Olympics – Winnipeg Free Press

FILE - President Donald Trump stands on stage next to the FIFA World Cup after receiving the FIFA Peace Prize during the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

WADA delays decision over potential ban of Trump from major sporting events until after World Cup

Eddie Pells, The Associated Press 4 minute read Updated: 7:44 AM CDT

The World Anti-Doping Agency on Tuesday put off a decision about barring government officials from major sporting events if their countries voluntarily withhold dues, pushing a potential conflict with President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials until at least after this summer's World Cup.

The WADA executive committee met and said it would consider the new rule in September, two months after the end of the World Cup, which the U.S. is hosting along with Canada and Mexico.

If such a rule is adopted later this year, it would presumably go into effect before the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

The U.S. hasn't paid its dues since 2023. If that continues, the new rule could place Trump and U.S. lawmakers on a banned list for Games in their own country, though there are doubts about whether an anti-doping regulator could keep any of them from attending the Olympics.

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The Hockey Hall of Fame expects to keep the US Olympic gold medal-winning pucks

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

The Hockey Hall of Fame expects to keep the US Olympic gold medal-winning pucks

The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: 1:56 PM CDT

TORONTO (AP) — The Hockey Hall of Fame says the pucks used to score the gold medal-winning men’s and women’s goals at the Milan Cortina Olympics are part of its permanent collection after being donated by the International Ice Hockey Federation.

The Hall released a statement about its artifacts from the Games on Wednesday, a day after Jack Hughes, who scored the golden goal in overtime for the U.S. men, told ESPN he wanted the puck so he could give it to his father, Jim.

“These artifacts are preserved, exhibited and shared with fans worldwide through our museum and international outreach programs, ensuring that defining Olympic and World Championship moments remain protected and accessible to the global hockey community,” the Hall said in a statement sent to The Associated Press. “We hold tremendous respect for the men and women who create these unforgettable moments on the ice, and we remain committed to preserving their achievements in a manner that is responsible, secure and accessible to fans everywhere.”

The U.S. swept men's, women's and Paralympic sled hockey gold, beating Canada in each final to win all three for the first time in the same year. Megan Keller scored the women's golden goal, also in OT, and that puck is similarly enshrined.

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Updated: 1:56 PM CDT

United States' Jack Hughes celebrates after scoring the winning goal against Canada during the overtime period of the men's ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Doug Armstrong steps down as general manager of Canada’s Olympic hockey team

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Doug Armstrong steps down as general manager of Canada’s Olympic hockey team

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 5:23 PM CDT

CALGARY - Doug Armstrong will not return as general manager of Canada's Olympic men's hockey team.

He spent two years as the management group lead for the national men's team at competitions like the world hockey championship, 4 Nations Face-Off and Milan Cortina Games.

Canada reached the Olympic final last month but dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to the United States.

Hockey Canada confirmed his departure in a statement on Tuesday afternoon.

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Updated: Yesterday at 5:23 PM CDT

Doug Armstrong, general manager of Canada’s men’s Olympic hockey team, gives remarks before naming the roster for the 2026 Winter Games at a news conference in Minneapolis on Dec. 31, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

LA 2028 Olympic soccer kicks off 4 days early, spreading matches across 7 US cities

The Associated Press 3 minute read Monday, Mar. 16, 2026

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Men's and women's soccer at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will begin four days before the opening ceremony and be played in seven cities around the United States.

The early start, approved by the IOC, allows teams two extra rest days during the tournament compared to previous Olympics. The schedule also includes additional rest days after the group stage and quarterfinals, giving teams time to travel.

The matches will start on July 10, with the group stage and quarterfinals being played in New York, Columbus, Ohio, Nashville, Tennessee, and St. Louis.

The knockout rounds will move to California, taking place in San Jose, San Diego and Pasadena, with the gold medal matches at the historic Rose Bowl. The stadium hosted the 1994 men's World Cup final, the 1999 women's World Cup final and the 1984 Olympic gold-medal match.

WADA is weighing a rule to bar Trump and US officials from major events. Can it really do that?

Eddie Pells, The Associated Press 7 minute read Preview

WADA is weighing a rule to bar Trump and US officials from major events. Can it really do that?

Eddie Pells, The Associated Press 7 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 10:12 AM CDT

The idea sounds outlandish, if not downright impossible.

