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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡
1. Paris Preview III: Biles back, more swimming, plus Lyles in the 100!
2. Conditional IOC award coming on 2030 Winter Games
3. IOC annual report shows 80-82% Olympic Movement spending
4. IOC oversight chair” “every reason” to be confident in LA28
5. World Aquatics says China swimmers tested 651 times!
● Paris Preview III: As Simone Biles and the U.S. swimmers finish their events, track & field takes over with Noah Lyles in the men’s 100 m, Mondo Duplantis chasing a world record in the men’s vault, Gabby Thomas vs. Shericka Jackson in the women’s 2 and more!
● International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said that a conditional award of the 2030 Olympic Winter Games will likely be made to the French Alps on Wednesday, as the government guarantees have not been delivered due to the turmoil in the French government after recent elections. The 12-year agreement to host an Olympic Esports Games with the Saudi National Olympic Committee was approved, with many details yet to be worked out.
● The IOC released its annual report, showing excellent financial stability, with $3.8 billion in reserves and a surplus of more than $201 million in 2023. The IOC, according to its own financial statements, spent from 80-82% of its operating revenue for the Olympic Movement in 2022 and 2023.
● The head of the IOC’s Coordination Commission for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games echoed confidence in the work so far of the LA28 organizing committee, while U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee President Gene Sykes promised “we are preparing to welcome the world with the warmth and the respect that embody the spirit of the Olympics and Paralympics.”
● World Aquatics released a blizzard of testing statistics showing that the 31-member Chinese swim team for Paris 2024 had been tested 651 times in calendar year 2024. This included sampling from the International Testing Agency and others; altogether, nearly 4,800 doping tests have been carried out on swimmers of all nations.
● Panorama: Paris 2024 (NBC has 1,800 Olympic staff in Connecticut, 1,200 in Paris) = Los Angeles 2028 (Dick’s Sporting Goods joins as sporting goods retailer) = Oceania National Olympic Committees (confederation training camp welcomed 72 athletes from 10 NOCs) = U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (Felix nominated for election to IOC Athletes Commission) = Athletics ($2.65 million in new Schwarzman grants) = Basketball (U.S. women beat Germany, 84-57, in tune-up) = Equestrian (Dressage star Dujardin suspended, out of Games) = Football (New Zealand screams foul on Canadian drone spying!) = Tennis (Murray to retire after Paris) ●
1.
Paris Preview III: Biles back, more swimming, plus Lyles in the 100!
(For our Paris Preview part I, covering 27-28-29-30 July, click here; for 31 July-01-02-03 August, click here.)
The second week of the Paris Olympic Games will see the focus shift from the mat and the pool to the Stade de France for athletics, and to another kind of mat sport: wrestling. Some highlights to look for, starting with the U.S. perspective, but also elsewhere.
● Sunday, 4 August ● There will be 20 finals on this day, with artistic gymnastics, swimming and track & field on their final day for all three to be in competition.
On the mat, Simone Biles is a likely finalist, but will not be the favorite in her least-favorite event, the Uneven Bars. Belgium’s Nina Derwael is the defending Olympic champ and the U.S.’s Suni Lee was third in Tokyo. China’s Qiyuan Qiu is the reigning World Champion, with Algeria’s Kaylia Nemour the runner-up; Biles has one career Worlds Uneven Bars medal, a 2018 silver.
China’s Yang Liu won the Tokyo Olympic Rings title and is the 2023 World Champion. Look for a challenge from teammate Hao You – second in Tokyo and third in 2023 – and Greek Eleftherios Petrounas, the Rio 2016 gold medalist, the Tokyo bronze winner and a three-time World Champion.
The men’s Vault is pretty open, with Adem Asil (TUR) winning the 2022 Worlds gold over Jingyuan Zhou (CHN), but Jake Jarman (GBR) won last year, with Ukraine’s Nazar Cheppurnyi third.
It’s the final day in the pool, with defending Olympic men’s 1,500 m champ Bobby Finke of the U.S. ready to go. Tunisia’s Ahmed Hafnaoui, the 2023 World Champion – over Finke – is injured and not in Paris, but Ireland’s Daniel Whiffen, the 2024 Worlds winner, is a threat for gold as well. Not to be ignored is German Florian Wellbrock, the Tokyo bronze winner.
