular, Olympic Games, where we can still come together, where we are sharing the same values, and where we show that we can co-exist in friendship while having, maybe, the toughest competition of our life.”

Comment: Having this question come from a Chinese Winter Games icon and directed specifically at boycotts while calls mount for removing the 2022 Games from China for its abuse of its Uyghur minority and other provocative actions begs disbelief that this was not arranged in advance. Bach gave his standard, detailed answer, but it wears thinner and thinner over time. The issue is not Moscow in 1980, but holding a Games in a country under circumstances more like Berlin in 1936.

There was also a question from 2010 American Olympic Pairs skater Mark Ladwig about athletes signing “waivers” in advance of going to Tokyo; he noted “I don’t remember having to sign anything like that.”

In fact, he did, but it came from the U.S. Olympic Committee, not the IOC directly. IOC Chief Operating Officer Lana Haddad (IRQ) explained:

“The entry forms have been actually in place for previous Games and have been updated to include Covid-19-related consideration. This is really to provide transparency and ensures informed consent from the Games participants.”

Bach added:

“It’s even in the regulations … Even I, when I was participating in the Games – just a couple of years ago! – I remember that I had to sign the entry forms.”

The entry form’s genesis is from the by-law to Rule 44 of the Olympic Charter, including:

“All participants in the Olympic Games in whatever capacity must comply with the entry process as prescribed by the IOC Executive Board, including the signing of the entry form, which includes an obligation to (i) comply with the Olympic Charter and the World Anti-Doping Code and (ii) submit disputes to CAS jurisdiction.”

Agreeing to abide by the Olympic Charter means, among other things, accepting the strictures of Rule 40 on commercial rights and Rule 50 on protests. Every athlete who wants to compete in the Games must agree to abide by the event owner’s requirements … or they can skip the Games.

This was the 10th International Athletes’ Forum and was held 40 years after then-IOC chief Juan Antonio Samaranch (ESP) created the first IOC Athletes’ Commission, of which Bach was a member. Bach’s IOC has demonstrated, as much or more than any other IOC administration, their devotion to athlete opportunities, especially in Tokyo.

That stance used to be a sure winner, but the question of how “athlete-centric” plays in today’s “aggressively divisive” world will be tried in Tokyo this summer and then in Beijing next February.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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THE BIG PICTURE: FIFA Congress agrees to study biennial World Cups; Infantino proposes 11 “action areas” for development

Rich Perelman

May 25, 2021

tsx pix 2021-521 infantino, gianni fifa congress 750 — FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) during his opening address to the FIFA Congress last week (Photo: screenshot from the FIFA video)

Already the wealthiest of the International Federations, FIFA had a busy 71st Congress, held online last Friday (21st), taking several interesting decisions with an eye to expanding its global impact and reach:

● The selection of future hosts for the FIFA Women’s World Cup will be decided by the full Congress in the future, not the FIFA Council. This places the women’s event on the same platform as for the men’s World Cup.

● A Saudi proposal was approved to conduct a feasibility study on holding the FIFA World Cup and FIFA Women’s World Cup every two years instead of every four.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) told reporters afterwards that the study must consider how to make the World Cup more global, in order to encourage further investment at the national level for countries which are not consistent World Cup qualifiers in both the men’s and women’s tournaments:

“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.’ So all of these points have to be considered.”

● A Jamaican proposal was approved for a comprehensive consultation on the “opportunities for women’s global competitions, including a women’s world league.”

● A Liberian proposal was approved for a review and a new proposal for FIFA youth competitions (the U-17 and U-20 World Cups, and others), including age categories, the number and type of events and the qualifying procedures, with an eye to better future development paths for players.

Infantino’s 45-minute opening address listed 11 areas for future action, including:

(1) The international match calendar: “How many matches can a player play per year? How many competitions do we want or do we need? And what kind of competitions? Do we play too much? Or don’t we play enough, maybe, in some parts of the world? Do we want more games, or do we want less, but more meaningful? And what about the intercontinental travel of players when they have to play for their national teams?” He insisted that the status quo is not a solution, and that the discussion should start from scratch.

(2) Men’s competitions: The 2026 World Cup will increase to 48 teams and the new Club World Cup will also bring new interest.

(3) Women’s competitions: From the 140 teams which participated in Women’s World Cup qualifying in 2019, more than 180 will compete for 2023. And a women’s Club World Cup is coming, part of FIFA’s promised $1 billion investment in women’s football over four years.

Infantino also noted that the women’s World Cup television and sponsorship rights will be sold separately in the future, not as part of a package with the men’s World Cup: “We will commercialize women’s football independently. We are not going any more to our broadcasters and sponsors and tell them, ‘you want to buy the men’s World Cup, we give you in addition the women’s as well.’ These times are over. Gone.”

(4) Youth competitions: Should these be yearly, to offer the greatest possible opportunities to young players, or every other year as is done now?

(5) Financial regulations: Especially in the area of player transfers, with better transparency on payments. Caps on transfer fees, on salaries and the like should be considered. A clearinghouse to assure that clubs which are training future stars – which receive about 1% of the total transfer fees now – are properly compensated will be set up.

(6) Laws of the Game: Continued focus on the offside rule, especially in the era of replay, to encourage more offense. More substitutions to allow for player health are also coming, perhaps also adding a special substitution opportunity for concussions.

(7) Football development: FIFA has poured $1.75 billion U.S. in this area for the 2019-22 period, five times more than from 2011-14, and more is coming.

(8) Technical development: More player development programs are promised, as well as much more development of referees in a professional capacity, especially those who work with professional leagues.

(9) Social role of football: Infantino emphasized “zero tolerance on discrimination” calling racism “another virus, and football, sadly, is not immune.” He added, “We will continue to educate, but we will also sanction – very harshly – because it is intolerable.” He also noted that FIFA has had some success in pushing for human rights, and stated that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will leave a positive social legacy there. Infantino also voiced concerns about protecting children playing sports and would like to see an international organization which can help.

He also expressed concern about match integrity; he said around 0.4% of games each year (about 140), showed some suspicious activity. FIFA is working with the international organizations, including branches of the U.N. on this.

(10) Fans: What can FIFA do for football’s five billion fans, “something with which he can live his passion”?

(11) Digital: Joining the global appeal of football and the new communications opportunities could be a powerful accelerator for the sport. A “new digital FIFA venture” is promised soon.

He also noted FIFA’s payment of $1.5 billion in Covid support payments to national federations, made from FIFA’s reserves (he pointedly stated, “in FIFA, money does not evaporate any more”).

On FIFA’s responsibilities, he said: “Article 2 of our statutes – you should read it once – says that it is our duty to improve the game of football and to promote it globally. And it is also our duty to organize our own international competitions.

“Our competitions are your competitions, because you are FIFA. And in whatever we do, we always have to think about the fans, we always have to think about the countries – all the countries in the world – and we always have to think about the players.

“We are at the service of football. We are not the protagonists of football. We have to set the scene for the players to shine, and for the fans to enjoy, to live football with passion. We have to know what our job is.”

In this area, Infantino stated he wants to see 50 “top” national teams worldwide and 50 top club teams worldwide, in both men’s and women’s football. Even with FIFA’s resources, that will take some doing. He noted that the top 30 clubs in terms of annual revenue are all European, the top 20 are in just five European countries, and that the trend is toward imbalance rather than parity. He said that has to change.

With the payments to the national associations alone, Infantino could have claimed plenty of credit and would have received it at the Congress. But he has ideas, has welcomed ideas from others and wants to do more; it will be fascinating to see what grows from the 11 seeds he planted.

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LANE ONE: Bad news for anti-Olympic whiners: Tokyo Games will go on, and it appears some spectators may be allowed!

Rich Perelman

May 24, 2021

The roller-coaster ride that has been the Games of the XXXII Olympiad just whipped through another barrel roll with not only an assurance that the event will be held, but a Saturday news report that a limited number of spectators will likely be allowed as well!

The final meeting of the International Olympic Committee’s Coordination Commission for the Tokyo Games was held online last week, with Chair John Coates (AUS) asked if the event could be held during a local state of emergency owing to the coronavirus infection rate in the Tokyo area:

“We’ve successfully seen five sports hold their test events during the state of emergency, all of them with the plans that we had in place to protect the safety and security of the athletes, and the people of Japan, based around the worst possible circumstances, so the answer is absolutely yes.”

The IOC’s announcement at the conclusion of the meeting added:

“The Coordination Commission was further encouraged by the many sporting events taking place successfully around the globe, noting that more than 54,000 athletes have competed in over 430 major sports events since September 2020, all held safely for participants and the local population.”

Coates and the organizers pointed to the countermeasures which have been developed to assure the safety not only of the competitors, but also the local population. Kyodo News reported:

“Coates said unfavorable public opinions over the games are a ‘correlation’ with the low vaccination rate, though he expects they will improve when more people are vaccinated.

“‘But if it doesn’t (improve), then our position is that we just have to make sure we get on with our job, and our job is to ensure these games are safe for all participants and all of the people in Japan who might come into contact with the participants,’ he said.”

Tokyo 2020 chief Seiko Hashimoto explained the confidence of the organizing committee further:

“At present, there are people who feel uneasy that the Games will be held with a lot of people coming from abroad and being together. There are other people concerned about the possible burden on the medical system in Japan by organizing the Games. To these concerns, I would like to implement what I call ‘three thoroughs’:

“The first one is the thorough reduction in the number of the inbound people.

“The second one is the thorough restriction of the activities and behavior.

“The third is the thorough review of the medical system.”

She isn’t kidding. The reduction of the number of visitors to Japan has been cut dramatically and is continuing. Foreign spectators have been banned and the expected 180,000 officials and technicians of all kinds for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games has been cut to 78,000 (so far). The Associated Press reported Hashimoto explaining:

“Olympic ‘stakeholders’ would amount to 59,000, of which 23,000 were Olympic family and international federations. She said an added 17,000 would involve television rights holders, with 6,000 more media.”

(If accurate, then the number of news media coming to Tokyo won’t be much less than that for Rio in 2016, when 25,696 media were accredited, with an almost identical split between press and broadcast.)

Also on Friday, the British Olympic Association announced that all of its Olympic and Paralympic athletes and staff will be vaccinated prior to the Tokyo Games. PanAm Sports is arranging for 6,000 vaccinations, using the Johnson & Johnson single-shot dose, to be available to its athletes at centers in Miami and Houston, and offering free air transport to get there.

Look for many more countries to announce that their teams will be fully vaccinated before arrival in Japan.

On Saturday, Kyodo reported:

“More Japanese government officials and Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics organizers are inclined to allow a certain number of spectators at this summer’s games if thorough anti-coronavirus measures are taken, sources close to the matter said Saturday.”

This sounds like a surprise, but tracks exactly with what the organizers and the Japanese government have said about spectators, taking their cue from the ongoing professional baseball and soccer seasons. The Kyodo story noted: “Adding to the push to have spectators is the track record of pro baseball and pro soccer in admitting fans without significant trouble.”

During the current state of emergency, attendance at events has been allowed, for up to 5,000 or 50% of the venue capacity, depending on the facility involved. The decision on whether Olympic spectators will be allowed and how many, is due next month.

This is pretty amazing, and it is also very possible that no spectators will be allowed in order to eliminate one more problem related to the Games. But if Nippon Professional Baseball games are being played with fans in the stands, why not the Olympics as well? For example, in games played on Friday (21st), attendance included:

● 11,788 at Chiba (Chiba 3, Rakuten 1)
● 10,047 at Tokorozawa (Seibu 8, Nippon 1)
● 5,192 in Nagoya (Yomiuri 5, Chunichi 4)

What about attendance in Tokyo? On Saturday, Yakult defeated Yokohama, 1-0, before 4,976 at Meiji Jingu Stadium in Tokyo. The famous Tokyo Dome hosted 4,550 on the 19th for a game between Hiroshima and the Yomiuri Giants.

You don’t hear much about this in discussions about Games attendance, do you?

The Olympic Charter states that “The practice of sport is a human right.” It does not say – by the way – that the “Olympic Games are a human right.”

No one is required to go to the Olympic Games. It’s fully optional. If you don’t want to go, don’t go. Someone else will be happy to go in your place.

That applies to individual athletes, as well as entire National Olympic Committees. It also applies to journalists and people with social media accounts. In fact, because of the foreign-spectator ban, a majority of people who want to go to the Games from outside Japan will not be able to.

The Olympic Games originated as a religious festival in ancient Greece and was attended by athletes from Greek city-state entities. Now we have National Olympic Committees from around the world and the event does bring nationalities together – in one place, at the same time – like nothing else on the planet today.

Thanks to television, almost everyone can watch. The most put-upon folks during the Games period won’t be the Japanese people, whose lives will barely be touched by the hermetically-sealed Olympic Village and venues with modest numbers of spectators (if any at all). It will be the athletes and attending officials and news media, who are going to go through a daily routine of being tested, re-tested and told where they can’t go.

But they all volunteered – and want – to be there.

And for those whimpering, sniveling malcontents who scream about accountability for those officials who are allowing this? Remember that there will be national elections in Japan in the fall, which must be held on or before 22 October: just 7 1/2 weeks after the closing of the Paralympic Games on 5 September.

In a democratic country like Japan, that’s real accountability. And that says something for the confidence that its leadership has in hosting something as relatively small as the Games in Tokyo (and Sapporo), while fighting the much larger issue of the coronavirus across the entire country.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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HIGHLIGHTS: Crouser shot puts awesome 75-6 in Tucson; Biles vaults into history at U.S. Classic; Euro Swim Champs end with two world records

Rich Perelman

May 23, 2021

tsx pix 2021-523 crouser, ryan 750 (univ ark) — Olympic and World Champion shot put star Ryan Crouser (USA) (Photo: University of Arkansas)

Headline results of noteworthy competitions around the world:

● Archery ● The second stage of the Hyundai World Cup was held in the Olympic capital of Lausanne (SUI), with another win for World Champion Brady Ellison of the U.S.

Ellison shut out Spain’s Yun Sanchez, 6-0, in the semifinal and then faced Germany’s Maximilian Weckmueller in the final, and triumphed 6-2. The Rio 2016 bronze medalist, Ellison is one of the favorites heading into Tokyo.

Sanchez won the bronze over Nicholas d’Amour of the U.S. Virgin Islands, 6-4.

The women’s Recurve gold-medal match was an all-Russian affair with a stunning win for 22-year-old Svetlana Gomboeva, who defeated 2017 World Champion Ksenia Perova, 6-0, to win her first World Cup in her first try! France’s Audrey Adiceom won the bronze over Lisa Unruh (GER) by 6-4.

In the team events, Germany beat Spain, 6-0, in the men’s Recurve final; Italy beat Mexico, 5-1, in the women’s final and the Netherlands won the Mixed Doubles final over Bangladesh, 5-1.

● Athletics ● The 2021 Wanda Diamond League got going in Gateshead (GBR) on Sunday, with overcast skies, rain, wind and cold.

How bad was it? The women’s 100 m heats had headwinds of 4.2 and 4.4 m/s, which contributed to pedestrian winning times of 11.53 for Sha’Carri Richardson of the U.S. and 11.45 for Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith.

In the final, the headwind was down to 3.1 m/s, but Asher-Smith was easily the best, winning in 11.35 to 11.44 for Richardson, 11.48 for Marie-Josee Ta Lou (CIV) and 11.51 for Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. American Javianne Oliver was sixth in 11.58. Maybe we’ll know more in Doha on the 28th?

Said Richardson after her heat win, “This won’t be the last time that I’m going to line up against these ladies and I want to let the world know and let the ladies know that I’m here to compete just as well as they’ve done for many years. I’m here to show them what I’m good at.

“I’m definitely looking forward to running in some sunshine next week in Doha!”

Americans scored four wins, including an impressive 20.33 performance into a 3.0 m/s wind by Kenny Bednarek in the men’s 200 m, over Canadians Aaron Brown (20.79) and Andre De Grasse (20.85). World Champion Sam Kendricks got the best of world-record holder Mondo Duplantis (SWE) in the vault, cleaning 5.74 m (18-10) on his second try, while the winds held Duplantis to 5.55 m (18-2 1/2). Hillary Bor won the men’s Steeple in 8:30.20 over Kenyan Leonard Bett (8:31.52), and Kendall Ellis won a difficult women’s 400 m while battling the wind in 51.86.

Said Bednarek: “I felt very good despite the terrible conditions. My coach told me to work on my technique and that’s what I did so I am really pleased; I would have liked to run faster but with the rain and a headwind and it was cold, so you can only go so far.”

The home crowd – such as it was – was thrilled to see Laura Muir (GBR) run away with the women’s 1,500 m, winning in 4:03.73 despite the conditions, with Rababe Arafi (MAR: 4:07.73) a distant second. In the men’s 1,500 m, Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen managed to win the straightaway sprint from Australians Ollie Hoare and Stewart McSweyn, 3:36.27-3:36.58-3:37.32.

The adidas Boost Boston Games, a Continental Tour Gold meet, featured the usual oddball events and the elevated, temporary track on Boylston Street in downtown Boston, but also some serious running in the sprints:

● Men/100 m: Noah Lyles led the qualifying at 10.03, but Isiah Young (USA) got out well in the final and Lyles could not catch him, finishing second in 10.10 to Young’s 9.94, a seasonal best and his third-fastest race ever (wind: +0.5 m/s). Jamaica’s Nickel Ashmeade was third (10.17). Lyles’ usual late rush failed him this time and in his three meets in 2021, he’s run 10.08 (4th), 10.17 (2nd) and now 10.10 (2nd). That will not make the U.S. team for Tokyo in the 100 m.

● Men/200 m straight: Great interest in the fitness of Rio 400 m champ Wayde van Niekerk (RSA), who now trains in the U.S. This was his first race in more than a month, since winning the national title in 20.38 on 17 April.

He was out smoothly, but pulled up, feeling something wrong with about 40 m to go, with pain on his right side. He hopped off the track and removed his right shoe, pointing to his right thigh to fans. Canada’s Jerome Blake won in 19.89 (-0.3 m/s), with Zharnel Hughes (GBR) second in 19.93. Not a good day for the 400 m world-record holder, but his coach Lance Brauman (USA), thought he would be fine.

● Men/110 m hurdles: With a still wind, World Champion Grant Holloway (USA) won easily in 13.20, his fifth-fastest time of 2021.

● Women/100 m: American Aleia Hobbs charged over the last 25 m to win in 11.05 (+0.5), ahead of Gabby Thomas (11.16) and Morolake Akinosun (11.17).

● Women/200 m straight: Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH), already the 200 m world leader at 22.03, won the 200 m straight race in 22.08 into a slight headwind of 0.1 m/s.

● Women/100 m hurdles: An impressive 12.49 win for world-record holder Keni Harrison (USA), well ahead of Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan (12.62), into a 0.9 m/s headwind, just 0.01 off of her season’s best.

Also worth noting: Erriyon Knighton, 17, who turned professional earlier this year, prior to his junior season at Hillsborough High School in Tampa, Florida, won the “Future Stars men’s 100 m” in 10.16 into a slight headwind of 0.3 m/s. That’s as fast as Houston McTear ever ran in high school – in 1976, and still no. 8 on the all-time prep list – and moves Knighton to no. 2 on the 2021 World U-20 list; there will be World U-20 Championships in August in Kenya.

On Saturday, a fabulous USATF Throws Festival was held in Tucson, Arizona with great performances including two amazing world leaders:

● Men/Shot: 23.01 m (75-6), Ryan Crouser (USA)
● Women/Discus: 70.22 m (230-4), Jorinde van Klinken (NED)

Crouser won a sensational shot competition from World Champion Joe Kovacs of the U.S. (22.04 m/72-3 3/4), Darrell Hill (USA: 21.88 m/71-9 1/2) and New Zealand’s Tomas Walsh (21.62 m/70-11 1/4).

Crouser authored a staggering series of 22.44 m (73-7 1/2), 22.59 m (74-1 1/2), 22.20 m (72-10), foul, 23.01 m (75-6: lifetime best) and 22.86 m (75-0). Crouser’s 75-6 is the number four throw of all time and he is only the third to ever reach 23 m. His 75-0 in the final round is the equal-10th throw in history and the apparently unstoppable Crouser now owns four of the top ten throws ever. Wow! Wow!

Van Klinken’s mark was an enormous lifetime best for the 21-year-old Arizona State junior. She had set the Dutch national record of 65.94 m (216-4) on 20 May, but now stands 25th on the all-time list and is only the fourth woman to throw past 70 m this century!

American Vashti Cunningham won the women’s high jump at 1.99 m (6-6 1/4) to move to no. 2 on the world outdoor list for 2021.

Pan American Games champ Gwen Berry won the women’s hammer and moved to no. 3 on the world list for 2021 at 76.79 m (251-11), beating World Champion DeAnna Price (third: 75.88 m/248-11) and world no. 2 Brooke Andersen (second: 76.36 m/250-6).

American world-leader Rudy Winker won the hammer at 81.44 m (267-2), a distance no one else has reached thus year. Fellow American Shane Donnelly was second at 79.27 m (260-1) to move to no. 2 on the 2021 world list and Daniel Haugh got his second lifetime best in three days (79.03 m/259-3) to move to no. 3!

With both the American men and women now – astonishingly – dominant in the hammer, where are the sponsorships from Stanley? Lowe’s? The Home Depot?

Elsewhere, Sweden’s Daniel Stahl took the world lead in the men’s discus at 69.71 m (228-0) in Helsingborg (SWE) on Saturday. In a meet in Andujar, Spain, Venezuelan triple jump star Yulimar Rojas scored a world-leading win at 15.43 m (50-7 1/2), a new national record and the no. 2 jump of all time. Only Inessa Kravets (UKR) world record of 15.50 m (50-10 1/4) from 1995 is further.

Germany’s Johannes Vetter continued his dominance of the men’s javelin, throwing past 90 m twice in the same series to win on Friday in a Continental Tour Bronze meet in Dessau (GER). He won at 93.20 m (305-9) and also reached 91.86 m (301-4).

Earlier in the week, Russian Ilya Ivanyuk took the world lead in the men’s high jump at 2.37 m (7-9 1/4).

● Badminton ● The re-scheduled BWF World Tour Spain Masters was held in Huelva, with Indonesia claiming finalists in all five events and winning four titles.

In the women’s Singles final, Putri Kusuma Wardani (INA) dispatched Line Christophersen (DEN), 21-15, 21-10. The all-Indonesian final in the men’s Doubles saw Pramudya Kusumawardana and Yeremia Rambitan (INA) skate past Sabar Gutama and Moh Reza Isfahani (INA) in a see-saw final: 21-15, 8-21, 21-14.

The women’s Doubles was a straight-set victory for Yulfira Barkah and Febby Valencia Gani (INA) over Amalie Magelund and Freja Ravn (DEN), 21-16, 21-14, and in Mixed Doubles, Rinov Rivaldy and Pitha Mentari (INA) defeated Niclas Nohr and Magelund (DEN) by 21-18, 21-15.

In the men’s Singles, however, it was France’s Toma Junior Popov who scored a 21-15, 21-17 win over Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo (INA). But four out of five is pretty good!

● Canoe-Kayak ● A few more precious spots in the Tokyo Games were available at the Olympic Sprint Qualifier on Thursday and Friday, followed by a Sprint World Cup in Barnaul (RUS) over the weekend.

In the qualifying races, one spot each was available to racers in the men’s and women’s K-1 200 m, K-1 500 m for women, K-1 1,000 m for men and C-1 200 m for both. In some cases, a quota place was won on Thursday or Friday, but who actually qualified was decided by the succeeding World Cup results.

In the men’s K-1 200m, Lithuania’s Mindaugas Maldonis, 30, claimed his Tokyo entry by winning in the qualifier and also during the World Cup, taking the World Cup final in 36.411.

In the men’s K-1 1,000 m, China’s Dong Zhang did the same, winning the qualifier in 3:45.215, then the World Cup final in a speedy 3:42.057.

The men’s C-1 1,000 m, Moldova’s Serghei Tarnovschi, 23, won the qualifier in 4:14.861, and will go to Tokyo thanks to the postponement to 2021. He won the bronze in Rio in 2016, but was disqualified for doping; because the Games were moved from 2020 to 2021, he has competed his four-year ban and is eligible to compete this year.

In an amazing twist, Tarnovschi won at the line over Russia’s Ilia Shtokalov, who was awarded the Rio bronze after Tarnovschi was disqualified!

The women’s K-1 200 m was a triumph for Russian Natalia Podolskaia, who won the qualifier by 42.731-43.670 over Lisa-Maria Gamsjager (SVK).

The women’s K-2 500 m saw Portugal’s Joana Vasconcelos qualify for her second Games – also in London – winning in 1:57.831, just ahead of Pole Justyna Iskrzycka (1:58.370).

Croatia’s Vanesa Tot took the women’s C-1 200 m qualifying race to earn her spot in the Games. In the World Cup final, Cuba’s Yarisleidis Cirilo Duboys, 19, earned her place in the women’s C-1 200 m field in Tokyo with a convincing win in 48.736, while countrywoman Katherin Nuevo Segura was seventh (but both will compete in the C-2 500 m at the Games).

In the World Cup races on the weekend, Cuba dominated the field, winning five races, including the men’s C-1 1,000 m with Jose Ramon Pelier Cordova, the men’s C-2 1,000 m with Serguey Torres and Fernando Jorge, and Jorge won the men’s C-1 5,000 m. In addition to Cirilo Duboys’s win in the C-1 200 m, she and Nuevo Segura won the women’s C-2 500 m.

Austria’s Viktoria Schwarz celebrated two wins, in the women’s K-1 200 m and with Ana-Roxana Lehaci in the women’s K-2 500 m.

● Curling ● The WCF World Mixed Doubles Championship was finally held in Aberdeen (SCO) with the top seven teams qualifying for the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games.

In round-robin play, Scotland won Group A at 8-1, followed by Canada (7-2) and Italy (7-2), who all advanced to the playoff round. In Group B, Sweden was undefeated at 9-0, followed by Norway (8-1) and Switzerland (5-4). The U.S., with Tabitha Peterson and Joe Polo, was fourth (also 5-4).

The Czech Republic, fourth in Group A, beat the U.S., 8-6, in the Olympic qualification match; the U.S. will have to try and get to 2022 via the Olympic qualifying tournament later this year.

In the playoff rounds, Canada beat the Swiss (7-6) and Norway defeated Italy (7-5) to get to the semifinals. There, Scotland’s Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds skipped past Canada’s Kerri Einarson and Brad Gushue, 7-4, and Norway’s Kristin Skaslien and Magnus Nedregotten edged Almida de Val and Oskar Eriksson of Sweden, 7-6, to advance to the title match.

Mouat and Dodds scored early and often in the final, taking points in five of the eight ends and winning the title with a 9-7 final against Norway. The Norwegians had a 5-3 lead after four ends and 7-5 after six, but the Scots put up four straight points in the final two ends to win their first-ever World Mixed Doubles title. Mouat had gotten to the 2016 bronze-medal match, but finished fourth.

Sweden’s de Val and Eriksson took the bronze medal with a 7-4 win over Canada.

● Cycling ● The 104th Giro d’Italia headed into its final week with Colombia’s Egan Bernal – the 2019 Tour de France champion – poised to win his second career Grand Tour.

Saturday’s brutal 205 km ride from Cittadella to Monte Zoncolan ended with a steep uphill climb of 1,379 m over the final 25 km. The winner was yet another first-time UCI World Tour victor, Italy’s Lorenzo Fortunato, who broke away in the last 2.3 km and won in 5:17:22, 26 seconds up on Jan Tratnik (SLO) and Alessandro Covi (ITA: +0:59). Overall race leader Bernal was fourth (+1:43).

