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TSX REPORT: Morocco controls, but France scores in 2-0 World Cup win; Zelensky rails against Russians at Paris ‘24; 9% of athletes injured at Tokyo 2020

By
Rich Perelman
-
A world-record bonus for U.S. swimmers (l-r) Nic Fink, Kate Douglass, Torri Huske and Ryan Murphy from the 4x50 m Mixed Medley Relay at the FINA World 25 m Championships in Australia (Photo: World Aquatics)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. FIFA World Cup: France holds off Morocco, wins 2-0
2. Autopsy: Grant Wahl died of an aortic aneurysm
3. Ukraine’s Zelensky rails against Russian participation at Paris 2024
4. Tokyo Olympic athlete injury rate in line with prior Games
5. Olympic champ Jorgensen back to triathlon

Defending champion France is headed back to the FIFA World Cup championship match after a 2-0 win over a game Morocco team that dominated possession and had multiple chances to score, but could not get a goal. It was the first time in the tournament that France posted a shutout, and Les Blues will play Argentina on Sunday for the title. An autopsy on popular football writer Grant Wahl showed that he died due to an “undetected ascending aortic aneurysm” according to his wife, who gave appreciation for his rapid return from Qatar to FIFA and U.S. authorities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky protested the International Olympic Committee’s continuing discussions on finding a way to return Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competition in view of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He called for Russia’s “complete isolation” in international affairs, including sports. A study led by the IOC found that about 9.15% of athletes competing at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021 suffered injuries of some type, in line with prior Games, and that a very low level of illness was seen, affecting only about 3.9%. The most injury-prone sports were boxing and BMX racing. Rio 2016 Olympic women’s triathlon champ Gwen Jorgensen announced she is returning to the sport after trying distance running. But she will be concentrating on making the U.S. Mixed Team Relay squad for Paris, not competing in the Olympic-distance triathlon as she did before.

1.
FIFA World Cup: France holds off Morocco, wins 2-0

The expectation was that France, with its offensive weapons, would control its semifinal with Morocco and need to hold off speedy counterattacks from the Atlas Lions. The game turned out to be exactly the opposite, but the French prevailed anyway, 2-0.

Morocco had possession to start the match, but as soon as the French touched the ball, a shriek of disapproving whistles explored from the overwhelmingly pro-Morocco crowd of 68,294 in the Al Bayt Stadium.

The wall of whistles did not deter the French, who found some magic in the fifth minute. A lead pass broke the Moroccan defense and striker Antoine Griezmann was racing down the right side and crossed the ball into the middle. That led to a shot by striker Kylian Mbappe that was blocked, then a second shot and the rebound popped out to the left, where defender Theo Hernandez rose and sent a left-footed shot on a bounce that raced past keeper Yassine Bounou and a defender and into the net for a 1-0 lead. It was only the second goal scored against Morocco in the tournament and the first an opposing player!

The game was surprising end-to-end, with Morocco forward Hakim Ziyech making French keeper Hugo Lloris lunge for a shot that went just wide in the 17th, and then France roared back and all-time goal scorer Olivier Giroud hit the left post with a drive, also in the 17th. Mbappe’s shot in the 36th was saved and came back to Giroud in the middle of the box and he missed wide to the left.

Off a corner in the 44th, the ball bounded to the left and defender Jawad El Yamiq sent a brilliant bicycle kick to the goal, touched by Lloris and then hitting the left post and bouncing away.

Morocco had 56% of possession in the half, but the French had nine shots to five, and the lead. Being down a goal required Morocco to play the most offense it has shown in the tournament and they had excellent opportunities, but could not convert.

The second half was all-Moroccan pressure from the start, as they swarmed the French zone, with the French counter-attacking when available, a complete reversal of Moroccan play in the tournament up to this game.

Dangerous run after dangerous run challenged the French defense, but then the French erupted, with a clearance after another desperate defensive stand. The ball moved into the Moroccan zone, played by Mbappe to substitute striker Marcus Thuram to his left, who dribbled in and gave it back to Mbappe in the middle of the box. Five defenders closed in, but Mbappe swung to his right and closer to goal, then his pass was deflected right to a charging Randal Kolo Muani, who entered the game just seconds before. Muani finished with the right foot and it was 2-0 for France and a place in the final.

There was a wild exchange in front of the French net at 90+4, with midfielder Azzedine Ounahi pivoting near the endline, up to the French goal, then having his shot blocked, spinning in front of the goal where he had another shot blocked and finally to sub striker Abderrrazak Hamdallah right in front of goal, whose shot was blocked and then cleared.

But the French defense held, however precariously – its first shutout of the tournament – and moves them a step closer to being the first repeat champions since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Morocco ended with 61% possession and had 13 shots to 14 for France, but on the scoreboard, it wasn’t that close.

Morocco will face Croatia in the third-place game on Saturday, while the title game comes Sunday with two two-time winners, Argentina and France.

2.
Autopsy: Grant Wahl died of an aortic aneurysm

Soccer writer Grant Wahl’s wife, Dr. Celine Gounder, posted a notice on Wahl’s Substack site on Wednesday, which included:

“Grant arrived home Monday, December 12, and this transition was handled with the utmost care and sensitivity. This was an international matter that required coordination from multiple agencies domestically and internationally, and there was full cooperation from everyone involved. Our sincere gratitude to everyone involved in repatriating Grant, in particular the White House, the U.S. Department of State, FIFA, U.S. Soccer and American Airlines.

“An autopsy was performed by the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office. Grant died from the rupture of a slowly growing, undetected ascending aortic aneurysm with hemopericardium. The chest pressure he experienced shortly before his death may have represented the initial symptoms. No amount of CPR or shocks would have saved him. His death was unrelated to COVID. His death was unrelated to vaccination status. There was nothing nefarious about his death.”

She told CBS News, “It’s just one of these things that had been likely brewing for years, and for whatever reason it happened at this point in time.”

A memorial service is being planned.

Wahl was covering his eighth World Cup in Qatar and had obtained medical assistance on 5 December after complaining of a cold and then feeling even worse. He was told he probably had bronchitis and felt better after getting some antibiotics and cough syrup, but collapsed at his press tribune seat near the end of the Argentina-Netherlands quarterfinal game on 9 December. He was given immediate medical attention and taken to a hospital, but did not revive.

3.
Ukraine’s Zelensky rails against Russian participation
at Paris 2024

In response to the Declaration of the Olympic Summit, in which the International Olympic Movement and other leaders of the Olympic Movement agreed to explore avenues to return Russian and Belarusian athletes as neutrals to international competition, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky replied to IOC President Thomas Bach with disdain.

Zelensky protested that Russian Olympic Committee President Stanislav Podznyakov was invited to the event, noting that “since February, 184 Ukrainian athletes have died as a result of Russia’s actions.” And he added:

“One cannot try to be neutral when the foundations of peaceful life are being destroyed and universal human values are being ignored.

“A just response to such actions can only be the complete isolation of the terrorist state in the international arena. In particular, this applies to international sporting events.”

The IOC asked for International Federations to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes since the February invasion of Ukraine, but has repeatedly said it needs to find a way – at some time in the future – to bring the world together through sport.

Most federations have complied, but some sports – notably cycling, judo and tennis – have allowed Russians and Belarusians to compete as neutrals. The International Boxing Association, whose President is Russian Umar Kremlev, is suspended, but is allowing Russians and Belarusians to compete in national uniforms and colors.

4.
Tokyo Olympic athlete injury rate in line with prior Games

A study published Tuesday in the British Journal of Sports Medicine showed that injuries affected 9.15% of athletes attending the Games and that 3.9% fell ill during the Games period.

The project was led by the IOC’s Medical and Scientific Department, which tracked 11,315 athletes at the Games, using reports from National Olympic Committee medical teams and visits to the Olympic Village Polyclinic and other medical sites operated by the Tokyo organizing committee.

The reporting included only about 53% of the NOCs, so the figures are likely somewhat understated, but all medical encounters with the Tokyo medical teams were recorded. The highest incidence of injury came in:

● 27.1% in boxing
● 27.1% in BMX racing in cycling
● 22.2% in BMX Freestyle in cycling
● 21.0% in skateboarding
● 18.5% in handball

The lowest injury rates were in diving, road cycling, rowing, open-water swimming and shooting, all less than 2%. After adjusting for participation levels, “there was no
difference in overall injury incidence between women” and men. Women had a higher risk of injury than men in artistic gymnastics, but lower in softball (vs. baseball) and in boxing.

Most of the injuries were minor, with 44% impacting the athlete for less than a day, but 24% for 1-7 days, 11% from 8-28 days and 9% for even longer. Also, the story showed that 58% of injuries came during competition, 34% during training and 7% during warm-up or cool-down periods. BMX cycling had more than 10% of injuries keeping riders out for more than a week.

The overall injury picture for Tokyo – just over 9% – was similar to that seen at Rio 2016 (8%), London 2012 (11%) and Beijing 2008 (10%).

The extensive anti-Covid procedures in Tokyo not only prevented any impact from the pandemic, but also helped to keep overall illness rates down:

“The overall incidence of illness (3.9 illnesses per 100 athletes) was the lowest we have recorded in the Games; lower than in PyeongChang 2018 (9.4), Rio 2016 (5.4), Sochi 2014 (8.9), London 2012 (7.2) and Vancouver 2010 (7.2).”

The highest illness rates:

● 7.8% in open-water swimming
● 7.7% in artistic swimming
● 7.4% in skateboarding
● 7.4% in karate
● 7.3% in triathlon
● 7.3% in athletics

There were no illnesses recorded for athlete in 3×3 basketball, mountain biking and
modern pentathlon.

There were 78 incidents of heat-related illness, a great concern going into the Games, but 88% suffered no time away from their sport.

5.
Olympic champ Jorgensen back to triathlon

“I’m coming back to triathlon.”

That was Rio 2016 Olympic champ Gwen Jorgensen of the U.S., announcing on YouTube on Tuesday that she is returning to the sport after a dalliance with distance running. However:

“Don’t get too excited, though. I’m not doing long-course, which is what you guys, a lot of you want me to do. …

“What I’m really excited about is Mixed Team Relay. I wasn’t able to do that at the 2016 Olympics, it wasn’t an event at the Olympics yet, so it’s now an Olympic event and I was super inspired at Tokyo, watching Team USA get a silver medal in the Team Relay, so that is what is really motivating me to come back to triathlon.”

Jorgensen, now 36, is a mother of two sons as well as a two-time Olympian, finishing 36th in London in 2012 (partially due to a flat tire in the cycling segment) and then won gold in Rio in 2016. She also won two World Triathlon World Championships titles in 2014 and 2015. She left triathlon to return to distance running, logging a best of 2:36:23 at the 2018 Chicago Marathon, a 10,000 m best of 31:55.68 in 2018 and a 5,000 m best of 15:08.28 in 2021. She finished ninth in the 2021 Olympic Trials 5,000 m, but did not finish in the 10,000 m.

Jorgensen added, “each individual does a super-short triathlon that takes like 20 minutes total. It’s super-fast, super-quick. I’m also getting older and a lot of times they say that you lose your speed when you get older, but I think that’s a myth and I want to prove that wrong.”

The Mixed Team Relay joined the Olympic program in Tokyo and has two men and two women who each compete in a 300 m swim, 6.6 km bike segment and 1 km run, before tagging off to a teammate. It’s far shorter than the individual Olympic triathlon, which starts with a 1,500 m swim, then a 40 km bike segment and a 10 km run. Jorgensen has no illusions about her prospects:

“The Olympics are coming up really quick and the timeline is super-short. There is a qualifying event in August of 2023 and for me to even get on that start line is going to be super-difficult, so I’m probably going to be forced to race earlier than I’d like to, before I’m fit and before I’m totally ready, but I’ve just got to dive in and get it started.”

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Swimming ● The second day of the FINA World Short-Course (25 m) Championships in Melbourne (AUS) was a good one for the U.S., with three golds and a world record, one of two set on the evening.

The U.S. record performance came in the first event, the Mixed 4×50 m Medley, with veteran star Ryan Murphy on backstroke, then Nic Fink on breast, Kate Douglass on fly and Torri Huske on anchor, finishing in 1:35.15. That crushed the 1:36.10 from the Netherlands from 2010. Italy won silver (1:36.01) and Canada took the bronze (1:36.93).

Murphy, the 2016 Rio Olympic winner in the 100-200 m Back events, then came back to win the men’s 100 m Back in a meet record of 48.50, moving to no. 2 on the all-time (short-course) list. Italy’s Lorenzo Mora was well back in second at 49.04. It’s Murphy’s sixth career World Short-Course gold.

After winning six medals (3-0-3) at the 2022 FINA (50 m) Worlds, sprinter Torri Huske won her first individual Worlds Short Course gold, tying with Canadian star Maggie MacNeil in the women’s 100 m Fly final in 24.64. China’s Yufei Zhang was third (24.71); Claire Curzan of the U.S. tied for fifth in 24.92.

Australia continued its strong meet in front of the home crowd, with Lani Pallister winning the 800 m Free to go along with her 400 m Free gold on the first day. She touched in 8:04.07, ahead of Erika Fairweather (NZL: 8:10.41), who was second in the 400 m Free, and Japan’s Miyu Namba (8:12.98). American Leah Smith was fourth (8:14.24) and Jillian Cox sixth (8:20.95).

Kaylee McKeown, Australia’s 100-200 m Backstroke gold medalist in Tokyo, won the 100 m Back in Melbourne in 55.49, just ahead of teammate Mollie O’Callaghan (55.62). The U.S.’s Curzan tied for the bronze with Ingrid Wilm of Canada (55.74 for both); American Isabelle Stadden was eighth in 57.20.

Australia got a third gold and another world relay record in the women’s 4×200 m Freestyle, finishing in 7:30.87 – with Pallister on anchor – erasing the Dutch mark of 7:32.85 from 2014 and way ahead of silver winner Canada (7:34.47). The U.S. quartet of Alex Walsh, Hali Flickinger, Erin Gemmell and Smith was third in 7:34.70, with Gemmell’s leg of 1:52.23 the fastest of the night.

Brazil’s 42-year-old Nicholas Santos won the men’s 50 m Fly title in a meet record of 21.78, for his sixth career Worlds Short-Course gold and 12th overall, in what he says will be his final race. He was the clear winner, ahead of Noe Ponti (SUI: 21.96) and Szebasztian Szabo (HUN: 21.98).

The meet continues through Sunday.

● Weightlifting ● Qatar and Egypt triumphed on day nine of the IWF World Weightlifting Championships in Bogota (COL), and the U.S. won its first combined-weight medal of the competition.

In the women’s 76 kg class, Egypt’s Sara Ahmed swept the field, winning the Snatch (113 kg), Clean & Jerk (148 kg) and the combined total at 261 kg. It’s her second career Worlds medal after a silver at 71 kg in 2018. American Mattie Rogers, won her fourth career Worlds silver in her third different weight class, finishing second in all three lifts, at 109 kg (Snatch), 138 kg (Clean & Jerk) and 247 kg (Combined). Rogers previously win silvers at 69 kg in 2017, 71 kg in 2019 and at 76 kg in 2021. Korea’s Su-hyeon Kim was third (245 kg).

Tokyo Olympic 96 kg champ Fares El-Bakh (QAT) moved up to 102 kg for the 2022 Worlds and made only three of his six lifts, but that was enough to win. He completed two Snatch lifts with a best of 174 kg for fifth and only took one attempt in the Clean & Jerk, but lifted 217 kg for second in the event and first overall with 391 kg. It’s his first Worlds gold, after a 94 kg bronze in 2017 and silvers in 2019 and 2021 at 96 kg.

Just one kg back was Iran’s Reza Dehdar, the 2019 bronze winner, at 490 kg; he topped the Snatch competition at 177 kg. Armenian Samvel Gasparyan was third (389 kg); Americans Wesley Kitts and Ryan Sester finished eighth (379 kg) and 14th (368 kg), respectively.

The championships continue through Friday.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Athletics ● A letter from World Athletics chief executive Jon Ridgeon (GBR) issued Monday (12th) informed all national federations that for performances to qualify for the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest (HUN), the competition in which they are held must be listed on the World Athletics Global Calendar.

The requirement, approved by the World Athletics Council, begins with meets on 1 March 2023 and after, for which Global Calendar status must be applied for 60 days in advance … meaning 1 January for a meet on 1 March of next year.

So, for example, for the Texas Relays, coming on 29 March, for marks to count at that meet for Worlds qualifying and world rankings, it must be applied for by 29 January 2023. It does not apply for meets which are already a part of the World Athletics Continental Tour or the Diamond League.

But it does apply to U.S. collegiate meets of all kinds, and the various smaller, springtime invitational meets held in Florida, California and elsewhere. Naturally, there is a fee – $25 – and access to the Global Calendar must be coordinated by national federations, meaning USA Track & Field in the United States.

PoleVaultPower.com’s Becca Peter sounded the alarm on Twitter, noting in a thread,

“Major changes are coming to the @WorldAthletics ranking system, and we are at risk of the majority of track meets in the United States not counting for rankings or qualifying.”

● Football ● A security guard at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has died, after a “serious fall” at the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Doha.

John Njau Kibue, 24, from Kenya was injured on 10 December, according to the organizing committee, falling after the Argentina vs. Netherlands quarterfinal:

“We regret to announce that, despite the efforts of the medical team, he sadly passed away in hospital on Tuesday 13 December, after being in the intensive care unit for three days.”

The company that Kibue worked for at the event, Al Sraiya Security Services, has not contacted the family, according to Reuters. It’s the fourth reported death at the FIFA World Cup so far; the other three were news media, from the U.S., Britain and Qatar.

The 7 December incident at a Brazilian team news conference in which a cat which jumped on the dais and was dropped by press officer Vinicius Rodriguez to the stage apron has been followed by a lawsuit against the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF).

The National Forum for Animal Protection and Defense of Brazil and other animal-rights organizations announced the action, asking for a fine of one million Reals (~$189,437 U.S.), a public apology and a program to train CBF staff in environmental protection and animal care.

The federation said Wednesday that it had no knowledge of a filing.

A joint report from the National Women’s Soccer League and its players association concerning player abuse within the league found widespread problems:

“The NWSL has increased efforts to eradicate misconduct, embraced greater accountability, and experienced a cultural shift regarding behaviors that are no longer tolerated.

“However, there is substantial work to be done. To that point, during this investigation, the Joint Investigative Team received reports of ongoing misconduct at more than half the League’s clubs.”

In addition to problems previously reported at clubs in Chicago, Louisville, Portland and Washington, D.C., issues were noted at the North Carolina Courage, Houston Dash, OL [Seattle] Reign, Orlando Pride and NY/NJ Gotham FC.

Recommendations included, “strengthening anti-harassment policies, developing and enforcing guidelines that address appropriate interactions between club staff and players, developing and implementing trainings that reflect and address player and staff experiences, coordinat[ing] with clubs and U.S. Soccer to improve and centralize hiring practices, enhance[d] reporting and investigation procedures and prioritiz[ing] DEI initiatives to create a more inclusive environment for all players and staff.”

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TSX REPORT: Argentina schools Croatia, 3-0, in World Cup semi, as U.S. ratings up 84% for playoffs; IOC quietly ends 50-year ban on Vince Matthews

By
Rich Perelman
-
Wayne Collett and Vince Matthews on the men's 400 m victory stand at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich (Photo: Associated Press via Wikipedia)

★ The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. FIFA World Cup: Argentina out-classes Croatia, 3-0
2. U.S. World Cup playoff broadcast ratings up 84%!
3. Russian national gymnastics coach lies about USA gymnastics stance
4. IOC ends 50-year ban on Vince Matthews, but nothing more
5. U.S. 400 m star Randolph Ross suspended for three years

The expected FIFA World Cup semifinal battle between Argentina’s offense and the Croatian defense was in fact a display of Argentine power as Lionel Messi scored on a penalty and assisted brilliantly on one of two goals by Julian Alvarez during a convincing, 3-0 win in Doha. France and former colony Morocco will play in the second semifinal today. Through the round-of-16 and the quarterfinals, the combined English (FOX) and Spanish (Telemundo) broadcast coverage has drawn big audiences, with the playoff-match average at 8.65 million, up just about 84% over the group-stage average of 4.71 million. The Russian news agency TASS ran two amazing stories on Monday, claiming that the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee supports Russian re-entry into international competitions as neutrals, a complete mis-representation of comments by USOPC Chair to reporters during a Monday briefing. The Russian national gymnastics coach claimed USA Gymnastics supports this position, which was flatly refuted by the federation’s spokesperson. The International Olympic Committee acknowledged that it will allow the accreditation of Munich 1972 men’s 400 m champ Vince Matthews at a future Olympic Games, effectively rescinding the lifetime ban placed on him and silver medalist, the late Wayne Collett, after their medal-ceremony protest. Current U.S. 400 m star Randolph Ross, a member of the gold-medal-winning Tokyo Olympic 4×400 m relay, was suspended for three years as a result of three “whereabouts” failures in April and June of this year; he will be eligible again in mid-2025.

1.
FIFA World Cup: Argentina out-classes Croatia, 3-0

The 2018 World Cup runner-ups, Croatia, presented a disciplined, difficult defense that had only conceded three goals in five matches at the Qatar World Cup. But with inspired play from superstar striker Lionel Messi and running mate Julian Alvarez, two-time champs Argentina scored three in the first 69 minutes of Tuesday’s semifinal, and won, 3-0.

The game started tense, close and physical, with neither side getting consistent penetration, and like so many times before, it changed in an instant, with Messi involved.

A long lead pass down the middle of the field found Alvarez one-on-one on goal vs. Croatian keeper Dominik Livakovic in the 32nd minute. Alvarez’s pop-up shot was cleared by defender Dejan Lovren, but Livakovic clobbered Alvarez with his right leg, bringing him down for a clear foul, a yellow card and a penalty.

The penalty taker, of course, was Messi and he buried the shot with a left-footed missile into the top right corner of the net for a 1-0 lead in the 34th. It was Messi’s fifth goal of the tournament and his 23rd penalty conversion for his country in 28 tries.

Alvarez, however, wasn’t done and in the 39th, he got the ball in space just behind the midfield line and took off. He dribbled the length of the field, running straight for goal and with defender Nahuel Molina cutting in front of him – and taking the attention of two defenders – Alvarez sent a shot that deflected off defender Josip Juranovic, came back to Alvarez, then off defender Borna Sosa, bounced up to Alvarez again and he right-footed it into the goal for a 2-0 lead. It’s the first time Croatia has given up more than a single goal in a game in the tournament.

Croatia had 62% of the possession, but Argentina led, 5-4, on shots and four on goal to none. And it could have been worse, with midfielder Alexis Mac Allister’s header in the 42nd barely saved by Livakovic.

Argentina applied more pressure in the second half, with some good chances, and Croatia had a look at goal in the 62nd off a header from Lovren.

But the issue was fully decided in the 69th, as Messi dribbled down the right side, spun defender Josko Gvardiol around, turned the corner and then crossed the ball to the center of the field where it was met by Alvarez, who finished into the right side of the net. 3-0; game over.

The Croatians ended with 61% of possession and had a 12-7 edge on shots, but the Argentines had seven shots on goal – with three in the net – to two. Messi is now even with France’s Kylian Mbappe as the tournament’s top scorer with five goals.

Argentina is on to its sixth World Cup final, having won in 1978 and 1986.

The second semi pits defending champion France against the surprise of the tournament, Morocco, at the Al Bayt Stadium at 10 p.m. local time on Tuesday, or 2 p.m. Eastern time in the U.S. The build-up:

France (4-1):
● Defeated Australia, 4-1
● Defeated Denmark, 2-1
● Lost to Tunisia, 1-0 (1st in Group D)
● Defeated Poland, 3-1
● Defeated England, 2-1

Morocco (4-0-1):
● Tied Croatia, 0-0
● Defeated Belgium 2-0
● Defeated Canada, 2-1 (1st in Group F)
● Defeated Spain, 0-0 (3-0 penalty kicks)
● Defeated Portugal, 1-0

It’s the first time that an African team – or an Arab team for that matter – has made it to the World Cup semis. As with Argentina and Croatia, the match features the sensational French offense – keyed by World Cup co-scoring leader Mbappe (five goals) – against Morocco’s defense, and its speedy counter attacks which have given its opponents fits:

France in 5 matches:
● 11-5 on goals, 78-47 on shots, 55% possession

Morocco in 5 matches:
● 5-1 on goals, 39-45 on shots, 39% possession

The one goal Morocco has given up was an own goal under pressure from Canada in the first half of its final group-stage game. So, it has not conceded a second-half goal at all across five matches, and with its counter-attacking style, has fewer total shots than its opponents (39-45), it has more shots-on-goal: 13-9.

The French are looking for their fourth World Cup final after wins in 1998 and 2018, and a 1-0 loss to Italy in 2006. No one has successfully defended a World Cup title since Brazil in 1958 and 1962, and France has never faced Morocco in a World Cup match. They have been on offense throughout the tournament – except for the Tunisia match, when many starters were rested – out-scoring opponents 4-1 in the first halves and 7-4 in the second halves. And five of its goals came after the 70-minute mark.

There is also a historical backdrop to this game, as Morocco was a French “protectorate” – colony – from 1912-56. France, using mostly backups, already lost in Qatar to another prior “protectorate” in Tunisia, which it ruled from 1881-1956.

2.
U.S. World Cup playoff broadcast ratings up 84%!

American viewers are paying much closer attention to the elimination rounds of the FIFA World Cup compared to the group stage.

Nielsen figures for English-language telecasts on FOX and broadcast and streaming totals for Telemundo’s Spanish-language coverage for the round-of-16 and quarterfinal matches averaged 8.65 million viewers combined, a sterling 83.7% higher than for the group-stage combined average of 4.71 million.

The U.S.-Netherlands match on 03 December attracted a combined audience of 16.875 million, second only to the U.S.-England match (20.146 million) on the post-Thanksgiving Friday. But even after the U.S. was eliminated, audiences stayed strong for the quarters:

● 13.775 million for France-England on 10 December;
● 11.140 million for Argentina-Netherlands on 9 December;
● 9.124 million for Morocco-Portugal on 10 December;
● 7.581 million for Croatia-Brazil on 9 December.

It helps to have the English-language matches on FOX rather than FS1; the over-the-air rating have been about double what the cable channel draws.

By comparison, the France-England match approached the weekend NFL ratings, which were led by the CBS and FOX early-window games at 31.473 million combined, then the FOX late-window games at 24.028 million and NBC’s Sunday Night Football at 15.757 million. The ESPN Monday Night Football match-up of New Orleans and Tampa Bay drew 11.273 million.

3.
Russian national gymnastics coach lies about USA Gymnastics stance

An astonishing headline in the English-language service of the Russian news agency TASS read:

“Russian coach says USA Gymnastics backs participation of Russia’s athletes in tournaments”

The sub-head declared:

“’It’s becoming ever more obvious to all figures in the world of sports that the merit of the Olympics will diminish significantly if the strongest athletes don’t show for the competitions,’ Valentina Rodionenko noted”

Then the story, which included three startlingly false paragraphs at the start:

“MOSCOW, December 12. /TASS/. Russia’s head gymnastics coach Valentina Rodionenko on Monday said USA Gymnastics supports allowing Russian athletes to participate in international competitions.

“She made the comment after United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Chairwoman Susanne Lyons said on Monday that Russian and Belarusian athletes should be allowed at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris under a neutral status.

“‘USA Gymnastics from the start was in favor of us taking part in international competitions,’ Rodionenko told TASS. ‘They thought and now think that our absence sets world gymnastics back. Now we see that people from the US Olympic committee, who aren’t involved in politics, are in solidarity with the gymnasts.

“’It’s becoming ever more obvious to all figures in the world of sports that the merit of the Olympics will diminish significantly if the strongest athletes don’t show for the competitions. The countries that are Russia’s rivals in sports are also interested in our participation. We have a lot to offer, and I’m not talking just about artistic gymnastics,’ she said.”

A USA Gymnastics spokesperson responded Tuesday that “USA Gymnastics has made no such statement and has taken no position regarding the participation of Russian athletes.”

As for U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee Board Chair Susanne Lyons, she never at any time during Monday’s news conference that Russia and Belarus should be allowed to compete at the Paris 2024 Games under any conditions, including neutrality. What Lyons did say was that the talks at the Olympic Summit were only conceptual. And she was clear about Russia:

“Russia has shown, I think, time and again, that they are not necessarily always following the rules that we would like to see followed, so the decisions that the Summit made this weekend are really not about allowing Russia or Belarus – the countries – to participate again. There was a lot of discussion about whether athletes who happen to have been born in those countries, and have passports from those countries, have a pathway whereby they can compete as clean [from doping] and neutral athletes going forward.

“And I think there is a fair amount of desire over time for that to be able to happen because our mission is to bring the world together in peace through sport. So prohibiting individual athletes from competing, from having the right to compete, is hard for the Movement to tolerate. At the same time, that doesn’t mean that people are in any way ready to forgive and forget some of the past behavior from Russia.

“So the discussion was not about lifting any sanctions whatsoever from Russia or Belarus; those sanctions remain firmly in place, and as a reminder, those sanctions include not having any competitions in those countries, and if those athletes were to return as neutrals, there could be no display of flags, of anthems, no national colors nor country name for any participating athletes.”

The false reporting in Russia of Lyons’ comments about the Olympic Summit discussions and not about the USOPC’s position, extended to four-time Olympic Biathlon relay gold medalist (1968-80) Alexander Tikhonov, who told TASS:

“They’re proposing participation without the flag.

“If I was deciding this question, I would think it over, there is time until 2024, but without our own flag we will be humiliated, the whole world can laugh at us. If they take such a step, they understand that there is no competition without Russia, the interest of the press and TV is falling. But we still have a year and a half before the Olympics, and they want to humiliate us beforehand.”

Observed: This is the more of the current Russian internal theme of “we’re so important, the sports world can’t do without us.” No word on whether Tikhonov, now 75 and who was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in 2007 (but received immediate amnesty), had taken (or passed) a doping test prior to his interview.

4.
IOC ends 50-year ban on Vince Matthews, but nothing more

“We can confirm that the IOC will accept any accreditation request from the USOPC for Vince Matthews for any future Olympic Games.”

That’s the message from the International Olympic Committee about the quiet-as-possible removal of a lifetime ban on two-time Olympic gold medalist Mathews, who was at the center of a largely-forgotten protest on the awards stand at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.

American Wayne Collett had won the Olympic Trials men’s 400 m and was the favorite coming into the Games in the men’s 400 m, ahead of former UCLA teammate John Smith and Mathews. Smith suffered an hamstring injury three weeks prior to the Games and did not finish in the final. Collett, in lane three, saw Smith pull up in lane six and was affected, and Matthews – in lane two – was running the race of his life and finished with a lifetime best of 44.66 and the gold medal.

Collett, as he recalled years later, “woke up” around the final turn and surged for silver in 44.80 with Kenyan Julius Sang third. On the podium, Matthews and Collett stood together on the top step, casually, chatting during the playing of the national anthem.

There were jeers and whistling, and Matthews told Garry Hill of Track & Field News afterwards, “It’s hard for Wayne or I to come to a thing like the Olympic Games, whether it’s in Germany, Greece or on the moon and forget about the conditions we left at home. … No, it wasn’t really a protest. Most protests are planned. The thing with Wayne and I, we just got up there and it was more or less a spontaneous thing.”

Said Collett, who later was the competition manager for wrestling with the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee for the 1984 Games, “I think maybe the white people, or the establishment, or whatever you want to call them, have a very casual attitude towards the blacks. They don’t seem to care too much about us unless we make a little bit of noise and embarrass them.” Both were banned for life by the IOC after the Munich medal ceremony, losing a chance at a second gold in the 4×400 m.

While the raised-fist salute by Tommie Smith and John Carlos on the men’s 200 m victory stand in Mexico City in 1968 has become iconic, Matthews and Collett have been largely forgotten. But not by Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees chief Brian Lewis (TTO), who wrote letters and lobbied continuously to have Matthews’ ban rescinded; Collett passed away from cancer in 2010, at age 60.

Lewis said in an interview, he viewed the IOC’s accession to re-admitting Matthews, but noted, “They haven’t explicitly said the ban has been lifted but what they have said, you can draw your conclusions from that … [I am] mindful that the IOC and Olympic Movement is a complex network of stakeholders that in their consideration would have to take on board the legal advice etc.”

Why did he pursue the matter?

“It was an injustice. It was glaring. I wondered why USA Track and Field, United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee did not take it up, but I can’t answer that. I can’t speak for people.

“I would hope or believe that if it were a Caribbean athlete, somebody would pick up the cause.”

There is no doubt that Lewis will.

5.
U.S. 400 m star Randolph Ross suspended for three years

The Athletics Integrity Unit announced Tuesday a three-year suspension of American 400 m star Randolph Ross, the 2021 world leader at 43.85 and a gold medalist on the U.S. 4×400 m relay in Tokyo:

“This is the outcome of the Case Resolution Agreement which the AIU and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) have reached with Ross after the 21-year-old admitted the ADRVs under Rule 2.4 (three Whereabouts Failures in a 12-month period) and under Rule 2.5 (Tampering or Attempted Tampering with any part of Doping Control by an Athlete) of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules. …

“Ross admitted to AIU representatives that he altered a system-generated email (confirming an apparent update to his Whereabouts information for the relevant period) to try and avoid a third Whereabouts Failure within a 12-month period. This third potential Whereabouts Failure took place on 18 June 2022.”

Ross won his second straight NCAA men’s 400 m title on 10 June 2022 in a seasonal best of 44.13, then qualified for the U.S. team at the 2022 World Championships with a third-place finish at the USATF nationals on 25 June, in what turned out to be his last race of the year.

He was not available for an out-of-competition test on 18 June, his third “whereabouts” failure since April (!), triggering a provisional suspension. His results from 18 June on – at the USATF nationals – have been nullified and he is suspended until 1 July 2025.

In a lengthy interview with Track & Field News, Ross said his planned move for a senior season at Tennessee – where his father, Duane, is now the coach – is probably off and he plans to finish his finance degree at North Carolina A&T and get a realtor’s license. And as for the suspension:

“Might be better off for me in the long run. I finally get a chance to sit down. I mean these past 2-3 years have been indoor collegiate, outdoor collegiate, then post-collegiate for the Worlds, the Olympics. Basically it’s been non-stop running for the past 2-3 years. This would be a good time to shut it down, take a break, and then by the time we do get back, I’ll be 24. So that’s like the prime age for runners? Then we’ll be ready to go and we’re already running 43 now, so we’ll just wait to see what happens then.”

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Swimming ● The first day of the 16th FINA World 25 m Championships in Melbourne (AUS) got off to a hot start on Tuesday with two world 25 m records in relays and two wins for the swimming-made host country.

The first world mark came in the women’s 4×100 m Free, with the Australian quartet of Mollie O’Callaghan, Madison Wilson, Meg Harris and Emma McKeon winning in 3:25.43, smashing the old mark by the Netherlands in 2014 (3:26.53). The U.S. was second with an American Record of 3:26.29 – also under the old world record – from Torri Huske, Kate Douglass, Claire Curzan and Erika Brown. Canada won the bronze in 3:28.06.

The men’s 4×100 m Free followed with another record-setting performance, this time for Italy, which finished in 3:02.75,erasing the U.S. mark of 3:03.03 from 2018, with Alessandro Miressi, Paolo Conte Bonin, Leonardo Deplano and Thomas Ceccon. Australia finished second in 3:04.63 and the U.S. squad of Drew Kibler, Shaine Casas, Carson Foster and Kieran Smith won bronze in 3:05.09.

Australia’s Lani Pallister won her first Worlds gold in the women’s 400 m Free, pulling away from Erika Fairweather (NZL) in the last 150 m, 3:55.04 to 3:56.00. American Leah Smith was third (3:59.78), winning her sixth short-course Worlds medal and second in this event (also a silver in 2016). Erin Gemmell of the U.S. was sixth in 4:01.82.

The U.S. went 1-2 in the women’s 200 m Medley, with Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Douglass racing to an American Record of 2:02.12, the no. 2 performance in history and just 0.26 behind the world record. Alex Walsh, the 2022 World Champion, was second in 2:03.37 and Australia’s Kaylee McKeown – the Olympic 100-200 m Back champ – was third in 2:03.57.

Rio 2016 Olympic 1,500 m Freestyle champ Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA) won that event for the second time at the short-course Worlds in 14:16.88, ahead of Damien Joly, who set a French record of 14:19.62. Norway’s Henrik Christiansen took bronze (14:24.08), with Americans Charlie Clark and David Johnston finishing seventh and eighth (14:33.93 and 14:35.27).

South Africa’s Matt Sates won the men’s 200 m Medley in 1:50.15, moving to no. 2 all-time in the event behind American Ryan Lochte’s world mark of 1:49.63. Carson Foster of the U.S. won the silver in 1:50.96, just as he did in the 2021 short-course Worlds. Canada’s Finlay Knox set a national record of 1:51.04 in third.

The meet continues through Sunday.

● Weightlifting ● Day seven of the IWF World Weightlifting Championships in Bogota (COL) saw a former Colombian lifter return to his old country and win a world title.

In the men’s 96 kg division, Lesman Paredes – who was born in Cali (COL) and won the 2021 world title at 96 kg – changed his affiliation to Bahrain and became eligible in July. He defended his championship, but for his new country, lifting a combined total of 397 kg. Kazak Nurgissa Adiletuly won silver at 383 kg and current Colombian Jhor Moreno took the bronze (380 kg).

The women’s 71 kg class saw Romania’s Loredana Toma also win a second world title, but this one was five years after her 2017 victory in Anaheim at 63 kg. In Bogota, she set a world mark for the Snatch at 119 kg and was fourth in the Clean & Jerk, but still totaled 256 kg for the gold medal. China’s Tiantian Zeng lifted 253 kg for second, with Ecuador’s Angie Palacios getting bronze at 252 kg. American Olivia Reeves was fifth (245 kg, but a bronze in the Clean & Jerk) and teammate Katherine Vibert was seventh (242 kg).

The tournament continues through Friday.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 2032: Brisbane ● The Olympic organizing committee in Australia hired American Cindy Hook as its chief executive, selected from 50 candidates.

Hook had been the head of advisory and auditing firm Deloitte’s Asia-Pacific practice and had worked in the U.S. and Australia previously. She was in Sydney from 2009 in the audit side of the practice and was the head of the company’s Australian operations before moving to Singapore. She will begin work in February.

● Olympic Winter Games 2022: Beijing ● The Court of Arbitration for Sport announced an agreement by the International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) that Germany’s Daniela Maier and Swiss Fanny Smith would share the bronze medal in the women’s Freestyle Ski Cross final.

Smith actually crossed the line in third place, but was then penalized for a foul against Maier on the run-in. The FIS Appeals Committee held up a protest by Smith – moving Maier to fourth – but the IOC had not changed the official results, with Maier as the bronze medalist.

The agreement, concurred in by the IOC, gives both women the bronze.

● Aquatics ● The new “World Aquatics” federation is the 16th international federation to use the “world” prefix, according to suoer-statistician and Olympedia co-founder Dr. Bill Mallon (USA).

In addition to the current Olympic-program federations in archery, athletics, curling, dance sport, rugby, sailing, skateboarding, taekwondo, triathlon and aquatics, there is the World Baseball Softball Confederation, World Bowling, World Croquet, World Karate, World Lacrosse, and World Squash.

Now you know.

● Athletics ● World 800 m record-holder and twice Olympic champion David Rudisha of Kenya survived a plane crash last Saturday, suffering only minor injury after the small plane with six aboard made an emergency landing shortly after take-off.

● Boxing ● The IOC has made clear that it has grave concerns, among other things, about the financial sustainability of the International Boxing Association due to its heavy financial reliance on a sponsorship of the Russian energy giant, Gazprom.

At its Congress in Abu Dhabi (UAE) last week, the IBA agreed to renew the Gazprom deal, with federation chief Umar Kremlev (RUS) bringing up the subject in his closing remarks, not as part of the regular agenda:

“Our general sponsor is Gazprom. Two years ago, we signed an agreement with them for $50 million. And this has helped us reform IBA, this has helped us settle the debts and this has helped us become independent. And thanks to this financing, we have been able to help many national federations, many athletes in participating in the world championships. This also allowed us to have prize money, both at the continental and at the world championships and also to ensure the participation of national federations that otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity to send their teams. They turned to IBA and IBA is helping them to participate in the championships, that is thanks to our general sponsor.

“I would like to ask you the question. This year, the contract runs out; the contract was signed for two years. National federations, do you agree to extend the contract with our general sponsor, so that we would be able to continue helping? I want you hear your opinion.

“Do we have anyone who is against that? Is everyone for this? Does everyone agree to extend the contract with Gazprom? Why am I asking you? Because I only do what the boxers tell me to, what you will tell me. The most important thing for me is what your opinion is about the development of our international association, because you are the ones developing boxing. It is thanks to you that the international association exists and I want to agree [that] all my actions with you, for you to express your opinions, for us to hear you out, so that all the decisions are made with you as one boxing family.”

There was no reply other than applause from the audience.

Earlier in the presentation, the IBA balance sheet as of 30 June 2022 showed reserves of CHF 4.47 million and CHF 23.64 million in total assets. The presentation on sponsorship and marketing showed on Gazprom and the newly-signed equipment sponsor Sting from Australia. IBA targets for sponsorship were shown in the categories of automotive, energy drinks and time keeping. A ring supplier is also desired.

But it appears that Gazprom is in for $25 million a year, for at least some additional years, regardless of the IOC’s opinion.

● Figure Skating ● Although scheduled against NFL games at 4 p.m. Eastern time, the ISU Grand Prix Final in Turin last Sunday (11th) maintained its usual audience on Sunday, drawing 796,000 viewers on NBC, right in line with the viewing totals from each of the highlight shows from each of the prior Grand Prix events.

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TSX REPORT: USOPC’s Lyons says long path ahead for any Russian return; Argentina vs. Croatia in World Cup semi; FINA morphs into “World Aquatics”

By
Rich Perelman
-
Out with the old (FINA) and in with the new: World Aquatics.

The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. USOPC Chair Lyons says only talks planned, no quick Russian return
2. Paris 2024 board approves revised €4.38 billion budget
3. First World Cup semi pits Argentina vs. Croatia Tuesday
4. FINA Congress changes name to World Aquatics
5. USATF office overrides Board choice of marathon trials site

U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee Chair Susanne Lyons told reporters on Monday that the International Olympic Committee is looking for a pathway to return Russian and Belarusian athletes to competition, but strictly as “neutral” athletes who have been adequately tested for doping and who wear no identification or colors of their country. But she noted that the process is only in the talking stages now and that the IOC wants only to re-admit athletes “who had not actively supported the conflict.” The Paris 2024 organizing committee board of directors approved an increase in the budget to €4.38 billion (about $4.62 billion U.S.) as expected, thanks to increased revenue expectations from sponsors and ticketing, but also money from governments for the Paralympic Games, sports and anti-doping lab equipment. Tuesday will see the first FIFA World Cup semifinal, matching Argentina’s offense – including star Lionel Messi – against Croatia’s dogged defense. The FINA Congress, meeting in extraordinary session in Melbourne, Australia, approved a change-of-name of the organization to World Aquatics. Runner’s World reported that the USA Track & Field National Office selected Orlando, Florida as the site for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, setting aside the recommendation of its own Board for Chattanooga, Tennessee, the second time in the last three editions the headquarters had ignored membership or Board recommendations.

1.
USOPC Chair Lyons says only talks planned,
no quick Russian return

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee held its last Board meeting of the year last week and Chair Susanne Lyons and chief executive Sarah Hirshland briefed reporters on Monday morning. But most of the questions were about Lyons’ attendance at the Olympic Summit in Lausanne last Friday, and the resulting Declaration that outlined a possible way back to competition for Russian and Belarusian athletes through events in Asia rather than Europe.

