ISU Explores Alternative for Canceled Cups -- Federation Focus

(ATR) The International Skating Union Council is looking into the possibility of a "hub concept" in the Netherlands following the cancellation of four ISU Speed Skating World Cups.

The competitions in Poland and Norway in November and the United States and Canada in December could not be organized as planned due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Council, meeting virtually, said further evaluation of the hub concept is needed along with input from all stakeholders "in order to decide whether this is a feasible way to implement safe, high-level international competitions with worldwide participation during the time period" of the cancelled events.

The ISU says it will communicate the conclusions reached by the Council as soon as possible.

There is no backup plan for the cancellation of the first two ISU World Cup Short Track Competitions scheduled to be held in Canada in November. The two December short track events, one in Seoul and the other in Beijing, remain on the calendar pending further consultations with all stakeholders.

FIBA Restarts Competition Schedule

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) is using the hub concept for its first events since suspending all competitions on March 13 due to the pandemic.

Debrecen, Hungary is in the midst of hosting three consecutive Masters events on the FIBA 3x3 World Tour this week.

The Debrecen Masters was held on August 29-30, the Hungary Masters on Sept. 1-2, and the Europe Masters is upcoming on Sept. 4-5. The latter two events were originally scheduled for Bucharest, Romania.

Thirteen of the top 15 teams in the world are competing.

The competitions began just days before the Hungarian government decided to re-close its borders to internationals beginning on Sept. 1 due to a spike in COVID-19 cases outside the country.

Financial Support for Olympic Rugby Teams

The rugby sevens teams that have qualified for Tokyo 2020 are receiving a cash infusion from World Rugby to help them prepare for the Olympics.

The federation says it is making a dedicated initial investment of $2.5 million in funding. Each union that has a qualified team can request money that would be used for squad training camps, competition support, technical and sports science and medical programs.

"This will ensure that Olympic qualified teams have the necessary training and high-level competition opportunities to optimize their performance and light up the biggest sporting stage at the Olympic Games in Tokyo,"World Rugby Chief Executive Brett Gosper said in a statement.

World Rugby says the funding commitment is possible thanks to the federation receiving an advance from the IOC on payments for Tokyo 2020.

The men’s and women’s Olympic tournaments will feature 12 teams each.

So far 11 of the 12 men’s spots have been filled. Joining the hosts Japan are Fiji, USA, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, Kenya and South Korea.

Ten of the 12 women’s teams have been finalized. New Zealand, USA, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Great Britain, Kenya, Fiji and China have qualified alongside the host country.

The final Olympic qualification tournaments were postponed by the pandemic and have yet to be rescheduled.

The Maldives Back in CGF

The Commonwealth Games Federation has re-admitted the Maldives.

The move paves the way for the South Asian island nation to compete at the next Commonwealth Games in 2022 in Birmingham, England.

The Maldives missed out on Gold Coast 2018 due to the Maldives government’s withdrawal from the Commonwealth in 2016.

Prior to that, the Maldives had competed in eight editions of the competition, beginning in Edinburgh in 1986 and most recently in Glasgow in 2014.

"It will be an honor and a privilege to see the Maldives compete at the next Commonwealth Games in Birmingham 2022, where there will be huge support for your island nation especially at the Opening Ceremony," saidCGF President Louise Martin in a statement.

Written by Gerard Farek

For general comments or questions,click here.

Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.