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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡
● Olympic Winter Games 2026: Milan Cortina ● A “Joint Integrity Unit” has been created by the International Olympic Committee and the 2026 organizers to watch for corruption and manipulations of competitions. Announced Tuesday:
“the JIU will be fully operational from the opening until the closing of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Villages (30 January – 24 February 2026). It is designed to ensure rapid and effective information sharing between sports disciplinary bodies and law-enforcement agencies – a system successfully implemented at every edition of the Games since London 2012.”
A special emphasis is on the monitoring of betting, with the Olympic Movement Unit on the Prevention of Manipulations of Competitions working with the Italian betting regulators.
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National Hockey League Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said Monday he is “cautiously optimistic” that NHL players will be competing in Milan, following the latest reports:
“I’m getting positive reports about what they’re going to do, what the next plan is, what the next day is, what it looks like, how the parties are reacting, et cetera, et cetera.”
He also noted that the ice surface will be a bit smaller than the regulation NHL rinks of 200 by 85 feet:
“I think the [International Ice Hockey Federation] was under the impression they had a different interpretation of what NHL ice meant than we would have. Even at the site visits I’m not sure it was anything that was perceptible to anybody. It’s not like people bring tape measures there. So, for whatever reason, it came back the way it came back.
“Having said that, both we and the [NHL] Players’ Association have made the IIHF very aware that when we participate in the Olympics in 2030, we expect it to be NHL ice surface.”
Explaining that NHL players will not participate if the ice is unsafe, he added:
“I actually do think most of my information is more on the positive side than the negative side. The buildings are supposed to be done by Feb. 2, so we have some time, and the latest reports I was getting, I was at the table in the meeting, were positive.”
He said NHL ice experts and technical staff are already helping the organizers to get the facilities ready for the Games.
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Another worrying project has been the Apollonio Socrepes cable car in Cortina, to carry spectators to see the women’s Alpine competitions, but clearances were issued to continue construction.
The newest projection is that the cable system could be completed by the end of December and testing can proceed by the end of January.
● Olympic Winter Games: French Alps 2030 ● Veteran French sports executive Anne Murac, hired in July as the organizing committee’s head of operations after managing Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic operations in the Ile-de-France region, resigned on Tuesday. No reason was given.
● Mediterranean Games ● Continuing concerns over the organization of the 2026 Mediterranean Games in Taranto (ITA), including over finance, boiled up at the 29 November Extraordinary General Assembly of the International Committee for the Mediterranean Games. The outcome:
“Given the significant delays in key areas of preparation – such as technology, broadcasting/ production, the anti-doping testing program, accommodation for participants, VIPs, guests and other stakeholders, etc. – according to the reports of both the Coordination and the Executive Committee, the General Assembly unanimously transferred its broader powers to the Executive Committee and authorized it to take immediate and necessary decisions, assume initiatives, and carry out actions that will ensure the smooth organization of the Games. In this context, a relevant resolution will be sent to all the stakeholders of the Games in Italy.”
The 2026 Med Games are slated for 21 August to 3 September.
● Russia ● Doping is still going on in Russia, as the Russian Anti-Doping Agency said that 98 doping violations had been found through November of 2025, with 29 reported in November alone. In 2024, an annual total of 102 violations were recorded.
By contrast, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency showed 47 sanctions imposed – not the same as violations – through November of 2025.
● Athletics ● The Athletics Integrity Unit announced a provisional suspension of Kenyan 58:53 half-marathoner Hillary Kipchirchir Chepkwony, for abnormalities in his Athlete Biological Passport.
● Fencing ● The USA Fencing Board approved a change for admission to the federation’s Hall of Fame, with “[f]encers who win FIE World Championships or World Para Fencing World Championships will now be automatically inducted into the USA Fencing Hall of Fame after a three-year retirement period from international competition.”
That will automatically add stars Eli Dershwitz (2023 World Sabre Champion) and Miles Chamley-Watson (2013 World Foil Champion) as Hall members once their competitive careers (plus three years) are over.
● Football ● After Iran complained about planned pro-LGBTQ activities in Seattle planned for 26 June, on the day of the third Group G match for Iran and Egypt, the Egyptian Football Association also sent a letter to FIFA; the Egyptian federation site explained:
“The Egyptian Football Association sent an official letter to FIFA, in which it categorically rejects holding any activities related to supporting (homosexuality) during the match between the Egyptian national team and Iran, scheduled to be held in Seattle, USA, on June 26, 2026, in the third round of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.
“The Egyptian Football Association confirmed in the letter sent to FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström [SWE] that information had been circulating indicating the local organizing committee’s decision and plan to hold some activities related to supporting (homosexuality) during that match, and that it completely rejects such activities, which directly contradict the cultural, religious and social values in the region, especially in Arab and Islamic societies.
“The Egyptian Football Association explained in the letter that, while FIFA is committed to ensuring a respectful and welcoming environment for all fans, and in order to maintain the spirit of unity and peace, it is necessary to avoid including activities that could provoke cultural and religious sensitivities between fans present from both countries, Egypt and Iran, especially since such activities are culturally and religiously incompatible with the two countries.”
The letter also cited FIFA’s insistence on “political and social” issue neutrality, and called for the events to be cancelled.
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The Associated Press reported that British watchdog FairSquare filed a request for investigation to the FIFA Ethics Committee on claims that President Gianni Infantino (SUI) had violated FIFA’s rules on political neutrality, including comments and actions concerning U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump was awarded the first “FIFA Peace Prize” at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Draw in Washington, D.C. last Friday.
FairSquare has filed prior complaints about FIFA and its men’s World Cup and other issues.
● Gymnastics ● The previously-promised change from the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) to World Gymnastics debuted on Tuesday, with a new logo. And:
“In addition to name and brand identity, World Gymnastics will unveil eight distinctive discipline brands, each purpose-built to elevate the identity, visibility and growth of the sport’s diverse disciplines. The discipline identities for Gymnastics for All, Men’s Artistic, Women’s Artistic, Rhythmic, Trampoline & Tumbling, Acrobatics, Aerobics and Parkour will be showcased over the coming weeks.”
It’s a continuation of the use of “World” with International Federations, already in use in aquatics, archery, athletics, boxing, curling, lacrosse, rowing, rugby, sailing, skateboarding, squash, table tennis, taekwondo and triathlon, among others.
● Swimming ● A new “College Swimming League” was unveiled, based on the International Swimming League model that emphasized team scoring, in short-course yards – college – pools, beginning in the fall of 2026.
The announcement states that the venture “with support from the International Swimming League (ISL)” will feature 12 college teams, with times counting for NCAA qualification and dual-meet requirements. The new league will cover all expenses for the participating teams – coaches from North Carolina State and Ohio State were quoted in the announcement – and “offer a pathway to generate revenue” for the teams, without further details.
The International Swimming League has been dead since the 2021 season, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, as the effort had been funded by Ukrainian billionaire Konstantin Grigorishin. It is still in litigation for damages against World Aquatics from a suit filed in 2018 and slated to be tried in U.S. Federal Court in 2026.
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