2024 Paris Olympic Games

**S Landreth** · 09-05-2024, 01:04 AM

China’s cheating threatens to wreck Paris Olympics, US anti-drugs chief says

Chinese drug cheats and officials willing to turn a blind eye threaten to make the Paris 2024 Olympics a “train wreck,” the top U.S. anti-doping regulator said.

Travis Tygart’s trenchant remarks cast another shadow over Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s ongoing visit to France where he is meeting President Emmanuel Macron, less than three months before the Olympics begin.

Last month, The New York Times and German broadcaster ARD published a bombshell investigation revealing 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for prohibited drugs before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, but were still permitted to take part in the Games, with several winning medals.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the global drugs regulator for sport, accepted an explanation from Beijing’s domestic watchdog, CHINADA, pinning the swimmers’ failed tests on a contaminated hotel kitchen where the banned drug trimetazidine, known as TMZ, was present.

Clean athletes and top figures fighting for drug-free sport are incensed at the revelations about the Chinese athletes at the Tokyo Games. Few more so than Tygart, CEO of the United States Anti-Doping Agency.

“Because of the cover-up that happened by China, and WADA allowing it, now that it’s come to light it’s going to be a train wreck waiting to happen going into Paris,” Tygart said during an exclusive interview with POLITICO.

National anti-doping regulators such as CHINADA are supposed to closely monitor athletes in competition and training for evidence of illegal drug-taking, while WADA — which is funded by the Olympic Movement and national governments — coordinates anti-doping rules across the world.

“The Chinese aren’t being held to those same standards by their own national anti-doping agency and then the World Anti-Doping Agency, that is supposed to be the great equalizer and ensure the rules are enforced fairly around the world, is OK with the Chinese not following the rules and effectively swept it under the carpet,” Tygart said.

CHINADA did not respond to a request for comment. In a statement, a WADA spokesperson said: “Allegations of pro-China bias and cover-up on the part of WADA have lacked any evidence from the beginning and WADA’s explanations demonstrate that they are simply wrong. Only a few individuals, with their own agenda, continue to cling to those defamatory claims.”

The prospect of China cheating unhindered through the Paris Olympics is another sensitive subject for Macron and Xi this week, as the leaders grapple with Beijing’s tacit support for Russia’s war on Ukraine and a looming trade war between Europe and China. Macron has made the Olympics a key pillar of his second presidential term.

Russian state-sponsored cheating has marred previous Olympics, notably at Sochi in 2014 where Moscow orchestrated a brazen — and initially successful — doping plot, but Tygart said the Chinese scandal could be worse as it spotlights a failure of sports governance.

“So on the heels of Russia — and look, I don’t know that the evidence of the systemic state-sponsored doping is at the level as it has been shown in the Russia case — but here I think it’s more troubling to clean athletes, because the system that’s supposed to hold every country accountable collapsed,” Tygart said.

Ironically, Kamila Valieva, a teenage Russian figure skater, tested positive for the same TMZ substance in 2021 and was banned for four years.

China, Tygart fears, has been able to exert influence over the case thanks to its position as an “incredibly important country to the Olympic Movement.”

Beijing has hosted two Olympic Games this century, at a time when the enthusiasm of cities to stage the sporting extravaganza has started to wane amid exorbitant costs.

“The IOC [International Olympic Committee] has cozied up to China in a really big way,” Tygart said. “And that means WADA is thinking twice about the ramifications of enforcing the rules fairly. And it’s chosen this case not to do so. And that’s what is at the core of this collapse of the system that athletes around the world can’t understand, and have lost faith in the system to be apolitical.”

The IOC declined to comment. The WADA spokesperson said, “This is utter nonsense” adding that it has previously shown via past doping cases that it’s not “reluctant to go after swimmers from China.”

Amid the mounting public pressure, WADA announced it will launch an independent review of its handling of the case, slamming what it called “damaging and baseless allegations.” In a “frequently asked questions” document published last month, WADA said it “stands firmly by the results of its scientific investigation and legal decision concerning the case.”