Lyons, however, tried to emphasize that immediate action was not the goal:

“[W]hat the Summit unanimously agreed to was to allow the [International Olympic Committee] to have dialogue, and to have some consultation with all key stakeholders to see how, when, if, that could happen. …

“I think the conversation was really more the conceptual level of, what is, first of all, our role as a Movement. We have always said that our role is to engender peace through unity in sport and there are conflicts – most of them not as egregious as the one currently happening in Ukraine – but there are conflicts around the world every day. There are countries at war every day. And if people begin to kind of decide that they want to boycott things, to do a tit-for-tat – you didn’t come to our Games, so we’re not going to come to your Games – very quickly, the whole fabric of the Olympic and Paralympic Movement falls apart.

“And that’s really what the nature of the conversations were. How do we find a way to begin to find a path to reunification, not necessarily by welcoming the countries back in, but by finding a way for their athletes to participate as clean and neutral athletes.

“But that really was the nature of the conversation. There was absolutely regard and understanding and sympathy for the situation that continues in Ukraine and a lot of unhappiness and anger toward those who have perpetrated that. But at the same time, we don’t want to hold the individual athletes accountable for the actions of their governments.”

Although the discussion was about the concept of a return to competition, the issue remains Russia and its ally, Belarus. Lyons explained:

“So, Russia has shown, I think, time and again, that they are not necessarily always following the rules that we would like to see followed, so the decisions that the Summit made this weekend are really not about allowing Russia or Belarus – the countries – to participate again. There was a lot of discussion about whether athletes who happen to have been born in those countries, and have passports from those countries, have a pathway whereby they can compete as clean [from doping] and neutral athletes going forward.

“And I think there is a fair amount of desire over time for that to be able to happen because our mission is to bring the world together in peace through sport. So prohibiting individual athletes from competing, from having the right to compete, is hard for the Movement to tolerate. At the same time, that doesn’t mean that people are in any way ready to forgive and forget some of the past behavior from Russia.

“So the discussion was not about lifting any sanctions whatsoever from Russia or Belarus; those sanctions remain firmly in place, and as a reminder, those sanctions include not having any competitions in those countries, and if those athletes were to return as neutrals, there could be no display of flags, of anthems, no national colors nor country name for any participating athletes.

“Now you may remember, that was a little loosey-goosey last time [allowing ‘Olympic Athletes from Russia’ at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games], and I think everyone at the Olympic Summit was very clear that there’s only a pathway back for these individual athletes if they are competing as clean and neutral in every possible way.”

And Lyons acknowledged the difficult task for the IOC and its stakeholders not to make a mockery of the sanctions as Russia’s war against Ukraine continues:

“In the past, when they competed as ‘neutrals,’ it was still with the same colors, it still had the word ‘Russia’ in it, there was absolute agreement in the room this would have to be strict neutrality; what that would be, I don’t know, but it could not include – the sanctions are very specific – it can’t be the colors, it can’t be the name of the country. So I think a stricter neutrality would have to be maintained.

“They also talked about the athletes have to have – this is going to be impossible to figure out how they would monitor it – but the athletes are supposed to have, you know, on their own, not have been supporting the actions of their government in terms of their offense against Ukraine.

“So, that was discussed; I don’t know how they could possibly really know whether an athlete is or is not supportive of their government actions, but there was at least an agreement that they would want to have athletes who had not actively supported the conflict.”

Hirshland noted that the USOPC is continuing to monitor the situations of the Kamila Valieva (RUS) doping case now in front of the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the IOC Executive Board’s announcement of the revised process for the selection of a 2030 Winter Games host:

● “It is so important that the figure skating Team Event athletes who competed in Beijing get the resolution they deserve. Recall we still have a wildly successful team of athletes who have not yet been awarded a medal and while they aren’t sure what color that medal will be, we have their backs, we’re anxiously awaiting for the day when they get those medals and the celebration that comes with it. They are top-of-mind for us, every day.”

● “We came out of that [Winter Games] news, and the announcements from the Executive Board meeting incredibly, incredibly encouraged. As you know, we have been working quite closely with the Salt Lake City-Utah organization for the Games and I think we all, collectively, had a smile on our faces as we came out of that news.

“Salt Lake and the Utah region is so well positioned to be considered, long-term and over not just looking at ‘30 and ‘34, but even longer than that. It is a region and a part of the country here that will always be ready to host these Games. So we’re excited about that, we’re encouraged by the news. We have and will continue to remain flexible and nimble and adaptive, as the IOC modifies its timelines and schedules, but as Salt Lake and the Utah folks would tell you, that Salt Lake is ready, and we too at the USOPC are ready and eager and feel incredibly encouraged and confident about what’s in store for us on the Winter Games front.”

Hirshland also noted that the Commission on the State of the U.S. Olympics and Paralympics actually had its first meeting last Friday (9th) and is ramping up for its work in 2023.

For Lyons, it was her last USOPC Board meeting as she prepares to leave 12 years of service as a Board member and as the interim chief executive between the exit of Scott Blackmun and the hiring of Hirshland. Gene Sykes, who was the chief executive of the LA28 bid effort, takes over as the new USOPC Chair on 1 January.

2.
Paris 2024 board approves revised €4.38 billion budget

As expected, the Paris 2024 Board of Directors approved the third edition of the organizing committee’s budget at €4.38 billion (~$4.616 billion U.S. today) to correspond with rising costs, but also with some expansion in available revenue.

The budget adopted in 2020 was for €3.9 billion; the revenue comparisons:

● IOC contribution: €1.219 billion in 2020; €1.238 billion now (+1.6%)
● Sponsorships: €1.088 billion in 2020; €1.226 billion now (+12.7%)
● Ticketing: €1.165 billion in 2020; €1.423 billion now (+22.1%)
● Licensing: €127 million in 2020; €130 million now (+2.4%)
● Government: €100 million in 2020; €171 million now (+17.1%)
● Other: €204 million in 2020; €193 million now (-5.4%)

The added revenues in sponsorships and ticketing have allowed an increase in security funding of €35 million, with the contingency funding maintained at €200 million. The organizers met their goal of having 80% of the originally targeted sponsorship total contracted by the end of 2022.

Some of the increases due to inflation and supply-chain issues were met by increased public funding for the Paralympic Games – from €100 million to €171 million – and €40 million of Games “legacy” costs will be taken up by the national and Paris-region governments to cover sports equipment, anti-doping lab equipment and other projects.

3.
First World Cup semi pits Argentina vs. Croatia Tuesday

Now down to the final four, the first semifinal of the 2022 FIFA World Cup has two-time champion Argentina facing 2018 runner-up Croatia at the Lusail Iconic Stadium at 10 p.m. local time on Tuesday, or 2 p.m. Eastern time in the U.S. How they got here:

Argentina (4-1):
● Lost to Saudi Arabia, 2-1
● Defeated Mexico, 2-0
● Defeated Poland, 2-0 (Won Group C)
● Defeated Australia, 2-1
● Defeated Netherlands, 2-2 (4-2 penalty kicks)

Croatia (3-0-2):
● Tied Morocco, 0-0
● Defeated Canada, 4-1
● Tied Belgium, 0-0 (2nd in Group F)
● Defeated Japan, 1-1 (3-1 penalty kicks)
● Defeated Brazil, 1-1 (4-2 penalty kicks)

Argentina should be used to the Lusail Stadium by now; this will be the third time it has played there, vs. none for Croatia. If the first five games are any guide, the match will be played with Argentina’s offense testing Croatia’s rock-solid defense:

Argentina in 5 matches:
● 9-5 on goals, 71-22 on shots, 62% possession

Croatia in 5 matches:
● 6-3 on goals, 55-66 on shots, 46% possession

Croatia will also have no trouble defending and then going to penalty kicks; in their World Cup history, the team is 4-0, beating Denmark and Russia in 2018 and then Japan and Brazil in Qatar. Argentina is almost as good, at 5-1 all-time in World Cup games decided by penalties.

And look for late strikes from Croatia, which has scored three of its six goals from the 70-minute mark onwards; Argentina has been outscored, 3-2, in late goals in its five games.

The teams have met twice at the World Cup before: a 1-0 win for Argentina in 1998 in group-stage play and a 3-0 Croatia win in the group stage in 2018.

Argentina star striker Lionel Messi now ranks equal-8th all-time in World Cup scoring with 10 total goals (in 24 appearances) and four in this tournament; he has scored in five different World Cups. Midfielder Andrej Kramaric leads Croatia with two goals, both against Canada.

The sharpies have the odds at -128 for Argentina (stake $100 to win $128), while Croatia is +375, a big underdog … just the way they like it.

Defending champion France will face Morocco in the second semi on Wednesday, with the final coming on Sunday (18th).

The International Sports Journalists Association (AIPS) Web site noted a third media death during the World Cup in Qatar, this time Qatari photographer Khalid al-Misslam, 44, of Al-Kass Television “passed away suddenly” – apparently from a heart attack – on Sunday, according to his employer Alkass, the eight-channel Qatar sports network.

American Grant Wahl passed away on Friday and Britain’s ITV Technical Director, Roger Pearce, 65, also died in November, in Qatar for the World Cup.

Wahl’s body was returned to the U.S. on Monday and State Department spokesperson Ned Price said an autopsy would be performed to determine the cause of death.

FIFA reported that all World Cup players were tested for doping at least once prior to the tournament, with 2,846 conducted since January, and “every player in the squads of the eight quarter-finalists being tested on average four and a half times since January 2022.”

FIFA itself has carried out 1,433 tests, including 369 in Qatar during the tournament so far.

Data from payments processor Visa through the group stage of the World Cup showed that 47% of spending at the event was for merchandise, 36% for food and drinks and just 11% for the few tickets that remained available.

The top match for total spending was Saudi Arabia vs. Mexico on 30 November; the match which had the highest average transaction was the U.S.-Iran match on 29 November at $29.

In addition to the “OneLove” captain’s armbands which were proposed by several European teams to wear at the Qatar World Cup, a separate proposal was being formed by Qatari officials for an armband reading – in English – “No place for Islamophobia” and featuring a Palestinian headscarf pattern.

Sky News reported, from an unnamed senior Qatari official:

“Prior to the start of the tournament, Qatar, and some of the other Muslim-majority teams, were in advanced discussions regarding whether the players could wear armbands raising awareness for the growing movement of Islamophobia.

“When the armband proposal was eventually discussed with FIFA, they were told that it violated FIFA’s rules and would not be allowed.

“The teams accepted the decision but were disappointed that an important issue such as this, which negatively impacts the millions of Muslims around the world, was not being given a platform during the first World Cup to be hosted in a Muslim-majority region.”

The other teams apparently consulted included Morocco and Saudi Arabia.

4.
FINA Congress changes name to World Aquatics

A FINA Extraordinary Congress just ahead of the World 25 m Championships in Melbourne (AUS) confirmed a new constitution for the organization that will see an Independent Aquatics Integrity Unit begin work on 1 January 2023.

Term limits were also approved, along with an expansion of the governing Bureau to add women (to now be 38% of the total).

But the big change was in the branding of the federation, as proposed by President Husain Al-Musallam (KUW):

“I can tell you that there is a strong feeling that we should change our name. FINA is our past, and we should look back to much of the past with a bright affection, but our future must begin here today.

“If we are going to have a name change, then of course – it’s a big question – what should be the new name? I always believe in listening to the experts, and we brought in Martin Group, which specialize in building brands. They suggested many different options for a new name.

“The proposed names were tested, among athletes, coaches, administrators, fans, and many others. One name has come out, clearly, on the top. This is the name that I recommended to you today. It is the name that I hope will become our new identity for the generations to come.

“So I know you are keen to find out what is this new name. The clear recommendation is that our new name should be ‘World Aquatics’.”

Aquatics now joins archery, athletics, rowing, rugby, sailing, taekwondo, triathlon, the World Baseball-Softball Confederation, World Karate and World Skate among current and recent Olympic-sport federations in using the “world” prefix before their sport names.

The new constitution, which included the name change, was approved by 175-4, with four abstentions.

The Congress also approved the financial report, which showed a 2022 forecast of a loss of $32.6 million due to the heavy cost of the 2022 World Championships, but a projected surplus of $6.66 million in 2023 and $36.75 million in 2024 due to an expected $36.00 million share of the IOC’s television revenues from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Athlete and federation financial support is going up and is projected at $170 million over the eight years of 2016-24, up to $12.28 million for 2024. Reserves totaled $101.52 million at the end of 2021, with a projection to reach $125 million in 2024.

The new branding program will be rolled out in stages, expected to be fully implemented by the middle of 2023.

5.
USATF office overrides Board choice of marathon trials site

A Runner’s World story posted Monday notes that the 9 October 2022 minutes of the USA Track & Field Board of Directors included an “advisory vote” to recommend the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials be awarded to Chattanooga, Tennessee, but “Final approval still remains with the USATF National Office” as required by USATF regulations.

On 8 November, however, it was announced that the Trials will be going to Orlando, Florida.

This is the second time in the last three editions that the USATF National Office has selected a site other than that proposed to it by either the Long Distance Running Committees or the USATF Board of Directors. The 2016 event was recommended to go to Houston, but Los Angeles was chosen instead and ended with a hot and difficult race that was poorly attended in the downtown area.

The selection event for 2020 went to Atlanta, which received high marks for organization and for efforts to deal with projected heat and humidity.

A question about the decision was raised by reporter Sarah Lorge Butler, and she was referred to USATF Board Chair Mike Conley, who sent back an e-mailed reply that included

“The USOPC is looking into the matter and until I hear back from them I have no comment.”

The USOPC actually owns the rights to the “Olympic Trials” name by federal law and must approve site designations by national governing bodies. Moving sites is hardly new; in addition to the marathon race moves, the track & field selection meet for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games was originally given to Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California, but later rescinded and handed to Eugene, Oregon and the new Hayward Field (where it was held in 2021).

The Runner’s World story said that subsequent to the Board vote to recommend Chattanooga, its bid was disqualified and no one would say why.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Swimming ● The World Aquatics (!) World 25 m Swimming Championships have begun in Melbourne, Australia, with the U.S. and Australia expected to headline the medal table.

Winners from 2021 in 12 of the men’s events and 11 of the women’s events are entered:

Men:
● Freestyle: Ben Proud (GBR, 50 m), Alessandro Miressi (ITA, 100 m), Sun-woo Hwang (KOR, 200 m);

● Backstroke: Shaine Casas (USA, 100 m), Radoslaw Kawecki (POL, 200 m);

● Breaststroke: Nic Fink (USA, 50 and 200 m);

● Butterfly: Nicholas Santos (BRA, 50 m), Matteo Rivolta (ITA, 100 m), Alberto Razzetti (ITA, 200 m);

● Medley: Daiya Seto (JPN, 200 and 400 m).

Women:
● Freestyle: Siobhan Haughey (HKG, 100 and 200 m), Bingjie Li (CHN, 400 and 800 m);

● Backstroke: Maggie MacNeil (CAN, 50 m), Louise Hansson (SWE, 100 m);

● Breaststroke: Qianting Tang (CHN, 100 m);

● Butterfly: MacNeil (100 m), Yufei Zhang (CHN, 200 m);

● Medley: Sydney Pickrem (CAN, 200 m), Tessa Cieplucha (CAN, 400 m).

The prize pool is $2.16 million, with event prizes of $10,000-8,000-7,000–6,000-5,000-4,000-3,000-2,000, and a $25,000 bonus for world short-course records.

The competition will continue through Sunday.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● World Games 2022: Birmingham ● The World Anti-Doping Agency published its follow-up report from the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama.

The report noted that the event had about 3,450 athletes from 99 countries, competing in 34 sports. The budget was tight and the event ended with a considerable loss, so the total of 288 in-competition tests (8.3% of athletes) was not surprising. There were also 96 samples taken in out-of-competition tests. No doping violations were reported.

The testing itself was done by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency under contract from the International Testing Agency, with analysis at the WADA-accredited lab in Salt Lake City, Utah.

● Athletics ● The Athletics Integrity Unit announced Friday a cheating scheme in the fabrication of results:

“Following a year-long investigation, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has charged senior officials of the Albanian Athletics Federation for alleged breaches of the World Athletics’ Integrity Code of Conduct relating to the submission to World Athletics of a competition result for Albanian long jumper, Izmir Smajlaj, which contributed to him securing a universality place to participate in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.”

The specific incident was the reported 8.16 m (26-9 1/4) performance by Smajlaj, a seasonal best by four inches and a lifetime best – his first in two years – by two inches. He finished 18th in the qualifying at Tokyo, jumping 7.86 m (25-9 1/2).

World Athletics released a study report earlier this month that documented “abusive comments sent to athletes via social media” during the 2022 World Athletics Championships.

Accounts of 461 athletes – about a quarter of all the competitors in Eugene last summer – were monitored on Instagram and Twitter from 10 July to 1 August. In all, 427,764 posts were captured for analysis, with “59 targeted discriminatory posts were identified coming from 57 unique authors, with 27 of the 461 tracked athletes receiving targeted abuse.”

Almost 60% of the abuse was on Twitter and the study noted, interestingly, “Abuse tended to be driven by events outside of competition – athletes were targeted over controversies associated with athletics, but not necessarily driven by results in the stadium.”

The leading types of abuse were sexualization (29%), slurs (20%) and racism (19%). Did anything happen? Yes:

“59% of abusive posts were deemed to warrant intervention from the social platforms, with 5% considered so egregious that World Athletics is considering further sanctions against these individuals, including sending evidence and reports to national law enforcement agencies.”

● Esports ● A Bloomberg report published last week noted significant financial stress in the esports industry “as funding sources dwindle and signs abound that athletic competition via video games doesn’t have anywhere near the earning potential investors anticipated.”

Instead of quickly turning profits, professional esports projects have continued to show losses, and “after a boom five years ago, several prominent esports teams and organizations, particularly in the U.S., are contracting, the result of a broad economic downturn, a venture capital industry that’s no longer willing to accept growth without profits and a crypto meltdown that has undercut a significant source of backing.”

This has implications for the Olympic Movement, which has been drawing closer and close to the online gaming industry as a future element of the Olympic Games. The IOC will be hosting its first Olympic Esports Week in Singapore from 22-25 June 2023.

● Figure Skating ● U.S. Figure Skating announced Tracy Marek, a 19-year veteran of marketing with the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers as its new chief executive, beginning in January 2023.

She rose to be the Cavaliers’ Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, responsible for all marketing, brand and creative strategy. She’s well versed in major events, including the 2022 NBA All-Star Game, for which she led the branding, vision, community preparedness and visibility efforts.

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For our updated, 951-event International Sports Calendar for 2022-23 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Russian athlete re-entry routed through Asia; soccer writer Grant Wahl’s death in Qatar; IBA head Kremlev lambasts IOC (again)

By
Rich Perelman
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The clincher: Rio 2016 Olympic champion Kyle Snyder won the decisive match at 97 kg to give the U.S. a 6-4 win over Iran for the UWW World Cup men's Freestyle title. (Photo: UWW)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Olympic Summit foresees Russian athletes qualifying through Asia
2. U.S. soccer writer Grant Wahl dies at World Cup in Qatar
3. FIFA’s Wenger says no biennial World Cups, but more in winter!
4. IBA’s Kremlev calls IOC criticisms “P.R. for the mass media”
5. U.S. men triumph over Iran for wrestling World Cup win in Iowa

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach of Germany has said again and again that he does not think athletes should be penalized for the actions of their national governments, and that goes for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. At the IOC’s Olympic Summit in Lausanne on Friday, a discussion about Russian and Belarusian athletes led to a possible plan to have them compete in Asian qualifiers for Paris 2024 instead of Europe, where they have traditionally competed. A tragedy at the FIFA World Cup, where noted soccer writer Grant Wahl died Friday after collapsing at his press tribune seat while covering the Argentina-Netherlands quarterfinal. He was treated at his seat almost immediately and was taken to a hospital, but passed at age 48. The man who proposed the idea of a FIFA World Cup every two years, FIFA executive Arsene Wenger, now says the idea is dead, but that future World Cup in the wintertime are possible, especially if the tournament is to be played in Africa. At the International Boxing Association’s Global Boxing Forum in the UAE, federation chief Umar Kremlev ripped the IOC, saying, “we are independent. Don’t dictate things to us, don’t tell us how to live properly” and that the IOC’s criticisms of the federation are “only P.R. for the mass media.” The U.S. men’s wrestling team won an impressive 15th Freestyle World Cup victory over Iran in front of a happy home crowd in Coralville, Iowa, with Rio Olympic champion Kyle Snyder clinching the title with a victory at 97 kg.

1.
Olympic Summit foresees Russian athletes
qualifying through Asia

The International Olympic Committee convened its 11th “Olympic Summit” on Friday, with leaders of the International Federations and National Olympic Committees and a published declaration that outlines a new roadmap to bring Russian athletes back into international competition: Asia.

The third paragraph was the tip-off, notably “The vast majority of the participants agreed that the sanctions against the Russian and Belarusian states and governments, as those responsible for this blatant breach of the Olympic Truce and the Olympic Charter, must remain firmly in place.” Usually, declarations are unanimous. But with Russian Olympic Committee President Stanislav Pozdnyakov in the room, that wasn’t going to happen. Then this:

“In the course of the debate, [Randhir Singh of India] the Acting President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) stated that, on the Asian continent, the reasons for the protective measures no longer exist. The OCA offered to facilitate the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in competitions in Asia under its authority, while respecting the sanctions in place.

“Representatives from the IFs welcomed this initiative, stating that, for some IFs and for hosts of their competitions, the same reasoning would apply, and that therefore there should not be a one-size-fits-all solution, but that each IF should carefully evaluate for its sport whether the reasons for the protective measures still exist.”

IOC chief Thomas Bach (GER) said last week that Russians and Belarusians are continuing to compete as neutrals in tennis and on North American professional teams, such as in the National Hockey League; this is also true in road cycling. And in 2023, the Asian Games will be a significant qualifier for Paris 2024, and will be held in Hangzhou (CHN) from 23 September-8 October, where Russian and Belarusian athlete safety can be guaranteed by the Chinese government.

This would be a non-starter in Europe, where Ukraine is a member of the European National Olympic Committees group.

The outcome was for the idea to be explored, but with the IOC in control:

“The IOC to lead the further exploration of the OCA initiative concerning the participation of athletes who are in full respect of the Olympic Charter and the sanctions. This initiative to be discussed in the next round of IOC consultation calls with the IOC Members, the athletes’ representatives, the International Federations and the National Olympic Committees.”

Nothing is going to happen immediately, not until March at the earliest, and will depend on the situation of the war in Ukraine. But shifting Russian (and Belarusian) participation to Asia, at least for now, could solve the IOC’s angst over not allowing athletes to compete, while the Russian and Belarusian states are penalized by not having events there, or team identification.

The Ukrainians were, of course, furious. Reacting to Bach’s comments after the IOC Executive Board meetings last week – and re-stated in the declaration – Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted last Thursday:

“Since February, Russia has killed 184 Ukrainian athletes. And now Mr. Bach is quoting Emmanuel Macron as allegedly saying “sports should not be politicized” and athletes from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus should be treated equally. Using sports to whitewash war crimes is sickening.”

2.
U.S. soccer writer Grant Wahl dies at World Cup in Qatar

An unbelievably sad incident at the 2022 World Cup, as long-time Sports Illustrated and independent soccer writer Grant Wahl passed away while covering the Argentina-Netherlands quarterfinal on Friday (9th).

Wahl, just 49, had been covering his eighth World Cup when he was stricken near the end of the match:

“Yahoo Sports soccer reporter Henry Bushnell was present at Friday’s Argentina-Netherlands match and observed Wahl seemingly unconscious in his press box seat during extra time at Lusail Stadium. Medics worked on Wahl for approximately a half-hour before taking him out on a stretcher.”

Martin Mazur (ARG), writing on the AIPS Web site, reported:

“It took a matter of seconds, less than 30, for paramedics to come. The chairs of the media desks were immediately removed by other journalists, to give doctors space to work. Soon there was a stretcher ready for evac and an intravenous drip was placed next to his desk. While the game was on extra time, paramedics were there trying to save his life. More of them kept coming.”

The Qatar 2022 organizers said:

“He fell ill in the Lusail Stadium media tribune, during last night’s quarter-final match between Argentina v Netherlands. He received immediate emergency medical treatment on site, which continued as he was transferred by ambulance to Hamad General Hospital. …

“We are in touch with the US Embassy and relevant local authorities to ensure the process of repatriating his body is in accordance’s with the family’s wishes.”

Wahl had written about being under stress on his Substack newsletter just days prior:

“My body finally broke down on me. Three weeks of little sleep, high stress and lots of work can do that to you.

“What had been a cold over the last 10 days turned into something more severe on the night of the USA-Netherlands game, and I could feel my upper chest take on a new level of pressure and discomfort.

“I didn’t have Covid (I test regularly here), but I went into the medical clinic at the main media center today, and they said I probably have bronchitis. They gave me a course of antibiotics and some heavy-duty cough syrup, and I’m already feeling a bit better just a few hours later. But still: No bueno.”

His wife, Dr. Celine Gounder, tweeted:

“I am so thankful for the support of my husband @GrantWahl’s soccer family & of so many friends who’ve reached out tonight.

“I’m in complete shock.”

He joined Sports Illustrated in 1996 and wrote for the magazine for 24 years, covering soccer, of course, but also famously profiled then-Akron (Oh.) St. Vincent-St. Mary High junior LeBron James in “The Chosen One” in 2002.

He left the magazine in 2020 and set up his own newsletter, Futbol with Grant Wahl, and had already been a center of attention early in the tournament, when he was detained by security personnel when he entered the 21 November Wales vs. U.S. match wearing a T-shirt with a soccer ball surrounded by concentric circles in rainbow colors, in support of LBGTQ rights; he was eventually released and received apologies from the organizing committee and FIFA.

Yahoo! News reported on an Instagram post from Wahl’s brother Eric, who claimed “My brother was healthy. He told me he received death threats. I do not believe my brother just died. I believe he was killed. And I just beg for any help.”

Observed: Wahl’s death is a tragedy, but also a reminder that media coming to cover major events like the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games, are not there for a vacation. He was writing on his Substack site multiple times a day and doing a podcast every other day and that’s a heavy workload, away from home in a strange time zone, room, food and so on. He passed while doing his life’s work, but it may have been too much of a good thing.

But in a time of imploding media institutions, that’s the life of an independent journalist, working to keep his $60-a-year subscribers happy. It’s not easy, not easy at all.

3.
FIFA’s Wenger says no biennial World Cups, but more in winter!

The concept of an every-two-years FIFA World Cup is dead, according to its primary proponent, former Arsenal manager and FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, Arsene Wenger (FRA).

Speaking to the French all-sports daily L’Equipe – where he pitched the idea of a biennial World Cup in October of 2021 – Wenger explained:

“I had been asked to think about it and I thought it was not a bad idea. But such a development required a complete review of the qualifying calendar.

“We are not heading towards that today, rather towards four-year cycles alternating with a World Cup, the Women’s World Cup, which is becoming more and more important, the Euros and the Club World Cup, which will be inevitable.”

Wenger also noted that the placement of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in the winter may be repeated in the future:

“If we want to democratize football, we will have to go to African countries where it is impossible to play a World Cup in the summer.

“We can see it with this edition in Qatar, a World Cup in the winter works.

“Of course, many players did not have the usual time to prepare physically but at least they all approached this competition with real mental freshness, which has not always been the case in the past. I remember teams starting a World Cup psychologically tired because their preparation period had gone badly.”

4.
IBA’s Kremlev calls IOC criticisms “P.R. for the mass media”

The third Global Boxing Forum, presented by the International Boxing Association, was held with more than 250 delegates assembled in Abu Dhabi (UAE). As promised, one of the main themes of the event was the return of boxing to the Olympic program in 2028, as it was not included in the LA28 initial sports program by the IOC.

Olympic silver medalist and multi-time pro champion Roy Jones, Jr., a dual U.S. and Russian citizen, talked about the pro-IBA protest he led in front of the IOC headquarters in Lausanne this past week:

“I knocked on the door at the Olympic House, and they opened it to me. They invited me in and talked to me, and I am grateful for that. Having said that, I just want the IOC to understand that boxers and IBA are inseparable, and if they support the boxers, as they claim, they have to support IBA.”

In the post-Forum news conference, Kremlev was asked at length about boxing’s Olympic situation vis-a-vis the IOC, and he had a lot to say; highlights (per the interpreter on the IBA’s video feed):

● “We respect the International Olympic Committee. We respect their opinion and the recommendations that they provided us. We have executed them, pretty much 100% of the recommendations have been implemented, as far as finance, refereeing and judging are concerned. Of course, there are still things to work on.”

● “We have hundreds of millions of people that we represent. These hundreds of millions of people will go there. They will follow Roy Jones, they will follow [Coaches Commission chair] Gabriele [Martelli (MLT)] and we are ready for that. … And I am really thankful to the boxers from around the world , and the coaches for uniting in millions, hundreds of millions of them are ready to actually go to Lausanne, and next year, we might just see that.”

● “What does the Olympic Charter exist for? To protect athletes, not to dictate to international associations how to live. Currently, IBA engaged independent sponsors. They are working, they are helping boxers, they’re handing out prize money. We should support such international associations and the International Olympic Committee is just an association like ourselves. We don’t report to anyone. We’re independent. And everyone must understand that.”

● “I guess there some people in the top echelons of the International Olympic Committee, some officials, that are bringing this [mis] information, maybe there are people like that. Again, I am not prepared to accuse anyone of anything, but taking facts into account, it sure looks like that.

“Because the recommendations that were provided by the International Olympic Committee, in two years, we have executed all the recommendations: about refereeing, about reforms, we have renewed the entire management, so the entire board of directors was renewed. All the people are new, they have nothing to do with the past, and at the same time, we have boxers in the board of directors, because I always say that boxing should be managed by boxers. [Former AIBA head] C.K. Wu [TPE] was a non-boxer, and he didn’t know how to do it.”

● “And I would also like to say to the International Olympic Committee that they have no right – I mean, they can issue recommendations to us – but they have no right to dictate to us how to live. Not a single other organization should interfere or meddle in the business of our association. Every country has its own culture, right? If another country meddles in the culture of the other country, says ‘this is not the right way to live, you have to live this way’, that would be incorrect, right? Because every country is independent, and we are independent. The International Boxing Association, we are independent. Don’t dictate things to us, don’t tell us how to live properly.”

● “I am confident that in the nearest future, they [the IOC] will make the correct decision, I am talking about the IOC, and these unclear accusations will simply cease. And that’s the same accusations that never change, they are the same. I think it’s only P.R. for the mass media.

“That’s it, there are no facts. So the General Secretary [IOC Director General Christophe de Kepper (BEL)] today, or actually yesterday, I think, they sent a letter with a request to tell us what exactly they don’t like. We’re saying, we do we need to deal with some public statements and declarations? Let’s meet and let’s create a group. We are open. Why don’t you come to us, or we will come to you, tell us who we need to work with and we will work with them, and everything will be corrected together.”

● “I am confident that all the national federations and all the boxers will support us and together, we will move forward and boxing will be represented at the Olympics and we will be defending that together. I have no doubt about that.

“And I really don’t think anyone would dare to violate this wonderful sport, boxing. Boxing is the king of sports. The Olympics started with boxing. The history of the Olympics is all about boxing. And what the international association does is their business.”

On Sunday, there was an IBA Ordinary Congress held in Abu Dhabi, where the assembly of 112 delegates – 85 in person and 27 online – voted to declare ex-president Wu persona non grata at the IBA.

Canadian law professor Richard McLaren, who had led an investigation of the problems under AIBA, told the Congress, “IBA is changing significantly, there’s been observable progress within the organization.”

In contravention of the IOC’s sanctions, amendments to the IBA Constitution were approved that, among other things, allow athletes affiliated with a suspended national federation to compete, and under their national flag and anthem, but without any symbols of the suspended federation.

Whether any of this will satisfy the IOC remains to be seen.

5.
U.S. men triumph over Iran for wrestling World Cup win in Iowa

There was another national-team World Cup taking place over the weekend, but in the U.S. instead of Qatar. The UWW World Cup for men’s and women’s Freestyle was on in Coralville, Iowa, with a seemingly-inevitable clash between the U.S. and Iran to decide the men’s tournament outcome.

Held since 1973, the tournament has most recently belonged to the Iranian men, who won six in a row from 2012-17, including beating the U.S. in the final in 2015 and 2017. The U.S. won the 2018 edition – held in Iowa City – over Azerbaijan and then had to settle for third in 2019 after losing to Iran in a group match, 5-5, on criteria.

But in 2022, the U.S. fielded a strong team and was ready for the challenge, winning the final by 6-4, but with plenty of twists and turns.

After opening wins by Zane Richards over Reza Momenijoujadeh at 57 kg (6-1) and Seth Gross at 61 kg over Ebrahim Elahi (10-0 technical fall), Iran scored a win by Rahman Amouzad against Yianni Diakomihalis in a rematch of the 2022 World 65 kg Championships final, 5-4, to close to 2-1.

After Alec Pantaleo’s challenge at 70 kg that he was out of bounds when 2021 Worlds 65 kg silver medalist Amir Yazdani turned him at the buzzer for a 5-4 win, the call was reversed and Pantaleo got a 4-3 victory. The U.S. went up by 3-1 and was looking good. But Iran got a tough win from U23 Worlds 74 kg champ Mohammad Firouzpour over Jason Nolf (2-1) and then a 6-6 win on criteria from Ali Savadkouhi over six-time world champ Jordan Burroughs at 79 kg. All tied at three wins each.

But the U.S. was ready and Zahid Valencia defeated Alireza Karimi, 5-3, at 86 kg; Nathan Jackson out-fought Amir Firouzpour at 92 kg (8-4) and then Rio 2016 Olympic gold medalist Kyle Snyder clinched the title with a 5-0 shutout of two-time Worlds 92 kg champ Kamran Ghasempour.

The final match was a 6-1 win for Amir Masoumi over Hayden Zillmer of the U.S. at 125 kg to make the final score, 6-4.

The U.S. defeated Mongolia in the first round by 7-3, then Georgia by 10-0, while Iran stormed past Japan, 9-1, and the All-Word Team by 6-4 to reach the final. The All-World Team won the bronze medal by beating Georgia, 8-2.

In the women’s tournament, Ukraine was the surprise winner, defeating China by 6-4 in the final, after edging favored Japan (5-5, criteria) in their third-round match. The U.S. women fell to China, 8-2, on Saturday, but defeated the All-World Team, 6-4, to qualify for the bronze-medal match, but lost, 7-3, to Mongolia to finish fourth.

It was Ukraine’s first win in the 19 editions of the Women’s Freestyle World Cup and an inspiring story, as USA Wrestling invited the Ukrainians to prepare at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs for two weeks prior to the event. Japan’s women had won the last five World Cups in a row.

≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡

What promise to be historic semifinals are set (victories on penalty kicks shown as wins):

● 13 Dec. (Tue., 2 p.m. Eastern time) at Lusail Iconic Stadium: Argentina (4-1; goals 9-5) vs. Croatia (3-0-2; goals 6-3).

● 14 Dec. (Wed., 2 p.m. Eastern time) at Al Bayt Stadium: Morocco (4-0-1; goals 5-1) vs. France (5-1; goals 11-5).

Argentina and France have both won the World Cup twice, and Croatia is in the semifinals for the second straight tournament. Morocco, of course, is blazing a new trail for Africa by reaching the semis.

Early odds have Argentina a -133 favorite, while Croatia is +230; France is a major favorite at -182 and Morocco is given little chance at +700.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Weightlifting ● The 2022 IWF World Championships continued in Bogota (COL), with the host nation scoring popular wins in both the men’s and women’s divisions.

In the men’s 67 kg class, Colombia’s Francisco Mosquera, the 2017 World Champion at 62 kg, won his fifth career Worlds medal with a victory at 325 kg, just ahead of Tokyo Olympic champ Lijun Chen (CHN), with Thai Weeraphon Wichuma third (323 kg).

Fellow Colombian Yenny Alvarez was the Worlds silver medalist in the women’s 59 kg class in 2021 and moved up to gold in 2022. She lifted a combined total of 234 kg to beat Tokyo Olympic champ Hsing-chin Kuo (TPE: 232 kg) and Canada’s Tokyo winner at 64 kg, Maude Charron (231 kg).

Indonesia’s Rahmat Erwin Abdullah defended his 2021 Worlds gold at 73 kg by winning the Snatch, Clean & Jerk (with a world-record 200 kg lift) and the overall competition at 352 kg, leading a one-two with countryman Rizki Juniansyah (347 kg) and Kazak Alexey Churkin third (343 kg).

China won its third gold of the championships in the women’s 64 kg class, as 17-year-old Xinyi Pei lifted a combined total of 233 kg. That was well clear of silver medalist Rattanawan Wamalun (227 kg) and Colombia’s Natalia Llamosa (224 kg) in third.

Sunday had two men’s classes, with China’s two-time Worlds medalist Dayin Li winning at 81 kg, lifting 372 kg, ahead of 2017 Worlds 77 kg runner-up Rejepbay Rejepov (TKM: 366 kg) and Woo Jae Kim (KOR: 357 kg).

Venezuela’s Keydomar Vallenilla – the Tokyo Olympic silver winner at 96 kg – took the 89 kg crown, ahead of 2019 Worlds 81 kg bronze medalist Brayan Rodallegas (COL: 381 kg) and Huanhua Liu (CHN: 381 kg). Bulgaria’s Karlos Nasar set a world Clean & Jerk record of 200 kg, but had failed in his three Snatch attempts. American Nathan Damron finished fifth at 370 kg.

The IWF Worlds continue through the 16th.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Alpine Skiing ● The men’s circuit was in Val d’Isere (FRA) with Switzerland’s reigning World Cup champ Marco Odermatt in great form, winning Saturday’s Giant Slalom in 2:03.62, just ahead of Austrian Manuel Feller (2:05.02) and Zan Kranjec (2:05.67). It’s Odermatt’s third win this season in the first six races!

Feller was second again in Sunday’s Slalom, timing 1:38.98, behind Norway’s Lucas Braathen (1:38.14) – who scored his third career World Cup win – with Swiss vet Loic Meillard third (1:39.12).

The women’s tour was in Italy in Sestiere, with a win for the home fans as Marta Bassino took her sixth career World Cup win in the Giant Slalom at 2:28.89, followed by Swede Sara Hector (2:29.00) and Slovenian star Petra Vlhova (2:29.29). American Mikaela Shiffrin was sixth (2:30.85) and Paula Moltzan was eighth (2:30.96).

Swiss star Wendy Holdener – twice an Olympic Slalom medal winner – got her second win of the season in Sunday’s Slalom in 1:56.29, with Shiffrin second (1:56.76) and Olympic Slalom champ Vlhova third (1:56.99). Moltzan was fifth (1:57.36). Shiffrin continues as the overall season leader.

● Archery ● The World Archery Indoor series continued with the Taipei Archery Open, with the home team sweeping the men’s Recurve medals with Chun-Heng Wei defeating Yu-Yang Su in the final, 6-4. Dutch star Gaby Schloesser won the women’s Recurve title with a 6-0 win in the final over Shilin Liu (TPE).

● Biathlon ● Stop no. 2 for the IBU World Cup was in Hochfilzen (AUT), but no change at the top as Norwegian star Johannes Thingnes Boe – the three-time World Cup overall champion – won his third race in a row in the 10 km Sprint.

Boe timed 23:04.0 (0 penalties), with France’s Emilien Jacquelin second (23:47.0/1), and Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid (23:50.9/1), who also won his third medal of the season.

On Sunday, Boe made it four in a row in the 12.5 km Pursuit, winning in 33:50.7 (2 penalties), routing the field, with Laegreid second (34:38.6/2) and Jacquelin third (35:04.6/3).

German Denise Hermann took her 10th career World Cup win in the 7.5 km Sprint in 20:07.1 (0), followed by Marketa Davidova (CZE: 20:25.2/1) and France’s Julia Simon (20:27.2/1). It’s Hermann’s fifth Sprint win.

Simon moved up to gold in the 10 km Pursuit on Saturday on 29:56.7 (1), comfortably ahead of Ingrid Tandrevold (NOR: 30:16.3/1) and Davidova (30:24.8/2). Simon now has medals in three straight races and the overall World Cup lead after two of nine stages.

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● The International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation held its first World Push Championships since November 2013, in Lake Placid, New York. The U.S. did well, with wins by Kristopher Horn and Adrian Adams taking the gold in Two-Man (14.94), and the Four-Man (14.55), adding London 2012 men’s 4×400 m relay silver medalist Manteo Mitchell and Martin Christofferson.

American Mystique Ro won the women’s Skeleton competition (15.37), with China’s Zheng Yin taking the men’s victory (14.04).

Lisa Buckwitz (GER) won the women’s Monobob Push title (17.24), with Canada’s Cynthia Appiah second (17.34) and Kaysha Love of the U.S. third (17.39). And Buckwitz then teamed with Neele Schuten to win the Two-Women title at 16.14. Americans Riley Compton and Emily Renna (17.02) were third.

● Cross Country Skiing ● Stop no. 3 on the World Cup tour was in Beitostolen in Norway, with home favorite Pal Golberg, 32, continuing on a tear. He fell during the Classical Sprint on Friday and finished fourth behind France’s Richard Jouve (2:36.37) and Italian Simone Mocellini (2:36.67). But there was no stopping Golberg in Saturday’s 10 km Classical, where he got his ninth career World Cup win in 23:55.6, ahead of Didrik Toenseth (NOR: 24:03.2) and Andrew Musgrave (GBR: 24:05.9). Golberg continues as the seasonal World Cup leader.

Swedish stars had won five of the six World Cup races coming in, but Swiss Nadine Faehndrich won the Classical Sprint in 2:57.31, beating Lotta Undes Weng (NOR: 2:58.24) and Johanna Matintalo (FIN: 2:58.73). Finland’s Kerttu Niskanen won the Classical 10 km on Saturday in 26:56.3, with Norway’s Anne Kjersti Kalvaa second (27:09.0).

● Curling ● Lots of drama at the Grand Slam of Curling Masters in Oakville, Ontario (CAN), with Canada’s 2022 Olympic bronze medalist Kerri Einarson skipping her rink to a 6-5 win in the women’s final against fellow Canadian (and 2017 World Champion) Rachel Homan, and snapping Homan’s 15-match win streak in Grand Slam play. Einarson was down, 4-3, in the sixth end, but produced two points to take the lead and then won it in the ninth after being tied at the end of eight.

Scotland’s Beijing silver medalist Bruce Mouat’s rink faced 2022 Worlds bronze winner Joel Retornaz (ITA) in the men’s final, with Retornaz taking a 4-0 lead with single points in the first four ends and cruising home with a 6-2 victory.

● Cycling ● The UCI BMX Freestyle World Cup circuit was in Gold Coast (AUS) for competition in Park, with the home fans happy to see a win for Olympic gold medalist Logan Martin in the men’s final, over European champ Anthony Jeanjean (FRA) and Rim Nakamura (JPN), with Americans Marcus Christopher and Justin Dowell finishing 4-5.

China went 1-2 in the women’s final, with Jiaqi Sun taking the gold, followed by Huimin Zhou. American Hannah Roberts, the Tokyo Olympic silver medalist, was third and teammate Perris Benegas fourth.

● Fencing ● The FIE World Cup was back in action, with four tournaments: an Epee Grand Prix in Vancouver, men’s Foil in Tokyo, women’s Foil in Belgrade and a Sabre Grand Prix in Orleans.

In Vancouver, the men’s title went to Hungary’s Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Gergely Siklosi, who defeated 2018 World Champion Yannick Borel (FRA) in the final, 15-12. Italy’s Giulia Rizzi won her first career women’s Grand Prix gold, 15-9, over two-time Worlds bronze medalist Man Wai Vivian Kong (HKG).

The women’s Foil in Belgrade (SRB) was a battle of stars, with Italy’s 2018 World Champion Alice Volpi winning the title with a 15-6 final victory over 2022 European Champion Leonie Ebert (GER). Ebert had defeated Tokyo Olympic champ Lee Kiefer of the U.S., 15-13, in the semis; Kiefer and Francesca Palumbo (ITA) shared the bronze.