Stage 15’s hilly, 147 km route ended in a one-on-one sprint to the line between Belgian Victor Campenaerts and Oscar Riesebeek (NED), with Campenaerts taking the stage for his second career World Tour victory. German Niklas Arndt led for others from the chase pack for third, seven seconds back.

Through 15 of the 21 stages, Bernal now owns a 1:33 lead over Britain’s Simon Yates, the 2018 Vuelta a Espana winner. Italy’s Damiano Caruso is third (+1:51) and Russian Aleksandr Vlasov (+1:57) is the only other rider within two minutes of the lead.

The UCI Women’s World Tour was in Spain for the second edition of the four-stage Vuelta a Burgos Feminas. The first three stages were hilly, with the toughest stage on Sunday, finishing uphill at Lagunas de Neila.

Australian Grace Brown, Russia’s Anastasia Chursina and Danish vet Cecile Uttrup Ludwig won the first three stages, with Niamh Fisher-Black of New Zealand the overall leader, but essentially in a tie with Brown and with the top 27 riders bunched within 30 seconds.

On Sunday, the final 10 km of the 121.6 km route was a 747 m ascent that would decide the race. A breakaway group was finally caught on the uphill and left three Dutch stars – Anna van der Breggen, Demi Vollering and Annemiek van Vleuten – to battle for the win and the overall victory.

It was van der Breggen who managed to stay on the inside and finished just ahead of van Vleuten, with Vollering falling back by 20 seconds in the final kilometer. Overall, van der Breggen maintained her three-second edge over van Vleuten that she had at the start of the day – when they were in sixth and 12th place – and that was enough for the overall title. Vollering was third (+0:23).

● Gymnastics ● The U.S. Classic in Indianapolis was another tour de force for American superstar Simone Biles, who dominated the event with 58.400 in the All-Around, despite a 15th-place finish in the Uneven Bars after a fall.

She started with a historic 16.100 in the Vault on a Yurchenko double pike – reportedly never before tried in women’s competition – and also won on Beam (14.850) and Floor (14.250). She finished 1.3 points up on Jordan Chiles (57.100), who was followed by Kayla DiCello (56.100, also the Uneven Bars winner at 14.600) and Grace McCallum (55.100).

Many of the other U.S. stars performed on only some of the apparatus and none placed highly. Rio gold medalist Laurie Hernandez scored 13.250 on Vault and 12.200 (22nd) on Beam after a fall. Former World Champion Morgan Hurd was 11th on Beam (13.200) and tied for 10th on Floor (12.900).

The U.S. Olympic Team Trials will be held from 24-27 June in St. Louis, with only Biles and Chiles looking to be in strong form. But it’s still a month away.

In Friday’s junior division, Katelyn Jong won the All-Around title at 54.750, taking the Vault (14.200), Uneven Bars (13.300) and Beam (13.750) and finishing second on Floor (13.500).

● Ice Hockey ● The IIHF men’s World Championship finally opened in Riga, Latvia, with Russia beating the Czech Republic, 4-3, in Group A, and Latvia defeating Canada, 2-0 in Group B on Friday (21st).

On Saturday, Russia stomped Great Britain, 7-1, and reigning champ Finland beat the U.S., 2-1, in Group B. All the goals were scored in the second period, with Atte Ohtamaa scoring at 6:54 of the period and Iiro Pakarinen at 15:41 for a 2-0 lead. Jason Robertson scored in a power play at 18:01 of the period, but there was no further scoring, despite a furious third period where the U.S. out-shot the Finns, 14-8.

The 0-1 U.S. and 0-1 Canada tangled on Sunday at the Arena Riga, with Robertson opening the scoring with a first-period goal with 7:42 to go, assisted by Conor Garland. The Americans did not let up in the second period, scoring just 1:19 into the period on an Adam Clendening goal and then again just 2:08 later on a power-play goal from Trevor Moore (on an assist from Robertson), for a 3-0 advantage. Moore scored again at 18:20 of the period for a 4-0 lead going into the second intermission.

The third period showed one goal for each side and the final at 5-1. The U.S. is now 1-1 in Group B and Canada is 0-2, with five more group games to be played. The top four teams in each of the eight-team groups advance to the playoffs; group play continues through 1 June.

● Judo ● This week’s Pan American Open was in Guayaquil (ECU), with Colombia and the home team each winning three classes.

Juan Hernandez (men’s 66 kg), Francisco Balanta (men’s 90 kg) and Luz Alvarez (women’s 48 kg) won for Colombia, while Ecuador celebrated golds from Freddy Figueroa (men’s +100 kg), Estefania Garcia (women’s 63 kg) and Celinda Corozo (women’s 70 kg).

The U.S. also got two wins, from Nicolas Yonezuka in the men’s 81 kg all-American final against Kell Berliner, and from Katelyn Jarrell won at 52 kg over Mexico’s Renata Ortiz.

● Rowing ● China and Great Britain had the most to cheer abut at the second World Cup of 2021 in Lucerne (SUI), with three wins each.

The Brits won the men’s Eight – by 0.03 over Germany! – and men’s Four, plus the Lightweight women’s Double Sculls, while China collected golds in the men’s Double Sculls (Zhiyu Liu and Liang Zhang), women’s Quadruple Sculls and Li Huiru in the Lightweight women’s Single Sculls. A total of 15 nations won at least one medal.

In the men’s Single Sculls final, Oliver Zeidler (GER: 6:48.26) and Denmark’s Sverri Nielsen (6:50.13) repeated their 1-2 finish in a re-match of the 2019 World Championships. Reigning women’s champ Sanita Puspure of Ireland finished third (7:30.02) in the women’s final, behind Russian Hanna Prakhatsen (7:28.07) and American Kara Kohler (7:29.57), who won bronze at the Worlds in 2019.

The U.S. women’s Double Sculls team of Kristina Wagner and Gevvie Stone was third in 6:53.44, behind Romania (6:46.72) and the Netherlands (6:52.55).

● Skateboard ● The only U.S.-based Olympic qualifying event left before Tokyo is the Dew Tour Des Moines, held in the impressive Lauridsen Skatepark, a two-acre facility reported as the largest in the country. Riders are trying to pile up points in the World Skate rankings, which are the primary qualifier for Tokyo.

Competitions were on in both Street and Park, with no. 1-ranked Pamela Rosa (BRA) winning the women’s Street final, scoring 14.08 to best no. 2 Rayssa Leal (BRA:12.20; age 13) and Roos Zwetsloot (NED: 7.75).

The women’s Park win went almost to form: no. 3-ranked Sakura Yosozumi (JPN: 61.71) won over the now-recovered-from-injury British sensation, no. 2-ranked Sky Brown (58.50; age 12), with Japan’s top-ranked Misugu Okamoto (57.00) a close third.

The men’s Park final was a stunning win for 22-year-old American Zion Wright – ranked 114th worldwide! – who scored 91.04 to best no. 13 Oskar Rozenberg (SWE: 86.10) and no. 22 Gavin Rune Bottger (USA: 86.00).

The men’s Street final was another upset, and all about Brazil’s 21st-ranked Felipe Gustavo, who won with at 12.10, a clear victor over second-ranked Yuto Horigome (JPN: 9.06), seventh-ranked Aurelian Giraud (FRA: 8.62) and American Nyjah Huston, the three-time defending World Champion (8.21).

Next up will be the Street World Championships from 30 May-6 June in Rome, Italy.

● Sport Climbing ● Czech World Champion Adam Ondra and American Natalia Grossman took the top honors at the IFSC Bouldering World Cup in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Ondra, who won the Bouldering world title in 2014 and the Lead title three times, beat a good field and was the only one to achieve four tops (4T4Z), finishing ahead of Mejdi Schalck (FRA: 3T4Z) and 2019 Bouldering Worlds silver medalist Jakob Schubert (AUT: 3T3Z). Sean Bailey was the top U.S. finisher in eighth.

Grossman led a 1-3 American finish, reached four tops and four zones (4T4Z) in the final, winning over Oriane Bertone (FRA: 3T4Z) and fellow American Brooke Raboutou (3T3Z). Grossman, 19, won her first IFSC World Cup at the senior level after winning bronze in the season opener in Switzerland last month.

● Swimming ● The European Championships in Budapest came to a furious finish on Sunday, with a powerful showing by Italy, Great Britain and Russia.

Always a high-stakes meet, the record books were re-written, including world marks in two events:

● Men/50 m Back: 23.80, Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS); old: 23.93, Kolesnikov in semifinals.

● Women/50 m Breast: 29.30, Benedetta Pilato (ITA) in semifinals; old: 29.40, Lilly King (USA), 2017.

Pilato set a World Junior Record of 29.50 in the preliminaries and at 16, will challenge King in Tokyo. It’s worth noting that the 50 m is not an Olympic distance except in Freestyle. Russian Yuliya Efimova was second in a not-very-close 30.25.

Italy won the most medal with 21 total (2-8-11), followed by Great Britain (20: 9-7-4) and Russia, which win 17 medals (8-2-7); no one else had more than nine. Britain had the most wins with eight.

There were championship records everywhere and world-leading marks for 2021 in 10 different individual events:

● Men/400 m Free: 3:44.18, Martin Malyutin (RUS)
● Men/50 m Back: 23.80, Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS: world record)
● Men/100 m Back: 52.09, Kolesnikov (relay lead-off)
● Men/50 m Breast: 26.21, Adam Peaty (GBR)
● Men/50 m Fly: 23.00, Szebasztian Szabo (HUN)
● Men/100 m Fly: 50.18, Kristof Milak (HUN)
● Men/200 m Fly: 1:51.10, Milak

● Women/50 m Free: 23.97, Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED)
● Women/50 m Breast: 29.30, Benedetta Pilato (ITA: world record)
● Women/400 m Medley: 4:34.76, Katinka Hosszu (HUN)

Multiple stars won multiple individual events:

● Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS): men’s 100 m Free, 50 m Backstroke
● Martin Malyutin (RUS): men’s 200-400 m Frees
● Mykhallo Romanchuk (UKR): men’s 800-1,500 m Frees
● Adam Peaty (GBR): men’s 50-100 m Breaststrokes
● Kristof Milak (HUN), 100-200 m Butterflys

● Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED): women’s 50 m Free, 50 m Butterfly
● Simona Quadarella (ITA): women’s 400-800-1,500 m Frees

In the men’s Breaststroke events, Peaty won his fourth European titles in both the 50 m and 100 m events. Hungarian star Hosszu won her fourth European 400 m Medley title.

There was an unusual occurrence in the women’s 100 m Back final, where Britain’s Kathleen Dawson won in a European Championships record of 58.18, ahead of Dutch star Kira Toussaint (59.02). But two swimmers – Louise Hansson (SWE) and Maaike de Waard (NED) – apparently could not hear the start, so the race was re-ordered to be re-done 45 minutes after the end of the same session on Friday.

Inevitably, the results were not the same the second time around. Dawson won again in 58.49, but Toussaint faded to fourth in 59.32, with Margherita Panziera (ITA) second in 59.01 and Russian Maria Kameneva again third (59.22).

Wrote Toussaint on her Instagram account: “I’m proud of how calm and positive I remained, but at the end of the ‘second final’, my tank was empty. 4th…seems unfair, it feels like I’m robbed of a silver medal, it is painful. But, it’s only a bump in the road. I will be back stronger.”

American Freestyle superstar Katie Ledecky ended up winning four events to highlight the Longhorn Elite Invite in Austin, Texas, but Madisyn Cox claimed the only world-leading mark.

Ledecky edged her former Stanford teammate (and reigning Olympic champ) Simone Manuel in the women’s 100 m Free, 53.82-53.83 on Thursday, but wasn’t challenged otherwise. She won the women’s 400 m Free in 4:00.37 later that night and the women’s 200 m Free (1:55.47) and 800 m Free (8:14.48) on Friday.

Manuel came back to win the 50 m Free in 24.74, while Cox dominated the 200 m Medley – with the best time in the world in 2021 in 2:08.51 – and 400 m Medley (4:36.61 lifetime best). Isabelle Stadden took the backstroke events in 59.33 (100 m) and 2:07.28 (200 m).

On the men’s side, Carson Foster – still just 19 – won three events, taking the 200 m Free (1:47.59) and both Medleys in 1:58.57 (200 m, ahead of brother Jake in 1:59.71) and 4:11.13 (400 m). The other men’s multi-event winners were Shaine Casas in the 100 m Back (53.26) and 100 m Fly (52.05) and Daniel Roy doubled in the 100-200 m Breaststroke events in 1:00.88 and 2:09.48.

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VOX POPULI: Why cancel the Olympics?

Rich Perelman

May 21, 2021

By Jean-Loup Chappelet
(Lausanne, Switzerland)

I would like to reply to the calls for the Tokyo Olympic Games to be cancelled. Cancelling the Olympics, together with all other large gatherings in the fields of sport, culture and business might, I suppose, seem like the easiest option at the current time, but is it the right thing to do?

The modern Olympics have been cancelled only three times (1916, 1940, 1944), each time because of a world war. Antwerp (Belgium) staged a successful Olympics in 1920, even though the Spanish flu pandemic was just ending. However, the Olympics at this time were still a relatively small sports competition, not the global mega-event they are today.

Fewer than one hundred thousand athletes, trainers and officials will enter Japan for this summer’s Olympics – a tiny figure compared with Tokyo’s population of 35 million. In addition, there will be no foreign spectators and events will be held with small numbers of local spectators or, possibly, behind closed doors. Nevertheless, the Japanese people’s understandable concerns about the Games have led a Tokyo politician, who has failed three times to be elected the city’s governor, to launch a petition to cancel the event. Japan’s and Tokyo’s democratically elected governments have proposed a more considered response, announcing strict measures to minimise the health risks posed by the Olympics. The World Health Organisation recently affirmed its confidence in the organisers and Japanese authorities, which it believes “will make the right decisions regarding how best to manage the risks.”

Five Olympic test events (volleyball, athletics, diving, marathon, triathlon) involving overseas athletes were held safely at the beginning of this month in Tokyo and Sapporo. Moreover, Pfizer-BioNTech has donated enough vaccine to vaccinate all Olympic competitors, if they wish, and participants will be tested daily and quarantined if necessary. The famous athletes who have publicly expressed concerns about the Tokyo Olympics have also said they would like the event to go ahead, as would thousands of lesser-known athletes, some of whom have been preparing for this all their lives.

Of course, there is no such thing as zero risk. In fact, the Olympics have often been held in risky situations. Athens (1896 and 2004) and Los Angeles (1932 and 1984, with a third edition planned for 2028) have hosted the Olympics despite a non-negligible earthquake risk, whereas the Zika virus threatened Rio 2016. The risks posed by Tokyo 2020 appear to be eminently manageable.

Jean-Loup Chappelet is an emeritus professor of public management at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, and the author of The IOC and the Olympic System, the Governance of World Sport.

[≡The Sports Examiner encourages expressions of opinion – we really do – but preferably based on facts. Comments may be sent to [email protected] We do not guarantee publication of any comment, but all comments submitted will be considered and your submission implies your agreement to publication (and light editing if needed to meet our grammatical and punctuation standards) at our sole discretion. Please include your name and hometown on any comment submitted for publication.≡]

THE TICKER: More vaccines for PanAm delegations; LA28 signs Deloitte; five world leaders in Ostrava; Olympic champ Lee Evans passes in Nigeria

Rich Perelman

May 21, 2021

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

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● The Covid-19 vaccination express in the Americas picked up steam on Thursday with another announcement from PanAm Sports that 2,000 additional doses of the one-and-done Johnson & Johnson vaccines will be made available by the City of Houston, Texas in cooperation with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.

The vaccines will be done at a Houston airport beginning on 1 June. The new allocation brings the total of doses offered through PanAm Sports to 6,000 for athletes and officials going to Tokyo or to the first Junior Pan American Games in Cali (COL) in November.

In addition, PanAm Sports has said it will pay for the flights to get athletes and officials to either Miami or Houston.

Kyodo News reported that visiting Olympic officials, including news media, will be expected to turn in a self-administered saliva test – perhaps as often as daily – during at least their first 14 days in Japan.

The number of visiting officials of all types was estimated at 180,000 before the pandemic, but is now down to 78,000 and dropping under pressure from the Tokyo organizers. The report noted:

“Instead of setting up special facilities to collect the samples, organizers plan to distribute containers for submission at one of around 60 locations, including hotels and venues, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.”

● Games of the XXXIV Olympiad: Los Angeles 2028 ● The LA28 organizing committee announced its third major sponsor with Deloitte joining as “Official Professional Services Provider of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.” The agreement also includes an extension of the existing Deloitte sponsorship of the USOPC into 2028.

This continues a hot period for professional services firms in consulting, audit, tax and related practices with major Games. Last Friday, the 2022 Commonwealth Games organizers in Birmingham, England announced PwC (which stands for Price Waterhouse Coopers) as a sponsor for “professional advisory services” and

“As part of the new relationship, and in addition to the provision of professional advisory services, PwC will continue to work with local charities and non-profit organisations to maximise the social and environmental impact of the Games and its footprint.”

For Los Angeles, involvement of professional services firms was a key element of the success of the 1984 Olympic Games. Arthur Young & Co. – now merged with Ernst & Whinney (commercially known as “EY” today) – had a crucial early role in the financial oversight and projections for the organizing committee and its primary partner on the LAOOC program, Mike Mount, became the LAOOC’s Group Vice President for administration, including technology, materiel logistics, press operations, uniforms and more.

Ernst & Whinney was selected to operate the must-not-fail results processing and distribution program, running a stand-alone computer processing site in Long Beach as well as the results distribution at all of the venues.

Both were impressive performers on which the successful organization of the ‘84 Games relied heavily.

● Athletics ● Competition is heating up everywhere, no more so than in Ostrava, Czech Republic on Wednesday for the 60th Golden Spike meet (Continental Tour Gold), with five world-leading (outdoor) marks:

● Men/800 m: 1:44.14, Max Burgin (GBR)
● Men/3,000 m: 7:33.24, Joshua Cheptegei (UGA)
● Men/Steeple: 8:09.47, Getnet Wale (ETH)
● Men/10,000 m: 26:33.93, Jacob Kiplimo (UGA)
● Men/Javelin: 94.20 m (309-1), Johannes Vetter (GER)

Cheptegei was reported to be going after the 3,000 m world record of 7:20.67 from 1996, but was well short. Even so, it was a lifetime best for him. His countryman Kiplimo, the 2020 World Half Marathon Champion, ran away with the 10,000 m and moved to no. 7 on the all-time world list, with the no. 12 performance ever. He left a fine field in the dust: Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew was second in 27:07.49, a national record, and Illiass Aouani (ITA) scored a 27:45.81 lifetime best in third.

Irish journalist Cathal Dennehy tweeted: Kiplimo “ran in Nike Mamba spikes. I asked him why he didn’t run in the new-age super-spikes like the Dragonfly: ‘It’s not comfortable for me, but maybe in the Olympics I will use it. This Mamba is comfortable for me.’” Cheptegei and Kiplimo are scheduled to meet in Rome on 10 June over 5,000 m!

Vetter’s throw in the javelin was his third meet over 90 m this season; he’s the only one to get that far this season.

Beyond the leading marks were a slew of interesting sprints. American Fred Kerley braved cool, drizzly conditions to win the men’s 100 m in 9.96 over Justin Gatlin (10.08) and Canada’s Andre De Grasse (10.17). Kerley came back to finish second in the 200 m in 20.27, behind American Kenny Bednarek, who won in 19.93, his third sub-20 performance in three races in 2021!

In the women’s 200 m, American star Sha’Carri Richardson won convincingly in 22.35 into a 1.1 m/s headwind, in her first race outside of the Americas. She is scheduled to run in the Diamond League opener in Gateshead (GBR) on the 23rd against a strong field, including Jamaican superstar Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

Grenada’s 2012 Olympic men’s 400 m champ Kirani James won his race in 44.72, giving him two wins on the season. Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis edged American Sam Kendricks in the vault: 5.95 m (19-4 1/4) to 5.90 m (19-2 1/4).

The men’s triple jump was won by world leader Hugues Fabrice Zango (BUR) at 17.20 m (56-5 1/4), but the bigger news might have been the season-ending right Achilles tendon rupture of reigning Olympic champ Christian Taylor of the U.S. He apparently underwent surgery in Germany the next day, but his opportunity to compete at the U.S. Trials in a month cannot be imagined. Taylor was fourth in the event at 16.36 m (53-8 1/4) through three rounds, but then passed his fourth round jump and fouled in the fifth round and retired.

On Tuesday (18th) in Eisenstadt (GER), Austria’s Lukas Weisshaidinger took the world lead in the discus, winning at 68.40 m (224-5)

Bad news from Nigeria, where 1968 double Olympic gold medalist Lee Evans of the U.S. finally succumbed on Wednesday (19th) to the effects of a heart attack suffered the week before.

Evans, 74, had been recovering and receiving support at the Babcock University Teaching Hospital in Ilishan (NGR) after collapsing on 12 May during a dinner with friends.

A legend at San Jose State during the “Speed City” days of the late 1960s and a superstar at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, Evans won the 400 m in world-record time at 43.86 – the first man to run under 44.00 – and then anchored the U.S. men to a world-record 2:56.16 in the 4×400 m relay.

He held the 400 m record for 20 years and won five U.S. titles in the 400 m or 440 yards, in 1966-67-68-69-72. He made the 1972 Olympic Team on the relay, but never got to run as Vince Matthews and Wayne Collett were banned from the Games after their protest on the awards stand and John Smith was injured and couldn’t compete further.

Evans was a part of the “Olympic Project for Human Rights” at Mexico City and he and many other Black athletes wore black socks at the Games as a visible – if now forgotten – sign of protest, as well as “OPHR” buttons on their sweats. The 4×400 m medal winners – Evans, Larry James, Ron Freeman and Matthews – wore black berets on the podium as their form of protest during the awards.

Evans was also one of the sport’s biggest attractions indoors, especially in 1970 in duel after duel with Martin McGrady, usually over 600 yards. He spent most of the last 20 years of his life as a coach in Nigeria, helping runners at all levels there.

● Boxing ● The new sponsorship of the International Boxing Federation (AIBA) by the Russian energy giant Gazprom is having immediate effects.

The federation has been in debt for years, last tracked at $16 million-plus in its financial statements, yet it announced $400,000 in prize money for the Asian Boxing Championships on Tuesday:

“Asian Boxing Championships medalists will receive prize money from AIBA for the first time in the history of the event. The prize fund is 400’000 USD, it will be distributed among gold, silver and bronze medal winners in each weight category.

“For the boxers who take first place, both men and women, the award is 10’000 USD. For the second, the prize money is 5’000 USD and for both bronze medalists, it is 2’500 USD each.”

Said AIBA chief, Russian Umar Kremlev of the breakthrough offer, “We are following the initially planned strategy.”

● Cycling ● The 104th Giro d’ Italia continues with 13 of the 21 stages now complete and Colombia’s Egan Bernal maintaining an impressive 45-second lead over Russian Aleksandr Vlasov and 1:12 over Damiano Caruso (ITA).

In Wednesday’s 11th stage in Tuscany, Swiss Mauro Schmid, 21, took his first-ever professional win, outsprinting Alessandro Covi (ITA) to the line in 4:01:55 over the hilly 162 km route. Belgium’s Harm Vanhoucke was third, breaking away from a four-rider chase pack. Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel fell back from second to seventh overall, losing two minutes to the leader.

On Thursday, the 212 km stage 12 had four significant climbs from Turin to Bagno di Romana, with Italy’s Andrea Vendrame, 26, winning his first UCI World Tour race. He outleaned Chris Hamilton (AUS) at the line, both timed in 5:43:08. New Zealand’s George Bennett crossed ahead of Gianluca Brambila (ITA) for third, 15 seconds back.

Friday’s race is a sprinter’s special with a flat course over 198 km into Verona. Saturday’s race features a major uphill finish, with a modestly hilly course set for Sunday.

The UCI announced significant increases in minimum salaries and conditions for riders on the UCI Women’s World Tour on Thursday:

“This minimum salary for salaried female riders was €15,000 in 2020, rising to €20,000 in 2021. It will reach €27,500 in 2022, before joining the minimum salary for riders of the men’s UCI ProTeams (second level of men’s professional road cycling teams) in 2023, which is currently €32,100.

“The introduction of the minimum salary in the UCI Women’s WorldTeams was accompanied by other developments such as the introduction of health insurance, maternity leave, life insurance, a maximum number of race days and paid holidays. In addition to these developments, which are already in force, there will be an obligation to contribute to a pension plan from the 2022 season.”

(€1 = $1.22 U.S.)

Why not raise the women to the same level as the UCI World Tour for men? The announcement noted: “The men’s UCI ProTeams are the nearest equivalent to the UCI Women’s WorldTeams in terms of resources, structures and the number of people they employ.”

This is an improvement for sure, but signals that women’s cycling has a long way to go to begin to approach the earning power of the men’s World Tour.

● Football ● The Saudi Arabia football federation has proposed that the FIFA World Cup be held every two years. The proposal was announced on Wednesday (19th) in advance of the 71st FIFA Congress to be held online on Friday.

The proposal asks for a feasibility study to be carried out against the backdrop of an ever-busier calendar of domestic league matches and international games, either as friendlies or in continental competitions.

The idea has been floated numerous times and the tournament is expanding to 48 teams for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. Whether the calendar can be coordinated to allow for the hundreds of qualifying matches needed to select the teams, and also allow for domestic leagues and major continental events like the European and South American championships – major events on their own – is a major question to be reviewed.

● Gymnastics ● There is no resolution in sight to the USA Gymnastics bankruptcy case still ongoing at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana, but the lawyers are still billing.

The report of operations for April was filed on Thursday, with total billings in the case now surpassing $14 million at $14,012,315. Of this amount, only $8,334,548 has been paid – 59.5% – and only $300,000 during the month.

A court-ordered settlement program has been underway for months without any reported movement according to court documents filed since. A potentially important hearing on an “end run” around the bankruptcy proceedings by four plaintiffs in the case could be heard on 26 May.

● Ice Hockey ● The IIHF men’s World Championship is set to get started on Friday in Riga, Latvia, split among two arenas in the aftermath of the removal of planed co-host Belarus due to the continuing political unrest there.

The U.S. is slated to open on Saturday (22nd) in a tough Group B match with Finland at the Arena Riga. With the NHL playoffs in full swing, only one member of the 2019 Words team returns – Christian Wolanin, a defenseman with the non-playoff Los Angeles Kings.

A late addition to the squad was its head coach, Jack Capuano. An associate coach of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, Capuano was named on 10 May. He was the U.S. U-18 head coach at the 2005 Five Nations Cup and served as an assistant at both the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and the 2017 IIHF World Championship. Ottawa also did not make the NHL playoffs this season.

● Swimming ● Russian Kliment Kolesinkov continued his domination of the 2021 European Championships with his third gold medal in the 100 m Freestyle in 47.37, the second fastest time of the year behind only his world-leading 47.31 from April.

Kolesnikov already set two world records on the way to winning the 50 m Backstroke and added a leg on the winning 4×100 m Free Relay. And we’re only halfway through the meet!

The other world-leading marks so far:

● Men/400 m Free: 3:44.18, Martin Malyutin (RUS)
● Women/50 m Free: 23.97, Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED)
● Women/400 m Medley: 4:34.76, Katinka Hosszu (HUN)

On Thursday evening, Hungary’s Boglarka Kapas claimed the no. 2 time of 2021 with a 2:06.50 win in the 200 m Fly over Hosszu (2:08.14). Russian Anton Chupkov defended his Euro 200 m Breast title in 2:06.99, moving him to no. 3 on the year list.

In the meantime, a special, closed-entry meet of current and alumni American swimmers from Stanford, Texas and Texas A&M are in Austin for a high-level tune-up called the Longhorn Elite Classic.

