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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡
● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● The Los Angeles City Council is worried about visitors coming for the 2028 Games:
“While the 2028 Games are anticipated to be centered in the City of Los Angeles with sports facilities near Downtown Los Angeles, the University of Southern California, the Sepulveda Basin, and outside of the City of Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood and in Long Beach, visitors will also be expected at our City’s everyday attractions.
“This includes Venice Beach, Griffith Observatory, the Getty, and the Hollywood Sign, among numerous other sites across Los Angeles, including cultural and tourist destinations requested in CF 23-1096. On any given day, the City already struggles to provide a basic level of service to these locations, from trash pick-up and maintenance to traffic management.
“With a historic number of visitors expected in Los Angeles, this task could become exponentially harder for our City Departments.”
So, a motion by Council member Traci Park (11th District) is asking for a plan to “mitigate impacts associated with tourism, such as traffic and public safety concerns.”
Los Angeles Tourism estimated there were 49.1 million visitors to the region in 2023; the Ile-de-France region was almost the same, at 47.5 million. During the Paris 2024 Olympic period, visits by those from outside the region increased by 19%, to 3.2 million vs. 2.6 million in 2023.
● Athletics ● The Eastleigh Voice, a Nairobi-based site in Kenya, reported last week that the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Kipchumba Murkomen has signaled his support for Kenya’s bid for the 2029 World Athletics Championships.
He said that the needed upgrades to the Kasarani Stadium will be ready in 2025 and promised added funding for the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK), which had lost most of its funding in a recent cutback. “We’re collaborating with the Ministry of Finance and Parliament to enhance ADAK’s funding in the next supplementary budget,” Murkomen said.
Kenyan President William Ruto promised to support anti-doping efforts in the country during the recent visit by International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach (GER).
● Badminton ● At the BWF World Tour Korea Masters in Gwangju, the host nations made it to two finals, with one win, by Hye-jeong Kim and Hee-young Kong in the women’s Doubles, defeating Yi Jing Li and Xu Min Luo (CHN), 21-14, 16-21, 21-18. The men’s Doubles team of Yong Jin and Won Ho Kim (KOR) lost to Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Wooi Yik Soh, 21-23, 21-19, 21-14.
Elsewhere, Thai Kunlavut Vitidsarn won the men’s Singles, 21-18, 21-18, over Zheng Xing Wang (CHN) and Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani took the women’s Singles by 21-14, 21-14 against China’s Qian Xi Han.
China’s Xia Wa Guo and Fang Hui Chen won the Mixed Doubles, 21-10, 21-12, over Dejan Ferdinansyah and Gloria Widjaja.
● Beach Volleyball ● The final Beach Pro Tour Elite 16 tournament, in Rio de Janeiro (BRA) saw a winning moment for Javier and Joaquin Bello, two brothers playing for England, who had won one minor FIVB tournament in 2021 and a single bronze on the 2023-24 Beach Pro Tour.
But in Rio they knocked off Argentina’s Tomas Capogrosso and Nicolas Capogrosso, 22-24, 30-28, 15-13, to earn their first Elite 16 victory, as the no. 14 seeds.
The third-place match was a win for Martins Plavins and Kristians Fokerots (LAT), who defeated Tokyo Olympic champs and Paris bronzers Anders Mol and Christian Sorum (NOR), 21-18, 13-21, 15-11.
The women’s final was a sweep for Brazil’s Carol Solberg Salgado and Barbara Seixas over the American pair of Terese Cannon and Megan Kraft, 231-17, 21-18. It was the third medal of the season for the Brazilians and their second win. Cannon and Kraft also won their third medal of the season (0-2-1).
The third-place match saw Themala Galil and Victoria Lopes (BRA) ease past Sandra Ittlinger and Kim Van de Velde (GER), 21-19, 21-16, for their third medal of the season.
● Canoeing ● Running unopposed, International Canoe Federation President Thomas Konietzko (GER) was elected to a second term from 2024-28 at the ICF Congress in Antalya (TUR) by 87-1. He told the delegates following his election:
“While we have had our sights set on our structure and finances for the past three years, the next four years will be important for discussing our future strategy. They will be dedicated to a thorough review of our organisational structure and procedures, and we want to discuss everything to make our Federation, including its rules and processes, fit for the future.
