Competition

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.

With just over 200 days until the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, Italy’s Consulate General in Toronto hosted a closing promotional event on Friday. Representatives from multiple institutions, athletes, and Paralympians gathered to share insights, memories, and expectations for the Games, hosted by Italian Consul General in Toronto Luca Zelioli.

Over the past year, USA Swimming has achieved milestones: hosting groundbreaking Olympic trials at an NFL stadium and winning 28 medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Yet, it has also seen leadership changes—with its long-serving CEO, a potential new CEO, and COO all stepping down.

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.”

The medals for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics and Paralympics have been officially revealed. According to the IOC, the new design—unveiled in Venice—features two symbolic halves, honoring the shared journey of athletes and their supporters. Though drawing mixed reactions, it centers on simplicity and embodies environmental ideals.

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 Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) has announced Daegu, South Korea, and Cairo, Egypt, as hosts for its 2027 global championships. Daegu will stage the Rifle/Pistol World Championships, marking the event’s return to South Korea for the first time since Changwon hosted in 2018.

FINA’s integrity unit revealed this week that Chinese and Russian athletes at the Singapore World Swimming Championships are undergoing at least twice as many anti-doping tests as competitors from other nations. Data shows Chinese swimmers average 8.80 tests per athlete, with Russians at 8.20—far exceeding the U.S. (4.13), Australia (4.00), and Britain (2.20).

With exactly three years to go until its July 14, 2028 opening, the Los Angeles 2028 Organizing Committee released its first sport-by-sport, date-specific competition schedule on Monday, July 14. For fans and travelers, this marks the perfect time to start planning for the Games.

With just over a year until the Mediterranean Games, Maja Peković, Safeguarding Officer of the International Committee for the Mediterranean Games (CIJM), is leading an ambitious initiative to protect all participants in one of the region’s largest sports events. The plan aims to set new standards for safety and respect across venues and operations.

The International Fencing Federation (FIE) confirmed this week that Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) will be permitted to compete in all its official events, a decision in line with the Olympic Charter and the federation’s own statutes. The move underscores FIE’s commitment to upholding peace, fairness, and unity in sports.

The International Council of Arbitration for Sport (ICAS) released its 2024 financial statements, clarifying a frequently asked question: How much of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) funding comes from the IOC? Total operating revenue reached 24.15 million Swiss francs (CHF) (1 CHF = 1.26 USD), with a clear breakdown of sources.

Sports emerged as a key focus at the 4th International Development Finance Conference, where International Olympic Committee (IOC) Member HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein emphasized that sports are far more than a form of entertainment—they act as a powerful tool for economic and social transformation.