Billionaire Gina Rinehart has offered Australian Commonwealth Games swimmers cash bonuses for medals and world records at Glasgow 2026, welcomed by Kyle Chalmers. This incentive aims to boost participation amid athlete withdrawals, though Commonwealth Games Australia distances itself from the private scheme.
Netball, historically dismissed as a 'girly game' and pioneered by suffragist Martina Bergman Osterberg, is now professionalizing and campaigning for Olympic inclusion at Brisbane 2032. The sport, driven by women, seeks to secure its future beyond the Commonwealth Games.
Queensland councils are celebrating six years until the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games, with a countdown clock unveiled in Queen Street Mall. The state government still needs to build seven new venues and upgrade ten, but officials express confidence in readiness. A legacy vision includes 50,000 new homes and transport expansion, while Moreton Bay unveiled a Matilda kangaroo replica.
The Queensland state government released new renders for the National Aquatic Centre in Brisbane, securing ARM Architecture, NH Architecture, and Arkhefield to design the 2032 Olympics venue. Early works at Centenary Pool, Spring Hill, begin September 1, with Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie set to make a formal announcement.
Southampton manager Tonda Eckert faces a lengthy FA suspension for three counts of misconduct related to the "Spygate" scandal, involving covertly observing Championship training sessions. This follows the club's four-point deduction by the EFL and a FIFA ban precedent for similar actions.
The Australian women's water polo team, the Stingers, prepares for the World Aquatics World Cup Finals in Sydney, showcasing a strong team culture built on respect, camaraderie, and a shared love for the sport, which propelled them to a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Reg Tayler has been named head coach of the world champion Australian women's rugby sevens team, succeeding Tim Walsh. Tayler will lead the squad in its two-year preparation for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, aiming for a gold medal.
Retired artistic gymnast Dipa Karmakar reflects on her 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze in Glasgow and expresses support for Pranati Nayak, believing she has a strong chance for a medal. Karmakar also looks forward to India hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad and potentially the 2036 Olympics.
Hong Kong triathlete sisters Cade and Tallulah Wright, 23, are poised for Asian Games debuts in September. Their coach believes they can achieve Olympic qualification and major medals if they focus on the sport until at least the 2032 Olympics.
Archer Aviation CEO Adam Goldstein stated the company is focused on certifying its air taxis by the 2028 LA Olympics. The company also unveiled its Thunder autonomous defense craft with Anduril, leading to a nearly 20% stock rally, benefiting from a new eVTOL pilot program.
Double Winter Olympic champion Matt Weston, Britain's most successful male Winter Olympian, has become an athlete advocate for Protect Our Winters (POW). He decided to use his raised profile to speak out against climate change after witnessing its impact on winter landscapes and training conditions, advocating for solutions like improved public transport.
PV Sindhu, after becoming the first Indian to win the Japan Open, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his congratulatory message, expressing gratitude and recalling cherished memories of their past meetings and his unwavering support for Indian sport.
Australian boxer Tina Rahimi, the first Muslim woman to represent Australia at the Olympics wearing a hijab, discusses overcoming Islamophobia and an identity crisis after her Olympic loss. She prepares for her professional debut, aiming to inspire and challenge perceptions in a multicultural Australia.
Paris Olympics champion Zheng Qinwen advanced to the Athens Open quarter-finals, her first tour-level quarter-final in a year, by defeating Elena Micic 6-4, 6-1. Zheng needs to win the WTA 250 tournament in Greece to qualify for the US Open main draw.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach criticized Ukraine's calls to boycott the Paris 2024 Games if Russian athletes participate. Bach emphasized the Olympics' role in unifying, not escalating confrontation, and cited UN Human Rights Council concerns about banning athletes based on nationality.
Ukraine's Sports Minister Matviy Bidnyi expressed "profound outrage" at the IOC's decision to lift restrictions on Russian athletes, calling it unfair and disrespectful to fallen Ukrainian athletes. He urged IOC President Kirsty Coventry to visit Ukraine to witness the war's reality.
The LAPD is considering freezing its training academy operations for months after January 2028 to deploy over 300 training officers for the 2028 Olympics. This proposal faces strong opposition from the police union, warning of severe officer shortages and safety risks for Los Angeles, as current staffing is far below the estimated need for the Games.
Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk expressed shock and strong condemnation regarding the potential return of Russian athletes to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Meanwhile, French player Angilou Volgini is close to joining Saudi club Al-Khaleej.
The IOC provisionally lifted its suspension of Russia, allowing Russian athletes a path to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The decision, citing Russia's distancing from occupied Ukrainian territories, faces criticism from Ukraine and concerns over past doping scandals.
The IOC has provisionally lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, paving the way for Russia to potentially compete with its national flag and anthem at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Sports bodies are advised to end vetting for neutral competition.
Il presidente della Fisi, Flavio Roda, critica la decisione del CIO di escludere la combinata nordica dalle Olimpiadi invernali del 2030, definendola "l'affossamento di questa disciplina". Roda lamenta gli sforzi delle federazioni per mantenere vivi sport di nicchia con storia, mentre il CIO esclude la disciplina anziché includere le donne.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will decide at a later date on the display of Russian national symbols, including the flag, anthem, and colors, at the Olympic Games. The IOC also stated it will not organize events in Russia or invite Russian government officials to its events.
The IOC has advised Olympic sports federations to stop vetting Russian athletes for neutral status ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. This follows an earlier recommendation to allow Belarusian and Russian athletes to compete with their national identity, though full national representation is still pending.
Nordic Combined has been removed from the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps due to limited competitors and low public interest. Freeride and Synchro9 (figure skating) will debut, and the Games will feature 50% female athletes.
