Federer91

First male quota I hope this is finally the breakthrough for Vangelov. Very composed and tactical match.

Wow Umarpashaev with the best performance i have seen from him, probably in his life even. Pinfalls and grand throws, even if he almost lost the plot at the end against Kadzimahamed. He will probably lose to Kentchadze, but nonetheless a much better performance, that i expected from him. Biggest surprise, King Vlad losing to Tevanyan in the 1/4. The Armenian steamrolled Dubov in the first round and then got an empathic win over Skriabin as well. Most impressive performance from the whole day for me.

The schedule of the matches is absurd as always. They started with 97kg 3 hours ago for just 1 match and it will be 4 hours until their second. Meanwhile some of the guys at 65 and 74 will have 3 matches already, even though they started after them. I don't understand, why for the 1/4 they need to follow the weights from smallest and not give everyone the proper resting period. It's not the finals, it's not even a night session...

Why is no one congratulating Pinturault and Vlhova? It is obvious that no speed events (yet again) will be held this week.

These entries seem very provisional, as there are a few changes in our team as well. Not that it changes anything. GR 60 - Ivo Angelov over Edmond Nazaryan GR 67 - David Dimitrov over Ivo Iliev GR 87 - Daniel Aleksandrov over Tarek Abdelslam

OSCAR Nominations Announced And first time ever for with the amazing Maria Bakalova One step left! Have to start watching some of the films now, even though i'm probably going to be disappointed with them.

It's becoming a habit for Roglic to lose a race on the final stage. I don't know, if it's karma for yesterday, but his head was not on the road today. And where the heck were Jumbo in the last 20 or so km of a 90km stage. Very weird day.

Tiril can get to 15 next week!

Looking at the men's entrants, there could be any combination of qualifiers, because the competition is so even all around. Not confident in any of our guys.. Freestyle: 57kg - Georgi Vangelov - 65% - Our FS "star" has the biggest potential to get the job done. He has given the most constant performance of the whole team, but there is always some mishap. Harutyunyan (ARM) is the biggest name and he is going to get one of the quotas. Anyone that is in his half can cross their luck out. Next on line are Edisherashvili (AZE) and Yatsenko (UKR). Don't know why Lomtadze is not here? 65kg - Vladimir Dubov - 40% - Our veteran is well past his prime and this will be his last hoorah. He has some glimpses of brilliance from time to time, but the draw has to open up for him to have some chance. And with Khinchegashvili (GEO), Aliyev (AZE), Gadzhiev (POL) it probably won't happen. 74kg - Ali Umarpashaev - 0% - No chance here. Don't know why Miroslav Kirov is not our guy, but it won't really matter. Biggest favorites are Kentchadze (GEO) and Demirtas (TUR). After them we have Kuramagomedov (HUN), Kadzimahamedau (BLR) and Alikahanyan (ARM). 86kg - Akhmed Magamaev - 50% - The naturalized Russian is mostly hit and miss and i probably wouldn't bet on him. This category is very open without clear favorites. I will point out Baranowski (POL), Makojev (SVK), Shabanau (BLR), Gocen (TUR). 97kg - Ahmed Bataev - 20% - Naturalized Russian number 2 and he is not that better either, but when you have no one else... Hushtyn (BLR) and Conyedo (ITA) are the top bets with Baran (POL) and Saritov (ROU) also in the running. 125kg - Georgi Ivanov - 0% - Filler participation here. Sharipov (RUS) and Robert Baran (POL) are the clear favorites, with Magomedov (AZE) and Khramiankou (BLR) in supporting roles. Greco-Roman: 60kg - Edmond Nazaryan - 60% - If anyone gained by the OG being delayed, it is our biggest talent for the future. The son of wrestling legend Armen Nazaryan is still only 19 though and was competing in the lower weight so far. Don't know, if the 60kg guys will be a little too stronger for him at this point, but nevertheless he is one of our biggest chances. Top billing goes to Charibyan (ARM) with Berge (NOR), Mammadov (AZE), Torba (HUN) next in line. 67kg - Ivo Iliev - 5% - A new name, with whom i'm not very familiar and first time appearances never go well. An open category, which can go in different ways, but whoever Hungary chooses (either Balint Korpasi or Vancza), Galstyan (ARM), Dadov (AZE) and Thoresen (NOR) are the top names. 77kg - Aik Mnatsakanian - 10% - The guy with usually the biggest luck will have to generate every prayer he has. This is the most stacked category for me. Roman Vlasov (RUS) is obviously the biggest name here and i'm sorry for those, who will be in his half. The others vying include Viktor Nemes (SRB), Eisele (GER), Suleymanov (AZE), Bolkvadze (GEO) 87kg - Tarek Abdelslam - 50% - The trajectory of Tarek's career is a pitty, as he seems always injured in the last 3 years or so. This is a good sign that he could finally be healthy, since i thought they'd choose Daniel Aleksandrov for this category. Daniel will probably get the chance at the World Qualifier. Biggest favourite here is Davit Chakvetadze (RUS) with Abbasov (AZE), Datunashvili (SRB), Berg (SWE) also with chances. 97kg - Kiril Milov - 60% - Milov has been going downhill for some time and always looks without a spark in his matches. I really hope he goes motivated, because the field is on his level, after all 6 World Cham. quotas went to Europeans. Depending on the draw, various people can get the quotas - Kakhelashvili (ITA), Baldauf (NOR), Szoke (or Kiss) (HUN), Omarov (CZE). 130kg - Radoslav Georgiev - 0% - Filler participation. Semenov (RUS) and Kuchmii (UKR) are the top contenders. Some chances also for Ciurariu (ROU), Ovasapyan (ARM), Varga (HUN), Chugoshvili (BLR).

