phelps

no, it's not... we simply don't have an indoor pool capable of hosting a global event... and building a temporary one in an indoor arena like Milan's Forum or Turin's Olympic Palace is not worth the effort under an economical POV (maybe for the world champs, surely not for the Europeans)... if it rains "mildly", no problem, the show goes on as if it didn't rain... if there are dangerous conditions (a storm, lightnings and so on), the session is stopped until the danger ends, then it starts again...

one bad news for the Vegas Golden Knights fans... Robin Lehner out for the season, as he needs hip surgery... https://www.nhl.com/news/robin-lehner-out-for-season-hip-surgery-vegas-golden-knights/c-335247916 and one (bad?) news for the Seattle Kraken fans... Eddie Olczyk joins the Kraken broadcast crew... https://www.nhl.com/news/eddie-olczyk-joins-seattle-kraken-broadcast-team/c-335249802 meanwhile rumors about Kadri and the Islanders (7-year deal @ 7 million/year offered by the NY team) are stronger and stronger every day...

organizing an event where there isn't even a proper venue for some of the sports involved...and building a temporary one with non-standard measures!

I fear so...

Andrej Martin (Tennis) suspended after testing positive for SARM-22 (steroid-alike substance)... https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/34373223/slovakian-tennis-player-andrej-martin-suspended-doping-case @hckošice

I know, unfortunately... but I was just talking of the coverage on our TV...

yeah, you're right... so, even better...

very much alive... our public TV (RAI) is live all day long on Raisport+ HD and also in the afternoon (2 p.m. - 8 p.m.) on Rai2 HD... then they have additional feeds on Raiplay (the OTT service)... the Acquatics Euros are also live on sky Italia for the first time (so, double coverage)... I think the only discipline that is not going to be broadcasted at all is BMX Freestyle (and I don't blame any of our media for ignoring that farce)...

news you'd never wanna read... https://toronto.citynews.ca/2022/08/10/borje-salming-als-diagnosis-maple-leafs/

Max Pacioretty out for about 6 months after Achilles surgery... https://www.nhl.com/news/max-pacioretty-to-have-surgery-likely-out-first-half-of-season-for-carolina-hurricanes/c-335233944

naaa...they must do it because I deserve the best possible quality for my home Olympic tournament...

the IOC didn't ban the Russian and Belarussian NOCs, but left the IFs free to take their decision... WA banned the Russians (and Belarussians) no matter what, many others also did it...however, some did not (judo is the first that comes to my mind...the Russians participated to the Grand Slam tournament in Ulanbaatar when the OQP was already on)... by the way, thanks to the FIBA rules, Russia is basically already out in Basketball, since they have been excluded from the next world cup (which will award all the olympic slots for Europe, directly or indirectly -i.e. qualifying to the final OQTs)... also in Handball, as they're out of the next world championships, they keep just a remote chance only by being the best non-qualified team at the 2023/2024 Europeans, which is highly unlikely for the men (the women could do it, if by then they're reinstated among the eligible teams)... in men's Football they've been thrown out of the U21 Euro-finals, so they stand no chance anymore... in Volleyball, they are still in contention as with the women as with the men, at least until the deadline of the final OTs (their world ranking is too good for them to leave them out "on the field")... in any case, I think this time IOC would not allow them to participate to the Paris Olympics in any team sport/event...and the chance they get at least some individual invitation is quite slim...first, the conflict vs UKR must be "officially" over, with a peace treaty being signed by both parts (and I don't think that all this sh*t is gonna be over in a short time)...

Rumors have Nazem Kadri ready to sign a big contract with the NY Islanders... Meanwhile, Jacob Trouba has been named "captain" (the 28th in the history of the team) by the NY Rangers...

well, you had some success at the recent junior worlds... so, there's a chance to improve the current (sad) situation of Bulgarian athletics... Mitkova is basically ready for the senior stage with her jumps in Cali...it won't take long before she can make the global finals... the high jump guy (sorry, I don't remember his name at the moment) is more a long shot, but maybe he also has a chance to develop in a global medal contender in a few years... and you know, it only takes someone to ignite the spark and then the good tradition can always comeback...

no, 9.88 with 5.1 m/s favourable wind can't be "translated" in a sub-10 legally wind assisted time... it's accepted by the scientists community that you need at least a 1 m/s wind to be effective, then a 2 m/s wind gives about 10/100 advantage to men and 12/100 to women... so, a 5 m/s is about 25/100 advantage over the "neutral" performance... we can say Taftian's run would have been slightly over 10 seconds dead with legal 2 m/s wind and between 10.12/10.15 with no wind at all...

