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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡
● Olympic Games 2032: Brisbane ● The political tug-of-war over government funding for venues for the 2032 Olympic Games in Queensland continues unabated, with Queensland Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie (Liberal National Party) alleging that the prior Labor government did not disclose an A$500 million train transport link with the to-be-built Brisbane Arena, and A$181 million for work on two other venues. (A$1 = $0.65 U.S.)
Labor controls the national Parliament and Federal Workplace Minister Murray Watt told the Queensland Media Club that no added funding was coming:
“I think any fair observer would say that [A$3.435 billion] is a pretty fair contribution from a federal government towards an event being staged largely by the state government.
“I am concerned that having yet another review into something that has been reviewed to death is only just going to result in more delays and more cost blowouts. So that’s why we’ve been saying it’s time to get on with it. Time is running out.”
The national government plans to spend A$2.5 billion in the new Brisbane Arena, to be used for swimming, and another A$935 million for other sites.
New Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has promised a 100-day review of the state’s Olympic infrastructure issues, especially the question of the main stadium, essentially whether to build an all-new facility for a proposed A$3.4 billion, or refurnish the historic Brisbane Cricket Ground (“The Gabba”) at a proposed $A2.7 billion, which would impact the surrounding area, including a school.
● Australia ● Just when it looked like she was out, she’s back in again.
Break dancer Rachael Gunn (“Raygun”), 37, said in a radio interview that she would skip competing in the future, but dialed it back in a television appearance on Monday:
“So, I was talking, you know, on 2dayFM about how I’m not going to do certain competitions anymore, which didn’t seem like such a big deal because breaking is not going to be in the [2028] Olympics anyway.
“But you know, I’m still going to be part of community jams, or I’d like to go to community jams and still dance and still break. Never used the word ‘retire.’”
Asked point-blank, Gunn said, “I’m not retiring. You try and stop me. I’m not ever going to stop dancing. So, if you hear that again, you know that it’s not the truth.”
● Equestrian ● The 2024 FEI Congress is ongoing in Abu Dhabi (UAE), with the revised budget for 2025 now released.
At the end of 2022, the FEI had CHF 72.18 million in assets (CHF 1 = $1.13 U.S.) and reserves of CHF 20.58 million [~$23.34 million U.S.], considerably more than the $15.14 million provided by the International Olympic Committee for its television rights share from Tokyo 2020. Since then:
● 2023: CHF 57.38 million revenue; surplus of CHF 3.49 million
● 2024: CHF 57.95 million revenue; no surplus (projected)
For 2025, the outlook is quite stable, with CHF 57.58 million projected revenue and expense, for no net change, or surplus. Sponsorship revenue is expected to go up a little to CHF 27.16 million, but broadcast revenue will be weaker at CHF 843,680.
● Hockey ● The International Hockey Federation (FIH) Congress in Moscat (OMA) was held on Saturday, with Pakistan’s Tayyab Ikram re-elected, running unopposed, for a full term. He was elected in 2022 to fill the remainder of the term of Narinder Batra (IND), who resigned.
The federation expanded to 146 countries with the admissions of Bahrain, Chad, Curacao, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan and Senegal.
The FIH financials showed assets of CHF 13.61 million at the end of 2023, down from 2022’s CHF 15.34 million, with 2023 reserves of CHF 6.30 million (CHF 1 = $1.13 U.S.)
Operating revenues in 2023 were CHF 14.27 million, with expenses of CHF 11.23 million for a surplus of CHF 3.04 million on operations, and CHF 1.90 million after financial losses. A very positive note was a surplus from the operation of the FIH Pro League of CHF 459,494, reversing a CHF 331,435 loss from 2022.
The FIH, in the fourth of five Olympic television revenue distribution tiers, is not wholly dependent on IOC television money, but would be hard-pressed without it; it received $15.14 million following the Tokyo 2020 Games.
● Modern Pentathlon ● Just as the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) is getting ready to meet for its 73rd Congress, a new group is developing – or reviving – pentathlon with riding still included.
At the direct urging of the International Olympic Committee, the UIPM removed riding from the modern pentathlon and substituted obstacle course racing instead. Many athletes complained, but that was the price of staying as part of the Olympic Games program for Los Angeles 2028.
Now, the Pony Club International Alliance (PCIA) and the new International Pentathlon Association (IPA) announced a partnership:
“PCIA has a strong tradition of international participation and competition in Tetrathlon (horse riding, swimming, running and pistol shooting) and IPA has been formed to develop the aspirations of young athletes who wish to participate in Pentathlon (horse riding, swimming, running, pistol shooting and fencing).
“Working together, PCIA and IPA will promote pathways for athletes of all ages and abilities to explore harmonious relationships with horses and athletic performance for fun and fitness in activities and competition.”
A Tuesday statement said that “PCIA and IPA will share rules and technical information and combine on national and international competition including a possible international equestrian multi-sport games.”
The new partnership aims to continue the traditional modern pentathlon and makes no reference to Olympic inclusion, or to have any relationship with the UIPM.
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