Kiefer joined with Jackie Dubrovich, Zander Rhodes and Maia Weintraub for a silver in the Team event, falling to Italy in the final, 45-22.

Italy’s 2022 Worlds silver medalist Tommaso Marini won the men’s foil in Tokyo (JPN), defeating France’s Maxime Pauty, a Tokyo Team told medalist in the final, 15-13. The American men’s team of Miles Chamley-Watson, Nick Itkin, Alexander Massialas and Gerek Meinhardt won over Japan, 45-31, for their second Team victory of the season.

The Sabre Grand Prix in Orleans (FRA) saw Italy’s Martina Crisico out-last Tokyo Olympic bronze winner Manon Apithy-Brunet (FRA) in the women’s final, 15-14, for her first Grand Prix gold. Hungarian star – and three-time Olympic champ – Aron Szilagyi won the men’s title, 15-10, over Georgia’s 2022 Worlds bronze medalist Sandro Bazadze.

● Figure Skating ● The ISU Grand Prix season ended with the Final in Turin (ITA), with Japan the big winner, but the U.S. winning a medal in all four events.

Reigning World Champion Shoma Uno (JPN) won the men’s final, leading both the Short Program and the Free Skate and scoring 304.46 points, ahead of teammate Sota Yamamoto, 22, who got a lifetime best of 274.35 to win silver. American teen star Ilia Malinin, now 18, had a rough time with his Short Program (fifth), but rallied to score second in the Free Skate and move up to third overall, scoring 271.94.

Japan also took the women’s title, with Sheffield and Espoo Grand Prix winner Mai Mihara the most steady, finishing second in the Short Program and winning the Free Skate to score 208.17. First-day leader Kaori Sakamoto – the 2022 World Champion – led after the short Program, but multiple falls led to a sixth-place finish in the Free Skate and she dropped to fifth overall. That opened the door for American Isabeau Levito, who was second in the Free Skate and moved from fifth to second overall, scoring 197.23. Worlds silver winner Leona Hendrickx (BEL) got third at 196.35.

Japan’s Worlds silver medalists Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara took the Pairs competition, winning both the Short Program and the Free Skate and scoring 214.58. That was just enough to edge 2022 World Champions Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier from the U.S. (213.28). Fellow Americans Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe were sixth (162.91).

The Ice Dance title went to Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, the 2021 Worlds bronze medalists, who won both the Rhythm Dance and Free Dance, totaling 215.64. The 2022 Worlds bronze winners, Americans Madison Chock and Evan Bates were close in second at 211.94, with Americans Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker finishing fifth (198.06).

● Freestyle Skiing ● After a cancellation in November, the FIS World Cup in SnowCross opened in Val Thorens (FRA) on Thursday and Friday, with Beijing Olympic champ Sandra Naeslund looking for her fourth career World Cup title.

She’s off to a good start, winning both races, finishing ahead of Canada’s Sochi 2014 Olympic champ Marielle Thompson in the first event, with Swiss Talina Gantenbein third. In the second event, she won over another Canadian, Hannah Schmidt, with Damiela Maier (GER) third. Naeslund, still just 26, now owns 30 World Cup race wins and has won 10 World Cup races in a row!

The men’s first-race winner was Johannes Rohrweck of Austria, his second career World Cup win, ahead of Tobias Mueller (GER), who won his second-ever World Cup medal. Swiss veteran Jonas Lenherr was third. On Friday, Austria scored again, this time with Mathias Graf, winning his first World Cup medal. France’s Youri Duplessis Kergomard was second – winning his second career World Cup medal – and Swiss Marc Bischofberger was third.

The second World Cup for Moguls was in Idre Fjall (SWE), with American Nick Page scoring his first career win, and an impressive one over Olympic champ Mikael Kingsbury of Canada, 81.06-79.86, with Beijing gold medalist Walter Wallberg (SWE) third (78.98). It was the first Moguls World Cup win by an American since Bradley Wilson in February of 2016!

Kingsbury won Sunday’s Dual Moguls, defeating Filip Gravenfors in the final for his 76th career World Cup victory, with Page finishing third over fellow American Cole McDonald.

The women’s Moguls was a familiar showdown, with Beijing Olympic gold medalist Jakara Anthony (AUS) winning at 81.75, ahead of Japan’s teen star Anri Kawamura (80.020 and France’s 2018 Olympic champ Perrine Laffont (76.08). The U.S. went 4-5 with Olivia Giaccio (74.99) and Elizabeth Lemley (73.49).

The Dual Moguls saw Lemley defeat Kawamura in the gold final, with Laffont finishing third over Anthony. For the 16-year-old Lemley, it was her first World Cup medal and first win!

● Luge ● The third stop on the FIL World Cup tour was in Whistler (CAN) and saw the return to the podium of two-time men’s Olympic champ Felix Loch (GER).

Now 33, Loch compiled a two-run total of 1:39.619 to edge Austrian Wolfgang Kindl (1:39.653) and Italian Dominick Fischnaller (1:39.689). Kindl has now been second in all three races this season and Fischnaller second in the last two. Tucker West was the top American, in fifth (1:39.914).

The Beijing 2022 men’s Doubles silver medalists, Germany’s Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken won their first World Cup medal of the season, winning in 1:16.554, ahead of teammates (and three-time Olympic gold medalists) Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt (1:16.605). Season-opener winners Juri Gatt and Riccardo Schopf were third (1:16.740). The best American sled was Zachary Di Gregorio and Sean Hollander in eighth (1:17.021).

The women’s Singles title went to European silver medalist Madeleine Egle of Austria for her third win in a row this season (1:17.137), with 2021 World Champion Julia Taubitz (GER) moving up to second from third in the first two races (1:17.161). American Summer Britcher was seventh (1:17.447).

The new women’s Doubles had Italy’s Andrea Votter and Marion Oberhofer as the winners (1:17.912), completing their move from third in the season opener, to second last week and now, a victory. Austrians Selina Egle and Lara Michaela Kipp, who won the first two races, were second in 1:17.953. Americans Britcher and Emily Sweeney finished fourth (1:18.222).

● Rugby Sevens ● Both the men’s and women’s series were in Cape Town (RSA), with the host South African men and only ones to go undefeated in pool play. In the playoffs, New Zealand stomped the U.S., 33-17, in the semis and Samoa upended the South Africans, 10-7. It was Samoa taking the title, 12-7, for its first tournament win of the season over New Zealand in the final, with the U.S. third, 22-14 winners over South Africa.

In the women’s tournament, the same teams were on the podium, but in a different order from the opener in Dubai (UAE). This time, it was New Zealand defeating Australia in the final, 31-14, while the U.S. women were third again, 20-12 winners over Ireland.

● Short Track ● Korea and Canada led the ISU World Cup in Almaty (KAZ) with wins in five of the eight individual events.

Tae-Sung Kim won the men’s 500 m in 40.898, and teammates Kyung-Hwan Hong (2:13.570) and Ji-Won Park (2:20.340) won the two 1,500 m races. Dutch star Jens van’T Wout broke up a sweep with a 1:26.074 win in the 1,000 m, ahead of 2022 Worlds 1,500 m silver winner Pascal Dion (CAN).

Canada got two wins in the women’s skating, with 2022 five-time Worlds silver medalist Kim Boutin taking the 500 m in 43.020, and Courtney Sarault winning the 1,000 m in 1:32.671. Beijing Olympic 1,000 m champ Suzanne Schulting (NED) won the first 1,500 m in 2:26.253 over Korea’s Olympic champ Min-Jeong Choi (2:26.356) and Belgian Hanne Desmet won the second race in 2:26.692, ahead of Sarault. American Kristin Santos-Griswold was third in the 500 m and fourth in the first 1,500 m; Corinne Stoddard of the U.S. was third in the 1,000 m.

● Ski Jumping ● The World Cup tour was in Titisee-Neustadt (GER) with two competitions for men off the 142 m hill and one for women.

The men’s Friday event was the second win of the season for Slovenia’s Anze Lanisek (272.8), ahead of Poland’s 2019 World Champion Dawid Kubacki (271.5) and Germany’s 2021 Olympic Normal Hill silver winner Karl Geiger (269.2).

On Sunday, Kubacki came on for his third win of the season, scoring 309.7, ahead of Lanisek (284.0) and three-time World Champion Stefan Kraft (AUT: 283.1).

Germany’s Katharina Althaus took her second win and third medal of the season in the women’s 142 m competition, winning at 269.3, ahead of Silje Opseth (NOR: 260.9) and Ursa Bogataj (SLO: 258.1).

● Snowboard ● The second of four Big Air World Cup tournament was on in Edmonton (CAN), with home favorite Jasmine Baird (CAN) taking the women’s victory with 159.50 points for her first career World Cup gold. She easily outdistanced Evy Poppe (BEL: 146.50) and two-time Olympic fourth-placer Reira Iwabuchi (JPN: 143.25).

The men’s Big Air final saw Australia’s Valentino Guseli, 17, score 172.50 to win his first World Cup win. American Chris Corning, the 2019 World Slopestyle champ, was second (172.00) and Canadian Nicolas Laframboise (168.00) third.

The Snowboard Parallel competition program opened in Winterberg (GER) on Sunday, with Alexander Payer (AUT) defeating Tim Mastnak (SLO) in the gold-medal final, with German Stefan Baumeister third.

Sabine Schoeffmann won her fifth World Cup individual title and completed Austria’s sweep with a win in the women’s final over 2019 World Champion Julie Zogg (SUI), and Austria picked up its third medal as Daniela Ulbing got third.

● Speed Skating ● The third stage of the ISU World Cup was in Calgary (CAN) for the first of two meets, with five wins for the leading power in the sport, the Netherlands.

The Dutch won three men’s events, including the 1,000 m by 34-year-old Hein Otterspeer in 1:07.284, with Beijing Olympic silver medalist Laurent Dubreuil (CAN) second in 1:07.307 and American Jordan Stolz fourth in 1:07.344.

Wesley Dijs (NED) won the 1,500 m in 1:42.390, ahead of China’s Zhongyan Ning (CHN: 1:42.957) and two-time Olympic gold medalist Kjeld Nuis (NED: 1:43.027). Beijing 5,000-10,000 m silver medalist Patrick Roest won the 5,000 in 6:05.600; American Ethan Cepuran was eighth in 6:17.717.

Debreuil won the 500 m in 34.017, with Stolz seventh in 34.477. Italy’s Andrea Giovannini took the Mass Start final in 7:53.040.

The two Dutch women’s winners included Jutta Leerdam, the Beijing Olympic silver medalist, in the 1,000 m in 1:12.828, with American Kimi Goetz finishing second in 1:13.532 and teammate (and Beijing bronze medalist) Brittany Bowe was 11th in 1:14.814. Triple Olympic gold medalist Irene Schouten won the Mass Start in 8:33.700, with Mia Kilburg of the U.S. second in 8:33.790.

Korea’s Min-sun Kim won the 500 m in 36.972, with Beijing gold medalist Erin Jackson of the U.S. in 37.451. Olympic 1,000 m champ Miho Takagi (JPN) won the 1,500 m (1:52.549), and Norway’s Ragne Wiklund took the 3,000 m in 3:56.937.

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FIFA WORLD CUP: Morocco in dreamland (and semifinals); France holds off England, 2-1, continue repeat title hopes

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ QATAR 2022 ≡

There is such a thing as home-field advantage. And in an Arab state – Qatar – the first Arab team to make it as far as the World Cup semifinals – Morocco – held its nerve and defeated Portugal, 1-0 before a frenzied, pro-Morocco crowd of 44,198 at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha.

Defending champion France is still in position to be the first repeat champion since Brazil in 1958 and 1962, with a taut, 2-1 win over England. The French played mostly on defense and found just enough offense to win, and survived a missed penalty kick by English star striker Harry Kane – who made one early in the second half – in the 84th minute.

The semis will feature two European teams, a South American team and an African team. It’s the first time since 2002 that anyone other than European or South American teams have filled the semifinals; then it was co-host South Korea, now Morocco.

● Quarterfinals: Morocco 1, Portugal 0 ● No African team and no Arab team had ever made it as far as the World Cup semifinals, but Morocco’s intense defending, its team speed and a perfect cross-and-head near the end of the first half were enough to beat Portugal, 1-0.

Portugal possessed the ball for long stretches, but could not score. Neither could Morocco, although its counterattacks were dangerous; striker Youssef El-Nesyri’s header just over the bar in the seventh minute showed their scoring potential.

While Portugal regularly played with six or seven men in front of the ball on defense, Morocco had all 10, making finishing plays and runs to the mouth of goal impossible. And on another counter, and off of a corner, defender Yahya Attiat-Allah sent a perfect cross into the box and with Portuguese keeper Diogo Costa coming out to challenge, El-Nesyri’s header flew right past him and into the goal for a 1-0 lead in the 42nd minute.

That’s how the half ended and that’s essentially how the game ended, with a lot of twists and turns in between. Portugal was on offense continuously from then on, but produced nothing but frustration.

A Bruno Fernandes shot hit the crossbar in the 45th minute. Super striker Cristiano Ronaldo came on for Portugal in the 51st, but was unable to find the net. Fernandes sent a blast just over the crossbar in the 64th. Off a turnover, Joao Felix sent a curling shot that Moroccan keeper Yassine Bounou was barely able to block over the crossbar in the 84th. Ronaldo, on a contested sprint in stoppage time (90+1), had his shot saved by Bounou.

Then things really got crazy, as substitute midfielder Walid Cheddira picked up a yellow card for a hard foul at 90+1 and another at 90+3, so Morocco was down to 10 men. Even so, Portugal’s only strong chance to score was a missed header by defender Pepe at 90+7 and the game ended with delirium for the mostly-Moroccan fans in the Al Thumama Stadium.

In its five matches in Qatar, Morocco drew with Croatia, 0-0; beat Belgium, 2-0; beat Canada, 4-1 (with an own goal); beat Spain on penalty kicks after a 0-0 tie, and beat Portugal, 1-0. They’re hard to beat if you can’t score.

● Quarterfinals: France 2, England 1 ● No defending World Cup champion had reached even the semifinals of a subsequent World Cup since Brazil in 1998, when it lost to France, 3-0, after winning in 1994. Now the French, winners in 2018, will get a chance after a difficult 2-1 win over England at the Al Bayt Stadium.

The English controlled possession from the start, but the French got the lead in the 17th, off an Antoine Griezmann pass from the right side of the box to midfielder Aurelian Tchouameni, who sent a right-footed rocket from beyond the top of the box, bending into the left corner through a crowd of English defenders. Wow!

But England continued with pressure. French keeper Hugo Lloris had to make a big save on a Harry Kane break-through on goal in the 22nd, coming off his line, and that was almost knocked in on the rebound. Kane got another blast away in the 29th that Lloris had to punch away for a corner. And so it went, with England holding 58% of possession and a 5-3 edge on shots, but losing, 1-0.

The second half was more of the same, with England possession and France looking for chances in a game which became more and more physical. That paid off in the 52nd, as Tchouameni fouled English forward Bukayo Saka for a penalty in the 52nd and Kane buried it into the left corner of the French goal for the tie.

And the English kept coming. A Kane shot was saved by Lloris in the 62nd, and defender Harry Maguire left the left post with a header in the 70th. But France found moments, and after two good rushes at English keeper Jordan Pickford in the 75th, France had a corner in the 78th. Griezmann sent a seeing-eye cross from near his sideline all the way to the front of goal, where it found striker Olivier Giroud – France’s all-time goals leader – who headed it between two defenders and into the net for a 2-1 lead.

Two minutes later, however, French defender Theo Hernandez fouled England midfielder Mason Mount and another penalty was called. This time, however, Kane skied it over the goal and left England down, 2-1.

Mount missed another chance in the 88th as his try at goal sailed high, and then substitute striker Marcus Rashford just missed a goal on a free kick at 90+11 that sailed over the crossbar. France survived in a game with 24 fouls, including 14 by the French, and three yellow cards. England ended with 57% possession and 16 shots to eight (8-5 on goal), but it was not enough.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

The semifinals are set (victories on penalty kicks shown as wins):

● 13 Dec. (Tue., 2 p.m. Eastern time) at Lusail Iconic Stadium: Argentina (4-1; goals 9-5) vs. Croatia (3-0-2; goals 6-3).

● 14 Dec. (Wed., 2 p.m. Eastern time) at Al Bayt Stadium: Morocco (4-0-1; goals 5-1) vs. France (5-1; goals 11-5).

This will be the third World Cup meeting between Argentina and Croatia, with the series tied at 1-1. Argentina won, 1-0, in France in 1998 and Croatia routed Argentina, 3-0, in group-stage play in Russia in 2018.

The France-Morocco match will have a historical backdrop, as the French had control of Morocco as a “protectorate” – colony – from 1912 to 1956, long before any of the current players were born. But the Moroccan team – and their crowd – will know about it.

The Associated Press reported that FIFA has opened disciplinary hearings against both Argentina and the Netherlands after their quarterfinal match turned physical at the end on Friday.

The Argentine bench came onto the field to control the Dutch team as it tied the match late in stoppage time, and then more confrontations after Argentina won on penalty kicks. A total of 48 fouls were called in the game – 30 on the Netherlands – and 14 yellow cards were handed out (8 for Argentina and 6 for the Dutch, including three at the end of the penalty kicks.

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has already fined Saudi Arabia CHF 15,000 twice for team misconduct from its matches against Argentina (22 November) and Mexico (30 November).

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FIFA WORLD CUP: Croatia shocks Brazil on penalties! Argentina over the Dutch on penalties in stunning quarterfinals

By
Rich Perelman
-
The Croatian checkerboard in a second straight World Cup semifinal? Yes! (Photo: Roger Goraczniak via Wikipedia)

★ The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★

★ Enjoying our coverage? If so, please consider a donation to help cover technical costs for 2023. Thank you for your support. ★

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≡ QATAR 2022 ≡

The first FIFA World Cup semifinal is set, with Croatia and Argentina playing on the 13th (Tuesday) at the Lusail Iconic Stadium for a chance at the championship after both Friday quarterfinals went to penalty kicks.

The Croatians improbably tied the game in the 117th minute and then won on penalties, 4-2, while Argentina was forced to penalties after losing a 2-0 lead with 17 minutes left in regulation. But they are going on: Croatia for its second straight semifinal and Argentina back after last making it this far in 2014.

● Quarterfinals: Croatia 1, Brazil 1 (Croatia wins on penalty kicks, 4-2) ● Like a cat with nine lives, Croatia came back from a seeming defeat to tie Brazil in the final three minutes of extra time and then won, 4-2, on penalty kicks to move into the World Cup semifinals for the second tournament in a row.

The first half started with Brazil in possession and on the attack, but few opportunities to do much against stout Croatian defense. The same was true for Croatia, which had some promising build-ups but not close to scoring.

Croatian keeper Dominik Livakovic made a brilliant save on Vinicius Junior in the 48th, but Brazil was called offsides, then Neymar Junior had a direct shot at goal in the 55th, which Livakovic blocked. In the 65th, midfielder Lucas Paqueta got a weak shot on a bounding ball in the box but Livakovic punched it away at point-blank range.

But the first 90 minutes ended 0-0, with possession evenly split, but with Brazil taking 14 shots to six and a 7-0 edge on shots-on-goal. Of Croatia’s five games, three were 0-0 at the end of 90.

Brazil kept pushing in the first extra-time period, but Croatia had an excellent chance in the 103rd, with striker Bruno Petkovic streaming down the left side and sending a perfect cross to the middle of the field for midfielder Marcelo Brazovic, who pounded a shot that went over the crossbar.

Then everything changed in a moment. Another Brazilian build-up saw Neymar push into the middle of the box, then passed to Paqueta deep in the box, who gave it right back, but a little behind him. Neymar got control, pushed to the right, got around Livakovic and slammed the ball into the net from a deteriorating angle at the right side of the net at 105+1. It was Neymar’s 77th goal for Brazil, tying him with the iconic Pele for the most in Brazilian history, and Neymar’s eighth in 12 World Cup games.

Brazilian shots were up to 19-7 and 10-0 on goal after the first extra period. The Croatians had to get a goal in the next 15.

And out of nowhere, late in the period, a Croatian break saw a pass by forward Mislav Orsic to Petkovic at the top of the box resulted in a left-footed strike that deflected and flew past Alisson for the 1-1 tie in the 117th.

The extra periods ended with possession even, shots favoring Brazil by 20-9 and 10-1 on goal: Croatia’s only shot on goal was their score.

Now the penalty kicks, and the die was cast early, as Livakovic saved Rodrygo’s first try for Brazil, while Nikola Vlasic, Lovro Majer and star midfielder Luka Modric all made theirs. Brazil closed with conversions from Casemiro and Pedro, but after Orsic converted Croatia’s fourth in a row, Marquinhos had Livakovic going the wrong way, but hit the left post, closing the door on the favored Brazilians.

The last World Cup triumph for Brazil was in 2002, and the Selecao have now lost in four of their last five quarterfinals – 2006-10-18-22 – all to European teams.

● Quarterfinals: Argentina 2, Netherlands 2 (Argentina wins on penalty kicks, 4-3) ● Another overtime stunner, with the Dutch coming back from 2-0 down with seven minutes left in regulation.

A tactical first half came down to a moment of individual brilliance for Argentine superstar Lionel Messi. Dribbling well out from the Dutch goal, he moved from the right side of the field to the center, then sent a perfect through-pass past three defenders and into the path of a charging defender Nahuel Molina, who right-footed it past Dutch keeper Andries Noppert for a 1-0 lead in the 36th minute.

The Dutch had 57% of possession in the half, but Argentina was better on offense, getting five shots to one and the 1-0 lead.

The second half was more of the same, cautious possession, waiting for a break. Argentina got what looked like a decisive moment in the 71st, when Dutch defender Denzel Dumfries fouled defender Marcus Acuna at the edge of the box for a penalty. Messi converted in the 73rd and the Netherlands looked dead at 0-2, with 17 minutes left.

But 10 minutes later, the two Dutch substitute strikers got going as Steven Berghuis found the 6-6 Wout Weghorst for a header on the right side of the penalty area and a powerful header flew into the far left edge of goal to close the deficit to 2-1.

Argentina’s leisurely play with the lead suddenly turned against them, as referee Antonio Mateu (ESP) added 10 minutes of stoppage time, and the Dutch needed all of it. A final push saw Weghorst fouled at the top of the box and a free kick awarded to the Netherlands. Everyone lined up, looking for a curving shot at goal from substitute midfielder Teun Koopmeiners, but instead, the ball was fed through the wall and Weghorst controlled it and left-footed it into the goal for a stunning 2-2 tie at 90+11!

It was only the second shot on goal for the Dutch and both were goals.

The extra time periods were cautious, but Argentina almost scored in the 115th, when an Enzo Fernandez cross from the right side was well struck by Lautaro Martinez right in front of goal, but deflected off the face of defender Vigil van Dijk. Argentina continued to pour on the pressure, with sub midfielder Angel Di Maria trying to bend a corner into the goal that was punched away by Noppert, and Fernandez hit the post on a long-range strike in the 121st.

The Netherlands finished with 52% possession, but Argentina had the edge on shots 14-6 and 5-2 on shots-on-goal.

In the shoot-out, Argentine keeper Emiliano Martinez saved the first from van Dijk to his right, and the second, from Berghuis to his left, while Messi and Gonzalo Montiel made theirs for a 2-0 lead. Weghorst scored again, as did Luuk de Jong, while Argentina’s Fernandez missed and it was 3-3. But Lautaro Martinez left no doubt in the final round and Argentina walked off a 4-3 winner.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

It’s going to be hard to equal Friday’s drama, but the last two quarterfinals come Saturday:

● 10 Dec.: Morocco (3-0-1; goals 4-1) vs. Portugal (3-1; goals 12-5)
● 10 Dec.: England (3-0-1; goals 12-2) vs. France (3-1; goals 9-4)

France is the defending champion and England reached the semis in 2018. Portugal last reached the semis in 2006, and Morocco has never gotten this far before. If Morocco should win, it would be the first African semifinalist ever in the World Cup.

The semifinals will be played on the 13th and 14th and the final on 18 December.

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For our updated, 951-event International Sports Calendar for 2022-23 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Brittney Griner released and returns to U.S.; boxing fed slams IOC criticism; cat thrown out of Brazil World Cup news conference!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Brazil press officer Vinicius Rodriguez drops a guest cat from the dais of a news conference with striker Vinicius Junior (Photo: SportTV screen grab via Twitter)

★ The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Griner swapped for Russian arms merchant; returns to U.S.
2. Int’l Boxing Association: “We will not accept” IOC criticism
3. Qatar received almost 766,000 FIFA World Cup visitors so far
4. Cat thrown out of Brazil World Cup news conference by its fur!
5. Coe: building the track & field fan base “is more challenging”

American basketball star Brittney Griner was swapped for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout on Thursday, in an agreement assisted by the leaders of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, with Griner flown to Abu Dhabi for transfer to the U.S. The International Boxing Association lashed out at the International Olympic Committee for Wednesday’s comments chastising the federation, but saying that it had no problem with boxing or boxers. A document from Qatar’s organizing committee for the 2022 FIFA World Cup says that almost 766,000 foreign visitors have come to the country – so far – for the event, well short of the 1.2 million it had said it expected, but pretty impressive for a country of 2.9 million. At a Wednesday Brazilian team news conference in Doha with striker Vinicius Junior, a cat jumped onto the dais, but was quickly removed and dropped about three feet to the stage below by the Brazilian team’s press officer, apparently with no damage to the cat. World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe gave a very interesting interview in Monaco at the World Athletics Awards, explaining the federation’s goals for 2023 and its effort to raise the sport’s profile.

The FIFA World Cup resumes on Friday and Saturday with the quarterfinals.

1.
Griner swapped for Russian arms merchant; returns to U.S.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner of the U.S. was released from Russian captivity on Thursday in exchange for the U.S. release of convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout, who had been serving a 25-year sentence that began in 2012.

Griner was detained on 17 February for “drug smuggling” of cannabis oil, which she admitted she errantly packed in her luggage. She was convicted in August and her appeal was denied in October. She was transferred to a penal colony in November.

A statement from WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert included:

“There has not been a day over the past ten months where we all haven’t had Brittney Griner on our minds and in our hearts and that has now turned into a collective wave of joy and relief knowing that she will soon be reunited with her family, the WNBA player community, and her friends. …

“Our hope is that Paul Whelan and every wrongfully detained American will be returned home safely and as soon as possible.”

The Russian Foreign Ministry, of course, was more concerned about the release of Bout, telling the news agency TASS:

“As a result of the efforts made, we managed to agree with the American side to arrange an exchange of Viktor Bout for Brittney Griner. The Russian citizen has been returned to his homeland.

“[The exchange] was successfully completed at the airport of Abu Dhabi on Thursday. Washington was categorically refusing to engage in dialogue on putting the Russian national on the exchange scheme. Nevertheless, the Russian Federation continued to actively work towards the release of our fellow countryman.”

A joint statement of the foreign ministries of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates took the credit for the deal, including:

“The ministries said the success of the mediation efforts was a reflection of the mutual and solid friendship between their two countries and the United States of America and the Russian Federation.

“They also highlighted the important role played by the leaderships of the two brotherly countries in promoting dialogue between all parties.

“The statement confirmed that Abu Dhabi received, on 8th December, American citizen Brittney Griner by private plane from Moscow, after the Russian authorities released her, in conjunction with the reception of Russian citizen Victor Bout on a private plane from Washington, after the U.S. authorities released him, in the presence of specialists from the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

“Both America and Russia claimed their citizens, in preparation for transfer to their countries.

“The UAE and Saudi Arabian foreign ministries expressed the thanks of their respective governments to the governments of the U.S. and Russia for their cooperation and response, and for the joint mediation efforts made by the leaderships of the two countries.”

Griner was reportedly being flown to San Antonio for medical attention and support services for individuals who have been in foreign isolation.

TASS also reported that both Griner and Bout “were pardoned prior to the exchange procedure, and therefore there is no need for them to serve their sentences in their home countries.”

Whelan, convicted of espionage, is still being held in a Russian penal colony, and is also considered by the U.S. to be wrongfully detailed since 2018. A TASS report noted that “Negotiations about his exchange are ongoing.”

2.
Int’l Boxing Association: “We will not accept” IOC criticism

A day after International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER) criticized the International Boxing Association, but explicitly said he is not criticizing boxing or boxers, the IBA posted an unhappy, three-page reply, that included:

● “We continue to be punished for a culture of corruption that was created and nourished by some of the individuals from the IOC’s upper echelon,” referring to former AIBA President C.K. Wu (TPE), who was also an IOC member.

● “We will not accept this artificial divide and conquer rhetoric that somehow the IBA and the athletes are separate, it is simply not true and any attack on the IBA is a direct attack on the stakeholders of our sport, the athletes. Sanctions towards IBA are sanctions against its boxers, as we are inseparable.”

● “The IOC creates a problem for each solution we provide.”

● “Denying the fact of IBA’s significant progress is simply an egregious error in not acknowledging the truth of the matter. IBA is not creating a PR picture that does not exist; in fact, we are simply communicating our progress and steps towards it. Not acknowledging it, raises the fair question of why. All the IOC criticism is done in a manner to discredit the leading experts who have worked on the previous reports and investigations within the Olympic movement, which is deplorable.”

● “We are now forced to publicly ask for details on what governance shortfalls will quench the IOC’s continued thirst to persecute our organization and its athletes.”

● “[T]he Olympic Charter doesn’t read that person’s nationality should stop them from being able to democratically serve their organization,” a reference to the election of Russian Umar Kremlev as IBA President.

● “These are IBA’s facts. IBA is looking forward to receiving the facts from the IOC in terms of what has not been achieved by IBA in order to avoid any ambiguity in the IOC’s PR.”

It’s a bold statement, but does not address the IOC’s oft-repeated issues concerning the way in which the IBA held its elections, transparency in its finances and its dependence on debt relief from a sole source – the Russian energy giant Gazprom, – plus its future financial stability without Gazprom and aspects of its refereeing and judging which have still not satisfied the IOC.

The question of whether boxing (and modern pentathlon and weightlifting) will be included in the Los Angeles 2028 sports program are to be decided in 2023.

3.
Qatar received almost 766,000 FIFA World Cup visitors so far

Reuters reported that 765,859 international visitors had come into Qatar for World Cup matches through 7 December, according a report from the organizing Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy.

The report noted that more than half of these visitors have departed already, as all but eight of the original 32 teams have been eliminated. The total is impressive, especially for a country with a population of just 2.9 million, but well short of the estimate of 1.2 million visitors. Some more visitors are expected to come in for the final few games.

According to the report, some 3.09 million tickets were sold through the 7th, used by 1.33 million ticketholders. Actual stadium attendance was 2.65 million through the first 52 matches.

FIFA has handed down fines for three incidents at the World Cup, with the Croatian Football Federation fined CHF 50,000 (CHF 1 = $1.07) for the “use of words and objects to transmit a message that is not appropriate for a sports event … in relation to the behaviour of Croatian supporters during the Croatia v. Canada FIFA World Cup match on 27 November.”

The Football Association of Serbia was fined CHF 20,000 “in relation to a flag displayed in its dressing room on the occasion of the Brazil v. Serbia FIFA World Cup match on 24 November” in which Kosovo – now an independent country – was shown as part of Serbia, with the words “we do not surrender.”

Bad behavior on the field was also penalized, with the Saudi Arabian Football Association fined CHF 15,000 each (CHF 30,000 total) for rough play, notably “a total of six [yellow card] bookings received by Saudi players … during the FIFA World Cup matches against Argentina and Mexico on 22 November and 30 November.”

The story of Qatar’s Stadium 974, created in part from 974 shipping containers, is moving into another chapter after hosting six matches at the Arab Cup and seven at the World Cup. Opened on 20 November 2021 and closed after Monday’s Brazil-South Korea game on 5 December, the 44,409-seat facility is being disassembled and readied for shipment to Uruguay!

The concept is for the stadium to be reassembled in Uruguay and used – hopefully – as a venue for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Uruguay is bidding for in conjunction with Argentina, Chile and Paraguay. Uruguay was the site of the first World Cup, back in 1930.

A Philippine worker died in Qatar in recent days near a World Cup training site, but was apparently not involved in any World Cup activities. The Qatar government is looking into the incident for any work-safety violations; protests over migrant worker pay, conditions and safety have dogged the tournament since it was awarded to Qatar in 2010.

Spain’s loss to Morocco on penalty kicks in the Round of 16 cost manager Luis Enrique, 52, his position, as the Spanish national football federation fired him on Thursday. Luis de la Fuente, 61, the head of Spain’s U-21 program was named as the new coach.

4.
Cat thrown out of Brazil World Cup news conference by its fur!

In one of the most unusual FIFA World Cups in history, one of the most unbelievable moments in the history of news conferences.

A Brazilian team news conference with striker Vinicius Junior on Wednesday was interrupted by a stray cat which jumped onto the table and was corralled by Brazilian team press officer Vinicius Rodriguez.

After a few moments, however, Rodriguez picked up the cat by its back fur and dropped it to the stage apron below – about three feet – stunning the assembled media, as well as Vinicius Junior. The scene was picked up on the live broadcast from Brazil’s SportTV – here – and the news conference continued.

The Russian Free Press reported, “The cat landed on its paws and appeared to be unharmed” and Rodriguez told TASS, “The cat is fine, don’t worry. He feels great.”

Some of the media who attended Thursday’s Brazil news conference welcomes Rodriguez by meowing, perhaps another FIFA World Cup first.

It should be noted that the cat was not wearing any kind of accreditation badge or other World Cup credential that would admit him to the news conference.

5.
Coe: building the track & field fan base “is more challenging”

Fascinating interview with World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe (GBR) from the International Sports Journalists Association (AIPS), on the sidelines of the federation’s World Athletics Awards. Coe spoke at length about 2022 and the future of the sport; some highlights:

● “Building that fan base in track and field is more challenging, because it isn’t a game. And you don’t always have such big, tribal, national rivalries. … Yes, everybody gets behind their country, but track and field fans are more in a way… they’re more “Catholic” about life. … they’re very much more into the sheer quality of what they’re watching, regardless in a way of what the flag is on the sign.”

● “We’re looking at formats, we’re looking at the competition calendar, the diary, we’re looking at the ability to work with the athletes so that they can help build their own profile, wanting us to give them content that they’re able to post. So it works both ways. And that’s a lot of those conversations, interestingly, have been taking place here with the athletes.”

● “[W]e have a responsibility to protect female sport, but to do it in a sensible, thoughtful and inclusive way. So the position that we took with [differences in sex development], for instance, wasn’t to stop anyone. The first principle was not to stop people competing. It was to try and make sure that if they were competing, it was on as level playing fields as you can possibly manage. We are currently reviewing that position. The Health and Science Teams will report back after a period of consultation and the importance of following the science.”

He also spoke at some length about the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene:

“We had a challenge around visas, getting in and out of America in the best of times is not an easy process for many of us. Eugene is a very small town. It’s inevitable that, in performance terms, they were the most successful championships we have ever had. If you look at the world records and the area records, national records, personal bests, some of those – Sydney McLaughlin’s world record and Mondo Duplantis, Noah Lyles – these were extraordinary performances.

“But I think that there’s no doubt that it is unlikely we will ever go back to a smaller community. For a World Championships, the stadium was beautiful, purpose-built for the championships – but it was small. It made life complicated for the media, it made life complicated in terms of the number of seats that were available, that weren’t just accredited seats. What did we get out of Eugene? We had a presence in the United States and every Olympic sport wants its presence at a World Championships in the United States.”

≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡

The World Cup resumes on Friday and Saturday with the quarterfinals (records reflect penalty-kick victories as wins):

● 09 Dec.: Croatia (2-0-2 W-L-T: goals 5-2) vs. Brazil (3-1: goals 7-2)
● 09 Dec.: Netherlands (3-0-1; goals 8-2) vs. Argentina (3-1; goals 7-3)

● 10 Dec.: Morocco (3-0-1; goals 4-1) vs. Portugal (3-1; goals 12-5)
● 10 Dec.: England (3-0-1; goals 12-2) vs. France (3-1; goals 9-4)

The semifinals will be played on the 13th and 14th and the final on 18 December

With the Round of 16 completed, let’s update the region vs. region records in Qatar (records shown W-L-T, with penalty-kick advancements counted as wins):

Africa:
● 5 teams qualified ~ 2 to Round of 16 ~ 1 to Quarterfinals
● 7-5-3 record in group stage ~ 19-17 on goals ~ 152-167 on shots
● 1-1-0 record in Round of 16 ~ 0-3 on goals ~ 16-21 on shots

Asia:
● 6 teams qualified ~ 3 to Round of 16 ~ 0 to Quarterfinals
● 7-10-1 record in group stage ~ 19-30 on goals ~ 176-239 on shots
● 0-3-0 record in Round of 16 ~ 3-7 on goals ~ 26-49 on shots

Europe:
(Statistics vs. non-European teams)
● 13 teams qualified ~ 10 to Round of 16 ~ 5 to Quarterfinals
● 12-10-7 record in group stage ~ 46-30 on goals ~ 335-323 on shots
● 3-1-0 record in Round of 16 ~ 7-2 on goals ~ 49-46 on shots

North America:
● 4 teams qualified ~ 1 to Round of 16 ~ 0 to Quarterfinals
● 3-6-3 record in group stage ~ 9-22 on goals ~ 115-130 on shots
● 0-1-0 record in Round of 16 ~ 1-3 on goals ~ 17-11 on shots

South America:
● 4 teams qualified ~ 2 to Round of 16 ~ 2 to Quarterfinals
● 6-4-2 record in group stage ~ 14-8 on goals ~ 163-82 on shots
● 2-0-0 record in Round of 16 ~ 6-2 on goals ~ 32-13 on shots

Asia and CONCACAF had no teams in the final eight and the surprise of the tournament has been Africa, which not only has Morocco in the quarters, but finished with a winning record in the Group Stage, along with Europe and South America.

CONCACAF came into the tournament with teams ranked 13th (Mexico), 16th (U.S.), 31st (Costa Rica) and 41st (Canada), but none made it to the quarters. The African teams were ranked 18th (Senegal), 22nd (Morocco), 30th (Tunisia) 43rd (Cameroon) and 61st (Ghana), but advanced three to the elimination rounds and Morocco to the quarters.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Weightlifting ● The IWF World Championships roll on in Bogota (COL), with two Olympic champions winning their weight classes on Wednesday.

In the men’s 61 kg class, China’s Fabin Li won his second world title to go along with his Tokyo Olympic triumph, lifting a combined 312 kg, including a world-record Clean & Jerk lift of 175 kg. That was well clear of two-time Olympic silver winner Eko Yuli Irawan (INA: 300 kg) and China’s Yueji He (296 kg). American Hampton Morris was 15th at 275 kg.

Philippine star Hildyn Diaz followed up on her Tokyo Olympic triumph at 61 kg with a world title in Bogota, lifting a combined total of 207 kg, winning both the Snatch and Clean & Jerk segments. It’s her fourth Worlds medal, but first gold! Colombia’s Rosalba Morales won the silver (199 kg) and Mexico’s Ana Gabriela Lopez was third (198 kg). American Shayla Moore finished fourth at 194 kg.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 2024: Paris ● The IOC is working diligently to extend the “umbrella” of the Olympic Games to the qualifying events, with a special logo and added, online telecasts of competitions not otherwise being covered.

IOC chief Bach mentioned during Wednesday’s news conference that about 100,000 athletes will compete in roughly 3,000 qualifying events for 10,500 slots at the Games, or about a 10:1 ratio.

● Archery ● Pretty rare to be a national federation to be expelled from an international federation, but World Archery announced:

“The Federacion Mexicana de Tiro con Arco is no longer recognised as World Archery’s national member association in Mexico following an official notice issued to the country’s sports minister Ana Gabriela Guevara and CONADE.

“It is in response to the outcome of a judicial case against the former president of the federation, Efi Sanchez, who has been jailed for misuse of public funds.”

World Archery is requiring “establishment of a brand-new organisation that fully complies with the principles of good governance.” Mexico has been highly successful in archery, winning two women’s Olympic medals in 2012 and a Mixed Team bronze in 2020.

● Athletics ● Rio 2016 Olympic 4×400 m relay gold medalist Gil Roberts, 33, was suspended for 16 months by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for the presence of anabolic agents andarine and ostarine from a May 2022 out-of-competition test, and another warning about supplements:

“Following an investigation into the circumstances of his case, USADA determined that Roberts’s positive test was caused by his use of a dietary supplement that did not list any prohibited ingredients on the label.” Roberts’ ban began on 3 June 2022.

Roberts has a lifetime best of 44.22 from 2017, but ran very little in 2020 and was eliminated in the heats at the 2021 Olympic Trials in the 400 m.

Olympic writer Karen Rosen notes that the first day of the 2023 Wanda Diamond League Final at Hayward Field in Eugene will fall on the same day – Saturday, 16 September – as a University of Oregon football game being played at nearby Autzen Stadium against Hawaii.

It will raise the question of whether Eugene’s track fans are also Ducks football followers, but in any case, parking could be at a premium!

● Sport Climbing ● Bach was asked about whether the IOC had maintained contact with the situation of Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi, whose loose wearing of her headscarf at the Asian Championships in Korea in October exposed her to possible criminal penalties under Iranian law. A recent report stated her family’s home had been torn down; Bach explained:

“In fact, the international federation has been in constant contact with her over all the time [since the Asian Championships], and this contact was also used with regard to this most recent allegation, where, then, we have checked with the international federation [IFSC] and with the Iranian NOC, and we have received from both the same information, so far, that it appears that this is about a construction permit there, and that this incident took place some months before the competition in Seoul, this means some months before October.

“This is the information we have and we continue to monitor the situation. Again, via the international federation, who are very close to the athlete and we are using our channel to the Iranian NOC.”

The IFSC announced on Wednesday (7th) that Rekabi was one of four athletes selected for the “Women in Sport High Performance Pathway” (WISH), designed to expand the number of female coaches at the Olympic Games, and supported by the IOC’s Olympic Solidarity program.

● Tennis ● Per Britain’s Daily Mail:

“The [British] Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has been threatened with expulsion from the ATP Tour and fined $1million (£822,000) by the men’s circuit for their decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players earlier this year.”

The Women’s Tennis Association has also sanctioned the LTA, which has appealed. For its part, the LTA said in a statement:

“The ATP appear to regard this matter as a straightforward breach of their rules – with a surprising lack of empathy shown for the situation in Ukraine, and a clear lack of understanding of the unique circumstances the LTA faced.

“The financial impact of both this fine and the WTA’s fine will have a material impact on the LTA’s ability to develop and host tennis in this country. For example, we had intended to host a number of ATP Challenger level events to give more opportunities to lower ranked players in the first quarter of 2023 and will now not be able to do this, particularly given the possibility of further fines.

“We will carefully consider our response and we await the outcome of our appeal against the WTA’s decision and sanction.”

It has been reported that the Lawn Tennis Association plans to ban Russian and Belarusian players in 2023 if Russian forces remain in Ukraine.

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For our updated, 951-event International Sports Calendar for 2022-23 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: IOC says no change in Russia and Belarus bans; Winter Games 2030 selection and future rotation related; big U.S. World Cup ratings!