I think this is the end of the Olympic legacy... now that the Olympic hype is dead and gone over any media, they're back supporting and funding basically only their traditional sports, where they know they can make the headlines on regular basis and the sponsors are always willing to invest... the obscure, unknown sports that lived on the Olympic enthusiasm and don't represent a good investment for media and sponsors now are back to the tough old days... tbh, I think they've been very good in keeping the attention high on those disciplines for quite a long time after the end of London 2012...most Nations hosting the Olympics are happy to leave "secondary" sports in their respective Countries to their own destiny the day after the end of the Home Games (and some other Nations don't even try to develop the "minor" sports...any reference to Italy is purely intentional )...

Italy 101 people travelling to Munich for us, Marcell Jacobs included (even if it remains to be seen if he's really going to compete)... Men Marcell Jacobs (100m, 4×100m Relay) Chituru Ali (100m, 4×100m Relay) Fausto Desalu (200m, 4×100m Relay) Filippo Tortu (200m, 4×100m Relay) Diego Aldo Pettorossi (200m, 4×100m Relay) Lorenzo Benati (400m, 4×400m Relay) Davide Re (400m, 4×400m Relay) Edoardo Scotti (400m, 4×400m Relay) Simone Barontini (800m) Catalin Tecuceanu (800m) Pietro Arese (1500m) Ossama Meslek (1500m) Yeman Crippa (5km, 10km) Pietro Riva (5km, 10km) Hassane Fofana (110m Hurdles) Lorenzo Simonelli (110m Hurdles) José Reynaldo Bencosme (400m Hurdles) Giacomo Bertoncelli (400m Hurdles) Mario Lambrughi (400m Hurdles) Ahmed Abdelwahed (3000m Steeplechase) Ala Zoghlami (3000m Steeplechase) Osama Zoghlami (3000m Steeplechase) Christian Falocchi (High Jump) Marco Fassinotti (High Jump) Gianmarco Tamberi (High Jump) Max Mandusic (Pole Vault) Filippo Randazzo (Long Jump) Tobia Bocchi (Triple Jump) Andrea Dallavalle (Triple Jump) Emmanuel Ihemeje (Triple Jump) Sebastiano Bianchetti (Shot Put) Leonardo Fabbri (Shot Put) Nick Ponzio (Shot Put) Roberto Orlando (Javelin Throw) Iliass Aouani (Marathon) René Cuneaz (Marathon) Daniele D’Onofrio (Maratona) Stefano La Rosa (Marathon) Daniele Meucci (Marathon) Andrea Cosi (20km Race Walk) Francesco Fortunato (20km Race Walk) Massimo Stano (20km Race Walk) Michele Antonelli (35km Race Walk) Teodorico Caporaso (35km Race Walk) Matteo Giupponi (35km Race Walk) Dario Dester (Decathlon) Matteo Melluzzo (4×100m Relay) Lorenzo Patta (4×100m Relay) Hillary Wanderson Polanco (4×100m Relay) Vladimir Aceti (4×400m Relay) Lapo Bianciardi (4×400m Relay) Brayan Lopez (4×400m Relay) Pietro Pivotto (4×400m Relay) Matteo Raimondi (4×400m Relay) Women Zaynab Dosso (100m, 4×100m Relay) Gloria Hooper (100m, 4×100m Relay) Irene Siragusa (100m, 200m, 4×100m Relay) Vittoria Fontana (200m, 4×100m Relay) Dalia Kaddari (200m, 4×100m Relay) Alice Mangione (400m, 4×400m Relay) Anna Polinari (400m, 4×400m Relay) Virginia Troiani (400m, 4×400m Relay) Elena Bellò (800m) Eloisa Coiro (800m) Ludovica Cavalli (1500m) Federica Del Buono (1500m) Gaia Sabbatini (1500m) Nadia Battocletti (5km) Anna Arnaudo (10km) Luminosa Bogliolo (100m Hurdles) Eloisa Di Lazzaro (100m Hurdles) Nicla Mosetti (100m Hurdles) Ayomide Folorunso (400m Hurdles, 4×400) Linda Olivieri (400m Hurdles) Rebecca Sartori (400m Hurdles) Laura Dalla Montà (3000m Steeplechase) Martina Merlo (3000m Steeplechase) Erika Furlani (High Jump) Elena Vallortigara (High Jump) Roberta Bruni (Pole Vault) Elisa Molinarolo (Pole Vault) Larissa Iapichino (Long Jump) Ottavia Cestonaro (Triple Jump) Dariya Derkach (Triple Jump) Daisy Osakue (Discus Throw) Stefania Strumillo (Discus Throw) Sara Fantini (Hammer Throw) Giovanna Epis (Marathon) Anna Incerti (Marathon) Valentina Trapletti (20km Race Walk) Lidia Barcella (35km Race Walk) Nicole Colombi (35km Race Walk) Federica Curiazzi (35km Race Walk) Sveva Gerevini (Eptathlon) Anna Bongiorni (4×100m Relay) Johanelis Herrera Abreu (4×100m Relay) Alessia Pavese (4×100m Relay) Alessandra Bonora (4×400m Relay) Rebecca Borga (4×400m Relay) Maria Benedicta Chigbolu (4×400m Relay) Raphaela Lukudo (4×400m Relay)

