Youth athletes from Russia and Belarus should be allowed to compete for their countries at international events again, says the International Olympic Committee.

The IOC’s executive board has recommended athletes from the two nations should compete at both individual and team youth events under their country’s flag and national anthem, with the proposal supported at its Olympic summit meeting in Switzerland.

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The next step involves international federations discussing the move with a view to it being in place by the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar.

Russia and Belarus were banned by the IOC following the former’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

“The summit supported the IOC EB’s recommendation that youth athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport should no longer be restricted in their access to international youth competitions, in both individual and team sports,” said an IOC statement issued about the summit meeting.

“The summit participants committed to take these discussions back to their organisations for their consideration. It was recognised that implementation by the stakeholders will take time.

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“In addition, the standard protocols of the international federation (IF) or the international sports event organiser regarding flags, anthems, uniforms and other elements should apply, provided that the national sports organisation concerned is in good standing.

“The above principles should apply to the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, and are recommended for adoption by all IFs and international sports event organisers for their own youth events.”

It added: “With its considerations today, the Olympic Summit recognised that athletes, and in particular youth athletes, should not be held accountable for the actions of their governments – sport is their access to hope, and a way to show that all athletes can respect the same rules and each another.”

The statement added that while Russia should still be barred from hosting international events, “this recommendation no longer applies to Belarus”.

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The move follows nine Russian and Belarusian athletes being granted permission to compete in qualifying events for next year’s Winter Olympics as neutral athletes following the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned a ban.

• Hundreds of youth laxers across Long Island are without a team after the abrupt shutdown of Rebels Lacrosse, one of the region’s largest travel lacrosse organizations.
• The collapse has left families out thousands of dollars and high school juniors scrambling to salvage their college recruitment prospects.

When Craig McElwee’s 15-year-old son Brady worked a 10-hour shift at a Rebels Lacrosse tournament at Stony Brook last year, the teenager earned $150.

When he tried to cash his pay check, it bounced, his dad said.

“A league that collected one and a half million dollars in freaking dues… bounced a $150 check,” said McElwee, a Bethpage attorney whose son plays on the Raiders ’27 team, a squad of high school juniors that was affiliated with Rebels Lacrosse until the organization’s shutdown last week.

That bad check, McElwee said he now realizes, was an early warning sign of what would become a devastating collapse affecting hundreds of Long Island youth lacrosse players and their families.

On Thursday, the owners of Rebels Lacrosse LLC and its parent company Blatant LLC, Mike Brennan and Joe Potenza, announced that the company after 15 years in the travel lacrosse business had filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations, leaving dozens of boys and girls teams — ranging from elementary school through high school — without an organization, and families out of thousands of dollars in paid fees.

The outfit additionally has training programs for kids as young as 3 years old.

“You stole some kid’s dream,” McElwee said, expressing his frustration with Brennan and the organization’s collapse.

Brennan, in a statement to Greater Long Island, said the shutdown was not planned and happened quickly — right after several teams dropped out of the organization.

“We never had any intention of shutting down our business after 15 years, as we were currently in the middle of our 8th season with Rebels Lacrosse,” Brennan wrote. “Once we had a few teams get poached, and all file disputes, we realized we could no longer operate and immediately made the decision to close and consult a bankruptcy attorney.”

He added: “We have received an outpouring of support from former athletes, parents, and those who truly know us best, for the last 15 years of our work.”

The business of youth sports

Travel youth sports has evolved into a multi-billion-dollar industry nationwide, with club lacrosse representing one of its most expensive sectors.

On Long Island, where lacrosse is deeply embedded in suburban culture, families routinely invest $3,000 to $6,000 per child annually for the privilege of playing on elite travel teams — and to increase their chances of earning scholarship money to play in college.

The investment extends far beyond tuition. Families pay for specialized equipment, tournament travel, and — for high school-aged players — premium recruiting services designed to attract college coaches.

For many families, particularly those in middle- and lower-income brackets, these expenses represent significant financial sacrifice, justified by the promise of college scholarships and opportunities their children might not otherwise access.

“The unfortunate truth is nowadays, if you don’t play club, you don’t play school ball because everybody is so far ahead of you,” McElwee said.

The stakes are particularly high for high school juniors, who face their most critical recruitment window. This is when college coaches attend tournaments and exposure events — often paid by travel organizations to do so — to evaluate prospects, when highlight videos are assembled, and when recruiting relationships are cultivated.

