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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡
● Olympic Winter Games 2026: Milan Cortina ● The Russian news agency TASS reported a message from the International Olympic Committee regarding accreditation for the 2026 Winter Games:
“We would like to inform you that we have decided to confirm press accreditations at this stage only to organizations from Russia that focus exclusively on sports specific coverage.
“However please note that we will place your request on a wait list and will reassess the situation in the fall of this year.”
At Paris 2024, the organizing committee revoked four accreditation of TASS staff, citing a request of the French government.
● Greece ● The Hellenic Olympic Committee announced that Maria Menounos, “the renowned actress and television presenter, has been appointed Ambassador of the Hellenic Olympic Committee for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.”
HOC President Isidoros Kouvelos explained, “Most notably, she will serve as Master of Ceremonies at the Flame Lighting and Handover Ceremonies in Ancient Olympia and at the Panathenaic Stadium. This is a deeply symbolic role, and Maria, I sincerely thank you for embracing it. We want the Greek community to rally behind our Olympic delegation, and Maria is the ideal person to unite and inspire them. She will also assist in raising financial support to strengthen Team Hellas’s presence at the Games.”
● Memorabilia ● Heritage Auctions’ Spring Sports Catalog Auction is ongoing and includes some interesting Olympic items, including a gold medal from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
The medal, in its presentation case, was presented to Dutch runner Eugene Omalla, who ran the opening leg of the mixed 4×400 m relay, won by the Dutch off a fantastic anchor leg by women’s 400 m hurdlers star Femke Bol.
The projected sale price is expected to be $80,000 or more, with “normal” bidding ending on 17 May and “extended” bidding beginning 10 p.m. Central Time. Bidding reached $22,000 by Wednesday evening.
Also up is a Paris 2024 Olympic torch, projected to go for $40,000 and which has attracted a $10,000 bid so far.
● Athletics ● In case you’re considering getting up early this weekend to see the World Athletics Relays – a principal qualifier for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September – the meet will be on CNBC and Peacock beginning at 7 a.m. Eastern time on both Saturday and Sunday, from Guangzhou (CHN).
Worlds qualifying will attach to the heats of the men’s and women’s 4×100 m and 4×400 m and the mixed 4×400 m. The mixed 4×100 m will be run in a major meet for the first time.
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More doping suspensions from the Athletics Integrity Unit, with marathoners Brian Kibiwott Kipsang (KEN) and Daniel Do Nascimento (BRA) both sanctioned.
Kibiwott Kipsang, 30, the Rome Marathon runner-up in 2024 (2:07:56 lifetime best) and 2025, was banned for two years from 1 May 2025 for the use of the corticosteroid Triamcinolone acetonide. His results from 16 March 2025, including his Rome runner-up finish, are nullified.
Do Nascimento, 26, a 2:04:51 marathoner who was eighth at the 2022 World Championships, took out-of-competition tests 4 and 7 July 2024 and tested positive for Nandrolone, Metenolone and Drostanolone, all classified as anabolic steroids and prohibited under the World Anti-Doping Code. So, the usual four-year penalty for a first offense was extended to five years as the triple use was considered to be an “aggravating circumstance.”
His sanction period began on 15 July 2024.
● Cycling ● The Court of Arbitration for Sport has upheld a four-year ban imposed in 2022 on Colombian cyclist Miguel Angel Lopez, 31, a stage winner in both the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana.
He tested positive for the prohibited Menotropin fertility drug during the 2022 Giro d’Italia and his four-year ban which started on 25 July 2023, has been confirmed.
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Australian sprint star Caleb Ewan, 30, announced his retirement on Instagram on Tuesday, writing:
“After much thought, I’ve decided to retire from professional cycling, effective immediately. This sport has been a major part of my life, shaping my path and offering experiences I’ll carry with me forever.”
He won 31 UCI World Tour races in a dramatic career, which included victories in all three Grand Tours: Giro d’Italia (5), Tour de France (5) and the Vuelta a Espana (1). He scored a final win on 8 April in the second stage of the Itzulia Basque Country, but did not start the remainder of the stages. He wrote that he’s fallen out of love with cycling:
“My experiences of the past two seasons, in particular the second half of 2024, has taken a significant toll on my relationship with the sport. I’m happy I didn’t let that period define the end of my career and I am proud of what I achieved in a short but successful time.”
● Football ● The White House Task Force on the 2026 FIFA World Cup met on Tuesday in Washington, D.C., with U.S. President Donald Trump noting, “This group will help plan the biggest, safest and most extraordinary soccer tournament in history.”
FIFA’s recap of the meeting added:
“FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, and Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, among other members of the U.S. Government and the FIFA Administration, also attended the meeting in Washington, D.C.
“The U.S. President confirmed Andrew Giuliani as the Executive Director of the Task Force, as well as the appointment of [former U.S. Soccer Federation President] Carlos Cordeiro, Senior Advisor to the FIFA President, as a Senior Advisor to the Task Force.”
Trump said, “I have directed my entire team to do everything within our power to make the World Cup an unprecedented success…It’s going to be very special. Together we will ensure that the 2026 World Cup will be the best-run soccer tournament the world has ever seen.”
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U.S. Soccer and American Airlines announced a multi-year agreement “designed to enhance the travel experience for U.S. Soccer fans and member organizations across the country.”
A program of related benefits will be incorporated into the AAdvantage loyalty program, which may include access to players, hospitality experiences at the U.S. Soccer Insiders Lounge and match ball presentations.
● Skiing ● The International Ski & Snowboard Federation announced an agreement with the Azerbaijan State Tourism Agency “that positions the country as snow sports’ Global Destination Partner.” So:
“As of the 2025/26 season, Azerbaijan will be the premium partner of all FIS World Championships, as well as a title partner of the FIS World Cup in Moguls, Aerials, Ski Cross, and Snowboard Cross, and a presenting partner in Nordic Combined.”
This is the first FIS Global Partner, across all disciplines, with the goal of better promoting Azerbaijan as a winter sports destination.
● Wrestling ● Iakobi Kajaia (GEO), the Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medalist in the Greco-Roman 130 kg class, has been banned for two years due to a “whereabouts” violation of three missed tests within a 12-month period.
The ban runs from 4 April 2025 and his results were nullified from 6 January 2024 onwards. Now 31, Kajaia’s last major result as a bronze at the 2023 European Championships, again in the Greco 130 kg class.
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