DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Fun or frightening? A brief history of Olympic mascot design
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-08 | by ( Leah Dolan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Stephane De Sakutin/AFP/Getty Images Merchandise featuring Beijing mascot Bing Dwen Dwen, the 2022 Winter Olympics mascot, has been extremely popular. MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP/AFP via Getty Images Rio 2016 Olympic mascot Vinicius was selected four years before the Games kicked off. Rudi Blaha/AP Syd the platypus, Millie the echidna and Olly the kookaburra, helped represent the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Amicar de Leon/AP The Albertville Olympic Games in 1992 was cheered on by a star-shaped gnome-looking character. International Olympic Committee In pictures: Olympic Mascot History Prev NextTo find a worthy representative, each host country will typically organize a submission call-out or contest.

Persons: snowmen, Aline Lafargue, “, Lafargue, Stephane De Sakutin, Bing Dwen Dwen, Lintao Zhang, Maja Hitij, MARTIN BERNETTI, Vinicius, Alex Ferro, Andrej Isakovic, Mo Farah, Adrian Dennis, Jeff Vinnick, Amy Sancetta, Michael Sohn, Rudi Blaha, Syd, Olly, Claro, Eric Draper, Izzy Whatizit, Ross Kinnaird, Michel Euler, Amicar de Leon, Nicolas Le Corre, David Cannon, Sam, Eagle, Tony Duffy, Howdy, Dieter Endlicher, Misha, Armin Weigel, AP Shuss, Iris, ”, Millie Organizations: CNN, Olympic Games, International Olympic Committee, Grenoble Winter, Getty, Tokyo, Games, Reuters, Sochi, Getty Images Beijing, Winter Games, Sydney, Lillehammer Games, Albertville Olympic, Disney, International Olympic, Moscow's, AP, Dachshund, Olympics, Olympic, International, Sochi Winter Games, Angeles Summer, London Games, Soyuz Locations: France, Paris, AFP, Beijing, Vancouver, Canada, China, Turin, Italy, Athens, Salt Lake, Snowbasin , Utah, Claro Cortes, Japan, EMPICS, Barcelona, Barcelona's Port, South Korea, Sarajevo's Yugoslavia, Calgary , Alberta, Lake Placid, Munich, Innsbruck, Kitzbuhel, Austria, Algonquin, Russia, Sydney, Australia

☆ Lausanne, Where the Olympics Never End
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-08 | by ( Seth Sherwood | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Every year is an Olympics year in Lausanne, Switzerland, a city of stone buildings, tile roofs and historic church squares perched on a hillside overlooking Lake Geneva. As home to the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Museum, the city is involved year-round in championing the Games, long before and long after the official ceremonies take place. (This year, the Summer Olympics and Paralympics, mostly in and around Paris, run from July 26 to Sept. But the Olympics are only one facet of Lausanne. Throw in stylish new restaurants, chocolate boutiques and pastry shops, and you have a medal-worthy culinary center, as well.

Organizations: International Olympic Committee, Olympic Museum, Summer, Hermitage Foundation Locations: Lausanne, Switzerland, Lake Geneva, Paris, Hermitage

☆ Exclusive: World Athletics president invites Ukraine president Zelensky to the Paris Olympics in surprise visit to Kyiv
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-01 | by ( Madalena Araujo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Kyiv, Ukraine CNN —World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said he invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the Olympics as his personal guest during a surprise visit to Kyiv on Friday. But he’s at odds with the IOC when it comes to their stance on Russian athletes. Following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine – supported by Belarus – in February 2022, World Athletics is the only Olympic sports federation to have banned all Russian and Belarussian athletes from elite competition. In the meeting with the Ukrainian president, World Athletics committed to keep providing financial support for the country’s athletes. Coe also stopped by the Ukrainian Athletics Championships in Lviv, the event that determined which athletes will compete in the Olympics.

