Most Recent
Paris inaugurates giant water storage basin to clean up the River Seine for Olympic swimming
Sylvie Corbet, Associated Press | Updated May 2 - 7:11 p.m. | Save Story
French officials have inaugurated a huge storage basin meant to keep cleaner the River Seine, which is to be the venue for marathon swimming at the Paris Games and the swimming leg of the Olympic and Paralympic triathlons. Sports minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra praised Paris' ability "to provide athletes from all over the world with an exceptional setting on the Seine for their events." The giant hole can hold the equivalent of 20 Olympic swimming pools of dirty water that will now be treated rather than being spat raw through storm drains into the river.
Refugee Team for Paris Olympics has 36 athletes from 11 countries across 12 sports
The Associated Press | Updated May 2 - 8:57 a.m. | Save Story
The Refugee Team for the Paris Olympics will feature 36 athletes from 11 countries in 12 sports. International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach says the team was selected from more than 70 scholarships. Instead of competing under the Olympic flag, the refugees will have their own emblem featuring a heart at its center surrounded by arrows. The team acronym will be EOR from the French name Équipe Olympique des Réfugiés. The team chef de mission Masomah Ali Zada of Afghanistan says, "Having our own emblem creates a sense of belonging." The team will compete in athletics, badminton, boxing, breaking, canoeing, cycling, judo, shooting, swimming, taekwando, weightlifting and wrestling. The Games start on July 24.
Britain's women's gymnastics coach steps down ahead of European event and Paris Olympics
The Associated Press | Posted May 1 - 10:26 a.m. | Save Story
The head coach of Britain's women's gymnastics has stepped down on the eve of the European championships and less than 100 days before the Paris Olympics. David Kenwright has left his role after seven years with British Gymnastics the organization said Wednesday. He had overseen the most successful period for the women's team, which included Britain winning its first Olympic team medal in 93 years at the Tokyo Games in 2021. The European championships start Thursday in Rimini, Italy.
Olympic refugee athlete Lohalith suspended in the team's 3rd doping case ahead of Paris Games
Graham Dunbar, Associated Press | Posted April 30 - 4:48 p.m. | Save Story
A third runner on the Refugee Olympic Team has been suspended for a positive doping test. The doping case of Anjelina Nadai Lohalith was announced two days before the IOC confirms its selection of refugee athletes for the Paris Olympics that open in July. Track and field's Athletics Integrity Unit says Lohalith was notified of her alleged use of the banned heart medication trimetazidine and provisionally banned. It gave no timetable for a disciplinary case. Lohalith fled war in South Sudan as a child to a refugee camp in Kenya. She has been preparing for her third straight Summer Games.
WADA defends pick of Swiss prosecutor under scrutiny in review of Chinese swimmers case
Graham Dunbar, Associated Press | Posted April 30 - 12:06 p.m. | Save Story
The World Anti-Doping Agency has defended its choice of veteran Swiss prosecutor Eric Cottier to review how it handled the case of positive doping tests by 23 Chinese swimmers. WADA says Cottier is "entirely independent" of the agency and international sports. Scrutiny of Cottier is increasing including over his friendship with a longtime colleague who worked with the agency and his enquiries into German broadcaster ARD's previous investigation of a separate Olympic sport. Cottier has until weeks before the Paris Olympics open in July to report on WADA's acceptance in 2021 of China's explanation swimmers were contaminated by a heart medication found in a hotel kitchen.
Pro-Palestinian protesters call on Olympic officials to limit Israel's participation in Paris Games
Alex Turnbull, Associated Press | Posted April 30 - 10:03 a.m. | Save Story
Pro-Palestinian protesters have called on Olympic officials to limit Israel's participation at the Summer Games in the French capital. About 300 people rallied Tuesday at the headquarters of the Paris Olympics' organizing committee, waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans against Israel's "institutional participation" in the Games because of the war in Gaza. The protesters said that Israeli athletes should compete in Paris under a neutral flag, similar to the rules the IOC applied to Russian athletes because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron said Israeli athletes will compete in Paris under their country's flag.