USADA lambasted the FAQ document, publicly criticizing what it called WADA’s “doubling down on half-truths and self-serving rationalizations.”

American athletes have asked the U.S. government to investigate the cases and Tygart himself was in Washington last week to meet officials in Congress to discuss a response to the swimming scandal.

“Concern is high” in Washington, Tygart said. “They’ve heard from our athletes directly. Individual athletes were on the Hill [in the U.S. Congress] last week and this week — swimmers and others — expressing their frustration and desperation to have our government step in and help lead and fix this.”

**39TG** · 09-05-2024, 04:31 PM

The Olympics are more bent than a 2,000 baht note.

**S Landreth** · 12-05-2024, 03:09 PM

Spencer Lee Qualifies For The 2024 Paris Olympics

Spencer Lee qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics after making the finals of the World Olympic Games Qualifier. Lee won the US Olympic Trials last month but, the United States remained unqualified for the Olympics at 57 kg after failing to place top 5 at the 2023 World Championships and top 2 at the 2024 Pan-Am Olympic Games Qualifier.

Because Team USA was qualified at 57 kg, Lee traveled to Istanbul, Türkiye to compete at the final Olympic Qualifier and needed to place in the top 3 to earn the Olympic bid. Lee was successful at the tournament with 4 straight wins to make the finals and punch his ticket to Paris.

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U.S. men's volleyball roster announced for Paris Olympics

The U.S. Olympic men’s volleyball roster for the Paris Games was announced Friday, and it is the oldest and most experienced in program history.

Nine of the 12 players are returning Olympians, a record for a U.S. men’s or women’s team.

The roster has an average age of 32 years old, breaking the record for oldest U.S. Olympic men’s or women’s volleyball team, according to the OlyMADMen.

Matt Anderson and David Smith will tie the record of four U.S. Olympic men’s indoor volleyball appearances held by Lloy Ball and Reid Priddy. Smith, who turns 39 next Wednesday, will break Priddy’s record as the oldest American man to play indoor volleyball at an Olympics, according to the OlyMADMen.

The team also includes Micah Christenson, Max Holt, Thomas Jaeschke and Erik Shoji, who are going to their third Games.

Aaron Russell, who made the 2016 Olympic all-tournament team, returns after missing the Tokyo Games following hip surgery in spring 2021.

The team’s youngest player is 27-year-old Micah Ma’a. It’s the first time in Olympic history that a U.S. men’s or women’s volleyball team does not have a player younger than age 26, according to the OlyMADMen.

John Speraw, the head coach since 2013, returns for his third Games, tying the record for a U.S. men’s volleyball head coach held by Doug Beal (1984, 2000, 2004).

The Americans won bronze in Rio in 2016. In Tokyo, they went 2-3 and were eliminated in group play for the first time since the 2000 Sydney Games.

The U.S. men are currently ranked No. 2 in the world behind Poland. Poland defeated the U.S. in the quarterfinals of the last world championship in 2022.

The U.S. men last won Olympic gold in 2008.

The defending Olympic champion U.S. women’s team roster for Paris has not been announced yet.

2024 U.S. Olympic Men’s Volleyball Roster

No. 1 — Matt Anderson (Opposite)
No. 2 — Aaron Russell (Outside Hitter)
No. 4 — Jeff Jendryk (Middle Blocker)
No. 8 — T.J. DeFalco (Outside Hitter)
No. 11 — Micah Christenson (Setter)
No. 12 — Max Holt (Middle Blocker)
No. 14 — Micah Ma’a (Setter)
No. 17 — Thomas Jaeschke (Outside Hitter)
No. 18 — Garrett Muagututia (Outside Hitter)
No. 19 — Taylor Averill (Middle Blocker)
No. 20 — David Smith (Middle Blocker)
No. 22 — Erik Shoji (Libero)
Alternate: Kyle Ensing (Opposite)

**S Landreth** · 16-05-2024, 12:54 PM

Olympic triathlete Taylor Knibb wins US cycling time trial to earn spot in Paris in a second sport

Olympic triathlete Taylor Knibb stunned even herself by winning the women’s time trial at the U.S. road cycling championships.