Persons: Sebastian Coe, Volodymyr Zelensky, “, Coe, CNN’s Amanda Davies, Ukraine –, Zelensky, ” Organizations: Ukraine CNN —, International Olympic, IOC, Belarus –, Athletics, Olympic, Paris, country’s Sports Ministry, Ukrainian Athletics, CNN, Games Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, Paris, Belarus, Lviv

The 30-year-old high jumper cleared 1.89 meters at the Ukrainian Athletics Championships on Sunday, not enough to qualify for this year’s Olympic Games in Paris. Many athletes have moved abroad in order to continue their careers and train for this year’s Games. This means that teams of Russian and Belarusian athletes will not be considered, while athletes who actively support the war against Ukraine will also be ineligible. No reference to either country will be made at the Games through the athletes’ participation, such as flags, anthems or national colors. “We’re not friends, we’re not competitors,” Ryzhykova told CNN about facing Russian and Belarusian athletes.

Persons: Ukraine CNN —, Tabashnyk, ”, I’ve, Seb Coe, ” Tabashnyk, Viktoriia Tkachuk, ’, ” Tkachuk, Hannah Peters, Tkachuk, “, ’ ”, ” Matviy, I’m, Anna Ryzhykova, “ We’re, we’re, ” Ryzhykova, Ryzhykova, it’s, Svitlana Vlasova Organizations: Ukraine CNN, Ukrainian, CNN, Paris, Ukraine’s Sports Ministry, European, Olympic, Russia, Olympics, Olympic Games, Olympic Committee, Games, IOC, “ Locations: Lviv, Ukraine, Paris, Kharkiv, Russian, Tokyo, Ukraine’s, Belarus, “, South Africa, Belarusian, Italian, Brescia, Dnipro isn’t, Hungary, Budapest

☆ Steven van de Velde: Sent to jail for raping a child, Dutch beach volleyball player qualifies for Paris Olympics
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-27 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A Dutch beach volleyball player who served time in prison for raping a child 10 years ago will represent the Netherlands at this year’s Olympics. “We know Steven’s history,” Michel Everaert, general director at Nevobo – the Dutch Volleyball Federation – said in a statement. Everaert said that the federation spoke extensively with the Dutch National Olympic Committee (NOC), the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and van de Velde before his return to the sport. “I am also grateful to the Dutch volleyball federation, because they offered me, with clear conditions and agreements, a future in this beautiful sport again. The International Olympic Committee told CNN that the “nomination of individual team members, following qualification on the field of play, is the sole responsibility of each respective National Olympic Committee.

Persons: Steven van de Velde, “, ” Michel Everaert, Nevobo, Dutch Volleyball Federation –, Everaert, van de Velde, Steven, ” Everaert, Van de Velde, ”, ” Nevobo, ” “, de Velde Organizations: CNN, Dutch Volleyball Federation, Dutch National Olympic Committee, International Volleyball Federation, FIVB, NOC, Olympic Games, Olympic Committee, Olympic Locations: Netherlands, Paris, England, “, Dutch

☆ Afghanistan enjoys historic run to T20 World Cup semifinals: ‘Cricket is the only source of happiness back home’
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-26 | by ( Ben Morse | Masoud Popalzai | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Afghanistan fans celebrate the team's win against Bangladesh at the T20 World Cup. Gurbaz is the leading run scorer at the T20 World Cup. “That Afghanistan team got into the semis for the first time,” the 25-year-old told the International Cricket Council (ICC) website. It’s an unbelievable feeling.”Khan (middle) celebrates the dismissal of India's Rishabh Pant at the T20 World Cup. And in a statement posted online, the Afghanistan Cricket Board expressed its “disappointment” towards Australia’s decision and “reiterates its stance on neutral and politics-free cricket across the globe.”