The women’s 50 m Free should belong to sprint great Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden. She was the Tokyo runner-up to Emma McKeon of Australia, who didn’t make the team in this event in 2024. Sjostrom owns the top five times in the world and seven of the top eight. Australia has Shayna Jack to challenge, Poland offers Kasia Wasick, and Simone Manuel amazingly won this event at the U.S. Trials and won this event at the 2019 Worlds in a huge upset. Does lightning strike twice?
The U.S. won the men’s 4×100 medley relay in Tokyo and has Ryan Murphy and Caeleb Dressel back, and won the 2023 Worlds, with Murphy, Nic Fink and Jack Alexy back. They will be favored, with Australia, China, Britain and Italy all chasing.
Australia is the logical favorite in the women’s 4×100 m medley, with the U.S. chasing. They went 1-2 in Tokyo, with Canada third, but the U.S. won in 2023, again with Canada third. The winning American squad from last year’s Worlds are all back: Regan Smith, Lilly King, Gretchen Walsh and Kate Douglass.
Maybe the marquee event of the day will be the men’s 100 m final at the Stade de France, with 2023 World Champion Noah Lyles coming off a lifetime best of 9.81 at the London Diamond League. But then there’s 2022 Worlds winner Fred Kerley of the U.S. and 2024 world leader Kishane Thompson of Jamaica (9.77), countryman Oblique Seville (9.82) and Kenyan strongman Ferdinand Omanyala (9.79). And no one is talking about 200 m star Kenny Bednarek of the U.S., who got a lifetime best of 9.89 for second at the U.S. Trials. This is going to be fun.
Ethan Katzberg of Canada was a surprise winner of the men’s hammer at the 2023 Worlds, but he’s not a surprise any more and is the 2024 world leader by almost nine feet! Defending Tokyo Olympic champ Wojciech Nowicki of Poland was second at the Worlds last year and teammate Pawel Fajdek – the 2022 Worlds winner – is going to be in the mix.
The story of the women’s high jump is about new world-record holder Yaroslava Mahuchikh, who won at the Paris Diamond League meet on 7 July, becoming the first to clear 2.10 m (6-10 3/4). She’s no shoo-in, however, with Australians Eleanor Patterson (2022 World Champ) and Nicola Olyslagers (2023 Worlds silver) for company, as well as new star Angelina Topic (SRB).
American Brady Ellison won the 2019 Worlds gold in men’s Recurve archery and is always counted among the contenders for Olympic gold, now in his fifth Games. But Turkey’s Mete Gazoz is the defending champ and won the 2023 Worlds title, and Korea’s Woo-jin Kim owns three Worlds golds from 2011-15-21. Also in the mix: Brazil’s 2022 runner-up and 2023 bronzer Marcus d’Almeida.
The women’s 157.6 km road race has all of the top stars of the UCI Women’s World Tour: Belgian Lotte Kopecky (four wins this season), Dutch stars Demi Vollering (four wins) and Lorena Wiebes (three wins) and Italy’s Elisa Longo Borghini (two wins, and the Tokyo bronze). But don’t be surprised if Poland’s Kasia Niewiadoma or Americans Kristen Faulkner or Chloe Dygert are right there at the finish as well.
Sunday will be the final round of the men’s golf tournament, with the U.S. sending defending champion Xander Schauffele, who just won two of the golf majors this season. The Americans have four qualifiers, also world no. 1 Scottie Scheffler, no. 5 Wyndham Clark and no. 7 Colin Morakawa. Ireland’s Rory McElroy is ranked second, Spain’s Jon Rahm is ninth and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama is ranked 12th, all of whom have won majors.
The women’s Skeet final has Slovakia’s Danka Bartekova as the favorite: 2023 World Champion and 2012 bronze medalist. But the U.S. has 2023 Worlds silver winner Dania Jo Vizzi, Team Worlds medalist Austen Smith and Italy fields 2016 Olympic champ Diana Bacosi.