Now, she will have the opportunity to compete in two different sports at this year’s Paris Games.

Knibb ripped over the flat, out-and-back course around Charleston, West Virginia, in 45 minutes, 54 seconds Wednesday, beating pre-race favorite Kristen Faulkner by 11 seconds. Three-time Olympian Amber Neben was 49 seconds back in third place.

That means that Knibb will contest the time trial and road race in Paris alongside Chloe Dygert, who will be heavily favored to win the gold medal in the race against the clock. Dygert is not competing at nationals because she already had qualified for the Olympics by winning the time trial at last year’s world championships.

Knibb also had previously qualified for Paris, albeit in the triathlon, when the 26-year-old from Washington, D.C., finished fifth at a test event held over the Olympic course at the historic Pont Alexandre III bridge last August.

**S Landreth** · 18-05-2024, 12:19 PM

Brady Ellison makes his fifth USA Olympic team | World Archery

Brady Ellison has booked his spot at the Paris 2024 Olympics alongside female teammates Jennifer Mucino-Fernandez, Catalina Gnoriega and world number one Casey Kaufhold after a domestic selection process lasting nearly a year.

The USA currently has one men’s spot and three women’s quota places for the Games.

“Everybody fought during trials and everyone sitting here never gave up. They were serious,” said Ellison at the end of the last day of selections at the Easton Newberry Complex in Florida.

“They took every point at trials serious from starting a year ago, and every arrow was shot with the intent of making the team, and that’s why we’re here.”

Ellison has three Olympic medals – team silvers from 2012 and 2016, plus individual bronze in 2016.

There is one more opportunity to upgrade the single men’s spot to a full slate of three archers – at the last chance qualifier in Antalya in June. There will be three recurve men’s team quotas available.

Ellison will be joined in Türkiye by 2018 Youth Olympic Champion Trenton Cowles and 2020 Olympian Jack Williams.

A further two teams will qualify for Paris through the world ranking after Antalya but the US recurve men’s team currently sits ninth, firmly outside the points required.

Mucino-Fernandez and Kaufhold return for their second consecutive Olympics. Gnoriega is a debutant.

These are the same three women who qualified the USA its team spot for the Games by winning the Pan American Championships in Medellin in early April.

“We are all genuinely excited,” said Kaufhold. “The dream of winning gold is no longer just a dream, it’s now the goal.”

Five archers were named to the Paralympics on the same day.

Eric Bennett is set to compete in his fifth consecutive Games, Matt Stutzman his fourth and Kevin Polish his third. They’ll be joined by first-timers Tracy Otto and Jordan White, who is just 15 years old – and won’t turn 16 until after the Paralympics finish in Paris.

**S Landreth** · 19-05-2024, 04:08 PM

Summer McIntosh breaks 400m IM world record at Canada Olympic Swimming Trials

Summer McIntosh broke her own world record in the 400m individual medley at Canada’s Olympic Swimming Trials on Thursday evening.

McIntosh, a 17-year-old who trains in Sarasota, Florida, clocked 4 minutes, 24.38 seconds, lowering her record of 4 : 25 . 87 from April 2023 set at the same venue — Toronto’s Pan Am Sports Centre.

She is now 1.98 seconds faster than the second-fastest performer in history, 2016 Olympic gold medalist Katinka Hosszu of Hungary.

McIntosh won the world title in the 400m IM, considered the decathlon of swimming, in 2022 and 2023. American Katie Grimes took silver in both races.

McIntosh is also a two-time world champion in the 200m butterfly and the second-fastest woman in history in both the 400m freestyle and the 800m free.

The 400m IM, 200m fly and 400m free are her primary events. She could also swim the 200m IM at the Paris Olympics, plus at least one relay. She is not expected to swim the 800m free in Paris.