Persons: – couldn’t, Ashraf Ghani, Mullah Amir Muttaqi, Mullah Khairullah Khairkhah, Rashid Khan, ” Khan, cramp, Jonathan Trott, Ricardo Mazalan, Raees Ahmadzai, Khan –, Mohammad Nabi, Hashmatullah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Ramon Espinosa, Trott, Khan, Nabi, Noor Ahmad –, bamboozled, Gurbaz, “, ”, India's Rishabh Pant, Randy Brooks, Barney Ronay, Suhail Shaheen, ” Shaheen Organizations: CNN, Pakistan, Afghanistan Cricket Board, Bangladesh, AFP, Getty, Australia, Afghan national cricket team, International Cricket Council, ICC, Afghanistan, United, Guardian, ACB, FIFA, International Olympic Committee Locations: Australia, Afghanistan, Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Bangladesh, “, AFP, Taliban, United States, Doha

☆ Michael Phelps rips World Anti-Doping Agency for inconsistent enforcement of rules: ‘We need to hold them accountable’
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Kyle Feldscher | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Washington CNN —Legendary Olympian Michael Phelps on Tuesday ripped the World Anti-Doping Agency and described an inconsistent application of anti-doping rules that is driving frustration among clean athletes and concerns over the future of fair competition. US Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart also testified. Why were Chinese athletes treated differently than athletes from other countries? Three years later, news surfaced that some Chinese athletes on that team were not subjected to the same anti-doping rules, casting doubt on the fairness of the competition. Former Olympians Michael Phelps, left, and Allison Schmitt, right, and US Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart testify on Capitol Hill on June 25, 2024.

Persons: Michael Phelps, Phelps, Allison Schmitt, ” Phelps, WADA, ”, “, Schmitt, ” WADA, Travis Tygart, Tygart, CHINADA, Trimetazidine, Witold Bańka, …, Bańka, “ WADA, ” Bańka, Morgan Griffith, Virginia –, Griffith, they’re, Kathy Castor of, ” Tygart, WADA Schmitt, Jim Watson, CNN’s Amy Woodyatt, George Ramsay, Haley Talbot Organizations: Washington CNN, Doping Agency, House Energy, The New York Times, ARD, Department of Justice, International Olympic Committee, Tokyo Games, CHINADA, Olympic Games, ”, WADA Lawmakers, Republican, Democrat, People’s, Getty, month’s Locations: Russia, China, trimetazidine, U.S, Paris, Kathy Castor of Florida, People’s Republic of China, AFP

☆ For One Night Only, Paris Is Vogue’s (Disney)World
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-24 | by ( Vanessa Friedman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Barnum meeting Florenz Ziegfeld and together they hatch a fashion show, and you’ll get the idea. Like the Met Gala, Vogue World, which was previously held in New York and London, is a live expression of Vogue’s power and an effort to position the magazine as an arbiter of influence, culture and people. Like the Met’s annual fund-raiser, it involves great eye candy, in terms of both clothes and celebrity. Unlike the Met, however, anyone who can afford a ticket, or wants to watch the livestream from afar, can get inside. Can be part, that is to say, of Vogue’s world.

Persons: Anna Wintour, Condé Nast, Barnum, Florenz Ziegfeld, you’ll, nob, Emma Chamberlain, Selma Blair, Russell Westbrook, Ms, Wintour, John Galliano —, —, Pharrell Williams, Louis Vuitton Organizations: Vogue, Ritz Locations: Paris, New York, London

☆ 2028 L.A. Olympics unveil venue plan: Swimming in SoFi, softball in Oklahoma City
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Lauren Merola | Mark Cooper | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Organizers for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics plan to hold swimming in the home of the NFL’s Rams and Chargers — and softball and canoe slalom in Oklahoma. That’s according to an amended venue plan unveiled Friday by LA28, the 2028 Games’ organizing committee. It will be the largest swimming venue in Games history, per LA28, with 38,000 seats. LA28 organizers faced one complication with the SoFi swimming plan, however: The stadium is also set to be part of the Games’ opening ceremonies. The venue plan adjustments are in part due to new arenas that have become available for use and a previously assigned venue that became unavailable, LA28 said.

