Reading between the lines and mirrors
Crazy Monday: Putin's henchman Kremlev at the IBA, Rodchenkov on Russia's Wanted List, the cowardly irresponsibility of the IOC and one of the most bizarre press conferences of all time.
Crazy Monday: Putin's henchman Kremlev at the IBA, Rodchenkov on Russia's Wanted List, the cowardly irresponsibility of the IOC and one of the most bizarre press conferences of all time.
Russia's will and IOC' gigantic failure: The IOC should have been better prepared, first and foremost to protect the athletes involved and to ensure the integrity of the Olympic competition. That did not happen. The victims are, as always, the athletes.
Why does the IOC have other Olympic bid rules for France than for Sweden? The Swedish NOC president Hans von Uthman notes that the lack of state guarantees were used as an argument to exclude Sweden from the 2030 bidding process but let France and its half-baked French Alps project win.
Will Thomas Bach have the Olympic Charter amended and begin a third term in office? Will he even step down once in this millennium? Who has he chosen as his successor? Many questions, important background information and some answers.
During the memorable IOC session 2023 in Ambani Town, it looked like the 2036 Olympics would be awarded to India by the IOC with a vengeance. In the meantime, things are looking different. Qatar's Emir Tamim is trying everything to outdo the Ambanis. The decision could be made as early as 2025.
The Ukrainians present themselves as proud and self-confident, sad and thoughtful, and ready to give their all in the Olympic arenas. "Each of us thinks about the people who are defending our country," says Olympic champion Olha Kharlan. "It's hard, but that makes us even stronger!"
No Olympic athletes went on strike on the day that the staff at the sinfully expensive IOC hotel L'hôtel du Collectionneur went on strike, but swimming legends once again made it clear that their trust in the so-called fight against doping and the anti-doping system has been lost.
Live blog from the second day of the 142nd IOC Session, including the conditional awarding of the 2030 and 2034 Winter Olympics to the French Alps (no financial guarantees) and Salt Lake City (disturbing anti doping law).
In a blatant shameful session without any democratic intervention, Saudi Arabia was praised as a savior and model country – by a princess and a prince and by IOC members. There were no dissenting voices when the Olympic Esport Games were awarded. Those who remain silent and nod off are also guilty.
Behind the massive IOC propaganda, the Paris Olympic Games are based on France’s extreme submission to the Gods of Olympism. Tax gifts, labour law, princely treatment, everything has been done to convince and seduce Bach and his supporters. A boon for the IOC.
A cult of personality has ruled the IOC since 2013. Now God, some call him Louis Quatorze, is holding court in France. One of the most important questions of these Games in Paris: will IOC's propaganda department produce even more images of God than at the current record in Rio de Janeiro 2016?
Souleiman Waberi, the third vice-president of CAF, suddenly resigned from his position as president of the Djiboutian Football Federation in March after being suspended by the Ministry of Sports. Although, Waberi – supported by IOC member Aïcha Garad Ali – is now heading towards the Paris Olympics.
The IOC president sought to get close to Putin even after the Sochi Doping Games. He fraternised with Xi Jinping. He politicised the 2018 Games in South Korea, driven by the dream of the Nobel Peace Prize. All a miserable failure that dragged the Games deeper into a political quagmire. A commentary.
After refusing to wear jerseys flocked with the slogan Visit Rwanda, the Burundian basketball club Dynamo BBC was eliminated from the Africa League by general forfeit. The case symbolizes the tensions in the Africa of the Great Lakes and the links between world basketball and the Rwandan regime.
In January, WADA removed North Korea from the global list of non-compliant signatories of the World Anti-Doping Code. The decision was based on a single mission inside the dictatorship in four years. Although, according to ITA the situation in North Korea raises "a number of legitimate concerns".
Lars Werge, a former investigative sports journalist and ex-president of the Danish Union of Journalists, is elected as the new president of the Danish Athletic Federation – following several years of poor governance inside the board of the federation.