★ 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 2028: Los Angeles ● Multiple news services have confirmed projections that incumbent Mayor Karen Bass will be challenged by City Council member Nithya Raman in the November General Election.
As of Monday, Bass had 34.3% of the primary vote, to 28.6% for Raman and 25.8% for insurgent Spencer Pratt. No one else polled above 3.6%. Both Bass and Raman are Democrats with Raman supported in her 2020 Council campaign by the Democratic Socialists of America (which did not endorse her for Mayor).
The 2028 Olympic Games has not been a significant issue up this point in the Los Angeles mayoral race. Bass has been generally supportive of the event and the LA28 organizers; Raman has not been directly critical, but has been wary of City financial commitments which could interfere with resident services and support for the homeless.
Measure TT, an increase in the Los Angeles hotel tax from 14% to 16% through 2028 to help pay for City services – and dated to include the 2028 Games period – continued losing, 53.0-47.0% in the latest vote totals.
● Football ● FIFA issued a statement concerning Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry into the U.S. by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection service:
“Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be unable to train and officiate at the Fifa World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry into the United States.
“FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan’s status will not be changed at present.
“In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country.”
¶
FIFA has come up with another way to make money on the 2026 World Cup, charging $79 for fans to have their names shown on stadium scoreboards during pre-match warm-ups for the 72 group-stage matches.
The FIFA “Super Shout-Out” is available for up to four “slots” per order at $316 plus applicable taxes.
¶
The Unite Here 11 labor union said Tuesday that a tentative agreement had been reached with Legends Hospitality to allow about 2,000 workers at SoFi Stadium to work as planned at the FIFA World Cup matches starting Friday. The union said its workers will vote on the agreement this week and noted on X:
“Workers have the contractual right to walk off the job if the Union determines in good faith that federal immigration enforcement threatens worker safety during a World Cup match.”
Union members said they have been working without a contract for more than a year.
¶
The U.S. women’s national team faced Brazil in the second of its friendlies, in Fortaleza on Tuesday, in advance of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Coverage will be included in this post once the match is concluded.
● Luge ● The International Luge Federation re-elected by acclimation Latvian Einar Fogelis as President at its 74th Congress in Berchtesgaden (GER) for a third term, after his initial election in 2020.
Dwight Bell of the U.S. was also confirmed for a third time as Secretary General and fellow American Ashley Walden was elected as a member of the FIL Executive Board.
American Claire DelNegro retired as the FIL Vice President for artificial track competitions and was recognized for her 28 years of service to the federation as an Honorary Member and presented with the FIL Diamond Medal of Honor.
DelNegro’s remarkable career in the Olympic Movement began as the Assistant Director of Housing for the Lake Placid 1980 Winter Games organizing committee, and she was the Director of Sliding Sports for the 2002 Salt Lake City organizing committee and served as head of USA Bobsled & Skeleton from 2003-05 and acting chief executive for the U.S. Luge Association in 2013.
She competed in Luge at the 1984 Winter Games in Sarajevo for Great Britain.
A federation decision on the admission of Russian sliders was postponed to September.
● Speed Skating ● US Speedskating announced Keith Bryant as its new chief executive as of 1 August, replacing Ted Morris, who held the position for 13 years.
Bryant worked with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee from 2005 to 2013 primarily in athlete services positions, and was the chief executive of USA Judo from August 2016 to May of 2025.
● Tennis ● American icon Serena Williams returned to competitive tennis for the first time since 2022, pairing with Victoria Mboko (CAN) to win their opening women’s Doubles match at the Queen’s Club Championships in London (GBR).
They defeated third-seeded duo Nicole Melichar-Martinez (USA) and Erin Routliffe (NZL), 7-6 (2), 6-2. Williams and Mboko advanced to the quarterfinals vs. Leylah Fernandez (CAN) and Laura Siegemund (GER) on Thursday.
Williams said she will play at the Berlin Open next week, again in Doubles.
¶
★ 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, 681-event International Sports Calendar for 2026 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!