Persons: LA28, Katie Ledecky, “, ” Ledecky, Sarah Stier, Casey Wasserman, Brian Bahr, David Holt, ” Holt, ” Wasserman, Qian Weizhong Organizations: Olympics, NFL’s Rams, Chargers, Olympic Committee, SoFi, Lucas Oil, NFL, Olympic, New York Times, Athletics, Oklahoma City, USA Softball, International, Devon Park, Women’s, OGE Energy, Getty, IOC, Hollywood, Crypto.com Arena, Lakers, Kings, Sparks, Intuit, LA Clippers, USC’s Locations: Oklahoma, Inglewood , Calif, U.S, Indianapolis, Indianapolis , Indiana, Oklahoma City, Los Angeles, Devon, Okla, Paris, Lille, Tahiti, Long Beach, Calif, Exposition, Temecula , Calif, Sepulveda, L.A, Fernando Valley, Tokyo

☆ France awarded Olympic medal given to Great Britain in 1900
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Julen Chauvin | Emma Leyo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Paris, France CNN —France has scored a belated surprise Olympic victory against Great Britain – 124 years later than expected – after a 1900 Paris Olympics cycling silver medal was taken away from Team GB and awarded to its neighbor across the channel by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). He finished second in the men’s 25 kilometer cycling race at the Paris Summer Games in 1900. “Even though Hildebrand was a British citizen, he was born and brought up in France, and competed for a French club before and after Paris 1900,” the IOC said in a statement. Gachet is a specialist when it comes to French Olympic medals, having published the Dictionary of French Olympics Medalists in 2011. “124 years later, at my request, the IOC Executive Board today approved the reallocation to France of the silver medal won by Lloyd Hildebrand at the Paris 1900 Olympic Games.

Persons: Lloyd Hildebrand, Hildebrand, Stéphane, Emmanuel Macron, Amélie, ” Gachet, “, ”, Gachet Organizations: France CNN —, Great Britain –, Team GB, International Olympic Committee, IOC, Paris Summer Games, Paris, Olympic Committees, Games, French, Club des Sports, Team, British Olympic Association, CNN Sport Locations: Paris, France, France CNN — France, Tottenham, London, Parisian, Levallois, British, Perret

☆ Flavor Flav has a new calling as hype man to the US women’s water polo team
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Now, the clock-wearing musician has found a new and unlikely calling in the sports world, offering his services as hype man for the US women’s water polo team ahead of this year’s Paris Olympics. That’s why I’m sponsoring this women’s water polo team. Steffens is a veteran of the US women's water polo team. How can we get water polo in more people’s mouths and in front of more people’s eyes as best as possible?”USA Water Polo membership almost doubled from 26,837 in 2008 to more than 50,000 in 2019, including increased participation at high school and college levels, according to USA Water Polo. However, she wants her legacy to be more than medals, records, and statistics, but making water polo “common knowledge” and “common language” among the general public.

Persons: Flav, Maggie Steffens, “, ” Steffens, Steffens, TMZ, Ronald Martinez, ”, “ It’s, you’re, I’ve, it’s, that’s, Sandy Hooper, doesn’t, ” Mark Conrad Organizations: CNN, Paris Olympics, CNN Sport, Hall of Fame, Water Polo, USA Water Polo, Olympics, US, Paris, USA, Reuters, International Olympic Committee, Games, Olympic Committees, US Olympic, Paralympic, Fordham University Gabelli School of Business, Athletics, Los Angeles Games, Boxing Locations: Paris, Instagram, Long Beach , California, California

☆ Kremlin denies Olympics disinformation campaign, calls Microsoft allegation slanderous
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends the 8th Russian-Chinese EXPO and the 4th Russian-Chinese Forum on Interregional Cooperation in Harbin, China, May 17, 2024. Sergei Bobylyov | Via ReutersThe Kremlin denied an allegation that it is waging a disinformation campaign against France, its president and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The Microsoft Threat Analysis Center, or MTAC, said Sunday that "Russia is ramping up malign disinformation campaigns against France, French President Emmanuel Macron, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and this summer's Olympic Games in Paris." On Tuesday, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov characterized the MTAC's accusations against Russia as slander, news agency RIA Novosti reported. Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed Ukraine's losses are eight times higher than those of Russia during an interview with Chinese media.

