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☆ Virgin Galactic to launch first tourism mission after decades of promises
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Jackie Wattles | Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Virgin Galactic — the space tourism company founded by British billionaire Richard Branson — is finally prepared to launch its first space tourists to the edge of the cosmos, a major step toward delivering on decades of promises. Meet the crewThis mission comes on the heels of the success of Virgin Galactic’s first commercial mission, which launched in June. Goodwin was one of the earliest ticket holders on Virgin Galactic, which opened its first sales more than a decade ago. Virgin Galactic has sold about 800 tickets, including 600 at prices up to $250,000 and another couple hundred at $450,000 per ticket. In the lead-up to 2023, Virgin Galactic had been undergoing a lengthy “enhancement” process to upgrade its flight hardware.

Persons: Richard Branson —, Keisha Schahaff, Anastatia Mayers, Jon Goodwin, Goodwin, Virgin Galactic’s, Jeff Bezos, Galactic Schahaff, Mayers, “, ” Schahaff, Oliver Daemen, Bezos, don’t, ”, John McFall, What’s, Michael Colglazier, Virgin Galactic, Colglazier Organizations: CNN, Virgin Galactic, VSS Unity, Virgin, VSS, Galactic, Space, Humanity, University of Aberdeen, Blue, European Space Agency Locations: British, New Mexico, Antigua, American, Caribbean, Scotland

☆ Indomitable one-limbed Spaniard wins third track world, next target Paris
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

On Monday, at the age of 47, he won his third para track cycling world title, obliterating the rest of the field in the C1 scratch race, averaging 44kph over 60 circuits of the Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow. Ten, who hails from Valencia, is writing a second chapter to a remarkable tale of sporting endeavour in the face of adversity. Before taking up cycling, he was already a three-time Paralympic gold medallist in swimming having made his debut at Atlanta in 1996 and owns three world titles in para swimming. You need to use different muscles but it didn't take much effort to swap from swimming pool to the bike." Ten, who took years to recover from his injuries, has used a specially designed bike since switching seven years ago.

Persons: Spain's Ricardo Ten Argiles, Chris Hoy, Neil Fachie, Matt Rotherham, Thomas Ulbricht, Robert Forstemann, Martyn Herman, Christopher Cushing Organizations: GLASGOW, Chris Hoy Velodrome, Atlanta, Paralympic, Reuters, UCI, Thomson Locations: Glasgow, Valencia

☆ Pollution on Seine scuppers Open Water World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Paris 2024 Olympics - Test swimming event for Paris 2024 - Paris, France - August 5, 2023 Rescue boats are moored to the bank of the River Seine as a tourist boat goes past after the Open Water Swimming World Cup 10km Women's competition was postponed REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq/File PhotoPARIS, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Organisers were forced on Sunday to cancel the Open Water Swimming World Cup in Paris, after heavy rainfall caused the water quality in the Seine river to dip below minimum health standards. "It's obvious that extra work is required with Paris 2024 and local authorities to guarantee solid emergency plans are set up for next year," said World Aquatics. The Olympics committee said in a separate statement that new infrastructure would be up and running by summer 2024, which should ensure better water quality and make the Seine swimmable. "For Paris 2024 and World Triathlon, the health and safety of athletes is our top priority," the sport's governing body said in a statement. On Thursday, the Guardian reported that at least 57 participants fell ill after competing in sea swimming events at the World Triathlon Championship Series in Sunderland, England.

Persons: Stephanie Lecocq, Gilles Sezionale, Saturday's, triathletes, Juliette Jabkhiro, Aadi Nair, John Stonestreet, Ed Osmond Organizations: Paris, REUTERS, Games, Federation, Olympics, World Aquatics, The, Olympic, Triathlon, Guardian, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Seine, Sunderland, England

☆ Simone Biles stepped away from ‘corrosive’ gymnastics for mental health. Now she’s back
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Savanna Stewart | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

“We’ve never seen an athlete like Simone Biles,” Ryan said. And yet that sport was corrosive enough and abusive enough that she really had to step away for her own mental health,” added Ryan. “I have to focus on my mental health and not jeopardize my health and well-being.”Biles was replaced in the all-around final by Jade Carey, who had finished ninth in the qualifying round. More than 150 athletes, including Biles, said that the former USA Gymnastics team doctor sexually abused them under the guise of providing medical treatment. “I think this just really shows the lack of leadership of USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic Committee.”However, there is hope that a brighter future is in store for USA Gymnastics.

