Olympics

Olympics

FILE - Edgar Grospiron, the head of 2030 Olympic Winter Games, delivers a speech during a news conference in Decines, France, Feb. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani, File)

Edgar Grospiron quits as 2030 French Alps Olympics chief amid setbacks

The Associated Press 3 minute read Thursday, Sep. 10, 2026

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DECINES-CHARPIEU, France (AP) — Edgar Grospiron, the former moguls Olympic champion, has left the presidency of the 2030 Winter Olympics organizing committee, French organizers said Thursday.

Grospiron's decision to step down is the latest setback for organizers of the French Alps Olympics. A replacement was not immediately named.

Grospiron had been appointed only last year — after French biathlon star Martin Fourcade withdrew his candidacy despite being seen as the front-runner for the job.

Instability continued under Grospiron's leadership at the helm of an Olympic hosting project that started behind schedule when conceived in 2023.

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Olympics

Dakar 2026 Organizing Committee president Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye, left, and Hellenic Olympic Committee president Isidoros Kouvelos, hold the Olympic torch during the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games flame handover ceremony at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Flame lit in Athens for Africa’s first ever Olympic event, Youth Games in Dakar

Derek Gatopoulos And Petros Giannakouris, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Flame lit in Athens for Africa’s first ever Olympic event, Youth Games in Dakar

Derek Gatopoulos And Petros Giannakouris, The Associated Press 3 minute read Thursday, Sep. 10, 2026

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The flame for the Dakar Youth Olympics was lit in Athens on Thursday for the first Olympic competition ever staged in Africa.

International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry, the organization’s first African and first female leader, said the moment carried profound personal meaning.

“As an African, this moment means so much to me,” Coventry, an Olympic swimming champion from Zimbabwe, said, her voice breaking with emotion.

“For so many years we have spoken about the day when an Olympic event would finally come to our continent,” she said. “And now we have that great honor.”

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Thursday, Sep. 10, 2026

Olympics

In this photo provided by the Rockhampton Regional Council, rowers paddle on the Fitzroy River at Rockhampton, Australia, on July 24, 2025. (Rockhampton Regional Council via AP)

Olympic hosts defy ‘naysayers’ on 2032 Games rowing in Rockhampton

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Olympic hosts defy ‘naysayers’ on 2032 Games rowing in Rockhampton

The Associated Press 3 minute read Thursday, Sep. 10, 2026

ROCKHAMPTON, Australia (AP) — Not crocodiles, not currents, nor criticism over a shortage of beds will stop the Olympic rowing regatta being staged in the Fitzroy River at Rockhampton at the 2032 Brisbane Games — at least not according to the Australian planners.

In a news conference Thursday at the Rockhampton Rowing Club, Queensland state Premier David Crisafulli lashed out at “naysayers,” accusing critics of the regional venue of elitism.

“I want to put it beyond doubt: rowing and canoeing in 2032 will be held in Rocky,” Crisafulli said, using the local slang for the central Queensland city more widely known as the state's beef cattle capital. “No ifs, no buts, no maybes ... I say to the naysayers, ‘Sorry, we’re not for turning.’”

Rockhampton is about 630 kilometers (390 miles) north of the state capital Brisbane, which is the central Olympic hub for sports venues across Southeast Queensland, also including the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba.

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Thursday, Sep. 10, 2026

Olympics

FILE - Athletes ski past the Olympic rings during the cross country skiing women's 50km mass start classic at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)

SafeSport sees big jump in visitors to banned database after announcing sanctions publicly

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

SafeSport sees big jump in visitors to banned database after announcing sanctions publicly

The Associated Press 2 minute read Thursday, Sep. 3, 2026

DENVER (AP) — The U.S. Center for SafeSport more than doubled the number of new visitors to its online Centralized Disciplinary Database in the month after it started making public announcements about people placed on its banned list.

The center said Thursday that 6,300 new visitors looked at the database between July 21 — the date the initiative was launched — and Aug. 20. That marked a 125% increase over the previous period in 2025.