The men’s tennis Singles final is on Sunday, with the survivors of a line-up that includes world no. 1 Jannik Sinner (ITA), no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz (ESP), no. 3 Novak Djokovic (SRB), no. 4 Alexander Zverev (GER) and Russian “neutral” Daniil Medvedev (no. 5). The tournament is at Roland Garros, where Alcaraz defeated Zverev in five sets in June.
● Monday, 5 August ● A big program of 18 finals and the last day of artistic gymnastics … and Biles. And she will be everywhere.
First up is the Balance Beam, in which Biles has been World Champion in 2014-15-2019-2023 and won Olympic bronzes in Rio and Tokyo. She will be challenged by China’s Yaqin Zhou, the 2023 runner-up, Brazilian star Rebeca Andrade, the 2023 bronzer and 2022 World Champion Hazuki Watanabe (JPN).
Biles is the unquestioned favorite in the Floor Exercise, where she won Olympic gold in 2016 and Worlds golds in 2013-14-15-18-19-23. Chasing will be Tokyo winner Jade Carey of the U.S., Andrade and Britain’s 2022 Worlds winner Jessica Gadirova.
The men’s Parallel Bars could be another showdown between Tokyo Olympic winner Zou of China and runner-up Lukas Dauser of Germany. They were also 1-2 at the 2022 Worlds, with Carlos Yulo (PHI) third, but Dauser won in 2023 over China’s Cong Shi.
The men’s Horizontal Bar could be an opening for American Brody Malone, the 2022 World Champion, competing against Japan’s A-A ace Daiki Hashimoto, the Tokyo Olympic winner, and Tin Srbic (CRO), the 2017 World Champion. Hashimoto and Srbic were 1-2 again at the 2023 Worlds, with China’s Weide Su third.
The men’s vault final means Swedish superstar Mondo Duplantis will be back, trying not only to defend his Tokyo title, but to increase his world record to 6.25 m (20-6). He’s 0-15 so far, but don’t bet against him in Paris. Next best is probably America’s two-time World Champion Sam Kendricks, teammate and Tokyo silver winner Chris Nilsen, E.J. Obiena (PHI) and perhaps France’s Thibault Collet.
The women’s 800 m is clearly the property of British star Keely Hodgkinson, who won the London Diamond League with a lifetime best of 1:54.61, no. 6 all-time. Teammates Jemma Reekie and Georgia Bell were 2-3 in London and 2-3 on the year list, and all three will be challenged by Kenyan 2023 World Champion Mary Moraa.
Another huge favorite will be Kenya’s world-record holder Faith Kipyegon, who won the 2023 Worlds winner over Sifan Hassan (NED) and Beatrice Chebet (KEN). Ethiopia’s Tsige Gebreselama and Ejgayehu Taye are the world leaders at 14:18.76 and 14:18.92, but can either kick with Kipyegon? Unlikely.
American Valarie Allman won the Tokyo Olympic title, won the Worlds bronze in 2022 and silver in 2023. She’s the most consistent thrower and the favorite. But the world leader is Cuban Yaime Perez, the 2019 World Champion, and 2022 World Champion Feng Bin is a definite threat.
The men’s and women’s 3×3 basketball finals will be held, with the U.S. women the defending Olympic champs, but have a new line-up. The Americans won the 2023 FIBA World Cup with Cameron Brink, Hailey van Lith, Cierra Burdick and Linnae Harper, but lost Brink to injury for Paris. Van Lith and Burdick are back, along with replacement Dearica Hamby and Rhyne Howard. They’re still favored over France, the 2023 runner-up.
The American men, with Jimmer Fredette, Canyon Barry, Kareem Maddox and Dylan Travis won the 2023 Worlds silver behind two-time defending champs Serbia. They’re favored to meet in the final again.
The women’s Kayak Cross final is the third and final slalom canoeing event, and could Australian star Jessica Fox – the 10-time individual World Champion – be aiming for a golden sweep? It’s possible and she won the Worlds gold in this event in 2021 and 2022.
The Mixed Team Skeet event is new for 2024 and Americans Vincent Hancock and Austen Smith are the reigning World Champions.
● Tuesday, 6 August ● The track & field action will the center of attention of the 15 finals on tap, with Norway’s defending Tokyo Olympic champ Jakob Ingebrigtsen the favorite in the men’s 1,500 m.