Italy this is our Triathlon roster at the 2022 European Championships... Individual Event Men Michele Sarzilla Gianluca Pozzatti Nicola Azzano Women Verena Steinhauser Bianca Seregni Luisa Iogna-Prat Ilaria Zane Sprint Relay Alessio Crociani (M) Nicolò Strada (M) Carlotta Missaglia (W) Angelica Prestia (W)

Italy this is our complete roster for the cycling disciplines at the 2022 European Championships... Road Race Men Alberto Dainese – Team DSM Filippo Ganna – Ineos Grenadiers Matteo Trentin – UAE Team Emirates Jonathan Milan – Bahrain Victorius Giacomo Nizzolo – Israel Premier Tech Luca Mozzato – B&B Hotel – Ktm Jacopo Guarnieri – Groupama FDJ Filippo Baroncini – Trek Segafredo Women Elisa Balsamo – Trek Segafredo Marta Bastianelli – Fiamme Azzurre – UAE Team Emirates Rachele Barbieri – Fiamme Oro – Liv Maria Giulia Confalonieri – Fiamme Oro – Ceratizit WNT Pro Cycling Barbara Guarischi – Movistar Elena Cecchini – SDS Works – Fiamme Azzurre Ilaria Sanguineti – Valcar – Travel Service Arianna Fidanza – Bike Exchange Jayco Road Time Trial Men Mattia Cattaneo – Quick Step Alpha Vinyl Team Matteo Sobrero – Bike Exchange Jayco Women Arianna Fidanza – Bike Exchange Jayco Alessia Vigilia – Fassa Bortolo Track Men Liam Bertazzo – Team Maloja Pushbikers Matteo Bianchi – Centro Sportivo Esercito Davide Boscaro – Gs Fiamme Azzurre Matteo Donegà – CTF Francesco Lamon – GS Fiamme Azzurre Manlio Moro – Zalf Euromobile Desiree Fior Stefano Moro – GS Fiamme Azzurre Daniele Napolitano – Colpack Ballan Mattia Pinazzi – Arvedi Cycling ASD Davide Plebani – GS Fiamme Oro Michele Scartezzini – Fiamme Azzurre Matteo Tugnolo – BMX Vigevano La Sgommata Elia Viviani – Ineos Grenadiers Women Martina Alzini – Cofidis Women Team Rachele Barbieri – Fiamme Oro Elena Bissolati – Cicli Fiorin ASD Martina Fidanza – GS Fiamme Oro Vittoria Guazzini – GS Fiamme Oro Letizia Paternoster – GS Fiamme Azzurre Miriam Vece – Centro Sportivo Esercito Silvia Zanardi – Bepink Mountain Bike Men Gerhard Kerschbaumer – Specialized Factory Team Juri Zanotti – BMC Daniele Braidot – GS Carabinieri Women Martina Berta – Santa Cruz FSA Greta Seiwald – Santa Cruz FSA Giorgia Marchet – Trinx Factory Team BMX Men Gabriele Pala – Cobra Bmx Freestyle Team Francesco Mongillo – team Lapierre Trentino Alè NO Women

no Marchand, no Peaty, no Scott...a lot of people not in perfect shape after the recent world champs and/or some sickness... technically, it won't be the best championship ever, but at least I hope Italy can play a super-dominant role...

yes, it's the mythological Cheboksary... here are the highlights of the women's pole vault and high jump...

Athletics, men's Discus Throw...this is easy... Al Oerter is unmatched (and unmatchable, I guess). Swimming, women's 800m Freestyle...Janet Evans was a great swimmer, but when you have to be compared with Katie Ledecky, you simply have no chance... Katie Ledecky is my pick, of course. Trampoline...vade retro, Satan! I refuse to consider that a sport, get it back to Circus, where it owns... I pass on these events, obviously. Diving, women's 3m Springboard...another easy choice... Fu Minxia is the best diver of all times, so she's my obvious pick...

2022 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup ( Red Deer, Alberta) Final Standings Gold: Canada Silver: Sweden Bronze: Finland 4th, Czech Republic 5th, USA 6th, Slovakia 7th, Switzerland 8th, Germany

2022 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup ( Red Deer, Alberta) Day #6 Results Bronze Medal Match Finland b. Czech Republic 3-1 (1-1, 1-0, 1-0) Gold Medal Match Canada b. Sweden 4-1 (2-1, 1-0, 1-0) GMM Highlights

all week long, Commonwealth Games (thanks, BBC) and Athletics, Junior Worlds (youtube)... in the weekend, adding the Canoeing World Champs (youtube and Slovakian public TV, RTVS :Sport)... earlier Today, some Cricket (The Hundred 2022...once again, thanks BBC)... right now and at Midnight, early season Hockey, Hlinka-Gretzky Cup (Bronze and Gold medal matches) on the Slovakian TV channel JOJ Sport...