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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡
● Russia ● During an awards ceremony in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday he is looking for more cooperation from International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) than from predecessor Thomas Bach (GER):
“I hope that the new leadership of the International Olympic Committee and international sports federations will overcome this legacy, the difficult and, as I have already said, shameful legacy of their predecessors, as quickly as possible.”
He further railed against sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine:
“Selective sanctions against Russian athletes, under the pretext of condemning Russia’s actions to protect our people and our interests in the conflict in Ukraine, while completely ignoring numerous other similar tragic armed conflicts around the world, have only exposed the corruption and political bias of a significant portion of international sports officials.”
While the IOC has recommended Russian youth athletes being reinstated, it suggested senior athletes or teams remain sanctioned. Further, media reports have raised new questions about political control of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA), which remains suspended by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
● Athletics ● A high-level schedule of African meets is now being planned, according to Athletics Kenya’s Barnaba Korir. He told reporters:
“We are in the development stage of a new African Series for athletics. Kenya will take the lead, and we have Ethiopia, who have already upgraded the Addis Ababa Grand Prix to gold level alongside Botswana, South Africa and Nigeria.”
Kenya already hosts the World Continental Tour Gold-level Kip Keino Classic (24 April); South Africa will host the Silver-level Simbine Classic on 28 April and Botswana is hosting the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone on 2-3 May.
Korir noted that an improved meet schedule can speed the development of African athletes on their own continent:
“We have to understand how European countries conduct their events, then come home and convince our sponsors and government that the only way to build sport is to cooperate and invest in its development.”
● Basketball ● The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) selected Japan as the host for the 2030 Women’s World Cup and France as host for the men’s World Cup in 2031:
“The Japanese capital, Tokyo, will host the 2030 tournament from November 26 to December 8. Three French cities – Lille, Lyon and Paris – will play host to the World Cup from August 29 to September 14, 2031, with the Final Phase to be played in Paris.”
● Cycling ● The 90th edition of La Fleche Wallonne – “The Flemish Arrow” – road race, this year a hilly, 200 km ride from Herstal to Mur de Huy in Belgium, with rising French star Paul Seixas won a final sprint on the final climb in 4:35:29 over Mauro Schmid (SUI), Ben Tulett (GBR) and Benoit Cosnefroy (FRA), all three seconds back.
In his three 2026 races, Seixas was second at Strade Bianche and won the Itzulia Basque Country stage race and now, La Fleche Wallonne.
The 29th women’s race was 148.2 km, finish at Mur de Huy, also determined on the final climb, with Dutch star Demi Vollering winning in 3:53:27 over countrywoman and defending champ Puck Pieterse (same time) and Spain’s Paula Blasi (+0:03).
Vollering won for the second time in this race, previously in 2023 and was second in both 2024 and 2025. She’s won a medal in five straight years.
● Football ● FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) said that more than five million tickets have been sold – out of about seven million expected to be available – for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will surpass the all-time attendance record of 3,597,042 from the 1994 World Cup, the only other held in the U.S.
The 1994 event averaged 69,174 attendees per match, which could be eclipsed if FIFA can sell most of its remaining tickets. FIFA disputed a report by The Athletic that a sales report showed ticket sales are slow for two matches at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California in June.
● Skating ● World Ice Dance champ Evan Bates of the U.S. was elected unopposed to the International Skating Union’s Athletes Commission, for a four-year term beginning 13 June, for the Ice Dance discipline.
● Skiing ● The International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) released the candidate list for President and the FIS Council, with five candidates declaring to run for President:
● Alexander Ospelt (LIE) ~ FIS Council member
● Anna Harboe Falkenberg (DEN) ~ FIS Council member
● Dexter Paine (USA) ~ FIS Council member
● Johan Eliasch (GEO) ~ incumbent
● Victoria Gosling (GBR) ~ GB Snowsport chief executive
Eliasch was elected in 2021, winning 65 votes out of 119, over Urs Lehmann (SUI: 26), Sarah Lewis (GBR: 15), and Mats Arjes (SWE: 13). Eliasch, born in Sweden and also a British citizen, was nominated by the British federation in 2021. He was nominated by Georgia this time; the head of GB Snowsport, Gosling, is now a candidate.
Paine was a FIS Vice President from 2014-22 and elected again in 2024.
The candidates will be reviewed by the FIS Nomination and Remuneration Committee and confirmed not later than 20 May 2026. The FIS Congress will hold elections on 11 June 2026, in Belgrade (SRB).
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