He won the race of the year in Monaco on 12 July, running 3:26.73, no. 4 all-time, ahead of 2019 World Champion Tim Cheruiyot (KEN), Brian Komen (KEN) and American star Yared Nuguse. Ingebrigtsen was beaten in the 2022 Worlds by Jake Wightman (GBR) and in 2023 by Britain’s Josh Kerr. But, assuming he’s healthy, no one appears able to touch him now.
The women’s 200 m was expected to be all about Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson, the 2022 and 2023 World Champion. But she’s been off-form in 2024, no. 18 on the world list. Meanwhile, American Gabby Thomas is the world leader at 21.78 and showed a gear no one else has to win in the London Diamond League. NCAA champ McKenzie Long of the U.S. is in the medal hunt, as is St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred.
The men’s long jump has Greece’s Miltiadis Tentoglou trying for a second straight Olympic title, and he was the 2023 World Champion as well. The women’s Steeple has no obvious favorite, with defending champ Peruth Chemutai (UGA) the world leader at 8:55.09, world-record holder Beatrice Chepkoech (KEN) close behind, Val Constien of the U.S. at 9;03.22 and 2023 World Champion Winfred Yavi (BRN) also in the top five.
The women’s hammer has 2023 Worlds winner Cam Rogers of Canada back, and 2019 World Champion DeAnna Price of the U.S. back and in form. They look like the clear favorites.
The women’s skateboard park final will likely be a test to see if Britain’s Sky Brown, now 16, can break up Japanese stars including 2023 World Champion Kokona Hiraki, defending Olympic champ Sakura Yosozumi and 2023 Worlds runner-up Hinano Kusaki.
American wrestling star Amit Elor has won three Worlds golds in each of the last two seasons in the women’s 72 kg class: junior, U-23 and senior. But that weight class is not in the Games and so she steps down to 68 kg and will face Japan’s Nonoka Ozaki, the 2022 World Champion at 62 kg and 2023 Worlds winner at 65 kg. Who wins? Oh yes, the 2023 World Champion – Turkey’s Buse Tosun – is ready to go as well.
● Wednesday, 7 August ● With 21 finals, the total completed events will reach 218, out of 329.
On the track, no one really knows what’s going on with the men’s 400 m. Tokyo Olympic champ Steven Gardiner (BAH) is back, but hasn’t run very fast this year. Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith is the world leader at 43.74, getting his breakthrough win at the London Diamond League last weekend. And what about U.S. Olympic Trials winner Quincy Hall, who ran 43.80 earlier and keeps getting better. And lurking behind all of these are ever-improving Vernon Norwood of the U.S. (44.10) and 2022 World Champion Michael Norman (44.21). Crazy.
The men’s Steeple appears to be a showdown between Olympic and World champ Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR), who just keeps winning, and world-record holder Lamecha Girma (ETH). If either fails, Kenya’s Amos Serem and Ethiopian Abraham Seme are ready to step in.
The men’s discus could be a showcase for new world-record setter Mykolas Alekna (LTU), chased by Olympic champ Daniel Stahl (SWE), 2022 World Champion Kristjan Ceh (SLO) and ex-American Alex Rose of Samoa. So far, Alekna, 21, has had all the answers this season.
American Katie Moon won the Tokyo Olympic title in the women’s vault and shared the Worlds gold with Nina Kennedy (AUS) in 2023. But Moon has been off of late and Britain’s Molly Caudery is the world leader and the World Indoor Champion. Swiss Angelica Moser won the European title and must be considered.
The men’s skateboard park final has Olympic winner Keegan Palmer (AUS) back again, facing American Worlds gold and bronze medalists, Gavin Bottger and Tate Carew. Brazil’s 2018 World Champion Pedro Barros is also going to be in the mix.
American Emma Hunt, the 2023 Worlds runner-up, is one of the contenders in the women’s speed climbing event, but facing a tough field including World Champion Desak Made Rita Kusuma Dewi (INA) and Poland’s two-time World Champion Aleksandra Miroslaw and 2021 Worlds winner Natalia Kalucka.
In the women’s 50 kg freestyle wrestling class, Olympic champ and four-time World Champion Yui Sasaki (JPN) is back, as is two-time Worlds silver winner Dolgorjavyn Otgonjargal (MGL). The U.S. has Sarah Hildebrandt, the Tokyo bronze winner and a four-time Worlds medalist.