Persons: Dmitry Peskov, Sergei Bobylyov, Emmanuel Macron, Peskov, Macron, Vladimir Putin, Ludovic Marin Organizations: Interregional Cooperation, Reuters, Kremlin, France, Microsoft, International Olympic Committee, IOC, RIA Novosti, Olympic Games, Russian, NATO, Afp, Getty Locations: Russian, Harbin, China, Paris, Russia, France, Ukraine, Belarusian

☆ Fake Tom Cruise documentary is part of a Russian influence campaign aimed at Paris Olympics, report finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-03 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | Donie O'Sullivan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The IOC has placed restrictions on Russian athletes’ participation in the Paris Olympics because of Russia’s war on Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron’s refusal to rule out the possibility of sending French troops to Ukraine has infuriated the Russian government. Hany Farid, a digital forensic expert and professor at UC Berkley, said the video had hallmarks of being manipulate using AI. But Lee Foster, another information operations expert, expressed skepticism that the imagery in the video was made using AI. Officials at the Paris Olympics are bracing for a similar threat next month.

Persons: denigrate, Tom Cruise’s, Gavin Wilde, irrelevance, ” Wilde, Emmanuel Macron’s, Matthew Miller, Miller, Hany Farid, Farid, ” Farid, Lee Foster, ” Foster, Russia’s, ”, John Hultquist, ” Hultquist Organizations: CNN —, Ukraine, CNN, International Olympic Committee, IOC, National Security Council, “, Netflix, New York Times, Microsoft, Telegram, Paris Olympics, CIA, Russian Embassy, US State Department, State Department, BBC, UC Berkley, US Justice Department, Paris, Olympics, Google, Olympic Locations: Ukraine, Paris, Russia, Russian, Washington , DC, ”, South Africa, deepfakes, South Korea, France

☆ The Olympics is reportedly losing its largest sponsor over concerns the IOC is not doing enough to support the athletes
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-27 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Toyota will reportedly end its $835 million sponsorship with the IOC after Paris 2024. Toyota is said to be dissatisfied with a lack of support for Olympic athletes. Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . According to a report from Japan's Kyodo News, Toyota will end its sponsorship contract with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after this year's games in Paris.

Persons: — Organizations: Toyota, IOC, Olympic, Service, Japan's Kyodo, International Olympic Committee, Business Locations: Paris

☆ US lawmakers call for DOJ, IOC investigations into Chinese doping before Olympics
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A doping case involving 23 Chinese swimmers took a diplomatic twist on Wednesday after US lawmakers called on the US Department of Justice and the International Olympic Committee to launch inquiries into the controversy. The Chinese swimmers tested positive for trimetazidine, a banned performance-enhancing substance, several months before the Tokyo Olympics – a tournament at which they were allowed to compete in, and went on to win medals at, according to a report from the New York Times released in coordination with German public broadcaster ARD. In a statement released Wednesday, the lawmakers called for an assessment as to whether the alleged doping was “state-sponsored,” adding that could warrant further diplomatic measures by the United States and the international community. CNN has reached out to the Department of Justice, the IOC and WADA for comment. Trimetazidine has the potential to boost endurance and has been banned by WADA since 2014.

Persons: ”, Raja Krishnamoorthi, John Moolenaar, WADA, “, ” WADA, Sarah Hirshland, Witold Banka, …, Trimetazidine, CHINADA Organizations: CNN, US Department of Justice, International Olympic Committee, Tokyo, New York Times, ARD, Olympic, Chinese Communist Party, Doping Agency, Department of Justice, IOC, European Medicines Agency, EMA, Canadian Olympic Committee, Paralympic, ”, CHINADA, Xinhua Locations: People’s Republic of China, Russia, United States, Paris, China, ”, trimetazidine

☆ Paris 2024: What is an Individual Neutral Athlete at the Olympic Games?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Samuel Joseph | Sam Joseph | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Russian athletes have competed under several different guises throughout the 128-year history of the Olympics, and they will be known by another new name at Paris 2024. Antonin Thuillier/AFP/Getty ImagesHere’s everything you need to know about the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the 2024 Olympics. “The sanctions against those responsible for the war, the Russian and Belarusian states and governments, remain in place for the Olympic Games Paris 2024,” the IOC said in a statement. “No flag, anthem, colors or any other identifications whatsoever of Russia or Belarus will be displayed at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in any official venue or any official function,” the statement continues. Like all other athletes, AINs will need to meet anti-doping requirements to be considered for selection.