Chinese doping on their mind, US athletes send letter to America's drug czar asking for answers
Eddie Pells, Associated Press | Posted April 29 - 1:17 p.m. | Save Story
Two American athlete groups sent a letter to the top U.S. government anti-doping official calling for a "truly independent" investigation of the case that led to 23 Chinese swimmers not being sanctioned despite testing positive for a banned heart medication. The USA Swimming Athletes' Advisory Council and the Team USA Athletes' Commission sent the letter Monday to Rahul Gupta, the director of the government's Office of National Drug Control Policy. Gupta is on the World Anti-Doping Agency's executive committee and is expected to take part in a special meeting Tuesday with other government officials in the Americas to discuss the doping case.
Horses show off in Versailles, keeping alive royal tradition at soon-to-be Olympic equestrian venue
Sylvie Corbet, Associated Press | Updated April 29 - 8:19 a.m. | Save Story
The historic Versailles Palace Gardens will soon host the Paris Olympics equestrian sports. Meanwhile, the select riders in the National Equestrian Academy who handle the palace's famed royal stables are continuing to care for their beloved horses. The elite academy, founded by French horse trainer and impresario Bartabas, who decided to revive the splendid building in 2003, has only 12 riders. After years of hard work, they take part in a prestigious show at the Great Stables of Versailles every weekend to the delight of spectators. Though not participating in the Games, they look forward to seeing Olympic riders galloping in the Versailles gardens.
British gymnast Ondine Achampong suffers ACL tear ahead of Paris Olympics
The Associated Press | Posted April 29 - 3:23 a.m. | Save Story
Top British gymnast Ondine Achampong says she feels "devastated" after suffering an ACL tear that should rule her out of competing at the Paris Olympics. The 20-year-old Achampong, who was part of the British women's team that took silver at the world championships in 2022, posted on message on social media Monday saying she sustained the injury during a competition ahead of the European championships. Recovery from a torn ACL can take up to a year. Artistic gymnastics at the Paris Olympics start on July 27. Achampong recently won four gold medals at the British championships.
Will the Winter Olympics be rotated between Salt Lake City and other permanent locations?
Lisa Riley Roche, Deseret News | Posted April 28 - 4:05 p.m. | Save Story
Utah's bid to host the 2034 Winter Games is seen as a "role model" for other bidders by Olympic officials, but a decision on permanent locations may be a decade — or more — away.
2012 Olympic champion Gabby Douglas competes for the first time in 8 years at the American Classic
The Associated Press | Updated April 27 - 7:54 p.m. | Save Story
Gabby Douglas is officially back. The 2012 Olympic gymnastics champion posted an all-around total of 50.65 at the American Classic, her first competition since the 2016 Olympics. The 28-year-old Douglas showed some rust, particularly on floor exercise and uneven bars, but also was solid on vault and balance beam. Douglas is aiming for a shot at making the five-woman team that will represent the U.S. at the Paris Olympics this summer. Jade Carey, who won gold on floor exercise at the 2020 Tokyo Games, captured the all-around title. Reigning Olympic champion Sunisa Lee dazzled on uneven bars as she eyes an Olympic return.
Paris organizers take delivery of Olympic flame at Greek venue of first modern Games
The Associated Press | Updated April 26 - 11:59 a.m. | Save Story
The flame that will burn at the Paris Olympics has been formally handed over to French organizers. The ceremony on Friday was held in the all-marble stadium where the first modern Games were held in Athens in 1896. The flame will depart for the southern French port city of Marseille on Saturday on a 19th century French sailing ship, to make landfall 12 days later after a journey across the Mediterranean Sea. The flame was kindled on April 16 at Olympia in southern Greece, where the ancient games were held for more than 1,000 years. The Paris Games open on July 26.