By
Rich Perelman
-
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER) at Wednesday's news conference (Photo: IOC video screen grab)

★ The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. IOC’s Bach says Russia situation discussed, but no changes
2. IOC is upset with boxing’s federation, not the boxers
3. Possible Winter Games rotation and double-allocation are related
4. U.S. World Cup viewing up 19.9% for English & Spanish combined
5. Qatar excitement has FIFA considering new formats for 2026

The International Olympic Committee wrapped up three days of Executive Board meetings with President Thomas Bach of Germany explaining that during a four-hour discussion of the situation involving Russia and Belarus, no changes have been made to the IOC’s position on sanctions. Bach also made it clear that boxing as a sport is not the focus of the IOC’s concerns, but the International Boxing Association is, a good sign for the sport’s continuation in the Olympic program for 2028. The new consideration of a possible naming of hosts for both the 2030 and 2034 Winter Games is related to the IOC’s idea that due to the need for “climate reliability” for winter sport, a rotation of permanent host cities could be considered; naming two hosts soon would give the IOC time to figure out the rotation concept in detail. The FIFA World Cup is proving popular on television in the U.S., with average audiences in English and Spanish combined up 19.9% over 2018, and the viewing of U.S. matches at a higher rate than anything on television except the NFL. FIFA is now considering three options in the format for the expanded 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the U.S., noting that the earlier-announced 16 groups of three is only one option. If splitting the tournament into two 24-team brackets or using six groups of four, the World Cup would expand from 64 matches in Qatar now to 104 in four years!

1.
IOC’s Bach says Russia situation discussed, but no changes

“There is no change in our position, and I am afraid I have to explain it again.”

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER) noted during a Wednesday news conference following three days of Executive Board meetings that a four-hour discussion had been held earlier in the day concerning Russia’s continuing war against Ukraine and the IOC’s position.

He responded to questions looking for any movement toward Russian reinstatement by restating his position:

“What we said, always said, and said today again, and said all over again, the sanctions have to remain in place. And there is no change at all. And what we have always also said is, that with regard to the protective measures, with regard to the athletes, that we have to explore ways to overcome this dilemma, to live up to our mission.

“And this has been clear from 24th February. Already then, we were talking about the ‘heavy heart’ and that we have to overcome it. So there is no change at all. The breach of the Olympic Charter by the governments and states persist, and therefore the sanctions persist.”

Bach went to some length to explain that in addition to the sanctions against the Russian and Belarusian governments – requesting no hosting of events there and no use of country name, flag or anthem – that the “protective measures” asking for no Russian or Belarusian participation, or exclusively as neutrals, are not simply about athlete safety, but protecting international sport from being dictated to by national government policies:

“The other question is, what about the athletes: do we still need the protection of the integrity of the international events? These reasons always have to be analyzed , and there, you know, I can also give some examples how differently this was handled and how far political interference went, even in one sport. …

“We had this participation of Russian and Belarusian in the U.S. Open in tennis. We have Russian athletes participating in the NHL. They all have, obviously, their working permit, they are playing, they are cheered upon by the fans, you know, everybody happy.

“On the other hand, we had at Wimbledon, the British government interfering and forcing the Wimbledon organizers to exclude Russian and Belarusian players from playing. This is the situation we are in and this is the situation we have to overcome so that the international competitions can really be comparable and can be fair and just for everybody.”

He added later, answering another question:

“Governments should not decide, on political grounds, who is participating in which sport event.

“The qualification for sports events must be on sporting merits, and not on political interference. This is, by the way, you know, against all the commitments these governments – and there, the British government, unfortunately, is not the only one – that made their approval in the meantime three or four U.N. resolutions in the last couple of years and the latest one on 1st of December, where these governments voted for resolution by consensus where they say that they respect the Olympic Charter, which is the political neutrality of the IOC, where they emphasize the conciliative nature of sports events, where they support the autonomy of sport, and then to take a decision – a political decision – on a sports competition is clearly not in line with these resolutions and these commitments, and not in line with the mission of international sports, because if this would continue, then sport competitions and the international sports system would be gone.”

Bach also emphasized that athletes who misbehave and introduce politics into the competitions must themselves be subject to penalties:

“Whatever is happening with regard to athletes in their participation, the sanctions remain in place. Then, of course, if somebody would infringe on these sanctions, then, they would be sanctioned.

“Participation must happen on sporting merits, and respecting the rules of sport. And if somebody is infringing on these rules of sport, sanctions must – will – and have followed. We have seen Russian athletes displaying this infamous ‘Z’ sign and they have been sanctioned and have been excluded from competitions. This is how our system works: it means sporting merits and respect for the rules of sport. Who has no sporting merit cannot come and who is not respecting sport cannot not come.”

This was a reference to Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak, banned for a year after wearing a pro-invasion ‘Z’ on his uniform at the FIG Artistic Apparatus World Cup in Doha (QAT) last March.

2.
IOC is upset with boxing’s federation, not the boxers

Bach also gave the clearest declaration yet that the IOC’s continuing suspension of the International Boxing Association is about the federation and not about the sport:

“What we are discussing is not so much about boxing, and the boxers, it is about the governance of this sport. It’s about the federation, as it is right now and of it would be about boxing and the boxers, there would have been no boxing in Tokyo. And there would be no boxing in Paris.

“The Executive Board is fully conscious of the social values and the globality of boxing as a sport and is taking this into account, and has been taking this into account with regard to all these decisions of having, despite the suspension of the federation (boxing) in Tokyo and despite the huge problems in the federation still ongoing, also in Paris, So this is what we are concentrating on now, but again, I think this message should go to all the boxers, but it’s not about them, but it’s about the governance of their federation, which stands in their way.”

This is good news for boxing relative to its possible inclusion on the program for Los Angeles in 2028. But Bach slammed the IBA again in a later comment, adding:

“These issues have to be addressed in a way of substance and by facts and not by some P.R. efforts, but by measures of substance, and there, we will keep monitoring, and let’s see what’s going to happen.”

3.
Possible Winter Games rotation and double-allocation are related

The IOC Executive Board made headlines on Tuesday with the report of a discussion with the Future Host Commission about new approaches to the Olympic Winter Games, including a possible double allocation of the 2030 and 2034 editions and, given concerns about “climate reliability,” that even a possible rotation among a set of semi-permanent host cities could be considered.

It turns out the two are related. Bach explained on Wednesday:

“The way it was presented by the Commission … I perceived it in the way that the Commission is saying, by a double allocation, we would win some time to then establish a sound rotation system. So this, then, would follow the allocation for 2030.”

It’s all up in the air right now, but climate concerns may be pushing the IOC to consider a long-time recommendation to concentrate the Games in a few existing locations that could handle the repeat business. The difficulty with this idea starts with the availability of an Olympic Village, which is handled in the U.S. by the use of university student residences, an option not widely available elsewhere.

4.
U.S. World Cup viewing up almost 20% for English and Spanish combined

With a few days since the close of the group stage of the 2022 World Cup, the viewing numbers are coming in, with very good reports for U.S. viewing in both English and Spanish:

● FOX reported that the 48-match group stage attracted an average of 2.638 million viewers on FOX and FS1, an impressive 35% increase over the 1.958 million average from Russia in 1998.

● Telemundo reported a “total audience delivery” – TV and streaming – averaging 2.07 million viewers on Telemundo and Peacock, with a few matches that took place concurrently on Universo. This is a 5% bump from 2018, which averaged 1.97 million viewers.

The combined total is a 4.708 million per-match average, up 19.86% from 2018 in Russia.

Better figures are now available for the U.S. matches, including the Round-of-16 game against the Netherlands, for the English and Spanish broadcasts combined:

● 21 Nov. (Mon.): 11.236 million for U.S.-Wales
● 25 Nov. (Fri.) : 20.146 million for U.S.-England
● 29 Nov. (Tue.): 15.863 million for U.S.-Iran
● 03 Dec. (Sat.): 16.875 million for U.S.-Netherlands

That’s an average of 16.03 million – combined – for the four matches, which compares very favorably against every other sport on U.S. television except the NFL. Sunday’s early NFL window (1 p.m. Eastern) drew a combined 37.10 million on CBS and FOX for regional coverage; the CBS second game (4 p.m. Eastern) did 23.41 million. The Sunday Night Football broadcast on NBC had 18.13 million for Indianapolis and Dallas.

The U.S. World Cup match average did surpass the college conference championship games, with the SEC drawing 10.89 million for LSU vs. Georgia on CBS, the Big 10 getting 10.70 million on FOX for Purdue-Michigan, and ABC drawing 9.41 million for the Big 12 title game with Kansas State and TCU.

Behind the U.S., Mexico drew well – especially on Telemundo – from Qatar, with an average of 9.18 million:

● 22 Nov. (Tue.): 8.139 million for Mexico-Poland
● 26 Nov. (Sat.): 13.438 million for Mexico-Argentina
● 30 Nov. (Wed.): 5.973 million for Mexico-Saudi Arabia

The only other match to do more than 10 million viewers combined was the Thanksgiving Day game between Brazil and Serbia, which drew 11.181 million almost evenly between English (6.187 million) and Spanish (5.694 million). Next best was the Round-of-16 game between Argentina and Australia, which had 9.927 million U.S. viewers.

The least-interesting match of the World Cup? That was 495,000 combined viewers for Canada and Morocco on 1 December.

5.
Qatar excitement has FIFA considering new formats for 2026

Qatar’s 2022 World Cup will be the last with 32 teams, as the tournament will expand to 48 for the 2026 World Cup to be played in Canada, Mexico and the U.S.

The projected format for 2026 had been 16 groups of three – to be played in 16 different stadia – with the two top in each group to advance to a 32-team tournament. But the gripping results of the group stage in Qatar, in which all eight came down to the final day to clarify who would advance, is confirming the need for a new look at the format.

FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, former French coach Arsene Wenger, said Sunday that new options are being considered. In addition to the 16×3 format:

● 12 groups of four teams, with the top two in each moving on (24) and the eight “best” third-place teams advancing to an expanded elimination round of 32.

● Creating essentially two tournaments of 24 teams each, with six groups of four in each advancing to an elimination round of 16 on each side, and the winners of each “half” meeting in the final.

Said Wenger, “I will not be able to decide that, it will be decided by the FIFA [Council], and I think it will be done in the next year.”

The original 16×3 scenario was going to expand the World Cup from the current 64 total matches to 80, but either the 12×4 or 24×2 formats would create 104 matches in all, a financial, tourism and publicity bonanza for FIFA, the stadiums and potentially for the local communities.

≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡

FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) praised the 2022 World Cup – so far – in a video posted Wednesday:

“Record-breaking figures on TV; we already had over two billion viewers, which is really incredible. Figures published at the end of the group stage showed a cumulative attendance of 2.45 million for the first 48 games, while the first knockout round featured a total of 28 goals over the eight games played; the most there has ever been since the round of 16 was introduced in 1986.”

Cumulative attendance at the Fan Festival in Doha has surpassed one million.

Mario Ferri, 35, the Italian activist who ran onto the field wearing a Superman shirt that said “Free Ukraine” on the front, “Respect for Iranian Women” on the back and carried a rainbow flag during the group-stage game between Portugal and Uruguay, said he was released from Qatari custody after just a half-hour due to the intervention of Infantino.

Now back home, Ferri told Reuters, “Gianni Infantino is intelligent; Falco is free, no problem in Qatar.” He said the FIFA President came to where Ferri was being held and arranged for his release. Ferri claims to have created on-field protests 11 times, and this was his third at a World Cup, after 2010 and 2014.

Avaaz, a Swiss protest group, created mobile billboards that toured Infantino’s home town of Brig (SUI) on Wednesday, reading “Infantino: your family were migrants,” “Thousands like them were victims of this World Cup,” and “Compensate them now.”

For a guest comment on some of the questions raised by hosting the FIFA World Cup in Qatar by University of Lausanne Professor of Public Management at the Swiss Graduate School of Public Administration, Jean-Loup Chappelet, click here.

No matches on Wednesday or Thursday; the World Cup will resume on Friday and Saturday with the quarterfinals (records reflect penalty-kick victories as wins):

● 09 Dec.: Croatia (2-0-2 W-L-T: goals 5-2) vs. Brazil (3-1: goals 7-2)
● 09 Dec.: Netherlands (3-0-1; goals 8-2) vs. Argentina (3-1; goals 7-3)

● 10 Dec.: Morocco (3-0-1; goals 4-1) vs. Portugal (3-1; goals 12-5)
● 10 Dec.: England (3-0-1; goals 12-2) vs. France (3-1; goals 9-4)

The semifinals will be played on the 13th and 14th and the final on 18 December.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Weightlifting ● The 2022 IWF World Championships continue in Bogota (COL), with the lighter weights, and another gold for Thailand.

In the men’s 55 kg class, Theerapong Silachai, 19, came from fourth after the Snatch to win the Clean & Jerk event and take the victory at 265 kg. He led an Asian sweep, with Ngo Son Dinh (VIE) second at 260 kg and Yon-ho King (KOR) third, also at 260. Gabe Chhum of the U.S. was 10th at 238 kg.

China’s Huihua Jiang won her third world title at 49 kg – also in 2015 and 2019 – by lifting a combined 206 kg, winning both the Snatch and Clean & Jerk golds. Tokyo silver winner Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (IND) took silver at 200 kg and Tokyo Olympic champ Zhihui Hou (CHN: 198 kg) was third.

American Hayley Reichardt scored a bronze in the Clean & Jerk lift, but finished fifrth overall (194 kg); teammate Jourdan Delacruz was seventh (191 kg).

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Doping ● Dr. Werner Franke, the German biologist who played a key role in uncovering the East German state doping scheme, passed at age 82 on 14 November in Heidelberg.

With his wife, former East German Olympic shot putter and discus thrower Brigitte Bernendonk, Franke was able to assemble documents that described the use of anabolic steroids as part of a state-sponsored plan launched in 1974, although doping in East Germany had been going on in the 1960s.

Franke and Benendonk’s 1991 book, Doping Dokumente: Von der Forschung zum Betrug, made the documentation public and exposed the now-infamous program. Franke was a long-time professor of cell and molecular biology at the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg.

● Taekwondo ● The long-running appeal by U.S. star Steven Lopez – two time Olympic gold medalist in 2000 (68 kg) and 2004 (80 kg), now 44 – and brother and coach, Jean Lopez over a ban by World Taekwondo, was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The decision restored the standing of both Lopez brothers immediately. They were declared permanently ineligible by the U.S. Center for SafeSport in September 2018 for sexual abuse, but that finding was overturned in early 2019. World Taekwondo subsequently imposed its own sanctions, and the Lopezes appealed. According to the Court:

“[I]in the absence of any relevant applicable disciplinary or ethics rules implemented or published by WT at the time of the alleged violations, the CAS Panel was not in a position to sanction the appellants, even if the Panel was to assume that they had committed an infraction.

“Indeed, the Panel observed that WT charged the appellants based on its 2011 Code of Ethics, which entered into force on 15 September 2011, but that all relevant incidents for which the appellants were charged allegedly occurred before 15 September 2011 and were therefore not sanctionable on the basis of the 2011 Code of Ethics.”

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For our updated, 951-event International Sports Calendar for 2022-23 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

VOX POPULI: The Cup is full

By
Jean-Loup Chappelet
-

Happy to share a guest opinion from Jean-Loup Chappelet (SUI), Professor of Public Management at the Swiss Graduate School of Public Administration (IDHEAP) of the University of Lausanne. His opinions, of course, are his own.

The men’s football World Cup is now underway in Qatar. Beyond the fundamental issues of environmental sustainability and the human rights of residents and visitors (e.g. construction workers, LGBTQ+ people,), it once again raises the question of why stage risky and extremely costly mega sports events if public opinion is likely to vilify the host country, a risk that is particularly great when that country has an autocratic government.

There is of course the old adage that there is no such thing as bad publicity, but here the criticism (from participating teams, from cities refusing to set up fan zones, and from the media) was so overwhelming that FIFA found it necessary to ask people to concentrate on the football. Even the Emir of Qatar, with the help of paid social media, intervened to insist on the Middle East being allowed the right to host major events (whatever they cost). In fact, for the last 20 years this tiny country (smaller than New Jersey) has had a policy of attracting and staging major sport events at
the cost of millions and to the joy of sport federations that were struggling to find hosts for their championships. This policy has resulted in Qatar being attributed numerous world championships, including triathlon (2006), volleyball (2011), squash (2012), swimming (2014), handball (2015), fencing (2017), gymnastics (2018), and athletics (2019), as well as the Asian Games (2006 and 2030). The 2022 World Cup — attributed 12 years ago — crowns an unequalled series that lacks only the
Summer Olympic Games (despite two bids).

Saudi Arabia has recently adopted a similar policy and should host the 2034 Asian Games and the 2029 Asian Winter Games (!). Other cities (Chicago), regions (Scotland), and countries (Denmark) introduced policies based on hosting sports events many years ago, but they are increasingly focusing their efforts on more reasonable events that can be staged using existing facilities, as the IOC now recommends for the Olympic Games. Recurring events are another prized target because they enable areas to build expertise and because they can gradually turn into heritage events (e.g., the Boston Marathon and U.S. Open).

Sports events need to become more sustainable, that is, they must provide economic and social benefits while reducing their environmental impact. A sports event’s largest environmental impact is caused by travel, as participants and spectators often come from far afield and they often travel by plane, due to the lack of alternatives (see the 2022 U.N. Climate Change Conference: COP 27). In fact, the best event from an environmental point of view would be one that did not happen. Therefore, to continue bringing people together for sports events, they must fulfil two requirements: They must do everything possible to reduce or compensate for the impacts of transportation, waste, energy production, etc., and they must ensure economic and social impacts benefit the largest possible number of host area residents and not just a few “winners” such as the tourism sector. They must also have positive social impacts, such as promoting volunteerism and creating other intangible legacies. These are the criteria against which future sports events will be judged and accepted or rejected.

Will football once again work its magic during the coming days? Will it make people forget the economic, social, and environmental aberrations of the 2022 World Cup? It is by no means certain. It could, on the other hand, mark a salutary turning point in the much-needed debate on public policies to attract large-scale events owned by private sport organizations.

[≡The Sports Examiner encourages expressions of opinion – we really do – but preferably based on facts. Comments may be sent to Editor@TheSportsExaminer.com We do not guarantee publication of any comment, but all comments submitted will be considered and your submission implies your agreement to publication (and light editing if needed to meet our grammatical and punctuation standards) at our sole discretion. Please include your name and hometown on any comment submitted for publication.≡]

TSX REPORT: Morocco stuns Spain and Portugal routs Swiss in Qatar; IOC says boxing federation still failing, and no 2030 Winter Games election in 2023!

By
Rich Perelman
-

★ The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Morocco makes history for Africa and Arabs in Qatar
2. No 2030 Winter Games award in 2023 as IOC evaluates climate impact
3. IOC slams IBA as still unfit to manage Olympic boxing
4. Paris 2024 budget now to be €4.38 billion, but revenues are also up
5. Heptathlete Taliyah Brooks files suit vs. USATF to invalidate waivers

The FIFA World Cup in Qatar had some history on the field as Morocco defeated Spain on penalty kicks (3-0) after a 0-0, making it the first Arab country to make it to the quarterfinals and only the fourth African team in history. Portugal routed Switzerland, 6-1, with Goncalo Ramos, 21, getting the first hat tricks of the tournament. At the International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board meeting, it was decided that the 2030 Winter Games host would not be decided in 2023 and a completely new approach to the event – possibly including rotating host cities – will be considered for the future. The IOC also sent a letter to the International Boxing Association that its reforms are far short of what the IOC has asked for and the federation, at present, will not be involved in the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Boxing, as a sport, might be. Details of a 10% increase in the Paris 2024 budget were revealed, including the impact of inflation and more money coming in than planned in sponsorships and tickets. The 2024 Games is now expected to cost the organizing committee €4.38 billion (about $4.59 billion U.S.), which does not include construction costs being borne by the French government. U.S. heptathlete Taliyah Brooks, who did not finish at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene die to the high heat, has filed suit against USA Track & Field to invalidate its waiver of liability, in order to be able to sue the federation for damages. This is going to take a while, but has the potential to re-shape the events industry in the U.S.

1.
Morocco makes history for Africa and Arabs in Qatar

Finally, a historic breakthrough on the field, and at the first FIFA World Cup to be held in an Arab country, an Arab team has progressed to the quarterfinals.

Despite having only 23% of possession during the game, Morocco held Spain scoreless over 120 minutes and then won the penalty shoot-out by 3-0 as the first Spanish penalty hit the post and two were saved by keeper Yassine Bounou.

Morocco is only the fourth African team to make it to the quarters, beginning with Cameroon back in 1990, then Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010. And it is the first Arab country to make it this far, a sporting legacy to go with the geopolitical ramifications of the World Cup being played in Qatar.

In the second match, Portugal’s superstar scorer Cristiano Ronaldo was benched in favor of 21-year-old Goncalo Ramos – playing in his fourth international match – who scored the first hat trick of the 2022 tournament, with electrifying goals in the 17th, 51st and 67th minutes en route to a 6-1 win over Switzerland.

Portugal is into the quarters for the first time since 2006 and the third time ever (also in 1966). Their attacking style will be a considerable contrast to Spain.

So, the quarterfinals will have five European teams – down from seven in 2018 – two from South America in Argentina and Brazil, and Morocco.

After 13 days of group-stage play and four more days of elimination matches, the World Cup finally takes a breather for two days, with the quarters coming on Friday and Saturday (records reflect penalty-kick victories as wins):

● 09 Dec.: Croatia (2-0-2 W-L-T: goals 5-2) vs. Brazil (3-1: goals 7-2)
● 09 Dec.: Netherlands (3-0-1; goals 8-2) vs. Argentina (3-1; goals 7-3)

● 10 Dec.: Morocco (3-0-1; goals 4-1) vs. Portugal (3-1; goals 12-5)
● 10 Dec.: England (3-0-1; goals 12-2) vs. France (3-1; goals 9-4)

The semifinals will be played on the 13th and 14th and the final on 18 December.

2.
No 2030 Winter Games award in 2023
as IOC evaluates climate impact

The much-anticipated report of the Future Host Commission for the Olympic Winter Games to the International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board did not focus on the selection of a host for 2030 Games, but about climate change.

And now, everything appears to be up for grabs:

● The selection of a 2030 host will not be decided in 2023, but perhaps in 2024. For now, there is no timetable;

● Considerable concern over “climate reliability” and the availability of actual snow for biathlon, skiing and snowboard events at a narrowing number of potential hosts;

● “[A] proposal that hosts would need to show average minimum temperatures of below zero degrees [C, or 32 F] for snow competition venues at the time of the Games over a 10-year period”;

● “The idea of rotating the Olympic Winter Games within a pool of hosts”;

● A possible requirement that, according to IOC Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi (SUI), that “for the future, we should aim to target a host that can display all venues to be existing, or temporary” that would apply at least to the outdoor biathlon, skiing and snowboard events.

So the Future Host Commission was asked for further study and a return report to the Executive Board.

After prior explicit declarations to the contrary, “[t]here was also a discussion about a double award for 2030 and 2034, to create stability for winter sports and the Olympic Winter Games. No conclusion was reached, since this needs more exploration.”

Does this mean new bidders could come in now? Yes.

Observed: That the 2030 host will not be selected in 2023 could create chaos in the bidding process. Perhaps Spain will come back in. Will Vancouver get a new look from the Province of British Columbia?

Will the expanding bribery and rigged-bid scandal at the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee impact public support for Sapporo’s bid? Will its budget continue to increase?

For Salt Lake City, the situation is more subtle. It already has all existing venues, so that won’t change. A selection in 2024 would cut one year of staff and office costs from its ledger, which will help. It will give the LA28 folks another year of a clear field for its marketing efforts, but also gives a potential Salt Lake City 2030 Games less time to find domestic sponsorship opportunities.

One advantage that Salt Lake City can press is its continuing parade of national and international winter-sport events and athlete training programs being held at the Utah Olympic Park, the Olympic Oval and elsewhere. That’s the kind of expertise which cannot be duplicated and with a shorter run-up to a 2030 Games, could be the decisive card in a “safe hands” play to ensure the Winter Games is well cared for into the next decade.

As with Brisbane for the 2032 Olympic Games, stability is looking better and better as an attraction for the IOC, and could place Salt Lake City in a permanent rotation!

3.
IOC slams IBA as still unfit to manage Olympic boxing

One day after a demonstration was mounted in front of Olympic House in Lausanne by former pro boxing champ Roy Jones, Jr. and about 100 friends to lobby for boxing to be reinstated for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and the International Boxing Association as the worldwide governing body, the IOC Executive Board said they aren’t interested.

The Executive Board sent a letter to the IBA, all National Olympic Committees and all national boxing federations that included:

“The IOC has been monitoring the activities of the International Boxing Association (IBA) for several years now and is periodically considering whether the suspension of its recognition by the IOC could be lifted. The issue is not about the sport of boxing or boxers, but IBA and its practices and activities. While some indications concerning the reorganisation of the administration of boxing were received, there are multiple signals that the drastic change of culture requested by the IOC in order to lift the suspension of IBA’s recognition has not been implemented. As a result, the IOC is not in a position today to reverse its stance with regard to the suspension of IBA’s recognition.”

And specifically about 2028, the letter stated:

“If a decision had to be taken today regarding the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028, the IOC EB would not be able to recommend the IOC Session to include boxing in the sports programme under the authority of the IBA as IBA has not demonstrated that it has successfully addressed the ongoing concerns around its governance, its financial transparency and sustainability and the integrity of its refereeing and judging processes.”

It’s important to note the two references to the IOC’s issues with the IBA and not boxing or boxers. The IOC successfully managed the boxing qualifications and Olympic tournament in Tokyo, and is ready to do so again for Paris in 2024. But with the IBA? No.

As further proof, the Executive Board also approved the qualification process for Paris 2024, relying on the continental multi-sport games in 2023 – Asian Games, European Games, Pan-American Games, Pacific Games and a tournament to be determined in Africa – and two world qualification tournaments in 2024. The idea is to give boxers potentially three chances to qualify.

The IBA, for its part, is holding a Global Boxing Forum this weekend in Abi Dhabi (UAE), to decide its next steps.

4.
Paris 2024 budget now to be €4.38 billion,
but revenues are also up

The FrancsJeux.com site outlined the specifics of the revision of the Paris 2024 budget to be confirmed by its Board next Monday (12th). The current edition shows €3.9 billion (~$4.08 billion U.S. today), rising to €4.38 billion (~$4.59 billion U.S.) thanks to inflation, supply-chain issues and revisions to the Games plan.

The specific inflation impact is forecast at €196 million, but the other €242 million added on are simply added costs.

However, revenues are also, happily, rising. Domestic sponsorships, long targeted at €1.1 billion, are projected to include €127 million more (so €1.227 billion in total), with about 10 more partners to be signed.

The ticketing and hospitality forecast of €1.165 billion is also being increased by €143 million (to €1.308 billion) by increasing prices on some of the high-demand sessions and making more tickets available by reducing seats reserved for officials and press.

Public funding from state and local sources is also being increased by €111 million, mostly for support of the Paralympic Games (from €100 to €171 million), plus €12 million for sports equipment that will also be used after the Games, €8 million for the anti-doping lab and €5 million for transportation support.

A major savings was made by eliminating free public transport for ticket holders, which has been widely available in the past. But it saves €45 million! And old traditions like opening the Olympic Village two weeks prior to the Games are being shelved, now to open on 18 July, with the Opening Ceremony on 26 July. Training sites will open just seven days ahead of the start of each sport. And so on.

5.
Heptathlete Taliyah Brooks files suit vs. USATF to invalidate waivers

A complaint filed on 29 November in the Marion County Superior Court in Indianapolis is challenging the validity of waivers used to shield sports event operators – and many others – from liability, and if successful, could pose a serious legal liability challenge to events across the United States. Filed by Indianapolis-based Kroger, Gardis & Regas, it begins:

“Plaintiff, Taliyah Brooks, by counsel, brings this Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief against Defendant USA Track & Field, Inc. (“USA Track & Field,” “USATF” or “Defendant”), seeking (1) a declaratory judgment that a purported waiver, release, assumption of risk and indemnity agreement (the “Alleged Indemnity Agreement” or “AIA”) which, if enforceable, would prevent her from suing for damages suffered at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Time Trials in Eugene, Oregon in June, 2021 (the “U.S. Olympic Trials” or the “Olympic Trials”), is unenforceable as a matter of law and equity and (2) an injunction preventing USATF from enforcing the AIA against Taliyah Brooks.”

Brooks, now 27, won the 2021 Texas Relays heptathlon in March with a lifetime best of 6,252 points and stood third on the U.S. performer list going into the U.S. Olympic Trials in June. In Eugene, temperatures soared, but Brooks was in fourth place after the long jump at 4,908, just 11 back of Erica Bougard in third – and a potential Olympic berth – with the javelin and 800 m left.

The complaint states that temperatures in Eugene on the first day of the heptathlon reached 103 degrees (F) and were forecast to reach 108 F on the second day, and although there were requests for a change in schedule due to the heat, none were made to the heptathlon (although some other events were re-scheduled).

Brooks took one practice throw in the javelin and collapsed, but got up. Then, according to the complaint:

“Next, Taliyah attempted to walk towards the stands. As she crossed the track, Brooks collapsed a second time, falling to the track, where she remained, unconscious, motionless and unattended, her fall unbroken.

“Eventually, Taliyah was reached by a credentialed individual who is not believed to be a physician and accompanied by a few other individuals who stood by with no medical equipment, no ice or cooling devices, no stretcher or wheelchair, and nothing to insulate Taliyah from the extreme heat of the track surface. Taliyah lay unconscious on the hot track while a worker radioed for assistance.”

She was eventually placed in a wheelchair and escorted off the track, unconscious; “After Taliyah was taken off the track it is believed that she was eventually immersed in water to reduce her core temperature and she regained consciousness.”

The essence of the complaint is that “at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials USATF failed and breached its duty in relation to virtually every single health and safety related duty listed above that it owed and had assumed towards Taliyah Brooks and her fellow competitors in the two-day women’s heptathlon event.”

However, USATF’s insurer has pointed to a mandatory waiver of rights, a legal tool which has been widely used for decades to shield event producers from liability. There is apparently no evidence that Brooks actually signed the waiver, but the complaint is asking to have the waiver itself declared illegal for a variety of reasons and:

“Taliyah Brooks is entitled to a declaratory judgment that the AIA and any and all exculpatory provisions sought to be enforced against her through any documents or alleged agreements tendered by USATF are unenforceable and Taliyah Brooks is entitled to an injunction enjoining the enforcement of any and all such exculpatory provisions.”

The request is directly to the Court to invalidate the waiver (permanently) so that Brooks can sue USATF (and perhaps others) for damages. If she is successful – and this may take years – it will change the way events of all kinds are staged in the U.S. and could keep some programs for even taking place. For that reason, it’s an important case to follow.

Brooks competed in only one heptathlon in 2022, the USATF Nationals in Fayetteville, Arkansas on 6-7 May and finished ninth at 4,291.

≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡

● Morocco 0, Spain 0 (Morocco wins on penalty kicks, 3-0) ● Spain’s possession strategy failed on Tuesday, as it held the ball for 77% of the game – including extra time – against Morocco, but was sent home after having all three of its penalty kicks hit the post or saved.

The victory for Morocco sends it to the quarterfinals for the first time ever and is the first African quarterfinalist since Ghana in 2010 (and the fourth ever). It is the first Arab country to reach the World Cup quarters and was wildly cheered on by a huge majority of fans in the Education City Stadium.

The game was Spain in possession and Morocco looking for counterattacks, which were few and far between. Both sides managed just one shot on goal in the first half (Spain had a 7-4 edge on total shots) and after 120 minutes, Spain had 13 total shots to six.

Forward Walid Cheddira had a chance close to the Spanish goal in the 86th, but Spanish keeper Unai Simon was able to corral the shot. Morocco keeper Yassine Bounou saved a possible goal off a free kick by Spanish defender Rodri at 90+4 and Simon saved a point-blank challenge from Cheddira in the 104th.

But it went to penalty kicks and after Pablo Sarabia’s first shot hit the post, Bounou saved the next two from Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets. Meanwhile, Morocco converted its first two, Simon saved the third and Achraf Hakimi scored with a shot to the center of the goal to give Morocco the win and some history in Qatar.

The Spanish have now lost Round-of-16 games in back-to-back World Cups and have not won one since 2010, when they won the tournament.

● Portugal 6, Switzerland 1 ● The first surprise came when Portugal announced that superstar striker Cristiano Ronaldo would not start, with 21-year-old Goncalo Ramos in his place, for just his fourth appearance with the national team.

No problem, as Ramos turned on forward Joao Felix’s pass into the left side of the box and sent a sudden, left-footed rocket into the Swiss goal, just inside the left post, in the 17th for a 1-0 lead.

Portugal continued to threaten and then the 39-year-old defender Pepe headed an in-swinging corner from Bruno Fernandes into the goal, flying it past Swiss keeper Yann Sommer in the 33rd.

The Swiss almost scored in the 38th, after Portugal keeper Diogo Costa made a save, but the ball fell to Swiss midfielder Remo Freuler for a header – with Costa out of position – that was cleared by defender Diogo Dalot. Five minutes later, Ramos was on a breakaway for Portugal, but Sommer was able to save his shot across the goal with his left hand. Portugal had 53% of possession in the half and a 6-4 edge on shots.

More Portuguese pressure in the second half to a third goal in the 51st, thanks to a perfect cross from the right side from Dalot right to the near post to a running Ramos, who tapped it past Sommer for his second score and a 3-0 lead that broke the back of the Swiss.

Now the rout was on, as defender Rafael Guerreiro took a Ramos lead pass, dribbled down the left-hand side and scored on a rifle shot into the far right corner in the 55th, now 4-0. The Swiss got one back in the 58th, off a corner that bounced off of Ramos’ head, then fell to the far post and defender Manuel Akanji left-footed it into the goal for 4-1.

Ramos came back with another goal – the hat trick – in the 67th, taking a pass from Felix from the top of the box that put him one-on-one on goal and he chipped it in for 5-1. At 90+3, substitute striker Rafael Leao scored his second of the tournament from the left side of the box on a right-footed rainbow into the right side of the goal for the 6-1 final.

Portugal had only 52% of the possession and a 14-10 edge on shots, but 9-3 on goal. Wow.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● International Olympic Committee ● The 11th “Olympic Summit” is being held on Sunday (11th), bringing together – in-person and online – some of the leaders of the Olympic Movement, including National Olympic Committees, International Federations, associations and more.

On the list for 2022 is Russia’s National Olympic Committee President, Stanislav Pozdnyakov, a controversial selection given the continuing war in Ukraine, but in line with the IOC policy that the only people to be punished should be government officials.

He will attend, along with Chinese NOC chief Zhidan Gao and U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee outgoing Board Chair Susanne Lyons and incoming Chair Gene Sykes.

● National Olympic Committees ● The IOC Executive Board continued the suspension of the Guatemalan NOC in view of government interference issues that have not been resolved.

The North Korean NOC has been on suspension since 2021 because it did not send a team to the Tokyo 2020 Games. That will be lifted as of the end of this year.

For Afghanistan, the situation is critical, and the Executive Board “expressed its serious concern and strongly condemned the latest restrictions imposed by the Afghan authorities on women and young girls in Afghanistan, which prevent them from practising sport in the country.

“Despite the repeated commitments from the Afghan NOC and sports authorities to ensure full compliance with the Olympic Charter and the Fundamental Principle of non-discrimination, and to send mixed teams to international sports competitions, in particular the Olympic Games Paris 2024, the latest developments prompted the IOC EB to urge the relevant authorities in Afghanistan, including the Afghan NOC and the Afghan Directorate of Physical Education & Sports, to take immediate action at the highest level to reverse such restrictions and ensure safe access to sport for women and young girls in the country.”

If the situation does not improve, the Executive Board agreed to consider banning the country from future Games, but will continue to support individual Afghan athletes through the Olympic Solidarity program.

On Monday, the Human Rights Watch organization urged the IOC to suspend the Afghanistan NOC “until women and girls can once again play sport in the country.”

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● The U.S. Olympic Endowment, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s investment arm formed from the surplus from the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, announced its 2022 award winners on Monday, to be presented on 16 December in New York:

● Six-time Olympic fencer and 1984 Sabre bronze medalist Peter Westbrook, 70, to receive the George M. Steinbrenner III Sport Leadership Award, as a contributor who has displayed qualities of leadership, ethical conduct, and dedicated responsibility during a longstanding commitment to sport.

● U.S. Junior Pairs champion Paul George, the head of the U.S. Figure Skating Foundation and contributor to many others, for the William E. Simon Award, “given to an individual or group who has made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of the Olympic and Paralympic movements.”

● Three-time Team Handball Olympian Cindy Stinger, a longtime USOPC executive and current manager of the U.S. Olympians & Paralympians Alumni Association, will be the honoree of the General Douglas MacArthur Award, given “to an individual who has exhibited exemplary service to the USOPC and to athletes.”

● Cycling ● The 2022 UCI Track Champions League concluded in London (GBR) on Sunday, with Sprint and Endurance winners decided, including Jennifer Valente of the U.S.

The men’s Sprint title went to Australian Matthew Richardson, the 2022 World Sprint silver medalist, scoring 183 points (in Sprint and Keirin races) across five stops to edge Olympic champ Harrie Lavreysen (NED: 181) and Stefan Botticher (GER: 136).

The men’s Endurance program had Scratch and Elimination races across five rounds, with Claudio Imhof (SUI) and Sebastian Mora Vedri (ESP) both scoring 125 points, but Imhof winning on a better finish in the final (Elimination) race.

France’s 2022 World Sprint gold medalist Mathilde Gros won the women’s Sprint (& Keirin) class, piling up 140 points vs. 127 for Canada’s Tokyo Olympic Sprint champ Kelsey Mitchell and 122 for Olympic Keirin winner Shanne Braspennincx (NED: 122).

Valente, the Tokyo Olympic Omnium gold medalist, edged Britain’s two-time Omnium World champion Katie Archibald, 161-158 in the Endurance division, with fellow American Lily Williams fifth (95).

● Rowing ● The World Rowing Awards were announced on Sunday, with France’s Double Sculls World Champions Matthieu Androdias and Hugo Boucheron taking the Men’s Crew of the Year, and the unbeatable – Olympic and World Champions – Romanian Double Sculls team of Simona Radis and Ancuta Bodnar named the Women’s Crew of the Year.

The Thomas Keller Medal, named for the famed longtime head of World Rowing, was given to New Zealand icon Mahe Drysdale, the Olympic gold medalist in the men’s Single Sculls in 2008 and 2012 and bronze medalist in 2016.

● Shooting ● While much recent attention was given to the closely-contested election for the ISSF Presidency, the ISSF President’s Cup competition was taking place in Cairo (EGY) and concluded on 4 December.

Serbia’s Tokyo Olympic runner-up Damir Mikec defeated German star Christian Reitz in the men’s 10 m Air Pistol, 17-9, and Olympic champ Jean Quiquampoix (FRA) won the 25 m Rapid-Fire Pistol over Rio 2016 champ Reitz, 35-34. India’s Rudrankksh Patil won the 10 m Air Rifle title over Danilo Sollazzo (ITA), 16-8, with the 50 m Rifle/3 Positions win going to Petr Nymbursky (CZE).

France’s Camille Jedrzejewski defeated 2010 World Champion Zorana Arunovic (SRB) in the women’s 10 m Air Pistol final, 16-12, and Germany’s 2022 European Champion Doreen Vennekamp out-scored Jedrzejewski, 31-27, in the 25 m Pistol final. French star Oceane Muller won the 10 m Air Rifle final over Lucie Brazdova (CZE), 16-10, and Germany’s Anna Jansen won the 50 m Rifle/3 Positions in a tight match with Anjum Moudgil (IND), 16-14.

The Shotgun titles went to Tokyo Olympic runner-up Jesper Hansen (DEN) in men’s Skeet, Croatia’s Rio 2016 gold medalist Josip Glasnovic in Trap (over the U.S.’s 2022 World Champion Derrick Mein, 6-4), 2018World Champion Caitlin Connor of the U.S. in women’s Skeet and Italian Jessica Rossi, the 2012 Olympic champ, in women’s Trap.

● Weightlifting ● The 2022 IWF World Championships are underway in Bogota (COL), with Thai star Thanyathon Sukcharoen winning her second straight title in the women’s 45 kg division, listing a combined total of 182 kg. Teammate Chayuttra Pramongkhol won silver (180 kg) and Colombia’s Manuela Berrio took the bronze (170 kg). The championships continue through the 16th.

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TSX REPORT: Brazil stomps Korea, 4-1 and Croatia penalty-kicks Japan; IOC could invite more than one 2030 Winter bidder to “targeted dialogue”

By
Rich Perelman
-
Former pro boxing champ Roy Jones Jr. leading a demonstration to retain boxing on the 2028 Olympic program in front of the IOC headquarters on Monday (Photo: International Boxing Association)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Brazil looks like Brazil in 4-1 romp while Croatia wins on penalties
2. U.S. vs. Netherlands draws 16.55 million viewers combined
3. IOC could invite more than one bidder for “targeted dialogue” for 2030
4. Roy Jones, Jr. leads demonstration for boxing’s 2028 inclusion
5. Int’l Testing Agency closes London 2012 re-tests, adding 73 positives.

The FIFA World Cup completed its third day of four in the Round of 16, with Brazil looking unstoppable in a 4-1 win over South Korea and Croatia edging Japan on penalty kicks (3-1) after a 1-1 tie. FIFA’s disciplinary group opened an inquiry into possible sanctions for the Uruguayan federation and four of its players after they accosted match officials at the conclusion of their final group-stage match against Ghana. The U.S. men’s team loss to the Netherlands on Saturday drew an American audience – in English and Spanish combined – of 16.55 million on FOX and Telemundo, second only to the U.S.-England match. The International Olympic Committee’s staff director for the Olympic Games said that more than one bidder for the 2030 Olympic Winter Games could be invited to the “targeted dialogue” phase, a departure from the process used for the selection of 2032 Olympic host Brisbane. A group of 100-plus demonstrators assembled in front of the IOC headquarters in Lausanne on Monday, led by former pro boxing champion Roy Jones, Jr., to urge inclusion of boxing in the 2028 Olympic program in Los Angeles; the International Boxing Association made no claim of responsibility for the event. The International Testing Agency announced the closure of its re-testing of samples from the London 2012 Olympic Games, in which 73 positives were uncovered and 31 medals withdrawn, the most of any Olympic Games in history.

1.
Brazil looks like Brazil in 4-1 romp while Croatia wins on penalties

The FIFA World Cup Round-of-16 matches on Monday saw the exit of the last Asian teams in the tournament, as Japan lost on penalty kicks vs. Croatia and Brazil out-classed South Korea, 4-1.

The results give Europe at least five of the quarterfinalists with a possible sixth available on Tuesday as Portugal plays a surprising and skilled Morocco team. The final Round-of-16 match will be an all-European affair between Portugal and Switzerland.

South America has two of the final eight, with Argentina and Brazil qualifying decisively, with the Brazilians looking brilliant in a 4-0 first-half display, then settling for a 4-1 final.

Friday’s quarterfinals are now set, with the Netherlands facing Argentina and Croatia vs. Brazil. England will play France in one quarterfinal on Saturday. The semifinals will be on 13-14 December and the championship match on the 18th (Sunday).

The FIFA disciplinary folks are busy, informing the Uruguayan Football Association that it and four of its players are being investigated for violations of FIFA’s fair-play rules.

At the conclusion of the final group-stage match between Uruguay and Ghana – won by Uruguay, 2-0, but insufficient to advance them to the elimination rounds, referee Daniel Siebert (GER) was hounded by Uruguayan players furious that a penalty was not awarded for a Ghanian foul late in the match.

The behavior of defender Jose Gimenez, striker Edinson Cavani, keeper Fernando Muslera and defender Diego Godin is being reviewed, especially for surrounding Siebert and the assistant referees as they walked off the field.

Further, the Uruguayan federation will be subject to sanction relating to FIFA Disciplinary Code Article 11 (offensive behavior and violation of the principles of fair play), Article 12 (improper conduct of players and officials) and Article 13 (discrimination). The actions of the four players will be reviewed for violations of Articles 11 and 12.