Persons: Ukraine –, Igor Kobzar, Antonin Thuillier, –, AINs, Star Pau Gasol, Nicole Hoevertsz, Ryu Seung, Robert Michael, Russia –, Mariya Lasitskene, ”, Daniil Medvedev, “, it’s, Russia ” Organizations: CNN, Olympics, Belarus –, International Olympic Committee, IOC, ATP, WTA, Russian Olympic, Getty, Games, Olympic Games, Star, Athletes ’ Commission, International, Russian Olympic Committee, Paris, Tokyo, Kyodo, ROC, “ Unified, ”, Soviet Union, Unified Locations: Ukraine, Belarus, Belarusian, Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Paris, France, Russia, AFP, Russian, AIN, Tokyo, Beijing, China, –, Moscow, Pyeongchang, South Korea, Barcelona, Soviet, Baltic, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia

☆ Oleksandr Pielieshenko: Olympic weightlifter from Ukraine dies fighting in war with Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Kevin Dotson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Weightlifter Oleksandr Pielieshenko, who competed for Ukraine at the 2016 Rio Olympics, has died while fighting in his country’s war with Russia, according to statements from the Ukraine Olympic Committee and the Ukraine Weightlifting Federation posted Monday. The 30-year-old Pielieshenko was a two-time European gold medalist, winning the 85kg weight class at the 2016 and 2017 European Weightlifting Championships. “We express our deepest condolences to the family and everyone who knew Oleksandr!” the Ukraine Weightlifting Federation said Monday in its statement. CNN has reached out to the Ukraine Olympic Committee and the Ukraine Weightlifting Federation for more information. Ukrainian national weightlifting coach Viktor Slobodianiuk said in a social media post: “War takes the best… Honored Master of Sports of Ukraine, two-time European champion, Olympic weightlifting contestant Oleksandr Pielieshenko heroically died defending Ukraine from invaders.

Persons: Oleksandr Pielieshenko, “, Ukraine Oleksandr Pielieshenko, ”, Oleksandr, Bright, Viktor Slobodianiuk Organizations: CNN, Ukraine Olympic Committee, Ukraine Weightlifting, Olympic, Armed Forces, Ukraine Weightlifting Federation, Sports Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Ukrainian

☆ Paris 2024: Ukrainian athletes urged to avoid Russians and Belarusians at Olympics
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Radina Gigova | Svitlana Vlasova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Ukrainian athletes have been urged by the country’s National Olympic Committee (NOC) to avoid contact with Russians and Belarusians during the 2024 Olympics in Paris so that possible “provocative actions” can be prevented. Ukrainian athletes are also asked “not to communicate or discuss on social media with individual neutral athletes from Russia and Belarus” and not to share or respond to their content. Ukrainian athletes are also urged to refrain from “participating in press conferences, live broadcasts, interviews and other promotional events with individual neutral athletes of the Russian Federation and Belarus before and after the competition,” according to the recommendations. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced in December that Russian and Belarusian athletes will only be eligible to compete as individual neutral athletes at this year’s Paris Games. Teams of Russian and Belarusian athletes will not be considered, while athletes who actively support the war against Ukraine will also be ineligible.

Persons: ”, “, Dmytro Kuleba, ” Kuleba, Alexander Lukashenko, Vladimir Putin Organizations: CNN, country’s, Olympic Committee, Ministry of Youth, Sports, Belarus ”, Russian Federation, Paris, Games, IOC Locations: Paris, Russia, Belarus, Belarusian, Ukraine

☆ Alysia Montaño is set to be upgraded to a bronze medal after her rivals doped. That still feels like a ‘stab in the gut’
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Receiving a first Olympic medal is supposed to be a momentous and exhilarating occasion for every athlete but not Alysia Montaño. “A stab in the gut, in the heart, really,” is how she describes her supposed moment of triumph. In the days after learning that she could be awarded a bronze medal, Montaño says that her emotions oscillated from joy to sadness to something akin to grief. Savinova celebrates her winning gold at the London Olympics, a title of which she was later stripped. Montaño being awarded her bronze medal from the 2013 world championships in 2019.

