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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡
● Boxing ● With the Asian Boxing Confederation Extraordinary Congress coming up on Saturday (23rd) in Bangkok (THA) to vote on whether it should be an independent organization until a new governing body for Olympic boxing is recognized, the International Boxing Association once again posted a message reminding everyone about money, including:
“Through initiatives like the Financial Support Programme (FSP), launched in 2021, IBA has become an indispensable partner for all our National Federations. This program, which allocates up to $20,000 annually per federation, ensures financial stability, supports grassroots development, and funds participation in major international tournaments. The unparalleled scale of IBA’s investment — over $80 million in prize money through 2028 — further cements its position as the only organization capable of providing the resources and opportunities necessary for the growth of the sport.”
The problem for the IBA and for the Asian confederation is that there is no international federation for boxing recognized by the International Olympic Committee after the IBA was expelled from the Olympic Movement in June 2023. So the IBA is not going to be involved with Olympic boxing going forward, and, for the Asian federations, participation in the Olympic Games in 2028 and beyond is crucial. The next step comes Saturday.
● Cycling ● At the USA Cycling Madison National Championships in Detroit, Michigan on 15-16 November, Ashlin Barry and Enzo Edmonds won the men’s Madison with 47 points, and Jessica Chong and Stephanie Lawrence won the women’s Elite with 35 points.
● Football ● The race for tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. has started. From a Thursday announcement:
“Fans now have the chance to secure priority access to FIFA World Cup 26 hospitality packages via the tournament’s first-ever hospitality deposit programme. … Deposit vouchers will begin at USD 500 and will be fully refundable.
“On Location, appointed by FIFA as the Official Hospitality Provider of the FIFA World Cup 26, will manage the programme. The launch represents the first time that FIFA has used a deposit programme ahead of a general sales period, giving fans a simple and secure route to guarantee priority access to ticket-inclusive hospitality packages for the FIFA World Cup 26.”
The tournament is expanding to 48 teams and 104 matches for 2026, beginning on 11 July 2026 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The deposit program will be open for about three months:
“From today and until Sunday, 16 February 2025, a priority access deposit window will be open to enable fans to purchase a fully refundable deposit voucher through a secure platform. A conversion window will then follow, and holders of a deposit voucher will be contacted by On Location to explore a range of options to suit their needs before any purchase is necessary.”
No pricing on the actual packages has been posted yet.
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FIFA announced a new batch of “Team Base Camp” options for the 2026 World Cup, with 26 new pairings of training sites and hotels for teams.
A total of 49 sites are now being offered, with six in Mexico and the others in the U.S. None are in Canada. Among the sites are MLS stadiums in Cincinnati, Dallas and Philadelphia and the NFL’s Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin!
The 2026 World Cup Draw will be held in December, 2025, determining which teams will play where. The Team Base Camp options list will be continue to be expanded during 2025.
● Modern Pentathlon ● An update of Wednesday’s story on the UIPM Congress in Saudi Arabia added details on long-time UIPM Treasurer John Helmick (USA). He withdrew as a candidate for re-election after giving his report on Saturday and prior to the UIPM Presidential election. Also, the UIPM posted the result of his disciplinary hearing, which found “no willful misconduct,” but was negligent with authority given to a third party.
The story has been updated.
● Shooting ● The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) posted a notice that all athletes must complete a new “Athlete Declaration” for the 2025 season and beyond, which among other requirements includes:
“I agree that, for the purposes of promoting shooting sport worldwide, immediately after each Final of the ISSF competition, I will make myself available for interviews with TV rights holders and ISSF TV production team in the TV Mixed Zone of the respective competition, upon their request, to the extent, quantity and scope that is reasonable and that can be expected of an international athlete.”
No requirements to talk to online or print media, but shooters will have to speak with the ISSF’s own camera crews and those who have purchased television rights.
● Ski Jumping ● The International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) has implemented new rules on … jumping suits:
“The custom-made suits worn by ski jumpers are among the most scrutinized equipment in winter sports, and for good reason. As well as having a thickness of 4-6mm, and possessing a specific permeability, excess slack (tolerance) can unfairly aid ‘flight.’
“Coaches and athletes continue to ask suit manufacturers to push the boundaries in terms of materials used to maximize distances. And while jumpers from top nations can use multiple outfits in a competition – some getting through 40 or 50 in a season – those from smaller nations may only be able to source a handful for an entire campaign.”
So, a new regulation: “an athlete can only wear one suit per competition and a maximum of eight per FIS Ski Jumping World Cup season with an extra two for FIS World Championships.”
Enforcement has been an issue with past rules, but now a radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip has been designed to be inserted in seven sections of men’s suits (nine pieces in a men’s suit) and five for women (out of 11 pieces). What’s the impact? The season starts in Lillehammer (NOR) on Friday (22nd) and then we will see.
● Triathlon ● Two-time Olympic gold medalist Alistair Brownlee (GBR) announced his retirement on Thursday, at 36, closing one of the sport’s most memorable careers.
He explained after last a bronze-medal finish at Sunday’s T100 race in Dubai (17th):
“I have been doing it for a long time and there’s so many other things in sport I want to be able to do. I want to be able to do all kinds of endurance challenges. I want to stay fit and healthy and be part of sport, hopefully into my old age. And I’m definitely aware, you know, putting the miles on the clock and wearing things down. So I want to retire fit and healthy and not be forced to retire by injury and illness or whatever.”
He won individual World Championship titles in 2009 and 2011, four European titles and 22 World Triathlon Series, the most ever. He was appointed to the IOC Athletes’ Commission in 2022 and continues to serve.
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