Persons: –, “, Joan Ryan, ” Ryan, Ryan, ” Simone Biles, Biles, “ We’ve, Simone Biles, ”, ” Biles, Jade Carey, Carey, Jamie Squire, Simone, ” Carey, Ryan’s, Dmitri Lovetsky, ’ ” Ryan, Larry Nassar, Nassar, …, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, Maggie Nichols, General's, Saul Loeb, Jake Tapper, ” Raisman, Jill Geer, Gabby Douglas, Suni Lee, ” Geer, Geer, Douglas — Ryan, “ It’s, you’ve, what’s Organizations: CNN, CNN Sport, Olympics, USA Gymnastics, Oregon State University, US Gymnastics Federation –, Tokyo, USA, United States Olympic, Paralympic, New York, United, Capitol, United States Olympic Committee, National Team, “, ”, US women’s Locations: Hoffman Estates , Illinois, Tokyo, United States, Washington, Biles, “, Paris

☆ Paris 2024: The war in Ukraine shows no sign of ending. That leaves a dark cloud over the Olympic Games
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Matt Foster | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Kharlan’s disqualification threw into sharp relief the political and organizational jeopardy that France and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is facing ahead of the Games. So far, no decision has been taken on Russian and Belarusian athletes’ participation at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The opening ceremony is already uniquely French in nature with the Games set to be centered around the Seine, the river running through the city. Organizers also say that the Paris Games “finance themselves,” claiming that 96% of the budget comes from private investment. Next year’s Olympic Games are set to start on July 26 and run until August 11.

Persons: Olga Kharlan, Anna Smirnova, Kharlan’s, Thomas Bach, Russia’s, Smirnova, Russian Anna Smirnova, Ukraine's Olga Kharlan, Tibor Illyes, ” Bach, “, ” Edwin Moses, Nawal El Moutawakel, CNN’s Amanda Davies, Jimmy Carter, ”, Moses, AP El, Emmanuel Macron, Geoffroy Van Der, Tony Estanguet, CNN’s Melissa Bell, “ It’s, Denis the, aren’t, Jimmy Gressier, Tullio M, Estanguet, Shelly, Ann Fraser, Pryce, ” Fraser, Fabrice Coffrini, Katie Ledecky, Ariarne Titmus, Summer McIntosh Organizations: CNN, International Olympic Committee, IOC, Belarusian Olympic, Olympic, US Olympic, USA, US State Department, United, AP, AP El Moutawakel, Games, Eastern Bloc, Getty, Paris, FIFA, Stade de France, UEFA, League, Stade de France –, de Police, BFMTV, RMC Sport, CNN Sport, Paris Games, Paralympic, Paralympic Games Locations: Paris, Ukrainian, France, Ukraine, Belarusian, Russia, Milan, Russian, Soviet, Afghanistan, Morocco, United States, Soviet Union, Los Angeles , California, –, Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt, AFP, Saint, Puglia, Lausanne, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Seine

☆ Airlines report soaring profits amid travel demands
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —International airlines have reported significant profits this year, boosted by strong demand for leisure travel – and events, such as the World Cup, which gave Qatar Airlines an enormous lift. On Thursday, International Airlines Group, which includes Aer Lingus and British Airways, announced a record profit of about $1.4 billion for the first half of the year. “Customer demand remains strong across the Group, particularly for leisure travel, with around 80% of passenger revenue for the third quarter already booked. Qatar Airways reported a $1.2 billion profit for the past fiscal year, ascribing its strong performance to December’s FIFA World Cup. In its report, Qatar Airways said that, throughout the 2022 World Cup, the company operated around 140,000 flights to bring more than 1.4 million people to Qatar.