**S Landreth** · 20-05-2024, 11:29 AM

Field finalized for 2024 Olympic Games in wrestling; USA leads recognized nations with 15 quota berths

At the conclusion of the World Olympic Games Qualifier in Istanbul, Turkey, May 9-12, United World Wrestling has completed its process for determining the field for the wrestling competition at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, which will be held August 5-11.

In addition, the International Olympic Committee has announced its IOC Refugee Olympic Team Paris 2024, which includes two wrestlers, one in men’s freestyle and one in Greco-Roman.

At the conclusion of the qualification process, the United States leads all nations that will be recognized during the Olympic Games in Paris with 15 wrestling quota berths. That includes full six-athlete teams in women’s freestyle and men’s freestyle, as well as three athletes in Greco-Roman.

The U.S. team to compete in Paris was determined at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling held at Penn State, April 19-20. The U.S. Olympic Team Trials champions at the 15 qualified weight classes are the wrestling nominees at their weight class for the U.S. Olympic Team, pending U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee approval.

Japan is next with 13 quota berths, including a full six-athlete women’s freestyle team, four in men’s freestyle and three in Greco-Roman.

Azerbaijan is next with 12 quotas, followed by China, Iran and Turkey with 11. Next up are Cuba, Egypt, and Kyrgyzstan with 10 quotas.

There are 59 different nations with at least one Olympic wrestling quota, plus the IOC Refugee Olympic Team Paris, and 26 Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN).

Much more in the link

**S Landreth** · 21-05-2024, 09:31 PM

The Olympic torch flirts with the clouds in Hautes-Pyrenees

The Olympic torch soars to unprecedented heights in the Hautes-Pyrénées

After climbing to the peak of the Canigó and exploring Peyrepertuse Castle, the Olympic torch flirted with the clouds at 2,876 metres above sea level, starting the day at dizzying heights. Bernard Hinault, a French former cyclist and five-time Tour de France winner, and Nicolas Lopez, who clinched two medals in the Beijing Games, carried the Paris 2024 torch from the observatory perched atop the Pic du Midi de Bigorre. The region, known around the world as a treat for cyclists, is a magnet for amateurs and professionals alike, who are eager to reach the highest planetarium in Europe. Hanging between heaven and earth, the sun rose on a unique panorama sprinkled with countless Pyrenean summits for over 300 kilometres. The torch then descended the Pic du Jer on a mountain bike before venturing into the streets of Lourdes, where centuries of history still make their influence felt. The town is known for the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes and for the millions of pilgrims who flock to Massabielle Grotto every year. It then stopped to refresh itself on the shores of Arrêt-Darré Lake. Its visit to Gavarnie Cirque was another highlight of the stage, as this colossus of nature, surrounded by sixteen summits peaking at over 3,000 metres and home to the tallest waterfall in Europe, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

**S Landreth** · Today, 11:59 AM

Olympic torch ascends Cannes red carpet

French athletes carried the Olympic torch up the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday, as it makes its way to the capital for the Summer Olympics.

The torch landed in the southern port city of Marseille earlier this month on board a 19th-century ship that had sailed it all the way from Greece.

It is now on a meandering route across France -- and its overseas territories -- building up to the Paris Games, which run from July 26 to August 11.

On the red carpet, French basketball player Iliana Rupert was among those to hold the torch to the sound of tunes from sporty film soundtracks -- including "Chariots of Fire," about runners training for the 1924 Paris Olympics.

Retired sprinter and three-time Olympic gold medallist Marie-Jo Perec had her turn, as did the chief organizer of the Games, Tony Estanguet.

The Olympic flame is set to travel through 400 towns and dozens of tourist attractions during its 12,000-kilometre (7,500-mile) journey through mainland France, as well as visiting overseas French territories in the Caribbean, Indian Ocean and Pacific.

Authorities have said anti-terror and riot police in vehicles as well as anti-drone specialists would be permanently but discreetly deployed as the torch moves around.

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