The Big News
Sepp Blatter is re-elected as president of FIFA. Enough said. Except I covered my thoughts in the blog column.

Back to Regularly Scheduled FIFA Programming...
The men's U-20 World Cup started this weekend in New Zealand, with the hosts drawing with Ukraine. With 24 teams participating, it should be a fun tournament to follow, with some smaller nations such as Fiji and Myanmar (which only lost 1-2 to the U.S.) alongside powers like Brazil and Germany. With a strong start of 8-1 over those Fijians..maybe another title is in the works for the young mannschaft.

French Squash Dominance
At the European Individual Squash Championships, France continued its dominance behind both Gregory Gaultier's ninth overall and third consecutive win in the men's race and Camille Serme's fourth consecutive win in the women's. It certainly is a sport for longevity and consistency - Gaultier's opponent in the final was Spain's Borja Golan, who finished second twice before, and Serme's opponent was Denmark's Line Hansen, in a rematch of last year's.

Speaking of the French...
The French Open continued, completing its first week. With the usual handful of exciting moments, including up-and-coming Americans - and one-time couple Jack Sock and Sloane Stephens each making the fourth round, French star Jo-Wilfried Tsonga completing a stirring comeback, and Kei Nishikori becoming the first Japanese player into the men's quarterfinals in 80 years - perhaps the most exciting moment came in Serena Williams' tense win over Victoria Azarenka. While a Williams' victory in par-for-the-course in this matchup, also par-for-the-course is the whisp of possibility for Azarenka, which must be especially frustrating for the former number 1. One day, she might get Williams. That'll be a good match.

European Canoe Slalom Champs End
Traditional powers came out on top at the European Canoe Slalom Championships over the weekend, with hometown Germany winning 2 golds medals and 6 overall to Slovakia's 3 gold medals and 5 overall. Five athletes won 2 medals each: Britain's Kimberly Woods and Mallory Franklin and Spain's Vilarrubla in women's canoe, Germany's Alexander Grimm in men's kayak, and Slovakia's Matej Benus in men's canoe.

More European Water Competition
The European Rowing Championships also were held this week in Poland, with Great Britain the overall winner with 10 medals, 6 of them gold. Last year, they finished second to Germany but were able to turn the tables in 2015 with strong performances across both men's and women's events. The Germans finished in second with 6 medals total, tied with France.

And in Some IOC News
In a nod toward taking their sport responsibilities seriously in national government, Japan has created a new minister-level post to be in charge of government coordination of Tokyo 2020 preparations. Let's hope that position has some pull and respect for the legacy and power of the Games.

Decathlon and Heptathlon Stars Emerge
The annual Hypo-Meeting in Gotzis, Austria is always viewed as one of the most important stops for the multi-event specialists in track and field, but this year is particularly keen for athletes as they test themselves and prepare for the World Championships later this summer, and start their road to Rio. Germany's Kai Kazmirek won the decathlon this year, after a second place showing last year, and set a world-leading mark of 8462 points in the process. Main competition Adam Eaton from the U.S., the defending Olympic champion, pulled out at the last minute but probably took some solace from his wife winning the heptathlon. Canadian Brianne Thiesen Eaton set a national record of 6808, en route to victory in a field that included Great Britain's Jessica Ennis-Hill, the women's defending Olympic champion and returnee to top-flight competition, finishing in fourth.

And Even More French Success
Star pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie came through strong in the Prefontaine Classic this week, winning the vent with a vault of 6.05 meters, marking a new outdoor high for him, the world's lead this year, and the new second all-time outdoors. Looks like he's on track for another great season ahead of the Worlds. Sante!

Being in Northern California and facing a long weekend called for a first-time trip to the site of the 1960 Winter Games, Squaw Valley. And, although this late May visit was obviously past prime winter sport season, the visit provided a prime opportunity to look back at how far the Games have come. Squaw Valley provided a lot of developments that we certainly take for granted for how the Winter Olympics look like today.

Squaw Valley was a surprise choice to host the Games, as the Lake Tahoe resort was unincorporated at the time, and little-known. In fact, at the time of being awarded the Games officially in 1956, the site only had one chair lift and one lodge with a capacity of only 50 guests. Yet, with the promise of heavy financial support from the US Olympic Committee and the California state legislature, the IOC was persuaded to go with Squaw Valley over more traditional applicants Innsbruck, St. Moritz, and Chamonix. Once awarded, the race was on - within the four years to the start of the Games, the tiny resort became the city of Squaw Valley (called Olympic Valley today), and successfully built all appropriate facilities, including two athlete dormitories, a speed skating oval, and an ice arena.

