Reuters' Ardi Nair notes that the “bitter feud” over boxing governance “raises doubts about the sport's future,” and that this year's Olympic Games “fear that it will be the last for some time.” The boxing tournament in Paris is organized by the IOC, which “stripped the International Boxing Association (IBA) of its official recognition” last June. The IBA's decision to offer prize money to boxers at the Paris Games “further rifts the relationship between the two organizations,” and there are “concerns that boxing may be excluded from future Olympics.” Boxing “is not on the original program for LA28.” It is “hard to imagine an Olympic landscape without the 'sweet science' that has been a part of every Olympics since 1904 except for the 1912 Stockholm Games,” but even “amid the gloom, there is hope that the allure of this cruel sport will prevail.”Reuters, July 9).
American sailor Hans Henken (left) is “passionate about promoting his sport” but “worried about its future”Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Full Sail: In San Francisco, Anne Killion wrote that sailor Hans Henken was “eager to promote his sport, which has been part of the modern Olympics since its inception in 1896,” and “worried about its future.” Henken said, “I feel strongly that sailing is slowly being phased out. Athlete participation is declining. I don't think there are enough people who understand our sport.” Killion noted that technology and its costs are “one of the reasons why sailing may be threatened as an Olympic sport.” The Olympics are “adding more accessible sports like breaking, but some of the traditional country club sports are seen as expensive and elitist.” Henken estimated that the annual budget, excluding coaching fees, is “more than $300,000” and that it “could be pushed up to $500,000 a year.”SF Chronicle 7/8).
Yes, Boy.: THE ATHLETIC's Alex Andrejev reports that artist Flavor Flav “will be at the Paris Games cheering on the U.S. women's water polo team as they seek their fourth Olympic gold medal.” Flavor Flav also said he will “attend the women's team's final pre-Olympic home game” against Hungary in Berkeley, California. Flavor said he's “trying to get as many people involved as possible,” adding, “Hopefully what I'm doing will pave the way for other celebrities like me to sponsor Olympic teams, because these athletes work so hard to make the U.S. look good.”Athletic, 7/9).