Persons: vacantly, “, ” Montaño, – Mariya Savinova, Ekaterina Guliyev, Ekaterina Poistogova, Pamela Jelimo, Montaño, Stu Forster, Savinova, Guliyev, Olivier Morin, huff, –, Adam Nelson, Mustafa Abumunes, ”, wouldn’t Organizations: CNN, Doping Agency, London Olympics, Getty, Athletics Integrity Unit, Turkish Athletic Federation, London, Doha, Clif, ” CNN, International Olympic Committee, US Olympic, Paralympic, New York Times, Nike Locations: Cleveland, American, London, Russia’s, Turkey, AFP, Qatar, Los Angeles, Burger, Paris

☆ New Study Bolsters Idea of Athletic Differences Between Men and Trans Women
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Jeré Longman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A new study financed by the International Olympic Committee found that transgender female athletes showed greater handgrip strength — an indicator of overall muscle strength — but lower jumping ability, lung function and relative cardiovascular fitness compared with women whose gender was assigned female at birth. That data, which also compared trans women with men, contradicted a broad claim often made by proponents of rules that bar transgender women from competing in women’s sports. It also led the study’s authors to caution against a rush to expand such policies, which already bar transgender athletes from a handful of Olympic sports. The study’s most important finding, according to one of its authors, Yannis Pitsiladis, a member of the I.O.C.’s medical and scientific commission, was that, given physiological differences, “Trans women are not biological men.”Alternately praised and criticized, the study added an intriguing data set to an unsettled and often politicized debate that may only grow louder with the Paris Olympics and a U.S. presidential election approaching.

Persons: Yannis Pitsiladis Organizations: International Olympic Committee, Paris Olympics, U.S

☆ Opinion: We all lose if the Olympic surveillance state becomes the norm
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Opinion Jules Boykoff | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

He is the author of six books on the politics of the Olympic Games, most recently “What Are the Olympics For?” The views expressed here are his own. France enacted an Olympic Games Law in May 2023 that legalized the use of AI-driven video surveillance this summer and allowed experimentation with intelligent video surveillance until March 31, 2025. The law made France the first nation in the European Union to greenlight biometric surveillance systems. She told me that the Olympic Law “infringes the right to privacy, the right to be anonymous in the streets.”“Everything in this is political,” Levain said. The French Ministry of the Armed Forces unveiled plans to use HELMA-P, an anti-drone laser weapon system prototype, at the Paris Games.

Persons: Jules Boykoff, Emmanuel Macron, Jules Boykoff Jessi, –, ” Noémie, “, ” Levain, ”, Gérald Darmanin, we’ve, Amelie Oudea, Macron, Natsuko Sasaki, Laurent Nuñez, Le, Danielle Simonnet, Thomas Bach Organizations: Pacific University, Olympic Games, CNN, Olympic, Games, ISIS, Stade de France –, Law, European Union, Amnesty International, European Civic Forum, Human Rights, Ministry of, France’s, French Ministry of, Armed Forces, Paris Games, Stade de France, Paris Police, Le Parisien, Paris, Patriotes, Palais Royal, National Assembly, France Insoumise Party Locations: Paris, Palestinian, Atlanta, France, Le, Europe, Moscow

☆ World Athletics introduces $50,000 prize money for Paris 2024 Olympic gold medalists
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Sammy Mncwabe | Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —World Athletics (WA) will become the first international sports governing body to award prize money to Olympic gold medalists starting at the Paris 2024 Games, the federation said in a statement on Monday. Athletes who win gold in each of the 48 track and field events in Paris will receive $50,000. Traditionally, Olympic medal winners don’t receive prize money as the event originated as an amateur competition. WA says it is committed to extending the bonus initiative to Olympic silver and bronze medalists at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. “It reflects World Athletics’ view that the athletes – our athletes make up 20% in numbers at an Olympic Games – should be recognized,” he said.