In the Thursday morning sessions, Carson Foster ripped through a 4:11.56 in the men’s 400 m Medley to move to no. 4 on the world list. Katie Ledecky won her 400 m Free heat in 4:02.38, which only she and two others have bettered this year.

Thursday evening’s finals showed that Ledecky has not given up on the 100 m Free, as she out-touched reigning Olympic and World Champion Simone Manuel, 53.82-53.83. Those times are seasonal bests, but only around 20th on the 2021 world list. Ledecky then won the 400 m Free in 4:00.37, faster than anyone else in the world (but behind her world-leading 3:59.25)

Madisyn Cox won the women’s 400 m Medley in 4:36.61, now no. 6 on the world list. The meet continues through Sunday.

The second edition of the arbitration hearing between Chinese Olympic Freestyle star Yang Sun and the World Anti-Doping Agency is set for 25-27 May. Sun was banned for eight years for doping in February 2020 by a Court of Arbitration for Sport panel, but the swimmers successfully appealed to the Swiss Federal Tribunal that one member of the panel was prejudiced against him.

A second hearing was ordered, set to begin next week. WADA has taken pains to point out that the Tribunal’s order concerned only one of the arbitrators and made no finding against the substantive award of the eight-year ban. Stay tuned.

● Wrestling ● The long-delayed National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductions for the Class of 2020 will take place online on 4-5 June, originating from Stillwater, Oklahoma.

The wrestlers and coaches inducted will include Dremiel Byers, the 120 kg World Greco-Roman champion in 2002; two-time NCAA Champion at 177 pounds for Lehigh in 1977 and 1978, Mark Lieberman; legendary coach Bruce Burnett and 2006 World 66 kg Champion Bill Zadick, who has gone on to coach the U.S. national Freestyle team, including at the 2016 Rio Games.

A special Order of Merit award will be presented to longtime USA Wrestling Communications Director Gary Abbott, a much-deserved honor for his devotion to promoting the sport at all levels. Congrats, Gary!

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LANE ONE: For Tokyo and beyond, the IOC should heed the Captain’s warning on communications from “Cool Hand Luke”

Rich Perelman

May 20, 2021

tsx pix 2021-519 cool hand luke 750 (wiki) — Paul Newman (at left) in a lighter moment from the 1967 film, "Cool Hand Luke" (Photo: Wikipedia from the original trailer)

“What we’ve got here is … failure to communicate.”

That immortal line came from the iconic 1967 prison drama, “Cool Hand Luke,” starring Paul Newman as Luke and Strother Martin as the Captain, who first delivered those words after Luke’s first escape attempt.

The line comes back in the movie again and again, as now applies to the International Olympic Committee. The IOC is working with the Tokyo 2020 organizers to stage the Games of the XXXII Olympiad this summer with one hand, while dealing with the broad disapproval of the Japanese public to its government’s activities against the coronavirus that has also spread to worry about the Games as a threat to public safety.

And the IOC and its partners in the Olympic Movement, including the National Olympic Committees, are hardly being passive:

● On 6 May, the IOC announced “the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE to donate doses of the companies’ COVID-19 vaccine to Games participants from National Olympic and Paralympic Committees around the world. National Olympic Committees (NOCs) will work with their local governments to coordinate local distribution in accordance with each country’s vaccination guidelines and consistent with local regulations.”

● On Tuesday (18th), PanAm Sports confirmed an agreement on Tuesday to provide 4,000 doses of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine to athletes and officials in the Pan American region headed for Tokyo, including the cost of airfare to come to Miami, Florida for the injection, in cooperation with the University of Miami and the Consulate General of Mexico in Miami.

● Also on Tuesday, the AroundTheRings.com site posted a news release – with the source not disclosed or linked – stating that “The National Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Argentine Olympic Committee (COA) communicate that the Olympic and Paralympic athletes qualified to compete in Tokyo, together with their coaches and assistants will be vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to the trip to participate in the games, after four years of preparation and training”

and

“It should be noted that countries such as the United States, Russia, China, Japan, Brazil, Germany, Australia, France, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Colombia and Peru have already started or will start vaccination plans aimed at athletes who have qualified for the competition.”

● On Wednesday (19th), the latest meeting of the IOC Coordination Commission was held online, accompanied by an open letter from Commission Chair John Coates (AUS) that noted in pertinent part:

“The [IOC] President confirmed that as many as 75 per cent of the residents of the Olympic Village are already vaccinated or have secured vaccination. And we have good reason to believe that this figure will be well over 80 per cent at the time of the Games.”

At the same time, the online petition to cancel the Games from a former, three-time candidate for Tokyo Governor has run out of steam. It gathered 200,000 signatures in its first 49 hours and 23 minutes from 5-7 May, and only 175,000 additional signatures as of 2 p.m. Japanese time on Thursday, 20 May, across the following 13 days. The petition attracted about 5,000 signatures over the last 49-plus hours, hardly a flood.

There will be more announcements coming, day by day, to try and shore up support for the Games:

● On Thursday in Tokyo, Kyodo News reported that the organizing committee, which had originally expected about 180,000 official visitors for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, now expects the total to be not more than 78,000, with further reduction possible (probable, actually).

● Look for more National Olympic Committees to announce that their entire delegations will have been vaccinated prior to arriving in Japan for the Games, amid even stricter regulations to be imposed on Olympic visitors to Japan in the third version of the IOC’s “playbooks,” coming in June.

● It will be little surprise if the Tokyo organizers confirm that no spectators will be allowed to attend the Games. This decision is due around the end of this month.

All of these actions make sense, all are or will be welcomed, but will have only limited effect on the view of the Games by the Japanese public if the overall coronavirus situation does not improve, at least in the Tokyo area.

This is, for the most part, due to public concerns about the virus, but also to the difficult communications challenges faced by the IOC and the rest of the Olympic Movement. The coronavirus makes promotional events, rallies and public programming impossible and news releases, videos and social media postings are passive, not active, responses.

The stern and austere Tokyo Games will come and go over the next 82 days, when the Closing Ceremony will be held, followed by the much smaller Paralympics that will end on 5 September. Then the work will start.

The IOC will get no rest as the debate over the staging of the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing next February is already hot, with calls from activists in and around China for boycotts, and National Olympic Committees and others standing for the right of athletes to compete apart from the issue of host country policies, no matter how horrific.

But then there will be more than two years until Paris 2024 and an opportunity for the IOC to get its message out in a clearer way. But videos on the Olympic Channel, news releases on Olympic.org and Twitter traffic will not get the IOC to where it wants to go.

Although not created for this purpose, the formation of the IOC’s Future Hosts Commissions for the Olympic and Winter Games offers an opportunity to change the way future Games opportunities are understood.

Take the 23 March 2021 vote of the Brisbane City Council to support hosting the Games of the XXXV Olympiad in 2032. It passed by 24-1, with Queensland Greens Party member Jonathan Sri voting against it.

Sri explained at length why he voted against the proposal, regurgitating the old criticisms against the Games, many of which have been targeted by current IOC chief Thomas Bach (GER):

● The Games are so expensive they now draw no interest, so why should Brisbane bid? In fact, when Brisbane was identified as the “targeted” bidder for 2032, there were howls from multiple countries, including Germany, Hungary, Qatar, India, a possible joint bid from the Koreas and others.

● The Games are too costly, then going on to criticize the Australian plan – not requested by the IOC – to spend up to A$1 billion on expanding an iconic, existing stadium and creating a civic plaza and public transit link for the area (which is in Sri’s own district!). That’s not the IOC’s doing; in fact, the IOC is not especially in favor of this, and neither is Sri, even with the benefits for his own constituents!

● The Games are an environmental disaster because a lot of people will attend. So, you’re against tourism, right, Mr. Sri? Ready to vaporize one of Australia’s important employment centers?

● Residents will be locked down during the Games, with “dramatic curtailments of basic civil liberties.” Sounds like Sri needs to speak with his own police force, not the IOC. You are a Council member, right?

● The cost of housing, short-term and long-term, will go up because the Games will make Brisbane a more popular area. Count on the Greens to be against anyone doing better, unless it’s them.

● “Given the current state America is in, an Olympics budget that depends on a big chunk of the money flowing in via American broadcasting rights agreements and American tourists looks pretty risky.” Sri failed to note that the IOC’s rights agreement with NBC already covers the 2032 Games, as do many TOP sponsor agreements.

● The 2032 Games will be a distraction from more important work. Sounds like the Greens need more votes, right mate? That’s your business, not the IOC’s.

Sri’s comments resonate among those – like himself – who don’t know what the actual bidding situation is, the actual commitments the IOC has made to Paris, Los Angeles and for 2032 and the IOC’s much-changed stance on spending, sustainability, gender equity and other issues.

This failure to communicate is an unsurprising result of the lack of any significant public IOC involvement with potential bid cities, regions or countries. Australian IOC member Coates, who was an important member of the Sydney organizing committee for the 2000 Games, has been visible, but as a promoter of the 2032 bid. As an explainer of the IOC’s bid policies, his credibility is compromised in his home country.

But the IOC has multiple, accomplished members on its Future Host Commissions. Norway’s Kristin Kloster Aasen – a 10-year Board member of the environmental energy & technology providers association Green Business AS – chairs the 10-member Games of the Olympiad group, along with members from Canada, Cape Verde, Croatia (former Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic!), China, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Italy, Kenya and New Zealand.

Romania’s Octavian Morariu chairs the 8-member Winter Games group, with members from Afghanistan, Chile (the impassioned PanAm Sports chief Neven Ilic), Sweden, Austria, China, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

(Update: Thanks to reader Greg Harney for correcting Ilic’s nationality!)

Where are they on the speaking circuit in front of national-regional-local government associations across the globe? Finance ministers on all governmental levels in possible host countries? The Association of National Olympic Committees and regional NOC associations?

Along with IOC Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi (SUI), they could make formidable presentations, backed up by the publicly-available Host City Contracts and IOC commitments through Olympic Agenda 2020 and Agenda 2020+5.

The rules for staging an Olympic Games are changing dramatically in Tokyo, and Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028 have signaled their willingness to change the way the Games are organized to maximize public benefits. LA28, for its part, has committed $160 million to waive participation costs for youth in the City’s Recreation and Parks Department program through 2028 thanks to its agreement with the IOC.

Does Sri know about this? No doubt the answer is no. That’s a failure in communication that only persistent, person-to-person presentations can change, starting about a year from now.

As the Captain said in “Cool Hand Luke”: “Now, it’s all up to you.”

Rich Perelman
Editor

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HEARD AT HALFTIME: Some doctors say cancel Tokyo, others sign up to help; 4,000 J&J doses for PanAm athletes; Cheer Cards return for Canada

Rich Perelman

May 18, 2021

tsx pix 2021-518 cheer cards cheerios (BusWire) — "Cheer Card" versions of Cheerios on sale in Canada! (Photo: Business Wire)

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

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● The Tokyo Medical Practitioners Association, which represents about 6,000 physicians, sent an open letter last Friday to Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga asked the government to convince the International Olympic Committee to cancel this summer’s Olympic Games.

On Monday, Kyodo News reported that the organizing committee’s call for 200 volunteer physicians to help with the Games has now had 395 doctors sign up to help.

The current state of emergency in the Tokyo area and other prefectures in Japan is expected to last through the end of this month.

PanAm Sports announced an agreement on Tuesday to provide 4,000 doses of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine to athletes and officials in the Pan American region headed for Tokyo, including the cost of airfare to come to Miami, Florida for the injection.

The shots will be provided under an agreement with the University of Miami and the Consulate General of Mexico in Miami. The announcement noted that “The NOCs must send their request listing the athletes and officials they wish to be vaccinated as soon as possible so they can be inoculated at least 30 days before entering Japan.”

Comment: Wow; very impressive achievement by PanAm Sports.

Not everyone is unhappy with the plans for an austere Games in Tokyo. New Zealand’s two-time Olympic 1,500 m medalist Nick Willis, 38, told Reuters:

“I actually think people are going to perform at a really high level and a greater depth because there won’t be the same distractions that athletes from all the different sports face.

“Track and field, it can be quite challenging because we’re in the second half of the Games. So you get all the swimmers partying it up in the second week of the Games, and coming home from the parties at 4 a.m. outside of your apartments, making a hell of a noise.

“So there’s not going to be any of those distractions this time round so that will be quite nice.”

Further to our 6 May story on British sprinter Adam Gemili, who intends to protest at the Tokyo Games because “We are not in the public eye that often,” are parallel comments from Olympic icon and triple gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee (USA).

Last week, Joyner-Kersee, 59, told Fox2Now in St. Louis:

“For a lot of athletes, really, the Olympic movement is the only time they can really know that the world is watching, and so you can say it is a political stance, but I think it is people just fighting for their own civil rights.

“I think the most important thing is for the athletes is to get out there and to perform well. And once they perform well, now whatever place they decide they are going to be on the podium then what comes after that, that’s up to the athlete. And then it will be left up to the judge and jury.”

Reporter Katherine Hessel asked her about the 1968 Mexico City protests by Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos after the men’s 200 m final. Joyner-Kersee observed:

“That expression, they were talking about hunger and poverty and equal opportunity for all. It’s still some of the same issues we are facing today.”

As noted in the story on Gemili, what does this say about so many Olympic sports that have modest, little or no worldwide impact?

A unique Canadian promotion by General Mills has returned for the Tokyo Games: Cheer cards.

Created in partnership with the Canadian Olympic Committee, the program offers “Cheer Cards” on boxes of Honey Nut, Multi-Grain and Yellow Box Cheerios, for a limited time (of course). The process is simple enough: get a “Cheer” box of Cheerios, cut out the postcard from the box, write a message to the team or a favorite athlete and “MAIL the postcard at any Canada Post mailbox or post office. No stamp is necessary as postage is pre-paid.”

More than 100,000 such Cheer cards have been sent to Canadian athletes over the past 10 years while the promotion has been used. General Mills has partnered with Canadian stars Andre De Grasse (track & field), Penny Oleksiak (swimming), Rosie MacLennan (trampoline), Matt Berger (skateboarding) and Jennifer Abel (diving). Nice.

● XXIV Olympic Winter Games: Beijing 2022 ● The Associated Press reported Sunday (16th) on a new call by eight groups representing activists in Hong Kong, Tibet, Taiwan and the Uyghurs for a full-scale boycott of the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.

“‘The time for talking with the IOC is over,’ Lhadon Tethong of the Tibet Action Institute said in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press. ‘This cannot be games as usual or business as usual; not for the IOC and not for the international community.’”

The groups have posted a Web site called BoycottBeijing2022.net, including:

“We call on all governments and people, including all National Olympic Committees and Olympic athletes, to boycott the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games. The Chinese government is committing genocide against the Uyghur people and waging an unprecedented campaign of repression in East Turkistan, Tibet and Southern Mongolia, as well as an all-out assault on democracy in Hong Kong. At the same time, the Chinese Communist Party is engaged in a merciless crackdown on Chinese human rights defenders, activists, faith communities and journalists, and implementing an intense strategy of intimidation and geopolitical bullying against Taiwan.

“Participating in the Beijing Olympic Games at this time would be tantamount to endorsing China’s genocide against the Uyghur people, and legitimizing the increasingly repressive policies of the totalitarian Chinese regime.”

On Tuesday, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) called for a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Games in comments during a program hosted by the Congressional-Executive Commission on China and Human Rights Commission, including:

“Let’s not honor the Chinese government by having heads of state go to China to show their support for their athletes. For heads of state to go to China in light of a genocide that is ongoing while you’re sitting there in your seats, really begs the question, ‘What moral authority do you have to speak about human rights anyplace in the world if you’re willing to pay your respects to the Chinese government as they commit genocide.’”

U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-Utah) brought up the concept in a 15 March editorial, emphasizing pushback against the Chinese government and not placing athletes in the middle of the issue.

● World University Games ● The 2021 World University Games in Chengdu (CHN) has had its new dates confirmed for 26 June to 7 July of 2022.

The International University Sports Federation (FISU) announced its 2025 World University Games hosts as Rhine-Ruhr, Germany (summer) and Turin, Italy (winter).

With the 2023 World University Games set for Yekaterinburg in Russia, look for the U.S. to be awarded the 2027 WUG for the Raleigh-Durham region. It would be the second time the summer University Games would be held in the U.S., after the 1993 WUG in Buffalo.

● World Anti-Doping Agency ● Even with a change of administrations, the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy (US ONDCP) is withholding the U.S. dues payment of $2.93 million to the World Anti-Doping Agency.

A new report concerning WADA was delivered by the US ONDCP to Congress on Monday, continuing to call for reforms. Much less confrontational than the prior report last June, it still asks for “fundamental change” in the organization.

Importantly, however, the report does not repeat the “we pay, so we must play” stance of the June 2020 report, which essentially demanded seats on the WADA Executive Committee in proportion to its dues commitment. Instead, the new report states “we would welcome a dialogue with WADA colleagues that would result in a predictable process through which we would get a fair chance to represent the U.S. on the Executive Committee.”

(Comment: One way would be to show up and get nominated, which the U.S. failed to do the last time an opening for the ExCom was available at the Pan American level.)

Conversely, the report demands more independent voices within WADA, not tied to any other body: “Progress may be difficult to achieve until WADA decides as an institution to empower enough independent voices inside the organization to represent a voting majority on important decisions.”

The report lists “Ten Challenges” for WADA, mostly in governance, asking for “fully independent” WADA appointees, “independent athletes,” more participation by national Anti-Doping organizations, make the Executive Committee more “independent,” remove “potential undue influence by the Olympic Movement,” and, as expected, given its decision in the Russian doping scandal case:

“The Court of Arbitration for Sport lacks transparency and independence and has failed to adequately sanction state-sponsored doping – WADA’s voice is needed to help address this.”

As to funding, the report notes that “no decision on paying all, or a portion of WADA dues, will be made until after those meetings in May.”

WADA posted a reply the same day, with President Witold Banka (POL) quoted: “WADA takes note that the ONDCP recognizes the hard work and considerable progress achieved by the Agency during the past year” and “I look forward to welcoming the Acting Director of the ONDCP, Regina LaBelle, to her first meeting of the Foundation Board later this week. Indeed, I have personally invited Acting Director LaBelle to play a leading role in WADA’s development of a Code of Ethics and formation of an independent Ethics Board.”

However, after seeing the lengthy lecture from the US ONDCP on WADA’s shortcomings, Banka also got in the agency’s regular dig at the U.S. sports system and anti-doping:

“In addition, WADA continues to offer its support to the U.S. Government, the ONDCP and the United States Anti-Doping Agency in their efforts to strengthen the fight against doping in their country. Currently, approximately 90% of American athletes do not compete under the terms of the World Anti-Doping Code, with the main professional leagues and college sports so far operating outside that protection.”

Perhaps not coincidentally, WADA announced a new contribution of C$936,108 (~$748,390 U.S.) from the government of Canada on Tuesday. This “will be dedicated primarily to the Agency’s scientific research and intelligence and investigations (I&I) activities.”

This is in addition to Canada’s $1.47 million (U.S.) contribution to the WADA budget for 2021. The WADA headquarters are in Montreal.

WADA’s campaign for additional fund for its investigatory arm has now received $7.07 million in donations and pledges from governments in China, Cyprus, Greece, India, Poland and Saudi Arabia, Egypt, France, and now Canada.

● Athletics ● The 2021 USATF Open in Ft. Worth, Texas had to deal with swirling winds, but that did not stop some excellent marks from the strong fields assembled.

In the men’s 400 m, Michael Cherry exploded to a lifetime best of 44.37, no. 2 in the world this year; his prior best of 44.66 came in 2017. In the field, world leader Rudy Winkler won the men’s hammer at 79.69 m (261-5), further than anyone else has thrown so far this year.

Allyson Felix won the women’s 400 m in an encouraging 50.88, the no. 12 mark in 2021 and no. 7 among Americans. It was her first open 400 m since 2019 and her fastest since 2017.

The sprint races were hampered by headwinds and the times reflected this: Ronnie Baker won the men’s 100 m in 10.39 (wind -3.2 m/s); Mikiah Brisco won the women’s 100 m in 11.42 (-3.3); Aaron Mallett won the men’s 110 m hurdles in 13.64 (-1.9) and Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn took the women’s 100 m hurdles in 12.84 (-2.1).

The Pac-12 Conference championships were held at USC in Los Angeles last Friday through Sunday, with the most notable mark coming from Trojan senior Anna Cockrell. She won the 100 m hurdles in 12.79 (wind 0.0), then took the 400 m hurdles in a lifetime best of 54.77, moving her to no. 3 on the world list for 2021. Her prior best was 55.14 from 2017.

One of the less appealing aspects of the meet, and another sign of disrespect for distance running, was the 5,000 m. The men’s race had 55 starters (yes, 55!), to which Pac-12 Networks announcer Jim Watson, asked “Does the health department know about this?,” followed by 46 starters in the women’s race. Ridiculous.

Strong running at Sunday’s Generali Milano Marathon in Italy, with world-leading marks in both the men’s and women’s races. Kenya’s Titus Ekiru won the men’s race with a lifetime best of 2:02:57, followed by Reuben Kiprop Kipyego (2:03:55) and Barnabas Kiptum (2:04:17). That places Ekiru – with a prior best of 2:04:46 – equal-5th on the all-time list and one of only six men to break 2:03 on a record-legal course. He’s also on a five-marathon winning streak from 2018 on.

The women’s winner was Ethiopian Hiwot Gebrekidan, who ran away from the field to win in 2:19:35, more than three minutes clear of Racheal Mutgaa (KEN: 2:22:50) and Eunice Chumba (BRN: 2:23:10). Gebrekidan’s prior best was 2:23:50 from 2019, so the questions start with (1) was she drug-tested and (2) what shoes was she wearing?

American triple jumper Omar Craddock, 29, the 2019 Pan American Games champ and the 2013 and 2015 U.S. champion, was suspended for 20 months from 13 November 2020 to 13 July 2022 and will miss the U.S. Olympic Trials and the Tokyo Games (if qualified).

Craddock was held responsible for “whereabouts” failures, and given his prior cooperation with testing, had his suspension reduced from 24 months to 20. He missed doping tests on 20 August 2019, a failing failure effective on 1 April 2020 and a third missed test on 29 July 2020.

The decision is appealable to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The New York Road Runners Club confirmed that it will hold the 50th New York City Marathon on 7 November with a field of 33,000 runners. This is a reduced-size field from the 53,640 finishers in 2019, but was worked out in cooperation with the State of New York and the City of New York.

Lee Evans, the 1968 Olympic 400 m champion and long-time world-record holder at 43.86, suffered a traumatic stroke in Nigeria last week (13th) and has been hospitalized in Ilishan-Remo, Nigeria.

A long-time coach in Nigeria, Evans is now 74 and being treated at the Babcock University Teaching Hospital. Chief Segun Odegbami, writing on the Vanguard news site, updated Evans’ situation over the weekend:

“If there is any doubt in my mind that America is the greatest country in the world, the last ounce evaporated with the developments on the Lee Evans’ matter in the past 24 hours.

“With the help of some Nigerian former athletes living in the United States, all of whose lives were impacted by Lee, I made contact with two of Lee’s children. They have swung into action immediately.

“I also reached out to the American embassy in Lagos ( and they have also reached out to me too since then) and had a robust conversation with the officials who left an indelible impression on me. …

“A whole army of Lee’s friends, former athletes, and colleagues in various countries around the world have risen and are aligning with the plans being put in place by the family, his siblings in America, and the American embassy in Nigeria.

“There is no lack of anything needed to take care of Lee’s present and future state.”

● Cycling ● Monday’s Stage 10 of the 104th Giro d’Italia was a hilly course that wound down to a long downhill finish after 139 km in Foligno, perfect for sprinters and especially for Slovakian superstar Peter Sagan.

He managed to get to the line ahead of Fernando Gaviria (COL) and Davide Cimolai (ITA) in the mass finish, claiming his second career Giro stage victory, after also winning stage 10 in 2020!

The overall leaders did not change, with Egan Bernal (COL) leading Remco Evenepoel (BEL) by 14 seconds and Russian Aleksandr Vlasov by 22 seconds.

The UCI Track Champions League was formally announced in an online event from France and Great Britain on Tuesday, promising six events in a streamlined format from 6 November to 11 December.

The racing will be held each week for six weeks – a perfect format to develop fan interest – and will be staged in velodromes in Spain, France, Lithuania, Israel and two in Great Britain. Just four events will be held: Sprint and Keirin in the Sprint category and Elimination and Scratch races in the Endurance category. Prize money of more than €500,000 will be available, with payouts for the individual races as well as seasonal standings.

The project is part of an important partnership between the UCI and American television powerhouse Discovery, which owns Eurosport and is now trying to acquire the Time Warner media assets from AT&T.

● Football ● North Korea pulled out of the Asian World Cup 2022 qualifying tournament and will miss the World Cup Finals in Qatar.

This throws Group H of the second round of the Asian qualifiers into trouble, with the North Koreans having played five (2-1-2) and still due to play Turkmenistan and Sri Lanka.

● Judo ● USA Judo competed its 2021 National Championships over the weekend in Reno, Nevada, crowning national champions in a slew of categories. Among the seniors, only two repeated as champions from 2019: Adham Ramadan in the men’s Open weight category and Nina Cutro-Kelly in the women’s +78 kg class.

There were four women who moved up from silver to gold from 2019 to 2021, including Jeannette Hong (48 kg), Mariah Holguin (57 kg), Sara Golden (63 kg) and Melissa Myers (70 kg).

● Swimming ● The European Championships are on in Budapest, Hungary and the first two days of swims saw two world records from Russia’s Kliment Kolesnikov in the 50 m Backstroke.

Already the record holder at 24.00 in 2018, he zoomed 23.93 to win his semifinal, and then did it again in the final, lowering the standard to 23.80! He crushed the field, with Romania’s Robert Glinta second in 24.42.

Dutch sprinter Ranomi Kromowidjojo won the women’s 50 m Free in 23.97, taking over the world lead for 2021. It’s her second European title, also in 2016.

Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu, the European record holder won the 400 m Medley in a world-leading 4:34.76.

Russia got a second world-leader in the men’s 400 m Free, with Martin Malyutin closeing hard to win in 3:44.18 to 3:44.63 for Austrian Felix Auboeck.

British star Adam Peaty won his fourth straight European title in the 100 m Breaststroke in 57.66, ahead of Arno Kamminga (NED: 58.10). Peaty’s mark is the no. 9 time in history.

● Collegiate Sports ● After seeing some $30 million in contributions to support the retention of 11 varsity sports set to be cut, Stanford agreed to reinstate all 11 varsity sports set to be ended last July.

The official announcement noted: “Stanford leaders announced today that while the structural financial challenges facing Stanford Athletics remain very real, changed circumstances including newly galvanized philanthropic interest have provided a new path to support the 11 sports.”

An activist group, 36SportsStrong had been lobbying the school to reinstate the sports for five years in order to allow fund-raising of $200 million to endow the sports in perpetuity. It appears they will get their chance.

The sports include men’s and women’s fencing, field hockey, lightweight rowing, men’s rowing, co-ed and women’s sailing, squash, synchronized swimming, men’s volleyball and wrestling.

● At the BuZZer ● Toyota made a major commitment to U.S. Paralympic sport, announcing on Monday that it will contribute “nearly $5 million in stipend and sponsorship opportunities that will directly impact the lives of eligible U.S. Paralympic athletes aiming to compete at the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 or the Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.”

A one-time stipend of $3,000 will be made “to all eligible Team USA Paralympic athletes who are currently training and in contention to represent the United States at the Tokyo and Beijing Games.”

Toyota will also sponsor some individual Paralympic athletes for Tokyo and Beijing. It’s another expansion of Toyota’s involvement with Paralympic sport, both as a sponsor of the International Paralympic Committee, but also many of the U.S. Paralympic national governing bodies.