It was also reported that FIFA is reviewing Serbian behavior relating to “incidents” in its 3-2 loss to the Swiss in the final Group G game. The specifics were not, as usual, specified, but in-match announcements asked fans to “stop all discriminatory chants and gestures.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) promised that the organization would work to continue the labor reforms achieved in Qatar and met with International Labor Organisation Director-General Gilbert Houngbo (TOG) on Sunday. Said Infantino:

“We have been engaging with the ILO for a number of years and we want to make sure our fruitful cooperation will continue in the future. The strengthening of the relation of FIFA and the ILO is also part of the legacy of the FIFA World Cup 2022, namely via the Legacy Fund that we will create, and which will be dedicated to workers throughout the world.”

A Memorandum of Understanding between FIFA and the ILO is anticipated, setting out the nature of their cooperation going forward.

2.
U.S. vs. Netherlands draws 16.55 million viewers combined

Strong viewing of the Round-of-16 match between the U.S. Men’s National Team and the Dutch on Saturday at 10 a.m. Eastern time, with 16.55 million watching in either English or Spanish, on television on streaming:

● FOX reported 12.966 million watching or streaming in English, including 596,850 (4.6%) on its streaming services.

● Telemundo’s Spanish-language coverage of the game drew a total audience of 3.58 million.

The total of 16.546 million is the second-most for a U.S. match at this World Cup:

1. 20.091 million on 25 Nov.: U.S. vs. England
2. 16.546 million on 03 Dec.: U.S. vs. Netherlands
3. 15.513 million on 29 Nov.: U.S. vs. Iran
4. 11.161 million on 21 Nov.: U.S. vs. Wales

The top U.S. markets for FOX were Cincinnati, St. Louis, Washington, D.C.. Kansas City and Austin. More information on how the U.S. men’s game stacked up against other weekend sports offerings will be available later in the week.

The Associated Press reported that the in-person attendance for Saturday’s Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase game at London’s O2 Arena between Michigan and Kentucky – won by Kentucky, 73-69, with a Maine-Marist game held earlier – was held down due to a timing clash with England playing Senegal in the Round of 16.

John Doleva, President of the Basketball Hall of Fame said “Two years ago, we were supposed to be here” – but had to postpone due to the pandemic – “and now the World Cup. We’ve certainly had our hurdles.”

Michigan coach Juwan Howard said, “I’m sure a lot of folks were at home or in pubs watching the football match. Overall, it would have been great if we had could have had more fans.”

Not when England is playing!

3.
IOC could invite more than one bidder for “targeted dialogue” for 2030

The International Olympic Committee’s Executive Director for the Olympic Games, Christophe Dubi (SUI) threw a curveball into the selection process for the 2030 Olympic Winter Games, being sought by Sapporo, Salt Lake City and Vancouver, during a Monday news conference after the first day of the IOC’s Executive Board meeting:

“You can have more than one [bid] starting with the targeted dialogue, you can then have different options going into the Session. This process is really designed for the parties to look into the projects, into minute details every step of the way.”

This would be a change from the process used for the 2023 Olympic Games, where Brisbane (AUS) was the only bidder asked to essentially work with the IOC to complete a Host City Agreement and be named as the host. Dubi continued:

“The targeted dialogue, between now and then, mostly it’s about the guarantees, and you know, sometimes, the guarantees prove extremely hard to assemble, in which case it can be one of the city deciding that they don’t wish to continue, or it can be, indeed, a decision by the IOC as well prior to a submission to the Session.

“So here, really, everything is open, but it is indeed an option to have more than one going into targeted dialogue and then once it’s unfolding, the result is then a proposal from the [Executive Board] to the Session.”

This is a reference to Vancouver’s situation, in which the Province of British Columbia – and therefore, the federal government – have declined to provide support for the Games project. More details were not available, since the Future Hosts Commission will be reporting on Tuesday about its view of the current situation.

But it opens the possibility for Sapporo and Salt Lake City to both be asked for further work, and even the option of a competitive vote in the 2023 Session next fall in India.

Dubi was also positive about the Paris 2024 update given on Monday, saying “It was a very solid report from Paris today that we heard.”

He further noted that the budget exercise for Paris continues to look for savings, including tweaking the dates of venue availability for training. The organizing committee’s projected revenue totals appear to be moving higher than projected, which will allow for some flexibility.

The final struggle over venues appears to also be over, with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) giving provisional approval to the use of the multi-use Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille for preliminary matches, subject to further engineering on climate controls.

4.
Roy Jones, Jr. leads demonstration for boxing’s 2028 inclusion

Continuing a strategy to play offense rather than defend, Seoul 1988 Olympic Light Middleweight silver medalist Roy Jones, Jr. organized a demonstration in front of the IOC headquarters in Lausanne on Monday to urge the IOC to include boxing in the 2028 Olympic program.

Jones, a dual American and Russian citizen, circulated an announcement on the rally, which included:

“A peaceful demonstration under the motto ‘No Olympics without boxing, No boxing without IBA’ took place today in Lausanne. The powerful crowd led by Roy Jones Jr was chanting in front of the Maison Olympique.

“More than 100 boxers and coaches from six countries took part in the demonstration. In addition to Switzerland and neighbouring Germany and France, Poland, Malta and Israel came to Lausanne to support the sport of boxing.”

Jones said, “I addressed the IOC in my [October] letter, but received no reply. Then I came to their doors and I knocked. I’ll do whatever it takes as my next steps to be heard. Boxing should remain at the Olympics, and I’ll do everything for it. It’s high time we stopped injustice.”

The International Boxing Association claimed no relationship to the event, saying in a post, “The International Boxing Association (IBA) acknowledges and gives its appreciation to the boxers and coaches from six countries who took part in a peaceful demonstration in front of the IOC Headquarters in Lausanne.”

IOC spokesman Mark Adams said during the news conference:

“Yes, there was a demonstration today outside, by supporters of IBA. And we heard their concerns; we had a team [that] went down; in fact, I think they were even invited into the offices and we had a discussion, a very constructive discussion, we heard what they had to say.”

The Executive Board did not discuss the situation of current 2028 outsiders boxing, modern pentathlon and weightlifting on Monday, but is scheduled to do so later.

5.
Int’l Testing Agency closes London 2012 re-tests, adding 73 positives

At the close of the London 2012 Olympic Games, a modest total of nine anti-doping violations had been registered. In the 10 years since, however, a comprehensive re-test program conducted by the International Testing Agency found 73 additional violations for a total of 82, the most ever in a single Olympic Games.

On Monday, the ITA announced:

“The ITA has now finalised the re-analysis program for London 2012, the most comprehensive of its kind for an edition of the Olympic Games. Ensuring that the program was led efficiently and intelligently, samples were selected according to an extensive risk assessment that considered a variety of determinants, including the physiology of the respective sports, individual factors pertaining to athletes as well as country risk levels and any accessible information stemming from investigations. Based on these risk criteria, a total number of 2’727 samples were re-analysed.”

The 73 additional positives led to the “withdrawal” of 31 medals won by dopers (8-14-9) in weightlifting (18), athletics (10), wrestling (2) and canoeing (1). The changes in results caused the re-allocation of 46 medals (8-16-22), in the same four sports. Beyond these sports, there were also single additional doping violations in cycling, rowing, swimming and volleyball.

The countries implicated in the added doping positives included Russia (21), Belarus (11), Ukraine (7), Kazakhstan and Turkey (5), Romania (4), Armenia and Azerbaijan (3), Albania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova and Uzbekistan (2 each) and one each for Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia. Of the added 73 positives, 58 were from former republics of the USSR.

Interestingly, in the re-analysis program, the most-tested athlete samples came from the U.S., with 230 (no positives), followed by Russia (216), Great Britain (174; no positives), China (155; no positives) and Australia (122; no positives),

The most re-tested sports were athletics (540), aquatics (483) and cycling (170). Weightlifting produced a staggering 36 positives in 135 re-tests!

The ITA is now focused on re-tests from the Sochi 2014 Winter Games, and will then move on to Rio 2016 re-tests.

≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡

● Croatia 1, Japan 1 (Croatia wins on penalties, 3-1) ● Japan had come from behind in both of its group-stage wins, but flipped the script this time by going up, 1-0, in the 43rd minute on Monday. Forward Ritsu Doan sent a long pass from the right side into the box, where it was volleyed off the head of defender Maya Yoshida, then off defender Josko Gvardiol and landed at the feet of Daizen Maeda, who scored with the left foot past Croatian keeper Dominik Livakovic.

But the game was tied in the second half, as defender Dejan Lovren sent a long cross from the right side of the field to the middle of the box, where it was headed – with authority – by forward Ivan Perisic into the far right corner of the goal for a 1-1 tie in the 55th.

Both teams had chances, but the game became more and more static as extra time approached. And in the extra 30 minutes, there were only a couple of meaningful chances, and the game went to penalties. Croatia ended with 58% possession and up 17-13 on shots.

Croatia, which won its Round of 16 and quarterfinal games at the 2018 World Cup on penalties, was more than ready, as Livakovic saved the first penalty try from forward Takumi Minamino, and the second from midfielder Kaoru Mitoma, both low shots that he could get to with his body. Meanwhile, midfielder Nikola Vlasic and midfielder Marcelo Brozovic both scored for a 2-0 advantage. Striker Takuma Asano scored on Japan’s third try and sub strriker Marko Livaja missed, but another Livakovic save on another low ball from Yoshida allowed sub forward Mario Pasalic to end it and he did, for a 3-1 win on penalties.

Of the four Croatian penalty takers, three were substitutes. On to the quarters. Japan failed, for the fourth time, to advance beyond the Round of 16.

● Brazil 4, South Korea 1 ● The favored Brazilians only scored three goals in their three group-stage matches, but they were on fire from the start against the Koreans.

The first strike came in the seventh minute, as Raphinia crossed from the right endline through the middle – past two Brazilians running to goal – and found striker Vinicius Junior, who had the time line up and drill a right-footed laser into the goal.

A few minutes later, Brazil’s Richarlison was fouled while trying to win the ball in the box, resulting in a penalty. It was Neymar, back from missing two games with an ankle injury, who stutter-stepped and then rolled the ball into the right side of the net for a 2-0 edge in the 13th.

In the 29th, Richarlison brought down a ball outside the box with three head taps and then a pass to maintain possession to defender Marquinhos. He moved it to the top of the box to defender Thiago Silva, who found a streaking Richarlison, cutting in front of the goal and sending a left-footed shot into the far left corner; 3-0. That was special.

The fourth goal came in the 36th, as another Brazilian break saw Vinicius Junior drive down the left side and into the box, then pop a pass backwards to the oncoming midfielder Lucas Paqueta, who sent a right-footed shot bounding into the Korean goal.

The half ended at 4-0, with Brazil holding 57% of possession, but a 10-4 lead on shots and a 4-0 lead on samba dances after goals. Korea had only a couple of chances, the best being Hee-chan Hwang’s curling blast from outside the box in the 17th that was saved – at full extension – by Brazilian keeper Alisson.

The second half started with a great Korean chance in the 47th, as striker Heung-min Son sent a blast from the left side that was knocked away by Alisson’s shoulder. Brazil maintained control, but Korea swarmed the Brazilian goal in the 68th, but could not score on a Hwang shot, then finally got a goal on a powerful strike from on top of the box from midfielder Seung-ho Paik that ran to the far right of the goal in the 76th.

Brazil ended with 57% possession and an 18-8 edge on shots. It was Brazil’s eighth straight Round-of-16 win, but will face a very difficult test against Croatia in the quarters.

The last of the Round of 16 games come on Tuesday, with Morocco vs. Spain and Portugal vs. Switzerland:

Game 7: 10 a.m. Eastern time:
● Morocco (Group F-1): 2-0-1 ~ goals: 4-1
● Spain (Group E-2): 1-1-1 ~ goals: 9-3

Asia’s three teams have been eliminated from the tournament and Morocco is the last African team remaining, coming to the Round of 16 as the surprise winners of Group F. It’s the fifth World Cup for Moroccans, who are 0-1 in Round of 16 games, having lost, 1-0, to West Germany in 1974. Spain, the 2010 champions, lost to Japan, 2-1, and had to settle for second in its group, but produced seven goals against Costa Rica in its opener. This is the 12th straight World Cup for Spain and in that run, are 4-3 in Round of 16 games and have not won once since taking the World Cup title in 2010.

The two teams did meet in the group stage in Russia in 2018, a 2-2 tie.

Game 8: 2 p.m. Eastern time:
● Portugal (Group H-1): 2-1 ~ goals: 6-4
● Switzerland (Group G-2): 2-1 ~ goals: 4-3

Portugal has participated in six straight World Cups, but is only 1-2 in Round of 16 match-ups in 2006 (won), 2010 (lost) and 2018 (lost). The Portuguese scored three goals against Ghana, then two against Uruguay and one vs. South Korea, so the trend is downwards. The Swiss are typically stingy, beating Cameroon, 1-0, losing to Brazil, 1-0, and then going crazy against Serbia to win, 3-2. The two sides have never met at the World Cup; Switzerland has not progressed past this round since making the quarterfinals in 1954, and it 0-4 in Round of 16 games. But the last three were close: on penalties after a 0-0 draw in 2006, 0-1 in 2014 and 0-1 in 2018.

The tournament will take its first days off this week, with two quarterfinals each on Friday and Saturday.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Athletics ● World Athletics announced that World Champions Mondo Duplantis of Sweden and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of the U.S. were its World Athletes of the Year.

Both won world titles and set world records during 2022: Duplantis in the men’s vault and McLaughlin-Levrone in women’s 400 m hurdles.

The Rising Stars awards were given to Serbian javelin thrower Adriana Vilagos and US sprinter Erriyon Knighton. Vilagos won her second World U-20 Championships gold and then a silver at the 2022 European Championships, while Knighton set a World U20 record of 19.69 in the 200 m and was the Worlds 200 m bronze medalist.

The International Fair Play Committee’s Fair Play Award was given to vaulters Holly Bradshaw (GBR and Tokyo bronze medalist) and eventual winner (and Tokyo Olympic champ) Katie Nageotte of the U.S.:

“Bradshaw injured herself after her pole snapped during the pole vault warm-up session. Her fellow competitor Nageotte immediately went over to support her. Knowing she would no longer be able to contend for a place in the final, Bradshaw withdrew from the competition, thus allowing another athlete to advance. Bradshaw received a lot of abuse on social media for withdrawing, but Nageotte again offered support by taking to Twitter in defence of her competitor.”

At the USA Track & Field Annual Meeting in Florida over the weekend, former world triple jumper record holder Willie Banks was re-elected as the federation’s nominee to the World Athletics Council.

Banks’ profile within World Athletics has been rising and he chaired the federation’s development team on its long-range plans.

A four-year fight over the role of the USATF Board vs. its membership was settled – at least for now – by the passage of a compromise package of by-laws which are designed to allow the Board to manage the day-to-day business operations and the membership to retain authority over matters which impact them directly.

USATF announced awards for the best World Championships track performer to 400 m hurdles world-record holder McLaughlin-Levrone, for the best Worlds field performer to vault winner Nageotte and to Worlds heptathlon bronze medalist Anna Hall for “Breathrough Performer of the Year.” Sprint icon Allyson Felix received the 2022 USATF Legacy Award for her lasting impact on the sport.

Sign of the times? From Athletics Canada’s Twitter feed:

“CONFIRMED: The NACAC Cross Country Championships, scheduled for January 21, 2023 in El Salvador has been cancelled due to a lack of participating nations.”

Sad news that Tony Waldrop, who electrified the track and field world with a 3:55.0 indoor mile world record in 1974, passed on 3 December, at age 70. Waldrop was a two-time NCAA Indoor champion for North Carolina in 1973-74 and won the 1975 Pan American Games gold at 1,500 m in 1975. But he skipped the 1976 Olympic Trials in order to complete his Ph.D. in physiology, beginning a long career in academia that climaxed as President of the University of South Alabama from 2014-21.

● Weightlifting ● Although the International Weightlifting Federation has new officers and a new board, it has not shaken the plague of doping. The International Testing Agency announced four “apparent” doping violations on Saturday, just a couple of days before the 2022 World Championships opened Monday in Bogota (COL):

● Ahmed Emad Mohamed (EGY: men’s 77 kg) for Human Growth Hormone;

● Ruslan Kozhakin (UKR: men’s 89 kg) for trimetazidine, a hormone and metabolic modulator;

● Bohdan Taranenko (UKR: men’s +109 kg) for trimetazidine;

● Zacarias Bonnat (DOM: men’s 81 kg) for SARMS RAD 140, an alternative to anabolic steroids, which is also banned. .

Kozhakin was sixth at the 2022 European Championships at 89 kg, and seventh at the 2021 Worlds; Taranenko won a World Junior bronze medal earlier this year at +109 kg, and Bonnat was the Tokyo Olympic silver medalist at 81 kg.

Mohamed’s positive test came during the African Championships in October; the other three failed out-of-competition tests. Not good news for the sport.

You can receive our exclusive TSX Report by e-mail by clicking here. You can also refer a friend by clicking here, and can donate here to keep this site going.

For our updated, 951-event International Sports Calendar for 2022-23 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: France and England lead traditional powers into World Cup quarters; Valencia Marathon winners Kiptum and Beriso now top-3 all-time!

By
Rich Perelman
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Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum wins his debut marathon in Valencia in 2:01:53, the no. 4 performance in history! (Photo: Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Marathon)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Traditional powers on collision course – so far – at Qatar World Cup
2. Kiptum (2:01:53!) and Beriso (2:14:48!) brilliant in Valencia
3. USATF Championships for 2023 heading back to Eugene
4. Paris 2024 Olympics move Tour de France finale to Nice
5. German Olympic Federation approves Olympic bid project

Half of the quarterfinal match-ups at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar are set, with Argentina to face the Netherlands and France to meet England. Despite all the hoopla about improving football in Africa and Asia, the quarters could end up with six European teams and two South American teams … maybe. At the Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Marathon in Spain, unheralded Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum won the men’s race – in his debut – in a sensational 2:01:53, and Ethiopian Amane Beriso tool the women’s title in 2:14:48, both moving to no. 3 all-time! USA Track & Field announced the 2023 nationals would be in Eugene … again, while the promised “Diamond League-level meets” will be existing meets in Bermuda, Los Angeles and New York. With the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024, it’s impossible to finish the Tour de France on the Champs Elysses, so the race is heading south and will conclude in Nice. The German National Olympic Committee approved a plan to explore a bid for – at the earliest – the 2034 Winter or 2036 Olympic Games, including an eventual public referendum. A 2036 Games would come a century after the infamous Nazi propaganda project of 1936.

1.
Traditional powers on collision course – so far – at
Qatar World Cup

After all of the buzz from the group stage, the FIFA World Cup appears to be coming back to showdowns between traditional powers with half of the Round of 16 games now complete.

Two-time winner Argentina will play three-time finalist Netherlands in one quarterfinal, with defending champion France playing 1966 winner England in another, following the weekend’s elimination of the U.S., Australia, Poland and Senegal.

Waiting for their turn now are powers Brazil (playing South Korea) and 2018 runner-up Croatia (playing Japan) on Monday and Tuesday matches featuring Spain (playing Morocco) and Portugal (playing Switzerland).

Europe had seven of the eight quarterfinalists in 2018 and all four semifinalists, and UEFA could get six of the eight spots in 2022, if Croatia and Spain win. With Argentina in, Brazil is favored in its game and would give the South Americans the other two berths.

The football on the field is now becoming more important – for the final two weeks of the tournament – than the hubbub over migrant workers and Qatar’s view of gay rights, which were co-equal stories with the actual matches during the group stage.

Interestingly, FIFA’s Arsene Wenger (FRA), its Chief of Football Development, told a news conference on group-stage technical evaluations on Sunday that a major challenge for teams in 2022 was the lack of preparation time, since many players came right from their league play to Qatar, without the usual, lengthy pre-World Cup training camps. And he added:

“The teams who were not disappointing with their first game performance – because when you got to the World Cup you know you have not to lose the first game – are the teams with experience, they have results in the former tournaments, like France, like England, like Brazil, they played well in first game.

“And the teams as well who were mentally ready … had the mindset to focus on competition and not on political demonstrations.”

As for the tournament as a whole so far, Wenger summed up FIFA’s view:

“How well will it be organized? What will the experience of the fans be? Will it be possible to watch more than one game per day? And, I must say, this experience has been unique. I have seen the feedback we have from the fans is exceptional, and the TV audiences have never been higher, going through the roof. That means this World Cup has created a huge interest, despite all the negative publicity we got before.”

2.
Kiptum (2:01:53!) and Beriso (2:14:48!) brilliant in Valencia

Whether it’s the flat courses or the shoes or actually good training and racing, this has been one of the greatest years in marathoning, punctuated by two brilliant, fast wins at the Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Marathon in Spain on Sunday. Winners Kelvin Kiptum (KEN) and Amane Beriso (ETH) became the third-fastest men’s and women’s marathoners in history.

Kiptum, 23, a 58:42 half-marathoner running his debut marathon, was with a large front pack at the half in 1:01:42. World Champion Tamirat Tola (ETH) took the lead and began trimming the field, and then Kiptum started pushing and by 30 km, he, Tola and Gabriel Geay (TAN) were the remaining contenders. Kiptum ran away with a 14:01 split to 35 km and was clear to the finish in 2:01:53, now no. 3 all-time, with the no. 4 performance!

Geay was second in a lifetime best of 2:03:00, then Alexander Mutiso (KEN: 2:03:29 lifetime best), Tola (2:03:40) and Kaan Kigen Ozbilen (TUR: 2:04:36). Wow. The all-time performance list:

1. 2:01:09 ~ Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) 2022/Berlin
2. 2:01:39 ~ Kipchoge 2018
3. 2:01:41 ~ Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) 2019
4. 2:01:53 ~ Kelvin Kiptum (KEN) 2022/Valencia
5. 2:02:37 ~ Kipchoge 2019

The women’s race was just as stunning, with all the attention on Ethiopia’s Letsenbet Gidey, the 2022 World 10,000 m champ and 5,000 m-10,000 m-Half Marathon world-record holder, making her marathon debut.

But Gidey had company at halfway, passed in 1:07:18, with fellow Ethiopian Beriso, 31, running her ninth career marathon, and coming in with a best of 2:20:48 from 2016.

The pace may have been more than Beriso could be expected to handle, but she began to pull away from Gidey just before 35 km and cruised in at 2:14:58, moving Beriso to no. 3 all-time, with the no. 3 performance ever:

1. 2:14:04 ~ Brigid Kosgei (KEN) 2019
2. 2:14:18 ~ Ruth Chepngetich (KEN) 2022/Chicago
3. 2:14:58 ~ Amane Beriso (ETH) 2022/Valencia
4. 2:15:25 ~ Paula Radcliffe (GBR) 2003
5. 2:15:37 ~ Tigist Assefa (ETH) 2022/Berlin

Gidey was second in the fastest debut marathon ever in 2:16:49, now no. 6 all-time. The top 12 finishers all got personal bests, with Sheila Kiprotich (KEN) third in 2:17:29 (no. 11 all-time), Tadu Teshome (ETH) fourth in 2:17:36 (now no. 12 all-time) and Kenya’s Fancy Chemutai fifth in 2:18:11. It was the first time four women finished under 2:18.

At the USA Track & Field National Marathon Championships, held in conjunction with the California International Marathon in Sacramento, ex-Northern Arizona star Futsum Zeinasellassie won the men’s title in 2:11.01, ahead of Jacob Thomson (2:11:52).

Paige Stoner took the women’s race, finishing in a lifetime best of 2:26:02 – no. 4 on the U.S. list for 2022 – with Lauren Hurley second in 2:27:41.

3.
USATF Championships for 2023 heading back to Eugene

USA Track & Field announced its major-events schedule for 2023 at its annual meeting in Florida, with the indoor nationals in Albuquerque and the outdoor nationals – and World Championships selection meet – once again in Eugene:

● 16-18 Feb.: National Indoor Champs in Albuquerque
● 06-09 Jul.: National Outdoor Champs in Eugene
● 07-09 Jul.: National U20 Outdoor Champs in Eugene

The reaction to Eugene hosting for the eighth time in the last 14 editions was mixed. World men’s 100 m champ Fred Kerley tweeted: “When we going to la New York or miami” and then added a second tweet: “Texas”.

During the World Athletics Championships in Eugene last July, USATF chief executive Max Siegel promised an upgraded series of Diamond League-level competitions in the U.S. The schedule announcement specified a domestic indoor schedule of three familiar meets and five existing outdoor meets plus the Pre Classic. The announcement included:

“As a part of the Journey to Gold, USATF will introduce the Grand Prix Series of elite gold-label events. Fans will not only get to see exciting competition from the best athletes in the world, but they will also have the opportunity to participate and engage in the sport in various events during this multi-day series.” The schedule:

Indoor:
● 28 Jan.: Dr. Sander Invitational in New York
● 04 Feb.: New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston
● 11 Feb.: Millrose Games in New York

Outdoor:
● unknown: USATF Throws Festival in Tucson
● 21 May: USATF Bermuda Grand Prix in Bermuda
● 26 May: USATF Distance Classic in Los Angeles
● 27 May: USATF LA Grand Prix in Los Angeles
● 24 Jun.: USATF NYC Grand Prix in New York

The Diamond League Final in 2023 will be held on 16-17 September in conjunction with the Pre Classic, also in Eugene.

4.
Paris 2024 Olympics move Tour de France finale to Nice

Since its debut in 1903, the Tour de France has not always finished in Paris itself, but always close by. But that makes little sense for 2024, as the French capital will be in the midst of preparations for an even larger event, the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, to begin on 26 July.

With the 2024 Tour de France scheduled to finish on 21 July, the race owners, the Amaury Sports Organisation (ASO) announced that the race would finish, for the first time, in the southern city of Nice, with the final stage to begin in the Principality of Monaco:

“This new finish, conditioned by the logistical imperatives that will already block the Champs-Elysees just a few days before the start of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, is accompanied by a significant sporting challenge as the last stage will be an individual time trial.”

Monaco is hardly a new destination for the race, having been included as early as 1939 and in five more editions since then; the last time was in 2009. Nice was part of Le Tour in 1906, was the starting point in 1981 and 2020. The Champs-Elysees finish has been standard at Le Tour since 1975.

A good move by ASO, staying away from Paris as the Games approach. Perhaps an opportunity to start the event– on 29 June – in Paris, which has not happened since 2003.

5.
German Olympic Federation approves Olympic bid project

“The assembly unanimously endorsed a resolution on a multi-stage strategy process for a possible bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Miriam Welte and Oliver Stegemann presented a ‘road map’, the first stage of which in the coming year will include a nationwide series of discussion forums with supporters, critics and stakeholders from business, politics, culture and other areas of society. In an open-ended and transparent process, the question of possible details such as when, where or how should be discussed and why.”

On Saturday, the DOSB – the National Olympic Committee of Germany – General Assembly agreed to begin the process of assembling an Olympic bid, with the immediate targets the Olympic Winter Games in 2034 or the Olympic Games in 2036.

DOSB President Thomas Weikert said afterwards that a formal decision on preparing an actual bid for a Games will depend on the outcome of the consultation process and a referendum of some type to be taken in 2024. Weikert was re-elected for a second term as President by a 434-4 margin.

As is now the norm, the idea would be to offer a bid with competitions in more than one city and possibly in multiple parts of the country. Germany hosted the Olympic Games twice previously, with the infamous Nazi Games in 1936 and the terrorist-plagued Munich Games in 1972. It hosted Winter Games in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in 1936.

Formal German bids since the Munich Games have been made for the Olympic Games of 2000 (Berlin) and 2012 (Leipzig), and Winter Games for 1992 (Berchtesgaden) and 2018 (Munich). There has been considerable debate about the wisdom of trying to host a 2036 Olympic Games, exactly 100 years after the Nazi spectacular of 1936, one of the reasons the DOSB will be seeking a wide buy-in through its discussion process in 2023.

≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡

Day two of the quarterfinals saw two of the game’s most popular nations advance to a delicious face-off on 10 December, with defending champion France to face England. These two ancient rivals have only played twice in World Cup history and not for a long time; England won, 2-0, en route to the 1966 World Cup title and again, 3-1, in the group stage in 1982.

The legend of French star Kylian Mbappe continues to grow, now with nine World Cup goals in 11 games, at just 23 years old. Can he be stopped?

● France 3, Poland 1 ● The defending champion French were on offense most of the first half, but could not score.

The half appeared ready to end scoreless, but then France struck in the 44th minute. Superstar midfielder Mbappe sent a perfect pass into the box to striker Olivier Giroud, who finished with the left foot into the right side of the net for a 1-0 lead. The goal gave Giroud 52 for his international career, the most in French history, breaking a tie with long-time star striker Thierry Henry.

Poland had its chances, especially in the 38th, when French keeper Hugo Lloris managed to save a point-blank shot from midfielder Piotr Zielenski and then defender Theo Hernandez cleared a rebound strike from forward Jakub Kaminski.

The French continued on offense in the second half, with the Poles threatening occasionally. In the 74th, a French fast break saw Giroud push the ball to midfielder Ousmane Dembele on the right side, who drew the defense to him, then sent a cross to an all-alone Mbappe on the left side, and he lined up a rising, right-footed rocket that flew into the net for a 2-0 lead, and the issue was decided.

Mbappe then applied the finishing touch at 90+1, taking a pass from sub striker Marcus Thuram on the left side of the box and sending a laser to the far right side of the goal for a 3-0 lead. For Mbappe – at age 23 – the goal was his ninth in the World Cup, in 11 games; by comparison, Brazilian icon Pele scored seven in his first two World Cups and 12 in 14 career World Cup games.

In the 98th, France was called for a hand ball in the box and Polish star Robert Lewandowski took the penalty, shutter-stepped and Lloris made the save easily. But Lloris came off his line early and on the second attempt, Lewandowski stutter-stepped again and rolled it into the left side of goal for the 3-1 final.

The French ended with 55% of possession and a 16-12 edge on shots. On to the quarters.

● England 3, Senegal 0 ● English fans had concerns, as the Senegalese attack in the group stage had created five goals, with speed and power to spare. But there was no need to worry.

The first half started slowly, with Senegal making determined forays that looked quite dangerous, especially a 32nd minute shot from striker Boulaye Dia from the left of goal – off an England turnover and a clever feed by midfielder Ismaila Sarr – that was saved by English keeper Jordan Pickford. But they couldn’t score.

The English were looking for opportunities and shortly thereafter, striker Harry Kane started a breakout, passing to midfielder Jude Bellingham, whose cross from left to right found Jordan Henderson charging toward goal for a left-footed shot that gave England a 1-0 lead in the 39th.

More Senegal turnovers led to more English fast breaks. Bellingham started another in stoppage time, passed ahead to forward Phil Foden, who crossed to Kane, leaving him one-on-one on goal and his right-footed shot was into the net for a 2-0 lead on the final play of the first half, at 45+3.

England had 65% of possession and just a 4-3 edge on shots, but had a two-goal lead. The lead expanded to 3-0 in the 58th, with Kane gaining possession and getting the ball to Foden on the left side, who sent a sensational cross to a sprinting striker Bukayo Saka, who chipped the ball into the net. Very impressive.

The English ended with 61% of possession and a 10-8 edge on shots, but a huge edge on making their chances count.

On Monday, Japan will meet Croatia and Brazil will play South Korea in the third of four days of quarterfinals:

Game 5: 10 a.m. Eastern time:
● Japan (Group E-1): 2-1 ~ goals: 4-3
● Croatia (Group F-2) : 2-1 ~ goals: 4-1

The surprise winner of Group E, Japan, came back from behind to beat Germany (2-1) and Spain (2-1) is in its seventh straight World Cup finals, but never progressed beyond the Round of 16, losing in 2002-10-18. All four of its goals have come in the second half. Croatia was the 2018 runner-up, but is consistently underrated. It beat Canada 4-1 and played 0-0 ties with Morocco and Belgium, showing a stiff defense, but some trouble scoring. It made it past the group stage for the first time in 2018.

Game 6: 2 p.m. Eastern time:
● Brazil (Group G-1): 2-1 ~ goals 3-1
● South Korea (Group H-2): 1-1-1 ~ goals 4-4

Five-time champion Brazil won its first two games by 2-0 and 1-0, then substituted nine of its players in a 1-0 loss to Cameroon. The Brazilians have awesome offensive weapons, and have won seven straight Round of 16 games; it last lost a game in this round in 1990. The South Koreans made a miracle comeback to defeat Portugal to finish 1-1-1 in its group and are 1-1 all-time in Round of 16 games, advancing to the third-place match in 2002 and losing in this round in 2010.

Tuesday’s final Round of 16 matches will have Morocco vs. Spain and Portugal vs. Switzerland.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Alpine Skiing ● The FIS men’s World Cup tour was in Beaver Creek, Colorado for speed events, with one Downhill canceled due to very heavy snow. But the course was clear for Saturday’s Downhill, won by Norway’s Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, who won the season’s earlier Downhill at Lake Louise (CAN) on 26 November. Kilde timed 1:42.09 to take his 15th career World Cup win, ahead of reigning World Cup overall champ Marco Odermatt (SUI: 1:42.15). American Ryan Cochran-Siegle was seventh (1:43.15).

Sunday’s Super-G was almost a repeat, with Kilde winning in 1:10.73, followed by Odermatt (1:10.93), with French star Alexis Pinturault third (1:11.03).

The women’s circuit was in Lake Louise for two Downhills and a Super-G, with Italian star Sofia Goggia – the 2018 Olympic winner and 2022 silver medalist – taking both Downhills. She won Friday’s race in 1:47.81, just 0.04 ahead of Swiss Corinne Suter, the Beijing 2022 winner, then took Saturday’s run in 1:28.96, with Nina Ortlieb (AUT: 1:29.30) second and Suter third (1:29.33). Goggia now owns 19 World Cup wins in her career, 14 in Downhills.

On Sunday, Suter – a two-time Worlds Super-G medalist – won in 1:20.75, barely ahead of Cornelia Huetter (AUT: 1:20.77) and Ragnhild Mowinckel (NOR: 1:20.91).

● Beach Volleyball ● The Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour had its final Elite 16 tournament of the season, in Torquay (AUS), with an All-American final on the women’s side.

Sara Hughes and Kelly Cheng were clear winners for the second week in a row (and third time this season), defeating fellow Americans Betsi Flint and Julia Scoles by 21-17 and 21-11. Australia’s Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho del Solar took the bronze medals by outlasting Americans Kristen Nuss and Taryn Kloth, 14-21, 21-19, 15-13.

The men’s event had an Australian finalist, but Thomas Hodges and Zachary Schubert were defeated by France’s Youssef Krou and Arnaud Gauthier-Rat, in two marathon sets, 22-20 and 23-21, for their first medal of the season. Italy’s Adrian Carambula and Alex Ranghieri took the third-place match from Americans Paul Lotman and Miles Evans, 21-15, 11-16.

● Biathlon ● The 2022-23 IBU World Cup opened in Kontiolahti (FIN), with Olympic 15 km Mass start silver medalist Martin Ponsiluoma (SWE) taking the men’s 20 km Individual race in 49:36.5 (1 penalty), well ahead of Niklas Hartweg (SUI: 50:13.7/0). Beijing 2022 Sprint winner Johannes Thingnes Boe (23:09.0/1) won the 10 km Sprint for his 57th career individual World Cup victory, beating teammate Sturla Holm Laegreid (23:19.5/0).

Boe, a three-time World Cup overall champion, also won Sunday’s 12.5 km Pursuit in 32:44.4 (3), over teammate Laegreid (33:03.6/2) and France’s two-time Worlds winner in the event, Emilien Jacquelin (33:31.7/2).

The PyeongChang Olympic women’s 15 km Individual winner, Swede Hanna Oeberg was once again the best in that event, winning in 43:53.8 (1), more than 30 seconds up on Ingrid Tandrevold (NOR: 44:30.3/0). Austria’s Lisa Theresa Hauser won the 7.5 km Sprint, beating Lisa Vittozzi (ITA), 20:39.5 (0) to 20:56.8 (1).

France’s Julia Simon won her fifth career World Cup in the 10 km Pursuit in 31:13.0 (0), beating Italy’s 2020 World Champion Dorothea Wierer (31:24.9) and Swede Elvira Oeberg (31:34.7/1).

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● The IBSF World Cup moved to Park City, Utah this week, but the change of venue meant nothing to Germany’s double Olympic champion Francesco Friedrich, who continued his rampage, winning both the Two-Man and Four-Man races.

Driving with Thorsten Margis aboard this time, Friedrich took the Two in 1:35.82, ahead of Britain’s Brad Hall, runner-up for the second week in a row in 1:36.08. American Frank Del Duca, with Hakeem Abdul-Saboor aboard, was seventh in 1:36.97. Friedrich took the Four in 1:33.62, leading a German sweep ahead of Johannes Lochner (1:33.85) and Christoph Hafer (1:33.86). Del Duca had the top American sled, again in seventh (1:34.36).

Friedrich won seven of eight World Cup races last season in both sleds and is undefeated (4/4) so far this season.

The women’s Monobob was a win for American Kaillie Humphries, the Olympic champ, in 1:42.93, ahead of Lisa Buckwitz (GER: 1:43.24). German Kim Kalicki won the Two for the second week in a row, in 1:37.37, with Leonie Fiebig aboard, beating teammate Laura Nolte (1:37.60), with Humphries (and Jasmine Jones) third in 1:37.69.

In Skeleton, Beijing Olympic champ Christopher Grotheer (GER) won the men’s race in 1:36.26, with Korea’s Seung-gi Jung second for the second week in a row (1:36.43). Mirela Rahneva (CAN) won her first race of the season in the women’s division in 1:38.42, ahead of four-time World Champion Tina Hermann (GER: 1:38.52).

● Cross Country Skiing ● The second stop on the FIS World Cup tour was in Lillehammer (NOR), with the home team continuing to dominate the men’s action. Norwegian men won all three events at the first event in Finland, and stayed strong in Lillehammer, as Iver Tildheim Andersen (21:12.6), Didrik Toenseth (21:15.4) and Hans Christer Holund (21:21.7) swept the medals for Norway in the 10 km Freestyle on Friday.

Superstar Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo won his fourth World Cup race of the season (out of five so far) in the Freestyle Sprint in 2:56.45, ahead of two-time Olympic Sprint silver winner Federico Pellegrino (ITA: 2:57.20) with Norway’s Even Northug third (2:57.68). Sunday’s 20 km Mass Start Classical was another Norwegian sweep, with Pal Golberg winning his fourth medal in six races this season in 48:14.5, with Sjur Roethe second (48:15.4) and Martin Nyenget third (48:15.6).

Sweden won all three women’s events last week and Emma Ribom won her second straight Sprint – this time in Freestyle – in 3:20.40, ahead of teammate Maja Dahlqvist (3:20.57), with American Jessie Diggins fourth (3:22.64).

But Diggins was all over the 10 km Freestyle on Friday, winning her 13th World Cup gold in 23:49.5, well ahead of German Katharina Henning (23:53.3).

Swede Frida Karlsson won her second World Cup gold of the season on Sunday in the 20 km Classical Mass Start in 53:51.9, just ahead of Tiril Udnes Weng (NOR: 53:52.5) and Ebba Andersson (SWE: 53:53.1). Diggins was ninth (53:57.4).

● Freestyle Skiing ● The Moguls and Aerials seasons opened in Ruka (FIN) with familiar stars on the podium.

Canada’s Mikael Kingsbury, the greatest Moguls skier of all time, scored his 72nd career World Cup win in the men’s division at 84.50, followed by Japan’s two-time World Champion Ikuma Horishima (80.48) and Matt Graham (AUS: 80.12), with American Nick Page fourth (80.05).

The women’s Moguls was won by Australia’s Olympic gold medalist, Jakara Anthony, scoring 81.69 points to edge PyeongChang 2018 winner Perrine Laffont (FRA: 78.33) and 18-year-old Anri Kawamura (JPN: 78.33) in a tie for second, with Americans Olivia Giaccio and Jaelin Kauf fourth and fifth (77.98 and 77.33).

Sunday’s Aerials saw Switzerland go 1-2 in the men’s final, with Pirmin Werner winning with 126.24 points to 123.98 for teammate Noe Roth. Canada’s Lewis Irving was third (109.29). American Chris Lillis was fifth (97.74).

Australia Danielle Scott won the women’s Aerials, scoring 99.05, ahead of Marion Thenault of Canada (90.59), with American Kalia Kuhn fourth (78.30).

● Judo ● The Tokyo Grand Slam attracted many top stars just a year after the Olympic tournament was held there. Japan claimed nine Olympic golds and was looking for more, ending with 12 wins in the 14 classes!

This was not an Olympic re-run, but new stars, with five men’s winners, including Joshiro Maruyama at 66 kg, Soichi Hashimoto (2022 Worlds silver medalist) at 73 kg, Kenya Kohara (81 kg, beating Olympic champ Takanori Nagase), Kosuke Mashiyama (90 kg) and Hyoga Ota at +100 kg.

Japanese fighters swept all seven divisions of the women’s tournament. The winners included two Olympic champs: Uta Abe at 52 kg and +78 kg star Akira Sone, plus Kano Miyaki (48 kg), Haruka Funakubo (2022 Worlds silver medalist at 57 kg), Miku Takaichi (63 kg), Saki Niizoe (Worlds bronze medalist at 70 kg) and Rika Takayama at 78 kg.

Japan won an astonishing 39 medals; the only victors from elsewhere were Korea’s Seung-beom Jeon in the men’s 60 kg and Italy’s Gennaro Pirelliin the men’s 100 kg.

● Luge ● The FIL World Cup opened in Innsbruck (AUT), with the home team on top of the podium in both women’s events.

Madeleine Egle took the Singles race in 1:19.188, just ahead of American Emily Sweeney (1:19.404) – the 2019 Worlds bronze medalist – and 2021 World Champion Julia Taubitz (GER: 1:19.436). Egle also won the Sprint, with Sweeney right behind, in 29.908 to 29.927.

The new women’s Doubles discipline saw Austria’s Selina Egle and Lara Michaela Kipp win the inaugural World Cup race, in 1:20.019, with Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal (GER) second in 1:20.195. Americans Summer Britcher and Sweeney were fifth (1:20.550). Egle and Kipp also took the Sprint in 30.219, with Britcher and Sweeney fourth (30.384).

Austria’s Nico Gleirscher won the men’s Singles and led an Austrian sweep, with Wolfgang Kindl second and Jonas Mueller third, in 1:39.283, 1:39.327 and 1:39.378. American Jonathan Gustafson was fifth in 1:39.950. Gleirscher also won the Sprint, ahead of Kindl (32.599-32.611).

The men’s Doubles was another Austrian sweep (!), starting with Juri Gatt and Riccardo Schopf (1:18.915), then Beijing ‘22 bronze medalists Thomas Steu and Lorenz Koller (1:18.994) and Yannick Mueller and Armin Frauscher (1:18.998). Zachary Di Gregorio and Sean Hollander were the top Americans, in eighth (1:19.100). Mueller and Frauscher won the Sprint in 29.822.

● Nordic Combined ● Both the men and women were competing in Lillehammer (NOR) this week, with more Norwegian victories. Four-time defending World Cup champ Jarl Magnus Riiber won two races last week, but this time it was teammate Jens Luraas Oftebro who led the 100 m hill jumping and then finished the 10 km segment in 24:04.7 to win, with Riiber second (24:14.2).

Sunday’s 140 m hill and 10 km race was a triumph for Riiber, his third of the season, beating Oftebro, 24:49.2-25:36.7.

The women’s races were more gold for Norway, as Gyda Westvold Hansen continued her dominance, winning on Friday and Saturday (both 100 m hill and 5 km race) in 14:27.1 and 14:14.6. She won seven of eight World Cups last season, so that’s now nine of 10.

Italy’s Annika Sieff (15:38.6) and Ida Marie Hagen (NOR: 15:36.2) won the silvers, but were both well behind the winner.

● Rugby Sevens ● The HSBC Sevens Series was in Dubai (UAE) for men and the season opener for the women.

