Anchorage Eyes 2026; Mersin Med Games Head to Finish

Anchorage Explores 2026 Bid

Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, is considering a bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The city’s mayor, Dan Sullivan, introduced the 23-member exploratory committee on Tuesday. Anchorage had unsuccessful bids for the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics.

"We still feel, in fact more confidently than ever, that Anchorage has the capability, the facilities and most of all, the spirit and the willingness to be the host city," Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan said when unveiling the committee, according to The Associated Press.

Sullivan said the city has struggled like many municipalities in the wake of the worldwide economic downturn and admitted financing could be the trickiest part of a bid.

"But I think we're back on the right track," he said. "And you're talking about games in 2026, so it's 13 years from now. You'd like to think we'll be even better positioned than we are today."

On Tuesday, the city was also announced as the host of several national winter sport events.

The AP says Sullivan wants the committee to complete its research into finances, venues, housing and transportation within eight months.

Mersin Med Games Head to Finish

The Mediterranean Games in Mersin, Turkey head to a close this weekend with close to 100,000 attending events so far. Athletics starts today.

Viewed in some ways as a test of Turkey’s sports organization skills with Istanbul bidding for 2020, the event has moved smoothly since opening June 20.

"The delivery of Mersin 2013’s robust Games platform in such a comparatively short time has rightly drawn much praise from the media and the Olympic Family as well as fans and athletes here in Mersin," said Ugur Erdener, president of the National Olympic Committee of Turkey.

Mersin stepped up to host the Games 18 months ago when Voulos-Larisa, Greece pulled out for financial reasons.

Cookson Rejects McQuaid’s Criticism

The war of words between feuding candidates for president of UCI, cycling’s governing body, shows no signs of slowing down.

On Monday, Brian Cookson unveiled the manifesto for his challenge to Pat McQuaid. On Tuesday, McQuaid called the proposal: "half baked, fundamentally flawed and financially impractical."

While Cookson said Wednesday he would not comment "in kind" on the criticims, he did say McQuaid’s "bullying and haranguing style seems designed to antagonize everyone who does not share his approach to the governance of world cycling.Yesterday’s release was a reminder of the sometimes absurd and entirely counter-productive feuds in which he has engaged."

He added: "On Monday I set out a new agenda for the UCI and cycling which has already received very strong support from around the world. I have been truly encouraged by the messages I have received following the launch and the serious and considered way which members of the cycling family and the media have responded to the direction I want to set."

Elections are scheduled for September.

Team Canada Gets Dressed

Adidas will outfit the Canadian Olympic team for four years.

The deal was announced by the Canadian Olympic Committee on Tuesday.

Under the partnership, adidas will launch a new "High Performance Collection," and the apparel will be sold through SportCheck stores in Canada.

"The adidas brand is synonymous with so many memorable international sporting moments, therefore partnering with seven of Canada’s most accomplished athletes was a natural fit," said Marcel Aubut, President of the Canadian Olympic Committee.

WADA Releases Report

The World Anti-Doping Agency released its 2012 annual report on Thursday.

The report, which details WADA activities and funding, is available on the agency’s website by clicking here.

Written by Ed Hula III.

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