Persons: Luis Gallego, Benjamin Smith, Akbar Al Baker, Michael O’Leary, – CNN’s Mostafa Salem, Pierre Meilhan Organizations: CNN — International, Qatar, International Airlines Group, Aer Lingus, British Airways, KLM Group, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Olympic, Paralympic Games, Air, Qatar Airways, KLM, FIFA, Ryanair, Europe’s Locations: AirFrance, Amsterdam, France, Air France, Qatar

☆ IOC urges sensitivity in handling Ukrainian, Russian athletes after fencer's disqualification
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

July 28 (Reuters) - International federations should handle situations involving Ukrainian and neutral athletes with sensitivity, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said after a Ukrainian fencer was disqualified for refusing to shake hands with a Russian opponent. "Therefore, we encourage International Federations to handle situations involving Ukrainian and Individual Neutral Athletes with the necessary degree of sensitivity. "We continue to stand in full solidarity with the Ukrainian athletes and the Olympic community of Ukraine." Kharlan said she stands by her decision not to shake hands with Smirnova. "When I have a choice... where I shake hands I will never shake hands with her.

Persons: Ukraine's Olga Kharlan, Anna Smirnova, Elina Svitolina, Marta Kostyuk, Kharlan, Kharlan's, Smirnova, Tommy Lund, Aadi Nair, Claudia Greco, Pearl Josephine Nazare, Christian Radnedge Organizations: International Olympic Committee, Ukrainian Fencing Federation, Olympic Games, IOC, Reuters, Olympic, Thomson Locations: Ukrainian, Russian, Milan, Ukraine, Moscow, Belarus, Russia, Bengaluru

July 27 (Reuters) - A lawsuit filed on Thursday by former Michigan State University athletes victimized by Larry Nassar alleges that its trustees voted in secret to withhold thousands of documents related to the disgraced team doctor in violation of state law. The lawsuit asked the Ingham County Circuit Court to require the board to vote publicly on whether to release the documents or keep them confidential. MSU, Nassar's former employer, previously agreed to a near $500 million settlement with the hundreds of women who were sexually abused by Nassar. USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, with whom Nassar also worked as a team doctor, reached a $380 million settlement. Earlier this month, Nassar was stabbed multiple times by another inmate in prison and was in stable condition.

Persons: Larry Nassar, Azzam, Elder, Nassar, Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney, unflinchingly, Kanishka Singh, Frank McGruty, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Michigan State University, MSU, U.S, Olympic, Paralympic, Thomson Locations: Ingham, Washington

☆ Ukraine's Kharlan disqualified after refusal to shake hands with Russian opponent
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 27 (Reuters) - Ukrainian fencer Olga Kharlan has been disqualified after refusing to shake hands with Russian Anna Smirnova at the World Championships in Milan on Thursday. Kharlan, a four-time Olympic medallist and world champion, won the individual sabre bout 15-7 and then refused to shake hands with her opponent. Smirnova remained on the piste for over half an hour after the incident, speaking with a number of officials before leaving. In fencing's rules, shaking an opponent's hand is mandatory and failure to do so results in a 'black card'. The women's team sabre event begins on July 29.

Persons: Olga Kharlan, Anna Smirnova, Smirnova, Elina Svitolina, Marta Kostyuk, Mykhailo Illiashev, Illiashev, Kharlan, Aadi Nair, Anna Pruchnika, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Fencing Federation, Thomson Locations: Ukrainian, Milan, Ukraine, Moscow, Belarus, Russia

☆ Opinion: ‘I wouldn’t swim in that water at gunpoint.’ Paris locals aren’t the only ones dubious about Olympic plans
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( David A. Andelman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Paris CNN —Back in the 1980s, when I first began living in Paris, I once had to clamber onto the tiny exterior staircase that surrounds the Eiffel Tower and is used to paint or repair it. Still, at that time, nothing could have impelled me to risk a swim in that other iconic Parisian sight — the Seine River — not without a full biohazard suit. Today’s Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, has made a similar promise, and local authorities have put 1.4 billion euros ($1.55 billion) behind it. Paris has indeed made strides in cleaning up its famous river — water samples from June showed “excellent results” in complying with European regulation, according to city hall. In 1972’s “Last Tango in Paris,” Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider first meet on a Seine bridge.

