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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡
● Athletics ● The Wanda Diamond League announced the prize money pool for 2026 will remain at $9.24 million, but with an increase in the number of higher-paying Diamond+ disciplines this season.
For the standard Diamond events, prize money will be $10,000-6,000-4,000-3,000-2,500-2,000-1,500-1,000 and $500 for ninth and beyond for some distance events.
Diamond+ disciplines, limited to four last season, will be increased to eight this season, with a corresponding reduction in payments for second place and below from 2025:
● 2025 Diamond+: $20,000-10,000-6,000-5,000-3,000-2,500-2,000-1,500 and $750 for ninth and beyond for some distance races.
● 2026 Diamond+: $20,000-6,00–4,000-3,000-2,500-2,000-1,500-1,000 and $500 for ninth and beyond for some distance races.
The prize money for the Diamond League Final events:
● Diamond: $30,000-12,000-7,000-4,000-2,500-2,000-1,500-1,000 and $500 for ninth and beyond for some distances races.
● Diamond+: $60,000-20,000-9,000-4,000-2,500-2,000-1,500-1,000 and $500 for ninth and beyond for some distance races.
The announcement notes the prize pool is 500,000 each at the first 14 meets and $2.24 million for the final. Also:
“Including promotional fees for top athletes, a total of around 18 million USD will be paid to athletes over the course of the series 17th season in 2026, with many more millions being invested in athlete services such as travel and transport, accommodation and medical and physio provision.”
● Badminton ● Two-time Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen (DEN) announced his retirement on Wednesday, at age 32. He told Badminton Europe:
“As most people know, I have been struggling with my back for quite some time. After I had surgery in April last year and went through a long rehabilitation process, I unfortunately had a setback in October. Since those tournaments, I have not been able to play or train at the level required. I have not been able to play or train due to pain, and that is why I am unfortunately forced to make this extremely difficult decision. …
“Making this decision has been extremely difficult and at times felt unfair. At the same time, my body has done an incredible job over many years, and I see it as a huge privilege to have been able to play, train, and win so many major tournaments at the highest level. Very few people get to experience what I have experienced and meet so many amazing people. That’s why I look back on my career with joy.”
After a men’s bronze at Rio 2016, Axelson won the Olympic title at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, as well as World Championships golds in 2017 and 2022.
● Figure Skating ● Japanese figure skating star Yuma Kagiyama, 22, the men’s silver winner at the 2022 and 2026 Olympic Winter Games, said he will be taking the 2026-27 season off.
He wrote on Instagram, “I want to use this time to rediscover what makes figure skating so special, take on new challenges, and reflect on myself as I look toward the future.”
● Football ● Reports of a FIFA ban on tailgating at 2026 World Cup events was refuted by the federation (sort of), in a post on X:
“FIFA does not have a formal policy that restricts tailgating (eating and drinking around parked cars in stadium areas).
“However, site-specific restrictions may be imposed in alignment with host city public safety authorities in certain venues based on local regulations.
“Additional fan information for all FIFA World Cup 2026 matches will be communicated in advance of the tournament.”
The idea may have been hatched from this on the local Boston World Cup host committee Web site: “No Tailgating: Please note that the traditional ‘tailgating’ (eating and drinking around parked cars) is not permitted for these events.”
● Table Tennis ● The Court of Arbitration for Sport ended the appeal of the 2025 International Table Tennis Federation’s Presidential election, marred by a near-riot during the federation’s Annual General Meeting in Qatar.
Former long-time ITTF officer Khalil al-Mohannadi (QAT) lost in a 104-102 vote to incumbent Petra Sorling (SWE) and his supporters tried to get the election overturned on the floor and failing this, appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The ITTF announcement of the CAS action of 14 April 2026 followed the heretofore unannounced withdrawal of the appeal by Al-Mohannadi and the Qatar federation on 7 January 2026.
As for the chaotic and threatening incidents at the Annual General Meeting, which had to be suspended, “It is also noted that the operationally independent Integrity Unit’s separate inquiry into misconduct surrounding the AGM of 27 May 2025 remains ongoing.”
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The ITTF also announced that “neutral”-athlete requirements will continue to apply to Russian and Belarusian senior-level athletes, but approved the “development of a distinct regulatory regime for youth and age-group competitions under which such athletes may participate under standard youth competition protocols in ITTF Sanctioned Events.”
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