PHI2019

Ismael Borrero: Cuba's Olympic wrestling champion defects Wrestling star Ismael Borrero has become the latest Cuban athlete to defect. Borrero, who won gold in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, abandoned the Cuban delegation while they were in Mexico for the Pan-American Wrestling Championships, a Cuban official said. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-61319922

Looks like they’ve started. https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1122278/ioa-archery-shooting-wrestling-victoria

Victoria officially confirmed as host of 2026 Commonwealth Games as new regional model unveiled Victoria confirmed as host of 2026 Commonwealth Games as regional model unveiled

Singapore bidding to host the 2025 World Athletics Championships Sport Singapore has officially announced the country’s bid to stage the World Athletics Championships in 2025. The national sports agency has confirmed that Singapore is aiming to become the first Southeast Asian country to host World Athletics’ flagship event. The 2025 edition will also mark Singapore’s 60th year of independence with Sport Singapore claiming it "would be a fitting addition to the nation’s celebrations". Sport Singapore has revealed that it will partner with Singapore-based Malaysian billionaire businessman Ong Beng Seng to help turn its bid into reality. https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1120648/singapore-world-athletics-championships

Swimming Australia pulls out of the 2021 Summer University Games Swimming Australia wishes to advise that it will no longer be sending a team to compete in the FISU World University Games in Chengdu, China, from June 26-July 7, 2022," a Swimming Australia statement read. "Following the withdrawal of our Pan Pacific Partners USA Swimming and Swimming Canada, a decision has been made to seek alternative competition opportunities that best serve the development of our athletes. "With this in mind, a team will now be selected at the Australian Swimming Championships in May to compete in the US National Championships in Irvine, California in July. https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1120600/swimming-australia-pulls-out-chengdu

Victoria present formal bid to host 2026 Commonwealth Games and reveal up to 22 sports could feature Opening ceremonies at the MCG. Mars Stadium in Ballarat the likely venue for athletics. Between 19-22 sports for the Games. https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1120592/commonwealth-games-victoria-2026-bid

Russia and Belarus have been excluded by FISU from the 2021 Summer University Games. https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1120472/fisu-russia-belarus-ban-end-of-2022

Robbie Brightwell. Silver medalist at the 1964 Summer Olympics as a member of the British 4x400m relay team. His future wife Ann Packer won the women’s 800 meters at the same Games. https://www.teamgb.com/article/remembering-robbie-brightwell/6XiHQAQ4tE1u0xPLjsqyVj

Schedules for T20 Cricket T20_Cricket_Match_Schedule_A4_RGB_Updated.pdf and Netball Netball-Schedule-4-March-2022.pdf

Collateral Damage. Basketball player Brittney Griner reportedly detained in Russia; WNBA, representatives working 'to get her home' WNBA player Brittney Griner is being detained in Russia after customs officials said they found hashish oil in her luggage at an airport near Moscow in February, according to a report in the New York Times on Saturday. The Russian Federal Customs Service on Saturday alleged it searched luggage believed to belong to Griner and found vape cartridges that contained oil derived from cannabis -- a crime that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. While Griner was not mentioned by name, the customs service identified the detained person as a player for the U.S. women's team but did not specify the date of her detainment. https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/33429212/basketball-player-brittney-griner-reportedly-detained-russia-wnba-representatives-working-get-home

FINLAND!!!

It's a relief to see we're finally getting a host city for the 2026 Commonwealth Games Exclusive: Victoria signs agreement to host 2026 Commonwealth Games

We’re getting too much of that on the local broadcaster’s YouTube channel

I was watching this on local television just now. There were two racers left when the station cut the coverage to show an NBA game. What the?!

Winter Olympics: Valieva failed drug test confirmed The International Testing Agency has confirmed teenage Russian Olympic Committee figure skater Kamila Valieva failed a drugs test in December. The 15-year-old was part of the team which claimed figure skating gold on Monday but the medals were not awarded because of a "legal issue". The Russian Anti-doping Agency lifted her suspension, enabling her to compete at the Beijing Winter Olympics. But the International Olympic Committee has now appealed against that decision. https://www.bbc.com/sport/winter-olympics/60329120

Thanks!

Why is it that some of the athletes in the Big Air competition don’t have their two best runs count in the final score or in the case of the 12th place athlete, just the third run?

It’s sad to see this happen to him. Makes me wish he’d switch allegiance to another country and be more successful there.

The team from was also excluded from the competition after four of its swimmers tested positive for Covid

It’s not the first time anyone has used this system. If I recall correctly, this was used during the most recent South American Games and Bolivarian Games

Yuka Saso chooses Japanese nationality MANILA, Philippines – Yuka Saso heralds her much-awaited return to the LPGA of Japan Tour with a tinge of sadness — as far as her Filipino fans and supporters are concerned — as the reigning US Women’s Open champion announced her decision to choose the Japanese nationality in two years’ time. “I chose Japan because of its nationality law,” the 20-year-old Saso said on the eve of the Toto Japan Classic in Shiga Prefecture, her first JLPGA event since finishing tied for ninth in the Bridgestone Ladies last May. Born to a Japanese father and Filipino mother, the 20-year-old Saso disclosed her citizenship preference to a Japanese news portal Wednesday. https://www.philstar.com/sports/2021/11/03/2138728/yuka-saso-chooses-japanese-nationality

Second medal for Carlos Yulo tonight. This time, it’s silver in the men’s parallel bars

Gold medal for Carlos Yulo in the men’s vault

OCA confirm postponement of Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games until 2023 Next year's Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) in Thailand have been pushed back to 2023 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been confirmed. New dates of between November 17 and 26 in 2023 have been set for the event, which will be co-hosted by Thai capital Bangkok and Chonburi. https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1114414/asian-indoor-martial-arts-games-2023

Pardon for the late post. I only found out about his death today. Andre Agassi’s father, Mike Agassi, dies aged 90 Mike Agassi, the father of eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi, has died aged 90. Born in Iran, Emmanuel Agassi represented his country in boxing at the 1948 Olympic Games in London and the 1952 Games in Helsinki. Andre Agassi's father, Mike Agassi, dies aged 90 - Tennis Majors