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For our updated – as of 1 May – 506-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

LANE ONE: College football showed that being “athlete-centric” means the Tokyo 2020 Games will go on

Rich Perelman

May 17, 2021

tsx pix 2021-517 fields, justin sugar bowl 750 — Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, the Offensive Most Valuable Player in the 2021 Allstate Sugar Bowl (Photo: Allstate Sugar Bowl)

(For our Highlights of last week’s top national and
international sports competitions, click here.)

The news reports from Japan are filled with anti-Olympic petitions and polls, screaming for the cancellation of the Tokyo 2020 Games, set to begin on 23 July.

A weekend poll by the Kyodo News Service received 1,065 responses with some interesting results from its report:

● Holding the Games: 59.7% favor cancellation, 25.2% approve if without spectators, 12.6% approve with limited spectators.

● Virus concern: 87.7% concerned about virus spread by athletes and officials.

● Virus trend: 90.3% concerned about the spread of Covid-19 in Japan.

● Vaccine availability: 85.0% said the vaccine rollout has been too slow.

● Government response: 71.5% are upset with the handling of the virus.

Against all this was a remarkable response to another question:

“Asked whether Japanese Olympics and Paralympics athletes should be given priority in being vaccinated, 53.9 percent of respondents said the athletes should be, while 13.1 percent said otherwise and 32.7 percent replied they cannot give a clear response.”

Huh?

If the Games are so unpopular and the vaccination program so poorly rolled out, why a 54-13% favorable reply to priority vaccinations of Japanese athletes?

Last Friday, three-time Tokyo gubernatorial candidate Kenji Utsunomiya “delivered” his online petition to cancel the Games, with 351,868 signatures. It’s still available and as of 11 a.m. Pacific time today (17th), it had 370,241 signees.

However, it’s worth noting that it reached 200,000 signatures in just more than two days (49:23 from 5 to 7 May) but not even that many in the succeeding 10 days.

What does all this tell us? The Kyodo poll results as reported show high concern about the coronavirus and the country’s vaccination rate (85-87-90%), high concern about the government’s response (71.5%) and a significantly lower percentage in favor of canceling the Games (59.7%).

Does this ring a bell?

Late last summer, the college football season was supposed to collapse, right? Remember the timeline:

● 08 August: The Mid-American Conference postpones its season.
● 10 August: The Mountain West Conference postpones its season.
● 11 August: The Big Ten and Pacific-12 Conferences postpone their seasons.

At that point, all of college football was widely expected to cancel for 2020. But:

● 12 August: The Big 12 announced a 10-game season schedule.
● 16 August: Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields starts a “We Want to Play” petition
● 17 August: The Southeastern Conference announces its schedule.

Fields’s petition gathered more than 240,000 signatures in just more than a day and it had an impact:

● 16 September: The Big Ten Conference announces it will play.
● 24 September: The Pacific-12 Conference announces it will play.
● 24 September: The Mountain West Conference announces it will play.
● 25 September: The Mid-American Conference announces it will play.

Only three schools in the 130-member Football Bowl Subdivision – independents Connecticut and New Mexico State, and Old Dominion (C-USA) – decided not to play in the fall. (At an average of 100 players per school and 127 schools, that’s 12,700 players: more than will participate in Tokyo by more than 1,500!)

The season was held and a champion was crowned. There were trials and tribulations across the five months of games from September to January, but it worked. The Olympic and Paralympic Games will come and go in two weeks apiece.

The Japanese public is right to be concerned with its public health status, and with elections due in the fall, its political leaders are under pressure to step up the pace of vaccinations across the country.

But the college football season – and the NFL season for that matter – demonstrated that sport can be played in an ascetic, antiseptic and austere environment as is being planned for the Tokyo Games. That will likely include:

● No spectators of any kind.
● Continued pressure to lower the number of officials attending.
● Extreme attention to testing, including daily testing for athletes.
● Tokyo residents told they must stay away from the Games.

With a third edition of the IOC’s “Playbooks” for athletes, officials, media and others coming in June, look for even stiffer requirements. The current program is for athletes to come as much as five days prior to their events and leave two days after; look for this to be shaved further.

Tokyo 2020 chief executive Toshiro Muto said last week that the expected 180,000 visiting officials will total no more than 90,000 now … and Muto added, “The number may be really small if we consider (narrowing it down) to just individuals without whom the Olympics cannot take place.” Look for that 90,000 figure to get smaller.

The cynics who wail that the Games are going on only to allow the International Olympic Committee to collect its television and sponsorship monies conveniently forget last year’s comments that, for its part, the IOC would have been better off financially to cancel the Games, based on its insurance coverage.

But it did not and has stayed the course. Thanks to excellent research provided by Olympedia.org founder Bill Mallon (USA), Tokyo will be the only Olympic opportunity for 73.7% of the expected 11,091 athletes.

That’s 8,147 one-and-done Olympians. Mallon’s analysis of all Olympic Games showed that of 114,887 athletes who have ever competed in the summer Games, 84,705 (73.7%) were in one Games only. Some 21,542 (18.8%) appeared in two Games and just 6,398 (5.6%) in three. That’s 98.1% of the all-time total.

This is the responsibility that comes with being “athlete-centric.” The Big Ten Conference did not take into account the determination of Ohio State’s Fields and others who used their voice – there’s that “athlete’s voice” again – to change the stance of a conference which had stated that its decision to postpone “will not be revisited.”

Is it possible that the 2020 Games will be cancelled? Sure, if the coronavirus rages out of control, at a level far greater than it is now, but even the current higher infection rate is a fraction of what has been experienced elsewhere and Tokyo and other prefectures are already taking steps against the spread, including increased vaccinations.

Fear is a factor, but a locked-down, spectator-less Games offers protection for both participants and the Japanese public. And it gives more than 8,000 athletes their once-in-a-lifetime chance to participate in the Olympic Games. Supporting them in a responsible way is the definition of “athlete-centric.”

Rich Perelman
Editor

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For our updated – as of 1 May – 506-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

HIGHLIGHTS: American Junior 400 m mark for Mu; Andrew brilliant trifecta in Tyr Pro Swim Series; Knibb wins World Tri Yokohoma!

Rich Perelman

May 16, 2021

tsx pix 2021-516 knibb, taylor wts yokohama — A win for American Taylor Knibb at the World Triathlon Series in Yokohama! (Photo: Worth Triathlon/Janos Schmidt)

Headline results of noteworthy competitions around the world:

● Athletics ● Fireworks were expected at the SEC Championships in College Station, Texas and LSU’s JuVaughn Harrison delivered on Friday with a sensational win at 2.36 m (7-8 3/4), the world leader for 2021 and equal-seventh all-time U.S. Harrison had to be that good to beat Darryl Sullivan (USA/Tennessee), who finished second at 2.33 m (7-7 3/4).

The big marks kept coming on Saturday, with LSU’s Terrance Laird (USA) winning both the 100 m and 200 m with big-time marks of 9.80w (+3.2 m/s) and a legal 19.82 (+1.7), the no. 2 mark in the world this year before his own 19.81 at the Texas Relays.

World leader Noah Williams (USA/LSU) won the 400 m in 44.37, the no. 2 time of the year, ahead of Texas A&M’s Bryce Deadmon (USA), at 44.50, a lifetime best and no. 3 on the year list. Third was Georgia soph Elija Godwin (USA), with a huge lifetime best of 44.61, now no. 6 in 2021. His old best was 45.21!

Alabama’s Tamara Clark (USA) also sizzled in the women’s sprints, winning in wind-aided times of 10.87 (+2.7) and 21.89 (+4.1). Then came Texas A&M fresh superstar Athing Mu, who won the 400 m in a stunning 49.84, no. 4 on the year list for 2021. That makes her equal-19th all-time U.S. and gives her the American Junior Record, moving Sanya Richards-Ross’s 49.89 time from 2004 out of the record books.

What event(s) will Mu run at the Olympic Trials? 400 or 800? 400 and 800? Could we see a leg on the 4×400 m in Tokyo?

Trinidad’s Tyra Gittens, competing for Texas A&M, won the SEC title with a world-leading 6,418, the no. 3 performance in U.S. collegiate history.

At the Big 12 Championships in Manhattan, Kansas, Iowa State soph Wesley Kiptoo (KEN) won all three distance events in 8:31.82 (Steeple), 13:29.92 (5,000 m) and 28:22.98 (10,000 m). Certainly not world leaders, but still pretty impressive!

The first outdoor stop of the 2021 American Track League circuit – “The Track Meet” – at Crean Lutheran HS in Irvine, California featured strong fields, including impressive wins by two Rio 2016 gold medalists:

● Matthew Centrowitz powered away at the finish to win the 1,500 m in 3:35.26, his fastest since the 2019 World Championships (8th: 3:32.81) and his fastest before June 1 since 2017.

● Jamaica’s Omar McLeod won the men’s 110 m hurdles in 13.11 (wind +1.4 m/s), the no. 2 mark in the world for 2021, ahead of Devon Allen (13.26) and Daniel Roberts (13.30).

In the men’s 100 m, Trayvon Bromell continued his undefeated 2021 outdoor season in the event, winning easily in 9.92 (+1.5 m/s), well ahead of fellow American Chris Royster (10.22).

Saturday’s evening session saw a world-leading 14:35.34 win by Dutch superstar Sifan Hassan in the women’s 5,000 m, and a 13:18.49 win for Canada’s Mo Ahmed in the men’s 5,000.

● Canoe-Kayak ● The first ICF Sprint World Cup of the season was on in Szeged (HUN), with the home team taking home 15 medals to 10 for the Ukraine and nine for Germany. The regatta also included the European Olympic Qualifier for Tokyo.

In the open racing, American Nevin Harrison – the 2019 World Champion in the C1 200 m, held at this site – won again in 47.59, clearly ahead of Yarisleidis Cirilo Duboys of Cuba (47.88) and Liudmyla Luzan of Ukraine (47.91). Harrison also teamed with Ken Kasperbauer to finish fifth in the C2 Mixed 200 m final.

Ukraine’s Luzan came back to win the women’s C1 500 m race and two medals with Anastasiia Chetverikova in the C2 200 m final (bronze) and a win in the C2 500 m.

Germany won seven events in all, including the men’s C1 500 m (Moritz Adam), C1 1,000 m (Conrad-Robin Scheibner), the C2 1,000 m (Sebastian Brendel and Tim Hecker), the men’s K1 1,000 m (Jacob Schopf) and K2 1,000 m (Max Hoff and Schopf). Their two women’s wins came in the K2 500 m and K4 500 m events.

Hungary scored individual wins in the men’s K1 500 m (Bence Nadas), men’s K1 5,000 m (Balint Noe) and women’s K1 1,000 m (Emese Kohalmi).

● Cycling ● The 104th Giro d’Italia took a turn to the favorites on Sunday, as 2019 Tour de France winner Egan Bernal (COL) won the challenging 158 km from Castel di Sangro to Campo Felice, with six climbs and an uphill finish to the Rocca di Cambio.

Simon Carr (GBR) and France’s Geoffrey Bouchard broke from the peloton with about 27 km left in the stage, then Bouchard carried on alone and had a 25-second gap on the field. But he was slowly being reeled in as the race went uphill to the finish and was joined by Koen Bouwman (NED) with 1,000 m left.

But with less than 500 m remaining, Bernal stormed past both, with Italy’s Giulio Ciccone close behind and they roared to a 1-2 finish in 4:08:23-4:08:30, with the rest of the overall contenders strung out over the next 12 seconds.

That gave Bernal the race lead, 15 seconds up on Dutch star Remco Evenepoel, 21 seconds clear of Russia’s Aleksandr Vlasov and 36 seconds ahead of Ciccone. Twelve riders are within 1:20 of the leader and there is a lot of racing still to do. Prior race leader Attila Valter (HUN) fell to fifth overall, 43 seconds back.

Saturday’s four-climb route of 170 km from Foggia to Guardia Sanframondi was yet another breakthrough victory, this time for France’s Victor Lafay, his first win in a UCI World Tour event. He was a clear winner, breaking away 11 km from the tape, finishing 36 seconds up on Francesco Gavazzi (ITA) and 37 seconds ahead of Germany’s Niklas Arndt.

The race has a rest day on Monday, then continues on Tuesday.

The UCI Track Cycling Nations Cup tour got going in Hong Kong last week, with an impressive performance by Japanese rider, who led the medal table with seven golds and 15 total medals.

Yudai Nitta and Yuta Wakimoto went 1-2 in the men’s Sprint and then 2-3 with Wakimoto and Nitta in the Keirin behind winner Muhammad Mohd Zonis (MAS). Eiya Hashimoto won the Omnium and the men’s Elimination race.

In the women’s division, Yumi Kajihara was the star, winning the Omnium, and the Elimination Race, teaming with Kisato Nakamura to win the Madison and also placing second in the Scratch race. Japanese sprinter Yuka Kobayashi won the Keirin and was second in the Sprint to home favorite (and three-time World Champion) Wai Sze Lee (HKG). Lee also finished second in the Keirin.

Americans won two medals: Maralyn Godby took the bronze in the women’s Sprint and Ashton Lambie won the men’s Individual Pursuit over Germans Domenic Weinstein and Leon Rohde.

Germany had three winners on the men’s side, with Felix Gross winning the 1,000 m Time Trials, Moritz Malcharek and Theo Reinhardt winning the Madison and Gross, Reinhardt, Rohde and Marco Mathis taking the Team Pursuit.

The second leg of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup series, this week in Nove Mesto (CZE), was a showcase for young riders.

Britain’s Tom Pidcock, 21, has already made a name for himself with the U-23 World Championships Cross Country gold in 2020, and now he’s a World Cup winner as well. He took over the race with breakaway efforts on the second, fourth and fifth laps and won by exactly a minute – 1:20:55 to 1:21:55 – over Dutch star Mathieu van der Poel, with Swiss Mathias Flueckiger well back in third (1:22:10). Reigning World Champion Jordan Sarrou (FRA) was fifth (1:23:16).

France’s Loana Lecomte, also 21, backed up her win last week in Albstadt (GER) with a second straight triumph, casting the field aside for a 1:25:13-1:26:52 win over American Haley Batten, who moved up from third last week. Lecomte simply exploded from the start and was never headed. Australia’s Rebecca McConnell was third (1:27:04) and reigning World Champion Pauline Ferrand Prevot finished fourth (1:27:23).

Van der Poel did beat Pidcock in the Short Track race, as both and Sarrou all timed 20:48. Batten won the women’s Short Track race by 23:35-23:51 over Lecomte.

● Modern Pentathlon ● The UIPM World Cup Final in Szekesfehervar, Hungary was a confirmation that Britain’s Kate French is the one to beat in Tokyo.

She sailed through the abbreviated 2021 World Cup season finishing gold-silver-gold after winning by 1,384-1,378 over Annika Schleu (GER) and Michelle Gulyas (HUN: 1,376). French was third in fencing (23 wins), then posted good marks in swimming (17th) and riding (11th) to set a charge at the Laser Run leader, Amira Kandil (EGY), who started with a 25-second edge.

But French got to the lead just after halfway and got home first to cement her status. Schleu passed Gulyas on the final lap to capture silver. Kandil finished 10th.

France’s Valentin Prades had won the World Cup Final in 2013 and 2017, so four years later, he finished on top again in 2021. He was in a tough fight with Britain’s Thomas Toolis, a first-time World Cup medal winner, starting one second behind Toolis on the Laser Run. And while Prades established a lead, he spent 25 seconds on the last shooting stop and Toolis took over. But Prades regained his composure, shot past Toolis in the final 200 m and claimed the win. China’s Shuai Luo was third (1,471).

Germany’s Christian Zillekens and Schleu won the Mixed Relay title with the third-fastest Laser Run in the field, 1,447-1,443 over Ilya Palazkov and Volha Silkina of Belarus.

● Rowing ● A prediction of stormy weather canceled the final day of the World Rowing final Olympian qualifier in Lucerne, Switzerland, but all of the racing got done in time, and completed the fields for Tokyo.

Some 18 nations claimed qualifications spots for Tokyo, after the uneven qualifying program over the past year. Russia fared well with qualifiers in five events; Canada qualified in three.

Russian Alexander Vyazovkin won the men’s Single Sculls, and teammates Ilya Kondratyev and Andrey Potapkin won the Double Sculls. Estonia edged the Russians, 5:50.94-5:50.99 to win the Quadruple Sculls. Estonia’s win means that Tonu Endrekson, who rowed third, will be off to a fifth Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Dutch rowers Nicolas van Sprang and Guillaume Krommenhoek won the men’s Pairs; South Africa won the men’s Four and New Zealand took the men’s Eight. The Lightweight men’s Double Sculls went to Patrick Keane and Maxwell Lattimer of Canada.

Anneta Kyridou of Greece took the women’s Single Sculls title by more than four seconds; Russians Ekaterina Pitirimova and Ekaterina Kurochkina won the Double Sculls over Germany, and Australia was a clear winner in the women’s Quadruple Sculls.

Russia won a fourth event with Vasilisa Stepanova and Elena Oriabinskaia in the women’s Pairs; the Irish Fours were an easy winner, and China took the women’s Eight.

The U.S. won a Tokyo place with a win in the women’s Lightweight Double Sculls, thanks to Molly Reckford and Michelle Sechser. They finished in 7:06.62 over 2,000 m to win by almost a second over Switzerland.

● Shooting ● The United States finished as the top medal winner in the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Lonato, Italy, winning two events and reporting seven total medals.

The American medals parade started with the first event, as Austen Smith, 19 – the 2019 World Junior Champion – won the women’s Skeet final, scoring 55/60 to best Britain’s top-ranked Amber Hill (52) and London Olympic bronze medalist Dante Bartekova (SVK: 43). It was Smith’s first World Cup medal on the senior level.

In men’s Skeet, two-time Olympic champ Vincent Hancock of the U.S. was locked in a tight battle with Egypt’s Azmy Mehelba, but missed his last shot to fall short of a shoot-off, 56-55. It was Mehelba’s first World Cup win, and the 17th career World Cup medal for Hancock (who also coaches women’s winner Smith!).

Italy won the men’s and women’s Team Skeet titles, with the women’s squad of Diana Bacosi, Chiara Cainero and Chiara di Marziantonio besting the American trio of Smith, Amber English and Sam Simonton, 6-4 in the final. The Italian men defeated Denmark, 7-5, while France defeated the U.S. (Hancock, Hayden Stewart, Philip Jungman) for the bronze, 6-4.

The U.S. scored a fourth Skeet medal with a victory in the Mixed Team event, with Hancock and English defeating Italy’s Cainero and Tammaro Cassandro, 36-34.

In men’s Trap, Kuwait’s Talal Al-Rashidi won the gold, defeating Russian Gennadii Mamkin in the final, 46-45, with Egypt’s Abdel Aziz Mehelba third (36). The women’s Trap was a win for San Marino’s Alessandra Perilli, her first World Cup win in 10 years! She edged American Madelynn Bernau in a shoot-off by 2-1 after a 42-42 tie in the 50-shot final. Spain’s Fatima Galvez won the bronze.

In the Trap team events, France defeated Russia by 7-1 for the men’s gold and Croatia won the bronze over Kuwait (6-4). Spain defeated Italy, 6-0, for the women’s title, with the U.S. easing past Finland, 6-2, for the women’s bronze (by Bernau, Kayle Browning and Rachel Tozier).

Great Britain won the Mixed Team Trap event by edging San Marino, 39-34, while Spain defeated Italy, 46-38, for bronze.

● Swimming ● The final leg of USA Swimming’s Tyr Pro Swim Series finished on Saturday in Indianapolis, with Michael Andrew stealing the show with wins in three events:

● 100 m Breaststroke: 58.67, moving him to no. 4 on the 2021 world list;
● 100 m Butterfly: 50.80, placing him no. 2 on the 2021 world list;
● 200 m Medley: 1:56.84, now no. 4 on the 2021 world list.

Andrew, 22, set lifetime bests in the 100 m Breast and 100 m Fly and missed his best in the Medley by 0.01. The 58.67 win on Thursday in the 100 Breast was the no. 2 performance in American history, just 0.03 of the U.S. record by Kevin Cordes in 2017. Very, very impressive.

Rio gold medalist Lilly King continued her domination of the women’s Breaststroke events, winning the 100 m race in 1:05.47, the no. 2 performance of the year (she’s already the world leader) and the 200 m distance in 2:21.82, a season’s best and maintaining her position at no. 5 on the 2021 world list.

Two other women won multiple events: Ally McHugh posted two impressive wins in the 800 m and 1,500 m Freestyles and Regan Smith won both the 100 m Backstroke (58.77: no. 7 performer of 2021) and the 100 m Butterfly.

Just as many of the big names in U.S. swimming were competing at the Atlanta Classic, held at Georgia Tech, with Olivia Smoliga posting a sensational win in the 100 m Backstroke. She dueled with Rhyan White to the finish, touching first in 58.31, moving her to no. 3 on the world list for 2021. White finished second in 58.43, and is now no. 4 on the world list.

Double Olympic champ Ryan Murphy also starred in the men’s 100 m Back final, winning in 52.95; that puts him no. 5 on the 2021 world list.

The meet finishes tonight.

The Australian Sydney Open produced four world-leading performances, mostly by 19-year-old Kaylee McKeown:

● Women/100 m Free: 52.29, Emma McKeon
● Women/100 m Back: 57.63, Kaylee McKeown
● Women/200 m Back: 2:04.31, McKeown
● Women/200 m Medley: 2:08.73, McKeown

McKeown scared the world record in her 100 m Back win on Friday (14th), improving her lifetime best by 0.30 and just 6/100ths behind the 57.57 world mark set by American Regan Smith in 2019.

All this in preparation for the Australian Olympic swimming trials, coming up on 12-17 June.

● Triathlon ● The opening leg of the 2021 ITU World Triathlon Series in Yokohama, Japan, also served as an Olympic qualifier and the best possible news for American Taylor Knibb.

She broke away during the 40 km bike phase with Maya Kingma (NED) and established a lead of two minutes over the rest of the racers heading into the run. But Knibb took over quickly and had a 35-second lead on Kingma by the halfway mark of the 10 km run and cruised home in 1:54:27, a full 30 seconds ahead of everyone.

American Summer Rappoport passed Kingma for second, 1:54:57 to 1:55:05 and American Taylor Spivey was fourth (1:55:23). Katie Zaferes, currently ranked no. 1 worldwide, finished 22nd in 1:57:12.

Knibb joins Rappoport as an automatic qualifier for Tokyo under the USA Triathlon selection program; the U.S. will be eligible for a third women’s entry, but the USA Triathlon Games Athlete Selection Committee will decide who goes, likely between Zaferes and Spivey.

In the men’s race in Yokohama, Norway’s Christian Blummenfelt pulled away from Jelle Geens (BEL) in the final 2 km of the race to win in 1:42:55, with Geens at 1:43:05. It was Blummenfelt’s second career World Triathlon Series win.

American Morgan Pearson also surged during the run and won his first-ever World Triathlon Series medal in third (1:43:12), securing his place for Tokyo this summer. Britain’s Alex Yee was fourth (1:43:17) and American Kevin McDowell was 11th (1:43:41).

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For our 649-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

THE TICKER: Tokyo may be the only Olympic opportunity for 8,174 athletes; EOPAAA Commission won’t meet until October? Metcalf earns T&F 0.49 TV rating

Rich Perelman

May 14, 2021

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

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● Calls to cancel the Tokyo Games are all the news, but there are also calls from athletes to hold the event, as this may be their only chance.

In fact, it may well be the one-and-only Olympics for about 8,174 athletes if history holds for Tokyo, Paris and beyond. Based on comprehensive research by Olympedia.org founder Bill Mallon (USA), Tokyo will be the only Games competed in for 73.7% of the expected 11,091 athletes.

That’s 8,147 one-and-done athletes. Mallon’s analysis of all Olympic Games, provided to TheSportsExaminer.com, showed that of 114,887 athletes who have ever competed in the summer Games, 84,705 (73.7%) competed in one Games only. Some 21,542 (18.8%) appeared in two Games and just 6,398 (5.6%) in three. That’s 98.1% combined.

For the Winter Games, 13,213 of the 20,605 participants (64.1%) competed in just one Games, with 4,847 (23.5%) competing in two and 1,824 (8.9%) in three. That’s 96.5% of the total. Mallon surmised that the higher number of two-Games participants may have been influenced by the short, two-year gap between the 1992 and 1994 Winter Games, when the cycle was changed to having Games every two years instead of only in four-year cycles.

So there’s a lot at stake for athletes coming to Tokyo as well as for the host country.

Tokyo 2020 chief executive Toshiro Muto announced that it now expects the number of Olympic officials to be halved, from an expected 180,000 total prior to the pandemic, to 90,000 at present.

The athlete total of 15,000 – about 11,000 for the Olympic Games and 4,000 for the Paralympic Games – is unchanged, but the organizers continue to pressure National Olympic Committees and International Federations to reduce their staff. Kyodo News reported:

“Muto said the number of officials may be cut further, depending on the situation of infections. …

“‘The (final) number may be really small if we consider (narrowing it down) to just individuals without whom the Olympics cannot take place,’ he said.”

The pre-Games training camps arranged by many National Olympic Committees and national federations are being cancelled in view of the pandemic. Kyodo News noted:

“Olympic minister Tamayo Marukawa said 45 municipalities across Japan have so far given up their plans to host athletes for pre-Olympic training camps and cultural exchanges due to concerns over the pandemic.

Marukawa told a press conference that 32 of the 45 municipalities that decided to pull out of the government’s ‘Host Town’ programs said they were notified by their prospective guests that they will abandon their plans to visit.”

USA Track & Field decided to cancel its training camp in Chiba prefecture as a safety measure for its athletes.

The “host town” concept – pioneered by the Special Olympics for its World Games – was being used for the first time on a mass scale, with 528 Japanese municipalities registered to host 184 National Olympic Committees. That number is being reduced.

The Tokyo organizers had asked for 200 volunteer physicians to assist with the Games, and despite some criticism about taking away practitioners from the public, some 280 doctors have signaled their willingness to assist.

● Games of the XXXV Olympiad: 2032 ● The IOC announced that a three-day session was held with the prospective Brisbane 2032 organizers, the Australian National Olympic Committee and representatives of several levels of the Australian government.

A “final submission” by Brisbane is expected in the “coming weeks.” Norwegian IOC member Kristin Kloster Aasen, Chair of the Future Host Commission for the Games of the Olympiad, said:

“Under the new approach to host elections, the Olympic Games adapt to the needs of the people living in the host region, rather than expecting the region to adapt to the Games. Brisbane 2032 has clearly been designed to complement long-term development plans for Brisbane and Queensland.”

If all goes as expected, Brisbane could be selected as host for 2032 at the IOC Session prior to the Tokyo Games in July.

● Pan American Games ● The coronavirus has hit the inaugural Junior Pan American Games, scheduled to held in Cali, Colombia from 9-19 September.

PanAm Sports, however, announced on Wednesday (12th) that the event has been postponed to 25 November to 5 December. Said Cali-Valle 2021 Executive Director, Jose Luis Echeverry:

“The decision we have made is very positive. It will be very beneficial to be able to wait a little longer given the emergency caused by Covid-19 not only in Colombia, but throughout the continent. With this new date, it gives us the possibility of having safer Games for everyone because when the time comes, we will have a higher vaccination rate in the host country.”

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● Multiple sources confirm that the Commission on the State of U.S. Olympics and Paralympics is unlikely to begin its work until after the Tokyo Games are concluded, perhaps in October of this year.

No funding for the Commission has been arranged as yet, and although the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic and Amateur Athletes Act specified that the group was to have its first meeting within 30 days of the appointment of its last member – that was on 2 April – that has proved impossible without funding, or the naming of a co-chair by Rep. Frank Pallone (D-New Jersey). Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) tabbed University of Baltimore law professor Dionne Koller as one of the co-chairs in April.