The Games went off without a hitch* and provided a number of firsts:

• The first 'athletes' village' to be used at a Winter Games
• Artificial ice was used for the first time, for skating and hockey
• Longines provided timing to the hundredth of a second
• The IOC, for the first time, sold exclusive television rights in the U.S., to CBS for $50,000 USD.
• In an immediate review of a taped ski race, CBS came upon the notion of 'instant replay'
• an 'Olympic anthem' was used for the first time in ceremonies, and ever since
• South Africa competed for the first time in a Winter Games
• Women's speed skating and men's biathlon were introduced, and
• Metal skies (as opposed to wooden) were first used to win a gold medal, by Jean Vaurnet of France in the men's downhill.

*Well, except for one unfortunate negative in the schedule...these remain the only Games where bobsled was not contested, as the facility was not deemed a worthwhile investment for only the nine teams entered.

Looking back with present-day eyes, these Games sure seemed small, though. Only 27 events were held, with 665 competitors from 30 nations over ten days. The Soviet Union decisively won the medal race, with 21 overall (out of 27 events!), with the U.S. back in second with ten. Compare that to what the Sochi Games looked like: 98 events, with 2,873 competitors from 88 nations, over 12 days. And while the Squaw Valley Olympics cost a staggering $80million USD, the Sochi Games cost an even-more staggering $51billion USD. But, some things do kind of stay the same...in 2014, Russia won the medal count (33), but only just ahead of the U.S. (28) this time.

It struck me as I walked through the village that the Games hosting-days may be far behind Squaw Valley, given the growing scope of the Games now and the still-small vibe the site has retained. But if some had their way, another bid could be in the mix in the future. That would be a welcome return to what some claim is the spirit of the Winter Olympics, cozy and compact and a decisive rebuke of the out-sized largess Sochi has wrought. (Can you imagine how large a Beijing Games in 2022 might feel?). Squaw Valley accomplished a lot of innovation; so maybe organizers there can accomplish a much-needed scale back as well. I'll be watching.
​

More Boston 2024 Turmoil
Actually, there are probably two ways to look at the news this week that the Boston 2024 Olympic bid organizing committee has a new leader at the helm, with Boston Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca taking over after a long and continuing struggle to make the bid popular and stable. One way is, this is a good move to bring in fresh leadership to show the public and local government that the bid is serious about acknowledging past mistakes and looking to move confidently forward. Or the second way, this card shuffle probably really won't make a difference in that public or local government support, and lends some danger to the fear that the bid is in trouble. Keep in mind that a USOC representative earlier this week indicated that the bid may not really be the bid. So...which way do you think is true?

World Taekwondo Championships End
The World Taekwondo Championships ended at the start of the week, with Iran and South Korea topping the men's and women's medal tables, respectively. Both are noted forces in the sport, but I'll give my overall tip of the hat to the Koreans, as they finished fourth on the men's side as well. And Iran...well, although they dominated the men's side with five medals out of a possible eight, they, of course were nowhere to be seen on the women's side. Certainly an issue that must be addressed across all sports as global and gender inclusion is promoted. On the plus side, I like that a couple traditional sporting underdogs did well - Uzbekistan finishing third on the men's side, and Chinese Taipei second on the women's.

Asian Weightlifting Championships Rescheduled
Due to the devastating recent earthquakes, the IWF cancelled the upcoming Asian Weightlifting Championships that were to be held in Kathmandu in July. But...in great news for the region's athletes, the Championships will now be held in Thailand, in Phuket in September.

More SportAccord Problems
The organization, which represents a long list of international sport federations, is continuing to face a heap of trouble this week after more members stepped aside. This week, rugby, equestrian, curling, rowing, modern pentathlon, fencing and volleyball have joined athletics, wrestling and others in a show of support for the IOC, after SportAccord's president Marius Vizer publicly criticized the IOC's pull and influence in international event organizations. I agree - there is an opportunity for SportAccord to clarify their role in promoting sport federations, but with a realistic need to remember that, yes, the Olympics have precedent and influence. So...can we not just all get along?

Sepp Blatter One Step Closer to Another Term

With the news this week that both Luis Figo and Michael van Praag dropped their bids for FIFA presidency, Sepp Blatter is all but assured to win another term in the elections at the end of the month. Prince Ali Bin Al- Hussein of Jordan is still officially a candidate, but it's an uphill battle. In fact, Al-Hussein isn't really offering much different from Blatter, except the carrot of more members' teams into a World Cup. It'll be a long time before we get real change from an organization so hell-bent on status quo and preserving stature vs growing the game.

USA Wrestling in Times Square
Team USA held an exhibition this week, live from Times Square!, against Cuba, winning 9-4 across disciplines in men's and women's freestyle and greco-roman. A fundraising event for a local New York charity, the demonstration also served as rehearsal and much-needed promotion for the upcoming World Wrestling Championships later this year, in Las Vegas.