The center, in charge of combating abuse in Olympic sports, has long published the database. But without publicizing who lands on the list, people had to access the database and know who they were looking for to learn about banned and restricted people in their orbit.

Now, the center delivers a weekly email with updates about people added to the list; the updates include cases taken to arbitration that have reached a decision.

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Thursday, Sep. 3, 2026

Olympics

FILE - Australia's Rachael Gunn, known as B-Girl Raygun, competes during the Round Robin Battle at the breaking competition at La Concorde Urban Park at the 2024 Summer Olympics, on Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin, File)

Rachael Gunn: From Olympic meme to Netflix spotlight in ‘Untold Raygun: Breaking Badly’

John Pye, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Rachael Gunn: From Olympic meme to Netflix spotlight in ‘Untold Raygun: Breaking Badly’

John Pye, The Associated Press 3 minute read Tuesday, Sep. 1, 2026

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — It's no secret how the breaking news on Raygun unfolded at the Paris Olympics: the memes and the mockery came thick and fast.

The Australian breaker at the center of it all, Rachael Gunn, has told how she had an inkling of how it might go when she saw a therapist ahead of the 2024 Games.

The trailer for “Untold Raygun: Breaking Badly,” a Netflix documentary launched this month, begins with Gunn recounting how she went to the therapist in a panic right before the Olympics and was asked what's the worst that could happen?

“The whole world could laugh at me,” she recalled answering, before adding that the therapist responded: “Do you think that's reasonable?”

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Tuesday, Sep. 1, 2026

Olympics

Syla Swords (12), of Canada, shoots in front of Elizabeth Balogun (4), of Nigeria, in a women's basketball game at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Canadian women whip Mexico 83-53, net Olympic pre-qualifying basketball tourney crown

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Canadian women whip Mexico 83-53, net Olympic pre-qualifying basketball tourney crown

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026

GUADALAJARA - Kayla Alexander had 14 points and four rebounds, Agot Makeer scored 13 points, and Canada defeated host Mexico 83-53 in the title game at the FIBA Women's Olympic pre-qualifying basketball tournament on Sunday.

The Canadians, who entered the final with a 4-0 record — they beat New Zealand 86-71 in the semifinals — led 26-11 after the first quarter against Mexico and 47-26 at halftime.

Canada's biggest run in the game came in the opening three minutes of the third quarter when they outscored the hosts 11-0 to grab a 58-26 lead. Mexico responded with a 9-0 run later in the quarter, getting to within 58-35.

Canada had 11 offensive rebounds and 38 defensive rebounds for a total of 49, while Mexico had nine and 21 for a total of 30.

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Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026

Olympics

Gonzaga's Yvonne Ejim speaks with members of the media during the West Coast Conference Women's NCAA college basketball media day on Oct. 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Canada beats host Mexico at FIBA Olympic women’s basketball pre-qualifier

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Canada beats host Mexico at FIBA Olympic women’s basketball pre-qualifier

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026

GUADALAJARA - The Canadian women's basketball team closed the group phase of the FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament with a 70-64 win over Mexico on Thursday night.

Yvonne Ejim had 19 points to help Canada improve to 3-0. Syla Swords chipped in with 17 points.

Mariana Valenzuela had 17 points for Mexico. 

Canada will play New Zealand in the semifinals on Saturday while the host team will play Brazil. The final is set for Sunday. 

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Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026

Olympics

Gonzaga's Yvonne Ejim speaks with members of the media during the West Coast Conference Women's NCAA college basketball media day on Oct. 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Canada dumps the Philippines 85-38 at FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Canada dumps the Philippines 85-38 at FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026

GUADALAJARA - The Canadian senior women's basketball team crushed the Philippines 85-38 on Wednesday at the FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament.

Yvonne Ejim scored 19 points for Canada and Syla Swords added 15.

Canada stormed out to a 23-4 lead at Arena Astros and led 46-11 at halftime.

The eight-team qualifier continues through Sunday.