Further, the EOPAAA statute requires the Commission to hold at least one public hearing and to conclude its work, with a report and recommendations, 270 days after the bill became law on 30 October. That’s the end of July, which would be during the Tokyo Games. It appears the Commission will not even meet by then; look for a revision of the bill to allow for the later dates, and provide funding.

USOPC President Sarah Hirshland sent a letter to the U.S. Congress on Thursday, underscoring the organization’s view that “an athlete boycott of the Olympic and Paralympic Games is not the solution to geopolitical issues.”

Hirshland noted prior athlete boycotts, such as the U.S.-led boycott of the 1980 Moscow Games did not have the desired impact and led to further boycotts by Warsaw Pact of the 1984 Los Angeles Games.

● Alpine Skiing ● The Federation Internationale de Ski’s Alpine Committee confirmed on Wednesday the calendar for World Cup competitions for 2021-22. The announcement was good news for critics of the balance between speed and technical events, with 18 of each scheduled for both men and women. Two parallel events will be held, but none in the long-disfavored Alpine Combined.

Five different proposals were submitted for a new starting order protocol, aimed at a better television program, but these were tabled and a working group formed to create a unified concept for 2022-23. On the safety front:

“[T]he use of cut-resistant underwear, as well as Dainese [body] airbags will be recommended for the coming season and dicussions to make them mandatory as of the 2022/23 will be held.”

● Athletics ● Even with all the advance publicity about Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf joining the sprint field for the last Sunday’s USATF Golden Games at Mt. SAC, the event didn’t draw many viewers.

The ratings for sports programs during the Sunday (9th) late-afternoon slot showed:

● 1.71 rating/3,091,000 viewers on FS1: NASCAR Cup Series/Darlington
● 1.77 rating/3,051,000 viewers on CBS: PGA Tour/Wells Fargo Championship
● 0.80 rating/1,587,000 viewers on ESPN: NBA/Knicks at Clippers
● 0.49 rating/861,000 viewers on NBC: USATF Golden Games
● 0.34 rating/620,000 viewers on ABC: MLS/Seattle at Portland

While the event got a modest rating against other events last Sunday, the Golden Games did draw the no. 2 audience of the year against other track events:

● 24 Jan.: American Track League 1/ESPN: no rating; less than 200,000 total audience
● 31 Jan.: American Track League 2/ESPN2: 0.16 rating; 254,000 total audience
● 07 Feb.: American Track League 3/ESPN: 0.19 rating; 310,000 total audience
● 13 Feb.: New Balance Grand Prix/NBC: 0.64 rating; 969,000 total audience
● 21 Feb.: American Track League 4/ESPN: no rating, less than 200,000 total audience
● 24 Apr.: Drake Relays/NBCSN: 0.16 rating; 237,000 total audience
● 24 Apr.: Oregon Relays/NBCSN: 0.22 rating: 319,000 total audience

Happily, there is more T&F coming on television in the coming weeks.

On the track this week, Italy’s Marcell Jacobs ran a lifetime best and national record of 9.95 in the heats in Savona on Thursday (13th), to move to no. 5 on the world list for 2021. He felt a small cramp during the warm-up for the final and skipped it to be safe.

The meet also featured the outdoor 200 m debut of British sprint star Dina Asher-Smith, who won in 22.56, no. 8 on the world list for 2021.

On Wednesday night in Bergamo (ITA), Kenyan Mark Owon Lomuket claimed the world lead in the 5,000 m, winning in a lifetime best of 13:01.68, over Worlds silver medalist Selemon Berega (ETH: 13:02.47) and Ugandan Oscar Chelimo (13:06.79).

On Thursday, Notre Dame’s 2019 NCAA 1,500 m champion Yared Nuguse (USA) ran a stunning 3:34.68 to set the collegiate record in the heats of the Atlantic Coast Conference championships in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Nuguse was all alone almost from the start and finished with a 57.95 last 400 m to remove Josh Kerr (GBR) and his 3:35.01 for New Mexico from 2018 from the record books. Wow!

The Swiss Federal Tribunal dismissed an appeal by Italian race walker Alex Schwazer on Friday, rejecting his request to have his eight-year doping suspension by the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned.

Schwazer, the 2008 Olympic 50 km gold medalist, was found to have taken synthetic testosterone in July 2016 and was banned, as a second-time doper, for eight years, into 2024.

Former IAAF President Lamine Diack, 87, convicted in a French court of corruption during his term, returned to Senegal last Friday after more than five years under house arrest in Paris. The BBC reported:

“Despite the convictions, he has been allowed to return to Senegal thanks to Cheikh Seck, the owner of Senegalese football club Jaraaf, who paid a [500,000] euro bond that will ensure Diack continues to respond to summonses by French authorities.”

● Basketball ● Australian star center Liz Cambage backed off her threat to skip the Tokyo Games and confirmed she will play for the Australian national women’s team, nicknamed the Opals. She wrote on her Instagram page:

“For everyone wondering so desperately what my decision is for the Opals, I’m in baby…I’m in.

“I’m going to play with my sisters that I’ve been playing with since I was a wee little thing and I’m going to ball out for all those young brown kids back in Australia watching me, baby. I’m going to do it for you.”

● Cycling ● The 104th Giro d’Italia is heading toward its second weekend, with seven stages completed and Hungary’s Attila Valter wearing the Maglia Rosa.

American Joe Dombrowski gave U.S. fans a thrill with a win in the rain-soaked Stage 4, his first-ever World Tour victory. He triumphed on the final, uphill climb to Sestola and won by 13 seconds over Italy’s Alessandro de Marchi. Alas, Dombrowski crashed in Wednesday’s fifth stage, suffered a concussion and is out for the rest of the event.

The flat sprinter’s stage on Wednesday was a win for Australian star Caleb Ewan in another mass finish in Cattolica. Ewan won his fourth career Giro stage, crossing ahead of Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA), Elia Viviani (ITA), Peter Sagan (SVK), Fernando Gaviria (COL) and many others.

Thursday’s climbing stage included the monstrous Forca di Gualdo in mid-race and then ended with an uphill finish to San Giacomo in Ascoli Piceno. This was an impressive win for Swiss rider Gino Maeder, 24, who won by 12 seconds over Colombia’s Egan Bernal and Irish star Dan Martin. Valter took over the race lead with a 12th-place finish, leading Remco Evenepoel (BEL) by 11 seconds and Bernal by 16.

Friday’s hilly stage has a long, flat second half, perfect for the sprinters and Ewan was to the line first again, ahead of Davide Cimolai (ITA) and Tim Merlier (BEL), the winner of stage 2. Valter continues to lead overall, with Russian Aleksandr Vlasov in contention in fourth (+0:24) and Britain’s Simon Yates in 10th (+0:49).

The weekend stages will have challenges, including Saturday’s climb up and over the Bocca della Selva (1,388 m at its peak) and Sunday’s five-climb route with an uphill finish at Campo Felice before a rest day on Monday.

The Amaury Sport Organization, which puts on the Tour de France, confirmed that a women’s Tour de France will be held in 2022, with the details to be announced in October.

The lead organizer, Frenchman Christian Prudhomme said that the race would have been held this year but for the Tokyo 2020 postponement. But he noted that a women’s Tour must also stand on its own, after the first try – from 1984-89 – failed:

“In my view, you have to put to one side the idea of parity between men and women. Why? Because there was a reason why that race only lasted for six years, and that was a lack of economic balance. What we want to do is create a race that will stay the course, that will be set up and stand the test of time. What that means is that the race cannot lose money.

“Today, all the women’s races that we organise lose us money. Even so, we’ve been running Flèche Wallonne, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, La Course by Le Tour. There was the Tour of Yorkshire and the Tour de Qatar Feminin, there will be Paris-Roubaix in October. If it makes money, that’s great, but it mustn’t lose money or it will end up like the Tour in the 80s and it will die.

“If that balance had been achieved then, we would be on our 35th women’s Tour now. The challenge is to set up a race that can live for 100 years. That’s why we want it to follow the men’s Tour, so that the majority of the channels which broadcast the men’s Tour will cover it as well.”

● Figure Skating ● Vanessa James, half of the European Pairs Champions in 2019, has had her application for a change of nationality from France to Canada approved by the International Olympic Committee.

In December of 2019, James’s partner, Morgan Cipres, was accused of sexual harassment of a minor while training in Florida, prior to the Olympic Winter Games in 2018. The two split in September 2020.

In April of this year, James announced that she would be skating with Canadian Eric Radford and applied for a change-of-nationality exemption from the IOC. The Executive Board granted the requested exemption to the necessary three-year waiting period, which will make James eligible – subject to qualification – for the 2022 Beijing Winter Games.

● Football ● In the continuing soap opera that is/was the European Super League, the head of Spain’s La Liga, Javier Tebas, is accusing FIFA President Gianni Infantino of being “behind” the failed project.

Tebas said in interviews, “It’s [Infantino] who is behind the Super League and I already told him in person. I’ve said it before and I will say it again, behind all of this is FIFA president Gianni Infantino.”

Infantino, however, announced on 20 April that FIFA disapproved of the Super League concept, saying “We can only and strongly disapprove of a Super League which is a closed shop, breakaway from current institutions. No doubt whatsoever of FIFA’s disapproval. Full support to UEFA.”

On and on, on and on, on and on …

CONCACAF announced the men’s Gold Cup schedule for 2021, with a Preliminary Round from 2-6 July, then the Group Stage from 10-20 July and the eliminations and finals from 24 July to 1 August.

The group games will be played in Dallas, Frisco and Arlington, Texas (Group A, including Mexico); in Kansas City, Missouri and the Dallas area (Group B, including the U.S.); in Orlando, Florida (Group C) and Houston, Texas (Group D).

The playoffs will be held in Glendale, Arizona and Arlington, Texas; the semis will be in Austin and Houston, Texas and the finals in Las Vegas, Nevada.

● Gymnastics ● The new tug-of-war between USA Gymnastics and a group of four plaintiffs trying for an end-run around the federation’s bankruptcy process has been put on hold for three months.

After a hearing before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana on 28 April, the matter was continued and both sides were asked for proposed findings of facts and conclusions of law by 12 May. Both sides asked, and the Court agreed, to extend this deadline to 19 August 2021.

In a joint filing, the federation and the plaintiff group “agreed it would be productive to hold
the Stay Motions in abeyance for the next three months to see if the Parties can amicably resolve the issues in the Stay Motions.” Let’s hope so.

Still no word at all on any progress in the court-ordered meditation toward settlement between the federation, its insurers, the USOPC and the survivors committee.

USA Gymnastics announced that the Olympic Team Trials for Artistic Gymnastics will now be held at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri instead of at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis.

This is due to capacity limits and other coronavirus-related restrictions. USAG noted that “With this move, the U.S. Olympic Team Trials will be held alongside the USA Gymnastics Championships, which serves as the annual national championships for the acrobatic, rhythmic, and trampoline and tumbling disciplines, as well as the final Olympic selection event for rhythmic and trampoline in 2021.”

The dates for the Artistic Team Trials remain the same: 24-27 July. All tickets purchased for the Enterprise Center – which was sold out – will be refunded.

● Sailing ● The World Sailing Council met Friday and approved two alternative events to the IOC in view of its negative reaction to the proposed Mixed Offshore event for the Paris 2024 Games. The decision-making process was straightforward, but the debate was not:

“World Sailing’s Council received the Events Committee recommendation to select the Men’s and Women’s 470 as first alternative and Men’s and Women’s Kiteboarding as the second alternative. After a lengthy debate, Council voted against the recommendation with 23 against, 15 supporting and 3 abstentions.

“They moved into the Equipment Committee recommendation to select Men’s and Women’s Kiteboarding as the first alternative and Men’s and Women’s 470 as the second alternative.

“Men’s and Women’s Kiteboarding was approved as the first alternative with 33 votes in favour, 2 against and 6 abstentions. Men’s and Women’s 470 was approved immediately after as the second alternative with 37 votes in favour, 1 against and 2 abstentions.”

The recommendation for Kiteboard or 470 will now go to the IOC by its 26 May deadline.

● Swimming ● The final stop in the 2021 edition of USA Swimming’s Tyr Pro Swim Series is in Indianapolis, continuing through Saturday. The meet can be seen tonight on NBC’s Olympic Channel at 6 p.m. Eastern time and on Saturday on NBCSN at 6 p.m. Eastern. Live results are here.

On Thursday evening, Michael Andrew won the men’s 100 m Breast in 58.67, a U.S. Open record and just short of the American Record of 58.64 by Kevin Cordes in 2017. Blake Pieroni came from behind to win the men’s 100 m Free, 48.76 to 48.91 over Nathan Adrian. World-record holder Lilly King won the women’s 200 m Breast in 1:05.47, more than two seconds up on Emily Escobedo in second (1:07.66).

The International Swimming League announced that its “regular season” program of five weeks of matches will be held in a sequestered environment at the Piscina Felice Scandone in Naples, Italy.

The 10 teams will compete over five weeks, qualifying eight to a three-week playoff phase in November, with the ISL final in December 2021 or January 2022. Those venues are yet to be announced.

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THE BIG PICTURE: IOC spokesman Adams confident that “the Games can go ahead and will go ahead” as anti-Olympics petition fades in Japan

Rich Perelman

May 13, 2021

“We are confident we can deliver good Games and we will continue working towards that.”

There’s your summary of Wednesday’s brief International Olympic Committee Executive Board meeting, held by videoconference, from IOC spokesman Mark Adams (GBR).

The meeting considered the progress in Tokyo for the Olympic Games coming up this summer and the IOC also unveiled further initiatives on sustainability and gender equity.

But the questions in the half-hour news conference that followed were centered on Tokyo and its continuing battle against the coronavirus. Adams’s comments reflected the IOC’s view that the continued re-emergence of sporting events worldwide confirms the viability of the Games in Tokyo:

● “More than 7,800 athletes have already secured their berths for Tokyo 2020. 70% of the quota places have been allocated. Qualification has finished in a number of sports and disciplines: among those, diving, equestrian, football, handball, hockey, sport climbing, volleyball, water polo, wrestling, and the disciplines of track cycling and road cycling, have all finished their qualifications now.

“More than 260 major events have been successfully organized by [International Federations] in the five continents around the world since September: 20 in the past two weeks, with a cumulative participation of some, in fact, more than 40,000 elite athletes. International competitions have returned across all sports.

“Of the places that still remain to be filled – so that’s the 30% that’s left – 20% will be allocated by rankings and only 10% by the remaining qualification events. And the qualification deadline is the 29th of June.”

● “We are fully, fully concentrating now, in this last implementation phase of delivering excellent Games which really will bring the world together, which really will mark a moment, I think, and something we’re all looking forward to. There are a lot of sporting events going on around the world now, and I think this one will be, the kind of the real tentpole moment that will bring the world together.”

● “There has been a small extension of the emergency situation, but we continue to plan for full Games. That’s the way it has to be and that’s the only way it can be for us.

“And everything is telling us from the test events to the international events that the Games can go ahead and will go ahead.”

Adams was questioned about the consistently negative public opinion surveys concerning the Games, reflecting great concern in Japan about an influx of athletes and officials to a country where widespread vaccination has not yet taken hold. He replied to Graham Dunbar of The Associated Press:

“I’m not going to comment on polls which I haven’t seen and haven’t seen how they’ve been conducted. I’m certainly not going to give you a headline saying I distrust them or mistrust them. They are what they are. We obviously do our own polling. As you know, these are very specific times and very different moment to normal, but as you know, there’s always a dip ahead of the Games quite often. So we take note of them, we take note of public opinion and we think that, at this stage, the Games can go ahead, and I think that you will see – when they do go ahead – and when there is an amazing moment, that will be reflected in public opinion in general.

“As with all organizations, we have to pay attention to public opinion, but not be totally driven by it.”

He also responded to another questioner about the loud voices online, with the equally loud interests of athletes:

“[W]e know social media, quite apart from what’s happening with these Games, is always a very difficult place to be and you find extreme opinions there. What I will say is a lot of athletes are really concentrating on the Games, are really looking forward to the Games and have expressed that. Of course, they have caution as well. I have read one or two interviews where [athletes] are cautious, but the huge majority of views I’ve seen expressed by athletes, by those qualified for the Games, is that they’re looking forward to the Games and they think they can be safe and secure.”

And Adams felt the situation would turn as the Games begin:

“[T]here will be ups and downs and we understand the kind of problems that they are seeing there that will affect public opinion. But I think in the end what we have to do is take account of public opinion, but over a longer term, and try to see what the people will want and, as I said to an earlier question, when the Games happen and when the Japanese people can be the proud hosts of an event which really will be – it’s an overused word – a historic moment to bring the world together after this terrible moment.

“I think, I’m very confident we will see public opinion hugely in favor of the Games. So, of course, we pay attention to these things and of course we must do, but I think we need to keep now, with 78 days to go, we need to keep our eyes very much on what will eventually be, I think, a key moment for the world and for Japanese people who will be very proud to have been able to host it, I think.”

And he was also optimistic about the vaccination rate of those who will be in the Olympic Village:

“We estimate that a large majority of those in the Olympic Village will be vaccinated, and I think that’s a very clear message also for the Japanese people that they will know that not just the athletes, but all those entourage support people who have to be in the Village too. We know a large proportion will be vaccinated.”

The last “questioner” called on was supposedly a “David O’Brien from Yahoo,” who was a protestor instead, holding up a black and white “No Olympics in Tokyo 2020″ banner and screaming against the Games in Tokyo, and Los Angeles for 2028, expletives included.

Adams motioned to have him cut off and sighed, “I’m quite used to this.”

This last incident is emblematic of the anti-Olympic and some of the other protest movements going on in many other places. In the Olympic sphere, there are those who are against the Games in Tokyo this summer, and elsewhere. But that does not mean that the loudest voices in the room accurately reflect the group sentiment.

Take the Change.org petition to “Cancel the Olympics to protect our lives” started by lawyer and three-time Tokyo gubernatorial loser Kenji Utsunomiya.

It got lots of worldwide coverage after launching on 5 May at noon, Japanese time. It received 56,312 signatures in its first 24 hours online and had 190,000 signatures after 48 hours online.

But in almost seven days since then – by 4 a.m. Friday, 14 May (Tokyo time) – the signatures have slowed. The petition has 350,583 signees, so less in the last week than in the first two days. By comparison, Utsunomiya received 844,151 votes in last July’s election for Tokyo Governor, about 13.8% compared to winner Yuriko Koike’s 3.66 million (59.7%), out of 6.13 million ballots cast.

The loud voices can be counted on to be loud. That’s what they do.

That does not mean that’s what the IOC should do. Its President, German Thomas Bach, remembers all too well the broken dreams of athletes – like himself – who could not compete in the Moscow Games in 1980, due to a U.S.-led boycott. Their voices are among those driving him and the IOC to work with the Japanese governments and the Tokyo 2020 organizers to give today’s athletes their chance-of-a-lifetime opportunity, even if in a sequestered, sterile environment in spectator-less stadiums.

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HEARD AT HALFTIME: WHO’s Ryan explains Olympic virus risk; sprint star Richardson ready to protest? More on DK Metcalf, but not track & field

Rich Perelman

May 11, 2021

tsx pix 2021-510 richardson, sha'carri 750 (usatf) — Unstoppable? World 100 m leader Sha'Carri Richardson (USA) (Photo: USA Track & Field Twitter account)

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

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● The Tokyo Games continue as a political fight in Japan, with anti-Olympics activists pointing to the “Cancel the Tokyo Olympics to protect our lives” petition on Change.org and Dr. Michael Ryan of the World Health Organization saying “It is not whether we will have Olympics or not; it is how those individual risks within that framework are being managed.”

The cancel-the-Games petition was posted on 2 May by Kenji Utsunomiya, a 74-year-old attorney who ran a distant second to Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike in the July 2020 Tokyo Metropolitan elections. Through Monday morning (Pacific time), the posting had attracted 321,543 signatures, and the head of the leading opposition party in Japan, the Constitutional Democratic Party, insisting that the Games cannot be held safely.

But then there is the World Health Organization’s Ryan, an Irish surgeon who is the Executive Director of the Health Emergencies Program, who explained the situation in depth during a Friday media briefing (a long read, but worth it):

“The issues regarding the Olympics are multi-dimensional. There is the issue with regard to the safety of athletes and their teams within the environment of the Olympic Village and the Olympics themselves. Then there is the issue of the venues and whether spectators attend or don’t attend. Then there is the issue of social mixing around those venues, and then there is the issue of whether spectators or attendees will come from outside the country.

“And all of those have to be considered separately. It’s not whether we will have an Olympics or not; it’s how those individual risks within that framework are being managed.

“There has been a tremendous amount of work done on the Playbooks for the teams and the delegations that are coming; a lot of preparations amongst those teams regarding testing and quarantines and arrival. And measures that are being taken in the Olympic Villages, in the training facilities and around the venues themselves.

“Then there is the matter of attendance within the facilities themselves and I believe the Japanese authorities and the IOC still have not made final decisions regarding the level of attendance at those venues because of variance in the incidence situation in Japan itself. Positivity rates in Japan are around seven percent. Japan has experienced an increase –like everybody else – over a period of weeks and months; that has leveled off, it is not continuing to increase. And it is our hope, as it is our hope for every country, that continues on a downward trend.

“We will leave it to the authorities in Japan, who are highly competent, to decide what level of attendance could occur in the Olympics. I think the authorities have already decided that spectators and others will not be allowed to the Olympics from abroad, so that’s something that’s not on the table at the moment.

“And then the issue will be extent to which social mixing and socializing is allowed around the Olympic venues themselves. And again, I believe the measures are being put in place for that and the decisions around that level of mixing will be made by the Japanese authorities in due course.

“And I’ve said the word ‘mixing’ a number of times and we’ve said this again and again with this virus: this virus transmits in places where people mix in higher density for prolonged periods of time. The aim of the protection around the athletes is to prevent that kind of contact and mixing and close proximity, to create an environment of safety for the athletes, to create and maintain an environment of safety for everyone who attends – whatever that proportion is – and to create an environment of safety around the venues themselves.

“Some of those decisions cannot be made until closer to the event, because it will depend on the epidemiologic situation at that time. So it is not a failing at all on behalf of the organizers that they haven’t made certain decisions, because those decisions can only be made on the basis of the epidemiologic parameters that pertain at that time.

“It is our hope that the Olympics can occur; many other events – and we’ve seen sporting events and leagues – run very safely over the last six months without spectators, with special bubbles and arrangements for athletes and for others, footballers and many, many others. It is a complex event; there are so many different events, there are so many different delegations, it is a test of logistics, it is a test of risk management, and we have confidence that the International Olympic Committee and the host city Tokyo, and the Government of Japan, will make the right decisions regarding how best to manage the risks, and are working extremely hard right now to ensure that those risks are well managed.

“And we will leave any decisions regarding the extent to which the Olympics have attendance at venues and other decisions to them, as we believe they are applying a very systematic risk management approach to protect public health at this moment, and as needed, they will make the decisions that are needed based on the epidemiologic situation as we approach the July date.”

More on Tokyo: GamesBids.com editor Robert Livingstone – who covers bidding very closely – tweeted on Monday this historical reminder:

“[A] Japanese government poll taken one week before the [IOC] election showed 92 percent across Japan supported the #Tokyo2020 bid – perhaps the largest level of support ever for a bid (from a democratic nation). The IOC can’t be responsible for buyers’ remorse.”

The newest fight over the Tokyo Games concerns boxing, but this time outside of the ring.

Canadian boxer Mandy Bujold, 33, is a flyweight-class fighter who finished fifth in Rio in 2016, but lost an opportunity to qualify for Tokyo when the Americas qualifying tournament was canceled due to the pandemic.

Advancement to the Games is now being made through rankings as of the end of 2019, when Bujold was pregnant. So she is challenging the qualifying system at the Court of Arbitration for Sport as “discriminatory,” asking for a quick ruling to allow her into the Games based on her pre-pregnancy standing.

● Games of the XXXVI: 2036 ● London Mayor Sadiq Khan was re-elected as expected in balloting last Thursday, projected to take 55.2% of the vote against 44.8% for Conservative Shaun Bailey.

That means a likely approach to the IOC’s Future Hosts Commission, as Khan proposed holding another Olympic Games in London in 2036 or 2040, essentially as political cover for new spending:

“Not only would future London Olympics bring the world’s finest sportsmen and women to London, it would help fast track much needed green infrastructure projects such as Crossrail 2 and the Bakerloo Line extension, bringing with them long term jobs and investment.

“My ambition is for London to host the most sustainable games ever, showcasing the Green New Deal for London with investment in low carbon projects, action to clean up London’s air and showcasing the city’s status as the world’s first national park city to huge amounts of international tourists.”

● XXIV Olympic Winter Games: Beijing 2022 ● The IOC posted a statement last Friday noting a telephone conversation between President Thomas Bach (GER) and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping concerning the progress of the organizing effort, including:

“The two leaders spoke about the close cooperation between the IOC and Chinese authorities with regard to health questions and the measures already being taken to ensure safe and secure Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, as well as the preparations by Chinese athletes for the upcoming Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

“President Bach thanked the Chinese leader for his great support since their last meeting, during which time the Chinese Olympic Committee has assisted in making vaccines available for Games participants in countries where regulatory approval has been granted by their governments. Now others are also joining this initiative.”

Bach will have his hands full dealing with protests against the Beijing Winter Games after Tokyo is concluded. How much help he can get from Xi is a question whose answer will be closely watched.

● Athletics ● Much more on the brilliant Sha’Carri Richardson, who stormed to stunning wins at the USATF Golden Games at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California in 10.74 (heat) and 10.77 (final).

In her four 100 m races in 2021, she has run (and won) in 11.00, 10.72, 10.74 and 10.77. She’s no. 6 on the all-time world list and at age 21, already has four legal marks under 10.80! There are only six others in history who have done that in a career:

● 15: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM: 2008-19) ~ active
● 13: Marion Jones (USA: 1997-2000)
● 8: Elaine Thompson-Herah (JAM: 2016-21) ~ active
● 5: Carmelita Jeter (USA: 2009-12)
● 4: Merlene Ottey (JAM: 1990-96)
● 4: Florence Griffith-Joyner (USA: 1988)

Richardson, from Dallas, Texas, turned pro after winning the NCAA 100 m title as a frosh for LSU in 10.75 in 2019. She’s also extremely active on social media, recently declaring an interest in protesting at the Olympic Games.

On 6 May, in response to a tweet from @MyMixtapez, stating “Tokyo Olympics have banned all Black Lives Matter apparel and will permanently ban any player kneeling during an anthem playing” – which is not correct, at least at present – Richardson replied:

“Let me make the team, I WILL REPRESENT MY PEOPLE !!”

On a lighter note, last Saturday she also posted:

● “My brain my biggest enemy.”

● “Me wanting love is my biggest downfall”

We’re not making this up, folks.

Congratulations to Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf for conclusively stating what had to be said. After running a creditable 10.37 (changed from 10.36 originally posted), he finished last in his heat of the 100 m at the USATF Golden Games on Sunday; he told Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times:

“These are world-class athletes. They do this for a living. It’s very different from football speed, from what I just realized.

“Personally, it was a good experience. Anybody else who has a different opinion, you’re entitled to your own opinion. But I think I did very well for myself.”

The real issue is not whether Metcalf is fast. He is fast for a football player, but not compared to the world-class sprinters competing on Sunday at Mt. SAC. The issue, as well framed by 1996 Olympic 200 m and 400 m gold medalist Michael Johnson last week, is why it takes a stunt like this to draw attention to the sport. From Twitter last Friday:

● “With @dkm14 competing this weekend at @usatf meet, sprinters rightly feel disrespected. People don’t understand their talent. But that’s not DK’s fault or the media’s fault. The sport has done little to show the immense skill and talent it takes to run 100m in under 10 seconds.”

