(ATR) Sport climbing and triathlon are the latest sports to be added to the program for the European Games Krakow-Malopolska 2023.
Sport climbing, which makes its Olympic Games debut this summer at Tokyo 2020, will be making its first appearance at the European Games in 2023. Athletes will compete in Poland with qualifying opportunities for Paris 2024 available.
Triathlon will return to the European Games fold in 2023 for the second time after featuring at the first edition in Baku in 2015.
International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) President Marco Scolaris said his sport’s inclusion in the European Games will be an excellent platform for the continent’s best climbers.
"Only a few weeks after the inclusion in the Pan American Games, we are confident that this additional step will strengthen the relationship between our National Federations and their National Olympic Committees, much to the benefit of the growth of our sport," Scolaris said.
World Triathlon European Continental President Renato Bertrandi confirmed that his sport would have an increased presence in 2023 compared to its debut in 2015.
"Triathlon was part of the first edition of the Games back in 2015 where we successfully staged our race over the standard (Olympic) distance. In 2023 we will be in the European Games with two races: the individual one based on the standard distance, 1500 Swim, 40km Cycle and 10k Run, and the Mixed Relay. This is a new exciting, fast and furious format that will provide a second medal opportunity to our discipline of triathlon for the first time in Tokyo 2020," Bertrandi said.
The European Games Kraków-Małopolska 2023 are set to include roughly two dozen Olympic and non-Olympic sports.
Sport climbing and triathlon join archery, badminton, beach handball, boxing, canoe, karate, modern pentathlon, muaythai, shooting and taekwondo on the 2023 program, with more sports set to follow in the coming weeks.
Record Number of Women Referees for Major FIBA Events
The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) announces that a record number of women will be refereeing major tournaments this summer.
Eight women have been chosen to work the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in Latvia in July, the first time women will be officiating at that event. The FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup in August will have 12 female referees. The combined total of 20 women out of the 56 total referees for the two tournaments is also a record.
The percentage of women refereeing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic tournaments this summer is not as high. Only five of the 30 are women.
FIBA says the increase in numbers is evidence that it is acting on one of its main strategic focus areas for 2019-2023 by developing and leveraging female coaches and officials.
A First for the Caribbean
Former high jump star Brendan Williams of Dominica becomes the first Caribbean athlete in history to lead the athletes commission of a major International Sports Federation.
Williams has been confirmed as the new Chair of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Athletes Advisory Commission (AAC) effective March 31. He will serve in the position, as well as being the Athletes Representative on the CGF Executive Board, until the conclusion of the 2023 CGF General Assembly.
Williams, who competed for Dominica in the Commonwealth Games at Delhi 2010 and Glasgow 2014, has been the Caribbean representative on the CGF AAC since its formation in 2018.
He is also Chair of the Dominica Athletes Commission, a Board member of the Dominica Olympic Committee and serves on the athletes commission of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC).
Williams replaces former hockey player Rhona Toft as the AAC Chair.
"This is a proud moment for me and my family but also everyone involved in sport in Dominica and across the Caribbean," Williams said.
"It shows that no matter how small the island, this Movement is built on equality and opportunity. I am excited to bring my experience and perspectives to the AAC and the Executive Board and working with all of the Commonwealth regions, members and athletes to support and drive an athlete-centred approach.
"I must also pay tribute to Rhona, who is a great friend and mentor to me, and I look forward to building on her legacy."
IBSF Adds Four Members
Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam are the newest members of the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation.
The IBSF now has 78 national federations after the latest additions earlier in March.
"It is our great pleasure that upon the initiative by the PyeongChang 2018 legacy foundation these federations have already recruited athletes who are currently sliding at the Olympic sliding track in PyeongChang," wrote IBSF President Ivo Ferriani in a letter to the IBSF members.
"This way we are able to build upon the success of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Games and expand the IBSF sliding family in Asian countries."
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Written by Gerard Farek
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