Losing a season — or even part of one — while in 11th grade can effectively end college athletic aspirations, parents said.

For the Raiders ’27 team, composed entirely of juniors from communities across Nassau and Suffolk counties, the Rebels collapse came at the worst possible moment.

But the team over the weekend received a lifeline of sorts from Team 91 lacrosse. The parents voted to stay together as a team, keep the same coaches and play under the Team 91 banner, albeit with renewed costs for things they had already paid for with Rebels, parents said.

But families tolerated the dysfunction, clinging to the relationships their children had built with teammates and coaches, hoping the organization would stabilize — or in the Raiders ’27 case — at least make it through next summer’s key recruitment period.

Kim Libertini, whose son Matthew, a junior at Locust Valley High School, plays defense for the Raiders ’27 team, paid for a Rebels helmet and equipment package when he joined the team as an eighth grader in 2022.

The helmet took a year and a half to arrive, she said. The gloves, bag, and sweats never came, she added.

“That tells you something was wrong,” said Libertini, an assistant superintendent with Cold Spring Harbor Central School District. “So, Matthew ended up playing with his Locust Valley helmet.”

Parents said that this past March — eight months before the shutdown — Brennan began pressing families for early payment for the following season, despite families having already paid in full for the current year.

“He reaches out in March saying, ‘We’re just trying to gather up and solidify next year.’ And I said, ‘You’re looking for payment in March?’” Libertini said. “At that point, I had already paid in full for the whole year.”

Parents said they later learned from people familiar with the situation that unpaid officiating fees were the cause.

When Rebels attempted to place teams in a tournament operated by Team 91, a competing lacrosse organization, the teams weren’t added to the tournament registration app, said John Peragine, a Patchogue restaurateur whose son played on a seventh-grade Rebels team.

When some of the moms with Peragine’s son’s team called to complain, Peragine said, a Team 91 staff member delivered a blunt message: “Instead of you calling me and yelling at me, why don’t you call your directors and tell them to pay the bill?”

“That was the first time somebody actually spoke about what we’re all feeling,” Peragine said.

Not all families waited for the collapse to act.

Click Page 2 to keep reading.

GENEVA (AP) — The IOC took a big step toward reintegrating Russia and Belarus into world sports Thursday by advising governing bodies to let the countries’ teams and athletes compete in international youth events with their full identity of national flag and anthem.

Athletes have “a fundamental right to access sport across the world, and to compete free from political interference or pressure from governmental organizations,” the International Olympic Committee said in a statement.

That message in support of athletes will be welcomed in Russia and Israel, whose athletes have faced recent discrimination, and comes less than three years out from the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games that risks facing political crosswinds in the United States.

The updated Olympic strategy gave Russia significant progress in sports politics at a time when Moscow appears to be making no political or military concessions to Ukraine.

The IOC move is separate to the upcoming Milan Cortina Winter Games where a small group of Russian and Belarusian athletes will compete as neutral individuals who pass vetting for not having publicly supported the war.

Summit decision

The decision came at an Olympic Summit — an annual meeting chaired by IOC president Kirsty Coventry that invites key stakeholders from the Olympic family.

“It was recognized that implementation by the stakeholders will take time,” the IOC said in a statement, adding that each sport’s governing body should decide how to define youth events.

Some sports bodies likely will face resistance from their national member federations, especially in Europe, to the updated IOC advice which repeats that Russia should still not be picked to host international events.

The IOC’s latest move to ease the sporting isolation of Russia can apply to its own Youth Olympic Games which are held next year in Dakar, Senegal, from Oct. 31 to Nov. 13. The Russian Olympic body is still formally suspended by the IOC and currently could not compete with its national identity.

“The above principles should apply to the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, and are recommended for adoption by all governing bodies and international sports event organizers for their own youth events,” the IOC said.

Banned from soccer, track and field

Russian teams have been fully excluded from international soccer, track and field and other sports since the full military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, while Russian and Belarusian athletes in winter sports are now starting to return with neutral status ahead of the Milan Cortina Olympics in February.

A small group of Russian and Belarusian athletes competed as neutrals without their national identity at the Paris Summer Games last year, where those countries were banned from team sports.

A previous attempt to enable Russia’s potential return to youth sports was met with strong pushback by European soccer federations including Ukraine in September 2023.