● “I agree @dkm14 competing in the @usatf meet will draw needed attention to the sport, but NFL, NBA, tennis, and golf don’t need athletes from other sports for them to draw attention. The best sprinters in the world should be enough. Track and Field, market your own product!”

That is the issue. On ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption” on Monday, the first four minutes of the show were devoted to Metcalf. To Metcalf and only to Metcalf! Said host Tony Kornheiser:

“We begin today with something we rarely discuss: track & field.” He added “It worked out like Skeets Nehemiah said it would, that he would finish back in the pack, but he wasn’t embarrassed. He wasn’t embarrassed at all” and then went on to note that Metcalf is 6-4 and 240 pounds, which makes sense for football. Then:

“The guy who won, Mike [Wilbon, co-host], who ran a 9.96, which is like a kite flying in the air it’s so fast, is 6-feet, 160 pounds. That’s like 80 pounds different!”

The winner of the 100 m, 2019 NCAA runner-up Cravon Gillespie, was never mentioned by name. This was great publicity for Metcalf, but will have any benefit for track & field? Not likely.

A very busy weekend had even more strong performances in Europe, including four more world leaders over the weekend:

Ethiopian superstar Gudaf Tsegay debuted in the women’s 10,000 m in a startling 29:39.42 to win in Maia, Portugal. For someone best known as an 800 m (1:57.52i) and 1,500 m (3:53.09 indoor world record), her mark places her no. 5 all-time in the event! Still just 24, which events will she run in Tokyo?

In Ibiza, Spain, Venezuela’s triple jump superstar Yulimar Rojas opened at 15.14 m (49-8 1/2) to take over the world lead from American Keturah Orji, while the men’s triple jump lead was taken by Hugues Fabrice Zango (BUR) at 17.40 m (57-1) in a meet at Montpellier, France.

The women’s world javelin lead was grabbed by Pole Maria Andrejczyk, with a 71.40 m (234-3) toss at the European Throws Cup in Split (CRO) on Sunday. It’s not only the world leader for 2021, but a lifetime best by more than 4 m from her 2016 best of 67.11 m (220-2) and moves her to no. 3 on the all-time world list!

Reuters reported that the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected on Friday the appeal by 2008 Olympic 50 km Walk winner Alex Schwazer (ITA) against an eight-year suspension for doping issued in 2016.

An Italian court in Bolzano had “cleared” Schwazer in a ruling under Italian law – in which doping is a criminal offense – and led to the appeal. An infuriated World Anti-Doping Agency opposed the motion and cited contrary evidence, with which the Court of Arbitration for Sport agreed.

Schwazer will now take his appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, where his chances of reversal are very poor.

Rio Olympic triathlon champion Gwen Jorgensen changed her focus to the marathon for Tokyo, but now says she will try to make the U.S. team in the 5,000 m or 10,000 m in June.

She has qualified in both events, running a lifetime best of 15:08.28 for fifth in March at the Sound Running Invite in San Juan Capistrano, California, and 32:12.12 in San Juan Capistrano in December 2020.

Jorgensen told Milwaukee’s WTMJ4: “Going into Rio Olympics, I was like I’m going to do the Rio Olympics and have a family and that’s it. I didn’t think I could have both. I didn’t think I could be a mom and an athlete. And I’m so thankful for the women before me who showed me that they could do it. That you can be a mom and an athlete and that inspired me to be like ‘whoa! Maybe my career life doesn’t have to be over just because I have a child.’”

● Cycling ● Monday’s third stage of the 104th Giro d’Italia was a 190 km, moderately-hilly ride from Biella to Canale in northern Italy. The route ended in a second straight mass sprint, this time favoring Dutch rider Taco van der Hoorn, who broke away with 8 km remaining and finished four seconds up on Davide Cimolai (ITA), Peter Sagan (SVK), Elia Viviani (ITA) and Australian Patrick Bevan.

The first climbing test comes on Tuesday, during a 187 km ride that finishes uphill after three prior climbs, in Sestola.

● Diving ● The FINA World Cup concluded in Tokyo as both a test event and an Olympic qualifier last Thursday, and the post-mortems were positive:

From Canadian star Jennifer Abel: “We need to adapt, everyone needs to cope with these conditions. The main goal for everyone is to be and feel safe, and we are very safe here. We cannot ask for better conditions with this COVID situation.”

From Colombia’s Alejandro Solarte: “Concerning the conditions of participation, they are strict – and it’s a pity we cannot leave the hotel… – but we have to think that our health should always be the priority. Everyone needs to adapt, but I feel very safe in this so special environment.”

From Britain’s Eden Chang: “The sanitary conditions? As long as we’re in the ‘bubble’ we feel safe and we’re happy.”

FINA and the Tokyo organizers issued a joint statement on the event, noting in part:

“Among the 438 participants, including athletes, coaches and team officials, only one Covid-19 positive case, which was found to be in a team official upon arrival at the entry in Japan, was confirmed and announced on April 29. This individual was immediately quarantined, following the national procedure in place, and no close contacts were identified by Japanese authorities.”

● Wrestling ● USA Wrestling noted the success of its qualifying efforts in light of the close of the World Olympic Qualifier tournament:

“Russia leads all nations with 17 Olympic qualifiers in the 18 weight classes. Russia has full six-athlete teams in men’s and women’s freestyle, plus five wrestlers in Greco-Roman. The United States is in second with 15 qualifiers, with a full six-athlete women’s freestyle team, five in men’s freestyle and four in Greco-Roman.

“The next two nations on the list are Cuba and host Japan with 12 qualifiers. China, Iran and Kazakhstan is next with 11 qualifiers. Coming in with 10 qualifiers are Tunisia and Ukraine.

“Five nations have full six-athlete women’s freestyle teams: China, Japan, Mongolia, Russia and the United States. In men’s freestyle, Russia and Iran are the only nation with full six-athlete teams. Cuba is the only nation with a full six-athlete team in Greco-Roman.”

A total of 62 countries have qualified one or more athletes for the Tokyo wrestling tournament.

● At the BuZZer ● Australian basketball star Liz Cambage, one of the top players in the world, may consider not playing for the country’s Olympic team in Tokyo because of a lack of representation of black athletes in an ad by Jockey, a sponsor of the Australian Olympic Committee.

She wrote on her Instagram account, in part: “HOW AM I MEANT TO REPRESENT A COUNTRY THAT DOESN’T EVEN REPRESENT ME” and added “y’all really do anything to remove POCs from the forefront when it’s black athletes leading the pack until I see you doing more @ausolympicteam imma sit this one out.”

Cambage, 29, was born in London (GBR), but moved to Australia as a toddler. She has played professionally in Australia, China and in the WNBA, where she is a star center for the Las Vegas Aces.

For its part, the Australian Olympic Committee posted a statement including “the athletes made available to Jockey could and should have better reflected the rich diversity of athletes who represent Australia at the Olympic Games.”

Settled? Nope, far from it. Cambage replied on Instagram, writing in part, “words don’t mean anything to me. Actions mean something to me.”

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LANE ONE: Revisionist Olympic historians beware; the veterans of Los Angeles 1984 are watching out for you!

Rich Perelman

May 10, 2021

DD-SC-85-08929 — The magnificently-decorated peristyle end of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the Opening Ceremonies of the 1984 Olympic Games (Photo: Wikipedia)

(For our Highlights of last week’s top national and
international sports competitions, click here.)

In today’s edgy, confrontational, only-my-facts-are-right environment, even experts sometimes go astray. A wholly fictional, April Fool’s post on the highly-respected GamesBids.com site “reported” – in fun – that entrepreneur Elon Musk had contacted the International Olympic Committee to inquire about hosting an Olympic Games himself. It included:

“With many cities dropping out of recent bid races due to the public pushback of projects deemed too expensive and too risky, the IOC has been searching for more viable solutions. There has never been a privately organized and financed Olympic Games, but after successfully privatizing space travel – Musk might be the best person to privatize hosting the Olympics.”

Wait, just wait right there.

Let’s not even say in jest that “There has never been a privately organized and financed Olympic Games.” Because the little organizing committee that could – the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee – did just that for the Games of the XXIIIrd Olympiad in 1984.

In correspondence with the GamesBids.com editor, Canadian Robert Livingstone, I asked for a change in the story to ensure that no one, reading this April Fool’s post, would take that idea from the piece and believe it.

Livingstone noted the concern, but explained that “from what I understand the ‘84 host city contract was signed by the Mayor, representing ‘some kind of’ public undertaking, where the Elon Musk proposal would, in theory, be signed by himself – a private citizen.”

Stop. No. Not for a moment.

I replied that the “host city agreement,” which was a one-page telex (!) signed in October 1978, included this key paragraph:

“The [organizing committee] will assume all commitments set forth in this agreement in accordance with the attached IOC Charter 1978, the attached responses and the attached minutes of the presentation by the City of Los Angeles at the IOC Athens Session, thus relieving the City of Los Angeles from responsibility and/or liability for any obligations incurred in the organisation or operation of the Games. Notwithstanding any other provisions to the contrary, the City of Los Angeles shall be neither responsible nor liable for any obligations incurred in the organisation or conduct of the Games in accordance with Rules 51 and 52.”

My note continued: “From the very award of the Games to Los Angeles, the IOC clearly understood it was giving the Games – lock, stock and barrel – to a private organizer (which became the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee), which would be responsible, not the City in any way. The Games was not given to the City of Los Angeles, which was later allowed to transfer its interest; the Games was handed to a private organizer and all sides knew this from the very beginning, as it was a key element of the bid.

“This is the reason I must insist that the 1984 Games be recognized as privately organized and financed from the very start. To say that a future Games given to Elon Musk or someone else would be a first is true only to the extent it would be handed to an individual and not an entity. But the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games (later, LAOOC) was handed the Games as a private organization in 1978.”

To his credit, Livingstone attached a clarification noting my comments, so no one reading the post in the future will be confused. There are revisionist historians still circulating wholesale falsities about the private financing of the Games of the XXIIIrd Olympiad; they are liars of the first order.

Now almost 37 years after the 1984 Games, the facts speak for themselves:

● First completely, privately financed Olympic Games in history
● ~$781.7 million in revenue ($1.99 billion in 2021 dollars)
● ~$549.2 million in expenses ($1.40 billion in 2021 dollars)
● ~$232.5 million in surplus ($592.7 million in 2021 dollars)
● $2.30 billion in net economic impact ($5.86 billion in 2021 dollars)

These figures are updated from the last audited financial statements of 31 March 1985 and account for additional commemorative coin revenues and refunds due the not-for-profit LAOOC, plus expenses to the actual dissolution date of 11 June 1986.

The former Times of London sports editor and long-time IOC historian David Miller (GBR) wrote in the Sport Intern newsletter in July 2014:

“Los Angeles ’84, privately budgeted without a dollar of public money, rescued the IOC.”

(What about the Games of the Xth Olympiad in 1932? The Tenth Olympiad Committee was initially funded by a voter-approved California state bond of $1 million in 1929. Happily, there was a stunning, first-ever surplus of $1.25 million (about $24.85 million in 2021), and the bond was repaid with interest – $1,053,733 – with the remaining surplus of ~$196,267 (about $3.90 million in 2021), given to city and county of Los Angeles.)

The impact of the 1984 Games and its financial innovations hardly ended at the Closing Ceremony. It continues today in Los Angeles through the work of the LA84 Foundation, created in 1985 with 40% – $93.0 million – of the LAOOC surplus. As Founding Chairman John Argue – the man most responsible for bringing the 1984 Games to Los Angeles – put it, the Foundation’s goal was “to put bats and balls in the hands of boys and girls.”

According to the LA84 Web site, the results have been impressive: 3.9 million kids impacted, more than 193,000 coaches trained and grants made to 3,300 non-profit organizations in the Southern California area.

Under current Chair Debra Duncan – an LAOOC star in her own right, in the ticketing department – and current President Renata Simril, LA84 has developed the “Play Equity” concept to get more and better sports opportunities for children in Southern California. This work developed in part from a crucial commitment to research in its Youth Sports Participation survey, with revealing insights into the problems and solutions which are at hand.

Although LA84 no longer provides a financial summary of its long-term impact – the last accounting was in 2014 – reference to subsequent tax filings shows how the Foundation has stayed financially healthy and able to expand its efforts:

● Formed 1985 with $93.0 million in LAOOC surplus
● Spent $153 million+ on grants & sports programs
● LA84 assets maintained at $163 million today!

There has also been more than $41 million spent on education, including the formation and expansion of the LA84 Sports Knowledge Center, one of the finest sports libraries in the world.

The other 60% of the LAOOC surplus went to the United States Olympic Committee (40%) and the U.S. National Governing Bodies (20%). The USOC’s share of the surplus and proceeds from U.S. commemorative coins issued celebrating the 1984 Games was $111.4 million and formed the corpus of the U.S. Olympic Foundation (now the U.S. Olympic Endowment). From that baseline, those funds have provided more than $330 million in Olympic-related grants through mid-2019, while the net assets have grown to $209 million.

The 1984 Games is, quite literally, the gift that keeps on giving, not only financially but in the way events are organized, staffing and staged. Let no one ever say differently.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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For our updated – as of 1 May – 506-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

HIGHLIGHTS: Richardson screams 10.74 and 10.77 at Mt. SAC + five world leaders (Benjamin 47.13!); Swiss win, U.S. women get Worlds Curling bronze

Rich Perelman

May 9, 2021

tsx pix 2021-410 shacarri richardson 750 (usatf-gurnick) — World 100 m leader Sha'Carri Richardson (USA) (Photo: USATF/Josh Gurnick)

Headline results of noteworthy competitions around the world/updated/:

● Archery ● The Easton Foundation Gator Cup in Newberry, Florida was the second leg of the USA Archery World Team Trials for 2021, with familiar names at the top of the standings.

World Champion Brady Ellison was the clear winner in the men’s Recurve division, scoring 687/700 from the 70 m line, followed by Jack Williams (668), Tom Stanwood (660) and Joonsuh Oh (653). Ellison and Williams are 1-2 in the Team Trials standings, with one more event to go.

Rio Olympian Mackenzie Brown won the women’s Recurve division with 659 points, beating 15-year-old Gabrielle Sasai on having more 10s, 33-25. Casey Kaufhold, 17, was third with 639, ahead of Jennifer Mucino-Fernandez (628). Brown and Kaufhold are now tied at the top of the World Team Trials.

In the elimination finals on Sunday, Ellison faced off against Rio Olympic teammate Zach Garrett, winning three tight ends by 29-27,. 29-26 and 29-28 for a 6-0 victory. Williams won the bronze by 6-2 over Michael Plummer.

Brown and Kaufhold met for the women’s title, with Brown winning by 6-0 (30-26, 27-23 and 29-28). Mucino-Fernandez took the bronze, shutting out Nicole Turina, 6-0.

● Athletics ● Sunday’s USATF Golden Games at Mt. San Antonio College had sunshine, a brilliantly renovated Hilmer Lodge Stadium and sensational fields and even without spectators, produced four world-leading marks, and a tie:

● Men/400 m hurdles: 47.13, Rai Benjamin (USA)
● Men/Pole Vault: 5.91 m (19-4 3/4), Chris Nilsen (USA)
● Men/Triple Jump: 17.15 m (56-3 1/4), Will Claye (USA) (equals world lead)
● Women/1,500 m: 3:58.36, Elle Purrier (USA)
● Women/400 m hurdles: 53.65, Shamier Little (USA)

The men’s 100 m went to former Oregon star Cravon Gillespie, finishing in 9.96 over Isiah Young (9.99) and Chris Belcher (10.01); favored Mike Rodgers did not finish. What about Seattle Seahawks receiver D.K. Metcalf, who ran the 100 m? He was eliminated in the heats, finishing ninth (and last) in heat two in 10.36, with Gillespie, Rodgers and Britain’s CJ Ujah running 1-2-3 in 10.11. Metcalf’s time is respectable, but he’s no world-class sprinter: 10.36 tied for 366th on the 2019 world list in the 100 m and equal-94th on the U.S. list for that year. So much for football speed.

World Champion Noah Lyles had to watch emerging star Kenny Bednarek pass him in lane six in the 200 m, but Lyles charged into the straightaway and finally caught Bednarek about 7 m from the line and eased in for a 19.90 to 19.94 win (+0.7 m/s). The times move Lyles and Bednarek to nos. 3-4 on the world list, but this was easily the best showing for Lyles in 2021.

In the men’s 400 m, Tokyo medal favorite Michael Norman went out strongly and looking comfortable down the finishing straight, won in 44.40. That’s the no. 2 performance in the world for 2021 and he was unpressed in the last 50 m.

Bryce Hoppel was impressive in winning the 800 m in an American-leading 1:44.94, pulling away from Michael Saruni (KEN: 1:45.18) and Clayton Murphy (1:45.31). Australia’s Ollie Hoare, under pressure to show his fitness in order to get named for the Tokyo team, ran powerfully from the start and out-lasted Justin Knight (CAN) down the straight in lifetime bests for both: 3:33.19 to 3:33.41, the nos. 2-3 performers of the year.

In the 400 m hurdles, Benjamin ran strongly down the back straight, then charged away on the far turn and ran away from an excellent field in 47.13, an astonishing time for a season opener and the equal-14th fastest race in history! It is also the fastest race ever run before 8 June (!), showing how ready Benjamin right now! Wow!

Kyron McMaster of the British Virgin Islands was second in 47.50, a national record and previous world leader Alison dos Santos (BRA) was third in 47.68, also a national record.

Nilsen won the vault at 5.70 m (18-8 1/4) as no one else could claim a higher height. He then went to a world-leading 5.91 m (19-4 3/4) and cleared on his first try, but missed three times at 6.00 m (19-8 1/4). In the men’s triple jump, two-time Olympic silver medalist Claye rallied in the fifth round to win at 17.15m (56-3 1/4), equaling the world best for 2021.

Shot putter Darrell Hill exploded to 22.34 m (73-3 1/2) for third on the world list in 2021; he’s the third over 22 m, and all are Americans, including Ryan Crouser and Joe Kovacs.

The women’s 100 m was expected to be a showcase for world leader Sha’Carri Richardson, and she delivered. In the heats, she exploded with the no. 2 time in the world for 2021, 10.74, with a +1.1 m/s wind. American Javianne Oliver won the second heat at 10.97. In the final, Richardson got out slowly, then steamed to the lead and ran away from the field in 10.77, the no. 3 performance of the year, but this time into a headwind of 1.2 m/s. The conversion tables say that hurt her time by 0.08, so her win was “worth” 10.69?!? Almost unimaginable, especially in May. Oliver was second in 11.08.

Gabby Thomas won the 200 m in a mass finish with Allyson Felix, Lynna Irby and Jenna Prandini. The time was slightly wind-aided (2.1 m/s), with Thomas at 22.12, then 22.26 for Felix, 22.27 for Irby and 22.30 for Prandini.

British icons Jemma Reekie and Laura Muir came from Europe to star in the 800 m, running 1-2 in 1:58.27 and 1:58.46, the nos. 2-3 performers of 2021. Reekie, who broke through to stardom indoors, passed Canada’s Melissa Bishop-Nriagu (1:58.62) on the home straight and Muir passed her in the final meters as well. Britain’s Adelle Tracy got fourth in a lifetime best of 1:59.50.

In the women’s 1,500 m, Purrier broke away from Canada’s Gabriela DeBues-Stafford and American Shannon Osika around the final straight, and smashed her lifetime best of 4:00.77 with a win in 3:58.36, moving her to no. 6 all-time U.S. (and eighth American to break 4:00). DeBues-Stafford finished in 4:00.69 and Osika claimed a personal best of 4:00.73.

World-record holder Keni Harrison won the 100 m hurdles in 12.48 (+2.0 m/s), equaling her seasonal best and equal-no. 2 position on the world list. Cindy Sember (GBR: 12.53) and Tobi Amusan (NGR: 12.61) went 2-3, but note Sidney McLaughlin getting a lifetime best and Olympic qualifying time of 12.56 in fifth!

Little, who has been running brilliantly in the 400 m (49.91 lifetime best), finally ran her specialty and exploded for a world leader in 53.65, She crushed the prior world leader, Puerto Rico’s Gianna Woodruff, who ran a lifetime best and national record of 54.70 in second.

Update: There were no additional world-leading marks in the evening section of distance races. The men’s 3,000 m Steeple was won by American Sean McGorty in 8:20.77, no. 5 on the 2021 world list, with Dan Michalski (USA: 8:21.25) second and Obsa Ali (USA: 8:22.67) third. Former Worlds silver medalist Courtney Frerichs won the women’s Steeple over fellow Americans Leah Falland and Marisa Howard, 9:27.70-9:28.72-9:29.65 for the places 2-3-4 on the 2021 world list. Canada’s Julie-Anne Staehli won the women’s 5,000 m in a lifetime best 15:02.34, and Mason Ferlic (USA) set a lifetime best of 13:24.94 to win the men’s 5,000 m.

At the Ready, Steady Tokyo test event at the Olympic Stadium, American Justin Gatlin led a small continent of star foreigners with a 10.24 win in the men’s 100 m. Qatar’s World Champion in the high jump, Mutaz Essa Barshim, tied with Japan’s Naoto Tobe at 2.30 m (7-6 1/2), no. 3 on the world list (with others) for the year.

Elsewhere, Olympic shot champ Ryan Crouser won the Arkansas Twilight meet in Fayetteville at 22.69 m (74-5 1/2), the no. 2 outdoor mark in the world for 2021. Crouser had four throws over 22 m (72-2 1/4): 22.42 m (73-6 3/4), 22.53 m (73-11), 22.37 m (73-4 3/4), foul, 21.89 m (71-10) and the winner at 22.69 m on his final try. Incredible.

Swiss high jumper Loic Gasch claimed the world lead, clearing 2.33 m (7-7 3/4) in Lausanne on Saturday (8th) and setting a national record.

Germany’s javelin world leader – and 2017 World Champion – Johannes Vetter claimed the no. 2 mark in the world this year with a mighty 91.12 m (298-11) throw to win the European Throws Cup event in Split (CRO) on Saturday. It was his 12th career toss beyond the 90 m mark (295-3).

● Curling ● One of the stranger editions of the WCF women’s World Championship was finally completed in Calgary, Canada. While the tournament itself was completed with only one Covid incident – on the German team – at the start of the round-robin, the broadcast of the event was severely disrupted.

Due to positive tests from six broadcast staff on 2 May, television coverage of the event was suspended – although the games continued – until Friday (7th), using a minimal crew for the rest of the tournament.

On the ice, reigning (2019) champs Switzerland dominated the round-robin, compiling a 12-1 record, trailed by Russia (11-2), Sweden (10-3), Denmark (8-5), the U.S. (7-6) and Canada (7-6).

The defending world champion Swiss, skipped by Silvana Tirinzoni, achieved an amazing feat in its game against Denmark, scoring all eight stones in the seventh end, the first time this has been done in World Championships history, on the way to a 13-4 win. Wow!

In the quarterfinals, the U.S., skipped by Tabitha Peterson, edged Denmark (Madeleine Dupont) by 8-7 with a point in the 10th end. Sweden (Anna Hasselborg) eliminated Canada (Kerri Einarson) by 8-3 after piling up a 5-1 edge after the first five ends.

Switzerland and Tirinzoni then defeated the U.S. for the second time in the tournament in the semifinals, 7-3, scoring in five of the nine ends. Russia, skipped by Alina Kovaleva, raced off to a 6-1 lead against Hasselborg and Sweden after five ends, mostly thanks to a four-point fourth end. But the Swedes closed to 7-6 before both teams scored in the final ends and the Russians moved on to their second Worlds final ever, 8-7.

In the final, the Swiss jumped out to a 3-1 lead after four ends, but this was a taut, defensive battle. Russia scored once in the eight end to close to 3-2, but Tirinzoni & Co. added a point in the 10th end and won, 4-2. It was Switzerland’s sixth world title – 2012-13-15-16-19 – in the last nine championships and second straight for Tirinzoni!

Russia, hardly known as a curling power, won its fifth Women’s World Championships medal – and second silver – in the last six editions.

Peterson and her U.S. teammates – Nina Roth, Becca Hamilton, Tara Peterson and Aileen Geving – won the bronze medal with a 9-5 victory over Sweden. The difference was the seventh end, where the U.S. came from 4-2 down to score five points and take a 7-4 lead that it did not relinquish. It’s the first U.S. medal in the women’s Worlds since a silver (to Sweden’s gold) in 2006!

● Cycling ● The first of the 2021 Grand Tours, the Giro d’Italia, got underway in Turin on Saturday, with home favorite – and World Time Trial Champion – Filippo Ganna leading a 1-2 Italian finish.

Ganna finished the flat, 8.6 km course in 8:47, 10 seconds ahead of Edoardo Affini (ITA) and 13 seconds up on Tobias Foss (DEN).

Sunday’s second stage was a fairly flat sprinter’s course of 179 km from Stupinigi to Novara, with Belgium’s Tim Merlier getting to the line first ahead of Italians Giacomo Nizzolo and Elia Viviani, with Dylan Groenewegen (NED) fourth and Peter Sagan (SVK) fifth, all in 4:21:09.

The 2021 route includes five flat stages, nine hilly stages and seven climbing stages (21 total), with the decisive final week featuring five mountain routes in the final eight stages, half of which have uphill finishes! Ouch!

The projected contenders for one of cycling’s great prizes include:

● 2019 Tour de France winner Egan Bernal (COL)
● 2017 Giro bronze medalist Mikel Landa (ESP)
● 2020 Giro fourth-place Joao Almeida (POR)
● 2018 Vuelta a Espana winner Simon Yates (GBR)
● 2016-17 Tour de France medalist Romain Bardet (FRA)
● 2013-16 Giro d’Italia champ Vincenzo Nibali (ITA)

The sprint stages will be contested by a great line-up, including Fernando Gaviria (COL), Caleb Ewan (AUS), Sagan, Viviani and many more.

The 2021 UCI BMX World Cup got underway in Verona (ITA) with races on Saturday and Sunday, with the Swiss enjoying a nice weekend with four medals across the four finals.

Swiss Simon Marquardt won Saturday’s men’s final in 35.093, a clear victory over Arthur Pilard (FRA: 35.518) and Argentina’s Nicolas Torres (35.850). Teammate David Graf led a 1-2 with Marquardt on Sunday, timing 34.912-34.958, with Dutch star – and former World Champion – Niek Kimman third (35.205).

Dutch stars Judy Baauw and Merel Smulders went 1-2 in the women’s Saturday final, 35.982-36.021, with Sae Hatakeyama (JPN) third in 36.353. Americans Payton Ridenour, Felicia Stancil and Ashley Verhagen went 4-5-6.

Sunday’s women’s final saw 2018 World Champion Laura Smulders – Merel’s older sister – take the win in 35.120, ahead of Zoe Claessens (SUI: 35.440) and Russian Natalia Afremova (35.960). Merel Smulders was fourth and Stancil was seventh.

Albstadt, Germany was the site for the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, but it was two French stars who carried away the victories in the featured Cross Country races.

Dutch star Mathieu van der Poel led the men’s race in the early stages, then gave way to Brazil’s Henrique Avancini. But while Swiss stars Nino Schurter (the 8-time World Champion) and Mathias Flueckiger battled at the front, France’s Victor Koretzky moved up to challenge and when Schurter made his move on the final lap, Koretzky stayed close, then surged ahead and won by just two seconds: 1:20:23 to 1:20:25, with Flueckiger third (1:20:46) and Czech Ondrej Cink fourth (1:20:48).

The women’s race was a runaway for 21-year-old Loana Lecomte, who rushed to the lead and was never headed, winning by 53 seconds in 1:21:38, ahead of reigning World Champion Pauline Ferrand Prevot (FRA: 1:22:31), with Americans Haley Batten (1:22:53) and 2018 World Champion Kate Courtney (1:22:58) third and fourth.