Our last preview comes Thursday, for the final four days of the Games.
2.
Conditional IOC award coming on 2030 Winter Games
“There will be a vote on the 2030 project, but it will be a vote being linked with conditions. It will not be an unconditional vote. That what we always said, without a firm guarantee, there cannot be an unconditional vote, and since, for constitutional reasons, the French government could not yet deliver these formal and firm guarantees.
“Then, there will be conditions being linked with this vote.”
That’s International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER), explaining at a Tuesday news conference, that the French Alps 2030 bid for the Olympic Winter Games is poised to be approved on Wednesday by the IOC Session, but only provisionally.
In the recent French legislative elections, no party or coalition won majority control of the National Assembly and so a new government has not been formed. Therefore, the IOC’s required governmental guarantees over finances, access, security and other matters cannot be approved.
So, the IOC will choose, but wait for the formalities to be concluded.
There was no discussion of the Salt Lake City-Utah bid for the 2034 Winter Games, which is expected to sail through and be formally approved on Tuesday.
Bach was asked about the demands from the National Olympic Committee of Palestine and politicians in some other countries to exclude Israel from the Games due to its response to the 7 October 2023 invasion and hostage-taking by Hamas:
“The position of the IOC is very clear. We have two National Olympic Committees – that’s the difference with the world of politics – and that, in this respect, both have been living in peaceful coexistence and the Olympic Games are a competition not between countries, they are a competition between athletes being delegated by the National Olympic Committees.
“So if we would enter there into a political discussion with regard to wars and conflicts, on the Opening Ceremony on Friday, then we may be in the end, 100 NOCs and not with 206 NOCs given the way too many wars and conflicts in the world.
“If we would violate our political neutrality, and from this fact that the Olympic Games are not competitions between countries, exactly – governments – but among athletes, the Palestinian NOC has greatly benefitted. Because Palestine is not a recognized member-state of the United Nations, but the NOC of Palestine is is a recognized National Olympic Committee, enjoying the equal rights and opportunities like all the other National Olympic Committees.”
Multiple reporters tried to find clever ways to ask Bach about whether he will agree to extend his term in office beyond 2025, as he was asked to do at the IOC Session in India in 2023. He artfully dodged the questions and said he was focused on the Paris Games at present. He is expected to make his position known some time after the Games conclude.
It was noted during the Session presentations that no amendments to the Olympic Charter that would allow Bach to ask for an extended term have been introduced and that the IOC’s Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer has said no discussion of the issue is appropriate until after the Paris Games.
¶
The IOC Session approved – as expected – the agreement with the National Olympic Committee of Saudi Arabia to host a to-be-determined number of Olympic Esports Games over the 12-year period beginning in 2025. Next:
“Following today’s decision, work will begin immediately on selecting a city and venue for the inaugural edition of the Olympic Esports Games, the specific timing of the event, the titles to be included, the qualification process for the players and further details.
“At the same time, the IOC will create a new dedicated structure within its organisation, clearly separated from the organisational and financial model for the Olympic Games.”
The presentation that was approved included a slide which showed the Olympic Esports Games is recommended to take place every two years, based on national teams, with three different game types, led by physical virtual sports and simulated sports. Part of the discussion included the possibility to hold Olympic Esports Games outside of Saudi Arabia during the contract period.
3.
IOC annual report shows 80-82% Olympic Movement spending
The flow of money into the Olympic Movement continues at a strong pace, according to the International Olympic Committee’s newly-released annual report for the calendar year 2023.
Even with no Olympic Games being held, revenue from sponsors, licensing and hospitality payments added up to $902.1 million, down from $2.362 billion in 2022, when the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing was held.
Overall, the IOC now stands at $6.492 billion in assets, up from $5.295 billion at the end of 2022. Reserves are a staggering $3.800 billion, up from $3.624 billion at the end of 2022. These are good times for the IOC.