European soccer body UEFA moved to reintegrate Russian Under-17 teams into its competitions but dropped its policy within weeks amid boycott threats by at least 12 of the 55 member federations.

Though Russian soccer teams have been banned from World Cups and club competitions like the Champions League for four seasons, their national soccer body is not suspended by FIFA or UEFA and its officials have been eligible to stand for elections.

The IOC reminded Thursday that a block should remain on inviting or accrediting government officials from Russia and Belarus to international sports events or meetings.

“With its considerations today,” the IOC said, “the Olympic Summit recognized that athletes, and in particular youth athletes, should not be held accountable for the actions of their governments.”

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AP Winter Olympics at https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The highly anticipated Scheels Sports Park is giving the public another chance to experience its state-of-the-art facilities this weekend with a special soft opening event inside its newly completed dome.

Brandon Doherty, General Manager of Scheels Sports Park, says the event will feature the Midwest Archery competition along with more than 80 local vendors. “We thought it would be a great idea to do something that would draw the community in,” Doherty explained. “This is a free event for everybody, so if you’ve been wanting a sneak peek of the dome, this is the weekend.”

The dome now boasts two turf fields, a sport court area, banners, and a food court, creating what Doherty calls “the complete picture” of the indoor space. While minor construction details remain, visitors will see a polished facility ready to impress.

The excitement surrounding Scheels Sports Park has been building for months.

Doherty revealed that the complex is already booked solid for events through fiscal years 2026 and 2027, with more than 100 events annually. “From April through August, we’ll often have two or three different youth or adult activities happening at once,” he said.
Springfield’s new sports hub isn’t just about athletics.

Doherty says the venue is designed for versatility, hosting everything from car shows to banquets, all aimed at boosting the local economy. “We’re not limiting ourselves to sports,” he noted. “This development was built with diversification in mind.”

As for safety during the archery event, Doherty reassures visitors that the dome’s durable design can handle anything from heavy snow to stray arrows. “These domes today are built to withstand these types of things,” he said with a laugh.

The free event runs this weekend at Scheels Sports Park, offering residents a chance to explore a facility that’s already putting Springfield on the map for major youth sports and community events.

Friday 12/12, 10 — 6.
Saturday 12/13, 9 — 6.
Sunday 12/14, 9 — 2.

These community programs and events are available in addition to daily skiing and other activities available to all visitors:

Youth Skiing Programs are offered for two different age groups to provide area youth with safe opportunities to discover cross-country skiing as a healthy and fun recreational alternative.

¯ Wee Ski — for youth ages 3 to 6 (with an adult), this 11-week program provides a playful setting for youth to take their first strides on cross-country skis. From 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays from Dec. 13 through Feb. 21. Single-day options are also available.

¯ Pathfinders — for youth ages 7 to 12, this 12-week program offers dynamic opportunities for more independent skiers to develop skills and discover more. From 10 a.m. to noon on Dec. 13 through Feb. 28.

¯ Through a collaboration with the New York Ski Educational Foundation and other partner organizations, MVH also offers additional skiing opportunities.

Snowboomers is a weekly guided ski session that provides camaraderie, coaching and fun for active adults aged 50 and older. From 1 to 3 p.m. each Thursday from Dec. 11 through March 12. Free for season pass holders, while the $28 non-passholder drop-in fee includes a trail pass as well as equipment rental if needed.

ADK Tour De Ski is a citizen race series offering both youth and adults a chance to explore six different cross-country ski venues across the North Country with events of multiple distances throughout the winter months. The series begins on Sunday, Dec. 14.

Full Moon Parties are guided group ski adventures for all ages that explore the MVH trails at night while allowing everyone to ski their preferred distance at their own pace. Includes bonfires and an apres ski party with live music inside the Mountain Pass Lodge. Tickets are $6 per person with parties on Saturday, Jan. 3, Jan. 31, Feb. 28 and March 28.

Lake Placid Loppet is a long-standing traditional celebration of Nordic skiing that provides events for all ages and abilities. The event’s signature 50K and 25K races are on challenging courses, while a Citizen’s Series provides three shorter distance events (2, 7.5 and 13K) on relatively flat terrain for those newer to the sport or looking for a simpler experience. All races can be skied using either the classic or skate technique. Start times vary from 9 a.m. to noon on Jan. 25.

