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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡
● Olympic Games 2024: Paris ● FrancsJeux.com noted a significant uptick in spending during the Olympic and Paralympic period from credit-card payment data from the BPCE banking group.
The study of charges made in the Ile-de-France region – which includes Paris – indicated a massive 58% rise in “tourism and cultural activity” spending by French card users during the Olympic Games and a 30% rise during the Paralympic Games, compared to 2023. This would include ticket sales.
In the food-service sector, increases were seen in fast food (+9% Olympic and +12% Paralympic), bakeries (+14% and +16%), bars (+6% and +4%), and restaurants (+4% and +5%).
Spending by visitors from outside of France went up vs. 2023, with restaurant spending up 40% during the Olympic Games and up 10% during the Paralympic Games. Charges in bars were up 52% for the Olympics and 26% during the Paralympics.
There was lots of anecdotal evidence that shops did not do well during the Games, but tourism figures showed a rise in hotel stays during the Olympic Games especially as against 2023.
● Athletics ● Asked for a comment on the news that the budget for the Kenyan Anti-Doping Agency had been cut by 93% for the coming fiscal year, as well as with Kenya having 105 persons on the Athletics Integrity Unit’s ineligibles list – the most of any nation – the Athletics Integrity Unit replied:
“The AIU has no comment.”
● Football ● Important developments in the fight against racism in Spain, with the Spanish Sports Council (CSD) Anti-Violence Committee proposing a fine of €60,001 or about $66,973 U.S. against a fan who repeatedly posted racist insults and images on X (ex-Twitter) against Real Madrid star striker Vinicius Jr. of Brazil.
Further, the “fan” is to be barred from all sports venues for two years, and the case was referred to the public prosecutor for possible criminal charges under Spanish hate crimes law.
The CSD further proposed another €60,001 fine and two-year venue ban for a different “fan” for racial abuse during a La Liga match between Athletic Bilbao and Valencia CF; the same person was identified as an abuser three times during the previous season.
The Deportivo Alaves club was also hit with a €50,000 fine for social-media support of the Iraultza 1921 fan club, a group with members who have been repeatedly sanctioned.
La Liga officials have promised action against racism in Spanish football, which has drawn worldwide notice, especially for the incidents against star striker Vini Jr.
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In the second semifinal of the FIFA Women’s U-20 World Cup in Cali (COL), Japan cruised past the Netherlands, 2-0. Midfielder Manaka Matsukubo broke a scoreless tie in the 55th with her first goal and scored her second to ice the match in the 83rd.
Although the teams both had 45% possession, Japan had almost all of the offense, with 24 total; shots to just one for the Dutch.
Sunday’s final will see 2018 champion Japan – also the 2022 runner-up – against North Korea, also a winner of this tournament in 2006 and 2016, in Bogota.
The Saturday third-place match in Bogota has the Dutch looking for their first medal in this event and in the third-place game for the second time in a row (losing to Brazil, 4-1, in 2022). The U.S. won the women’s U-20 in 2002-08-12, but has not won a medal since. The Americans lost the third-place match, 1-0, to Japan in 2016.
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