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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡
● Olympic Winter Games 2026: Milan Cortina ● The Italian daily La Notizia reported Friday that a request to the International Olympic Committee to cover €100 million of the €310 million deficit expected from the staging of the 2026 Winter Games was rejected. (€1 = $1.17 U.S.)
The IOC’s response was, “We have already delivered far beyond what was agreed upon.”
The story further reported demands on the organizers from the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI: €35 million) and the Italian Paralympic Committee (CIP: €5.4 million) for trademark rights payments and commercial program shares.
The IOC also noted that it “has contributed significantly more than the benefits and rights alone, worth 925 million dollars, provided for by the Olympic Host Contract; including a direct contribution to the operating budget of the organizing committee,” which included cash to the organizers and services such as the host broadcasting program.
The story reported that half of the organizing committee deficit will be covered by the Italian national government and the remaining half will be split between the regions, with Lombardy and Veneto each taking half, with shares to also come from cities and provinces within their borders.
● World Games ● Russian Anna Arzhanova, head of the World Underwater Sports Federation since 2013 and an International World Games Association Board member since 2014, was elected as the fourth head of the IWGA at the Annual General Meeting in Lausanne (SUI) on 25 April.
She is listed by the IWGA as “from Serbia and Russia” and will serve from 2026-30, replacing Jose Perurena (ESP), who headed the organization for three terms from 2012. Arzhanova received 29 of 39 votes from the World Games federations.
● Athletics ● Strong marks at the Botswana Grand Prix in Gaborone on Sunday, just a week ahead of the World Athletics Relays coming to town, with a world-leading women’s 800 m win for home favorite Oratile Nowe in 1:58.42, ahead of Nigist Getachew (ETH: 1:59.06).
American Gabby Thomas got her fifth straight sprint win on her African tour, winning the women’s 100 m in a lifetime best of 10.95 (wind: -0.4 m/s) over countrywoman Cambria Sturgis (11.07). Kayla White of the U.S. won the 200 m in 22.68.
The men’s sprints were fast with Jerome Blake (CAN) taking the 100 m over teammate (and two-time Olympic 100 m medalist) Andre De Grasse, 9.93 to 9.95 with Kenyan Ferdinand Omanyala in third at 9.95. De Grasse, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic 200 m champ, was speedy there, winning in 19.84, no. 3 on the 2026 world list.
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In a Monday interview after his 1:59:30 world marathon record, Kenyan Sabastian Sawe confirmed to reporters that his sponsor adidas paid $50,000 to the Athletics Integrity Unit to test him 25 times out-of-competition before his win at the 2025 Berlin Marathon and similarly for the 2026 London Marathon:
“We came up with this idea, and I really like it, because doping has become a cancer in my country. And we said – from the management of my company, my coaches and also the whole group – we must get rid of doubts for individual results.
“The AIU agreed to start the -process and everything goes well. I think it makes me feel comfortable in athletics, because no one’s doubting Sabastian Sawe. I would like my fellow athletes to follow me and to show the world that we can run fast and clean.”
Sawe also confirmed that the record run was because of the competition with Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, who ran 1:59:41 for second:
“It was competitive, because Kejelcha was with me. We were patrolling each other. It wasn’t like, let’s see the time. I only realized I was running two hours when -finishing the race. It was near the finish line when I saw the time and I was so excited and tried to push and I did it.
“For sure, racing with Yomif made a difference. What I did yesterday, it’s because of him. He tried his best and I tried my best. We pushed to our limits and we ran sub-two.”
Sawe said he thought “it’s only a matter of time” until someone runs 1:58; he plans to run in a fall marathon, but did not specify which one it will be. He is the defending champion at the ultra-fast Berlin Marathon.
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Sawe, runner-up Kejelcha and women’s winner Tigst Assefa (ETH) all wore the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3, which instantly shot up in resale price following the race.
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The 14,000 seats in the Gyula Zsivotzky National Athletics Centre in Budapest (HUN) are apparently sold for the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in September, so 7,000 temporary seats are being added to increase capacity to 21,000.
The venue had 36,000 seats for the highly-attended 2023 World Athletics Championships, including temporary seating, with 14,000 permanent seats retained afterward. Will still more temp seats be added?
● Football ● The Boston host committee for the 2026 FIFA World Cup said Monday that tailgating would be allowed at Gillette Stadium for World Cup matches.
The Boston host committee instructions for the event had banned the practice, but on Monday, the host committee said FIFA had relaxed its restrictions. The “Match Day Check List” page now includes:
“Please note that the traditional ‘tailgating’ is permitted for these events.”
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The Norwegian Football Association, headed by FIFA critic Lise Klaveness has asked FIFA to cancel its FIFA Peace Prize, which was first awarded in 2025 at the FIFA World Cup Final Draw to U.S. President Donald Trump.
Klaveness said that FIFA, as an International Federation, must remain politically neutral.
● Ice Hockey ● At the IIHF World boys U-18 World Championship in Slovakia, the host team and the U.S. topped the groups as play moves to the elimination quarterfinals.
Slovakia finished 3-1 and had 10 points with an overtime loss to top Group A, with Canada (3-1: 9) second. The U.S. lost its first match in overtime to the Czech Republic, 3-2, but won its next three to finish 3-1 (10), ahead of the Czechs (3-1: 9).
In the quarters, Slovakia will face Denmark, the U.S. will play Latvia, Canada will play Sweden and the Czechs will play Finland. The brackets will be re-seeded for the semifinals; the final is on Saturday.
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