“We want to start a comprehensive organisational reform review. I call on all of you to get involved and participate here. “
● Curling ● In the second leg of the 2024-25 Grand Slam of Curling, the Canadian Open in Nisku, Alberta (CAN), two-time (and reigning) World Champion Rachel Homan’s Canadian rink managed a tight, 6-5 win over four-time World Champion Silvana Tirinzoni (SUI) in the women’s final.
Homan’s rink scored two in the first end, but the Swiss were up, 3-2, by the end of three. Then came a three-point fourth for Homan and another point in the fifth for a 6-3 lead. Tirinzoni got close with two in the sixth, but could not do more. It’s Homan’s fourth Canadian Open win and second in a row.
Two more World Champions faced off in the men’s final, with Brad Gushue (CAN: 2017) and Scotland’s Bruce Mouat (2023). Mouat took a 3-0 lead in the first end, added one in the third and two in the fifth and cruised in for a 6-3 win. Mouat defended his title in this tournament from 2023, and won his second straight Grand Slam event for a career total of eight Grand Slam of Curling victories.
● Fencing ● The FIE World Cup series got busy this weekend with Epee and Sabre action in three different countries. In Sabre action in Oran, Algeria, France’s Sebastien Patrice got his second career World Cup gold with a 15-11 victory over 19-year-old, first-time medalist Radu Nitu (ROU). The women’s final went to Korea’s first-time winner, Hayoung Jeon, 15-7, over Lucia Martin-Portugues (ESP).
Korea defeated Iran, 45-34, to take the men’s team title, with Italy winning the bronze over the U.S., 45-32, for third. Hungary beat Poland, 45-36, for the women’s gold, with Korea taking third.
In the Epee men’s World Cup in Bern (SUI), Hungary’s 2023 World Champion Mate Tamas Koch took the final – and his first World Cup gold – from first-time medalist Giacomo Paolini (ITA) by 15-9. Hungary won the team title, 34-27, with France third.
The women’s Epee World Cup was in Fujairah (UAE), with a first career victory for Italian Sara Maria Kowalczyk over countrywoman Giulia Rizzi, 15-10. Estonia won the team title, 45-34, over Italy, with the U.S. winning the bronze over China, 45-38.
● Figure Skating ● The ISU Grand Prix entered the second half of its schedule with the annual NHK Trophy tournament in Tokyo (JPN), featuring two wins for the home team.
Three-time Worlds silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama dominated the men’s competition, winning the Short Program and the Free Skate on the way to a 300.09 total and defending his 2023 victory. Italy’s Daniel Grassl was second at 264.85; Americans Andrew Torgashev (246.58), Jason Brown (229.09) and Tomoki Hiwatashi (226.38) were fourth, seventh and eighth.
Three-time World Champion Kaori Sakamoto led a Japanese sweep in the women’s Singles, scoring 231.88 and taking the Short Program and the Free Skate, ahead of Mone Chiba (212.54) and Yuna Aoki (195.07). Alysa Liu and Bradie Tennell of the U.S. went 4-5 (190.75, 190.25) and Lindsay Thorngren (169.03) was ninth.
World Junior Champions Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava (GEO) upset Japan’s 2023 World Champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, 213.05 to 209.45 in Pairs by winning the Free Skate by more than five points to rise from second. Americans Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea took the bronze at 197.44; teammates Isabelle Martins and Ryan Bedard were eighth (140.63).
The two-time World Ice Dance Champions, Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the U.S. were clear winners, winning the Rhythm Dance and the Free Dance and scoring 215.95 points, ahead of teammates Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko (198.97), who won their third career Grand Prix medal and first silver. Caroline Green and Michael Parsons of the U.S. finished fourth (188.76).
Next week: the Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki.
● Ice Hockey ● Canada took game two of the 2024-25 Rivalry Series in West Valley City, Utah, by 5-4 in an overtime shoot-out after the U.S. fought back from a 4-1 deficit in the third period.
