Olympic

The Russian Gymnastics Federation has recently announced that its gymnasts will not participate in the upcoming competitions under the name of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG). In a statement, the federation said, "All Russian athletes who have obtained neutral status... have decided not to take part in the upcoming competitions held under the auspices of the FIG." The statement mentioned that numerous baseless and biased rejections have been made to other athletes' applications for neutral status, adding that the federation "supports the stance of the athletes."

The president of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), Morinari Watanabe, who ran for the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) earlier this year but lost to Kirsty Coventry from Zimbabwe, visited Ukraine and Russia in March, apparently to ease tensions. In last year's Paris Summer Olympics, only 15 Russian athletes participated, and all had to follow strict neutrality guidelines, being required to prove that they had no connection with the Russian military or security services. A similar arrangement seems likely for the Milan - Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics

Led by Germany’s Left Party, opposition to Hamburg’s bid for a future Summer Olympics grew louder at city hall last week. Activist Paul Aloisi and sports scientist Benjamin Bendrich outlined potential downsides of hosting such a major event.

Italian prosecutors are investigating alleged corruption in construction tenders linked to the country’s upcoming Winter Olympics. The Olympic Village is a key focus, with raids, arrests, and cash seizures sparking public concern—less than seven months before the Games open.

The UK government announced on Saturday its support for London’s bid to host the 2029 Athletics World Championships, leveraging its rich experience in hosting top-tier sports events to bring the elite competition back to the iconic Olympic Stadium.

The last time the UK hosted the Olympics, it was an EU member. But after Brexit in January 2020, plus frequent government changes—from Boris Johnson and Liz Truss to Rishi Sunak and now Keir Starmer—and the 2020 pandemic, its economy has struggled, with an uncertain outlook. Hosting top events like athletics and para-athletics championships is seen as a way to rebound.

At its semi-annual meeting last month, the Board of the International Testing Agency (ITA) welcomed Ms. Dagmawit Girmay Berhane and reviewed progress on its 2023-2026 strategic plan. As of June, 91% of 152 projects had either been completed or were underway.

Ten promising athletes, a global stage, and six seats up for grabs. As World Athletics prepares for elections during the upcoming World Championships in Japan, the future of athlete representation lies once again in the hands of those who live it daily—the athletes themselves.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) released its annual report on Monday, showing an escalation in its work. The body handled 100 international-level cases in 2024, with a key focus on the Olympic Games—97% of finalists underwent pre-competition testing.

Olaf Tabor, Head of Elite Sports at the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), stated, “We want clean, safe sports that benefit our people while fostering top-level athletic performance.” For Tabor, the challenge lies in aligning sports and social goals without neglecting international aspirations: “We’re talking about sports that succeed globally—benefiting both organized sports activities and society.”

Baseball is poised to return to the Summer Olympics, and organizers hope MLB active players as its “golden calling card” will boost the sport at the U.S.-hosted event, while MLB seeks to expand global influence.

Additional details emerged Monday on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics’ sport and venue schedule. The first events will start July 12—days before the opening ceremony—with team sports like cricket (Pomona Fairplex), handball (Long Beach Arena), and field hockey (Dignity Health Sports Park) kicking off at 9 a.m. local time. More early soccer prelims may be added later.

With exactly three years to go until its July 14, 2028 opening, the LA Organizing Committee released its first day-by-day event schedule on Monday (July 14). While adjustments may follow, the core framework is now set, covering 50 sports or disciplines.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that 7 research projects have been selected for the 11th “Advanced Olympic Research Grant Program” managed by the Olympic Studies Centre. These projects were chosen for their academic quality and relevance to the IOC’s defined priority areas for Olympic Movement research.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced the selection of seven research projects for the 11th edition of the Advanced Olympic Research Grant Programme, which is managed by the IOC’s Olympic Studies Centre (OSC). The chosen projects were selected for their academic quality and relevance to the IOC’s defined priority research areas for the Olympic Movement.

On Saturday, July 12, the US Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame honored seven-time Olympian Anita DeFrantz, 72, marking her induction as one of the longest-serving IOC members and the first African-American woman to break racial and gender barriers in global sports governance. The ceremony in Colorado Springs, attended by IOC President Kirsty Coventry, celebrated DeFrantz’s dual legacy as a bronze medalist rower and a transformative leader who redefined Olympic inclusivity.