France and the U.S. were the only 3-0 teams in men’s pool play, but the French lost in the quarterfinal playoffs to New Zealand (20-0) and the U.S. was tripped up by Ireland in the semis by 12-7. It was South Africa which edged Samoa and then New Zealand to get to the final and defeated the Irish, 21-5, to take the title. New Zealand beat the U.S. for bronze, 31-12.

In the women’s tournament, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland were 3-0 in pool play, but the U.S. shut down the Irish, 5-0, in the quarterfinals to advance to the semis against New Zealand. The Black Ferns dispatched the Americans, 36-0 and moved on to face Australia, a 38-5 winner over France. The final was a battle, but a win for the Aussies, 26-19, with the U.S. third, thanks to a 21-19 win over France.

● Ski Jumping ● Only the women were in action, also in Lillehammer (NOR), with 2018-22 Olympic silver winner Katharina Althaus (GER) taking Saturday’s competition off the 98 m hill with 260.1 points, ahead of Austrian stars Eva Pinkelnig (250.2) and reigning World Cup champ Marita Kramer (242.3). Jumping off the 140 m hill on Sunday, Norway’s Silje Opseth got he second win of the season, scoring 259.6 to 252.1 for teammate Anna Odine Stroem, with Pinkelnig third (250.9).

● Snowboard ● The SnowCross season began in Les Deux Alpes in France, with Saturday’s races postponed to Sunday. Germany’s Martin Noerl took the men’s final for his fifth career World Cup gold, beating Italy’s Beijing 2022 bronze medalist Omar Visintin to the line, with Canada’s Beijing silver medalist Eliot Grondin third.

Australia’s Josie Baff scored an upset in the women’s final, winning over two-time Olympic medalist Chloe Trespauch (FRA) and France’s Lea Casta. It was the first career World Cup medal for the 19-year-old Baff.

● Speed Skating ● The ISU Four Continents Championships was held in Quebec City (CAN), with a few stars present, but mostly emerging skaters.

However, Beijing Olympic men’s 1,000 m silver medalist Laurent Debreuil of Canada was on top of the podium twice, winning the 500 m (34.462) and the 1,000 m (1:09.278). Korea’s 2022 Olympic silver winner Jae-won Chang took the Mass Start race in 8:15.770, just ahead of teammate and Beijing bronze medalist Seung-hoon Lee (8:15.840).

Canadian Antoine Gelinas-Beaulieu won the 1,500 in 1:44.666, and Vitaliy Chshigolev (KAZ) won the 5,000 m in 6:22.815.

Korea’s Youth Olympic Games star Min-sun Kim swept the women’s 500 m (38.141) and the 1,000 m (1:16.066), while Canada’s Beijing Team Pursuit gold medalist Valerie Maltais won the 3,000 m (4:02.150) and the Mass Start (9:14.700). Nadezhda Morozova (KAZ) won the 1,500 m in 1:56.378.

● Swimming ● Olympic stars Katie Ledecky and Regan Smith highlighted the U.S. Open in Greensboro, North Carolina, winning nine events between them.

Ledecky swept the women’s 200-400-800-1,500 m Freestyles, taking the 200 m Free on Friday (1:56.74) and the 1,500 m Free (15:44.13) on Saturday. Smith, 20, the two-time World Champion in Backstroke, won five events in all, including the 100 m Back in 57.95 – the no. 3 performance of 2022 – and the 200 m Back in 2:05.28, the no. 6 performance of the year. She added the 100 m Fly in 57.65 and the 200 m Fly in 2:07.30 to the 200 m Medley she won earlier in the meet.

Canada’s 16-year-old star, Summer McIntosh, second to Ledecky on Thursday in the women’s 400 m Free, came back to win the 400 m Medley in a World Junior Record4:28.61, the no. 4 performance of all time!

Tokyo Olympic 400 m Medley gold medalist Chase Kalisz won both the 200 m and 400 m Medley; his 200 m Medley time of 4:10.09 is the no. 12 performance of 2022. Other multi-event winners included Lithuania’s Aleksas Savickas, who won the men’s 100 m and 200 m Breast in 1:00.54 and 2:09.68, and 17-year-old American Daniel Diehl in the men’s 100 m and 200 m Back, in 53.07 and 1:56.41.

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FIFA WORLD CUP: Dutch school U.S. on finishes for 3-1 win; Messi’s early goal and Aussie mistakes help Argentina to 2-1 win

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ QATAR 2022 ≡

The FIFA World Cup elimination round started on Saturday with two taut games, both won by traditional powers Netherlands and Argentina, over the U.S. and Australia, respectively. The Dutch finished their chances with goals, while the Americans were frustrated, unable to convert their opportunities.

Australia gave away a silly goal in the second half to go down 2-0 and despite a goal of their own in the 77th minute, they could not find an equalizer. The Dutch and Argentina will meet in the quarterfinals.

Sunday’s matches include defending champion France against a defensive-minded Polish team and Group B winners England facing a very dangerous Senegal.

≡ Saturday’s matches ≡

● Netherlands 3, United States 1 ● An experienced Dutch squad, expected to contend for the World Cup title, let the U.S. control possession, but made the most of their chances and outclassed the Americans for a 3-1 victory in the Round of 16.

The Americans were on offense from the opening kick and star midfielder Christian Pulisic got an immediate look at goal in the third minute. Midfielder Tyler Adams sent a looping ball from the top of the box that found Pulisic all alone at the left of goal, but his left-footed shot was saved off the leg of 6-8 Dutch keeper Andries Noppert.

The U.S. controlled possession, but the Dutch countered in the 10th minute and a perfect Denzel Dumfries pass from the right side into the middle of the box found the charging Memphis Depay for a line-drive finish past American keeper Matt Turner and a 1-0 lead.

The Dutch were happy to sit back and defend against the continuing U.S. attacks, looking for a counter when available. Tim Weah sent a blast in the 43rd that Noppert had to push away and it appeared the pressure would continue.

But a breakaway at 45+1 saw essentially a repeat of the first goal, as Dumfires fired a cross from the right side again, but this time to fast-closing midfielder Daley Blinn, who rifled his shot past Turner for a 2-0 edge on the final play of the first half. The U.S. had 63% of possession, but trailed on shot (3-5) and on the scoreboard.

The second half started the same way. Off a corner, U.S. defender Tim Ream had the ball bound to him right in front of goal, but his touch wasn’t enough to keep Noppert from blocking it in the 49th. A minute later, the Dutch tried for a third cross-and-strike goal, as Dumfries sent another cross from the right side, but Blinn’s shot was saved by Turner. Turner had two more saves in the 71st to keep the U.S. alive.

The U.S. looked dead, but then it changed in a heartbeat. Off a corner in the 76th, sub DeAndre Yedlin passed to Pulisic on the right, who popped the ball into the middle of the box and sub striker Haji Wright barely touched it, but it was re-directed into the goal to cut the deficit to 2-1. Wright then had a golden chance in the 77th when a long ball left him racing with Noppert for possession, but the Dutch keeper got there first.

In the 81st, the Dutch ended the argument on another cross leading to a goal, this time from the left side as Blinn found Dumfries on the right side of Turner and he sent a left-footed laser into the net for the 3-1 final.

The U.S. ended with 58% of possession and had 17 shots to 11 for the Netherlands (8-6 on shots-on-goal), but it was hardly enough. Where the Dutch scored on their chances, the U.S. did not and the need for a better finisher is apparent. The U.S. will be one of the hosts of the 2026 World Cup and has the building blocks to be special. The Dutch are trying to win now.

The American loss eliminates the only CONCACAF team to reach the knock-out round.

● Argentina 2, Australia 1 ● While Argentina didn’t make past the Round of 16 in 2018, it was a solid favorite to do so here, but it was far from easy.

The first half was, for the most part, slow. Australia had plenty of possession, but did not seriously threaten and the Argentines had 61% of possession, but were methodical rather than brilliant.

Then Messi made the magic he is famous for in the 35th. Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister looped the ball from beyond the box to defender Nicolas Otamendi, who flicked it to Messi, who sent a left-footed, seeing-eye shot that went through multiple bodies and into the left side of the goal for a 1-0 lead. The half ended with just three shots total: two for Argentina and one for the Socceroos.

A FOX Sports stat that popped up after Messi’s goal: Argentina is 41-3-5 at the World Cup when scoring first. That looked like a sure bet early in the second half, when Aussie keeper Mathew Ryan was challenged by midfielder Rodrigo De Paul after taking a backwards pass, the ball rolled free and was pounced on by forward Julian Alvarez, who rolled it into the goal for a 2-0 lead in the 57th. Game over?

There was plenty of fight left in Australia and they got back into it in the 77th, when midfielder Craig Goodwin’s rocket from just beyond the left side of the box deflected off Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez and flew into the goal to make it 2-1.

The game was wide open now and both sides made dangerous runs, especially Australian defender Aziz Behich in the 81st, but his shot was blocked. The Aussies pressured until the whistle blew at 90+8 and Argentina moved on, but just barely. Argentina ended with 61% of possession – although it didn’t feel that way in the final 20 minutes – and had a 14-5 edge on shots.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

The quarterfinals continue through Tuesday, with two matches on Sunday:

Game 3: 10 a.m. Eastern time:
● France (Group D-1): 2-1 ~ goals 6-3
● Poland (Group C-2): 1-1-1 ~ goals: 2-2

The French are defending champions and looked unbeatable in wins over Australia (4-1) and Denmark (2-1), but then rested most of their stars and lost to Tunisia by 1-0 in the group finale. Poland was shut out against Mexico (0-0), defeated Saudi Arabia by 2-0 and then was shut out again (0-2) against Argentina. Can they score against France? In the last six World Cups, the French have been champions twice, runner-ups once and have won four Round of 16 games in a row. The only World Cup match between the two was a 3-2 win by Poland for the bronze medal in 1982.

Game 4: 2 p.m. Eastern time:
● England (Group B-1): 2-0-1 ~ goals: 9-2
● Senegal (Group A-2) : 2-1 ~ goals: 5-4

The national anxiety attack that is English football faces another test against Senegal, which is playing its third World Cup elimination match in its history. England won Group B, beating up on Iran (6-2), playing a scoreless tie with the U.S. and beating Wales, 3-0. England is 3-1 in World cup Round of 16 games this century and reached the third-place game in Russia in 2018. But the Senegalese have speed and power, losing their opener to the Dutch on two late goals, then beating Qatar (3-1) and Ecuador (2-1).

Monday’s matches have the last two Asian teams in the tournament, with Japan vs. Croatia and Brazil vs. South Korea.

FIFA posted a variety of statistics on the 48-match group stage that ended Friday, with 2.45 million spectators attending the games, about 96% of capacity.

The FIFA Fan Festival passed the one million mark in attendance, with an average of 70,000 entries per day. Applications for the Hayya Card, required to go anywhere in the World Cup, are at 1.66 million, and accreditations for the tournament so far are 174,499. The top countries in terms of Hayya Card applications are Saudi Arabia (77,106), India (56,893) and the U.S. (36,236).

The volunteer corps for the World Cup is about 20,000, with 3,000 from outside Qatar.

Qatar’s policy on spectators wearing politically-messaged shirts, hats or scarves has been quite stiff, but Reuters reported it has not been enforced much for those with pro-Palestinian apparel, while protests against the Iranian government has been mostly squelched:

“The contrast was laid bare this week outside the Al Thumama stadium. On Thursday, security ushered through hundreds of fans draped in flags, hats and scarves showing support for Palestine ahead of the Morocco v Canada match.

“Two nights earlier, security at the same stadium confiscated items showing support for Iranian protesters, forcing fans to remove T-shirts and some flags ahead of Iran’s crunch match against the United States.”

The Executive Director of the recognized fan-matters group Football Supporters of Europe, Ronan Evain, told Reuters, ‘What we see in the end is that FIFA has lost control of its own tournament.’”

Football is serious business in Argentina and the International Sports Journalists Association (AIPS) reported that a KLM flight out of Buenos Aires, headed to Amsterdam on 30 November, demonstrated this once again.

The flight was delayed for about an hour, which allowed the passengers to watch the first half of the Argentina vs. Poland match in Group C, which the Argentines needed to win to advance. The scene:

“Staff members from the shops at Ezeiza Airport had all left their positions to watch the game with the passengers. There are screams, cursing, and arguments. We are inside an airport, but this is more like a football stadium.

“The second half was much more difficult. Boarding was open, but many simply did not want to board. Those that were inside the plane quickly discovered that they didn’t have wifi and mobile data was not working. Nobody had an old radio. It was (almost) a complete blackout.”

Passengers who had received calls from family and friends forwarded the details of Argentina’s 2-0 victory to cheers from those seated in the plane, waiting for take-off. Finally, the captain came on and announced the scores and that both Argentina and Poland had advanced.

Although the World Cup is on, the repercussions of the abuse scandal within the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) are continuing. On Thursday, it was confirmed that Chicago Red Stars owner Armin Whisler had retained advisors to facilitate the sale of his controlling share of the team.

The Red Stars was one of the teams identified as allowing player abuse, notably by its coach, as documented in an independent report commissioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation. The team’s players had asked for Whisler to sell his ownership stake in October.

The almost-but-not-absolutely-dead European Super League continues to rile the football world, with a study of Spain’s La Liga finances by the advisory firm KPMG estimating the league could implode if the Super League were to commence.

La Liga commissioned the review, which indicated that the current value of the league is estimated at €3.316 billion (~$3.49 billion U.S.), but with FC Barcelona and Real Madrid in a Super League:

“The existence of a Super League played in midweek would slash that value by 1.662 billion euro [to €1.654 billion or $1.74 billion U.S.] while if LaLiga was forced to become a midweek competition the impact is forecast to be even greater – with a reduction of 1.8 billion euro [to €1.516 billion or $1.60 billion U.S.] – a drop of 55 per cent.”

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FIFA WORLD CUP: Brazil and Portugal lose, but still win groups; U.S. face Dutch on Saturday as knock-outs start

By
Rich Perelman
-
The joy of advancement! (Photo: Korean Football Association)

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≡ QATAR 2022 ≡

More upsets at the FIFA World Cup, where group leaders Portugal and Brazil both rested some of their stars and both lost, but still finished atop their groups. The stunning wins for South Korea (2-1 over Portugal) and Cameroon (1-0 over Brazil) advanced only the Koreans, who eliminated Uruguay, which soundly beat Ghana, 2-0 (but needed a third goal to advance on goal differential).

In a rough-and-tumble game, Switzerland defeated Serbia, 3-2, to advance as the second team from Group G.

The group stage is over and the serious business of the elimination games begins with the Round of 16 on through Tuesday. Saturday’s match-ups include Netherlands and the U.S. and Argentina and Australia.

≡ Friday’s Matches ≡

● Group G: Cameroon 1, Brazil 0 ● The Brazilians rested most of their starters and used nine new players for this match, and immediately dominated possession, but could not score. They had chances, but forward Gabriel Martinelli missed a rising shot at 45+1 in perhaps the best opportunity of the half.

The Brazilians enjoyed 68% of possession, and had 10 shots at goal, but had to weather a creative Cameroon charge at 45+3 as Bryan Mbeumo headed a cross right at goal, but Brazilian keeper Ederson was able to slap it away. It was the first shot-on-goal against Brazil in the tournament so far.

Brazil was hard after a goal to start the second half, but Cameroon keeper Devis Epassy looked like a circus acrobat, swatting away shots and rebounds. He hit his head on a goalpost in the 58th minute off a corner that was headed by defender Bremer, but stayed in.

The Brazilian challenges kept coming, although the Indomitable Lions were able to mount a couple of dangerous chances – especially due to their speed – in the second half. In stoppage time, midfielder Jerome Ngom Mbekeli took a pass from midfield, sprinted down the right side and sent a perfect cross into the box that was redirected into the goal by striker Vincent Aboubakar at 90+2, to give Cameroon a 1-0 lead!

Aboubakar ripped off his shirt in celebration, earning him a yellow card and then a red card since he already had received one yellow, and leaving Cameroon to defend with 10. But the Brazilians could not score, with shot after shot on goal and suffered a 1-0 loss.

It was a glorious way for Cameroon to go out, with its first World Cup win since 2002. Brazil lost in a World Cup group match for the first time since 1998, ending a 17-match unbeaten string. The Brazilians ended with 65% possession and a 21-7 edge on shots, but none that found the net.

● Group G: Switzerland 3, Serbia 2 ● The Swiss (1-1) needed at least a draw and 0-1-1 Serbia had to win and hope Brazil beat Cameroon. Both sides had their offenses going from the start, with Swiss forward Xherdan Shaqiri scoring on a left-footer in the 20th from the right side – just inside the near post – off a feed from the middle of the box from midfielder Dijbril Sow.

But Serbia came right back, with a brilliant header from Aleksandar Mitrovic scoring in the 26th, redirecting – with power – a perfect lead pass from midfielder Dusan Tadic. The Serbs went up, 2-1, just nine minutes later, after Dusan Vlahovic got on to a deflected ball in the box and sent left-footed shot from left to right that rumbled past Swiss keeper Gregor Kobel.

The Swiss, who had scored one goal in two games coming up, tied it at 2-2 in the 44th minute as defender Silvan Widmer sent a perfect pass to the front of the box for a Breel Embolo tap-in to the left corner of the net. Possession in the first half was 50-50 and the Swiss had nine shots to seven for Serbia.

More offense in the second half, as Switzerland got on top with a Shaqiri pass into the box that was back-passed by midfielder Ruben Vargas to wide-open midfielder Remo Freuler, who finished with a left-footed cross to the right side of the goal for a 3-2 lead in the 48th minute.

But that was it and the game became increasingly physical, with a total of 32 fouls and 11 yellow cards, including seven on the Serbs and a scuffle in stoppage time. The game ended with Serbia holding 54% of possession, but the Swiss had 14 shots to 12 and a 7-4 edge on shots actually on goal. The Swiss finished the group at 2-1 and six points, behind Brazil by just one goal.

● Group H: South Korea 2, Portugal 1 ● The Portugese had already qualified to advance, having defeated Ghana and Uruguay, but the Koreans needed to win to have a shot at advancing. And Korean hopes dropped when forward Ricardo Horta scored from the right side of the box in the fifth minute.

But the Koreans stayed focused and worked relentlessly, getting the equalizer in the 27th when Young-gwon Kim scored into the center of the net as the ball bounced around in the box off a corner. Portugal had more chances, but the half ended 1-1, with Uruguay having a 10-6 edge on shots and 56% of possession.

As the second half wore on, the Koreans knew they needed a win and got stronger and stronger offensively, repeatedly making hard runs into the Portuguese zone. But nothing came of it until 90+1, when Heung-min Son led a fast break from his own zone and sent a pass into the middle of the box. A sprinting Hee-chan Hwang emerged and blasted a shot from right to left that found the left corner of the goal for a 2-1 lead that held up. The Koreans exploded with emotion when the game ended, and then again when it became clear they would advance to the elimination round for the first time since 2010.

Portugal had 62% of the possession in the game, but shots were even at 13-13, meaning the Koreans had seven second-half shots to get three for Portugal. Pressure paid off.

● Group H: Uruguay 2, Ghana 0 ● Uruguay’s situation going into this game was dire. After a 0-0 tie with South Korea and a 2-0 loss to Portugal, Uruguay had not scored a goal and had to win to have any chance of advancing and even then, had the problem of goal differential to consider. Ghana was 1-1 and could advance with a win and possibly a draw.

But after a scare, Uruguay took control and squashed Ghana’s hopes. Keeper Sergio Rochet saved a penalty against Ghana striker Andre Ayew in the 21st minute, then striker Luis Suarez’s shot was saved, but bounced to forward Giorgian de Arrascaeta who headed it in in the 26th for a 1-0 lead.

Suarez was in front of the Ghana goal again in the 32nd and sent a looping pass to de Arrascaeta to his left and he scored again on a powerful volley right to the back of the net for a 2-0 advantage. Uruguay had 58% of possession and a 5-3 lead in shots in the half.

Both sides had second-half chances, but Uruguay was fine as long as Korea and Portugal were tied in the other game, which would mean that Uruguay advanced. Then came the murmur in the Al Janoub Stadium when Korea scored at 90+1, meaning Uruguay and Korea would be tied with four points each and both would have a goal differential of zero. Then, Korea’s four total goals to Uruguay’s two would eliminate Uruguay. So the Uruguay offense went into hyper-drive with eight minutes of stoppage time available, needing to score one more goal.

The game ended with a 50-50 split on possession and Uruguay with a 12-10 edge on shots, but it was not enough. The Uruguay bench was screaming for penalties to be called on runs into the box by strikers Darwin Nunez and Edinson Cavani, but none were given and defender Jose Gimenez and Cavani received yellow cards for chasing referee Daniel Siebert (GER) into the field exit tunnel.

Uruguay failed to advance out of the group stage for the first time since 2002.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

The elimination matches are upon us and the Round of 16 begins on Saturday:

Game 1: 10 a.m. Eastern time:
● Netherlands (Group A-1): 2-0-1 ~ goals: 5-1
● United States (Group B-2): 1-0-2 ~ goals: 2-1

The U.S. is 1-4 in World Cup Round of 16 games going back to 1934. Its only win was a 2-0 whitewash of Mexico in 2002. The Netherlands is 4-1 against the U.S. all-time, all in friendlies.

The Dutch have played eight Round of 16 matches from 1974-2014, winning six, but did not qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

Game 2: 2 p.m. Eastern time:
● Argentina (Group C-1): 2-1 ~ goals: 5-2
● Australia (Group D-2) : 2-1 ~ goals: 3-4

Argentina has competed in 12 straight World Cup final tournaments in a row and was eliminated in this round in 2018. Prior to that, it had won four Round of 16 games in a row.

This is only the second time Australia had made the elimination round – also in 2006 – when the Socceroos lost to Italy, 1-0. Australia has never faced Argentina at the World Cup, but was the only team to make it to the elimination round this year with a negative goal differential.

The winners of these games will advance to the quarterfinals on 9 December. Sunday’s games include England vs. Senegal and France vs. Poland, with the winners to meet on 10 December.

With the group stage and 48 matches concluded, a good time for a quick report card on the five continental groups that sent teams to Qatar:

Africa:
● 5 teams in and 2 qualified to the Round of 16
● Group Stage record: 7-5-3, and 4-1 in the third round of matches
● Group Stage offense: 19-17 goals, 152-167 on shots, 44% possession

Asia:
● 6 teams in and 3 qualified to the Round of 16
● Group Stage record: 7-10-1, and 3-3 on the third round of matches
● Group Stage offense: 19-30 goals, 176-239 shots, 40% possession

CONCACAF:
● 4 teams in and 1 qualified to the Round of 16
● Group Stage record: 3-6-3, but 2-2 in third round of matches
● Group Stage offense: 9-22 goals, 115-130 shots, 47% possession

Europe:
(record and statistics against only non-European teams)
● 13 teams in and 8 qualified to the Round of 16
● Group Stage record: 12-9-7 vs. non-European teams
● Group Stage offense: 45-28 goals, 322-310 shots, 57% possession

South America:
● 4 teams in and 2 qualified to the Round of 16
● Group Stage record: 6-4-2, and 2-2 in the third round of matches
● Group Stage offense: 14-8 goals, 163-82 shots, 57% possession

Europe had 10 qualifiers to the final 16 in 2018, out of 14 entries, and South America had four in the playoffs in Russia, plus one for Asia and one for CONCACAF. Africa and Asia – with five qualifiers combined – have shown the most improvement so far.

Asia’s three elimination-round qualifiers is its most ever; it had two in 2002 – when it was also the host – and 2010. The two for Africa equal the most ever, also in 2014. Europe’s eight is down from 2018, but better than the six qualifiers it had in 2010 and 2014. For CONMEBOL (South America), two qualifiers for the playoffs is its worst showing since 2002 (also 2); it had five qualifiers in 2010 and 2014.

The takeaway is that, in terms of on-the-field performance, where the World Cup is played matters a lot.

“The success so far of the ongoing FIFA soccer World Cup has emboldened the Qataris and strengthened their resolve to host the Olympics.”

Reuters and others reported on Friday that Qatar officials believe the World Cup has gone smoothly enough for the country to be in a good position to bid for the 2036 Olympic Games, the next one available. Reuters quoted an unnamed source:

“The success so far of this World Cup puts Qatar in a strong position – they have shown they can do this… it is a proof of concept.

“They hosted the Asian Games in 2006; and will be hosting them again in 2030. All of the infrastructure is here – the stadiums, the metro, the new airport.”

However, the heat in Qatar would certainly push an Olympic Games well off the International Olympic Committee’s preferred July-August timeframe. The next three Games have been awarded to Paris in 2024, Los Angeles in 2028 and Brisbane in 2032. The Games have never failed to be placed in Europe after two consecutive Games elsewhere.

The International Olympic Committee recently said that it was in discussions with 10 different cities about future hosting possibilities.

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TSX REPORT: Japan and Morocco win World Cup groups (what?); 15.5 million watch USA-Iran; USATF’s Siegel defends $3.8 million pay

By
Rich Perelman
-
USATF chief executive Max Siegel at the 14 July pre-World Athletics Championships news conference in Eugene, Oregon (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images for World Athletics)

★ The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Crazy day in Qatar: Japan, Morocco win; Germany, Belgium out
2. World Cup: Belgian, Mexican coaches out; 15.5 million watch USA-Iran
3. USATF’s Siegel strongly defends $3.8 million pay for 2021
4. Shooting federation selects new Sec-Gen, apologizes for no election results
5. Ledecky and Costa take second wins at U.S. Open

The 2022 World Cup took a decided turn away from European domination on Thursday as Belgium and Germany were ousted in the group stage and Groups E and F were won by upstarts Japan and Morocco. As a result of the outcomes over the past couple of days, the coaches for Belgium and Mexico both announced that they were done with their roles. Additional broadcast data showed that some 15.5 million Americans watched the U.S. vs. Iran match in English (FOX) and Spanish (Telemundo) combined, better than just about everything else on TV these days except the NFL. USA Track & Field chief executive Max Siegel strongly defended his $3.8 million compensation in 2021 in an interview, but his comments raise questions as well. The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) was silent for a full day after incumbent Vladimir Lisin of Russia was defeated for the presidency by Italy’s Luciano Rossi, but woke up on Thursday and also announced that a new Secretary General has been appointed to replace Lisin ally Alexander Ratner. At the U.S. Open swimming championships in North Carolina, U.S. superstar Katie Ledecky and Brazil’s Guilherme Costa added the 400 m Free to their 800 m Free wins on Wednesday.

1.
Crazy day in Qatar: Japan, Morocco win; Germany, Belgium out

European supremacy in football was seriously eroded over the past two days, as defending World Cup champion France, and highly-regarded Denmark and Poland all lost on Wednesday, and bluebloods Spain, Germany and Belgium came up short on Thursday.

In the final matches in Group E, Japan stunned Spain, 2-1, with two goals early in the second half and won the group with a 2-1 record and six points. The Spanish (1-1-1) ended up second and advanced, but only on goal differential – +6 vs. +2 – over Germany, which defeated Costa Rica, 4-2, and also had a 1-1-1 mark (four points).

Belgium was considered a tournament co-favorite coming in, but once again was unable to showcase the firepower its players had previously shown, finishing with a 0-0 tie against 2018 runner-ups Croatia. The Belgians ended up scoring one goal in their three matches and left with a 1-1-1 record and four points. Morocco, on the other hands, tied Croatia (0-0), beat the Belgians by 2-0 and beat Canada (2-1) to top the group with seven points, with Croatia second (1-0-2: 5).

The final group matches come on Friday, with Serbia (0-1-1: 1 point) against the Swiss (1-1: 3) and already-qualified Brazil (2-0: 6) against Cameroon (0-1-1: 1) in Group F, and Ghana (1-1: 3) vs. Uruguay (0-1-1: 1) and already-advanced Portugal (2-0: 6) facing South Korea (0-1-1: 1).

Most of the Round of 16 has been set now:

Upper bracket:
● 3 December: Netherlands vs. U.S. and Argentina vs. Australia
● 5 December: Japan vs. Croatia and Brazil vs. Group H no. 2

Lower bracket:
● 4 December: England vs. Senegal and France vs. Poland
● 6 December: Morocco vs. Spain and Portugal vs. Group G no. 2

The quarterfinals will be held on the 9th and 10th.

2.
World Cup: Belgian, Mexican coaches out; 15.5 million watch USA-Iran

The Telemundo Spanish-language audience for the U.S.-Iran match was reported at 3.5 million (television and streaming), so the game drew more than 15.513 million fans on the 29th, second only to the 20.091 million for the U.S vs. England game on the 25th, a holiday Friday for many people.

Thus, for the three American matches at the World Cup so far, the average audience for English and Spanish telecasts combined has averaged 15.588 million, easily better than nearly everything else in sports in the U.S., excepting NFL games.

As teams fall out of the World Cup, so do coaches. Two high-profile team leaders already leaving their teams are Belgium manager Roberto Martinez (ESP) and Mexican manager Gerardo Martino (ARG).

Martinez said: “My situation is very clear. This is the end for me.

“Whatever the result of this tournament, I took the decision before the World Cup. It’s all about long term. Since 2018, I could have taken many jobs. I don’t resign, it’s just ending like this.”

The Royal Belgian Football Association said in a statement:

“We are extremely disappointed after the early exit of our national team at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar because we have failed and thereby let down the people of Belgium who supported our team all the way through.”

Martino said after Mexico’s exit from the tournament:

“I am the first responsible for this terrible disappointment and frustration that we have. As the person in charge, it causes a lot of sadness, I fully assume responsibility for this great failure.

“My contract ended as soon as the referee blew the final whistle and there is nothing more to be done.”

Mexican national teams director Jaime Ordiales said in a Thursday news conference:

“We’re embarrassed and we have to apologize. It’s necessary to face this failure and this makes us responsible to have to show the professional embarrassment that we have.”

More embarrassment as FIFA opened a second inquiry into anti-gay chants from Mexican fans during Mexico’s 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia:

“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has opened proceedings against the Mexican Football Federation due to chants by Mexican supporters during the Saudi Arabia v. Mexico FIFA World Cup match played on 30 November.”

A prior investigation was announced for the same issue after Mexico’s 0-0 draw with Poland in its opening match on 22 November. FIFA has previously sanctioned the Mexican federation (FMF) with a fan ban for a World Cup qualifying match in 2021.

3.
USATF’s Siegel strongly defends $3.8 million pay for 2021

Brilliant interview by Ken Stone of the Times of San Diego, asking USA Track & Field chief executive Max Siegel about his $3,819,264 pay for 2021 as disclosed on the federation’s IRS Form 990 tax return.

Siegel spoke to Stone on Tuesday, saying “This frankly is the worst week of my life,” referring to the criticism he has received. But he also strongly defended his compensation, saying “Have you seen one gold medalist in there that’s been critical of me?”

He responded to the allegation that the landmark deal from Nike that began in 2014 was brought in without his help, saying:

“That’s simply not true. And I don’t care what people say. … Nike was not going to stick around” and added, “As I’ve said to everyone before, if they want to go back to $16 million a year and have 100% of nothing – yeah, go ahead.

“The eight years before I got here, the organization’s actual revenue was about $129 million. Since I’ve been here [it’s been] $359 million. Those are just facts. That’s not my hyperbole, right?”

He also said he expects his employment agreement with USATF to be extended to the end of 2024, when he will be 60. He is attending the USATF Annual Meeting in Florida which closes on the 4th.

Observed: An evaluation of Siegel’s resolute defense of his compensation requires some perspective.

● First, what Siegel is paid is up to the USATF Board of Directors and that’s where the complaints should go. There is a significant issue with the “independent” members of the Board, since they are not elected, but are chosen by the existing Board, a clear conflict of interest.

● Second, his figures on revenues since he was appointed in 2012 and the eight years prior are not exactly right, but still better than before. Using USATF financial statements for the seven years prior to his tenure and a quoted figure for the eighth, USATF had $125.41 million in revenues from 2004-2011 combined. Revenues in 2010, under Doug Logan – who also negotiated a deal with Nike – were $19.34 million and in 2011, with Mike McNees as interim CEO, $19.08 million.

In Siegel’s first eight years – the same time frame as prior to his arrival for comparison – USATF revenues rose to $289.22 million combined, so more than double.

But it is worthwhile to note that revenues in Siegel’s first two years were $23.41 million in 2012 (an Olympic year) and then back to $19.59 million in 2013, before the Nike deal kicked in in 2014, with a $15 million signing bonus that raised USATF’s revenues to $35.05 million.

Since 2014, USATF revenues have not reached the $35 million level except in the Olympic years of 2016 and 2020 and were down to $34.63 million for 2021.

● Third, Siegel’s deferred compensation that was tied to the Nike deal is only part of the story. The USATF financial statements for 2014 note a “sponsorship negotiation commission” expense – related to the Nike deal – to an outside entity for more than $22 million, to be paid into 2039.

If Siegel’s role was so crucial to Nike’s sponsorship, why is the “separate third party” receiving more than $22 million in commissions over the life of that deal?

4.
Shooting federation selects new Sec-Gen, apologizes for no election results

The International Shooting Sports Federation held a Congress on 30 November and elected Italy’s Luciano Rossi as President, 136-127, over Russian Vladimir Lisin.

Nothing was posted on the ISSF Web site.

On Thursday (1st), a notice was posted that started with:

“We apologize that no information from yesterday’s election for the new president could be found on the website.

“The ISSF executive committee has a new president: Luciano Rossi.”

Now back to work, the results of the other positions were also posted Thursday, with Germany’s Willi Grilli “confirmed” as the new Secretary General of the federation, replacing Alexander Ratner, a former Russian and now German citizen, who was closely aligned with Lisin and sent a controversial letter lobbying for Lisin’s re-election the week prior to the vote.

Among the nine other members of the Executive Committee, in addition to Rossi, are four Vice Presidents, including six-time Olympic medal winner Kim Rhode of the U.S.

5.
Ledecky and Costa take second wins at U.S. Open

The second night of the U.S. Open in Greensboro, North Carolina, saw a re-match of the women’s 400 m Freestyle final with American star Katie Ledecky again out-dueling Canadian teen Summer McIntosh, 3:59.71 to 3:59.79.

McIntosh, 16, actually had the lead going into the final turn, but Ledecky came on stronger to the touch, in the no. 7 and equal-8th performances of the year in the event. McIntosh had beaten Ledecky in the 400 m Free in the short-course FINA World Cup in Toronto in October, but Ledecky added the win to the first-night 800 m Free title.

Brazil’s Guilherme Costa, the 2022 Worlds 400 m Free bronze medalist, also completed the 400-800 m Free double, winning in 3:48.13.

U.S. stars Chase Kalisz and Regan Smith won the men’s and women’s 200 m Medleys in 1:56.52 and 2:10.40, respectively, a lifetime best for backstroke star Smith, now no. 18 for 2022. The 50 m Free sprints went to David Curtiss in 21.92 and Gabi Albiero in 25.06.

The meet continues through Saturday.

≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡

● Group E: Japan 2, Spain 1 ● Spain started the day on top of the group, but needed at least a tie to advance. And the Spanish got on top early with their patented passing game. Off a blocked shot, defender Cesar Azpilicueta sent a perfect lead into the box that was headed in by striker Alvaro Morata in the 11th minute for a 1-0 lead.

Spain completed 526 passes in the half and had 83% of possession, but only a 5-2 edge in shots as Japan kept the score to 1-0.

Then, everything changed, as substitute striker Ritsu Doan took a header from midfielder Junya Ito on the right side and sent a left footed strike whistling off keeper Unai Simon in the 48th to tie the match.

Then it happened again, as Doan got possession in the box, and sent a right-footed shot past the left side of the goal that appeared to be out, but was kicked back into the field of play by Kaoru Mitoma and then kneed into the goal by a charging Ao Tanaka. The goal went to video review and was ruled good for a 2-1 Japanese lead in the 51st minute. Essentially a replay of the early-second-half comeback by the Japanese against Germany in their opening win, also in the Khalifa International Stadium eight days earlier!

Japan stayed aggressive, but never exposed its back line to danger, marking Spain closely. The Spanish pressed hard and had chances, but failed to score; if they had tied the game, Japan would have ended up third in the group and Spain and Germany would have advanced.

Spain controlled the ball for 82% of the game and had a 12-6 edge on shots, but lost the game. They will advance as the second-place team in the group, with Japan beating Germany and Spain – who picked that? – to win Group E.

● Group E: Germany 4, Costa Rica 2 ● Germany had to win and needed help from Spain to advance. Controlling almost all of the possession early, the Germans took an early lead with a goal from forward Serge Gnabry in the 10th minute on a header off of a cross right to the front of the goal from defender David Raum.

The Germans has a 71-29% edge in possession in the half and out-shot Costa Rica, 12-1, but that meant nothing when Yeltsin Tejada scored in the 58th from right in front of the goal.

Then midfielder Joel Campbell hit a long free kick from the left side to the far right side of the box, headed forward by defender Kendall Watson and hit defender Niklas Sule, falling to Juan Pablo Vargas in front of goal, who got enough of a touch on it to roll past German keeper Manuel Neuer in the 70th for a 2-1 lead!

But the Germans came right back, applying pressure and defender Joshua Kimmich heading the ball to midfielder Niclas Fullkrug in the box, who forwarded it to substitute striker Kai Havertz for a 2-2 tie in the 73rd.

Havertz scored again in the 85th with Gnabry sending a cross from the right side to Havertz’s foot and he finished for a 3-2 lead. In the 89th, Kimmich sent a ball into the box that came down to Leroy Sane, who chested it to Fullkrug for the finish and a 4-2 final.

Germany ended with 68% of possession and a 32-7 edge on shots (!), but its 1-1-1 record was worth four points and third place on goal differential to Spain, +6 vs. +1. It’s the second straight World Cup in which the Germans failed to get out of the group stage.

● Group F: Croatia 0, Belgium 0 ● No. 2-ranked Belgium flamed out of the 2022 World Cup with a goalless performance against a tough Croatia team that will move on as the runner-ups in Group F.

After a 1-0 win over Canada and a 2-0 loss to Morocco, Belgium had to win, but ended up scoring only one goal in the tournament and missed multiple chances in Thursday’s game.

Neither side was credited with a shot on goal during the first half, but both had chances that were blocked or went wide. Croatia was awarded a penalty that was reversed for offsides after a video review.

Star striker Romelu Lukaku came in for the second half and had an immediate impact, but could not score, hitting the right goalpost with an open net in front of him on a rebound in the 60th minute, sent a header over the bar in the 63rd and had a tap-in saved in the 90th minute by Croatian keeper Dominik Livakovic.

Meanwhile, the Croatians were repeatedly challenging Belgian keeper Thibaut Cortois, but he refused to be beaten. But with the tie, Croatia advanced to the elimination round and Belgium, which was eliminated in the Euro 2020 quarterfinals last year, leaves the tournament after reaching the quarterfinals in 2014 and finishing third in 2018.

The Belgians had 52% of possession and a 16-11 edge on shots. 

● Group F: Morocco 2, Canada 1 ● Morocco remained in dreamland in Qatar with a 2-1 win over Canada that won the group for the North Africans, moving into the elimination round for the second time ever and first time since 1986.

They got on top of the game right away, with forward Hakim Ziyech getting a unbelievable goal in the fourth minute with a left-footed chip from about 40 yards out that floated over the head of Canadian keeper Milan Borjan who had come out to the box of the box for a failed clearance.

In the 23rd, striker Youssef En-Nesyri took a long lead pass down the right side from defender Achraf Hakimi, split two defenders and then rifled a shot from the right side of goal just inside the post and under Borjan for a 2-0 lead that looked insurmountable.

Canada got one back in the 40th minute on an own goal by defender Nayef Aguerd, as Canada’s sent a hard cross into the box from the left side that caromed off the defender and into the Morocco goal and the half ended, 2-1.

A Moroccan goal in the 48th was called back for offsides and Canada almost got an equalizer in the 72nd as a header by midfielder Atiba Hutchinson hit the crossbar and just missed landing behind the goal line. But there was no second-half scoring and the game ended, 2-1.

The Canadians had 59% of the possession and Morocco led in shots, 6-5, but Canada’s mistakes were the difference.

Canada was in the World Cup for only the second time, after losing all three games in 1986. They scored two goals in total (none in 1986), but the attacking style seen in winning the CONCACAF qualifying tournament appeared only rarely in Qatar.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● International Olympic Committee ● The Olympic Golden Rings Awards honor the best in broadcasting and the Beijing 2022 recipients were honored on Wednesday (30th) in Lausanne.

Among the honorees was NBC, which earned a Best Athlete Profile Silver (on cross-country skier Jessie Diggins), a gold for Best Example of Inclusion and Equality for its profile on bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor, a silver for Best Feature and Documentary (“The Ride of Their Lives”), a silver for Best Social Media and Fan Engagement and a gold in Best On-Air Promotion for its “Superfan” promo.

U.S.-based Warner Bros. Discovery, which held the European rights, won a bronze for Best Olympic Programme for its record audience totals; a gold for Best Innovation and Set Design and a bronze for Best Social Media and Fan Engagement.

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● The USOPC announced its inaugural Team USA Collegiate Impact Awards, recognizing the universities who contributed the most athletes to the American teams for Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022.

For Tokyo 2020, 475 American Olympians and 122 Paralympians competed collegiately, at a total of 223 schools. The top producers:

● Olympic Gold Award: Stanford (35 U.S. Olympians and 19 medalists)
● Olympic Silver Award: UCLA (21 U.S. Olympians and 14 medalists)
● Olympic Bronze Award: Florida (14 U.S. Olympians and 10 medalists)
● Paralympic Gold Award: Illinois (20 U.S. Paralympians and nine medalists)

For Beijing 2022, 85 Olympians and 17 Paralympians competed for 54 schools; the top producers:

● Olympic Gold Award: Minnesota (12 U.S. Olympians and eight medalists)
● Olympic Silver Award: Wisconsin (five U.S. Olympians and five medalists)
● Olympic Bronze Award: Boston College (five U.S. Olympians and three medalists)
● Paralympic Gold Award: New Hampshire (four U.S. Paralympians and four medalists)

Additional Collegiate Impact Awards were given for support in eight specific sports, including Diving (University of Texas), Fencing (Notre Dame), Ski & Snowboard (Utah), Softball (UCLA), Swimming (Georgia), Track & Field (Oregon), Water Polo (Stanford) and Wrestling (Penn State).

● Figure Skating ● A special honor for Maia and Alex Shibutani, the brother-sister Ice Dance stars who won 2018 Olympic bronzes in Ice Dance and the Team Event, and World Championships medals for Ice Dance in 2011 (bronze), 2016 (silver) and 2017 (bronze): election to the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame, in the Class of 2023.

They will be inducted, along with longtime head of the U.S. Figure Skating Foundation, George Taylor, on 28 January 2023 during the U.S. nationals in San Jose.

● Football ● In the aftermath of the player abuse scandal at the Portland Thorns of the National Women’s Soccer League, owner Merritt Paulson announced Thursday that he would sell his ownership interest in the Thorns, but not in the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer, of which he is also the owner. He said in a statement:

“I regret the role our organization played in the failures identified by the investigations. Despite these challenges, the Portland Thorns have a bright future ahead and a lot left to accomplish.

“To fully realize that potential, I believe it is in best interest of the Thorns to have a new owner so that the Club can operate at the league level with a fresh voice to be a driving force for the NWSL. This has been a difficult decision for me, but I believe this is the best way to position the Thorns for continued success during this next chapter of the NWSL and the sport.”

U.S. Women’s National Team coach Jill Ellis, who led two Americans teams to the FIFA Women’s World Cup title, in 2015 and 2019, was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

She was elected in the “Builders” category, which includes referees, coaches, and owners and administrators; only coaches were eligible in this selection. Ellis will be inducted in the Class of 2023 ceremony on May 6.