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Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026

Olympics

MARTIN MEISSNER / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Winnipeg’s Jackson Tachinski made three grabs for 30 yards in the IFAF World Flag Football Championship bronze-medal game Sunday in Germany. With the win, the Canadian men secured the country’s place in the men’s tournament at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Tachinski helps punch men’s flag football ticket to Los Angeles Games

Joshua Frey-Sam 5 minute read Preview

Tachinski helps punch men’s flag football ticket to Los Angeles Games

Joshua Frey-Sam 5 minute read Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026

Jackson Tachinski: future Olympian?

Those prospects got a lot brighter for the Winnipegger on Sunday when the Canadian men’s flag football team won bronze at the IFAF World Flag Football Championships in Germany.

Tachinski was a key cog throughout a run that ended with a thrilling 34-26 overtime victory over Mexico that secured Canada’s spot at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, where flag football will debut on the biggest stage in sports.

“It was awesome. We were in overtime, and we got the ball first, and we ended up scoring and getting a two-point convert. We knew the defence just had to make a few plays and get a stop and we’d (win). Just seeing the ball go up in the air and (Montreal’s Guillaume Béland) came down with the interception, it was an unreal feeling. Just straight euphoria,” Tachinski told the Free Press shortly after returning home.

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Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026

Olympics

FILE - Distance runners round the track at Hayward Field during the Prefontaine Classic track and field meet in Eugene, Ore., June 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Don Ryan, file)

US ’28 track trials headed back to Eugene (not LA) over compressed 6-day schedule

Eddie Pells, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

US ’28 track trials headed back to Eugene (not LA) over compressed 6-day schedule

Eddie Pells, The Associated Press 3 minute read Monday, Aug. 17, 2026

The U.S. track and field Olympic trials will return to Eugene, Oregon, leaving Los Angeles on the sideline weeks before it hosts the 2028 Summer Games.

The trials, set for June 17-22, 2028, will be the sixth straight held at Hayward Field on the University of Oregon campus, which has adopted the nickname “TrackTown USA." It has proven over decades to be America's only consistently viable host for big-time track events.

The six-day schedule will be different from past trials, which usually spanned two weekends, with a couple of off days in the middle. Those six days will not include selection for the decathlon, heptathlon or the 10,000 meters, all of which will be held earlier in the spring — at locations still to be determined — to allow for additional recovery.

The Olympics begin July 14, with the track meet starting the next day; this marks the first time track will cover the opening days of the Games since 1968.

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Monday, Aug. 17, 2026

Olympics

United States' Tyler

US men and Canada women win flag football world titles as spots earned for the Los Angeles Olympics

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

US men and Canada women win flag football world titles as spots earned for the Los Angeles Olympics

The Associated Press 3 minute read Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026

DÜSSELDORF, Germany (AP) — The United States successfully defended the men's title at the flag football world championships on Sunday but lost the women's title to Canada, while Mexico's women and Canada's men earned qualification spots for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The U.S. men beat Italy 46-26 to secure a sixth straight title and the women missed out on a fourth straight title after losing 27-20 to Canada.

“Gold is the only standard,” said men's quarterback Nico Casares, who threw two touchdown passes. “That's our motto. That's what we play by, that's what we live by.”

The U.S. women started strongly but it was tied 14-14 at the break after Caroline Moquin-Joubert caught quarterback Sara Parker's pass at the end of the first half. Parker set up Frederique Morneau at the start of the second half as Canada took control.

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Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026

Olympics

Canada's players celebrate and run to their injured teammate after winning the Flag Football World Championship women's final game between Canada and USA in Duesseldorf, Germany, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Canadian men to join world-champion women when flag football makes Olympic debut

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Canadian men to join world-champion women when flag football makes Olympic debut

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026

DUESSELDORF - Canada's women's flag football team beat the United States for the world title, while men's squad booked its place at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on Sunday at the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) world championships.

The women, who had already qualified with a 20-6 semifinal win over top-ranked Mexico on Saturday, capped a perfect tournament with a 27-20 win over the Americans in the final.

Frédérique Morneau had three touchdown catches for Canada. Quarterback Sara Parker hit Caroline Moquin-Joubert for Canada's other score.

