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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡
● Trump Administration ● The U.S. Senate confirmed Monica Crowley, by 52-45, as Assistant Secretary of State and Chief of Protocol of the United States, with responsibilities for major events including the FIFA World Cup in 2026 and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
She was nominated on 4 December 2024 by President Donald Trump, “to serve as Ambassador, Assistant Secretary of State, and Chief of Protocol of the United States of America. Monica will be the Administration Representative for major U.S. hosted events, including America’s 250th Birthday in 2026, the FIFA World Cup in 2026, and the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.
“During my First Term, Monica did an incredible job as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Public Affairs. For her exceptional service, she received the Alexander Hamilton Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Department.”
● Russia ● Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev, also head of the Russian Olympic Committee continued to rail against bans on Russian athletes, but said it is important to maintain positive contacts for the future:
“Of course, the assessment of the decision to disqualify our athletes from international tournaments in many sports is unambiguous: this is happening for political reasons, this is discrimination. It is unfair that we are deprived of the flag and anthem at the Olympics and at the European and World Championships. Nevertheless, slamming the door and burning bridges is the wrong way.
“Our main goal remains a full-fledged return to world sports. There is high confidence that the membership of the Russian Olympic Committee in the IOC will be restored in the near future, and in 2028 Russia will be able to compete in the Olympics under its own flag and anthem. This summer, our athletes will go to the Universiade in Germany, for the first time in six years.”
He added that there is no consideration of a boycott on Russia’s part against the IOC’s recommended sanctions:
“[T]he Soviet Union, despite all the international problems during the Cold War, consistently performed at the Olympics and did not refuse them. If we refuse, then in 1-2 generations of athletes, the level of our training will noticeably decrease and the return to the world sports arena will hardly be triumphant.”
● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● /Updated/The influential Sports Business Journal named USOPC chief executive Sarah Hirshland as a finalist for its Sports Executive of the Year for 2025, reflecting the success of the U.S. team as the top medal-winner at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the award of the 2034 Olympic Winter Games to Salt Lake City.
Hirshland joined the USOPC in 2018 when the organization was in the depths of the Larry Nassar scandal and has overhauled the management team and worked to successfully expand its reach and funding, while maintaining the U.S. medal-winning performance.
● Artistic Swimming ● Paris 2024 Olympic Team silver medalist Anita Alvarez was in danger of drowning at the end of her Solo Free routine at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships, but was rescued by coach Andrea Fuentes (ESP).
What next? Joining the Air Force, as People reported that Alvarez signed up last summer and completed her basic training in January at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. She is part of the military’s World Class Athlete Program (WCAP), which brings athletes into the service, allowing them to continue training, but also to serve. She’s the 15th Olympian in the WCAP and will prepare to compete at LA28, but with the Air Force beyond that.
● Ice Hockey ● At the IIHF men’s World Championship in Denmark and Sweden, Switzerland blanked the U.S., 3-0 on Monday, as keeper Leonardo Genoni turned away 23 shots.
The Swiss got up 2-0 in the first period, with goals from Damien Riat at 12:46, and defender Jonas Siegenthaler at 15:59. The second period was scoreless and then defender Dean Kukan added a third goal at 11:41 of the third for the final score.
The Czech Republic leads Group B at 3-0, followed now by the Swiss at 2-1 and the U.S. at 2-1. Germany is 2-0 and plays tomorrow against Norway. The top four in this group of eight will advance to the quarterfinals, with the final group match on 20 May.
● Table Tennis ● Positive news from the International Table Tennis Federation, which released its 2023 and 2024 financial statements, with a turn-to-profit from its commercial arm, World Table Tennis:
“In 2024, WTT recorded its first-ever profit, contributing towards the ITTF Group consolidated profit of USD 1.5 million.
“Most startups take several years to reach profitability as they build their operations and establish their market presence. That WTT has achieved this in under five years –and within the 2021-2024 quadrennial forecast approved by the ITTF Annual General Meeting– is a clear signal of the model’s viability. A true proof of concept. …
“In 2019, pre-COVID, our commercial and events revenue stood at 16 million USD. In 2024, this has grown in excess of 52 million USD. More than triple! A success achieved without diluting the ITTF reserve which remains stable at USD 6.8 million.
“This is not just growth; it is transformation.”
The report shows a surge in event-related income – not counting the federation’s share of Olympic television money – from $32.96 million in 2023 to $52.78 million in 2024. Total revenue – with a share of the IOC money parceled out over the years between Games – reached $61.16 million from $40.22 million in 2023.
Expenses went up as well; costs related to tournaments went up by $13 million, but the overall increase was from $49.21 million in 2023 to $59.64 million in 2024, leaving a $1.51 million surplus. Total assets rose to $49.13 million, with reserves of $6.80 million.
Solid and trending upward, and the ITTF will make a major commercial foray into the U.S. with its first WTT United States Smash from 3-13 July in Las Vegas, offering $1.55 million in prize money.
● Wrestling ● Police in Columbus, Ohio conducted a prostitution sting operation on Friday evening, arresting 16 men who responded to an online ad for escort services. Among them was Rio 2016 Olympic Freestyle champion Kyle Snyder, now 29, who is now alleged to have paid an undercover officer for a sex act. He was arrested at the scene and is to appear in court on 19 May.
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