Forward Laura Stacey scored goals for Canada in the first and second periods, and with a short-handed goal by forward Marie-Philip Poulin, they had a 3-1 lead after two periods. A fourth goal from forward Emma Maltais on a power play made it 4-1 with 12 minutes to play. But the U.S. stormed back with scores by Hilary Knight, a short-hander by Grace Zumwinkle (her second) and another Knight goal in just 4:16 to tie.
After a scoreless overtime, the shoot-out saw the U.S. miss all four of their tries, while Poulin and Chloe Primerano converted for a 2-0 edge and the 5-4 win.
On Sunday evening in Boise, Idaho, Canada struck again early, getting first-period goals from defender Joycelyne Larocqueat the 3:30 mark and then from forward Sarah Nurse on a power play at 9:19. Forward Kristin O’Neill added another power-play goal at 4:35 of the second period for a 3-0 lead in the first 20 minutes.
The U.S. finally got a goal at 13:36 of the final period on a power play, with forward Laila Edwards scoring, but Emily Clark scored one more for Canada at 16:05 for the 4-1 final. The U.S. out-shot Canada, 37-33, but it didn’t help.
The series will continue in February, with two games in Canada.
● Luge ● At the USA Luge National Championships in Park City, Utah, held from 3-5 November, Beijing 2022 Olympian Ashley Farquharson won her second straight women’s title, with a combined time of 2:57.652, edging three-time Olympian Emily Sweeney (2:57.769).
Also defending their 2023 U.S. championship was the women’s Doubles team of Chevonne Forgan and Sophie Kirkby, three-time Worlds medal winners, in 1:30.662. A new team of Maya Chan and Sophia Gordon was second in 1:31.457.
The men’s winner was the super-starter Tucker West, also a three-time Olympian, who defeated defending champ Jonny Gustafson, 3:04.310 to 3:04.575. The men’s Doubles title went to World Junior Champions Marcus Mueller and Ansel Haugsjaa in 1:239.014, edging out Worlds medal winners Dana Kellogg and Frank Ike (1:29.139). Beijing 2022 Olympians Zack DiGregorio and Sean Hollander finished third in 1:29.280.
● Rowing ● The World Rowing Awards gala was held on Saturday (9th) in Seville (ESP), with the Dutch winners of the Paris 2024 Olympic gold in the Quadruple Sculls – Lennart Van Lierop, Finn Florijn, Tone Wieten, Koen Metsemakers – recognized as the Men’s Crew of the Year.
The women’s winner was the Romanian eight, which won a 10th medal in this event all-time in Paris, tying with the U.S. for the most ever. Moreover, Romanian mentor Antonio Colamonici (ITA) was recognized as the Coach of the Year for 2024.
● Sailing ● At the World Sailing General Assembly in Singapore, China’s Quanhai Li was re-elected for a second term, winning 55 votes in the first round against 29 for Philippe Rogge (BEL) and two for Rodion Luka (UKR). Also:
“Ozlem Akdurak (TUR), Daniel Belcher (AUS), Tomasz Chamera (POL), Beatriz González Luna (MEX), Line Markert (DEN), Josep Pla Maronda (AND) and Cory Sertl (USA) were elected as Vice Presidents and will join the World Sailing Board.”
● Table Tennis ● At the WTT Champions tournament in Frankfurt (GER), the nos. 1-2 seeds faced off in the women’s final, with 2021 World Champion Manyu Wang (CHN) and two-time Worlds Team gold medalist Yidi Wang (CHN). This was a tight match, with Manyu Wang breaking a 2-2 tie to get a 4-2 win: 11-7, 10-12, 11-3, 7-11, then 11-8, 11-8.
In the men’s final, 19-year-old Shidong Lin (CHN) raced past Paris Team silver medalist Anton Kallberg (SWE), 4-1 (11-5, 11-7, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8).
● Triathlon ● Not done yet, Rio 2016 Olympic champion Gwen Jorgensen of the U.S., now 38, made a rip-roaring comeback after a second-transition fall at the sprint-format World Triathlon Cup in Miyazaki (JPN) to win at the tape over Swiss Alissa Konig.
Jorgensen looked like the winner after the bike phase, given her running prowess, but got into a pile-up with other athletes and got to the run well down, instead of leading. She trailed by 10 seconds at the bell, but made all of it up, lunging to the finish in a final sprint to win, 59:54 to 59:56.
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