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● Errata: Some readers saw a version of Sunday’s Panorama post which had the final day of the SheBelieves Cup football matches on Thursday (26th); it’s actually Wednesday the 26th! Thanks to reader Brian Russell for the correction. ●
≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡
● Russia ● In a television interview, Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev said that while there will be limitations for Russian participation at Milan Cortina 2026, he expects a full team for Los Angeles in 2028:
“Our athletes’ participation in the Winter Olympics is at stake.
“There, we have already given leeway to speed skaters and figure skaters. We are working with skiers and the biathlon federation. I won’t say who we are communicating with. These are big bosses. Without us, world sport is losing its spectacle.
“We are moving towards easing restrictions for winter athletes, and we are in full swing preparing for the 2028 Olympics. I think everything will be fine for us there, we will be there in full force, with a flag and an anthem.”
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United World Wrestling posted Friday that Russian and Belarusian wrestlers will now compete under the flag of the federation and not as “neutrals.” But:
“UWW will continue with UWW anthem for ceremonies with no reference to the flag, symbols, or coat of arms of Russia and Belarus will be authorized.”
Eligibility for Russian or Belarusian wrestlers will be denied only if there is “evidence of direct military participation in the war against Ukraine or public declarations [in written or orally] in support of the war and/or of their promoters or participants.” This requirement was adopted last year.
● Athletics ● Italy’s 2024 European 20 km bronzer Francesco Fortunato smashed a 30-year old world indoor record in the men’s 5,000 m walk, winning at the Italian Indoor nationals in Ancona in 17:55.65 on Saturday.
That easily surpassed the 1995 mark of 18:07.08 by Russian Mikhail Shchennikov.
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“The [Athletics Integrity Unit] has provisionally suspended Brimin Misoi Kipkorir (Kenya) for the Presence/Use of Prohibited Substances (EPO, Furosemide).”
Monday’s post on X sidelines a 2:04:53 marathoner from 2023, when he won the Frankfurt Marathon; he’s also won the Nairobi Marathon three times.
Also provisionally suspended was 2:12:55 marathoner (in 2013) Ronald Kimeli Kurgat of Kenya on Friday, “for the Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Triamcinolone acetonide).”
Three others of lesser achievements were also suspended; two were from India and one from Kenya.
● Basketball ● The U.S. men’s team concluded play in the FIBA AmeriCup qualifiers on Sunday with a 105-83 victory in Nassau over The Bahamas and won Group D with a 5-1 record. Forward Nassir Little and guard Javonte Smart each had 16 points to lead the Americans.
Last Thursday, the U.S. squad – made up of G League players and free agents – had to come from behind to edge Puerto Rico in San Juan, 72-71, taking the lead for good with 6:19 to play. A Malik Williams layup made it 72-66 with 3:59 to play and while the U.S. did not score again, it held the home team to just five points the rest of the way. Smart had 16 to lead the U.S.
The 2025 AmeriCup will be held in August in Managua (NCA).
● Boxing ● World Boxing appointed Dutch-based Exceed Boxing to handle its commercial rights, including events, broadcasting rights, sponsorship, ticketing, merchandising and gaming. The federation will retain sales authority over “global” sponsors and sponsorships of the federation Web site, merchandise and social-impact sponsors.
It’s the third World Boxing partnership, previously with merchandise and equipment provider Sting, and sporting apparel and footwear supplier Nike Boxing.
● Figure Skating ● The “Legacy on Ice” tribute to the 28 skaters, coaches and family lost in the crash of American Eagle flight 5342 on 29 January will be held on Sunday (2nd) in Washington, D.C., with many of the top American stars of the sport performing in support.
Past Olympic and World Championships medal winners including Nathan Chen, Peggy Fleming, Scott Hamilton, Nancy Kerrigan and Kristi Yamaguchi are all committed to perform, as well as current World Champions Ilia Malinin and Ice Dance stars Madison Chock and Evan Bates.
The program is being staged by Monumental Sports & Entertainment, U.S. Figure Skating, the DC Fire & EMS Foundation and the Greater Washington Community Foundation. It will be shown live locally on the Monumental Sports Network and streamed on the NBC Peacock service. The program will be shown delayed on NBC on 30 March.
● Ice Hockey ● The NHL’s All-Star Game substitute, the 4 Nations Face-Off proved to be a huge hit, drawing excellent ratings for the pool play games and 4.4 million for the U.S.-Canada match in Montreal.
The U.S. vs. Canada re-match for the title, in Boston last Thursday proved to be one of the biggest hockey telecasts ever. SportsMediaWatch.com reported:
● “Thursday’s Canada-United States Four Nations Face-Off final averaged a 4.0 rating and 9.25 million viewers on ESPN, marking the largest audience for an NHL-sanctioned game in the Nielsen people-meter era (dates back to 1988).”
● “If one goes back further, the Four Nations final ranks as the most-watched NHL game since Game 6 of the 1973 Stanley Cup Final (Canadiens-Blackhawks: 9.41M) and the fourth-most watched all-time, according to historical data released by then-rightsholder NBC 15 years ago.”
The game also drew more U.S. viewers than any international hockey event since the 2010 Olympic final in Vancouver, where the Canada-USA final drew a much larger 27.6 million audience on NBC.
● Nordic Skiing ● Pretty impressive ticket sales for the Granasen Ski Centre in Trondheim, Norway for the FIS Nordic Skiing World Championships, coming up from 26 February to 9 March.
Featuring cross-country skiing, ski jumping and the Nordic Combined, the Trondheim organizers announced Monday that 192,000 tickets had been sold so far for the 11 days of events!
Many more are expected out on the trails, for the second time that Trondheim has hosted, previously way back in 1997.
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