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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡
● Olympic Winter Games 2034: Salt Lake City ● The Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 organizing committee named a 28-member Steering Committee on Wednesday, created to expand the expertise available and “provide guidance to the board to help ensure a positive athlete experience in 2034, as well as help build a strong legacy of sport across Utah and the nation.”
Eight of the 28 are current or former athletes, including current speed skating superstar Jordan Stolz, the current men’s World Champion at 500, 1,000 and 1,500 m, and 2023 Worlds bobsled bronzer Kaysha Love. The athlete members also include two-time Olympic alpine skiing champion Ted Ligety, 2022 figure skating gold medalist Nathan Chen and 13-time Paralympic medalist Chris Waddell.
Political figures include Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and Park City Mayor Nann Worel.
Special-focus groups will include an Athletes Commission, Host Communities Committee, Sport and Venues Committee and the Technology and Innovation Committee. The Sport and Venue Committee will be chaired by Colin Hilton, a key member of the 2002 Winter Games organizing committee and the head of the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation.
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While the choice and cost of the venues for the Brisbane 2032 Games has turned into a major political tug-of-war in Australia, Utah state legislators are busy as well, looking to take advantage of the new NHL franchise in the city and how the 2034 Games can be leveraged for long-term benefit.
A bill (SB 333) to create a “major sporting event venue zone to capture property tax increment and sales and use tax increment” for supporting infrastructure – roads, power, housing – in specific zones related to the 2034 Games was introduced, but the bill also included uses such as “demolishing or remodeling an existing major sporting event venue or portion of a venue.”
Bill sponsor Utah Sen. Jerry Stevenson, was asked if this related to the 2034 Games, and replied: “I can’t say that. We’re not supposed to use that word. This is for a major event in about 2034 in the state of Utah.
“We need some things built. We need some support facilities built, like housing for Olympic employees. We need housing for Olympic athletes and those things. But that’s what this will support.”
No new sports venues are to be constructed for 2034, and the bill is expected to be revised before any vote is taken. The current session of the Utah Legislature is scheduled to end on 7 March.
Another bill (SB306) was voted out of committee on Monday, which would allow Salt Lake County to use existing transportation tax revenues for an upgrade of the Salt Place Convention Center in downtown Salt Lake City. It’s slated to be used for curling in 2034, but an expansion would improve its ability to attract more business for years to come.
● Russia ● Shamil Tarpischev, the only Russian member of the International Olympic Committee, confirmed that nothing will happen concerning the country’s suspension until after the IOC Presidential election in March:
“We held preliminary talks with the IOC. However, all decisions on the issue will be made after the election. This is what they are currently focused on in the organization.
“If the formal issue that led to the ROC’s suspension is closed, then the Russian Olympic Committee should be reinstated. But there are elections coming up, and this issue will be dealt with after them.”
The Russian Olympic Committee’s suspension was related to the takeover of Ukrainian regional sports organizations swallowed in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
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The decision of IOC President Thomas Bach (GER) to resign after the handover to the next IOC President on 23 June was warmly greeted – as expected – in Russia. Said Dmitry Svishchev, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports:
“The only correct decision. Otherwise, Bach would have continued to attract negativity and other negative consequences for the image of the International Olympic Committee, while maintaining his seat in the organization. The IOC needs a complete overhaul.”
● Technology ● Perhaps the first conference to focus directly on artificial intelligence and the sports industry has been announced for 30 May-1 June in Porto (POR).
The “AI in Sports Conference” is laser-focused on the application of artificial intelligence to sports, with sessions including:
● “Generative AI in Football: Decision-Making Based on Simulation” and a panel discussion on balancing analytics and intuition in team sports.
● “How AI is Transforming Innovations in Products and Services for the Corporate World in the sports industry,” with Ofir Dagan, the head of the British-based Movmenta, incorporating sensors for data intelligence, reducing injuries and enhancing performance.
● “AI in Event Security: From Predictive Policing to On-Site Management” with John Allen (USA), a security advisor to six U.S. Presidents, followed by a panel on integrating AI in security frameworks for major sporting events.
Many more topics are to be covered, including fan experience, ticketing, merchandising and the role that AI can – and will – impact the future.
● Fencing ● USA Fencing announced that it is naming its national championship tournament in men’s Sabre for the late Peter Westbrook, one of the U.S.’s most iconic fencers.
A 13-time national champion in Sabre, he passed away in November 2024. Westbrook was not only a six-time Olympian, but promoted fencing through his New York-based foundation, introducing young people to the sport.
The “Peter Westbrook Division I Men’s Saber National Championship” will debut at the April 2025 North American Cup in Los Angeles, which includes the Division I National Championships, and Parafencing National Championships.
● Football ● Each of the 16 host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will release a “Sonic ID” – a remix of the Official FIFA World Cup 26 theme – with Houston to debut the first cut on Saturday, 1 March.
The remaining 15 will be released one per day, through Sunday, 16 March.
● Swimming ● Swedish star Sarah Sjostrom, 31, announced on her Instagram page that she is pregnant, but still is aiming to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games:
“We are beyond excited to announce that our family is growing, and we can’t wait to meet our baby in August.
“I knew that many women experience challenges during the first trimester (and throughout pregnancy), but I wasn’t prepared for just how tough it could be. These past weeks have been some of the most mentally and physically challenging I’ve ever faced. I am more in awe than ever of what women go through. I’ve always admired the strength of women, but now I understand it on a whole new level. …
“My dream is to compete at the LA 2028 Olympics and make it to my sixth Olympic Games.”
Sjostrom won the Paris Olympic golds in the 50 m and 100 m Frees, adding to the Rio 2016 100 m Fly gold; she is also a 14-time World Champion on the 50-100 Freestyles and Butterflys.
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