Missing Paris

Don’t look now but Russia and Belarus might just  miss the 2024 Paris Olympics. Paris Mayor Annie Hidalgo said at the moment, the Russian Olympic Committee is not suspended, not just yet and is allowed to compete in the Games until the IOC decides to ban the two countries for invading Ukraine.  Last February, the International Olympic Committee Executive Board recommended that sports federation ban Russian and Belarusian athletes. In 1920, Austria, Bulgaria, Turkey, Hungary and Germany, defeated in World War 1, were not invited to take part in the Antwerp Olympics.  In 1948, after the end of World War II, Germany and Japan were suspended from the London Olympics. Russian athletes competed under the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) banner at this year’s Beijing Winter Games because of their poor doping track record.  Only Tony Estanguet, Paris 2024 president said he is supporting the decision to ban athletes from Russia and Belarus but said it was too soon to discuss the potential impact in the 2024 Olympics and Paralympic Games in Paris.   

Numerous international federations have now implemented the IOC’s recommendations. FIFA and UEFA are among the organizations to ban Russia and Belarus from competition. This decision leaves both nations likely to miss out the chance to qualify for Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup as well as the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 in England.  Meanwhile, sports ministers from 20 nations meet to discuss Russian competition sanctions.  Russia and Belarus are also barred from some International competitions of ice hockey, world curling World Rugby and Russian Grand Prix.

Hunter Armstrong

U.S Olympian Hunter Armstrong broke the world record I the 50m backstroke at the World Championship Trials in Greensboro, North Carolina Thursday night.  Armstrong , who tied for ninth in the Tokyo Olympics clocked 23.71 seconds to break Russian Kliment Kolesnikov’s record.  It marked the first mens record broken at the U.S Trials since 2009.  the 6’7” Armstrong, with size 18 shoes, was a surprise qualifier last year whose personal best was 25.25 before the Greensboro event.

Russian Grand Prix

The Russian Grand Prix was permanently removed from FI calendar.  The event was held in Sochi every year since 2014 and was set to move to St.  Petersburg in 2023.  Lewis Hamilton won the Russian rand Prix in September 2021.  At first Russian and Belarusian drivers were allowed to compete in a neutral capacity but Motorsport UK, governing body on these shores, announced that it would no longer recognize licenses  issued to the Russian or Belarus Automatic Federation.  Several FI drivers notably Sebastian Vettel and reigning champion Max Verstapen said the race should be cancelled .

Hasta La Vista

To two sports personalities who died this month.  Cebu lost basketball Icon coach Yayoy Alcoseba following Jose “Boyet” Sison who hosted Fastbreak, a TV show with former senator  Freddie Webb.  Rest In Peace Yayoy and Boyet!