Persons: David A, David Andelman, “, ”, Mort Rosenblum, who’s, Pont, he’s, Mort, Jacques Chirac, he’d, ” Brice Lalonde, Anne Hidalgo, he’ll, Hidalgo, Chirac, doesn’t, Emmanuel Grégoire, Pierre Rabadan, Louis, Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, Leslie Caron, Gene Kelly, ” Marlon Brando, Maria Schneider, Roger Moore’s James Bond, Liam Neeson, ” Chris Tucker, Jackie Chan Organizations: CNN, French Legion of, The New York Times, CBS News, Paris CNN —, David Andelman CNN, CBS, acrophobia, International Herald Tribune, Concorde, of, Today’s, Paris, Olympic, Paralympic Games, ”, Twitter, “ Locations: Paris, gunpoint, Seine, French, Hidalgo, Montebello, “ An American

☆ Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic torch unveiled by designer Mathieu Lehanneur
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Christy Choi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Smooth, sleek and chic is the look for the next Olympic torch. “For Paris 2024, and for the first time in its history, (the torch) plays on perfect symmetry, speaking to us more clearly about equality,” he said in a statement. As simple as a hyphen and as fluid as a flame.”Chair of the Paris 2024 organizing committee Tony Estanguet (left) and designer Mathieu Lehanneur (right) pose with the latter's Olympic and Paralympic Torch. This is part of the organizing committee’s strategy to “build bridges between the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Paris 2024’s president Tony Estanguet said in a statement. Mathieu Lehanneur holds aloft his design for the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Torch.

Persons: Mathieu Lehanneur, ”, “, Tony Estanguet, ’, Lehanneur, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Moët Hennessy Organizations: CNN, Games, Olympic, Paralympic Games, ”, Sydney Opera House, Museum of Modern Art, Pompidou Centre Paris, LVMH, Louis Locations: Paris, French, Russia, New York, Olympia, Greece, France

☆ A year before Paris Olympics, Ukraine torn over whether to compete
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Margaryta Chornokondratenko | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/6] Yaroslav Khartsyz, Ukrainian amateur boxer and Tokyo Olympics participant trains, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine July 25, 2023. The comment by Vadym Huttsait in an interview with Reuters suggests Kyiv could be open to reversing a controversial policy that would likely rule Ukrainian athletes out of competing at the Paris Olympics in 2024. Huttsait said they were discussing with Ukrainian sports federations if athletes could compete against Russian and Belarusian athletes taking part under a neutral flag. It is expected to allow Russian and Belarusians to compete under a neutral flag. The minister said he last talked to the IOC three weeks ago and tried to convince them that Russians and Belarusians cannot compete in the Olympics while Ukrainian cities are being bombed.

Persons: Yaroslav Khartsyz, Read, Vadym Huttsait, Huttsait, Margaryta Chornokondratenko, Max Hunder, Tom Balmforth, Christina Fincher Organizations: Tokyo, Paris Olympics, Reuters, Russian, IOC, Paris, Thomson Locations: Ukrainian, Ukraine, Kharkiv, Russia, KYIV, Kyiv, Belarus

☆ Peace-themed torch unveiled for Paris 2024 Olympics
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Paris 2024 Olympics - Press conference to unveil the design of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Torch - Saint-Denis, France - July 25, 2023 Designer Mathieu Lehanneur speaks at a press conference during the unveiling of the Paris 2024 Olympic torch's design REUTERS/Pascal RossignolPARIS, July 25 (Reuters) - The design of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic torch was unveiled on Tuesday, imitating the reflection of the Eiffel Tower on the ruffled surface of the Seine river and conveying a peaceful energy, its designer said. Creator Mathieu Lehanneur said the rounded torch was symmetrical from top to bottom and through 360 degrees, its soft curves representing peacefulness and its symmetry standing for equality between athletes. Lehanneur said he hoped the torch conveyed a visual representation of the sporting event Paris 2024 wants to deliver. "I wanted to move away from the torch appearing as an object of conquest," designer Mathieu Lehanneur told a news conference a year ahead of the Paris Games, adding that designing the torch proved infinitely more technical than he imagined at the outset. Paris 2024 chief Tony Estanguet called the torch "very, very beautiful."