Georgia tabs Cecile Landi, Simone Biles' longtime coach, as co-head coach of women's gymnastics team
The Associated Press | Posted April 25 - 7:43 p.m. | Save Story
Georgia has hired Cecile Landi, the longtime personal coach of Olympic gymnastics champion Simone Biles, to help lead the GymDogs. Landi will serve as a co-head coach alongside Ryan Roberts, who spent the last two years as an assistant under Courtney Kupets Carter. Kupets Carter was fired last week after seven seasons with the program. Landi, who competed for France at the 1996 Olympics, has served alongside her husband Laurent as the leader of the elite program at World Champions Centre, the Houston-area gym owned by the Biles family. They began coaching Biles in 2017, helping her win three world all-around titles and two medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Anti-doping watchdog asks Swiss prosecutor to review its handling of Chinese Olympic swimming case
Graham Dunbar, Associated Press | Updated April 25 - 1:33 p.m. | Save Story
The World Anti-Doping Agency has been heavily criticized this week for its secretive oversight of positive tests by 23 Chinese swimmers before the Tokyo Olympics. Now the agency has appointed a veteran Swiss prosecutor to review how it handled the case in 2021. Prosecutor Eric Cottier was attorney general for 17 years until December 2022 of Vaud. That's the home canton (state) of the International Olympic Committee and swimming's governing body World Aquatics. WADA says Cottier will have total access to its files. He should report to WADA within two months. The Paris Olympics open July 26.
Massive policing for Paris Olympics to include security checks for some of the capital's residents
John Leicester, Associated Press | Posted April 25 - 1:30 p.m. | Save Story
Special anti-terrorism measures being put in place to safeguard the unprecedented opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics on the River Seine will also apply to all buildings along the route. The Paris police chief said Thursday that will mean people who work and live along the route and their guests will be subjected to background security checks. The wildly ambitious July 26 ceremony is proving to be a huge security challenge. Athletes will be paraded through the heart of the French capital on 94 boats along a 6-kilometer stretch of the Seine. All of the parade route will be inside a high-security zone that the police chief described as an "anti-terrorism perimeter."
Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi is 'tickled pink' to inspire a Barbie doll
Terry Tang, Associated Press | Updated April 23 - 10:22 p.m. | Save Story
Like many little girls, a young Kristi Yamaguchi loved playing with Barbie. So, it's surreal for the decorated Olympian figure skater to now be a Barbie girl herself. Mattel announced Wednesday that there will be a Yamaguchi doll as part of Barbie's "Inspiring Women Series." Yamaguchi was the first Asian American to win an individual figure skating gold medal at the Olympics. She says that having a Barbie is an honor and she hopes it can inspire Asian American kids. The doll's release is timed for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, in May. Mattel replicated the then 20-year-old Yamaguchi's outfit and look at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France.
Paris main airport unveils new baggage handling system ahead of the 2024 Olympics
The Associated Press | Posted April 23 - 1:27 p.m. | Save Story
Officials at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport have unveiled a new security baggage system and a dedicated baggage handling area ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The new equipment includes a revamped scanner system to allow a more detailed scan of passengers' baggage, so that travelers won't have to remove items such as electronic devices, aerosols or liquids from their bags. As the first gateway to the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics, Charles de Gaulle Airport expects to process over 114,000 baggage from delegations and the media and it's expected to receive an estimated 47,000 pieces of sports equipment.
Paris mayor is confident that water quality will allow Olympic swimming in the River Seine
Sylvie Corbet, Associated Press | Posted April 23 - 10:08 a.m. | Save Story
Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo said she is confident water quality will be up to the Olympics standards this summer. She said she'll be be swimming there, possibly alongside President Emmanuel Macron. The Seine River is the venue for marathon swimming at the Games and the swimming leg of the Olympic and Paralympic triathlon. An environmental group recently denounced the river's poor water quality. Hidalgo mentioned new facilities that have been specially built to clean up the Seine. She said she invited top officials, including Macron, to swim in the Seine at an event dubbed "the big dive" to be staged at the end of June or beginning of July.