Leaders at the World Anti-Doping Agency are considering adopting a rule that could bar President Donald Trump and all U.S. government officials from attending major international events — even if they take place on American soil.

A few coming up are as big as they get: this summer’s World Cup; the LA Olympics in 2028; the Winter Games in Utah in 2034.

This is not a fight of Trump’s choosing, but rather one being pursued by WADA itself, which has been the subject of bipartisan and virtually universal disapproval in Congress, in the Trump and Biden administrations and in the offices of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for most of this decade.

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Updated: Yesterday at 10:12 AM CDT

FILE - FIFA President Gianni Infantino presents President Donald Trump with the FIFA Peace Prize during the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough, Pool, File_

New union head says 2027 MLB work stoppage could disrupt plans for big leaguers at 2028 Olympics

Ronald Blum, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

New union head says 2027 MLB work stoppage could disrupt plans for big leaguers at 2028 Olympics

Ronald Blum, The Associated Press 4 minute read Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026

MIAMI (AP) — A work stoppage that leads to canceled games during the 2027 Major League Baseball season could disrupt plans under discussion to have big league players participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The Major League Baseball Players Association is negotiating with Major League Baseball, the IOC, the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the World Baseball Softball Confederation on the six-nation baseball event, scheduled for Dodger Stadium from July 15-20 during what could be an extended All-Star break.

MLB and the union also are preparing for the start of bargaining in April or May for a labor contract to replaced the current five-year agreement that expires Dec. 1. A management lockout is expected to start Dec. 2.

“It can be on a separate track, but I’m sure it will come up in the course of negotiations,” new acting union head Bruce Meyer said Sunday night at the World Baseball Classic. "If we’re in a situation where games are being missed in '27, that could have an impact on playing the Olympics after that."

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Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026

FILE - Major League Baseball Players Association Senior Director, Collective Bargaining & Legal, Bruce Meyer answers a question at a news conference in their offices in New York, March 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

Milan Cortina Paralympics end with another boycott by Ukraine at Games marked by Russia’s return

Tales Azzoni, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Milan Cortina Paralympics end with another boycott by Ukraine at Games marked by Russia’s return

Tales Azzoni, The Associated Press 5 minute read Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — A closing ceremony boycotted by Ukraine signaled the end of the Milan Cortina Winter Paralympics on Sunday, hours after the U.S. Para ice hockey team won the final gold medal of the Games that were marked by the return of the Russian flag and national anthem to the global sports stage.

China continued its dominance as a Paralympic powerhouse and topped the medals table with 15 golds, two more than the United States, which matched its total from the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games.

The Milan Cortina Games marked the 50th anniversary of the Winter Paralympics.

The Russian anthem, which hadn't played at the Paralympics in more than a decade, rang out eight times at Milan Cortina after the victories of Russian athletes who were competing under their own flag again at the Paralympics for the first time since the 2014 Sochi Winter Games.

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Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026

Athletes march carrying the Russian flag during the closing ceremony at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

CPC CEO acknowledges dip in Paralympic medal standings, calls for added investment

Abdulhamid Ibrahim, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

CPC CEO acknowledges dip in Paralympic medal standings, calls for added investment

Abdulhamid Ibrahim, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026

Canadian Paralympic Committee CEO Karen O'Neill acknowledged Canada's showing at the Milan Cortina Paralympics wasn't the same as past years.

Canada finished eighth in the gold-medal standings with just three. As for total medals, Canada placed sixth (four silver, eight bronze). In comparison, Canada had 25 medals, with eight golds, at the 2022 Beijing Games, finishing third in the gold-medal standings for the fourth consecutive Paralympics.

O'Neill was quick to say how proud she was of the group, while also citing factors such as "accidents and injuries," along with Russia being back in the fold. The Russians earned 12 medals, with eight gold — only China (15 gold) and the United States (13 gold) finished ahead.

"A little bit different but still really, really pleased with how the team has done," O'Neill said. "I would say it's also testimony to how quickly and how evolving the competitive level is around the world for the Paralympics right now.

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Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026

Natalie Wilkie competes for Canada in the Cross Country Ski Mixed Relay at the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Val di Fiemme on Saturday, March 14, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — CANADIAN PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE, Michael P. Hall

Canada earns Paralympic silver after 6-2 loss to U.S. in hockey; Eriksson adds bronze

The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Canada earns Paralympic silver after 6-2 loss to U.S. in hockey; Eriksson adds bronze

The Canadian Press 4 minute read Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026

MILAN - Devastation is the feeling for Liam Hickey.