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TSX REPORT: Argentina, France, Australia and Poland move on at World Cup; good World Cup first-week ratings; Russia T&F return moving ahead

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Argentina up from the dead, move on with France, Australia, Poland
2. FOX averaging 4.88 million viewers in World Cup’s first week
3. Russia on road to World Athletics reinstatement, maybe
4. Italy’s Rossi defeats Russia’s Lisin for ISSF Presidency
5. BCW survey finds “dialogue” preferred to elections of event hosts

The drama continues to build at the FIFA World Cup, as Argentina came back from losing a shocker to Saudi Arabia to win its group, while Mexico beat the Saudis, but came up a goal short of advancing. France and Australia advanced from Group D. The World Cup audience in the U.S. has been quite good, with FOX averaging 4.88 million on its telecasts, FS1 at more than 1.5 million and Telemundo at about 2.5 million. The U.S. games are outdrawing everything outside of the NFL. The World Athletics Council heard a positive report from its Russia Task Force that reforms are taking hold and a recommendation to end the seven-year suspension could come in March. But the ban over the war in Ukraine remains. At the International Shooting Sports Federation Congress in Egypt, Italian Luciano Rossi edged Russian billionaire Vladimir Lisin for president, by nine votes, removing the last Russian leader of an International Federation. A survey of 100 cities involved in bidding for major events showed that 56% preferred the new, less costly “dialogue” method of selection compared to direct elections.

1.
Argentina up from the dead, move on with
France, Australia, Poland

Superstar Lionel Messi and Argentina looked like they might be dead at the 2022 World Cup after a come-from-ahead, 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia on the third day of the tournament. But in its following two games, it shut down Mexico and Poland by a combined 4-0 score and won Group C with six points.

Mexico, which had scored no goals in the tournament, stormed past Saudi Arabia, 2-1, and looked like it would score perhaps a half-dozen times. But the late Saudi goal at 90+5 kept them from advancing on goal differential, -1 to 0 against Poland.

In Group D, France rested some of its top players for most of the game against Tunisia, and lost by 1-0 on a 58th-minute goal by Wahbi Khazri and a stout defense against a frantic French attack in the final minutes.

Australia overcame a surprisingly weak Denmark team – ranked no. 10 in the world coming in – and won by 1-0, with Matthew Leckie scoring in the 60th minute. The Danes managed just one goal in their three games.

On Thursday, Spain (1-0-1: four points) will face Japan (1-1: 3) in Group E, along with Costa Rica (1-1: 3) vs. Germany (0-1-1: 1). In Group F, the very disappointing, no. 2-ranked Belgians (1-1: 3) – who have scored one goal thus far – will play Croatia (1-0-1: 4) and need to win to advance. Morocco (1-0-1: 4) will play winless Canada (0-2: 0 and one goal so far), probably needing to win to move on.

The final group matches will be played Friday, with the elimination round starting on Saturday.

2.
FOX averaging 4.88 million viewers in World Cup’s first week

The U.S. audience is strong for the FIFA World Cup, with FOX, FS1 and Telemundo all showing good ratings for the first full week of the tournament:

● 4.88 million average for 12 matches on FOX (English)
● 1.57 million average for 16 matches on FS1 (English)
● 2.57 million average for 24 matches on Telemundo (Spanish)

(The Telemundo figure is somewhat overstated due to a lack of information for the four matches that aired at 5 a.m. Eastern time.)

The U.S. team is, of course, the most popular attraction, with FOX figures available for the final group match with Iran:

● 21 Nov.: 11.161 million vs. Wales (combined)
● 25 Nov.: 20.090 million vs. England (combined)
● 29 Nov.: 12.013 million vs. Iran (FOX only)

The FOX audience for U.S.-Iran peaked at 15.6 million in the final moments, when the U.S. was hanging onto a 1-0 lead. The three American matches on FOX averaged 11.755 million, which beats just about everything except the NFL (although Michigan at Ohio State drew 17.14 million on Saturday the 26th, also on FOX).

The other big draw, of course, was Mexico, especially on Telemundo. Its first match against Poland drew 4.6 million total on Telemundo (3.509 million on FOX) and 8.9 million against Argentina (4.132 million on FS1). That’s 13.03 million for the Argentina game combined!

The next favorite is Brazil, which drew a mammoth audience on Thanksgiving of 6.187 million against Serbia at 2 p.m. Eastern on FOX and 5.7 million on Telemundo for a combined 12.88 million.

Skiing and skating were also on this past week, with 825,000 watching Sunday’s highlights package from the ISU Grand Prix in Espoo (FIN) on NBC.

The early-season FIS Alpine World Cup races for women from Killington, Vermont drew a respectable 594,000 on Saturday on NBC and 488,000 on Sunday.

3.
Russia on road to World Athletics reinstatement, maybe

On Wednesday, the World Athletics Council heard the latest report from the Russian Task Force head by Rune Andersen (NOR), which was encouraged by the latest actions of the All-Russia Athletics Federation. The Task Force report noted:

● “In October/November 2022, an independent audit was carried out of RusAF’s progress against the requirements in the Reinstatement Plan approved by Council in March 2021. RusAF passed that audit, subject to taking two remedial measures …”

● “Under Acting President Irina Privalova, the current RusAF leadership team has embedded a new culture of good governance and zero tolerance for doping throughout the organisation.”

● “Following positive changes at senior leadership level, RUSADA also appears to be working effectively at an operational level. In particular, it has developed a test distribution plan that includes more than 2,000 domestic tests of Russian track & field athletes per year, most of which are out-of-competition tests.”

● “The Taskforce is not naive, however. It acknowledges that widespread and sustainable cultural change will likely take many years to embed, and regions and stakeholders will inevitably proceed at different paces and with different degrees of support for that change. Furthermore, RusAF remains subject to the oversight and control of the Russian Government, and the Taskforce notes with concern the decision of the RUSADA disciplinary commission not to publish its findings in the case of ice-skater Kamila Valieva, which indicates that not all parts of the domestic anti-doping framework are operating as robustly and independently as they should.”

The Task Force expects to make a final recommendation concerning Russia in March 2023, and a plan is in place for the Athletics Integrity Unit to take over the Task Force’s responsibilities, with a full-time staff working in the Russian federation’s offices in Moscow. It also notes, however, that any significant future breach of the post-reinstatement conditions “will trigger a Council proposal that Congress expels RusAF permanently from membership of World Athletics.”

That’s the good news for Russia, which has been on suspension by World Athletics since 2015. On the other hand, the report also stated:

“In March 2022, in response to the invasion of Ukraine, Council decided to exclude Russian and Belarussian athletes, support personnel and officials from World Athletics Series events until further notice, but said that the Taskforce should nevertheless continue its work monitoring and overseeing RusAF’s attempts to meet the reinstatement conditions. The Taskforce reminds Council that the Taskforce’s consideration of progress of the reinstatement plan has no bearing on any Council decision on RusAF arising from the war in Ukraine.”

A discussion on the doping situation in Kenya took place, but no action was taken against Athletics Kenya in view of the commitment of $5 million by the government to help stem the tide of cases.

An information session was held on the ongoing revision of the World Athletics regulations for athletes with Differences in Sex Development and for Transgender athletes. A revised set of regulations will be offered for Council approval next March.

The Council also assigned the World Athletics Relays to its original host, Nassau (BAH) for 2024, a meet with significant qualifying implications for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

4.
Italy’s Rossi defeats Russia’s Lisin for ISSF Presidency

The last Russian head of an Olympic International Federation was defeated in his bid for a second term as President of the International Shooting Sports Federation at the ISSF Congress in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on Wednesday.

Italian Luciano Rossi, who had lost by four votes (148-144) in 2018, defeated incumbent Vladimir Lisin of Russia, by 136-127.

Said Rossi, “I am naturally delighted with this result. Certainly with this result today my determination and passion for the sport of shooting is rewarded.

“I thank everyone, in particular my family and those who enthusiastically voted for me. But I also thank those who did not vote for me because I truly intend to be everyone’s President for the relaunch of our sport and for the democratic management of the International Federation.”

Lisin, a billionaire, had contributed millions to the ISSF himself, but the federation remained divided on his leadership. He was the only Russian to head an Olympic-program IF, as fellow billionaire Alisher Usmanov had previously “stepped back” from his role as elected head of the International Fencing Federation (FIE).

ISSF Secretary General Alexander Ratner, a former Russian and now German citizen, had written and circulated a letter in three languages last week harshly criticizing Rossi and supporting Lisin in the election, is expected to be replaced during Thursday’s session.

American star Kimberly Rhode, who won medals in six straight Olympic Games in trap and skeet, was elected as one of four ISSF Vice Presidents.

5.
BCW survey finds “dialogue” preferred to elections of event hosts

Is the new “dialogue” style of sports-event bidding better or worse than straight-out competitive elections? The communications giant Burson Cohn & Wolfe asked that question of 100 worldwide cities (no breakdown was given as to countries) involved in bids today.

The direct question between “dialogue” and elections was fairly clear, with 56% preferring the “dialogue” style to 31% who liked elections and the remainder having no preference. One voter commented, “A transparent, constant dialogue is always preferable. But this can be placed in a traditional bidding context as well.”

The main benefit of the “dialogue” system was the ability to interact – instead of just react – with the rights holder, with 32% noting the opportunity to influence the event requirements and 32% appreciating the learning curve possible in such a system. The lowered cost was favored by 24% and 11% noted that losing was not made public.

The positives of elections were “Transparency in the decision-making process” for 31% and “Clear timeline for the process” for 29%. Said one respondent, “Traditional bidding process has the benefit of ‘keeping everyone honest’ but history is littered with many examples where this has not been the case.”

Asked whether your city missed out on bidding for an event because it did not know about the process, 66% said “Never” or “Rarely” and 20% did not know. Only 14% were asleep.

Winning a competitive bid does generate more attention to the event for 64% of the respondents, with one commenting “Excitement is generated by the act of winning a competitive bid because it is a sign that other cities also value the event.”

≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡

● Group C: Argentina 2, Poland 0 ● A draw would suit Poland fine, but the Argentines were in possession and had six shots in the first 30 minutes.

And it looked good for Argentina when a penalty was called on Polish keeper Wojciech Szczesny against superstar striker Lionel Messi. But Messi’s hard shot to his right in the 39th minute was punched away cleanly by Szczesny, his second saved penalty in the tournament thus far! The half ended scoreless, with Argentina leading on shots, 12-2, and with 66% of possession.

The second half started the same way, with Argentina on offense and just a minute in, midfielder Alexis MacAllister sent a right-footed blast into the Polish net off defender Nahuel Molina’s cross for a 1-0 lead.

Argentina kept up the pressure and in the 67th, forward Julian Alvarez got a goal from the center of the box off a through-ball by midfielder Enzo Fernandez to increase the lead to 2-0. At that point, Argentina had 19 shots to Poland’s 4.

Poland’s only answer was the continued brilliance of Szczesny, who saved 11 shots as Argentina piled up a 23-4 shots edge and had 73% possession for the game. Losing by 2-0 proved to be enough for Poland to get to the elimination stage for the first time since 1986.

For Argentina, one of the pre-tournament favorites, they survived their shocking first-game loss to the Saudis, convincingly defeating Mexico and Poland by 2-0 scores. They are still very, very dangerous.

● Group C: Mexico 2, Saudi Arabia 1 ● Mexico needed to win to advance out of the group, which it had done in its past seven World Cup appearances from 1990-2018, but had not yet scored a goal in its two games. And they were on offense right away, generating shots by midfielder Luis Chavez (2), and forwards Alexis Vega, Orbelin Pineda and Hirving Lozano in the first half-hour, while controlling 71% of possession.

Mexico dominated the half, with 69% of possession and a 11-4 shots advantage, but nothing on the scoreboard. The second half started with more Mexican fireworks, with more shots at the Saudi goal and off a corner, defender Cesar Montes flicked the ball toward the front of the goal and striker Henry Martin kicked it in for a 1-0 lead in the 47th.

Then, suddenly, Chavez sent a curving free kick off the wall from 30 yards out and into the corner of the net in the 52nd minute for his first-ever international goal; 2-0! Lozano scored again in the 56th, but was offsides and the game remained, 2-0.

The Saudis needed to at least tie the game to advance, but the Mexican offensive avalanche continued, up 17-8 in shots and 7-1 in shots-on-goal by the 70th minute. There was no let-up, with Uriel Antuna’s goal in the 87th was called back for offsides.

But Mexico could not get a third goal, despite an unrelenting offensive push that ended with 26 shots to 10 and 61% of possession. But a late defensive breakdown allowed a give-and-go with midfielders Salem Al-Dawsari and Hattan Bahbri that ended with a Al-Dawsari goal at 90+5 that made the final 2-1.

That late goal turned out to be the difference, as both Poland and Mexico finished with 1-1-1 records and four points, but Poland had a goal differential of zero to minus-one for the Mexicans.

● Group D: Tunisia 1, France 0 ● The French were already through to the Round of 16 after winning their first two games, but although dominating play, were unable to score and lost on Wahbi Khazri’s goal in the 58th minute.

Tunisia actually scored in the eighth minute on a header by defender Nader Ghandri, but he was offside and the first half ended scoreless. Khazri, who was born in France, dribbled the ball down the middle, got just inside the box and sent a left-footed, skipping shot straight to the right corner of the French goal for a 1-0 lead.

France rested some of its stars, but many of them came in past the 60-minute mark and its attack became more focused. But they could not score against the packed-in Tunisian defense.

However, midfielder Antoine Griezmann appeared to tie the game at 90+8, but was offsides as the ball was played in, preserving the shutout and giving the Tunisians an emotional win.

France had 66% of the possession and led in shots, 10-5, but ended up winning the group at 2-1 and six points.

● Group D: Australia 1, Denmark 0 ● After a tie and a loss, Denmark needed a win to advance out of the group but Australia (1-1) might have been able to get through with a draw.

The Danes, the Euro 2020 semi-finalists and ranked no. 10 worldwide, were on the ball in the first half and had 65% of possession and a couple of shots on goal, keeping Aussie keeper Mathew Ryan busy. But it was 0-0 until Australian midfielder Matthew Leckie took a long lead pass from striker Riley McGree in the middle of the field, dribbled inside, reversed, then sent a low line-drive from left to right into the far corner of the Danish net in the 60th for a 1-0 lead.

As the game went on, Denmark got weaker and could not mount a serious challenge for the tie, despite ending with 69% of possession and a 13-8 edge in shots. The 1-0 win propels Australia into the Round of 16 with six points (2-1), while the Danes scored one goal in three matches and ended 0-2-1 (W-L-T).

The Danes wore their red home jerseys and did not bring out their highly-publicized, black “color of mourning” jerseys to highlight their concerns over migrant labor conditions in Qatar. Denmark was perhaps the most strident team in the tournament in highlighting Qatar’s labor policies, but are now – to their amazement, no doubt – on the way home.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Basketball ● The Class of 2022 was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame at a ceremony at the FIBA headquarters in Mies (SUI) on Wednesday. Nine individuals from women’s basketball were inducted as part of a focus on the women’s game, including two Americans: star center Lisa Leslie and University of Connecticut and U.S. Olympic Team coach Geno Auriemma.

The other inductees include players Robin Maher (AUS), Catarina Pollini (ITA), Jurgita Streimikyte-Virbickiene (LTU) and Mame Maty Mbengue (SEN), and coaches Antonio Carlos Barbosa (BRA), the late Milan “Ciga” Vasojevic (SRB) and Maria Planas (ESP).

● Football ● One of the stories of the 2022 FIFA World Cup has been the stunning expansion of stoppage time, in some cases to 11-12 minutes beyond the normal 45 minutes of each half. FIFA Referees Committee chair Pierluigi Collina (ITA) explained that actual playing time had decreased to perhaps 50 minutes – out of 90-plus – in matches at the 2018 World Cup in Russia:

“If we look back at Russia, the average amount of stoppage time was six and a half minutes.

“There was a maximum of six substitutions there compared to the ten we have now, and if we adapt that accordingly with the four extra substitutions, we can assume one extra minute. So we’ve gone from the equivalent of seven and a half minutes in Russia to ten minutes in Qatar, which is not a dramatic change, but it offers us the possibility to have an average of almost 59 minutes of actual playing time. We’re quite happy with this result.”

● Swimming ● The four-day, long-course U.S. Open began on Wednesday in Greensboro, North Carolina, with Freestyle superstar Katie Ledecky easily taking the women’s 800 m Free on opening night in 8:13.90, the no. 7 performance of the year (she has five of the top six). She won by 23.99 seconds over fellow American Michaela Mattes (8:37.89).

Brazil’s Guilherme Costa won the men’s 800 m Free in 7:54.10, well off his seasonal best of 7:46.90. The meet continues through Saturday.

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TSX REPORT: U.S. beats Iran, 1-0, to advance at World Cup; 400-500 killed in World Cup build-up? USATF revenues skid, but Siegel gets $3.8M

By
Rich Perelman
-
American star Christian Pulisic was the difference in the U.S.'s 1-0 win over Iran in the World Cup (Photo: U.S. Soccer Federation)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. U.S. advances to World Cup eliminations, as do England, Senegal, Dutch
2. UEFA and South America only confeds with winning records so far
3. Qatar admits 400-500 World Cup deaths, but figure walked back
4. GAISF, formed in 1967 to protect sports federations, dissolved
5. USA Track Field tax form shows revenues down, Siegel gets $3.8 million

The final matches in FIFA World Cups groups A and B saw the Netherlands and Senegal advance to the elimination round as well as England and the U.S., which defeated Iran, 1-0, in a tense match in Qatar. As with the 2018 edition, European teams continue to dominate the action, and among the five continental confederations participating in the World Cup, only the Europeans and South Americans have winning records through the first two round of group matches. The Secretary General of Qatar’s Supreme Committee for the organization of the World Cup said that between 400 and 500 people died on World Cup projects, but the statement was quickly walked back by the Supreme Committee press office, which said that figure referred to the total number of work-related deaths in the country from 2014-20. The Global Association of International Sports Federations, at one time a leading voice for sport in the Olympic Movement, voted to dissolve itself, leaving the International Olympic Committee even more firmly in control. USA Track & Field posted its Federal tax return for 2021, showing that chief executive Max Siegel was paid more than $3.8 million, moving forward bonuses not due until 2024. The federation’s revenues remained flat and have not kept up with inflation since 2014.

1.
U.S. advances to World Cup eliminations, as does England, Senegal, Dutch

The U.S. Men’s National Team scored two goals in three FIFA World Cup matches, but it was enough to earn two draws and a tense, 1-0 win over Iran on Tuesday, advancing to the elimination rounds as the second team out of Group B (1-0-2 W-L-T).

England won the group with a 2-0-1 record, beating Wales by 3-0 on Tuesday and will face Senegal, the second team from Group A next Sunday. The Senegalese (2-1) won their final Group A game with a goal in the 70th minute to eliminate Ecuador (1-1-1), 2-1.

The Netherlands skipped past Qatar, 2-0, to win Group A to 2-0-1 and will play the U.S. on Saturday.

Coming Wednesday are the final games in Groups C and D:

● Group C: Everything is still up for grabs, with Poland (1-0-1: 4 points) facing Argentina (1-1: 3), while Saudi Arabia (1-1) will play Mexico (0-1-1: 1). Any of the four could advance, and Argentina could overcome its shocking opening loss to the Saudis by winning its match.

● Group D: France won its first two games outright and will win the group, as it plays Tunisia (0-1-1: 1 point), which is still mathematically alive, but has to beat the French. Australia (1-0-1: 4) faces Denmark (0-1-1: 1), which needs a win to have any chance of advancement.

Groups E and F will play on Thursday (1st), with Spain (4 points) facing Japan (3) and Costa Rica (3) against Germany (1) in Group E. Disappointing Belgium (1 point) needs to win in its final Group F match against Croatia (4) to advance, while Morocco (4) plays hard-lick Canada (0-2: 0).

2.
UEFA and South America only confeds with winning records so far

Europe (UEFA) dominated the 2018 World Cup in Russia, sending 10 teams to the Round of 16, six to the quarterfinals and had all four semifinalists. It may turn out the same way in Qatar, but the Europeans have not been as dominant in 2022 through the first two rounds of the group stage.

In matches through the first two rounds only (records shown W-L-T), traditional powers UEFA and CONMEBOL (South America) are the only continental confederations with winning records thus far:

● Africa: 5 qualifiers: 3-4-3 overall, and 1-3-3 vs. Europe

● Asia: 6 qualifiers: 4-7-1 overall, and 2-3-0 vs Europe

● CONCACAF: 4 qualifiers: 1-4-2 overall, and 0-3-3 vs. Europe

● Europe: 13 qualifiers: 11-6-9 overall and 10-5-7 vs. non-Europeans

● South America: 4 qualifiers: 4-2-2 overall and 2-1-1 vs. Europe, thanks to Brazil’s two wins over Serbia and Switzerland.

On Tuesday, Groups A and B sent Netherlands and England on to the elimination round, with Wales the first European team eliminated. France, Portugal and Brazil have already clinched a spot in the playoffs as well.

For comparison, UEFA teams – with 14 qualified – were 17-6-5 through the first two rounds in Russia in 2018 and 15-4-3 against non-European squads.

3.
Qatar admits 400-500 World Cup deaths, but figure walked back

On the syndicated “Piers Uncensored” program, the British host Piers Morgan asked Hassan Al-Thawadi, the Secretary General of Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy:

“What is the honest, realistic total do you think of migrant workers who died from/as a result of work they’re doing for the World Cup in totality?”

The response was, “The estimate is around 400, between 400 and 500. I don’t have the exact number. That’s something that’s been discussed.”

Among the jumble of numbers thrown around by various groups concerning Qatar and the World Cup, that’s a new one, but far less than the 6,500 figure reported in February 2021, which was compiled from various government figures covering all migrant-worker deaths in Qatar since it won the hosting rights for the World Cup in December 2010.

However, it was a lot higher than the Qataris have announced, and a Supreme Committee statement after the interview included:

“The Secretary General told Piers Morgan’s ‘Uncensored’ programme that there were 3 work-related deaths and 37 non-work related deaths on the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy’s projects.

“This is documented on an annual basis in the SC’s public reporting and covers the 8 stadiums, 17 non-competition venues and other related sites under the SC’s scope.

“Separate quotes regarding figures refer to national statistics covering the period of 2014-2020 for all work-related fatalities (414) nationwide in Qatar, covering all sectors and nationalities.”

Morgan asked Al-Thawadi about the recognition that the migrant-worker situation had to change once the World Cup was assigned to Qatar:

“I think, overall, the need for reform in itself dictates that, yes, improvements have to happen. And just so we’re clear, this was something that was recognized before we bid. The improvements that have happened isn’t because of the World Cup. These are improvements that we knew we had to do, because of our own values, improvements that have to happen whether it’s in terms of health and safety standards, whether it’s in terms of improving accommodations standards, whether it’s in terms of dismantling the kafala system.

“Now, what the World Cup did, the World Cup served as a vehicle, as an accelerator, as a catalyst, because of the spotlight which we recognized early on was going to be shed. It caused a lot of these initiatives, not only in terms of improvement in the legislation, but in the enforcement of it as well.”

4.
GAISF, formed in 1967 to protect sports federations, dissolved

The Global Association of International Sports Federations, meeting in an Extraordinary General Assembly, voted by 70-22 to dissolve itself.

The group, originally known as the General Assembly of International Sports Federations (also GAISF), was created to be “[t]he united voice of sports, protecting the interests of International Federations.” It was, for several decades, a major force in international sport and the pathway for federations to become recognized as worldwide sports and possible additions to the Olympic Games program.

But as the position of the International Olympic Committee has become stronger over time, thanks to its funding by television rights sales and corporate sponsorships, GAISF’s position became weak. In 2015, then-GAISF President Marius Vizer (ROU), also the head of the International Judo Federation, opened the body’s massive Sport Accord conference by telling IOC President Thomas Bach (GER):

“Mr. President, stop blocking the SportAccord strategy in its mission to identify and organise conventions and multi-sport games. Do not try to create a theory around which sports are and are not eligible for multi-sport games. …

“Do not try to impose upon the organisers of SportAccord events guidelines on how to distribute funds generated and earned by ourselves. Do not interfere in the autonomy of the sport organisations.”

GAISF did create the World Mind Games in 2008 and 2012, World Urban Games (2019) and the World Combat Games in 2010, 2013 and in Riyadh (KSA) for 2023. But none became a stand-alone success that propelled the organization forward. The Sport Accord convention has been a success, beginning in 2003, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic has not been held since 2019.

The many sports federations will now be represented by organizations recognized and overseen by the IOC:

● Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF);

● Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF);

● Association of Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF) for sports recognized by the IOC, but not part of the permanent Olympic program;

● Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport (AIMS) for all others.

The dissolution announcement also noted that “SportAccord, which will take on many of the activities of GAISF, will commence, including a revised governance structure with the Association of IOC Recognised International Sport Federations (ARISF) and Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sports (AIMS) becoming members alongside the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF).”

Observed: If this sounds like an inside-politics development within the Olympic Movement, it is. But it is noteworthy as it underscores the central power of the IOC and especially its financial resources over almost every – but not all – international federations, excepting FIFA of course.

5.
USA Track Field tax form shows revenues down,
Siegel gets $3.8 million

Although the USA Track & Field financial statements for 2021 had already been posted, the federation’s Federal Form 990 annual tax return was available on its Web site and while reactions to chief executive Max Siegel’s $3.76 million cash pay, the financials showed a 7.5% drop in revenues.

In fact, USATF has been financially stuck in neutral since Nike began its massive sponsorship upgrade in 2014. Here are the USATF annual revenues since 2010, with Siegel starting as chief executive in April 2012:

● 2010 ~ $19.45 million
● 2011 ~ $19.08 million
● 2012 ~ $23.41 million
● 2013 ~ $19.59 million
● 2014 ~ $35.05 million ($15M sponsor bonus from Nike)
● 2015 ~ $32.48 million (sponsors $22.47M)
● 2016 ~ $37.34 million (sponsors $23.09M)
● 2017 ~ $35.09 million (sponsors $23.20M)
● 2018 ~ $34.47 million (sponsors $22.62M)
● 2019 ~ $34.32 million (sponsors $21.98M)
● 2020 ~ $37.47 million (sponsors $21.09M)
● 2021 ~ $34.63 million (sponsors $20.21M)

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee contributed $5.47 million to USATF in 2020 and $5.84 million in 2021. Sponsorships and the USOPC accounted for 75.2% of revenues. Events and related programs earned $3.94 million, or 11.4%.

USATF revenues have not even kept up with inflation; in 2014, it earned $35.05 million and came in at $34.63 million in 2021.

As for Siegel, his $3.76 million pay for 2021 includes “deferred bonus” amounts which were specified in 2018, believed to be tied to the monster Nike sponsorship deal. The 2018 financials stated “CEO current year reported compensation includes contractual deferred bonuses payable over a period of seven years through 2024. For accounting purposes, these bonuses were deemed earned in the current and prior years, but they will not be paid until the future years stated in the employment contract.”

Siegel received $500,000 in 2020 which was previously reported as deferred, but $2.5 million of previously-deferred bonuses in 2021, against a specified total of deferred comp (including retirement contributions) of $3,027,250 in the 2018 statements.

Chief Operating Officer Renee Washington saw her compensation jump to $1.64 million, including $1.01 million in “other reportable compensation” for which no details were provided.

USATF provided a statement to Runner’s World regarding Siegel’s salary:

“The CEO is evaluated yearly and is judged on overall organizational performance. The board is extremely pleased with Max’s performance. The organization’s success on and off the field of play has been historic under his leadership and we are poised to continue that trajectory. The USATF Board is comfortable with Max’s salary level and as a part of this year’s evaluation, we will do a deep dive with an outside firm to analyze his salary based on his level of expertise and how it compares to organizations with similar or smaller operating budgets.”

Observed: Three-time Olympic gold medalist Tianna (Madison) Bartoletta crystalized the issue perfectly on Twitter:

“I just want to point out that this salary had to be voted on and approved by the board of directors. So this whole ‘Max is bad’ refrain doesn’t take into account that 24 people (including peers in the [Athlete Advisory Committee]) okay’d this. Don’t just, ‘ask Max’ that’s not how it works.”

The USATF Board, the same one which demoted elected President Vin Lananna, is responsible for Siegel’s pay, but also for the lack of growth in the federation’s revenues. Just using inflation, $35.05 million in 2014 is worth about $44.12 million in 2022. By that standard, USATF’s revenues are down, effectively, 21.5%.

At USA Swimming, the other major – but much less visible – medal producer for the United States at the Olympic Games, revenues jump in Olympic and FINA World Championships years:

● 2016 ~ $45.84 million ~ Olympic year
● 2017 ~ $43.09 million ~ Worlds year
● 2018 ~ $34.81 million
● 2019 ~ $46.48 million ~ Worlds year
● 2020 ~ $36.39 million
● 2021 ~ $42.53 million ~ Olympic year (delayed)

Its chief executive, Tim Hinchey, received $1.037 million in salary and bonuses for 2021.

It is also noteworthy that Siegel’s bonuses, according to USATF’s financial statements, were due to be paid through 2024. Payments for 2022-23-24 were advanced to 2021; why?

With the USATF Annual Meeting coming up this week from 1-4 December in Florida, delegates may want to ask their Board reps – and Siegel and Washington – about what will be done to expand the sport’s revenue and profile, especially now that the excitement of the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene has passed.

≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡

● Group A: Netherlands 2, Qatar 0 ● Cody Gapko scored his third goal in three games for the Dutch in the 26th minute for the first goal in a decisive win.

The Netherlands won Group A with a 2-0-1 record and seven points. Gapko’s goal gave the Dutch a 1-0 lead at halftime and the lead increased to 2-0 on a Frenkie de Jong goal in the 49th minute after a Memphis Depay shot was blocked.

The Dutch got a third goal in the 68th from Steven Berghuis, but it was disallowed after a video review.

The Netherlands had 63% of possession and a 13-5 edge on shots. Qatar finished 0-3 in the group.

● Group A: Senegal 2, Ecuador 1 ● The winner was going to advance in this game and Senegal was pushing hard from the start. There was no score until the 44th minute when forward Ismaila Sarr was fouled by Piero Hincapie while charging toward goal, and then converted the penalty for a 1-0 lead.

Ecuador went on the offensive in the second half and a long corner found defender Felix Torres, who headed the ball to his left, where midfielder Moses Caicedo popped it into the goal to tie the match in the 67th.

That energized Senegal, which got a free kick on the Ecuador zone in the 70th minute that was headed off Ecuador star Enner Valencia and found defender Kalidou Koulibaly on the right side of goal and he volleyed it home for what turned out to be the winning goal.

Ecuador pressed, but could not get an equalizer and Senegal advanced out of the group. Ecuador enjoyed 61% of the possession in the game, but Senegal had 14 shots to nine.

● Group B: England 3, Wales 0 ● There was no score in the first half, but the English were clearly in control and struck twice early in the second half on back-to-back goals from Marcus Rashford in the 50th minute and Phil Foden in the 51st.

After Foden won a free kick on the left side in the 49th, Rashford sent a curving strike into the top right corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead in the 50th. Then after winning the ball back, striker Harry Kane sent a cross all the way across the field to the back post and Foden kicked it in for a 2-0 edge.

England got a third goal in the 68th minute, as Rashford dribbled to his left and then sent a hard, low ball through the legs of Welsh keeper Danny Ward for the final score.

The English controlled the ball for 65% of the time and had 18 shots to seven for Wales, which managed only one goal on its three games at the World Cup.

● Group B: United States 1, Iran 0 ● The Americans needed to win and were the aggressors from the start, trying to break down a packed-in Iranian defense. There were chances, especially for Tim Weah on a header in the 28th and then a Weah blast that went over the goal in the 33rd.

Iran rarely came forward and the U.S. continued to press, when a seeing-eye pass from Weston McKennie in the midfield found Sergino Dest on the right side of the penalty area in the 38th minute. He sent a perfect header to the front of the goal and found a charging Christian Pulisic, who right-footed the ball into the net as he crashed into keeper Edouard Mendy.

Pulisic was laboring badly on the sideline and the U.S. played with 10 men for about five minutes, when Pulisic came back on, albeit not at full speed. He left at halftime and had suffered a pelvic contusion, but says he will play on Saturday.

Weah scored again on a seeing-eye shot from the left side at 45+6, but was ruled offsides. The Americans had 61% of possession and a 9-0 lead in shots in the half.

The U.S. started well in the second half, but went into a defense-first mode after 60 minutes and barely held on for the win. Striker Saman Ghoddos missed a chance in the 65th minute when his shot went over the net and wide to the right.

There was the occasional foray on offense for the U.S., with Yunus Musah smashing a shot over the Iranian net in the 68th, but it was mostly a defensive effort through 90 minutes and nine minutes of stoppage time. Coach Gregg Berhalter brought in defenders Shaq Moore and Walker Zimmerman in the 82nd minute to place five across the back, and they helped hold on to the lead.

Some late Iranian theatrics, asking for penalty shots, were ignored by Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lopez and the U.S. escaped with the win and advanced. The Americans ended with 51% of possession and a 12-4 edge on shots.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 1928: Amsterdam ● A controversial statue of Dutch athlete Frist van Tuyll van Serooskerken, who was also the first chair of the Dutch Olympic Committee, will be allowed to remain in the stairwell of the Amsterdam Olympic Stadium.

The statue depicts van Tuyll van Serooskerken giving a Roman-style salute, which is now recognized as the infamous German Nazi salute, with the right arm extended straight from the shoulder. It was moved by stadium officials earlier this year after a study established it is inextricably tied by the public to the Nazis, even though it was erected in 1928, prior to the Nazi takeover of Germany in 1933.

The removal to the stairwell was challenged by a conservation group, but a District Court ruled that it can remain there “in order to prevent the monument from causing misunderstanding among visitors because of its association with the Hitler salute.”

● Archery ● The 2022 Pan American Championships were held in Santiago (CHI) last weekend, with the U.S. winning multiple medals, but no golds.

In the Recurve (Olympic) Division, Brazil’s Marcus D’Almeida, the 2021 Worlds silver medalist, won the men’s title by 7-3 in the final over Cuba’s Hugo Franco. Mexico’s Ana Vazquez, a 2021 Worlds Team silver medalist, won the women’s final, with American Casey Kaufhold taking the bronze.

Mexico won the team events for men, women and mixed pairs; the U.S. won a bronze in the men’s division, lost in a shoot-off in the women’s championship final (28-27) to settle for silver and won the Mixed Team silver, but lost, 6-0, to Mexico in the final. Kaufhold ended with three medals in all: two team silvers and an individual bronze.

● Athletics ● Rio 2016 Olympic Hassan Mead was suspended for three years by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for use of the testosterone substitutes Ostarine and Ligandrol, found during an out-of-competition test in October 2022. Per the USADA:

“Mead retired on November 8, 2022. Therefore, his period of ineligibility will continue until Mead returns from retirement and serves the remainder of his period of ineligibility. In addition, Mead has been disqualified from all competitive results obtained on and subsequent to October 17, 2022, the date his positive sample was collected.”

Mead finished 11th in the Rio 2016 5,000 m final and made three World Championships teams, finishing 11th in the 5,000 m in 2019 and 15th in the Worlds 10,000 m races in 2015 and 2017. He retired with bests of 3:37.65 for 1,500 m (2016), 13.02.80 in the 5,000 m (2014) and 27:32.49 in the 10,000 m in 2017.

● Cycling ● The UCI Track Champions League is ongoing, with three of five stops completed and the circuit moving to London for the final stages this weekend.

Thus far, the men’s Sprint leader is Dutch star Harrie Lavreysen, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Sprint champ, with 111 points, to lead Matt Richardson (AUS: 109) and Stefan Botticher (GER: 86). The Endurance leader is Swiss Claudio Imhof (80), ahead of Mathias Guillemette (CAN: 74).

France’s Mathilde Gros, the 2022 World Sprint Champion, leads the women’s Sprint standings with 83 points to 74 for Colombian star Martha Bayona. American Jennifer Valente, the Tokyo 2020 Omnium winner, leads the Endurance table at 98 points, just one ahead of Britain’s Katie Archibald, the two-time World Champion in the Omnium.

The UCI reported that a sports science study from the first two events collected data on 43 different metrics. Of note was the duel between Archibald and Valente in the Scratch in Berlin, where Archibald reached a heart rate of 200 beats per minute (to win) to 190 for Valente. Gros was even better, reaching 204 beats per minute in the Keirin race at the second stop in Berlin.

● Football ● Agence France Presse reported that FIFA had approved banners supporting Iranian protestors, but even so, such items were not allowed into Tuesday’s World Cup match with the U.S. in Qatar.

The AFP report stated that it had seen a document from FIFA that included:

“FIFA allows messages promoting human rights and FIFA’s position is that ‘Women, Life, Freedom’, or the name or likeness of Mahsa Amini, are permitted. Conversely, in accordance with FIFA rules on objects prohibited to spectators, objects bearing political, insulting or discriminatory messages are prohibited. This also applies to flags of non-official countries, which can be considered as a political message.”

Reuters reported:

“Early in the second half, a group of fans briefly held up letters spelling Mahsa Amini’s name, to applause from Iranian supporters around them. Security personnel took their signs but allowed them to remain in their seats.”

It also noted that several fans were either accosted or removed by security officers for apparel with protest slogans on them.

● Volleyball ● The man who stole Olympic volleyball setter Jordyn Paulter’s Tokyo 2020 gold medal is a career criminal who pled guilty on Monday. Jordan Fernandez of Anaheim, California was sentenced to 364 days in jail and two years of probation, but was freed after already serving 179 days and getting 179 days off for good conduct after being arrested in June.

The medal was found in a plastic trash bag by a woman walking her dog in June, and turned into police. Fernandez pled guilty to first- and second-degree burglary, among other charges.

You can receive our exclusive TSX Report by e-mail by clicking here. You can also refer a friend by clicking here, and can donate here to keep this site going.

For our updated, 951-event International Sports Calendar for 2022-23 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Brazil and Portugal clinch World Cup playoff spots; U.S. team not involved with Iran protest post; Kenya worried about World Athletics suspension

By
Rich Perelman
-
U.S. Men's National Team coach Gregg Berhalter (l) and captain Tyler Adams at a World Cup news conference in Qatar.

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Brazil and Portugal go through; U.S. must beat Iran to advance
2. U.S. team had nothing to do with online Iran protest post
3. Paris 2024 ticket sale process to begin on 1 December
4. Vancouver 2030 bid still alive, at least as far as IOC is concerned
5. Kenya trying to stave off possible World Athletics suspension

Another wild day at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar as heavyweights Brazil and Portugal won their matches to advance to the Round-of-16 playoffs that will start on 3 December. The U.S. men face Iran on Tuesday needed to win to advance, but a Monday news conference was all about the social-media posts that temporarily featured an Iranian flag without its Islamic Republic symbols in the middle. Coach Gregg Berhalter said the team and the coaches knew nothing about it; it was done by U.S. Soccer. The Paris 2024 organizers unveiled the Olympic ticket purchase process, with ticket “packs” to go on sale in February and March and individual tickets to be sold starting in May. Although denied provincial funding required for its bid to go forward, the Vancouver 2030 Winter Games bid group met with the International Olympic Committee’s Future Host Commission online last week. The Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee are trying to get the British Columbia government re-engaged, but have had no luck so far. In Kenya, the minister of youth, sports and arts has written to World Athletics in an effort to keep from having Kenya suspended due to its unending list of doping violations. The Kenyan government has committed $5 million over the next five years to the effort, but the situation has risen to a crisis status.

1.
Brazil and Portugal go through; U.S. must beat Iran to advance

Tournament bluebloods Brazil and Portugal both managed tightly-fought victories on Monday, going to 2-0 in group play and clinching spots in the Round of 16 prior to their third group match.

In Group G, Brazil (2-0 W-L) advanced with a tightly-contested, 1-0 win over Switzerland (1-1) and Cameroon and Serbia (both 0-1-1) fought to a wild, 3-3 draw. That means Serbia needs to beat Switzerland on Friday (2nd) and hope that Cameroon can’t beat Brazil. If Cameroon can win, it will also have four points and goal differential with Serbia or Switzerland could come into play.

In Group H, Portugal (2-0) out-fought Uruguay, 2-0, to move to the elimination round, with Uruguay now 0-1-1. Ghana won a crazy match from South Korea by 3-2, and is now 1-1 while the Koreans fell to 0-1-1. On Friday, Ghana will play Uruguay, with Ghana advancing with a win. Uruguay could get to four points with a victory, as could the Koreans if they can defeat Portugal, and then goal differential comes in.

The final matches in Group A and B will be held Tuesday, with Ecuador (1-0-1: 4 points) facing Senegal (1-1: 3), and the Netherlands (1-0-1: 4) playing Qatar (0-2: 0). The Dutch need to win to be sure of advancing, as does Ecuador, but Senegal could win the group with a win and a Dutch defeat or draw.

In Group B, England has four points (1-0-1) and plays Wales (0-1-1: 1), and needs at least a draw to advance. Iran (1-1: 3) and the U.S. (0-0-2: 2) will play, with the Iranians possibly advancing with a draw, but the U.S. moving on only if they win. A Wales win over England, however improbable that is, and an Iran draw with the U.S. will require goal differential to separate the English, Welsh and Iran.

2.
U.S. team had nothing to do with online Iran protest post

The U.S. Men’s National Team’s social-media accounts posted a graphic of the World Cup Group B standings, with Iran’s flag shown – for 24 hours – with only its colors and not its Islamic Republic symbols in the middle.

But the team itself had nothing to do with it. Per coach Gregg Berhalter at a Monday news conference:

“The players and the staff knew nothing about what was being posted.

“Sometimes things are out of our control. We believe that it’s going to be a match that the result will depend on who puts more effort in, who executes better on the field. And we’re not focused on those outside things. All we can do on our behalf is apologize on behalf of the players and the staff, but it’s not something that we are part of.

“We had no idea about what U.S. Soccer put out; the staff, the players had no idea. And for us, our focus is on this match. I don’t want to sound aloof or not caring by saying that, but the guys that worked really hard for the last four years, we have 72 hours between England and Iran, and we really are just focused on how to get past Iran and [how] we can go to this knockout stage of the tournament.

“Of course, our thoughts are with the Iranian people … the whole country, the whole team, everyone, but our focus is on this match.”

Berhalter added:

“Sport is something that should bring people together, bring countries together.

“When you look at the Olympics, to see all those countries competing at the same time, is a wonderful event. The World Cup is very similar, where people come from all around the world. Fans come from all around the world, and you get to compete on the field, as brothers, so sport does have the ability to do that.”

CNN reported that it was the U.S. Soccer Federation which posted the symbol-less Iranian flag for 24 hours to show “support for the women in Iran fighting for basic human rights.”

The Iranian Tasnim News Agency tweeted on Sunday:

“By posting a distorted image of the flag of the Islamic Republic of #Iran on its official account, the #US football team breached the @FIFAcom charter, for which a 10-game suspension is the appropriate penalty. Team #USA should be kicked out of the #WorldCup2022.”

3.
Paris 2024 ticket sale process to begin on 1 December

The procedure to buy Olympic Games tickets has often been complicated and irritating, something the Paris 2024 organizing committee is trying to fix. And it has at least partially succeeded with its Monday announcement of the ground rules for buying the first group of tickets, to be made available in February. According to Paris 2024:

“For the first time in Olympic history, tickets will be sold exclusively on a single, centralised and digital platform which will be open to all fans at the same time.

“Through this platform, nearly 10 million tickets will be available for the Olympic Games, with one million of these priced at just €24 and almost half priced at €50 or less for the general public. Paris 2024 is committed to accessible and affordable Games, and these ticket prices are available across the 32 sports on the Olympic Games programme that are for sale (with the exception of surfing which will not be sold).” (€1 = $1.03 today)

Sales will be made in stages, with only “ticket packs” sold between 13 February and 15 March 2023 and then individual tickets available from 11 May 2023. Both sales periods will require registration and a lottery:

● Pack sales: Buyers must register between 1 December 2022 and 31 January 2023 to get into a lottery for a time slot to buy tickets. Those selected will be scheduled for access to the ticketing site for a 48-hour period between 13 February and 15 March to buy tickets from three different sessions of sport, with up to six tickets per session. That’s what you can buy, in a variety of price ranges, with 80% of all sessions available for this sale period.