Persons: Denis, Mathieu Lehanneur, Pascal Rossignol PARIS, Lehanneur, Michel, Tony Estanguet, Louise Dalmasso, Richard Lough, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Press, Paris, Eiffel, Paris Games, Games, Saint, Thomson Locations: France, peacefulness, Seine, Olympia, Marseille, Strasbourg, Paris

☆ Gold Coast offers to host 2026 Commonwealth Games after Victoria withdrawal
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 20 (Reuters) - Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate said on Thursday the city could step in to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games after Victoria placed the future of the quadrennial multi-sport event in doubt by pulling out due to projected cost overruns. Tate told Australian media that the Gold Coast, which hosted the Games in 2018, had the infrastructure in place to put the event on. The Gold Coast lies south of Brisbane, which will host the 2032 Summer Olympics. "As witnessed in 2018, the Gold Coast demonstrated its remarkable ability to host a Games of exceptional quality, and one that left a profound impact on Australian sport," the body said in a statement. Australia, by far the Games' most successful competing nation, has hosted five of the previous 22 editions.

Persons: Tom Tate, Victoria Premier Dan Andrews, Tate, we've, I've, Aadi Nair, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Gold Coast, Victoria, Victoria Premier, Games, Athletics Australia, Paralympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Thomson Locations: Gold, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, Bengaluru

☆ US players say 'deep flaws' in how SafeSport handles abuse claims
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SafeSport, an independent non-profit organisation, was formed in 2017 and directed by Congress to respond to and prevent abuse within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic movement. The letter, which pointed to "deep flaws" in SafeSport's processes, was signed by current and former members of both the men's and women's national teams. Among the concerns outlined in the document were an appeals and arbitration process that players say can be "damaging and retraumatizing for victims of abuse." "U.S. Soccer wants to do the right thing and take proactive steps against suspected abusers," the players wrote. "Our federation has tools and resources to investigate reports of abuse, but SafeSport is preventing them from participating in any way."

Persons: SafeSport, Arthur Ashe, Amy Tennery, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: U.S . Center, SafeSport, United States national soccer, Congress, U.S, Olympic, Paralympic, U.S . Soccer's, women's, Women's Soccer League, Soccer, . Soccer, Courage, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: United States, U.S, Auckland

☆ A serious accident inspired a biomedical engineer to build a VR rehab company. Things really took off when she tapped into 5G speeds.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Sarah Sloat | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

She founded Immersive Rehab, a digital-therapeutics company. In September 2016, Van De Keere founded Immersive Rehab, a social-enterprise startup. A Paralympic athlete and spinal-injury patient getting treatment using an Immersive Rehab tool. Immersive Rehab utilizes off-the-shelf technology including VR headsets, laptops, and external motion-tracking sensors. She said she's already seen incredible growth in headset innovation since Immersive Rehab launched.

Persons: Isabel Van De Keere, Isabel Van De, Van De Keere, Van de Keere, They've, she's, It's, we've Organizations: VR Locations: London, United Kingdom, Germany, United States

☆ Nassar, disgraced doctor who abused US gymnasts, is stabbed in prison
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

July 10 (Reuters) - Larry Nassar, the disgraced doctor of USA Gymnastics who was convicted of sexually abusing young female gymnasts, has been stabbed multiple times by another inmate in prison and was in stable condition on Monday, U.S. media reported. Since the Nassar scandal, USA Gymnastics has overhauled its leadership and filed for bankruptcy, saying at the time it was staggering under the weight of lawsuits filed by hundreds of women who were sexually abused by the former team doctor. USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee reached a $380 million settlement. In September 2021, Biles and Maroney were among the high profile Olympic gymnasts who gave heart-wrenching testimony before a U.S. Senate panel about the sexual abuse they endured for years under Nassar's care. At that hearing, the gymnasts blasted the FBI for its mishandling of the investigation, with Biles accusing the bureau of turning a blind eye to all of Nassar's victims.

Persons: Larry Nassar, Penitentiary Coleman, Benjamin O'Cone, O'Cone, Nassar, Joe Rojas, Rebecca Cook, Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney, unflinchingly, General Michael Horowitz, Biles, Maroney, Rami Ayyub, Frank Pingue, Doina Chiacu, Alistair Bell Organizations: USA Gymnastics, Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S, Penitentiary, FBI, CNN, Associated Press, USA, REUTERS, Michigan State University, Olympic, Paralympic, Senate, Biles, Thomson Locations: Florida, Eaton, Charlotte , Michigan, U.S