Persons: Sebastian Coe, ” Coe, Coe, ”, “ Organizations: CNN, Athletics, WA, Olympic, ” WA, Olympic Games, Los, Games, National Olympic Committee Locations: Paris

☆ Enhanced Games Are Olympics With Steroids, Pay; Meet the Founder
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-31 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Several countries pay bonuses to medal winners, and high-profile athletes may get brand deals and sponsorships, but many Olympic athletes live quiet lives. AdvertisementD'Souza suggested he received funding for the Enhanced Games in the "single-digit millions" but declined to specify the amount. So far, it's unclear what kind of talent Enhanced Games will attract. He said that at the Enhanced Games, athletes would get comprehensive health checkups to monitor the effects of "whatever enhancement protocols" they're on and ensure they're fit to compete. D'Souza said he planned to announce more details about the Enhanced Games this summer — right around the Paris Olympics.

Persons: Aron D'Souza, gymgoers, D'Souza, Thomas Bach, Bach, Uber, Christian, Christian Angermayer, Balaji Srinivasan, Coinbase's, Peter Thiel, Angermayer, Srinivasan, Thiel, Hulk, Charles Harder, Harder, didn't, Sargon, Peter, VCs, Thiel hasn't, he's, James Magnussen, James, he'd, Marta Nawrocka, BI's Gabby Landsverk, Jim Walden, Grigory Rodchenkov, it's, who'd Organizations: International, Olympic, IOC, West Germany's Olympic, The New York Times, Business, Apeiron Investment, University of Melbourne, Gawker Media, BuzzFeed, Gawker, Abrams, Australian Financial, US, Doping Agency, UFC, Drug Free, NFL, NBA, MLB, Testing Agency, ITA, CNN, FBI, Sports, Gaming Initiative, Paris Locations: Miami, Lausanne, Switzerland, Oxford, Australian, Russia

☆ Feds seek seizure of two New York apartments worth $14 million tied to former Mongolia leader in alleged mining scheme
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Batbold Sukhbaatar of Mongolia addresses the Millennium Development Goals Summit at the United Nations headquarters in New York, September 22, 2010. Federal prosecutors on Tuesday sued to seize two New York City apartments worth $14 million that were allegedly bought with proceeds from a corrupt scheme involving Mongolia's huge copper mine, a former prime minister of that nation, and his Harvard Business School graduate son. Batbold served as prime minister from 2009 through 2012. Batbold's son, Battushig Batbold, a Harvard Business School graduate, is a member of the International Olympic Committee. Battushig Batbold also worked as a summer associate at Blackstone in 2014, and as a mining analyst at Morgan Stanley from 2009 through 2011, according to his LinkedIn page.

Persons: Batbold, Sukhbaatar Batbold, Battushig, Batbold's, Battushig Batbold, Morgan Stanley Organizations: United Nations, New, Harvard Business School, Erdenet Mining, Ocean Partners, Erdernet Mining, International Olympic, Blackstone Locations: Mongolia, New York, New York City, U.S, Brooklyn, Mongolian, Batbold, Manhattan, United States

☆ IOC blasts Russia’s Friendship Games for what it says is a violation of the Olympic Charter and its politicization of sport
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( George Ramsay | Jill Martin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has criticized Russia’s so-called Friendship Games as being “purely politically motivated” and a violation of the Olympic Charter. According to Russian state news agency TASS, 5,500 people are expected to participate at the Friendship Games, competing for a total prize purse of 4.6 billion rubles (around $50 million). Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the event ensures “free access of Russian athletes and sports organizations to international sports activities,” TASS reported. The Friendship Games were first staged in 1984 in the Soviet Union, the same year that the country had boycotted the Los Angeles Olympics that year. CNN has contacted the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) in response to the IOC’s Tuesday press release.

Persons: Russia’s, John Coates, Vladimir Putin, “, ”, WADA Organizations: CNN, Olympic Committee, Olympic Charter, Paris, IOC, Friendship Games, ” TASS, Friendship, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Games, Los Angeles Olympics, Olympic, Russian Olympic Committee, Doping Agency Locations: Moscow, Russian, Russia, Sochi, Milan, Soviet Union, Ukraine, Belarusian

Search resuls for: "National Olympic"

25 mentions found