Frankly it will be very, very difficult for France to qualify, especially in these reduced draws. The best shot has Julie Sabatie in the womens 50kg. Ameline Douarre at 62 also has an outside chance. As a whole, you should be looking at the women, because the men are so stacked up, and with only 2 places it would be a miracle to qualify there.

A few words on our team and chances. I thought before, that we could better our Rio result, where we had 11 quotas, but now i don't see it happening at all. Given that in Rio each weight had on average 20 competitors, while now they are only 16 is a big hit to middle of the road nations like us.. With only the top 2 earning a place, the draws will be monumentally important as always. I'm much more confident in the women, so i'll start with them and do the men later today. 50kg - Miglena Selishka - 95% - Our safest bet in a category, where all the best Euro women already have a quota. Demirhan (TUR) strongest from the list. 53kg - Sezen Belberova - 10% - Pretty much no chance with the likes of Orshush (RUS), Kaladzinskaya (BLR), Blaszka (NED), Mattsson (SWE) in the running. 57kg - Evelina Nikolova - 65% - If she is injury free, there is a chance, if the draw lands in her way. And this will be her only chance, as i'm certain for the World Qualifier they will choose Bilyana Dudova. Tough field with Bullen (NOR), Barka (HUN), Chumikova (RUS) and Gun (TUR). 68kg - Yuliana Yaneva - 50% - Not sure, if this is the final decision, as Mimi Hristova is also vying for this category. 68 is not titular for either one of them, so a lot of weight play is gonna happen. Yaneva won very surprisingly that World Cup in December, so maybe that played a factor in choosing her. Still, there are a lot of big names in contention - Velieva (RUS), Tosun (TUR), Manolova (AZE), Sadchanka (BLR). 76kg - Mariya Oryashkova - 15% - The girl with the biggest heart and desire to go to the Olympics. She is a 6-time World Sambo Champion, but just can't make the transition to wrestling. She has been doing it for a few years now and i just don't see any progress. Just as i don't see any hope with the likes of Adar (TUR), Vorobeva (RUS), Marzaliuk (BLR), Solheim (NOR) in the draw.

She will make it, not much left with big potential. Watch her from 28-30 to make top 5 in the second run.

I'm living for these gladiator battles Van Der Poel vs. Van Aert vs. Alaphilippe that we are going to get all year We only need Sagan to somehow find his old form and make it a fatal 4-way.

I don't know why they bothered with the whole voting charade, when it's clear they chose what they wanted after all. Maybe for publicity.. I too like Imaginary Friend the best, but having options is good i guess.

Yahoo Finance Article

Well Happy Independence Day Lithuania

Very interesting Paris-Nice so far, which hasn't always been the case in the last few years. Roglic took an easy lead today and won't have much trouble stacking another win on the belt.

On the contrary, i see this, as one step closer to having the Games. It was never on the cards having a full cumbaya OG like in 2016. Having even only Japanese fans is still more, than i would have predicted.

BULGARIA Mihaela Marinova - Fear Of Loneliness At only 22, Mihaela Marinova is one of the brightest artists in the Bulgarian music scene. First gaining notoriety in 2014, age 16, after appearing on the BG version of X-Factor, she has had hit songs in every single year afterwards. Her appearance in TV formats has almost unparalleled success: - 2014 - 3rd place - The X-Factor - Cut by the judges, just before the finale and the public vote for the winner. - 2017 - Winner - Tu Cara Me Suena (Your Face Sounds Familiar) - 2019 - Winner - The Masked Singer - 2021 - Currently leading - Tu Cara Me Suena: All Stars I have chosen this song, because it combines many themes associated with 2020 and the fear of so many people of being lonely in one way, or another. LYRICS in English: LYRICS in Bulgarian:

The song will be known tomorrow night i think. Viki will have a concert on BNT and they will announce which song is chosen.

Wow, this is actually a great number. I actually thought there were much more. Surprised countries like Chad, Mauritania, Somalia, Swaziland, Yemen, Oman, Brunei, Niger, Kiribati managed to get both.

We are top 4, even though the song is not known yet The bookies really love Виктория for some reason.

This Bol person has a bright future

Will they both be holding the flag? Will it be a relay? Will there be a clock to count, if they are holding it equally? Who is going to hold it at the top and who at the bottom? Will they have to cross hands? Has Covid ended and we can hug each other again? Are the IOC the highest paid morons in the World? Well scratch the last one, that is not really a question.

Hard to believe that every single Africa/Asia/Oceania country will send a woman.