Page 35 - Olympics

Paris mayor quitting Musk's 'global sewer' platform X ahead of Olympics

The mayor of future Olympic host city Paris says she is quitting X, accusing Elon Musk 's platform previously known as Twitter of spreading disinformation and hatred and of becoming a gigantic global sewer that is toxic for democracy and constructive debate. With its thousands of anonymous accounts and its troll farms, life on Twitter is the exact opposite of democratic life, Mayor Anne Hidalgo said in a long post titled, Why I am leaving Twitter. I refuse to endorse this evil scheme, she wrote. An Associated Press request for comment emailed to X got an automated reply, Busy now, please check back later. Hidalgo's office said posts on Monday in French and English that announced her departure from X would be the Socialist mayor's last and that she will then close her account which has 1.5 million followers at the end of the week. Her office said that Paris City Hall is keeping its own separate account on X. Hidalgo's withdrawal from X follows a fractious period for the mayor. S

French military to send 15,000 soldiers to security ops for Paris Olympics

France's military is planning to contribute 15,000 soldiers to the massive security operation for next year's Paris Olympics, an army general involved in the preparations said Thursday. The bulk of the military force nearly 10,000 troops will be deployed in the Paris region, where most Olympic events will be concentrated, said Gen Christophe Abad, the military governor of Paris who serves as military adviser to the French capital's police chief. Military forces will also be employed for the games as far as 15,000 km (nearly 10,000 miles) away in Tahiti, where navy vessels will safeguard the venue there for Olympic surfing. In Paris, a temporary military camp for 5,000 troops will be set up in a park in the southeast of the capital, putting the force close to the city's Olympic sites, Abad said. The security operation for the July 26 to Aug 11 Olympics, and Paralympic Games that follow, is unprecedented in scale for France. Tens of thousands of police officers and private security

India absent from voting on resolution to build better world through sports

India did not participate in voting on a UN General Assembly resolution on building a peaceful and better world through sport and recognising the role of sports in preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism as well as promoting human rights. The 193-member UN General Assembly adopted the draft resolution Building a Peaceful and Better World through Sport and the Olympic Ideal' tabled by France on Tuesday. The resolution has been traditionally adopted by consensus but this year, Russia called for a recorded vote on the text for it to be adopted. Of the 193 UN member states, 120 voted in the UNGA on the resolution, which received 118 votes in favour and none against, with Russia and Syria abstaining. India was among the 73 nations that were absent from voting on the resolution. The resolution recognised the contribution of sports in creating an atmosphere of tolerance and understanding among peoples and nations, its role to prevent and counter terrorism and violent ..

No gold medal bouts at next year's Paris Olympics qualifiers for wrestling

The next year's Continental qualifiers offering spots for the Paris Olympics will not have gold or bronze medals bouts and the winners of the two semifinalists will make the cut for the 2024 Games, according to the new format approved by the world governing body UWW. Apart from four Continental Qualifiers, the World Qualifier will also not offer gold medal and the two semifinal winners will earn quotas while the winners of the bronze-medal bouts will compete for the third quota in each of the six weight categories in three styles. The Pan-American Qualifiers in Acapulco, Mexico from February 28 to March 1 will open the qualification opportunities. "All five Paris Olympic Qualifiers next year will have four seeds in each of the weight classes and no gold-medal bouts," UWW said on its website. African & Oceania Qualifiers will be held in Alexandria, Egypt from March 22-24 and the European Qualifiers in Baku, Azerbaijan are scheduled to take place from April 4-7. The Asian Qualifiers

Ready to host 2036 Olympics, no dearth of sporting talent in country: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said this year's sports budget is three times more than the allocation made nine years ago and asserted India has a vast pool of sporting talent and is prepared to host the 2036 Olympic Games. He said India's recent success in the world of sports is a huge inspiration for every young sportsperson, weeks after the country bagged a record 107 medals at the Asian Games in China. Speaking after inaugurating the 37th National Games at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at Margao, Modi said the Games are taking place in Goa at a time when Indian sports is reaching new heights. We have brought in changes in schemes to provide financial incentives to sportspersons, he said. There is no dearth of sporting talent in India, Modi said, adding the country has produced many sports champions. "The country has produced champions despite deprivation, yet poor performance in the medal tally always rankled people," he said. Modi referred to several key ...

A coming-out party: Olympics, development and a statement to the world

If Ahmedabad is India's preferred candidate, as seems likely, hosting Olympics 2036 should give it a leg up: A bigger airport, a better metro network, more hotels, flyovers and so on, writes T N Ninan

TMS Ep545: Aakash & Byju's, cricket in Olympics, auto stocks, civil union

Can Aakash save Byju's? What does inclusion of cricket in the Olympics mean? How to play the auto theme this festive season? What is a civil union? All answers here

How a heady mix of IPL & Kohli helped cricket secure 2028 LA Olympics berth

T20's fast format and ability to attract a young audience also helped clinch the slot

India's compound archers disappointed after 2028 Olympics snub

The IOC Executive Board rejected the World Archery's proposal saying it would impact the overall budget of the Games since the number of archers qualifying for the event would increase

Virat Kohli's popularity key to cricket's 2028 Olympics inclusion...?