☆ USOPC will listen to any IOC plan for Russians to compete at Paris Games
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 26 (Reuters) - The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) is unequivocal in its support of Ukraine but will listen to any International Olympic Committee (IOC) plan to have Russian and Belarusian athletes compete as neutrals at the 2024 Paris Games. With the Olympics just a little over a year away pressure is mounting on the IOC, sporting federations, national Olympic committees and governments to make a call on the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the Paris Games. There are mounting concerns that if Russian athletes are cleared to compete in Paris, even as neutrals, it could spark a Ukraine-led boycott of the Games. "We've been quite measured and willing to give the IOC the opportunity to explore the possibility, understanding how Russian or Belarusian athletes who are neutral, truly neutral, could compete in international competition. That does not include the Paris Olympics with a separate decision still to be taken by the IOC.

Persons: Gene Sykes, Sykes, Steve Keating, Ken Ferris Organizations: United States Olympic, Paralympic, Olympic Committee, Olympics, IOC, Olympic, Paris Games, Paris, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Moscow, Paris, Toronto

☆ No specific concerns for Sports minister as Paris 2024 targeted by investigation, new searches
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, June 23 (Reuters) - French sports minister Amelie Oudea Castera says she is not too concerned by the investigations into alleged corruption surrounding the Paris 2024 Olympics, which took a new turn as two top officials were targeted by police searches on Friday. A source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters that Paris 2024 director general Etienne Thobois and executive director of Games operations Edouard Donnelly were subject to searches. The source would not specify whether it was their homes that had been searched. On Tuesday, the headquarters of the Paris 2024 Olympics organising committee and those of its infrastructure partner were searched by police as part of investigations into alleged embezzlement of public funds and favouritism, prosecutors said. The national financial prosecutor's office (PNF) said the Paris 2024 headquarters were raided amid a preliminary investigation launched in 2017 into contracts made by the Summer Games' organising committee.

Persons: Amelie Oudea Castera, Etienne Thobois, Edouard Donnelly, Oudea Castera, Julien Pretot, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Reuters, Summer Games, Olympic, Paralympic, Corruption Agency, Sorbonne, Thomson Locations: Paris, SOLIDEO, French, Cour

☆ Ukrainian athletes should have chance to qualify for Paris Games-IOC
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, June 22 (Reuters) - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday appealed to Ukraine to give their athletes the chance to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics despite a partial ban on competing against Russian and Belarusian athletes. "It is hard to understand why the Ukrainian government is depriving their own athletes from their chance to qualify for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and to make the Ukrainian people proud." In some sports, such as athletics, those Russian and Belarusian athletes remain banned but in others, including tennis, Ukrainian players regularly face Russian or Belarusian competitors playing as neutral athletes. No decision has yet been taken on Russian and Belarusian athletes' participation at the Paris Olympics next year. "The entire Olympic community, the entire world is longing for Ukrainian athletes shining brightly in international competitions," Bach said.

Persons: Thomas Bach, Bach, Karolos Grohmann, Ken Ferris, Toby Davis Organizations: Olympic Committee, Paris, Russian, Olympic, IOC, International Federation, Olympic Games, Paris Olympics, Thomson Locations: LAUSANNE, Switzerland, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Russian, Belarusian

☆ French police raid Paris 2024 organizing committee office, spokesman says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Joseph Ataman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Paris CNN —French police raided the offices of the Paris 2024 organizing committee in France’s capital Tuesday morning, a committee spokesperson confirmed to CNN. Paris 2024 spokersperson Jonathan Firpo told CNN that a “police search is currently underway at the headquarters of the Organising Committee.”“Paris 2024 is cooperating fully with the investigators to facilitate their investigations,” Firpo said. According to an internal email sent to committee employees seen by CNN affiliate BFMTV, French financial police are leading the search. “Several” sites were raided by police, including the Paris 2024 offices and the headquarters of SOLIDEO, the public body responsible for much of the construction and infrastructure around the Paris 2024 games, the financial prosecutor’s office said. This followed an inspection by the French anti-corruption agency, the financial prosecutor’s office said.

