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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡
● Los Angeles 2028 ● The high winds that caused so much fire destruction in the Los Angeles area have calmed and the National Weather Service ended its “Red Flag Warnings” for the area on the evening of 15 January (Wednesday).
The Palisades Fire was 22% contained – meaning a perimeter has been established so that the burn area will not expand – as of mid-day Thursday and the Eaton Fire in Altadena was 55% contained. Damage assessments are continuing, and the recovery planning is beginning.
No LA28 Olympic or Paralympic venues were damaged in these fires.
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The PGA Tour announced on Thursday:
“In collaboration with Genesis, The Riviera Country Club and @TGRLiveEvents, and out of respect for the unfolding situation, we have determined that the 2025 @TheGenesisInv will be played at an alternate location the week of Feb. 10-16.”
Riviera is the venue for golf for the 2028 Olympic Games and although not touched by the Palisades Fire, is in the Palisades area which was devastated by the fires.
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Of interest from an L.A. Metropolitan Transportation Authority report on special-event ridership from New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, including the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game:
“Rail ridership NYE/NYD was up over comparable recent Tuesdays and Sundays by 40%.”
● Basketball ● American star and coach Dawn Staley, legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski and Spanish and L.A. Lakers star Pau Gasol were announced, with six others, as inductees to the Class of 2025 for the FIBA Hall of Fame.
Staley, best known today as the coach of three-time NCAA champion South Carolina, was a three-time Olympic champion with the U.S. in 1996-2000-2004 as a point guard, and then coached the American women to victory at the Tokyo 2020 Games, held in 2021.
Krzyzewski won five NCAA titles at Duke and was the coach of the U.S. Olympic men’s teams that won gold medals at the 2008-2012-2016 Olympic Games and was inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001. He was also an assistant coach on the Olympic-winning teams in 1984 and 1992.
Gasol, 44, is now a member of the International Olympic Committee after being voted to the IOC Athletes’ Commission in 2021. He was a star forward for FC Barcelona and then five NBA teams, winning two NBA titles with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010. He is a three-time Olympic medalist, reaching the Olympic final – and losing to the U.S. – in 2008 and 2012 and a bronze in 2016.
Nine new members of the Hall of Fame were revealed, who will be inducted on 17 May during the FIBA Mid-Term Congress in Bahrain.
● Freestyle Skiing ● The U.S. Freestyle national championships in Aerials were held at the Bristol Ski Resort in Canandaigua, New York, with 2022 runner-up Connor Curran, 20, getting his first national title, scoring 102.57 points to win over Beijing 2022 Team Aerials gold winner Justin Schoenefeld (100.81) and defending champ Chris Lillis (97.64).
Winter Vinecki took the women’s competition with 90.24 points, ahead of Karenna Elliott (86.62) and Tasia Tanner (73.40). It’s Vinecki’s first U.S. gold, after bronzes in 2019 and 2024.
● Handball ● The 2025 IHF World Championship is underway in a three-country set-up with matches in Croatia, Denmark and Norway. The Danes are the three-time defending champions, winning in 2019 (over Norway), 2021 (over Sweden) and 2023 (over France).
The matches in Denmark are in Herning, in the 12,500-seat Jyske Bank Boxen arena, with a host of environmental initiatives incorporated into the tournament there. Explains Sports Event Denmark chief executive Lars Lundov:
“Green focus is no longer an option – it’s an obligation for all major events. The IHF Men’s World Handball Championship in Denmark is not just about what happens on the court; it’s also about inspiring fans to contribute to a greener future through small but meaningful actions.”
Here’s some of what is being done, per Sport Event Denmark:
●”[O]rganisers have eliminated beef meat from the event’s menu, offering greener, more climate-friendly food options. Compared to the 2019 IHF Men’s World Championships, hosted in Denmark, the meal offerings at the 2025 edition will emit significantly fewer carbon emissions.”
● “Fans will be informed and encouraged to take part in sustainable practices, such as waste sorting, using reusable drinkware, and minimising single-use plastics.”
● “Inspired by the meticulous waste-sorting culture of Japanese fans at global tournaments, organisers are working to improve fan behaviour around trash disposal. The goal is to foster a culture of responsibility among Danish fans, encouraging them to clean up after themselves and sort waste correctly.”
Said Lundov: “It would be incredible to see Danish fans adopt the same commitment to cleanliness and recycling as Japanese fans have shown. Building this culture of responsibility is a key focus for us.”
Denmark won its first two group matches by 47-22 over Algeria and 32-21 against Tunisia, the latter before an overflow crowd of 13,697. No report yet on waste-sorting statistics or concession sales for either match.
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