★ The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★
★ To get the daily Sports Examiner Recap by e-mail: sign up here! ★
≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡
● Olympic Games 2032: Brisbane ● The Australian government and the State of Queensland signed an agreement for venue support for the 2032 Brisbane Games; the announcement noted:
“The Australian Government has allocated a capped contribution of $3.435 billion to the $7.1 billion Games Venue Infrastructure Program, which will see 17 new or upgraded venues delivered across Queensland.
“This includes the main 63,000 seat stadium at Victoria Park and the National Aquatic Centre.”
(A$1 = $0.64 U.S., so A$3.435 billion ~ $2.21 billion U.S.; A$7.10 billion ~ $4.57 billion U.S.)
Queensland will be responsible for the rest of the funding and will manage the actual construction work. It was further noted that the agreement “also prevents the state government from selling or offering long-term leases on Olympic venues for 25 years, unless the federal government agrees to it.”
Queensland Sports Minister Tim Mander said during the signing ceremony that any added sports that might be proposed for the Games would need to pay their own way:
“It is important to know that any additional sports, outside the 28 core sports, those costs have to be born by the host.”
● International Olympic Committee ● “There is not a word of truth in this, it is a completely fabricated story.”
That’s from the IOC Press Office, replying to a statement by retired Russian discus thrower Vera Geneeva, who said in a radio interview that the IOC “threatened to annul” the Olympic results of vault star Yelena Isinbayeva, two-time Olympic champion in 2004 and 2008, if she “supported” the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In fact, Isinbayeva served as an IOC member from her election to the IOC Athletes’ Commission from 2016-24.
● World Anti-Doping Agency ● WADA is asking governments for additional money beyond their annual dues “for the purpose of scientific research in anti-doping, which is crucial to securing a level playing field for athletes worldwide.”
The Tuesday announcement noted a May contribution by Qatar of $1.5 million for research, above its $200,000 annual dues payment. The WADA post went on:
“Prompted by this, in July, WADA’s Finance and Administration Committee recommended that WADA Management invite all Governments to consider making similar contributions that would advance scientific research and also help mitigate the risks created for clean sport when a Public Authority withholds payment of its annual dues.”
That’s a pointed reference to the U.S. – specifically the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy – which has withheld its 2024 dues of $3.625 million over WADA’s approach to the 2021 Chinese swimming mass-doping incident and its handling of the case since it was publicly exposed last year. The war of words between WADA, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and the U.S. Congress has continued, without any indication of a thaw.
● Athletics ● Paris women’s 200 m Olympic champion Gabby Thomas of the U.S. came out even harder against doping in a post on X on Wednesday, calling out coaches, but also athletes (reproduced in her format; “idc” = “I don’t care.”):
Doping coaches should be banned for life
from coaching in the sport. Whether you
were banned while competing as an athlete
or caught distributing as a coach (for some,
both)
Idc idc idc
If you train under a coach who is known for
doping (one, twice or even three times for
some), you are complicit.
That’s my stance
There is quite a lot of doping activity out there. The Athletics Integrity Unit, which announces new doping suspensions almost daily (it seems), had 659 individuals on its global list of ineligible people as of 1 July 2025, and there were more in July and August.
These are only individuals currently under sanction and does not include those whose sanctions have concluded. As Thomas notes, she does not care.
● Fencing ● A breakthrough for USA Fencing, announcing a monthly television program – “The Fencing Show” – beginning in October on CNBC. Per the announcement:
“Viewers can expect exciting competition recaps, personal athlete stories, and expert commentary that bring the tactics and drama of fencing to life for both longtime fans and new audiences. By featuring both household names and rising stars, the series aims to inspire the next generation of fencers and engage a broader fan base across the country.”
USA Fencing will have some ad inventory available during the shows, which can also help boost sponsorship opportunities for the federation. It’s an important step forward for the sport in the U.S., giving it reliable, scheduled exposure – generally the last Saturday of each month, at 2:30 p.m. Eastern time – that it can direct to current and new fans to with confidence.
● Freestyle Skiing ● China’s two-time Olympic gold medalist Eileen Gu is recovering and undergoing tests in New Zealand after a training accident.
The South China Morning Post reported on the Friday incident, referencing Gu’s Weibo account:
“Unfortunately, a very terrible accident occurred yesterday due to human error.
“Hopefully I’ll be back on the snow soon, but I’m still waiting for final confirmation from the expert team.”
Gu had recovered from another injury at the January X Games in Aspen, Colorado before the incident in Cardrona, a popular New Zealand resort which has been a multi-time FIS World Cup host. She was moved off the resort and flown for Christchurch for more examinations.
If healthy, she will be favored in February Milan Cortina Olympic Winter Games in the women’s Freestyle Halfpipe and Big Air.
● Gymnastics ● Olympic women’s Floor Exercise gold medalist Rebeca Andrade (BRA) will not compete at the 2025 FIG Artistic World Championships in Jakarta (INA) in October, explaining:
“I am a woman with five knee surgeries. When we understand our limits, it is essential to respect them. I know you like it when I do floor exercises, but I can still show a lot on other apparatuses.”
Now 26, she was the All-Around runner-up in Paris and has won four other Olympic medals.
¶
★ Receive our exclusive, weekday TSX Recap by e-mail by clicking here.
★ Sign up a friend to receive the TSX Recap by clicking here.
★ Please consider a donation here to keep this site going.
For our updated, 699-event International Sports Calendar for 2025, 2026 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!