There was no update on the projected revenues for the 2021-2024 quadrennial, which was impacted by the shift of the Tokyo 2020 Games to 2021. The figure of $7.6 billion in revenue from 2017-2020 was repeated, from two primary sources:
● 61% from television media rights
● 30% from sponsorships
● 9% from other rights and revenues
And, in a separate announcement at the IOC Session, contracted revenues of $7.3 billion for 2025-28 and $6.2 billion for 2029-32 – when the current NBC television contract will end – were confirmed.
The IOC takes great pride in reporting that it spends 90% of its revenue on the Olympic Movement, but its own financial statements have consistently shown the total to be about 80% or so. Same for 2022 and 2023:
2022:
● $2.363 billion operating revenue
● $1.188 billion expense for revenue distribution
● $589.0 million expense for Olympic-related events
● $165.0 million expense for Olympic Movement promotion
● $1.942 billion expenses or 82.1% Olympic Movement spending
2023:
● $902.1 million operating revenue
● $363.0 million expense for revenue distribution
● $208.0 million expense for Olympic-related events
● $153.8 million expense for Olympic Movement promotion
● $724.8 million expense or 80.3% Olympic Movement spending
The IOC spent $173.9 million in administration in 2022, lost $24.5 million on investment and had a surplus for the year of $222.8 million. In 2023, even with much less revenue, the IOC spent $185.5 million on administration, made $220.4 million on its investments and had a surplus for the year of $201.2 million.
The Olympic organizing committees for 2024, 2026 Winter and 2028 all received advances against television rights payments from the IOC in 2023, with Paris 2024 receiving $1.648 billion and LA28 receiving $30.38 million.
The IOC has created a special focus on its digital programs as a path to the future, recognizing that the mobile phone is as much a personal companion today as clothes. In 2023, the IOC’s Olympics.com platform had 115 million unique visitors, up 28% from 2022, and a monthly average of 18 million users through October 2023.
There were 110 million users across the @Olympics social-media platforms and 640 million monthly engagements on all platforms and languages.
4.
IOC oversight chair: “every reason” to be confident in LA28
The Los Angeles 2028 organizing committee gave its update to the IOC Session on Tuesday in Paris, with the Chair of the IOC’s Coordination Commission expressing optimism.
Nicole Hoevertsz (ARU), who competed as a synchronized swimmer at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, told her fellow members:
“We are convinced that Los Angeles is the perfect place to create the ‘what’s next,’ which is the over-arching vision of what the OCOG wants for its Games. I fully believe that we are also at the right moment of the evolution of the Games to make this happen.
“As we witnessed this morning from the presentation of our dear Paris colleagues, the Olympic Games Paris 2024 are going to be absolutely spectacular. … And we have every reason to be equally as confident in the organizing committee of LA28.
“We can project ourselves with the highest level of ambition, as the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 will be next on our agenda.”
She was also especially complimentary about the proposed changes to the venue plan announced over the last few weeks, and its attachment to a unique L.A. expertise advantage:
“I believe this revised plan shows where tradition meets transformation. It marries exciting new venue opportunities which have become available in the last few years, and promises a spectacular experience for both athletes and fans.
“Each week, world-class events are staged all over the City of Los Angeles, showcasing the very best of sport and entertainment. Nowhere else is there such a mature event delivery market.
“It has been the recurring theme for these Games, the OCOG will collaborate closely with the experience that exists in the market.”
The LA28 delegation was introduced by Gene Sykes, the President of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, who has been nominated to be an IOC member himself later in the Session. He was joined by LA28 Chair Casey Wasserman, new chief executive Reynold Hoover and Chief Athlete Officer Janet Evans.
Sykes expressed a desire for closer coordination with the IOC and with the Olympic Movement:
“It’s more than just hosting a global sporting event. It’s a chance to celebrate and embody the values and mission of the Olympic and Paralympic Movement. Excellence, friendship, respect are more than mere words. They are guiding principles that bring people together, fostering unity and understanding.
“At a time when unity is so needed, the Olympic and Paralympic Games offer a beacon of hope and a platform to showcase out shared humanity.
“The LA28 Games will be a celebration of diversity, an opportunity to inspire the next generation and a moment for the United States of America to demonstrate our commitment to global camaraderie.