The Para ice hockey star scored both of Canada's goals but the team settled for silver with a 6-2 loss to the United States on Sunday in the final event of the Milan Cortina Paralympics. It's the third straight Paralympic final Canada has lost, all to the U.S., which won its fifth straight gold.

"We're devastated right now," Hickey said. "A lot of us have trained our whole lives for this. We're still chasing that gold medal. Not being able to get it done right now, again, stinks pretty bad.

"We helped the U.S. out, if anything, on a few of those goals. With a team like that, you can't give them that momentum. And we were confident in how we played for the most part as a team. But that killed us in the end."

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Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026

Corbin Watson during the match against USA in the Para ice hockey final at the 2026 Paralympic Games in Milan, Italy on March 15, 2026. // THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — CANADIAN PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE, , Matteo Cogliati

US beats Canada in Para ice hockey final to complete historic clean sweep in Olympics, Paralympics

Daniella Matar, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

US beats Canada in Para ice hockey final to complete historic clean sweep in Olympics, Paralympics

Daniella Matar, The Associated Press 5 minute read Monday, Mar. 16, 2026

MILAN (AP) — Three weeks after the United States beat Canada in the Olympic hockey finals, the Americans overcame their neighbors again to win Paralympic gold and complete the sweep at Milan Cortina.

In front of a packed arena, Jack Wallace scored a hat trick to help the U.S. beat Canada 6-2 in Sunday’s Para ice hockey final and become the first nation to win all three of the hockey tournaments at the Olympics and Paralympics in the same year. There is currently no women’s division at the Paralympics as it is classified as an open-gender sport.

Kayden Beasley, Declan Farmer — the tournament’s MVP — and Brody Roybal scored the other goals for the U.S. Liam Hickey bagged both goals for Canada, which pushed its rivals hard before conceding three in the final period.

“I’m glad we got it done because I think there’s a little bit more pressure with the men and women getting the golds too,” U.S. captain Josh Pauls said. “But I’m happy we could do it for USA hockey and I think it really just shows like how much they … invest in the grassroots programs because we have so many young players coming up and playing pivotal roles on our teams.”

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Monday, Mar. 16, 2026

United States's Jack Wallace celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during a gold medal ice hockey match between United States and Canada at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

IPC president disappointed with Ukraine for shifting focus to politics at Milan Cortina Paralympics

Tales Azzoni, The Associated Press 7 minute read Preview

IPC president disappointed with Ukraine for shifting focus to politics at Milan Cortina Paralympics

Tales Azzoni, The Associated Press 7 minute read Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — The president of the International Paralympic Committee was disappointed with the complaints made by Ukraine's National Paralympic Committee during the Milan Cortina Games, saying they appeared to be an attempt to shift the focus from sports to politics.

Andrew Parsons spoke with The Associated Press on the final day of the Winter Paralympic Games on Sunday, praising the outcome of the competition and discussing the return of the Russian flag and anthem, the effects of the warmer weather and the challenges of organizing the event at widespread venues.

Parsons called it “disappointing” that the Ukrainian National Paralympic Committee and the national committees of other nations tried to turn the focus away from sports.

He said he was “super empathetic” with the situation in Ukraine and can “only try to imagine the horror,” but as a sports organization, the IPC must make sure that rules are not broken, even by the Ukrainian committee.

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Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026

Andrew Parsons, President of the International Paralympic Committee, speaks during the opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Verona, Italy, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Ukrainian athletes talk about ‘unpleasant’ Paralympics after return of Russian flag at Milan Cortina

Tales Azzoni, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Ukrainian athletes talk about ‘unpleasant’ Paralympics after return of Russian flag at Milan Cortina

Tales Azzoni, The Associated Press 5 minute read Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Ukrainian athletes talked about an “unpleasant” Paralympics in Milan Cortina because of the return of the Russian flag and anthem.

The flag flew at the Paralympics for the first time since the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, and the anthem was played for the first time at a major global sporting event since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Ukraine boycotted the opening ceremony last week and was set to boycott the closing ceremony on Sunday as well.