In addition to youth-skiing classes, MVH will offer cross-country ski lessons for all ages and abilities through Discover Cross-Country Skiing, as well as a biathlon experience combining Nordic skiing with marksmanship. For visitors interested in the venue’s Olympic heritage, guided Legacy Tours are also available and the Mountain Pass Lodge features an indoor climbing center for year-round adventure.

Cross-country skiing at MVH officially opened for season pass-holders Nov. 15 and for the general public on Nov. 28. Season passes for the 2025-26 winter are available now and can be purchased online through the MVH website or in person at the Mountain Pass Lodge. Daily conditions reports for the Nordic ski trails at MVH are available on the venue’s website.

Spectate and Recreate

In addition to community skiing and lessons, MVH will host several elite international events this winter.

The venue will welcome the International Biathlon Union Cup from Feb. 26 to March 1 and March 4 to 7, featuring sprint, pursuit, individual and mixed relay races at the recently upgraded biathlon stadium. From March 19 to 22, the Lake Placid Finals, the Coop FIS Cross-Country World Cup, will bring the world’s fastest Nordic skiers to the venue for the season’s culminating cross-country ski event — the first time the U.S. will host the World Cup Finals since 2001. These marquee competitions complement MVH’s full winter calendar of youth programs, recreational skiing, lessons and guided tours, with full event schedules and ticket information available on the venue’s events page.

NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Macalester College men’s basketball team held a narrow second-half lead but could not hold off Carleton College in an 86-78 defeat Wednesday evening at West Gym. The Scots are now 5-6 overall and 0-3 in the conference, while the Knights improve to 5-2, 3-0 MIAC. First year guard Jamal Randle (St. Paul, Minn./Great River School) came off the bench to provide a team-best 21 points in 19 minutes.

Carleton took control early by scoring the first 13 points over the first 3:50 before senior forward Noah Shannon (Northfield, Ill./New Trier) scored for Macalester. After a three from Sam Koelling pushed the lead to 16-2, a pair of three-pointers by Randle and baskets from Shannon and senior forward Ryan Brush (Bellevue, Wash./Bellevue) brought the Scots to within four, 16-12.

Another three from Randle followed two Knights’ free throws to make it a three-point game, 18-15 with 11:25 left in the half. Carleton increased its lead to as many as nine and led, 35-27 when a three from first year guard Noah Hamburge (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnehaha Academy) sparked a 15-4 run to close the half and give the Scots a 42-39 halftime lead. Randle, who hit three more threes in the run, finished the half with 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting from three-point range.

As they did at the beginning of the game, the Knights started the second half on fire with eight straight points to regain the lead, 47-42 three minutes into the half. Junior guard Kyle Jilla (Dallas, Texas/Plano West) tallied Macalester’s first points of the half, then answered a Carleton three with one of his own to make the score 50-47 Knights. Randle made a free throw to bring the Scots to within two, only to have Carleton stretch the lead to 51-57 with 12:43 remaining. Brush drained a pair of threes sandwiched around a Tobias Averill three to cut the deficit to three, 60-57. After George Norsman scored for the Knights, sophomore guard Joaquin Aguillon (San Rafael, Calif./The Branson School) hit another three for the Scots to make it a two-point game, 62-60 midway through the half.

Following two Carleton free throws, first year guard Lucas Myer (San Diego, Calif./The Bishop’s School) made a three and stole the ball that led to a layup by Shannon for a 65-64 advantage with nine minutes to play. Later in the half, a basket by Myer put the Scots up 68-66 at the 7:26 mark. The Knights regained the lead by scoring the next seven points, then first year guard Owen Walther (St. Louis, Mo./John Burroughs School) hit a three-pointer to make it a two-point game, 73-71 with 4:07 left. From that point, a 10-2 Carleton run gave the Knights an 83-73 edge, and Macalester never came closer than seven points the rest of the way.

Carleton outscored the Scots 44-22 in the paint and had a 38-28 rebounding advantage. Randle finished with a career-high 21 points on 6-of-9 shooting from deep to go with four steals in 19 minutes off the bench to help the Macalester bench take a 43-7 advantage in bench points. Shannon finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals, while Walther had nine points in 20 minutes off the bench. Jilla matched Shannon with seven rebounds and added six points. Koelling tallied 21 points and 10 boards to pace Carleton.

Macalester returns to action after the new year, with a non-conference game at home against UW-Superior. The game starts at 4:00 p.m. in the Leonard Center.

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