In the 9.5 km Short Track race, van der Poel won in 20:39, just two seconds ahead of Koretzky (20:41) and three seconds up on Schurter (20:42). Ferrand Prevot won the women’s 8.3 km Short Track event in a four-way fight over Linda Indergand (SUI), 20:37-20:38, with Annie Last (GBR) and Courtney third and fourth, both in 20:39.

● Diving ● With China sending only a couple of athletes, Great Britain was the big winner at the twice-delayed FINA World Cup in Tokyo, Japan.

After winning both of the men’s synchro events last week, two-time World 10 m Champion Tom Daley won the men’s Platform title, outscoring Mexico’s Randal Willars, 541.70-514.70, with Canada’s Rylan Wiens third (488.55).

The men’s 3 m Springboard title went to Germany’s Martin Wolfram (467.75), ahead of Britain’s James Heatly (461.25) and Alexis Jandard (FRA: 434.25).

China sent 2017 women’s World 3 m Champion Yani Chang and 2019 World 1 m Champion Yiwen Chen to Tokyo and they won the 3 m Synchro event easily and went 1-3 in the 3 m Springboard event. Chen won at 383.55, ahead of American Sarah Bacon (348.75) and Chang (344.40, continuing after hitting the board with her legs in the semis). Bacon was the silver medalist in the World 1 m event in 2019, behind Chen.

In the women’s 10 m, Malaysia’s Pandelela Rinong – the 2016 Olympic silver medalist – won in Tokyo, scoring 355.70, defeating Japan’s Matsuri Arai (342.00) and Caeli McKay (CAN: 338.55).

This was a significant test event for the Tokyo organizers, with 224 athletes from 46 countries competing, in contrast to most events with solely Japanese competitors. The event, once it started, went smoothly enough to be a confidence booster for the Games.

● Gymnastics ● The FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup in Baku (AZE) saw Russia score a 1-3 finish in the All-Around with second-line stars Daria Trubikova (98.800) and Lala Kramarenko (97.600) sandwiched around Bulgarian star Boryana Kaelyn (98.525). Of note was the fifth-place finish of Israeli star – and three-time Worlds All-Around medalist – Linoy Ashram, a Tokyo medal contender, but who scored only 96.575 on Saturday. American Laura Zeng was ninth (91.500).

In the Sunday apparatus finals, Ashram was on a mission, winning in Hoop (27.150) and Clubs (27.800) and also finishing fifth in Ball (25.750). Kramarenko (26.850) and Alina Harnasko (BLR: 26.600) were the other Hoop medal winners and Zeng finished sixth (24.450).

In Clubs, Kaleyn (27.400) and Kramarenko (27.150) finished 2-3 and Kaelyn, Harnasko and Katrin Taseva (BUL) went 1-2-3 in Ribbon: 24.300-23.450-21.500. Italian star Alexandra Agiurgiuculese won in Ball (26.350), followed by Trubnikova (26.100) and Kaelyn (26.100).

● Ice Hockey ● The 2021 IIHF men’s World U-18 Championships was completed on 6 May, with Canada winning its fourth title in this competition, 5-3, over Russia.

The event was held in Frisco (Comerica Center) and Plano (Children’s Health StarCenter) in Texas, with Canada sweeping through Group A (4-0) and then through the three playoff rounds to win the title with a combined score of 51-12. Finland won Group B ahead of Russia, with both earning a two wins, one overtime win and one overtime loss (9 points). The U.S. was third, with one win, two overtime wins and one overtime loss (8 points).

Russia, Canada, Finland and Sweden won the quarterfinal games; the Swedes eliminated the U.S., 5-2. Canada stomped Sweden by 8-1 in its semi and Russia slid past Finland, 6-5, in their rematch from the group stage. Canada won the final, 5-3, while Sweden shut out the Finns, 8-0, in the third-place game.

Matvei Michkov of Russia led in goals (12) and points (16) and was named Most Valuable Player and Best Forward by the tournament committee. The top keeper was Canada’s Benjamin Gaudreau (2.20 goals-against average) and the top defenseman was Finland’s Aleksi Heimosalmi.

● Judo ● A rare week-day IJF World Tour Grand Slam in Kazan, Russia drew 407 athletes from 79 countries, with the home team dominating with four wins and 15 total medals. Japanese competitors claimed three wins and France two.

The home team claimed victories in the men’s 66 kg class (Murad Chopanov), men’s 73 kg (Makhmadbek Makhbedbekov) and men’s +100 kg (Tamerlan Bashaev), plus Madina Taimazova in the women’s 70 kg division.

Japan earned golds in the men’s 90 kg class with Sanshiro Murao and the two lightest women’s classes: 48 kg (2019 Worlds runner-up Funa Tonaki) and 52 kg (2019 World Champion Uta Abe).

The 2019 World Champion in the men’s 60 kg class, Lukhumi Chkhvimiani (GEO), won in Kazan, beating Russia’s Robert Mshvidobadze in the final.

● Wrestling ● The UWW World Olympic Qualifier was filled with drama in Sofia, Bulgaria, as the final tickets for Tokyo were handed to the finalists in all 18 divisions (six each for men’s and women’s Freestyle and for Greco-Roman).

Russia earned four additional spots in Tokyo, the most of any country, with Sergey Kozyrev winning the men’s Freestyle 125 kg class, and Olga Khoroshavtseva (53 kg), Veronika Chumilova (57 kg) and Lyubov Ovcharova (62 kg) all winning in the women’s Freestyle tournament.

The U.S. gained no additional qualifiers. Jordan Oliver lost in the semifinals at 65 kg in men’s Freestyle and finished fifth. In Greco-Roman, Jesse Porter (77 kg) lost in the Round of 16 and Adam Coon (130 kg) lost in the quarterfinals.

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THE TICKER: Losing Tokyo gubernatorial candidate petitions to cancel Games; anti-doping tests back up to speed; USATF Golden Games focus on football?

Rich Perelman

May 7, 2021

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

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2032 ● A prominent Japanese attorney who has unsuccessfully run for Tokyo Governor three times created an online petition against the Tokyo Games that has gathered more than 165,000 signatures since being posted a few days ago.

The English-language headline reads “Cancel the Tokyo Olympics to protect our lives” and claims “it is highly possible that holding the Olympics will be a super-spreader and worsen the situation that we are currently in.”

The petition was started by Kenji Utsunomiya, a 74-year-old attorney who ran second to Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike in the July 2020 Tokyo Metropolitan elections. Koike received 3.66 million votes (59.7%) to 844,151 (13.8%) for Utsunomiya, running as an independent, but with endorsements from four groups, including the Japan Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party, formerly known as the Japan Socialist Party. It was his third loss in governor’s races, having also lost in 2012 (placing second) and 2014 (second); the 2020 results showed his lowest vote total of the three attempts.

Observed: The Tokyo Games is not going to be canceled because of a petition, which is much more a political play against the government’s response to Covid-19 than anything else. However, the petition – as hysterical as it is – demonstrates the likely positive political response to not allowing any spectators at the Games. That decision is expected as soon as the end of this month.

Further on the Covid-19 front, the International Olympic Committee announced on Thursday (6th):

“As part of the plans to ensure safe and secure Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE to donate doses of the companies’ COVID-19 vaccine to Games participants from National Olympic and Paralympic Committees around the world.

“National Olympic Committees (NOCs) will work with their local governments to coordinate local distribution in accordance with each country’s vaccination guidelines and consistent with local regulations.”

The statement noted:

● “[Pfizer Chairman and Chief Executive Albert] Bourla [GRE] made an offer to donate the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for athletes and their delegations participating in Tokyo 2020. Following this conversation, the Japanese government had a meeting with the IOC and now the donation plan has been realised.”

● “[A]ny additional doses delivered by Pfizer and BioNTech will not be taken out of existing programmes, but will be in addition to existing quotas and planned deliveries around the world.”

The IOC has not required athletes to be vaccinated as a condition for participation, but has urged everyone coming to the Games to get shots if available in their home countries.

The World Anti-Doping Agency announced that sample collections have almost returned to pre-pandemic levels, in advance of the Tokyo Games.

Thursday’s statement shows that worldwide samples collections reached 22,649 in March 2021 (by 145 anti-doping organizations), compared to just 11,207 when the pandemic hit in March 2020. The new total is still short of the 26,933 collected in March 2019.

Importantly, however, the total for out-of-competition testing up actually up against 2020 and 2019: 15,130 for March 2021 vs. 6,868 for March 2020 and 13,139 for March 2019. This is a very good indicator of the level of anti-doping efforts, as many competitions have been either canceled or downsized.

The IOC and TOP sponsor Proctor & Gamble announced a $520,000 donation by the company that will go – in $10,000 grants – to charitable organizations designated by 28 Olympic-sport athletes and 24-Paralympic-sport athletes, representing 20 countries and in 25 different sports.

This is called the “Athletes for Good Fund” and the recipients are to be posted on a special Web page on the IOC’s Athlete 365 platform. Recipients identified in the announcement include U.S. skateboarder Mariah Dunn, supporting Skate Like A Girl to encourage female participation. U.S. Para-triathlete Melissa Stockwell, founder of Dare2Tri, which uses sports to support individuals with physical disabilities.

Observed: This is a very shrewd pilot program by the IOC. If this project has the hoped-for impact, the Olympic Movement can be positioned as a social-service gateway for its sponsors on a worldwide basis, offering significant corporate social responsibility rewards as part of its TOP program, going well beyond the commercial impact of the Olympic Games. Moving forward, this could be a potentially significant element offered to IOC corporate partners that can be activated all-year-round, in addition to the traditional commercial elements of sports sponsorships.

● Games of the XXXIII Olympiad: Paris 2024 ● Clearing and construction work on the Parc Georges-Valbon, north of Paris, has been stopped on part of the site and allowed to continue on a smaller portion. The area has been designated as the media village for the Paris 2024 Games, as well as the competition area for climbing and shooting. An anti-development group filed suit against the project, leading to the stoppage until a final administrative decision is made, perhaps as early as 14 May.

● Games of the XXXVI Olympiad: 2036 ● Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London (GBR) said on Monday (3rd) that if re-elected on Thursday, he wants the city to explore bidding for a fourth Olympic Games in the city in 2036 or 2040.

London successfully staged to 2012 Games and Khan wants to use that existing infrastructure again, but also as a base from which to launch significant new capital projects:

“Not only that, but, by ensuring the games are staged across the UK, and visitors encouraged and supported to explore every corner of our country, London 2036 or 2040 could be a huge boost to levelling up our cities and regions.”

The 2012 Games ran well past the financial projections, with the government picking up £8.77 billion in costs (~$14 billion U.S. in 2013 dollars) vs. the projected £3.4 billion public cost when the bid was won in 2005.

● Athletics ● Following up on Thursday’s Lane One column about British sprinter Adam Gemili and how important the Olympic Games is as a protest platform … since he gets little or no attention anytime else, is the spike in interest in the USATF Golden Games coming this Sunday at the newly-renovated Hilmer Lodge Stadium, at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California.

The entries show a brilliant field that includes men’s World 200 m Champion Noah Lyles, former U.S. 200 m champ Ameer Webb, 2018 NCAA 400 m champ Michael Norman, World 800 m Champion Donavan Brazier, 2020 USATF Indoor 800 m champ Bryce Hoppel, 2016 Olympic Steeple silver winner Evan Jager, World 400 m hurdles silver winner Rai Benjamin, women’s world 100 m leader Sha’Carri Richardson, two-time Olympic 200 m gold medalist Veronica Campbell-Brown (JAM), Allyson Felix vs. Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH) in the women’s 200 m, world 100 m hurdles world-record holder Keni Harrison and many, many more stars.

If you look at indicators of national interest, however, it’s only about Seattle Seahawks wide receiver D.K. Metcalf – a high-school hurdler – running in the 100 m.

He will be facing two-time Olympian Mike Rodgers (9.85 in 2011) and British Olympian CJ Ujah (9.96 in 2014), among others and will be pressed to even make it into the final. But all the chatter is about whether he can run the Olympic Trials auto-qualifier of 10.05, or around 10.20, which could get him invited to the Trials to fill out the field. Sad, just so sad.

But coverage will be on NBC, starting at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, so you can see for yourself.

Former IAAF President and IOC member Lamine Diack of Senegal, convicted of corruption in covering up Russian doping positives against payment, was cleared to leave house arrest in Paris (FRA) as his former football club in Senegal paid a €500,000 bond (~$603,500 U.S.).

The club, Jaraaf de Dakar, sold part of its headquarters property and used part of the proceedings to fund the bond. Diack, 87, had been the head of the club twice in previous decades.

Diack will be allowed to return home to Senegal for the first time since 2015. He was continuing to be held in Paris as a second case concerning vote-buying in Olympic host-city elections was being prepared. According to Agence France Presse, “[A] judge recently lifted the ban on Diack leaving France, provided he paid a bond and that he continues to respond to summonses.”

● Football ● U.S. Soccer announced summer matches for its men’s and women’s national teams, including a busy schedule for the Olympic-bound, no. 1-ranked women’s team.

The USWNT will face Portugal on 10 June, then Jamaica on 13 June and Nigeria on 16 June, with the first two games at BBVA Stadium in Houston, Texas and the final game at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas. Jamaica and Nigeria will play on 10 June and Portugal will play Nigeria on 13 June.

The U.S. is the only Olympic qualifier among the four teams.

The men’s National Team will play Costa Rica on 9 June in Sandy, Utah in a friendly, following a friendly on 30 May against Switzerland in St. Gallen (SUI) and the 3 June CONCACAF Nations League semi-final against Honduras in Denver, Colorado.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino won a significant victory in court on Wednesday as the Swiss Federal Criminal Court removed special prosecutor Stefan Keller from his position. According to the FIFA statement:

“The FCC emphatically declared that the bias of Mr Keller, as demonstrated by his various media releases, repeated procedural errors, and consistent denial of rights, could not guarantee a fair process.

“In particular, the FCC stated that by attempting to look into matters that had nothing to do with his mandate and then publicly raising his own personal suspicions about them without any objective justification, Mr Keller had clearly violated the presumption of innocence and damaged the standing of the FIFA President, contrary to his personal rights protected under the law.

“The FCC underlined that for a public prosecutor to communicate distorting, injurious, misleading and factually incorrect information, as well as mere polemics and propaganda, is plainly inadmissible.”

To underline its unhappiness, the Court ordered Keller to pay Infantino the sum of CHF 5,000 to cover court costs. Wow.

● Gymnastics ● Gabriele Frehse, a longtime coach at an eastern Germany training center, has been removed after more than 30 years. The Associated Press reported:

“The German Gymnastics Union commissioned an investigation which found evidence of ‘psychological violence’ in 17 incidents. She was also accused of giving painkillers to gymnasts. The board of the gymnastics union recommended in January that Frehse should be fired from the training center.”

Frehse has denied the accusations and promises legal action. This is the latest country to find abusive behavior in gymnastics, especially in coaching. The AP cited other investigations in “Australia, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Britain, Japan and New Zealand.”

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LANE ONE: British sprinter Gemili wants to protest at the Tokyo Games, since no one cares about him any other time

Rich Perelman

May 6, 2021

tsx pix 2021-505 gemili, adam 750 — British sprint star Adam Gemili

Sad, so sad, but so true.

Adam Gemili, Britain’s powerfully built, two-time Olympic sprinter, with bests of 9.97 from 2015 and 19.97 from 2016, is a medal contender for the Tokyo Games in the 200 m and especially on the 4×100 m relay. He told Eurosport late last month:

“We get one moment every four years, and, with the world’s eyes focused on the Games, athletes will use their moment to protest.”

Re-read that statement, slowly. Now consider the meaning by inverting it. Translation:

“No one cares about me or my sport for three years and 50 weeks, but only at the Olympic Games, once every four years.”

Gemili understood clearly what he was saying. He doubled down on it:

“We are not in the public eye that often, so when we do get that moment, why are we not able to use our voices like other athletes do?

“We are protesting as the minority and the fact that they [the IOC] are trying to limit that goes against everything the Olympics says it stands for. I get sport has to be separate from politics. But this is more than politics; this is humanitarian and about decency – this is not political at all. It is so disappointing that if that moment comes [making the podium], I am not allowed to really have a voice, to do anything.”

Gemili, 27, has obviously been spending his time in training and hasn’t made a close study of the month-long poll taken by the IOC Athletes’ Commission, made public on 21 April. In the survey, the following question was asked of all respondents:

“In Olympic venues, during the Olympic Games, how appropriate do you think it is for athletes to have an opportunity to demonstrate or to express their individual views on political issues and other topics, in the following places?”

Respondents responded on a scale from 1 to 5, “where 1 means ‘Not at all appropriate” and 5 means ‘Very appropriate’.” The results (remaining results short of 100% were “don’t know”):

● Expression in media: 42% in favor( 4-5); 17% not sure (3); 37% against (1-2)

● Expression in interviews: 38% in favor (4-5); 17% not sure (3); 40% against (1-2)

● Expression at Olympic Village: 28% in favor (4-5); 17% not sure (3); 49% against (1-2)

● Expression on the field of play: 14% in favor (4-5); 11% not sure (3); 71% against (1-2)

● Expression at Opening Ceremony: 14% in favor (4-5); 11% not sure (3); 69% against (1-2)

● Expression on awards podium: 16% in favor (4-5), 12% not sure (3); 67% against (1-2)

The story noted:

“The IOC said that the decision was made after surveying 3,547 athletes from 185 countries; the results of said survey found that 67% supported a ban on podium protests. However, Gemili points out that 30% is a substantial number, adding that the blanket ban goes against Olympic values.

“‘[The survey results] mean that 30% are in favour of protest and having that freedom of speech is pretty much what the Olympics stands for. Everyone is trying to focus on training as it is an Olympic year and the Games provides an opportunity to affect change with the whole world watching. And [the IOC] are saying you can’t do anything!’”

Sorry, Adam, it’s 16% in favor of podium protests, not 30%. And among the 135 British athletes who responded, 64% were against podium protests, 69% were against protests at the Opening Ceremony and 70% against protests on the field of play.

But the real tragedy of his comments is the invisibility of his sport – track & field – and almost all of the other sports on the Olympic program. Football’s visibility and impact are enormous, and basketball – especially the NBA in the U.S. – is not far behind, thanks to vibrant leagues in multiple countries, competing on a regular schedule, with matches televised worldwide.

Gemili’s own International Federation, World Athletics, is well aware of this. It has just recently closed an international polling program of its own across six weeks, which by the halfway mark had attracted 10,000 respondents from 141 countries – more than two and a half times the IOC Athlete survey – to its “Global Conversation” project. The early findings were hardly a surprise:

“Better quality and more facilities, greater coverage of athletics in the media and on television and more athletics in schools are emerging as key drivers of growing athletics across the world. That’s according to early findings in the Global Conversation , the survey currently being conducted by World Athletics that will shape the future direction of the sport for the next decade.”

Translation: give us more access to the sport (1) at close-by locations (such as schools) and (2) in our daily media consumption. The final results are being tallied now and a draft action plan is due by mid-year, to be formally approved for action in November. There is a lot of work to do.

By the way, these early results are hardly an endorsement of the all-powerful cure that social media was promised to be. Gemili complains “We get one moment every four years,” but check out his follower numbers:

● Adam Gemili on Facebook: 59,862
● Adam Gemili on Instagram: 54,458
● Adam Gemili on Twitter: 105,308

Remember he said, “We are not in the public eye that often.” Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are not the solution, but are part of the effort. Has he maximized his impact with his followers, or are they too casual to really care? Many marketers are asking the same question, as is World Athletics, with two million combined followers on its platforms, but according to the early replies, apparently not making much of a dent.

Gemili’s incomplete attention to what the IOC Athletes’ Commission did and its recommendations mirrors what he views as insufficient interest in social justice in society. Aren’t they, in fact, the same thing?

If he gets onto the medal stand in Tokyo, Gemili will have his opportunity to make his statement, and by then the IOC’s Legal Affairs Commission will have determined what sanctions – if any – will be imposed. Depending on the number of protests in Tokyo – and Gemili said, “athletes will protest – I expect a lot of the older athletes to protest but I hope a lot of the younger ones who are passionate do too” – it will be a major story, or perhaps nothing more than a note.

Then the Games will be over and Gemili and 95% of the athletes who competed in Tokyo will go back to anonymity, this time for three years until the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad in 2024. Good night, then. Sleep well. See you in Paris.

Or will things change?

Rich Perelman
Editor

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HEARD AT HALFTIME: Tokyo spectator decision to reflect baseball & soccer situation; Australian gymnast abuse documented; Judo suspends Iran

Rich Perelman

May 4, 2021

(For our updated, 506-event,
International Sports Calendar for 2021, click here)
(For our Highlights of the weekend’s competitions, click here)

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

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● Japan’s former Olympics minister and now a Tokyo 2020 Vice President projected confidence in a television interview that the Olympic Games will be held this summer.

Toshiaki Endo, a Liberal Democratic Party member of the Japanese Diet, said:

“In case [the virus] is widespread in the society, it’s not impossible that we could decide they can’t be held, but we’re preparing thinking we can definitely hold them given Japan’s situation and countermeasures.”

Asked about possible cancellation, he replied, “We’re not considering that” and also responded to the call from an infectious disease expert interested in discussing it, saying the comments were “reasonable from the standpoint of an expert’s opinion,” but that the organizers are continuing toward hosting the Games.

As for spectators, Endo noted:

“It’s easier to prepare for no spectators but we’ll decide based on [what is permitted for] professional baseball and J-League. [A decision] could be made in May should the situation permit.”

Tokyo 2020 reported that six traffic control officers were diagnosed with Covid-19 while involved with the Olympic Torch Relay on 27 April.

Three were in Amami and the other three in Kirishima, both in the southern prefecture of Kagoshima. The relay continues on.

“We all certainly wish to hear our beautiful anthem being played, but the most important thing now is for our athletes to win. Their wins will compensate for everything.”

Russian government spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters last week that although the Russian anthem cannot be played at the Tokyo Games – due to the World Anti-Doping Agency sanctions – winning, in the end, cures all.

The International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government announced on Saturday that a “celebratory half-marathon event” would be held in Tokyo in the fall of 2022.

The event will “be an occasion for the IOC to express its gratitude to the Japanese people for their support in playing host to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.”

That’s it? You get a half-marathon for all that trouble?

● Athletics ● Ethiopia held its Olympic marathon trials on Saturday in Sebeta, with the distance fixed at 35 km instead of the full 42.2 km as an accommodation to the 2,200 m altitude, and the race produced a full complement of medal contenders for Tokyo.

In the men’s race, 2020 London Marathon champion Shura Kitata pulled away at the end, winning in 1:46:15 to 1:46:16 for 2019 World Champion Lelisa Desisa, with 2019 Berlin Marathon bronze medalist Sisay Lemma close behind in 1:46:19.

Due to injury, three-time Olympic gold medalist – in the 5,000 and 10,000 m – Kenenisa Bekele did not run in the race, but it was reported that he could be placed on the Olympic team at the discretion of the Ethiopian federation. Stay tuned on this one.

The women’s race ended with a surprise winner in Tigist Girma, 27, who has a marathon best of 2:19:52 from 2019, and finished in 1:59:23. Birhane Dibaba, a two-time Tokyo Marathon winner, was second in 1:59:45 and Roza Dereje, the 2018 Chicago runner-up, was third in 2:00:16.

Long-time observers of Ethiopian distance running will note that coach Haji Adilo is the coach of four of the six qualifiers: Kitata and Desisa for the men and Girma and Dereje among the women.

One more world leader from the weekend, from the Trials of Miles meet in Leavenworth, Kansas. Mexican Jose Lopez won the 800 m in a lifetime best and national record 1:44.40, taking the world outdoor lead for 2021. Still just 23, he smashed his old best of 1:45.03 from 2019.

The Associated Press reported that the 2008 Olympic silver medalist in the decathlon, Andrei Krauchanka, is now on a hunger strike in his native Belarus in protest against the government’s persecution of political protestors.

This is a continuation of the protests against Alexander Lukashenko, who won a sixth term as the country’s President last August amid questionable circumstances. The AP reported, “Police cracked down harshly on the protests, arresting more than 34,000 people and beating many of them. Krauchanka was among those detained and beaten.”

World Athletics confirmed its approval of four Russians as Authorized Neutral Athletes last Friday (30th), including two reigning World Champions:

● Ilia Ivanyuk, men’s high jump ~ 2019 Worlds bronze medalist
● Aksana Gataullina, women’s pole vault ~ 2019 European Junior Champion
● Mariya Lasitskene, women’s high jump ~ 2019 World Champion
● Anzhelika Sidorova, women’s pole vault ~ 2019 World Champion

The World Athletics Doping Review Board declined to consider a quick-turnaround application from 14 race walkers who wanted to compete on 16 May in the European Team Championships, but applied after the 8 April deadline.

The World Athletics Council agreed to a maximum of 10 Russian entries at this summer’s Olympic Games, but no limited on the number of “ANA” athletes in other events.

● Gymnastics ● A 110-page report by the Australian Human Rights Commission on gymnastics in Australia found widespread abuses of athletes – some as young as eight or nine – by coaches and others. The Australian reported:

“Australian sport’s worst secrets are now out in the open and they are a national disgrace.

“For decades, young Australian gymnasts, mostly girls, were molested, abused and bullied by the same people who were supposed to protect them.

“For reasons that still haven’t been properly explained, taxpayer sporting authorities didn’t intervene.

“The accusation is that they either turned a blind eye to the abuse because they were so obsessed with winning, or they didn’t know it was happening even when it was taking place right in front of them.”

The report made five findings and 12 recommendations for the future; the findings start with “Current coaching practices create a risk of abuse and harm to athletes.” The recommendations focus on more coaching education, a bigger voice for athletes and easier ways for athletes to report possible abuse and concerns.

Britain’s Daily Mail reported that Olympic icon Nadia Comaneci – immortalized by scoring the first “perfect 10″ in Montreal in 1976 – and other Romanian gymnasts were allegedly “beaten, starved, and denied medical treatment to girls at their training camps” by coaches Bela and Martha Karolyi.

The revelations came from a new book published in Romania by Stejarel Olaru, based on “old files from the Securitate, Romania’s communist-era secret police, who kept a close eye on the Karolyis because of the importance of Romania’s gymnastics team to state propaganda efforts.”

The Daily Mail story noted that Comaneci was aware of the project, but did not participate in it and that her side of the story was in her 2003 book, “Letters to a Young Gymnast.”

The Karolyis continue to be involved in litigation in the U.S. around the Larry Nassar abuse scandal, now tied up in the USA Gymnastics bankruptcy case.

The latest report of operations from the ongoing USA Gymnastics bankruptcy proceedings at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana shows total legal fees approaching $14 million at $13,909,469. However, only $8,099,991 has been paid so far – that’s 58.2% – and the rest is being paid slowly by the USA Gymnastics insurers.

A hearing last week on whether cases filed in New York against the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee resulted in requests for more information from the parties, due in two weeks.

● Judo ● The Court of Arbitration for Sport finally published its 40-page decision of the appeal by the Iran Judo Federation against the International Judo Federation’s suspensions in 2019, following the 2019 World Championships in Tokyo in which Saeid Mollaei, Iran’s 2018 World 81 kg Champion, was directed to lose a match in order not to face Israel’s Sagi Muki, who ended up winning the class. The decision concluded in part:

“The Panel also considers that by instructing the Athlete to deliberately lose a contest in order to avoid competing against an Israeli athlete, the Appellant caused the Israeli athlete to be treated differently from other athletes solely because of his nationality or religion. Such a conduct would clearly constitute a discrimination based on nationality or religion, which is expressly prohibited under Article 1.2.4 of the IJF Statutes and the Fundamental Principles of Olympism as provided under the Olympic Charter. …

“The Panel therefore concludes that by instructing the Athlete to deliberately lose his contests at the 2019 Judo World Championship Senior, the Appellant breached the principles of political neutrality and non-discrimination as provided under the IJF Statutes and the Olympic Charter.”