“We are dedicated to working hand-in-hand with the International Olympic Committee, its commissions, the International Federations, to ensure the 2028 Games are a resounding success. We understand the importance of hospitality and the treatment of our international guests and visitors. Rest assured, we are preparing to welcome the world with the warmth and the respect that embody the spirit of the Olympics and Paralympics.”
Wasserman gave an overview of the venue changes, emphasizing their best-in-class nature, saying that these were subject to Los Angeles City Council approval, with the review to begin in mid-August. And:
● “We now have agreements in place with the cities of Inglewood, Long Beach, Carson and Oklahoma City to provide access, support an services that are crucial to our Games delivery and experience.”
● “This year, we received our National Special Security Event designation from the Federal government. It is the highest security designation in our country, on par with a Presidential inauguration. This designation, received earlier this year, was the earliest by three years in the history of our country that it has been awarded. And it allows us to immediately begin planning and executing with all relevant security agencies.”
● He introduced some of the newest commercial partners and added “We have lots more in the pipeline, which we look forward to announcing in the fall, after Paris, after the Games are complete.”
LA28 has a team in Paris to observe the Games and see how planning assumptions change into operations on the ground. A very special handover segment was promised for the closing ceremony on 11 August.
5.
World Aquatics says China swimmers tested 651 times!
The widespread and continuing sensitivity to the January 2021 Chinese doping incident in which 23 swimmers tested positive for trimetazidine, but were not suspended due to a Chinese Anti-Doping Agency finding that their food had been contaminated was met with a Tuesday release from World Aquatics.
Titled “World Aquatics Demonstrates Comprehensive and Rigorous Testing Programme Ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games,” the announcement explains that under a program designed and implemented by the World Aquatics testing partner, the International Testing Agency:
“Swimmers from China were the most tested athletes during this period. Since 1 January 2024, the 31 swimmers from China competing in Paris have each been tested at least 10 times by World Aquatics, with an average of 13 tests per swimmer. World Aquatics conducted a total of 418 tests through this programme. All Chinese swimmers have been tested out-of-competition at least eight times by World Aquatics, independently of any other anti-doping organisation and using a WADA-accredited laboratory based in Europe.
“Including tests conducted by other anti-doping organisations, Chinese swimmers have been tested on average 21 times since 1 January 2024. Australian swimmers have been tested an average of four times in the same period, and USA swimmers an average of six times.”
A chart showed the average number of 2024 tests from all sources of swimmers from the 10 power nations:
● 21x on 31 swimmers from China
● 6x on 46 swimmers from the U.S.
● 5x on 36 swimmers from Italy
● 5x on 21 swimmers from Hungary
● 4x on 41 swimmers from Australia
● 4x on 30 swimmers from Great Britain
● 4x on 29 swimmers from France
● 4x on 28 swimmers from Canada
● 4x on 27 swimmers from Japan
● 4x on 25 swimmers from Germany
The total number of World Aquatics tests for Paris 2024 totals 2,983 on 1,283 swimmers, compared to 2,002 tests on 876 swimmers for Tokyo and 2,648 tests on 1,041 swimmers for Rio 2016.
Including tests from other anti-doping organizations, the Paris total is 4,774 on 1,394 swimmers in all.
It’s a lot of tests and the ITA is continuing with its testing as athletes enter the Olympic Village. Whether any cheaters are caught is yet to be determined.
≡ PANORAMA ≡
● Olympic Games 2024: Paris ● NBC noted that of its 3,000-plus staff involved in the production of the 2024 Games, about 1,800 will be in Stamford, Connecticut and 1,200 in Paris itself. The number of commentators alone is more than 150, with multiple former Olympians who have won a combined 90 Olympic medals.
● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and LA28 announced Dick’s Sporting Goods as their “the Official Sporting Goods Retail Provider.”
Dick’s had previously been involved with the USOPC for Rio 2016 and the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games and will be “an Official Supporter of Team USA for Paris 2024, Milano Cortina 2026, and LA28.”
There is also a significant benefit at the National Governing Body level, as the “partnership will also include travel and training apparel, using DICK’S owned brands, for 11 Team USA national governing bodies, beginning with USA Canoe/Kayak this summer.”