Persons: spokersperson Jonathan Firpo, ”, ” Firpo Organizations: Paris CNN —, CNN, Paris, BFMTV, French, Financial Prosecutor’s, Paralympic Games Locations: Paris, France’s, SOLIDEO, French

☆ Paris Olympic headquarters searched as part of corruption investigations
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Julien Pretot | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] The logo of the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics Games is seen on the Pulse building, the headquarters of the Paris 2024 Olympics organizing committee, as a police search is currently underway, in Saint-Denis near Paris, France, June 20, 2023. The national financial prosecutor's office (PNF) said the Paris 2024 headquarters were raided amid a preliminary investigation launched in 2017 into contracts made by the Summer Games' organising committee. "A search is currently under way at the headquarters of the Organising Committee," Paris 2024 said in a statement. "We are aware that there has been a search by police of the Paris 2024 headquarters today," an IOC spokesperson said. "We have been informed by Paris 2024 that they are cooperating fully with the authorities in this matter."

Persons: Denis, Stephanie Lecocq PARIS, Tony Estanguet, Dentsu, Julien Pretot, Karolos Grohmann, Alex Richardson, Alison Williams Organizations: Paralympics, REUTERS, Summer Games, Olympic, Paralympic, Corruption Agency, Paris, Dentsu, Tokyo, Tokyo Games, Thomson Locations: Saint, Paris, France, SOLIDEO, French, Saint Denis

TOKYO, June 13 (Reuters) - Toyota (7203.T) faces an unprecedented challenge at its annual shareholder meeting on Wednesday, with some pension funds voting against Chairman Akio Toyoda on governance issues, while seeking more disclosures on the Japanese automaker's climate lobbying. Two prominent U.S. proxy advisers have flagged concern about Toyota's board independence. The step comes as companies across Japan face more pressure from investors, especially on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. The strong financial performance has meant concerns about board independence have largely been shrugged off, said Kazunori Suzuki of Waseda Business School. He enjoys strong support from individual investors and the many suppliers and Toyota group companies among its shareholders.

Persons: Akio Toyoda, Toyoda, Kentaro Shibata, Kazunori Suzuki, Anders Schelde, Denmark's, AkademikerPension, AkademikerPension's Schelde, Nicholas Benes, Benes, that's, Makiko Yamazaki, Maki Shiraki, Daniel Leussink, David Dolan, William Mallard, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Toyota, Nikkei, Waseda Business School, Tokyo, Exchange, Services, International Paralympic Committee, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Training, of Japan, Nissan, Honda, Reuters, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, New York, Japan, Toyota

Olympic games, titanic pricesFlavien Lallemand had barely made it on the Paris 2024 ticketing site, before deciding it wasn’t worth it. The Olympics, last hosted in Tokyo, Japan, is the world's largest sporting event and the French government claims the 2024 Games will be the most inclusive yet. It’s an embarrassing distraction for the games organizers, who have trumpeted the events accessibility credentials. “Paris 2024 will be the first Games to focus on solidarity and inclusivity,” boasts their official site. Unlike past Games, Paris 2024 set up a “games pack” purchase system.

Persons: isn’t, Lallemand, it’s, we’ll, ”, Alex Pantling, “, Debauve, Jimmy Gressier, Steph Chambers, Tony Estanguet, Estanguet, ” Estanguet, Emmanuel Macron, Stephane Lenoir, Bertrand Guay, Lenoir, Nicolas Merille, ” Merille Organizations: Paris CNN, CNN, Olympic, Facebook, BFMTV, RMC Sport, Organizers, Paralympic Games, Paris, Games, London, Getty, APF, “ Wheelchair Locations: Paris, Tokyo, Japan, “ Paris, ”, ” Paris, London, France, AFP

☆ Please take your seats - French Open empty stands disappoint again
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Julien Pretot | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Many of those "visitors", however, failed to take their seats. Several women's matches were played in front of half-empty stands, making for poor footage as TV cameras hovered above the stadium. A year before the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, the French federation's (FFT) stands were almost empty throughout a women's doubles wheelchair semi-final. And if a match is boring, and I've seen some and will not name and shame, you might want to go and see another match," FFT president Gilles Moretton told reporters on Sunday. "We can do better on the night matches," Mauresmo said without elaborating.

Persons: Amelie Mauresmo, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Casper Ruud, Alexander Zverev, Tunisians, Philippe Chatrier, I've, Gilles Moretton, Mauresmo, Jessica Pegula, Julien Pretot Organizations: Paris, Thomson

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