#ICYMI: IBU Seeks Feedback, Hockey Argentino, Beach Water Polo Debut, Tokyo 2020 one year to go

#ICYMI -- In Case You Missed It ... Sometimes the best stories don't get the attention we think they deserve. Here are our staff picks for articles this week they really want you to know about.

IBU Seeks Feedback on New Constitution

(ATR) The International Biathlon Union (IBU) executive board completes the first draft of the new IBU constitution.

The highlight of the document is the proposal to create an independent Biathlon Integrity Unit (BIU), which will centrally manage all integrity-related matters concerning biathlon.

The federation’s offices were raided in February 2018 in a probe by Austrian police into claims of corruption and doping fraud linked to cases involving Russian athletes. The former IBU president Anders Besseberg and secretary general Nicole Resch left their federation posts amid the investigation, though both deny wrongdoing.

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Hockey Argentino Por el Oro en Lima

(ATR) Los seleccionados argentinos de hockey vienen de cerrar una muy buena temporada que esperan coronar con el boleto a los Juegos Olímpicos. En el debut de la Pro League las Leonas lograron ingresar en el ‘Final Four’ y terminaron cuartas, luego de perder su partido de semifinales frente a Australia. Los hombres, en cambio, terminaron quintos en la general, a un punto de la clasificación. Esta experiencia, de roce internacional y choques de alto vuelo, fue la experiencia perfecta en la previa a la gran cita panamericana.

Ambos equipos buscan la medalla de oro que les otorgue el pasaje a los Juegos Olímpicos de Tokio 2020. Ese es su único objetivo, el único resultado aceptado. Los Leones son los campeones defensores y Canadá se presenta como su principal rival. En cambio, las mujeres buscarán enmendar dos años de frustraciones, que las dejaron con la medalla de plata. Este año, los dos seleccionados llegan con planteles renovados y con rodaje, nuevos sistemas de juego y hambre de gloria.

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Beach Water Polo Debut at FINA World Championships

(ATR) China leads the medal table after three days of competition at the FINA Aquatics World Championships.

China has won 10 medals so far, followed by Russia with five. Mexico has four medals and the United States and Italy have three each, but none of the three countries have struck gold yet.

The world champs started July 12 and will run until July 28.

"As you can see, we are prepared and ready for the successful hosting of the Championships. Gwangju is equipped with excellent conditions and the ticket sales have surpassed the target goal thanks to the interest and support from the Korean citizens," said Gwangju Mayor Yong Sup Lee.

This year’s championships breaks a record with 194 out of 209 FINA national member federations participating. Approximately 2,500 athletes will compete in six aquatic disciplines, aiming for medals in 76 events.

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Tokyo 2020 Prepare for Year-to-Go Celebrations

(ATR) Games organizers are staging a star-studded series of events in the Japanese capital as part of the one-year countdown to the Olympics.

The official year-to-go ceremony takes place at the Tokyo International Forum on July 24. It will be attended by IOC president Thomas Bach and Olympic officials, including 2020 coordination commission chair John Coates and Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike.

Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto will deliver a progress report on Games preparations. Games president Yoshiro Mori will give a speech, while Bach will follow IOC tradition in officially inviting the world’s NOCs to take part in the Olympics and Paralympics.

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