● Oceania National Olympic Committees ● Panam Sports is not the only confederation of National Olympic Committees with a multi-team training site in France. ONOC opened a program in Divonne-les-Bains in eastern France in mid-July, with assistance from the IOC’s Olympic Solidarity program and a contribution from the Australian government through the Australian Olympic Committee.
As many as 72 athletes were present at any one time for pre-Games training from American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall islands, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.
● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● The USOPC announced that retired track star Allyson Felix, appointed for a partial term to the IOC Athletes Commission, is running for a full term as one of the 12 elected members, at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Four members will be elected, for eight-year terms, in Paris.
The 11-time Olympic medalist is widely respected and has been involved already in athlete-support projects, including the first “Olympic Nursery” in the Paris 2024 Village.
● Athletics ● The USA Track & Field Foundation announced 65 Stephen A. Schwarzman athlete grants for 2024:
“This year, 65 professional track and field athletes will receive $30,000 Stephen A. Schwarzman grants, while an additional 35 athletes will receive $20,000 grants. In total, these 100 outstanding athletes will receive $2.65 million in support. This funding will help cover expenses such as equipment, coaching, travel, medical costs, recovery tools, and other essential needs for these professional athletes.”
● Basketball ● The U.S. women’s Olympic team, coming off a loss to the WNBA All-Stars, defeated Germany in an exhibition at the O2 Arena in London, 84-57.
The Americans had a 22-9 lead at the quarter and 44-32 at the half, with Breanna Stewart leading the way with 13 points.
The Germans were game, but were worn down by the relentless U.S. offense and showed more and more fatigue from both the pace of the game and American defensive ball-hawking. While the U.S. led, 64-50, going into the fourth quarter, they outscored the Germans, 20-7 to extend the final margin to 27 points.
A’ja Wilson had 19 points and 14 rebounds, Stewart finished with 15, and Jewell Loyd scored 11. Next up is pool play in Paris, with the defending champion U.S. facing Japan next Monday; the American women have won six straight Olympic golds and own a 55-game win steak in Olympic play.
● Equestrian ● “The FEI has officially announced the provisional suspension of British Dressage athlete Charlotte Dujardin (FEI ID: 10028440), effective immediately from the date of notification, 23 July 2024.
“This decision renders her ineligible to participate in the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games or any other events under the jurisdiction of the FEI.”
Dujardin, 39, is a six-time Olympic medalist, with London 2012 golds in Dressage and Team Dressage and in Rio 2016 in Dressage, and was expected to be a contender in Paris. The FEI bulletin explained:
“On 22 July 2024, the FEI received a video depicting Ms. Dujardin engaging in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare. This video was submitted to the FEI by a lawyer representing an undisclosed complainant. According to the information received, the footage was allegedly taken several years ago during a training session conducted by Ms. Dujardin at a private stable. …
“Ms. Dujardin confirmed that she is the individual depicted in the video and acknowledged that her conduct was inappropriate.
“On 23 July 2024, Charlotte Dujardin requested to be provisionally suspended pending the outcome of the investigations and voluntarily withdrew from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and also confirmed that she will not participate in any competitions pending the outcome of the FEI’s investigation.”
Media accounts reported that Dujardin whipped a horse multiple times during training, which was captured on video. Dujardin said in a statement that “What happened was completely out of character and does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my pupils, however there is no excuse.
“I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example in that moment.”
● Football ● “The Canadian Olympic Committee stands for fair-play and we are shocked and disappointed. We offer our heartfelt apologies to New Zealand Football, to all the players affected, and to the New Zealand Olympic Committee.”
That’s a Tuesday statement after the New Zealand Olympic Committee filed a protest with the IOC over a drone that flew over the New Zealand women’s football training site:
“Team support members immediately reported the incident to police leading to the drone operator, who has been identified as a support staff member of the wider Canadian Women’s football team, to be detained.
“The NZOC has formally lodged the incident with the IOC integrity unit and has asked Canada for a full review.”
The New Zealand Olympic Committee and football federation added they “are deeply shocked and disappointed by this incident.”
● Tennis ● British star Andy Murray, 37, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in London and Rio, confirmed that he will retire following the Paris Games.
The winner of the 2012 U.S. Open and Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016, he had been dogged by injuries in the latter part of his career, but will retire as a beloved champion, becoming the first British man to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936.
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