Athletes from both countries have been expressing how proud they are of representing their nations during the ongoing war.

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Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

Ukraine's Vasyl Kravchuk, left, Hryhorii Shymko, center, and second placed Taras Rad celebrate with their national flag after the Para Biathlon Men's Sprint Pursuit Sitting Finals at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Tesero, Italy, Friday March 13, 2026. (Thien-An Truong/OIS/IOC via AP)

Wilkie, Ideson named Canada’s flag bearers for Paralympics closing ceremony

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Wilkie, Ideson named Canada’s flag bearers for Paralympics closing ceremony

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO - Para nordic skier Natalie Wilkie and wheelchair curler Mark Ideson have been named Canada’s closing ceremony flag bearers for the Milan Cortina Paralympics, the Canadian Paralympic Committee announced Saturday.

Wilkie, from Salmon Arm, B.C., has earned four medals (two gold, one silver, one bronze) in her third Paralympics. She still has one race remaining on Sunday morning, the Para cross-country 20 kilometres.

The 25-year-old now has 11 Paralympic medals to her name (five gold, three silvers, three bronze).

She is the first Canadian athlete to be selected to be both opening and closing ceremony flag bearer at the same Paralympic Games.

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Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

Natalie Wilkie receives her gold medal for the 12.5km Individual Biathlon at the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Val di Fiemme on Sunday March 8, 2026. // Le 8 mars 2026, Natalie Wilkie reçoit la médaille d'or de l’épreuve individuelle de de biathlon 12,5 km aux Jeux paralympiques d’hiver de 2026 à Val di Fiemme. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout – CANADIAN PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE-Michael P. Hall (Mandatory Credit)

Canadian sit-skier Kurt Oatway goes for one medal after long road back to Paralympics

Abdulhamid Ibrahim, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Canadian sit-skier Kurt Oatway goes for one medal after long road back to Paralympics

Abdulhamid Ibrahim, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

It's simply competition. And Kurt Oatway's desire is just to win and improve.

"It is a bigger race, it's a more important race, but at the end of the day it's just a race," he said of the Paralympics.

But the journey to being a two-time Paralympic medallist in Para alpine sit-skiing started from a place of nostalgia for the 42-year-old from Calgary.

"Just sitting at home watching the 2010 Vancouver Games and watching the alpine events and getting a little nostalgic about skiing," he said. "... At the time I was still doing outpatient rehab at a hospital in Saskatoon and the physiotherapist was like trying to find ideas of trying to get more active and she suggested Nordic skiing.

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Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

Kurt Oatway, of Canada, competes in the alpine skiing men's downhill sitting competition at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Canadian wheelchair curling team wins gold with 4-3 triumph over China at Paralympics

The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Canadian wheelchair curling team wins gold with 4-3 triumph over China at Paralympics

The Canadian Press 5 minute read Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO - Mark Ideson finished the job and ended the run of bronze.

The skip from London, Ont., made the winning play as Canada's wheelchair curling team defeated China 4-3 to win gold at the Milan Cortina Paralympics on Saturday. It's the first gold medal in the event for Canada since 2014 after back-to-back bronze in 2018 and 2022.

"I would say the Cardiac Canadians is fitting," he said of his rink's nickname from the Games. "We seemed to put it all together at the end. Thanks to everyone for watching at home.

"It was an incredible week and amazing to finish it off."

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Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

Jon Thurston, of Canada, reacts during the wheelchair curling mixed team gold medal game versus China at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Canada to face U.S. with sights set on first Paralympic ice hockey gold in 20 years

Abdulhamid Ibrahim, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Canada to face U.S. with sights set on first Paralympic ice hockey gold in 20 years

Abdulhamid Ibrahim, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

Tyler McGregor has experienced all the team success there is to gain in para ice hockey.

Except for one thing: a Paralympic gold medal.

Canada's captain, from Forest, Ont., has been a fixture on the team since 2012. In that time, he has won three world championships (2013, 2017, 2024), two Paralympic silver medals (2018, 2022) and a Paralympic bronze (2014).

"I wouldn't even know how to properly define that," he said of the possibility of Canada winning gold in Italy. "It would mean the world to me. I've been a part of this like Paralympic journey now for coming up on I guess 14, 15 years or whatever. And it's something that we've been chasing this whole time that's eluded us and we've been close.

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Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

March 18, 2026

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