Parker, who had 23 total touchdown passes, was named the most valuable player of the women's tournament.

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Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026

Olympics

Canada's quarterback Sara Parker throws the ball during the Flag Football World Championship women's match between Canada and Panama in Duesseldorf, Germany, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Canadian women punch ticket to 2028 Olympic Games in flag football

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Canadian women punch ticket to 2028 Olympic Games in flag football

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026

DUESSELDORF - The Canadian women's flag football team is bound for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Canada defeated Mexico 20-6 in an International Federation of American Football (IFAF) world championship semifinal Saturday.

"I am so proud of this team," said Canadian women's team head coach Rachel Lessard in a statement. "Qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Games is a reflection of the discipline, resilience and trust this team has built over the course of this process, and they've earned every bit of this opportunity at the 2026 IFAF Flag Football world championships.

"Canadian flag football is on the rise, and we're honoured to officially be able to help carry that momentum to the 2028 Olympic Games."

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Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026

Olympics

Canada's quarterback Sara Parker throws the ball during the Flag Football World Championship women's match between Canada and Panama in Duesseldorf, Germany, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Canada women unbeaten, men fall to Japan ahead of flag football quarterfinals

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Canada women unbeaten, men fall to Japan ahead of flag football quarterfinals

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Friday, Aug. 14, 2026

DÜSSELDORF - Canada's women completed a perfect preliminary round at the world flag football championships Friday, rallying for a 34-20 victory over Japan to improve to 3-0.

Quarterback Sara Parker threw four touchdown passes, including two to Caroline Moquin-Joubert. 

Alexane Fournier and Marianne Quirion also caught TD passes, while Frédérique Morneau scored a rushing touchdown as Canada erased a 20-13 halftime deficit with 21 unanswered points in the second half.

Canada will face Austria in Saturday's quarterfinals. A victory would send the Canadians into a semifinal against the winner of Mexico and Spain.

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Friday, Aug. 14, 2026

Olympics

Canada's women's team poses during the media day ahead of the Flag Football World Championships, the sports first Olympic qualifier for LA28, in Duesseldorf, Germany, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Canadian flag football teams perfect on opening day of world championships

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Canadian flag football teams perfect on opening day of world championships

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026

DÜSSELDORF - Quarterback Sara Parker put on a passing clinic as Canada's women opened the world flag football championships with two wins Thursday.

Parker completed 29 of 39 passes and threw four touchdowns in a 27-14 victory over Panama, including three to Caroline Moquin-Joubert.

Parker then completed 24 of 32 passes with four more touchdowns as Canada rolled past Brazil 36-6. Marianne Quirion and Frédérique Morneau each scored two touchdowns.

Canada's men opened with a 26-6 win over Austria. Michael O'Connor completed 19 of 24 passes for four touchdowns. The men improved to 2-0 after being awarded a victory over Nigeria, which withdrew because of visa issues.

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Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026

Olympics

United States quarterback Nicholas Casares speaks to the Associated Press during the media day ahead of the Flag Football World Championships, the sports first Olympic qualifier for LA28, in Duesseldorf, Germany, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

How flag football is key to the NFL’s plans to further global reach

James Ellingworth, The Associated Press 7 minute read Preview

How flag football is key to the NFL’s plans to further global reach

James Ellingworth, The Associated Press 7 minute read Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026

DUSSELDORF, Germany (AP) — Five-on-five, no contact and an emphasis on speed and elusiveness. The future of football around the world looks different.

The NFL is still hoping to reap the rewards.

The league is making its presence known this week in Dusseldorf as the German city hosts the first-ever Olympic qualifier in flag football, a game the NFL sees as a way to turn viewers into players and lifelong fans.

There are already NFL-branded flag classes in schools from Europe to Australia, Olympic medals on offer in Los Angeles in two years’ time and NFL-backed leagues coming soon that could offer a livelihood to some of the more than 300 players from 18 countries participating in the qualifiers that began Thursday and which double as the world championships.

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Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026

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