Mollaei fled the event after his competitions concluded and now wrestles for Mongolia.

While the arbitration panel upheld Iran’s contention that the IJF’s suspension of the Iranian federation until such time as it guaranteed that its fighters would compete against Israelis was not in line with the IJF’s own sanctions statutes, the IJF’s later provisional suspension of the Iranian federation was proper.

Following the completion of the CAS decision on 1 March 2021 and its public publication, the IJF announced last Thursday (29th):

“The IJF Disciplinary Commission pronounced against the Iran Judo Federation a provisional withdrawal of its status as IJF member and all its affiliated components for four (4) years, from 18 September 2019 until 17 September 2023 …

“The Disciplinary Commission considers that this sanction, especially given the backdating and the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic (which led to no competition being organised for most of 2020), is proportionate to the extremely severe offenses committed by IRIJF.”

● Sailing ● World Sailing, under pressure from the International Olympic Committee to come up with an alternative to its proposed Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat, confirmed three possibilities based on 26 submissions from interested classes:

● Men’s and Women’s Individual Kiteboard
● Men’s and Women’s Two-Person Dinghy (470)
● Mixed Team Racing (ILCA 6)

The World Sailing Council will meet on 14 May and submit its top two proposals to the IOC, which has a 26 May deadline.

● Weightlifting ● The International Weightlifting Federation’s Constitutional Congress is coming on 30 June 2021, and the federation has now released both the draft constitution as well as 102 pages of comments from 43 national federations and one continental federation, plus the World Anti-Doping Agency, the International Testing Agency and the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF).

The ASOIF’s comments included:

“Overall, we believe that adopting the draft Constitution would represent a significant step forward for the IWF. There are numerous positive proposals in the draft, including on reforming the composition of the Executive Board with the introduction of athlete representatives, independent members and increased gender balance. Other important measures which ASOIF welcomes are the introduction of term limits (plus staggered terms), eligibility and vetting rules, the out-sourcing of investigations to an independent body, and provisions to ensure greater transparency.”

However, the ASOIF letter also raised some concerns about the amendment process, which requires a 75% vote at an IWF Congress!

Many national federation comments debated the provisions concerning doping suspensions. Russia asked for no sanctions to be imposed by the IWF Board, with the entire doping program outsourced to the International Testing Agency. USA Weightlifting, on the other hand, asked for a re-write of the sanctions section that would implement penalties after just two doping violations from a single country at international competitions, on a rolling, four-year average!

Lots of debate coming on this; one thing that all of the IWF federations know for sure is that the IOC is watching, closely.

● World University Games 2027 ● The North Carolina bid committee for the 2027 World University Games issued its April e-mail update, noting its proposed sports program:

“There are currently 15 sports required to be held in the Summer World University Games. Those required sports are Archery, Artistic Gymnastics, Badminton, Basketball, Diving, Fencing, Judo, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Track & Field, Volleyball, and Water Polo. This lineup includes a number of more high-profile sports that you would typically expect to see in an Olympic sports event, such as Basketball, Diving, Gymnastics, Swimming, Track & Field, Volleyball, and Tennis, but actually every one of the required Summer WUG sports is an Olympic sport that will be contested in this summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo.

“In addition to those 15, the Local Host can recommend up to 3 additional sports for the Games. Our North Carolina Bid Committee is proposing Baseball, Rugby 7s, Soccer, and Softball,” explaining that baseball and softball are part of the same International Federation and therefore count as “one” sport.

The selection process with the Federation Internationale de Sport Universitaire (FISU) for the 2027 Games is expected to take about another year. Support for the bid is continuing to expand, with the newsletter presenting 14 partner logos, most from the Research Triangle area in North Carolina, but also … Wasserman, the Los Angeles-based talent, branding and properties firm, headed by LA28 organizing committee chief Casey Wasserman!

● At the BuZZer ● May Day was the 81st anniversary of the final, certain cancellation of the 1940 Olympic Games. But the cancellation was made by the Finnish Olympic Committee in Helsinki, not the Japanese.

Tokyo was awarded the Games of the XIIth Olympiad in 1936, and was the first Asian city to be selected to host the Games. But Japan went to war against China in 1937 and the Japanese government renounced the event on 16 July 1938. The International Olympic Committee turned to Helsinki, which was the second choice to Tokyo.

The Finns were preparing to hold the Games from 20 July-4 August 1940. But with the outbreak of World War II in Europe in September, 1939, it became impossible to hold the event. But the Finns did not formally renounce the Games until 1 May 1940.

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LANE ONE: Is the skiing world ready for energy and evangelism? It could get both with the election of British skier and executive Sarah Lewis

Rich Perelman

May 3, 2021

tsx pix 2021-430 lewis, sarah (beijing roller ski 2019) — Britain's Sarah Lewis (third from left) at a Roller-skiing development program in China in 2019 (Photo: Sarah-Lewis.com)

(For our updated, 506-event,
International Sports Calendar for 2021, click here)
(For our Highlights of the weekend’s competitions, click here)

“So I have the vision to transform FIS, to become a global movement, for world skiing and snowboarding. The skills that I have, I’ll use them as a successful advocate, a promoter for FIS in our global community of national associations, our sport, most especially – always at the center – and our athletes.

“Really promoting us even further within the IOC, within the Olympic Movement, global sports landscape, and with new partners, with our existing partners, of course.”
~ Sarah Lewis, FIS Presidential candidate

There have been just four Presidents of the Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS) over the past 97 years – all men – from Sweden (Ivan Holmquist: 1924-34), Norway (Nicolai Ramm Ostgaard: 1934-51), and Switzerland, with Marc Hodler from 1951-98 and Gian-Franco Kasper, from 1998 to today.

On 4 June, the FIS will elect a new President as Kasper, 77, is retiring, after 23 years as Secretary General, followed by 23 years as President. Grim and gruff, Kasper could hardly be called inspirational, although the federation has prospered during his term.

Which way will FIS turn? The four candidates include:

● Swede Johan Eliasch, chief executive of the equipment and sportswear brand Head;
● Former World Downhill champ and Similasan chief executive Urs Lehmann (SUI);
● Swede Mats Arjes, a FIS Council Vice President from 2010-present, and
● Lewis, a 1988 Olympic Slalom and Giant Slalom skier for Great Britain who joined FIS in 1995 and rose to be Secretary General for 20 years until removed by the FIS Board in an internal rift in October last year.

Now Lewis is back and in a big way, with a sharply-honed message and a detailed Web presentation. But after the internal politics went against her last year, why? She is clear:

“Very importantly, I have been actively encouraged by national associations, by the snow sports, and the global sports community to pursue a candidacy, in order to fully represent everyone. Not just the elite nations, not just the emerging nations, everybody. the stakeholders as well: that means the ski industry, that means winter sports tourism.

“Look, I understand our sport, our federation, inside and out, from all perspectives, and I think, most importantly, I’ve got an international vision. I am not tied to any nation; I’ve worked now internationally for 27 years.

“I’ve been an Olympic athlete, I worked in the ski industry – alongside when I was an athlete, as a trainee, and then ran my own company as well as worked through the ski industry, I worked through the ski media, I was a volunteer team manager for the English national junior team, and where I originally came from, then I was the national association director for four years before I then started to work for FIS, directly after the Lillehammer Games. First of all in a technical function, as the coordinator for the Alpine Continental Cup [competitions], building up this global series of the five global Continental Cups, and then took over as Secretary General, initially the Director in 1998 and then Secretary General in 2000, for 20 years.”

Over a 52-minute interview, it was hard to get a word in edgewise, as Lewis enthused over her vision of creating a much broader skiing and snowboard community worldwide, with an impressive grasp of specifics:

● “FIS will undergo a complete digital transformation to strengthen its commercial potential, to harness innovations, to showcase the outstanding athletes, the iconic competition venues, to excite fans, to inspire young people, new participants around the world to ski, to snowboard, to be part of our sport. Maybe only digitally, but hopefully also be trying it themselves. And basically, things are limited at the moment to nations who have [TV] rights holders; they’re already fans, and the potential to do some much more is absolutely crucial.”

● “We absolutely have to have wider visibility in promotion of our sport, of the athletes growing and interacting with the global fan base is a priority, partner activation, high-profile athlete ambassadors through the Athletes Legends Club that we’ll set up … generating revenue through the rights to the World Championships and World Cup events, aggregating those rights through investment from private equity.

“This represents an opportunity to bring in new resources, not just tapping out the loyal sponsors who have been part or the organization for 10, 20 or more years. So working with the national associations and their organizers as shareholders with a proven commercial partner who is ready to invest in the sport and grow its value. That’s the reason they get involved. So this is an exciting opportunity.”

She saw the failure of the proposed European Super League in football – with its promised private-equity financial bonanza – as a lesson in governance: “We will not achieve anything like the European Super League did, then you just fall flat on your face. We have to do this together.”

● “[eSports] is a very strong part of my program. It does stimulate interest. Also, through digitalization, we are going to create a big community. … I mean they don’t have to participate necessarily, it will be a reason to do it: eSports and around eSports, so we’re going to connect the practicing recreational skiers.

“You know the global market is currently about 150 million skiers. … There’s no reason why winter sports, why skiing, can’t be the football of the winter sports. Not everybody will be able to do it, but not everybody can play football either. But you can enjoy watching it, you can enjoy following it, you can find some sort of connection to it, and from so many different angles.”

This is a fascinating insight into the future, one that Lewis is insistent on. And it makes sense as a pathway to skiing that could change its place in the sports world.

As FIS Secretary General, Lewis played a role in the development of the current game for alpine skiing – noting, “without the help of the leadership, very much against it” – and sees the opportunity for new games for cross country, ski jumping, the Nordic Combined, and the freestyle and snowboard events.

As a way to reach non-skiers in Africa, Oceania, South America and elsewhere, this could be a pivotal moment. It is not hard to imagine that once launched, a full-size, week-long world championship for e-skiing and snowboarding could be held during the summer, with prize money and all the rest, as a promotional platform for those who ski in person and/or on a computer. It could make skiing and snowboarding a truly year-round sport.

It’s also a potentially explosive promotional opportunity for U.S. Ski & Snowboard, which continues to be one of the world’s top powers in Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard, but which has seen less and less success at the FIS Alpine and Nordic World Championships. At the 2021 Worlds, the U.S. had one medalist in Alpine (Mikaela Shiffrin) and none in Nordic (comprising Cross Country, Nordic Combined and Ski Jumping).

The feeder system for ski and snow sports is much different than for the big summer sports. At the high school level, just 21,030 students competed in skiing or snowboarding in 2018-19 compared to 1,093,621 in track & field. At the collegiate level, NCAA track & field programs had 60,589 participants in 2020 as a feeder program directly to U.S. Olympic and World Championships teams. NCAA skiing is sponsored by just 34 schools across all divisions, with 434 total athletes, and coordination between the federation and colleges is just now accelerating. Might digital skiing be the key which creates interest in U.S. youngsters the way EA Sports’ Madden NFL game does for American Football, with national championships held in ski and snowboard resorts where the players can try the real thing?

The eSports development experience crystalized for Lewis the need to run for FIS President. As Secretary General, her ability to create change was limited; she was first and foremost responsible to implement the decisions and directions of Kasper and the FIS Council (which he dominated). As President, she can lead, and wants to.

“So, my overall vision is for us to transform FIS to become, really, a global movement for world skiing and snowboarding. From being a very good, stable International Federation, organizing of great competitions, with thanks to outstanding organizing committees, national associations, very professional people. But that’s been the main platform and the main focus.

“Now in addition to that, we’ve got the capacity to really grow FIS. That’s the foundation of [my] FIS Piste Map, which is the basis of the strategic plan for us to take the organization into a new, exciting future. For FIS to become a modern, versatile, diverse organization, for the national associations to be fully integrated into the governance of FIS, doing things together we will achieve more.”

This kind of evangelical zeal for the future of skiing and snowboard is well beyond the staid countenance of Hodler or Kasper, but is in line with today’s promotional efforts; if you stay quiet, you stay behind. But Lewis is well aware of the pitfalls:

“We will not be boxing and weightlifting. We will make sure the FIS leads with integrity, with diversity, and with all of the necessary values. And there’s no question we’re going to reach out and use the outstanding experts we’ve got in the organization, within the Council, within the committees, to increasing the athlete engagement and, of course, welfare, safety, injuries – there’s too many. We have a fantastic athlete’s commission, Hannah Kearney (USA), a former Moguls Olympic champion, multiple World Cup champion, World Champion as well. She is the co-chair, but it’s only kind of an overall commission. We need sub-commissions, down in the disciplines, getting their elbows rolled up and really involved in the governance of their own discipline too.”

Lewis faces formidable opposition, but what is fascinating is that everyone feels the urgent need to do more and expand the FIS impact. Arjes, a FIS Council Vice President since 2010, has said, “I am proposing an immediate review and consultation process, which will identify where we can improve and what tangible action we should take.” Eliasch has suggested better, more compelling broadcasts as a key to growth. Lehmann is the chief executive of the Similasan heath and beauty products company and would step back from his work there to concentrate on the FIS Presidency if elected (he is currently the head of Swiss Ski). He is also emphasizing better broadcast formats, more competitions outside of Europe and expanding new markets.

All of the candidates are spending a lot of time in front of their computers, talking with voters at the national federations, sharing ideas and trying to earn trust. The FIS election will be a revealing window into the minds of its members, whether to continue with expanding its existing programs, or to embrace a wider vision. If the national federations decide that this is the time for an evangelist who – also – already knows everyone in the sport, Lewis is ready and willing.

Rich Perelman
Editor

(Thanks to reader and retired U.S. Ski & Snowboard Communications Director Tom Kelly for noting a typo: the FIS Presidential election will take place on 4 June, not 5 June as originally shown. Thanks, Tom!)

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HIGHLIGHTS: World leaders 9.88 for Bromell and 74-6 1/2 for Kovacs; Pan-Am title for Lily Zhang; two British diving titles in Tokyo World Cup

Rich Perelman

May 2, 2021

tsx pix 2021-502 bromell, trayvon (erik van leeuwen) — Trayvon Brolmell, the 2016 World Indoor 60 m champ (Photo: Wikipedia/Erik van Leeuwen)

(For our updated, 506-event
International Sports Calendar for 2021, click here)

Headline results of noteworthy competitions around the world:

● Athletics ● The fifth World Athletics Relays in Chorzow, Poland, did not have many of the top teams as in years past, as the U.S., Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and several European countries did not come, or sent only small squads.

But like every relay meet, it was fun, watchable and had plenty of drama. The top eight teams in the 4×100 m and 4×400 m events qualified for Tokyo and that alone gave the event lots of excitement. No spectators, but lots of smiles for those athletes who earned a ticket to Tokyo. The marks were not outstanding, but the racing was intense. The main races:

● Men/4×100 m: 38.71, South Africa over Italy (39.21) and Japan (39.42) as Brazil (2nd) and Ghana (3rd) were both disqualified. Akani Simbine won it for South Africa with a great lean at the tape over Paulo de Oliveira (BRA).

● Men/4×400 m: 3:03.45 for The Netherlands, winning a down-the-stretch battle with Japan (3:04.45) and Botswana (3:04.77) after South African anchor Oscar Mavundla stormed to the lead entering the home straight, but then faded to fifth (3:05.76). All credit to Dutch anchor Tony van Diepen for sliding past Mavundla and taking control with 90 m left.

● Mixed 4×400 m: 3:16.60, Italy over Brazil (3:17.54) and the Dominican Republic (3:17.54), thanks to Davide Re’s final leg and strong finish for the Italians.

● Women/4×100 m: 43.79, Italy surprised themselves by winning against Poland (44.10) and the Netherlands (44.10). Dutch anchor Naomi Sedney was in position to win, but a bad take-off and a worse exchange with third leg Nadine Visser let Italy’s Vittoria Fontana take a lead which she did not relinquish.

● Women/4×400 m: 3:28.41, Cuba, which surprised even themselves with a strong final leg from Roxana Gomez to hold off Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek on the home straightaway (3:28.81). Jessie Knight brought home Great Britain (3:29.27) in third.

Germany won the men’s 4×200 m in 1:22.43 over Kenya (1:24.26) and Poland won the women’s 4×200 m (1:34.98 national record), beating Ireland (1:35.93 national record). The duo of Joanna Jozwik and Patryk Dobek won the Mixed 2x2x400 m for Poland (3:40.92) and Germany won the Mixed Shuttle Hurdles Relay in 56.53.

Elsewhere, the comeback story of Trayvon Bromell took on another dimension as he raced to his fourth-fastest time ever in 9.88 – the world leader for 2021 – in winning at the North Florida Invitational in Jacksonville on Friday. He finished well ahead of Canada’s Andre De Grasse and Nigeria’s Divine Oduduru, both timed in 10.05.

Oduduru came back with the no. 2 in the world for 200 m later in the meet to win in 19.88 and Trevor Stewart (USA) won the 400 m in the no. 2 time for 2021 at 44.52 (with Randolph Ross (USA) now no. 4 at 44.69).

At the Texas Invitational in Austin, world-record holder Keni Harrison zipped to the no. 2 time in the women’s 100 m hurdles this year at 12.48, winning over Tara Davis of Texas (12.75). Davis, the world leader in the long jump, won at 6.97 m (22-10 1/2); she’s the world leader at 7.14 m (23-5 1/4).

At the Jesse Owens Classic in Columbus, Ohio, men’s shot World Champion Joe Kovacs showed that he’s not conceding anything to indoor world-record holder Ryan Crouser with a win at 22.72 m (74-6 1/2).

Kovacs was brilliant all day: 21.91 m (71-10 3/4), 22.72 m (74-6 1/2), 21.97 m (72-1), 22.28 m (73-1 1/4), 21.91 m (71-10 3/4) and 22.32 (73-2 3/4). His second throw is the outdoor world leader and equal-14th best in history. It’s the equal-9th performance in U.S. history. Wow!

● Badminton ● Canada was everywhere at the XXIV Pan American Championships in Guatemala City (GUA), with players or teams in all five finals! However, while Canada won three titles, the U.S. took two.

The all-Canadian men’s Singles final ended with a win for second-seed Brian Yang, who split the first two sets with top-seed Jason Anthony-Ho-Shue, but then Ho-Shue had to retire due to injury. That also meant the U.S. pair of Phillip and Ryan Chew were awarded the men’s Doubles title in a walkover against Ho-Shue and Nyl Yakura.

American Lily Zhang – the top seed – won the women’s Singles with a 21-14, 21-18 finals effort over Rachel Chan (CAN).

Canada enjoyed wins in the women’s Doubles, as Rachel Honderich and Kristen Tsai took Americans Francesca Corbett and Alison Lee, 21-12, 21-7 and in the Mixed Doubles, where Joshua Hurlburt-Yu and Josephine Wu defeated Christopher Martinez and Mariana Paiz (GUA), 21-18, 21-18.

● Beach Volleyball ● The third of three FIVB World Tour competitions in a sequestered environment in Cancun, Mexico, had some very familiar faces on the podium.

For the third tournament in a row, Qatar’s Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan made the final, but this time against Konstantin Semenov and Ilya Leshukov of Russia. And the third time was a charm as Younousse and Tijan won, 21-15-21-12, for their second career win together in an FIVB World Tour event.

American Phil Dalhauser and Nick Lucena – both now 41 – scored their first medal of the season, winning the bronze over Adrian Carambula and Enrico Rossi of Italy, 21-19, 21-15. The Italians finished fourth for the second tournament in a row.

The women’s final pitted Brazil Agatha Bednarczuk and Duda Lisboa, winners of the second tournament and third in the first one, against Australian veterans Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho.

The Brazilians medaled in all three Cancun events, but Clancy and Artacho won their first World Tour tournament since November 2019 – also in Mexico, with a determined, 19-21, 22-20, 16-14 effort.

Americans April Ross and Alix Klineman, bronze-medal winners in the second tournament, went for bronze again on Sunday against familiar opponents – and reigning World Champions – Sarah Pavan and Melissa Paredes-Humana of Canada, and got it, with a 21-16, 21-15 victory.

● Curling ● The WCF women’s World Championship is ongoing in Calgary, Canada, but with some difficulty with the coronavirus. Last week, two cases were reported on the German team, just as the tournament was about to start, delaying the action until the 30th, when the games began. The German team was cleared to play with the remaining three players who did not test positive.

On Sunday, several positives were reported among the broadcast crew for the event:

“The entire competition broadcast staff have now been isolated in their hotel while additional testing and contact tracing takes place. The broadcast staff are situated in a different hotel from the athletes and competition officials in order to ensure the integrity of the competition bubble.”

No broadcasts of Sunday’s sessions are expected and the morning session was delayed. Oy.

On the ice and through the first six draws, only four teams remain undefeated: Russia (4-0; Alina Kovaleva, skip); Switzerland (3-0, Silvana Tirinzoni); Sweden (3-0, Anna Hasselborg) and Scotland (3-0, Eve Muirhead). The U.S., skipped by Tabitha Peterson, was 2-2.

The round-robin will continue through 7 May, with the playoffs to follow on the weekend.

● Cycling ● It was back to the future for 2018 Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas (GBR), taking the title at the five-stage Tour de Romandie this week in Switzerland.

Now 34, Thomas was second in the flat Prologue to Rohan Dennis (AUS), then watched Peter Sagan (SVK), Sonny Colbrelli (ITA) and Marc Soler (ESP) take the first three legs, leading up to the mountainous fourth stage.

Soler was the overall leader heading into Saturday’s race, with 22 riders within a minute of the lead and Thomas sitting second, 14 seconds behind. The triple-climb, 161.3 km route from Sion to an uphill finish at Thyon 2000 was an impressive win for Canada’s Michael Woods, 17 seconds ahead of Ben O’Connor (AUS) and 21 seconds up on Thomas in third.

That made Woods the overall leader heading into the final-day, 16.19 km Individual Time Trial in Fribourg, with Thomas now 11 seconds behind and O’Connor, 21 seconds back. Dutch star Remi Cavagna was the fastest, clocking 21:54 on the hilly course, followed by Stefan Bissinger (SUI: 22:00) and then Thomas (22:11) in third. Woods, much more a climber than sprinter, finished 28th (+1:11) and that gave Thomas a clear win by 28 seconds over Australian sprint star Richie Porte (AUS) and 38 seconds up on Fausto Masnada (ITA), with Soler fourth (+0:39) and Woods fifth (+0:43).

It was Thomas’s first win since his Tour de France triumph three years ago.

● Diving ● The much-delayed FINA Diving World Cup is underway in Tokyo and will continue through Thursday as both an Olympic qualifier and a test event for the organizing committee. The dominant Chinese have only a modest entry into the meet, mostly to check on the facility.

The synchronized events went first as usual, with Britain’s Jack Laugher and Daniel Goodfellow win the men’s 3 m Synchro with 440.94 points to 433.92 for Germany’s Patrick Hausdig and Lars Rudiger. The U.S. pair of Andrew Capobianco and Mike Hixon qualified for Tokyo in fourth place (414.18).

The British scored again with the men’s 10 m Synchro title, thanks to star Thom Daley and Matthew Lee, who won at 453.60 to 405.69 for Mexico’s Randal Willars and Ivan Garcia. Americans David Dinsmore and Brandon Loschiavo were eighth (369.18).

The women’s 3 m Synchro was a demonstration of excellence by Yani Chang and Yiwen Chen of China, who scored 317.16 to 289.98 for runner-ups Jennifer Abel and Melissa Citrini Beaulieu of Canada. Italy’s Chiara Pellacani and Elena Bertocchi were well back in third (283.77). Sarah Bacon and Kassidy Cook of the U.S. finished fifth (278.49), but will go to Tokyo as China had already qualified.

Canada took the women’s 10 m Synchro title behind Caeli McKay and Meaghan Benfeito (305.94), over Lois Toulson and Eden Cheng (GBR: 302.88) and Tina Punzel and Christina Wassen (GER: 292.86).

● Fencing ● The Pan-American Qualifying Tournament was on in San Jose, Costa Rica, with competition in three events: men’s Epee and Sabre and women’s Foil.

The men’s Epee was won by Marc-Antoine Blais-Belanger of Canada, who defeated Yunior Reytor Venet of Cuba in the final, 15-10. The men’s Sabre was a triumph for Venezuela’s Jose Quintero, a 15-14 victor over Argentina’s Pascual Maria Di Tella.

The women’s Foil was a win for Chile’s Katina Proestakis, by 15-12 over Nataly Michel (MEX).

Blais-Belanger, Quintero and Proestakis all punched their tickets for Tokyo.

● Karate ● A big field of 573 fighters from 79 countries gathered in Lisbon (POR) for the Karate-1 Premier League contests, with two reigning World Champions – from 2018 – taking golds: Steven Da Costa (FRA) in the men’s 67 kg class and Jovana Prekovic (SRB), at 61 kg.

No country won more than one class in either the men’s or women’s individual events. Only Turkey was able to win both a men’s and women’s event: Turkey (Enes Ozdemir/men’s Kata and Meltem Hocaoglu/women’s +68 kg).

● Rowing ● The first World Cup of 2021 was held successfully in Zagreb (CRO), with a full program and significant performances from France and Germany, with three wins each.

The French wins came from Hugo Boucheron and Matthieu Androdias, who won the men’s Double Sculls by nearly three seconds, the men’s Fours over Poland and in the women’s Lightweight Double Sculls, with Laura Tarantola and Claire Bove.

Germany enjoyed gold-medal performances from Oliver Zeidler in the men’s Single Sculls, also in the women’s Quadruple Sculls, and by Jonathan Rommelmann and Jason Osbourne in the men’s Lightweight Double Sculls.

The home team did well, too, with Croatian stars – and World Champions – Martin and Valent Sinkovic taking the men’s Pairs impressively, and Ivana and Josipa Jurkovic winning the women’s Pairs by more than five seconds.

● Wrestling ● The USA Wrestling national championships completed a busy three days in Coralville, Iowa by crowning 30 winners in men’s and women’s Freestyle and Greco-Roman, with 11 repeat winners.

In the men’s Freestyle division, three men won their second national titles. James Green won at 70 kg over Alec Pantaleo, 7-2; Austin Schafer defeated Nathan Rotert by technical fall (10-0) at 97 kg and Nick Gwiazdowski stopped Tony Casioppi by technical;, 12-0, in 1:48. Gwiazdowski was named the Outstanding Wrestler in men’s Freestyle and did not give up a point at the meet.

The women’s Freestyle competition had three prior champions who won again. Jennifer Page won her second national title at 65 kg, dominating a three-wrestler round-robin with a 20-0 total in her two matches. Erin Golston won at 50 kg and Alex Hedrick took the 53 kg title again. However, the Outstanding Wrestler selection went to Maya Nelson at 59 kg. Wrestling in a four-entry round-robin, Nelson won her three bouts by a combined score of 31-6.

In Greco-Roman, five former winners earned another national title, with Nick Boykin repeating at 97 kg by pinning James Souza in 1:48. The other multi-time national winners included Max Nowry (55 kg, over Brady Koontz, 1-1/criteria), Dalton Roberts (60 kg, over Dylan Koontz, 8-0), Hayden Tuma (67 kg, over Alston Nutter, 10-1) and Ben Provisor (82 kg, over Peyton Walsh, 6-3). The Outstanding Wrestler award went to Xavier Johnson, the winner at 72 kg.

While the U.S. Olympic Trials have already been held, the top finishers at the national championships will now go to the U.S. World Championships Trials in September, as United World Wrestling will also holds a Worlds in 2021 in early October in Oslo (NOR).

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