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≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡
● Wrestling ● The head of the Russian Wrestling Federation is optimistic about a dual meet with the U.S. in July, but not held in Russia or the U.S. Per Mikhail Mamiashvili, speaking to the Russian news agency TASS:
“We are leaning towards Uzbekistan. There are reasons for this, no politics, purely technical advantages.”
“Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are also in the running. Wrestling is a national sport there, they have huge traditions, friendly relations. There are no obstacles between us and they are also ready to host it.
“Late July suits everyone, considering domestic qualifiers. Meets have always been brilliant events in boxing and wrestling. Such team meets have attracted huge audiences going back to Soviet times. The competition will be anything but weak and a considerable purse is envisaged.”
He added:
“The tentative slogan is ‘Struggle for Peace.’ It would be very symbolic if this event takes place.”
USA Wrestling chief Rich Bender told The Sports Examiner such a meet is in the works, and for specific reasons, but without any agreement as yet:
“We’re definitely having a conversation about the idea of having a dual meet with that team and ours at some point in the future, [but] not in Russia. …
“We think it’s an opportunity for us to get our hands on athletes that we’ll face in world and Olympic competition in the future. … It’s good for wrestling and it’s good for our team.”
Russia does not compete under its own flag in international competitions at present, but under the flag of United World Wrestling. The U.S. and the USSR and later Russia have met in duals before, but not since at least 2013.
≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡
● Association of National Olympic Committees ● ANOC announced a new program, its “Digital Content Hub” to share news, images and video from International Federations with the National Olympic Committees to help expand interest in lesser-known sports and pump up recognition and interest in the NOCs.
A key to this program is the ANOC.tv channel, which can be used to offer events not otherwise covered by national broadcasters.
● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● The USOPC named its coaches and support staff award winners for 2024, nominated by the National Governing Bodies and selected by a USOPC panel:
● Olympic Coach of the Year: Ralf Bissdorf, USA Fencing
● Paralympic Coach of the Year: Bill Hamiter, USA Volleyball
● College Coach of the Year: Patty Gasso, USA Softball
● Coach Educator of the Year: Heather Mannix, USA Hockey
● Developmental Coach of the Year: Tom Anderson, U.S. Speedskating
● Volunteer Coach of the Year: Phil “Chad” Jones, USA Archery
● Service Provider of the Year: Linda “Dee” Mahoney, USA Softball
U.S. Figure Skating’s Steffany Hanlen was recognized as the Doc Counsilman Science and Technology Award winner.
● Athletics ● The Athlos NYC meet confirmed its second edition for Friday, 10 October 2025 at Icahn Stadium in New York once again, adding the women’s long jump and Olympic champion Tara Davis-Woodhall to the program.
The meet Web site showcases some stars for 2025, including Olympic medal winners Davis-Woodhall, Gabby Thomas, Masai Russell, Jasmine Camahco-Quinn (PUR), Brittany Brown and Marileidy Paulino (DOM).
● Badminton ● Thailand’s Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul was elected unopposed as the new President of the Badminton World Federation at its 86th Annual General Meeting last Saturday in Xiamen (CHN). She succeeded Denmark’s Poul-Erik Hoyer, who served for three terms.
A member of the International Olympic Committee since 2017, Leeswadtrakul has business interests in the hospitality and steel industries and has been deeply involved in badminton for decades.
Longtime BWF Council member and Paris 2024 chief executive Etienne Thobois (FRA) was confirmed – also unopposed – as Deputy President.
The federation also published its 2024 financial statements, showing $43.596 million in revenue, including $16.000 million from the IOC from its 2024 television revenues. Expenses were $37.356 million and after adding in investment and royalties, the BWF ended the year with a surplus of $8.771 million, down slightly from 2023 ($9.966 million).
The BWF, registered in Malaysia, showed assets of $74.153 million and reserves of $67.0656 million, quite healthy and stable.
● Cycling ● The first of the 2025 Grand Tours, the 108th Giro d’Italia will start in Albania on 9 May, but will feature a new time-bonus structure, with 19 of the 21 stages to include an intermediate sprint, sponsored by Red Bull.
The “Red Bull KM” will award time bonuses of 6-4-2 seconds to the top three in each stage except for the two individual time trials. This is different from the usual finishing times bonuses of 10-6-4 seconds for the top three and could impact the racing in a close competition for the “maglia rosa” jersey.
It’s an interesting and powerful sponsor integration with the race itself, sure to be examined closely for impact for its applications to other events and other sports.
¶
The race announced that the final stage in Rome – on 1 June – will salute the late Pope Francis by riding through the Vatican Gardens behind St. Peter’s Basilica and close to the Casa Santa Maria, where Francis lived.
Race director Mauro Vegni (ITA) told The Associated Press, “The original idea was to have Francis signal the start of the last stage to promote the Vatican and the Eternal City in the 2025 Holy Year.
“We wanted to go right up to Casa Santa Marta because we knew the Pope was aging, so we thought he could come down and offer a blessing to start the final stage. Then unfortunately things turned out differently. But it will remain an homage to Francis.”
● Figure Skating ● U.S. Figure Skating announced veteran sports executive Matt Farrell as its next chief executive, who will take over on 19 May.
Farrell was most notably the Chief Marketing Officer at USA Swimming from 2005-18, after five years with the U.S. Olympic Committee in business development and marketing.
USFS had great stability with David Raith as Executive Director from 2005-21, then leaving for health reasons. He was replaced by marketing head Ramsey Baker, with Tracy Marek selected as chief executive, serving from from January 2023 to October 2024. Board Chair Sam Auxier had been the interim chief executive and will return to his Board role.
● Ice Hockey ● Canada and the U.S. finished undefeated in pool play at the IIHF men’s U-18 World Championship in Frisco and Allen, Texas and are moving on to the playoffs.
Defending champion Canada was 4-0 in Group A, clubbing Norway by 8-1 to finish pool play and had a 29-5 goals-against total. The U.S. was 4-0 in Group B, beating Germany by 5-3 on Monday and ending up 25-8 on goals.
In the quarterfinals on Wednesday, the U.S. will play 1-3 Latvia in Frisco, with the winner to face the survivor of Slovakia (3-1) and Germany (2-2) in Allen. Canada will play the Czech Republic (1-3) in Allen, while Sweden (3-1) faces Finland (2-2) in Frisco. The semis are on Friday and the medal matches on Sunday, all in Frisco.
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