NearPup

I can't believe someone is supporting executing dissidents in 2021, if we're going to go with the most extreme elements of the coalitions of the winning candidate. Also, is Boric even a Communist? He certainly has Chile's Communist party in his coalition, but Boric himself has been pretty consistently opposed to the Nicaraguan, Cuban and Venezuelan governments as far as I can tell.

If the alternative was a normal presidential candidate, sure. If the alternative is a supporter of a former repressive dictator... bit of a different story.

I mean it's pretty clear why the NHL is pulling out - there is an increase in COVID cases, which is massively affecting their schedule (including a postponement of all cross border games) and the players and teams both have a big issue with the current Beijing playbook - specifically the possibility of having to quarantine three weeks if they test positive (without being able to fly back). There's just too much money on the line for this to work out unfortunately.

Allison Baver, a three time Olympian and a 2010 bronze medalist in the relay, is being accused of scamming ten million dollars in COVID aid from the US government to finance a movie. https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/more-sports/ex-olympic-speed-skating-medalist-charged-with-stealing-dollar10m-in-covid-19-aid-to-help-finance-elijah-wood-movie/ar-AARTM2M?li=BBnbfcL

Historically that works out marginally better than fascism at least... Seems like there was a real lack of mainstream options in the second round.

USA Olympic Team Men: Ryan Pivirotto Andrew Heo Women: Kristen Santos Maame Biney Corinne Stoddard Julie Letai Eunice Lee Biney is the only skater with Olympic experience (Pivirotto was on the 2018 Olympic team but didn't race). Santos is the elder statesmen of the team, but she didn't make the 2018 team because she was recovering from injury at the time and finished fourth at trials. Lee came out of absolutely nowhere to claim the final women's spot, she has literally never made a US national team for anything.

The Olympic trials will be held at the brand new “Centre de Glace” in Quebec City from December 27th to 31st. I believe this is the first time since 1984 that Calgary will not hold the Olympic trials.

@heywoodudoes it look like the new COVID restrictions in will affect the Olympic trials?

Article (through good old Google translate) seems to imply they are considering naming Makarainen and Berger co-champions.

They can send a maximum of nine skaters, however to be able to send nine skaters an NOC has to enter the maximum number of athletes in every event.

Pretty sure if did that they could only send 8 male skaters.

Would be a bit of a travesty to take Makarainen’s title away…

Women’s mass start at the four continents championship. An 11 minute snoozer with six skaters.

has earned the second Olympic spot. The third and final spot will be decided by a playoff between and

has won the second spot. The final spot in the women’s tournament will be decided in a playoff between and

In case anyone else wants to suffer through this complete abomination of a race:

DSC is one of the worst tie-breaker in sports and I absolutely hate it. Especially now that they have eliminated tie-breakers in International curling...

bizarrely won against the top three teams ( ) and lost to everyone else. Anyway, three way tie at the top, qualifies for the Olympics due to having a better DCS (bleh). and will play-off for the second Olympic spot, the loser of that game will play-off against for the final Olympic spot. The number of NOCs is now final at 14, one up from Pyeongchang.

That's a lot of Ariannas...

Lineup for the Canadian Olympic trials, to be concluded on January 2nd. The athletes who's name are stricken are not competing because they are a non-alternate member of the men's or women's team and were replaced by their partner. In the case of Peterman / Gallant since both athletes qualified their team was replaced by ranking. Jocelyn Peterman / Brett Gallant Jennifer Jones Selena Njegovan / Brent Laing Nancy Martin / Tyrel Griffith Rachel Homan / John Morris Kerri Einarson / Brad Gushue Brad Jacobs Kadriana Sahaidak / Colton Lott Lisa Weagle / John Epping Laurie St-Georges / Félix Asselin Chelsea Carey / Colin Hodgson Shannon Birchard / Catlin Schneider Val Sweeting / Marc Kennedy Clancy Grandy / Patrick Janssen Laura Walker / Kirk Muyres Kim Tuck / Wayne Tuck Émilie Desjardins / Robert Desjardins Bobbie Sauder / Brendan Bottcher Lauren Wasylkiw / Shane Konings

Ted-Jan Bloemen becomes the first person outside of Europe to be a World and continental champion after winning the 5000m (again, don't look up the opposition). Not really much of an achievement given how new the Four continents championship is, but this is still a neat little piece of trivia.

Rodriguez won a bronze medal in the women's 500m at the Four Continent Championships, which is South America's first ever medal at a senior ISU championship of any kind. (Just don't look too deeply at the depth of the competition) also won it's first ever medal at a senior ISU championship in the event.

Has qualified for the Olympics (even before having to play their final game). has clinched a playoff spot.

You laugh but someone falling down while celebrating and knocking over a stone has decided a curling world championship before.

is almost guaranteed to win the round robin at the final qualification tournament, and to qualify directly for the Olympics. All they need is to win one of their remaining two matches or to have lose one of it's three remaining matches.