IOC has finally added cricket to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, key factors being Virat Kohli's popularity and cricket's global market. Watch the video to know more >

As cricket loving nation, we specially welcome inclusion in LA Olympics: PM

He also hailed the move for the inclusion of baseball-softball, cricket, flag football, lacrosse and squash at the marquee event

Cricket among five sports included in Los Angeles Olympics 2028 programme

Cricket was on Monday officially included in the programme for the 2028 Los Angles, marking the sport's return to the Summer Games after 123 years. Besides cricket, which will be played in T20 format, the other sports approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) during its 141st session, were squash, baseball/softball, lacrosse and flag football. "The proposal from the Organising Committee of the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 (@LA28) to include five new sports in the programme has been accepted by the IOC Session. "Baseball/softball, cricket (T20), flag football, lacrosse (sixes) and squash will be in the programme at LA28," posted the IOC on X, formerly Twitter. The proposal to include the five sports recommended by LA28 Organising Committee was opposed by only two of the 99 IOC members, who participated in voting. IOC president Thomas Bach made the announcement of cricket's inclusion along with other sport after the recommendation of the Executive Board was put to vote

Olympian ideals

Bidding for the 2036 games is ambitious

IOC members urge Thomas Bach to seek 3rd term as president after 2025

Members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Sunday urged the incumbent president Thomas Bach to stay on in his role after he completes his term in 2025. Bach, the former Olympian from Germany, is the ninth president of the IOC. He was elected to an eight-year term at the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires in 2013. In March 2021, Bach was re-elected IOC president for four years. The Olympic Charter restricts a president's term to 12 years, a norm that was put in place by Jacques Rogge to avoid lengthy tenures. Bach had succeeded Rogge, who had served as the IOC chief from 2001 to 2013. On the inaugural day of the IOC's 141st Session here, most of its 99 members were of the opinion that Bach should stay on for a third term after his tenure ends in 2025, though it will require changes to be made to the Olympic Charter. IOC member Luis Mejia Oviedo said, "You have shown us the best way to go forward. We have to look after this (Olympic) movement. That is why I would like t

IOC amends Olympic Charter to strengthen its human rights commitments

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Sunday amended the Olympic Charter to strengthen its human rights commitments during the the first day of its 141st Session here. The IOC Session approved the inclusion of additional wordings relating to the respect of human rights after the executive board made a recommendation to this effect in September this year. Additional wording has been included in the Fundamental Principles of Olympism as an overarching commitment to the respect for human rights, specifically in Fundamental Principles of Olympism 1 and 4, the IOC said. The change is a result of the work by the Legal Affairs Commission and its consultation with the Advisory Committee on Human Rights, it added. The new wordings in Fundamental Principles of Olympism 1 are 'internationally recognised human rights' and 'within the remit of the Olympic movement'. In the Fundamental Principles of Olympism 4, 'internationally recognised human rights' and within the remit of the Olympic

India will leave no stone unturned for 2036 Olympics: PM bats for hosting

Prime minister Narendra Modi on Saturday asserted that India will leave "no stone unturned" in its efforts to organise the 2036 Olympics as the government expressed a strong desire to host the biggest sporting event in the world. Modi declared open the 141st Session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), where India will present its roadmap for hosting the quadrennial extravaganza. The IOC session is being held in the country after a gap of 40 years. The last Olympic Session was held in India in 1983 in New Delhi. PM Modi also said that India wishes to host the 2029 Youth Olympics. "Indians are very excited about hosting the Olympics Games. India will leave no stone unturned in organising the 2036 Olympics," said Modi during his address to the IOC Session delegation and a host of other invitees here at the Jio World Convention Centre. "This is a dream of 140 crore Indians. We want to fulfil this dream with your support. We are willing to host the 2029 Youth Olympics. I am

Death of Indian-origin athlete in Singapore: Coach failed to check health

An investigation into the death of a 14-year-old Indian-origin student-athlete at the Singapore Sports School, has revealed there was a safety lapse as his badminton coach failed to check on his well-being before leaving the track. The coach has been served a notice of dismissal, according to a Channel News Asia report on Saturday. Pranav Madhaik, who was part of the school's badminton academy and had aspired to be an Olympic champion, felt unwell following a 400-metre fitness time trial on October 5. Pranav was taken to the National University Hospital and he died on Wednesday (October 11). In a press release on Saturday, the Singapore Sports School laid out the timeline of events leading to the boy's death and the findings of the investigation. After completing his time trial session on October 5 at about 6:26 p.m., Pranav reported to the badminton coach that he felt unwell. Time trials and conditioning sessions are a regular part of student-athletes' training plans, according

IOC apex body accepts a proposal to include cricket in the 2028 Olympics

Cricket will add more popularity to Olympic movement, says IOC President

Cricket approved for 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, announces IOC president

IOC president Thomas Bach on Friday said that officials had accepted a proposal by LA organisers for cricket to be included as one of five new sports

IOC's exec board suspends Russian Olympic Committee for 'breach of charter'

The International Olympic Council's (IOC) Executive Board on Thursday announced the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) with immediate effect for "breach of charter". The Russian athletes though will be able to take part in international competitions, including next year's Paris Olympics, as independent participants. The 141st Session of the IOC will be held here from October 15-17 and the IOC's Executive Board is meeting over two days, on October 12 and 13, to discuss the proposals it has to move forward to the Session. The National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Russia was suspended after it decided to include regional sports organisations which are under the authority of the NOC of Ukraine. "The unilateral decision taken by the Russian Olympic Committee on 5 October 2023 to include, as its members, the regional sports organisations which are under the authority of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Ukraine (namely Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia) ...