The opening and closing ceremonies will not expected to be part of this sale, nor will some high-demand finals sessions.

● Single sales: The second phase will require a new lottery – from 15 March to 23 April – with those chosen being able to buy tickets in a designated time slot beginning on 11 May 2023.

An absolute maximum of 30 tickets for the Games will be allowed for each “account.” Tickets for the Paralympic Games will go on sale in mid-2023.

4.
Vancouver 2030 bid still alive, at least as far as IOC is concerned

The Canadian-based GamesBids.com site reported Friday that despite having been shunned by the British Columbia provincial government for needed funding to stage a 2030 Olympic Winter Games, the Vancouver bid group, led by four First Nations, made a video presentation to the International Olympic Committee last week.

The Vancouver team met via Zoom with the IOC’s Future Host Commission for the Olympic Winter Games, explaining their proposal for about an hour. But it is clear that the project cannot go forward without financial support from British Columbia, on which national government support for hosting the Games is contingent.

The Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee have asked for further talks in a 21 November open letter to provincial officials, which included:

“[W]e expected the next step to be a face-to-face meeting with all parties to discuss the costs and benefits, priorities, and possibilities. The B.C. government has not yet given any of the parties, despite attempts by us and the Nations, an opportunity to have this discussion.

“We recognize the size, complexity, and expense of any project of this nature, and respect that the B.C. government has the right not to support projects for its own reasons. … We invite the Province, under the leadership of its new Premier, David Eby, to sit down with all parties and fully explore the potential of this project – together.”

No response has been reported from Eby; per GamesBids.com:

“A poll released this week by Research Co. revealed that 57 percent across the province agree with [B.C. Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Lisa] Beare’s decision to essentially end the bid while only 29 percent oppose it.”

5.
Kenya trying to stave off possible World Athletics suspension

Reuters reported last Friday that the Kenyan government has asked World Athletics not to suspend it in view of a rash of doping cases involving its athletes.

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports and the Arts, Ababu Namwamba, tweeted last week:

● “The government is taking firm measures to protect and uphold the integrity of athletics and sports in general. Our commitment is zero tolerance to doping.”

● “We will not allow a few unethical criminal elements to soil Kenya’s hard-earned premium pedigree as a top athletics nation that prides itself on competing and winning clean. We must defeat doping and its perpetrators.”

● “I ascribe to Abraham Lincoln’s wisdom of rather losing honorably than cheating. It’s more honorable to lose than cheat.”

In a statement, Namwamba noted that the Kenyan government has committed to additional anti-doping funding of $1 million per year for five years, but also:

“We are therefore alarmed and saddened by the increase in Kenyan athletes using doping agents, which has tragically resulted in the most unfortunate downgrading of Kenya’s premium status and led to classification as a ‘Category A’ violator under the World Anti-Doping Rules in Athletics. This is despite the existing legal framework enacted to tame the doping vice.”

He also reported on a message from World Athletics President Sebastian Coe (GBR), with Namwamba stating:

“In his communication to me this week, Coe praised the government’s action and plan in the fight against the threat of doping.

“‘I welcome the additional resources provided by the Government of Kenya in the fight against doping. The only way we can reduce the magnitude of this problem is the collective commitment of all sports stakeholders in Kenya.’”

Reuters stated that 55 Kenyans are currently banned and eight more provisionally suspended by the independent Athletics Integrity Unit. Kenya’s The Standard reported in a 13 November story that the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) has additionally sanctioned 22 athletes and nine other active cases, none of which had been made public, but the site posted the list.

Further, coach Noah Busienei said that bribes are paid to keep athlete names from being publicized. He was quoted:

“They give kickbacks so that an athlete cannot be named. Some athletes have been asked to pay Sh7 or Sh8 million [$57,166 to $65,333 U.S.] not to be named. Such athletes feign injuries or claim to be on maternity leave.

“It is shocking that an athlete wins a big race, makes good money and then proceeds on maternity leave while in top form. It is normally the other way around.

“Many managers are simply out to make money. Let us avoid these brokers handling our athletes. That is when we will have a lasting solution.”

≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡

● Group G: Cameroon 3, Serbia 3 ● Monday’s opening game was crazy, with three goals in each half and Cameroon coming back from a 3-1 deficit to get a tie (and a point).

Serbia had the best chances early, but Jean-Charles Castelletto scored for Cameroon in the 29th minute when a corner kick bounded off multiple heads and fell at his feet at the far right side of the goal.

But the Serbs responded with a goal in stoppage time as defender Strahinja Pavlovic headed in midfielder Dusan Tadic’s free kick from about 35 yards out at 45+1 for the tie. Two minutes later, Cameroon failed to clear and midfielder Andrija Zivkovic passed to forward Sergej Milinkovic-Savic at the top of the box and his left-footed shot found the corner of the net for a 2-1 halftime lead.

Just eight minutes into the second half, Serbia went up 3-1 on a brilliant, four-pass sequence that finally saw Zivkovic set up striker Aleksandar Mitrovic for a right-footed laser right in front of goal that whizzed by keeper Devis Epassy in the 53rd.

But Cameroon was hardly fazed and although Vincent Aboubakar appeared to be offside on a long lead pass from Castelletto, his bounding ball over the head of Serbian keeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic found the net in the 63rd to close the deficit to one; the goal was awarded only after a video review. Just three minutes later, Cameroon was on another fast break, with Aboubakar sending a pass to his left to Maxim Choupo-Moting who scored on a left-footed drive to tie the game!

Both sides continued to attack, but there was no more magic. Serbia ended with 59% of the possession and 15 shots to 13, but was left wondering about the offsides call on Aboubakar’s goal.

● Group G: Brazil 1, Switzerland 0 ● A packed-in Swiss defense was going to make it difficult for Brazil to score, especially with playmaker Neymar out with an injury. The half ended 0-0, with the Brazilians frustrated and the Swiss making an occasional offensive foray. Brazil’s Vinicius Junior had one excellent chance in the 27th minute, but it was saved by Swiss keeper Yann Sommer.

But the intensity increased in the second half and a breakaway run and goal by Vinicius Junior in the 64th minute was wiped out for a video review which showed striker Richarlison was offsides at the start of the play.

Brazil kept coming and Richarlison had a chance on a tight angle at the corner of the Swiss goal in the 72nd minute that was blocked and a Bruno Guimaraes blast in the 81st was saved. But substitute midfielder Rodrygo fed star midfielder Casemiro in the middle of the box in the 83rd and he sent a line drive into the far right side of the net for the only goal of the game.

The Brazilian defense kept the Swiss without a shot the rest of the way and ended with 54% of the possession and 13 shots to six for Switzerland (which had none on goal).

● Group H: Ghana 3, South Korea 2 ● This was a furiously-played match, with Ghana seemingly in control, but the Koreans fighting back, right to the final whistle. Forward Jordan Ayew’s free kick in the 24th minute found defender Mohammed Salisu in the box for a turnaround strike and a goal, and Ghana got a second as Ayew sent a ball into the box that was headed in by forward Mohammed Kudus in the 34th.

The Koreans regrouped at the half and came out with a ferocious attack and almost scored in the 53rd on a Gue-sung Cho header that was saved, but Cho connected on midfielder Kang-in Lee’s cross to the front of goal in the 58th to cut the deficit to 2-1. Then defender Jin-su Kim saved a ball going out of bounds at the endline and sent a perfect cross into the box that Cho found again to tie the game in the 61st!

Ghana fought back and pressured the South Korean goal, with Inaki Williams missing the net in the 68th, then Ayew sent a cross into the box that Williams missed and Kudus smashed from the right side of goal and into the net for a 3-2 lead. Korea came back again and again, even through 10 minutes of stoppage time, but could not score again. The Koreans ended with 63% of possession and a 22-7 advantage in shots, but it didn’t help. Ghana won its first World Cup match since 2010.

● Group H: Portugal 2, Uruguay 0 ● Uruguay also packed in the defense, focusing on superstar striker Cristiano Ronaldo and held the Portuguese scoreless through the first half. Portugal had excellent ball possession in the second half and a turn-and-shoot by attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes from the left side of the box in the 54th minute lofted its way toward the Uruguay and appeared to graze Ronaldo’s head for a 1-0 lead, but the goal was eventually credited to Fernandes instead.

Uruguay pushed hard on offense, but the Portuguese defense would not yield, although Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani got close in the 58th and forward Maximiliano Gomez hit the post from long distance in the 75th. As time wound down, Portuguese ball control was excellent, with continued pressure on the Uruguayan goal.

Fernandes was on the attack again and as Uruguayan defender Jose Gimenez fell backwards, he touched the ball with his hand – in the box – which turned into a penalty shot after video review. Fernandes buried the penalty for his second goal and the 2-0 final. Portugal had 60% of possession and a 15-11 edge on shots.

A fan ran onto the field with a rainbow flag and a T-shirt that said “respect for Iranian women” and “save Ukraine,” but was quickly removed.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 2020: Tokyo ● The Hakuhodo advertising agency – the second-largest in Japan – as well as the smaller Tokyu Agency and event producers Same Two Inc. and Fuji Creative Corporation had their offices searched on Monday as part of the expanding Tokyo 2020 bribery and bid-rigging scandal.

Nine companies – including these four – and a consortium were awarded contracts to produce test events for the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee and then to manage one or more venues during the Games, with a total contracted value of at least ¥20 billion (about $143.56 million U.S. today). So far, the country’s three largest ad agencies have all been searched.

● Pan American Games ● Pan Am Sports announced Monday that Asuncion (PAR) will host the 2025 Junior Pan Am Games. The Pan Am Sports Extraordinary General Assembly voted for Asuncion over Santa Maria (COL) by 32-16.

● Athletics ● The Jamaican sprint great Asafa Powell announced his retirement following his 40th birthday on 23 November. He preceded Usain Bolt’s rise to fame and set or tied the 100 m world record four times from 2005-07, first lowering the mark to 9.77, then running 9.77 twice more in 2006 before a 9.74 mark at Rieti (ITA) in 2007.

Powell won an Olympic gold on the Jamaican 4×100 m relay in 2016 and World Championships golds in the 4×1 in 2009 and 2015. His best individual finishes were bronzes in the men’s 100 m at the 2007 and 2009 Worlds and he finished fifth (2004), fifth (2008) and seventh (2012) in three Olympic finals.

He had an amazing 98 races in which he ran 9.99 or better with legal wind, the most in history, plus six more that were wind-aided. His first came in 2004 and his last in 2016. He continued competing into 2021, with his last recorded 100 m race a second-place finish in 10.07 at a meet in Clermont, Florida in May.

● Boxing ● The International Boxing Association announced a “collaboration agreement” with the World Boxing Association, headed by Panamanian Gilberto Jesus Mendoza, Jr. The statement included:

“The agreement includes cooperation in the development of amateur athletes and their integration into professional boxing through specific programs.

“The parties aim to create single regulations for amateur and professional boxing including boxers’ medical safety and well-being management, coaches’ development, and accordance with technical and competition rules.”

● Fencing ● The International Fencing Federation (FIE), meeting on Saturday in Lausanne (SUI), voted 104-30 (with one abstention) to continue the ban on Russian and Belarusian fencers in all FIE competitions. The next opportunity to consider the matter again will come in March of 2023.

● Football ● With alcoholic beverages illegal in public spaces in Qatar – including during the World Cup – police and security officers have their hands full. One told the Russian news agency TASS about smuggling efforts:

“Attempts occur at almost every match. Fans are attempting to use hidden flasks in binoculars, telephone chargers and musical instruments. They also pour alcohol into bottles from other beverages. We are working attentively nevertheless.”

Monday’s news conference with the U.S. men’s team in Qatar was dominated by questions from Iranian media, many apparently pro-government. Captain Tyler Adams was asked, “are you okay to be representing the U.S., meanwhile, there’s so much discrimination happening against Black people in America?”

Adams gave an impressive reply, including:

“There’s discrimination everywhere you go. One thing that I’ve learned, especially from living abroad in the past years, and having to fit in in different cultures and kind of assimilate into different cultures, is that in the U.S., we’re continuing to make progress every single day. Growing up for me, I grew up in a white family with obviously an African-American heritage and background as well.

“So I had a little bit of different cultures. And I was very, very easily able to assimilate in different cultures. So not everyone has that ease and the ability to do that. And obviously, it takes longer to understand and through education, I think it’s super important, like you just educated me now on the pronunciation of your country. So yeah, it’s a process, I think as long as you see progress, that’s the most important thing.”

Mark Dreyer, who writes about sports in China, tweeted over the weekend:

● “This is amazing. Due to the backlash from Chinese fans seeing unmasked crowds in Qatar, Chinese TV is now replacing live crowds shots during games and instead cutting to close-ups of players and coaches.”

● “I literally just spent the past two hours watching parallel feeds of the Brazil-Switzerland game and there were FORTY-TWO times where CCTV avoided showing crowd/fan close-ups. I saw ONE crowd close-up on CCTV (of former Brazilian players) at the start of the game. That’s it.”

This is possible as right-holding broadcasters have a choice of multiple feeds to choose from to show to their home audiences.

● Shooting ● In 2018, Russian billionaire Vladimir Lisin won the International Sport Shooting Federation (ISSF) presidency by a 148-144 vote against Italy’s Luciano Rossi in a testy campaign in which Rossi said death threats were made against him.

At the same General Assembly meeting, ex-Russian and now German citizen Alexander Ratner was elected as Secretary General.

Now, Lisin and Rossi are both candidates for the ISSF Presidency once again at Wednesday’s General Assembly in Sharm El Sheikh (EGY), with Ratner sending a remarkable message to the national federations, which was also posted in three languages on the ISSF Web site.

Rather than playing a neutral role, Ratner offered his personal views on the election, praising Lisin for introducing new competition formats, and “[o]rganizing and sponsoring final tournaments for the athletes with prize money coming from his personal means” and

“Much attention has been paid to development. The President, as promised, created a multimillion dollar-Fund based on his own funds. 93 national federations from all continents, including 42 European ones, were among the beneficiaries of the Fund’s programs.”

As for Rossi, Ratner recalled his ethics suspension in 2017 for conflicts of interest and claimed that Rossi advanced no proposals or innovations in 20 years as a member of the ISSF Executive Committee. He then sneers:

“[I]t should be noted with disgust that Mr. Rossi decided to politically instrumentalize the dramatic and tragic events in Ukraine for his personal benefit by spreading false allegations and at the same time ignoring both ISSF’s exemplary way to implement the IOC recommendations and President Lisin’s well-known anti-war position. This cannot remain unanswered. …

“Mr. Rossi … chose to discredit a candidate based on nationality while also degrading to fabricated slander.”

Observed: Is this the proper role for an International Federation Secretary General, sent six days prior to the federation’s General Assembly? It may or may not help Lisin in the short run with the forthcoming election, but calls into question the ISSF’s own election regulations.

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TSX REPORT: Morocco beats Belgium, Costa Rica upsets Japan in Sunday shockers; U.S. men support Iran protests; 20 million watched USA-England!

By
Rich Perelman
-

★ The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Sunday shockers for Costa Rica and Morocco scramble groups
2. U.S. men step into politics with one-day Iranian flag protest
3. USA-England match draws impressive 20 million viewers in U.S.
4. Arab “fans” harass Israeli reporters at World Cup
5. Tokyo 2020 bribery scandal leads to search of Dentsu

A stunning Sunday saw two more FIFA World Cup groups thrown into confusion as no. 2-ranked Belgium was decisively beaten by Morocco, 2-0, and Costa Rica – which lost to Spain by 7-0 – edged Japan, 1-0. Both Groups E and F won’t be decided until their final match day on 1 December. However, Canada was eliminated in Group F. Politics is all over this World Cup and the U.S. Men’s National Team got into it by posting a Group B table on its social-media accounts that showed an Iranian flag without the symbols of the current Islamic government for 24 hours. This was a symbolic gesture to support protesters against the government; Iran has protested to FIFA. The U.S.-England draw last Friday drew a big holiday audience in the U.S. of 20 million for the English and Spanish-language telecasts combined. Arab fans have been harassing Israeli journalists and broadcasters covering the World Cup, responding to mic flags with Hebrew letters; one “fan” said, “There is only Palestine. There is no Israel.” The Tokyo 2020 bribery scandal concerning sponsorships and a “rigged” selection for producers of test events and venue management expanded with searches of the ad giant Dentsu in Tokyo, an event-management company which produced some of the events and an ex-Tokyo 2020 staff member.

1.
Sunday shockers for Costa Rica and Morocco scramble groups

The Qatar World Cup, played in a country no one expected to host, has turned into a tournament that no one can predict. After Japan conquered Germany, who thought the Blue Samurai would lose to Costa Rica, 1-0? And highly-regarded Belgium looking so listless in a 2-0 loss to Morocco?

Croatia eliminated Canada by 4-1 and Spain and Germany fought to a 1-1 draw in the other games, leaving both groups up for grabs going into their third games on Thursday (1st).

In Group E, Spain (1-0-1: W-L-T) still leads, with four points, ahead of Japan and Costa Rica (both 1-1: 3 points), followed by Germany (0-1-1: 1). Spain can advance with a draw or better against Japan, but a Japan draw and a German win over Costa Rica would give Germany and Japan each four points and it would come down to goal differential (currently Japan at 0 and Germany at -1). Costa Rica could get through with a win over Germany (!), and even a draw would give them four points, but they are at -6 in goal differential.

In Group F, Croatia looked every bit like a trophy contender after a 4-1 thrashing of Canada, and has four points, even with surprising Morocco, with both now 1-0-1. Belgium is still in the hunt with three (1-1), but Canada has been eliminated at 0-2. Croatia and Belgium will clash on 1 December, while Morocco has Canada.

Monday brings the final set of second-round group games with Brazil (1-0) vs. Switzerland (1-0) and Cameroon (0-1) vs. Serbia (0-1) in Group G. South Korea (0-0-1) will play Ghana (0-1) and Portugal (1-0) will face Uruguay (0-0-1) in Group H.

2.
U.S. men step into politics with one-day Iranian flag protest

Regardless of how far they get in the World Cup, Iran will be one of the remembered teams in the tournament, thanks to its win over Wales and the political swirl around it due to the widespread protests at home against the ruling regime.

The U.S. Men’s National Team, which faces Iran on Tuesday to decide which will go through to the elimination round, got into the act on Saturday, as reported by The Associated Press:

“The Twitter account of the U.S. men’s team displayed a banner with the squad’s matches in the group stage, with the Iranian flag only bearing its green, white and red colors. The same could be seen in a post on its Facebook and Instagram accounts laying out the point totals so far in its group.”

A U.S. spokesman confirmed, saying “We wanted to show our support for the women in Iran with our graphic for 24 hours.”

An Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) story included a complaint from Iranian Football Federation adviser Safiollah Fagahanpour that “measures taken regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran flag are against [FIFA] law” and that “They must be held responsible. Obviously they want to affect Iran’s performance against the U.S. by doing this.”

3.
USA-England match draws impressive 20 million viewers in U.S.

The highly-anticipated U.S.-England match at 1 p.m. Eastern time on a mostly-holiday Friday (25th) drew an outstanding 19.977 million viewers between English and Spanish-language viewers in the United States.

FOX Sports’ English-language coverage averaged 15.377 million viewers, said by FOX to be the largest English-language audience for a soccer match in the U.S. ever, surpassing the 14.510 million for the 1994 World Cup’s Italy-Brazil final from the Rose Bowl. Peak viewing came at 3:30 p.m. Eastern – near the end of the match – at 19.646 million. The top markets were in Kansas City, Hartford, Boston, Dallas and Washington, D.C.

FOX also had a record Thanksgiving Day, as its Dallas vs. New York NFL broadcast attracted a regular-season record 42 million viewers.

The Spanish-language telecast on Telemundo delivered a total audience of 4.6 million, including streaming, and was the second-most-viewed game of the tournament to date, behind Brazil-Serbia, which drew 5.7 million.

Telemundo also noted that the Mexico vs. Poland match on Thursday drew a total audience of 4.6 million, equaling the U.S. and England.

4.
Arab “fans” harass Israeli reporters at World Cup

With the first World Cup held in an Arab country, one of the obvious flash points would be how Israeli fans and news media would be treated. FIFA arranged a special service to fly Israeli and Palestinian fans on combined flights from Tel Aviv to Doha, noteworthy since Qatar and Israel have no diplomatic relations.

Special arrangements were also made to have Israeli consular officials on hands to assist its citizens in case of difficulties, and Israeli fans were coached to maintain a low-key presence at the World Cup (Israeli did not qualify to compete).

Israeli news media, however, are quite visible and have been harassed. Britain’s Mirror reported:

“Moav Vardi, the head of the foreign news desk at Israeli public broadcaster Kan 11, was confronted by a fan wearing a Saudi Arabia top following the nation’s two-goal defeat by Poland on Saturday.

“Vardi was told by the fan in front of the TV camera: ‘It is Palestine, there is no Israel. Go please. You are not welcome here. This is Qatar, this is our country – you are not welcome here. There is only Palestine. There is no Israel.’”

Raz Shechnik, a correspondent for a leading Israeli newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth, told the Mirror:

“Listen, we didn’t want to write these things. We always thought that we, the journalists, are not the story. Certainly not in the biggest event of world sports next to the Olympics. But after ten days in Doha, it is impossible not to share with you what we are going through here.

“We feel hated. We feel the hostility and we feel unwelcome. How did a friendly Qatari tell us at first glance when he asked and answered that we were from Israel? ‘I would like to say welcome to you. But you are really not blessed. Fly away from here as fast as possible.’ So clear and smooth. And he is another ‘host’, not some Lebanese fan who is passing by. Now let’s not pretend huh?

“Take it wherever you want from here. It’s a great World Cup, right, but we’ll leave here with a very bad feeling. On the other hand, what fun it will be to return to our country. We have no other country.”

Britain’s London-based Jewish News wrote:

“Channel 13’s sports reporter Tal Shorrer said he has been abused or verbally assaulted more than 50 times in the four days he has been in Qatar, mostly while doing his work covering the World Cup.

“Shorrer said just a few minutes before speaking to Jewish News over the phone, an Argentinian fan pushed him when he saw the Hebrew letters on Shorrer’s microphone, shouting, ‘you are killing babies.’

“‘The best way to describe our experience so far is unpleasant. Almost every time we go on air we see fans coming up behind us with Palestinian flags, yelling ‘free Palestine’. We have also heard people calling us murderers, saying we aren’t welcome here, and that our microphone is red from blood,’ Shorrer said, referring to his red Channel 13 microphone.”

While Ohad Hemo, a reporter for Channel 12, has also been harassed, he noted that “as far as the Qatari authorities go, we are treated very well.”

5.
Tokyo 2020 bribery scandal leads to search of Dentsu

The expanding bribery scandal regarding sponsorships and test-event and venue management contracts for the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee reached worldwide advertising agency giant Dentsu on Friday (25th), as its headquarters office was searched.

Japanese prosecutors executed searches of Dentsu, event management company Cerespo, which produced five of the pre-Olympic test events, and the home of a member of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committees. Officials from Japan’s fair-trade oversight agency also joined in the searches. Kyodo News reported:

“Rigging is suspected in the 26 open bids held in 2018 for the rights to plan 56 test events. These were awarded to nine companies, including Dentsu and Cerespo, as well as a consortium.

“The amount of the contracts totaled more than 500 million yen ($3.6 million), with the price of each ranging from 4 million yen to 60 million yen, according to sources familiar with the matter.

“The nine companies and one consortium eventually won contracts without a tender process to run the test events and competition venues during the Tokyo Games. The contracts were much bigger, possibly worth tens of billions of yen.”

Dentsu won bids for five test events for about ¥80 million (~$575,022 U.S.) and Cerespo also was selected for five, paying about ¥116 million (~$833,783).

≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡

● Group E: Costa Rica 1, Japan 0 ● The first shock of the day came as Costa Rica, which had given up seven goals to Spain, kept Japan in check throughout, playing five across the back and blocking every entry pass.

Although on defense most of the match, Costa Rica had a few chances and changed the game in the 81st minute. Midfielder Yeltsin Tejeda took possession of an errant Japanese pass, sent the ball to defender Keysher Fuller about 18 yards away from goal and he sent a left-footed shot towards the top of the left side of the net that brushed off keeper Shuichi Gonda and into the net for a 1-0 lead.

That stood up as the winner against a hard push by Japan in the final minutes and sent the group into chaos. Japan ended with 57% of possession and a 13-4 edge on shots; in fact, the only Costa Rican shot on goal was Fuller’s game-winner.

● Group E: Spain 1, Germany 1 ● The Germans were desperate for at least a point after losing to Japan. The first half was a back-and-forth affair with some good Spanish chances, but the Germans struck on defender Antonio Ruediger’s header in the 40th minute, but it was called offside. Spain dominated possession, as expected (68%), but only had a 4-3 edge in shots.

Both sides had chances at the start of the second half, but Spain finally broke through in the 62nd, as Jordi Alba’s pass from the left side was perfectly timed with striker Alvaro Morata, who flicked it to the near post and into the net, just past German keeper Manuel Neuer.

The Germans pressed and pressed, but couldn’t score. Undaunted and determined, a run down the right side in the 83rd minute by defender Lukas Klostermann led to a pass to midfielder Leroy Sane, beyond the top of the box. He pushed the ball into the box, with two Germans in pursuit. Midfielder Jamal Musiala touched it, but it rolled to substitute striker Niclas Fuellkrug, who pounded it into the left corner of the net for a 1-1 tie.

Both teams tried for the winner, with Sane sprinting down the left side in the 95th minute and looking to have a clear shot at goal, but Spanish keeper Unai Simon came out and forced the ball out of bounds. The Spanish finished with 64% of possession, but the Germans had 11 shots to seven for Spain.

The draw means both teams still have work to do to advance to the knock-out round.

● Group F: Morocco 2, Belgium 0 ● The Red Devils came into the World Cup as one of the favorites and ranked no. 2 on the world, but they were anything but sharp in a 1-0 opening win over Canada. They were listless against Morocco.

The game was 0-0 through the half – although Morocco lost a goal in stoppage time to video review – and it looked like neither side might score, but the Moroccans were quicker to the ball and appeared more enthusiastic. And it paid off in the 73rd minute, when Abdelhamid Sabiri scored a brilliant goal off a free kick, starting close to the endline and curling the ball into the net, past a stunned Thibaut Cortois, the Belgian keeper, for a 1-0 lead.

And the Belgians just could not get quality opportunities on offense, and forward Hakim Ziyech took advantage on a counterattack, running to the right endline and sending a quality cross in front of the goal where it was knocked in by substitute striker Zakaria Aboukhlal at 90+2 for the 2-0 final. It was Morocco’s first win at a World Cup since 1998.

Belgium had 67%, but it meant nothing, as the sides both had 10 shots. The Associated Press reported rioting in Brussels following the loss, as well as post-match violence in Antwerp.

● Group F: Croatia 3, Canada 1 ● The Canadians started in dreamland with their first-ever World Cup goal just 1:10 in, as midfield star Alphonso Davies scored on a header off a right-side cross from midfielder Tajon Buchanan for a 1-0 lead.

And Canada stayed on offense, controlling the game for the first half-hour, but then the lights came on for Croatia, the 2018 World Cup runner-ups. They began to press the Canadian defense, which was initially saved by keeper Milan Korjan, but a pass to the left side of the goal by Ivan Perisic to fellow forward Andrej Kramaric resulted in a left-footed shot that tied it in the 36th minute.

Croatia continued on offense and scored again as defender Josip Juranovic fed the ball past the Canadian backline to striker Marko Livaja for a right-footed laser that found the left side of the net for a 2-1 halftime lead.

Canada started strongly again on the second half, but Croatia simply overwhelmed the Canadian defense as the half wore on. Kramaric got his second goal of the night and a 3-1 lead in the 70th off a Perisic cross and the game was decided. Korjan was game in goal, but a bad defensive error by Kamal Miller in stoppage time allowed striker Mislav Orsic to break away and feed midfielder Lovro Majer for an easy goal at 90+4 for the 4-1 final.

Canada ended with 52% of possession, but Croatia had 13 shots and 10 on goal compared to eight for Canada and just two on goal. The Canadians were eliminated from the tournament, but get a $9 million payout for making it to the World Cup.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ≡

● Triathlon ● Bermuda’s Tokyo Olympic champion Flora Duffy won her fourth World Championship title by running away from Britain’s Geogia Taylor-Brown on the final two laps in Abu Dhabi (UAE) for a 1:53:24 to 1:54:28 victory in the final World Triathlon Series race of the season. .

German Laura Meissner took third place for her first World Triathlon Series medal, with American Taylor Knibb fourth (after a fall on her bike), 1:55:59 to 1:56:40.

Duffy ended with 5,105.63 seasonal points, with Taylor-Brown at 5,081.25. Americans Knibb and Taylor Spivey were 3-4 at 4,179.23 and 3,889.44.

The men’s race was much closer, with France’s Leo Bergere winning in 1:44:14 to 1:44:25 for American Morgan Pearson, who started the run 41 seconds down, but chopped all but 11 seconds off with the fastest split in the field. Belgium’s Jelle Geens was third (1:44:34). American Matthew McElroy was 10th (1:45:26).

Bergere won the seasonal title with 4,741.89 points to 4.721.41 for Britain’s Alex Yee, who finished fourth in Abu Dhabi by three seconds, where third place would have won the title.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Alpine Skiing ● The women’s FIS World Cup tour was in Killington, Vermont for a Giant Slalom and Slalom, with Swiss skiers taking gold twice (with a tie).

Beijing 2022 Super-G gold medalist Lara Gut-Behrami won the Super-G in 1:44.08, coming from third to first on the second run. Italy’s Marta Bassino came from fifth to second (1:44.15) in round two, while first-run leader Sara Hector of Sweden ended up third (1:44.28). American Mikaela Shiffrin was 13th.

Sunday’s Slalom ended in a tie between Beijing bronze medalist Wendy Holdener (SUI) and Anna Swenn Larsson (SWE) in 1:42.97, with Katharina Truppe (AUT: 1:43.19) third. Shiffrin finished after taking the fastest first run, but was only 27th on the second.

The men’s circuit is also in North America, at Lake Louise in Canada, with Norwegian star Aleksander Aamodt Kilde taking his 14th career World Cup win in Saturday’s Downhill in 1:47.98, ahead of Daniel Hemetsbuerger (AUT: 1:48.04) and reigning World Cup champ Marco Odermatt (SUI: 1:48.08). Ryan Cochran-Siegle was the top American, in ninth (1:49.10).

Odermatt and Kilde were back on the podium for Sunday’s Super-G, with the Swiss claiming his 13th career World Cup gold in 1:32.53, followed by Kilde (1:32.90) and Austria’s Matthais Mayer (1:33.31).

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● The seasons may change, but the results stay the same. At the IBSF World Cup opener in Whistler (CAN), German ace Francesco Friedrich won both the Two-man and Four-man races once again.

Friedrich and Alexander Schueller won the Two-man in 1:42.22 across two runs, Friedrich taking his 15th win in the last 16 World Cup races (and four in a row). Britain’s Brad Hall was second (1:42.33) and Johannes Lochner (GER: 1:42.68) was third.

Friedrich’s fours sled won in 1:41.56, ahead of Hall (1:41.98) and Canada’s Taylor Austin (1:42.37).

The women’s Monobob was a first World Cup gold for Canada’s Bianca Ribi (1:50.89), ahead of veteran Cynthia Appiah (CAN: 1:51.16) with American Kaillie Humphries – the Beijing 2022 Olympic champ – in 1:51.18. Germany’s Kim Kalicki, a two-time Worlds silver medalist, won the Two-woman race with Anabel Galander in 1:45.93, beating Melanie Hasler (SUI: 1:46.130 and Humphries and Emily Renna of the U.S. (1:46.34).

American Nicole Vogt was sixth in Monobob and seventh in the Two-woman, with Jasmine Jones aboard.

Britain’s Marcus Wyatt won the men’s Skeleton (1:45.44) by 0.01 over Korean Seunggi Jung (1:45.45) with Matt Weston (GBR) third in 1:46.10. Hannah Niese of Germany won the women’s race, beating Hallie Clarke (USA) and Brogan Crowley (GBR), 1:47.40 to 1:47.58 for Clarke and Crowley in a tie.

● Cross Country Skiing ● The FIS World Cup season opener was at the Nordic festival in Ruka (FIN), with a show of power by Norway in the men’s events and Sweden in the women’s.

Three-time and current World Cup champ Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo led Norwegian sweeps in two of three men’s events, and won all three himself! He led Even Northug and Pal Golberg in the Classical Sprint (winning in 2:26.00), then won over Golberg and Martin Nyenget in the 10 km Classical (21:46.1) and then took the 20 km Freestyle Pursuit (45:30.6) by beating Golberg (+0.7) and Federico Pellgrino (ITA). That’s eight medals out of nine.

Sweden went 1-2 in all three women’s events. Emma Ribom (2:49.22) and Johanna Hagstrom were 1-2 in the Classical Sprint; Ebba Andersson (24:49.6) finished ahead of Frida Karlsson in the 10 km Classical and then Karlsson (49:55.3) won the 20 km Freestyle Pursuit over Andersson. Norway’s Tiril Weng was third in the Sprint and Pursuit and German Katharina Henning was third in the 10 km Classical.

American Rosie Brennan was seventh in the 10 km Classical, and sixth in the Pursuit, with Jessie Diggins 10th.

● Figure Skating ● The Grand Prix of Espoo in Finland was the last “regular season” stop for the ISU Grand Prix, with American teen sensation Ilia Malinin claiming his second win of the season, scoring 278.39 points. He moved up from second after the Short Program and was well ahead of Shun Sato (JPN: 262.21) and Kevin Aymoz of France (255.69).

Malinin hit his famed Quad Axel in the Free Skate, along with four more quads and a triple Flip-triple Axel at the finish, to score 192.82 in the Free Skate:

“I’m still in shock at how was I was able to perform. I was a little mad after yesterday’s performance. I was really hoping that today I would forget about it and gain my confidence again, just to make sure that I am able to be in control of everything. I definitely put it out there.”

Japan’s Mai Mihara also won her second Grand Prix title, scoring 204.41 to edge 2022 Worlds silver medalist Leona Hendrickx (BEL: 203.91) with Mana Kawabe (JPN: 197.41) third. Americans Lindsay Thorngren and Bradie Tennell finished sixth and eighth.

Italy’s Rebecca Ghilardi and Filippo Ambrosini dominated the Pairs, scoring 189.74 to 170.75 for Alisa Efimova and Ruben Blommaert (GER: 170.75). Americans Anastasiia Smirnova and Danylo Siianytsia were fourth (165.12).

Canadian stars Piper Gilles and Paul Poirer took the Ice Dance title at 219.49, well clear of Americans Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker (202.46), with fellow Americans Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko fourth (188.80).

The Grand Prix Final is next, from 8-11 December in Turin (ITA).

● Football ● The National Soccer Hall of Fame announced the election of defender DaMarcus Beasley, striker Landon Donovan and forward Lauren Cheney Holiday, to be inducted on 6 Mat 2023.

Beasley was a star defender and midfielder for the U.S. Men’s National Team, logging 126 appearances from 2001-17 and played in four World Cups, and scored 17 international goals. Donovan was a dangerous forward who also played in the midfield and scored 57 goals (and had 58 assists) in international play across 157 caps, including three World Cup appearances. He also played 15 seasons in Major League Soccer and finished as a six-time champion, retiring as the league’s all-time scoring leader.

Cheney Holiday was a star at UCLA before joining the National Team, where she played in 133 games and was a member of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup champions and Olympic gold-medal teams in 2008 and 2012.

● Nordic Combined ● The season opener was in Ruka (FIN) as part of its Nordic festival, with the discipline under pressure to get more public interest in order to stay on the Olympic program. One way to do that is with stars, and Norway’s four-time defending World Cup champion Jarl Magnus Rieber won two events out of three.

The first event was jumping off the 142 m hill and then a 5 km race, with German Julian Schmid getting his first World Cup win in 12:02.2, over Ryota Yamamoto (JPN: 12:08.0) and fellow Norwegian Jens Oftebro (12:13.2). Rieber came on to win the second event, with a 10 km race, finishing in 24:26.7 to 24:37.1 for Schmid, with Oftebro third again (24:39.1). Sunday’s event was a Mass Start 10 km race, followed by jumping, and another win for Rieber (156.3 points for jumping), over Matteo Baud (FRA: 151.6) and Yamamoto (152.9).

● Ski Jumping ● The second men’s event of the season was also in Ruka, with Slovenia’s Anze Lanisek winning here for a second consecutive year, scoring 312.8 points on Friday to best three-time World Champion Stefan Kraft (AUT: 311.5) and Poland’s two-time Worlds gold medalist Piotr Zyla (300.7).

On Sunday, Kraft scored 304.5 points but settled for a tie with Norway’s Halvor Egner Granerud (his 14th World Cup career win) with Japan’s Naoki Nakamura 294.9 winning his first individual World Cup medal in third.

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FIFA WORLD CUP: France advances; Australia, Poland, Argentina all back in the hunt for Round of 16

By
Rich Perelman
-
Two stars of France's 2-1 win over Denmark: Kylian Mbappe (l) and Theo Hernandez (Photo: Equipe de France)

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≡ QATAR 2022 ≡

Second-round matches were held in Groups C and D, with France set to advance, but everything else up in the air with one round of matches set to go:

● Group C: Poland is now 1-0-1 (W-L-T) and leads with four points, ahead of Argentina (1-1: 3) and Saudi Arabia (1-1: 3), and Mexico (0-1-1) fourth with one point. Everything is still up for grabs in the final matches on Wednesday (30th).

● Group D: France (2-0-0) has six points and will advance to the Round of 16. Australia (1-1) has three points, with Denmark (0-1-1) and Tunisia (0-1-1) both with one. The final matches in this group will also be played on the 30th.

Sunday has matches in Groups E, with Japan (3 points) facing Costa Rica (0) and Spain (3) playing Germany (0), and Group F, with Belgium (3) against Morocco (1) and Canada (0) vs. Croatia. (1)

≡ Saturday’s Matches ≡

● Group C: Poland 2, Saudi Arabia 0 ● After a scoreless tie with Mexico, Poland desperately needed a win, but the Saudis were the aggressors in this match from the start. The Poles scored first, however, after a shot by defender Matty Cash was saved, then a second attempt by star forward Robert Lewandowski failed, but Lewandowski tracked the ball down at the endline and sent a perfect pass back to midfielder Piotr Zielinski in front of the net, and he buried it in the 39th minute for a 1-0 lead and the only goal of the half.

The game was physical, with 33 fouls called and 18 against Poland, and in the 43rd minute, defender Krystian Bielik was called for a penalty. But striker Salem Al Dawsari’s try for goal was saved by Wojciech Szczesny, as was the rebound shot by Mohammad Al Burayk, which was blocked over the goal. The half ended 1-0.

The Saudis kept up the pressure in the second half, with double shots at goal in the 51st, 55th and 60th minutes, but no goals. An Arkadiusz Milik header hit the crossbar for Poland in the 63rd, and Lewandowski hit the post in the 66th. Then Lewandowski, playing aggressively, took possession from Abdulelah Al-Malki on a clearance and smashed the ball into the goal from about six yards out for a 2-0 in the 82nd minute that clinched the match. It was super-scorer Lewandowski’s first-ever World Cup goal.

The stat sheet showed the Saudis with 64% of the possession and a 16-9 edge on shots, but nothing to show for it.

● Group C: Argentina 2, Mexico 0 ● This was do-or-die for Argentina, after stunning loss to the Saudis in their opening match. But the game was physical and the defenses were stiff and despite chances on both sides, the half ended 0-0.

It was superstar Lionel Messi who broke the deadlock, taking a pass from Angel Di Maria in the middle of the field, about 25 yards out and sending a swift, seeing-eye shot with the left foot that whipped past Mexican keeper Memo Ochoa in the 64th for a 1-0 lead. Argentina continued on the attack and substitute midfielder Enzo Fernandez sent a curving blast over Ochoa’s outstretched left hand and into the net in the 87th for the 2-0 final.

Argentina ended with 58% of the possession and a 5-4 edge on shots that underlined – along with 34 fouls – the tightly-played nature of this game. The Argentines had to have a won and they got one; their future is again in their hands.

● Group D: Australia 1, Tunisia 0 ● In another physical game, in which 31 fouls and three yellow cards were handed out, Tunisia had the best of possession and play, but could not score for the second straight match.

As in their first game against France, the Aussies took the lead fairly early, this time on a header by forward Mitchell Duke, who headed a bounding pass from midfielder Craig Goodwin to the far side of the net in the 23rd minute for a 1-0 lead.

It didn’t appear that one goal would hold up, but the Tunisians just could not complete their plays in the Australian end. Shots went wide, shots were blocked and Aussie keeper Mathew Ryan made four saves to maintain the shutout and cinch Australia’s first World Cup win since 2010.

Tunisia ended with 58% of possession and 14 shots to nine for Australia, but it didn’t help.

● Group D: France 2, Denmark 1 ● Could France crack a tough Danish defense that had shut down Tunisia? Superstar midfielder Kylian Mbappe caused a lot of problems in the first half, but the Danish defense – and especially keeper Kasper Schmeichel – were equal to the challenge and maintained a scoreless tie through the half.

But the French kept getting closer and closer and finally broke through in the 61st, as Mbappe and defender Theo Hernandez executed a perfect give-and-go, with Hernandez crossing the ball back to Mbappe at the left side of the net and he punched it in through traffic.

However, that only fired up the Danes and they swarmed the French zone. A Christian Eriksen corner in the 68th was headed by defender Joachim Andersen toward the middle of the penalty area and found the head of fellow defender Andreas Christensen, whose shot flew into the goal for a tie.

The game did not settle down at all and both sides had chances, and French keeper Hugo Lloris was busy fending off multiple Denmark chances. But the French pressure was relentless and midfielder Andre Greizmann sent a diagonal, line-drive cross from the right side at the top of the box right to the left corner of the goal and Mbappe was there; the ball caromed off his thigh and into the net for a 2-1 lead in the 86th minute. That’s how it ended. 

The French held on and at 2-0, secured their place in the knock-out round. The Danes actually had 52% of the possession, but the French mounted a 21-shot attack on Schmeichel, while Denmark managed 10 shots and only two on goal.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has opened proceedings against the Football Association of Serbia due to a flag displayed in their dressing room on the occasion of the Brazil v Serbia.”

The inquiry arose from a dressing room image seen on social media platforms of a flag which shows the now-independent country of Kosovo as part of Serbia. Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008 and joined both FIFA and UEFA in 2016.

Hajrulla Ceku, Kosovo’s Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, tweeted:

“Disgraceful images from Serbia locker room, displaying hateful, xenophobic and genocidal messages towards Kosova, while exploiting FIFA World Cup platform.

“We expect concrete actions from FIFA considering that the Kosovo Football Federation (FFK) is a full FIFA and UEFA member.”

The Associated Press reported raw emotions between pro-government fans and protestors at Iran’s matches against England and Wales, with Qatar security officials taking away flags which are different from the country’s approved national flag.

Iran has been rocked by protests since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody in September after an arrest for not wearing the hijab (headscarf) appropriately.

The AP noted “Shouting matches erupted in lines outside the stadium between fans screaming ‘Women, Life, Freedom’ and others shouting back ‘The Islamic Republic!’”

An Iranian woman who lives in Spain and attended the 2-0 win over Wales, “said Qatari police ordered her to scrub off the names of Iranian protesters killed and arrested by security forces that she had written on her arms and chest, at the behest of Iranian government supporters. At the game, just traces of ink remained on her skin that was rubbed raw.”

In a related development, former Iranian national team player Voria Ghafouri was arrested Thursday after a training session with his club team for comments which “tarnished the reputation of the national team and spread propaganda against the state.”

Ghafouri has been publicly critical of the Iranian government and its crackdown following the death of Amini.

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