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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2024: Paris ● As the Paris 2024 organizing committee approaches shut-down on 17 June, the surplus from operations will be considerably larger than announced.

FrancsJeux.com reported a projected figure of about €76 million or about $86.86 million U.S., up from the original estimates of €26.8 million. Revenues were a little higher at €4.494 billion and expenses a little lower at €4.418 billion.

Former Paris 2024 chief Tony Estanguet said, “It’s money that goes to sport. It’s a legacy for sport. A very important legacy in a budgetary context that we know is very difficult.”

The French National Olympic Committee (CNOSF) will get 20% of this surplus, with 60% to go to the Paris 2024 legacy fund. The International Olympic Committee receives 20%, which may well end up assisting the French Alps 2030 Winter Games!

● Olympic Winter Games 2026: Milan Cortina ● If you ever wondered exactly what SiMiCo, the Italian government’s infrastructure company to support the 2026 Winter Games (and a lot more), its Commissioner, Fabio Saldini, summed it up in a single comment at the Sport Business Forum on Sunday in Cortina d’Ampezzo:

“We manage 3.4 billion euros of 96 works, 51 infrastructure 45 sports of which 31 are essential for the Olympics.

“46% of the works planned in Veneto, 23 in total, for a total value of 1,596,762,240.33 euros divided between 13 sports (261,433,134.61 euros) and 10 transport (1,335,329,105.72 euros).

“How is all this coordinated? I chose to deal with good people, high-level professionals, to live the territories and also share the contrasts. I chose to build a team, which is present in all the Olympic venues. We face reality for what it is, without excuses and giving the best of ourselves.

“We will be able to complete 100% of the planned sports works and all the essential infrastructure will be built – such as the roundabout of Bormio, Lot 0 of Cortina, Ponte Corona renovation – I realize that carrying out so many works in such a short time is not easy. I was appointed in February 2024; I understand that communities also have problems accepting the temporary inconvenience that is caused , I understand that those who are not satisfied with the administrative procedures appeal to the judiciary which is autonomous and independent and will decide what they want.

“I would just like to say that what we are doing is for the good of the territories, it is shared, and shows that it can be done in compliance with the times, costs and quality and will give rise to a territory different from the one that presented itself upon our arrival. It is not my job to say whether it is better or worse, it will certainly be different.”

Now you know.

● France ● The musical chairs in French sport following the 2024 Olympic Games have concluded for the time being, as former French Minister of Sport and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Amelie Oudea-Castera, 47, will run unopposed to become the President of the French National Olympic Committee (CNOSF) in elections to be held on 19 June.

Her opponent, Didier Seminet, the head of the French Baseball and Softball Federation, withdrew on Saturday.

Paris 2024’s Director of Impact and Legacy, Marie Barsacq, moved from the organizing committee to become the French Sports Minister as of 23 December 2024.

● Athletics ● At the FBK Games in Hengelo (NED) on Monday, the headliner was Dutch star Femke Bol, the 2023 World Champion in the women’s 400 m hurdles, who won in 52.51 and broke her own meet record by more than a second.

But U.S. athletes also starred, with two-time World Champion Chase Jackson extending her world outdoor lead in the women’s shot, winning in 20.62 m (67-8), ahead of European Indoor champ Jessica Schilder (NED/20.16 m/66-1 3/4) and American Maggie Ewen (19.48 m/63-11).

World men’s 110 m hurdles leader Cordell Tinch of the U.S. won his race in 13.10 (wind 0), and Americans Chris Nilsen (men’s vault: 5.82 m/19-1) and Anavia Battle (women’s 200 m: 22.75 [-0.5]) also won.

Slovenia’s 2022 World Champion Kristjian Ceh beat Australia’s Olympic bronze winner Matt Denny in the men’s discus, 69.21 m (227-0) to 67.64 m (221-11) and women’s Tokyo Olympic Steeple champ Peruth Chemutai (UGA) moved to no. 3 in the world this year with a win in 9:07.79. Two-time Olympic silver winner Nicola Olyslagers (AUS) won the women’s high jump at 1.97 m (6-5 1/2).

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USA Track & Field will hold its Cross County National Championships in conjunction with the Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) in Portland, Oregon on 6-7 December.

This allows USATF to select its team for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida, on 10 January 2026, a date which would normally be about when the USATF Cross Country meet is usually held.

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The Collegiate Track & Field/Cross Country Athlete Hall of Fame induction was held on Sunday in Eugene, Oregon, with a 12-member class that combined for an amazing 55 NCAA championships:

● Amy Acuff (UCLA 1994-97: high jump)
● Cathy Branta (Wisconsin 1981-85: distances)
● Bert Cameron (UTEP 1980-83: 400 m)
● Joaquim Cruz (Oregon 1983-84: 800 m)
● Joe Falcon, (Arkansas 1984-89: distances)
● Diane Guthrie (George Mason 1991-95: long jump-heptathlon)
● Larance Jones (Northeast Missouri State 1970-74/now Truman: 400 m)
● Madeline Manning (Tennessee State 1967-72: 800 m)
● Scott Nielson (Washington 1976-79: hammer)
● Suziann Reid (Texas 1996-99: 400 m)
● Gillian Russell (Miami (Fla.) 1992-95: 100 m hurdles)
● Forrest “Spec” Towns (Georgia 1934-37: 110 m hurdles)

This Hall of Fame was established in 2022; this is the fourth class.

● Swimming ● Another Summer McIntosh burner at the 2025 Canadian Trials in Victoria, winning the women’s 800 m Free in a sizzling 8:05.07, a national record, moving her to no. 2 in the world this year and the no. 3 performance of all-time. Only  American Katie Ledecky is faster, with her world-record swims in 2016 and 2025!

In the men’s 100 m Fly final, Ilya Kharun won over Josh Liendo, 50.37 to 50.46, moving to nos. 2-3 on the 2025 world list.

● Water Polo ● The U.S. men defeated Australia, 13-12, in a re-run from the Paris Olympic quarterfinals on Sunday at Mr. San Antonio College, in the first of a three-match exhibition set, on Ryder Dodd’s score with less than a second left.

Australia led, 4-1 and 7-5 after the first two periods, but the Americans scored five goals in the third for a 10-7 lead. Despite two more fourth-period goals from Dodd and older brother Chase Dodd, the Aussies tied it with 19 seconds left. Ryder Dodd’s heroics – and his fifth goal of the match – earned the U.S. the win.

Two more matches with Australia come on 11 June in San Juan Capistrano and 13 June at Orange, California.

● Wrestling ● The National Wrestling Hall of Fame class of 2025 was inducted in ceremonies in Stillwater, Oklahoma on Saturday:

● Darryl Burley: two-time NCAA champion at Lehigh
● Matt Lindland: Sydney 2000 Olympic Greco silver medalist
● Terry Steiner: USA Wrestling Women’s National Coach since 2002
● Greg Wojciechowski: NCAA Champion at Toledo

Special awards were given to 1992 Olympian Mark Coleman (Medal of Courage), Van Stokes, a USA Wrestling Board member since 1989 (Order of Merit), Ken Mara as Meritorious Official, and Vision Quest author Terry Davis (Outstanding American).

The Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award to four-time Ohio state champ Marcus Blaze, and the Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award to four-time Tennessee state champion Piper Fowler.

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