Caster Semenya Is Back
Wondering where South African star runner Caster Semenya has been after a high profile and notorious run-up to the London Games? Well, the BBC is here to tell you in a profile this week, that she's aiming to return to competition, after renewed training and a matured philosophical outlook to past travails. I'm rooting for you, Caster.

Speaking of What Happened To..
Edwin Moses is a Formula 1 fan! The New York Times profiled the legendary hurdler this week ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend. Turns out, Moses is a longtime follower of the sport, and a pretty smart guy. Good to see him pop up.

Olympic Rugby Shaping Up
After last week's men's qualifying news, this week the women take the spotlight in filling the competition schedule. After the conclusion of the World Women's Seven Series, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and Great Britain qualified for the Rio Games in addition to Brazil. By the end of the year, six more teams will qualify as well through regional qualification events.

The French Open Starts
And inauspiciously, too. While officials claim it's a simple lack of judgement in allowing a fan to approach Roger Federer on court, it is really a serious lapse in security. Does no one remember the potential risk of 'fan' approaches? Anyway...Roger won.

Sebastian Coe, IAAF President?
The New York Times took a look this week at Sebastian Coe. He's an Olympic athletic legend, and an Olympic organizing legend, and making a run at the presidency of track and field, the IAAF. He has the success of London 2012 guiding him, but in a potentially tough battle against Sergey Bubka, an athletic legend in his own right. The election will be held over the summer.

Speaking of the IAAF...
Their signature Diamond League started this week, with the first stop in Doha. The Diamond League, the IAAF's version of a world cup of track and field, features 14 stops across the globe for one-day competitions in 32 events. This year figures to be particularly competitive, with events likely used as both World Championship and Olympic tune-ups. And, judging by my horrendous start in the IAAF's Diamond League Fantasy Game, a tough one for the usual star names (Shelly-Ann - fifth place??)

And in some negative press for track...
The U.S. relay team that won silver behind Jamaica at London 2012 has been officially disqualified, due to Tyson Gay's doping admission. It's not the first time that the U.S. has lost a relay medal due to a single member's drug infraction, and it's a needed step in the right enforcement direction.

The World Taekwondo Championships Begin
On the 12th, the World Taekwondo Championships opened in Chelyabinsk, Russia. And they started in dramatic style, with the first gold medalists coming on the following day of competition, awarded to athletes from Thailand (Panipak Wongpattanakit, in the women's 46kg) and Iran (Farzan Fallah, the favorite in the men's 58kg event). By the time the Championships end next week, seven gold medals will be awarded to both men and women. Typical of most of the tournaments, South Korea was the top overall medalist in the 2013 Championships.

Laís Souza, Heartbreaking Tale of an Athlete's Risk
The New York Times is at it again, with a compelling, tragic and inspiring story of Souza, former Olympic gymnast who was attempting to become Brazil's first aerial skier in the 2014 Winter Games. It's not just a must-read for anyone who follows sports and the Games, but for anyone who appreciates a drama of rise and fall. The road to the Olympics is paved with many, many stories of injury and disappointment - those who make it to the Games is just a tiny portion of those who try, and Souza's story is a particularly dramatic one. And captivatingly told.

More Sports in 2020?
Taking advantage of the IOC's 2020 agenda allowing host cities to supplement the Olympic schedule with additional sports, the race is now on for international federations to bid for inclusion. With bids accepted until early June, likely applicants are baseball / softball, karate, and the frequent bridesmaid squash. I can imagine, given the sport's popularity in Japan, that baseball will have a leg up in the final vote next year. But really, can squash be included finally??

A Haile Tribute
Following his retirement announcement, Tony Casey provides a nice tribute to Haile Gebrselassie and his career. Class piece for a class career.

An Oly Medal for Fiji?
The inaugural rugby sevens tournament at the 2016 Games is shaping up, with the first five nations qualified in the men's event qualified. After the host Brazil's entry, the tournament will also feature Fiji, South Africa, New Zealand, and Great Britain after the latter four's top placements in the 2014-15 Rugby Sevens World Series, which ended this weekend. For those of you that like underdog stories, note that this sets Fiji up for a great story in Rio, as the winner of the World Series, they should be a favorite for the gold next year. That would be their first medal of any kind at the Olympics (all it takes is the right sport!), as well as the first medal for the sport at the Games. I'm rooting for you!

Team Canada Still #1 in Hockey
After 17 days of competition, the World Ice Hockey Championships ended in Prague with Canada winning the gold, after a 6-1 defeat of Russia in the gold medal match. The U.S. won the bronze, over the Czechs. With the Worlds usually conflicting with the late stages of the National Hockey League post-season, many top players, particularly Canadian and U.S., are not available in the Championships. But Team Canada rose above, winning the title to reclaim - what many like to think (um, including me) - their rightful place on top of the sport.