When you do a google search for "2036 Olympics", at least 90% of the articles are about India. And most of the discussion through the internet, by politicians and officials seem to make this entire discussion about India. You would think that India is the only one bidding for the games based upon a simple news search.

India is clearly trying to dominate the news and the overall discussion. Despite this, India has not taken concrete measure to prove their ability as a host, nor have they make progress addressing issues of sports governance.

Will all this non stop rhetoric and overconfidence from India potentially backfire and turn off IOC members who vote?

With all the talk about the selection process for the Alps 2030 long track speed skating venue, I was looking at the history of these venues and it got me thinking. Out of all the venues which have hosted Long Track Speed Skating at the Winter Olympics, which one is your favorite?

For me, the BBC’s Paris 2024 montage was the best. The childhood photos and parent comments about their medal winning children along with the music made me very emotional at the time and slightly less emotional now.

What’s your favourite closing montage?

The world cup has given the u.s. fever for the sport and hopefully it carries on with the Olympics coming up in 2 years because several states are hosting the sport which will probably drive the demand for tickets. I know it's different since many top players don't play but who knows perhaps we'll see countries hungry for the gold and send their best.

A few days ago, a source from the CAS revealed, exclusively for GOLAZO.ro, that the Romanian state does not have money for the Olympic bronze medal process.

"It's a very sensitive situation. The problem is that the Romanians do not have the financial guarantees to be able to start this process. It would take approximately 60,000 francs (approximately 65,000 euros), representing legal expenses, expert opinions, travel. The Americans, on the other hand, have three law firms and a budget of approximately 2-2.5 million euros."

Bărbosu may lose her medal forever! The Romanian state did not transfer the money for the CAS trial for the Olympic bronze to begin

Today, just a few dozen minutes ago, the appeal made by the Americans was put on the table at the CAS. GOLAZO.ro sources have come up with new details.

"There will be a panel of three arbitrators (not a panel of judges), and for such cases the amount is higher. It is around 90,000 Swiss francs (98,000 euros) for the arbitrators' fees and court costs. The Romanian side has ten days to pay this amount."

FRG President Ioan Suciu, in a point of view requested by GOLAZO.ro, was blunt on the issue of the money that is necessary to start the process at the CAS.

"We are not just talking about the case of Ana Bărbosu, but about Romania's ability to defend its Olympic performances. Defending an Olympic result cannot be the responsibility of a single institution. The dispute pending before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne involves significant costs, estimated at approximately 250,000 Swiss francs (272,000 euros).

This amount represents a tentative estimate by the lawyers, based on the elements available at this time, the final value being influenced by the evolution of the procedure and the complexity of the legal proceedings.

These costs include specialized legal fees, technical and sports expertise, evidence management, certified translations, procedural fees and other expenses specific to an international dispute of this complexity."

Ana Bărbosu may lose her medal permanently

The Romanian state, meaning the National Agency for Sports, the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee, the Romanian Gymnastics Federation, does not have to find just these 90,000 euros.

GOLAZO.ro sources say that the bronze medal process in the floor final of the 2024 Olympic Games is also linked to Omega. More precisely, the Romanian state must sue the Swiss manufacturer.

The American side managed to return the case to the CAS, where Ana's lawyers had managed to win, because it presented, to the Swiss Federal Court, a recording showing that Cecile Landi, Jordan Chiles' coach, filed the appeal in 53 seconds.

But Romania requested official time records from Omega two years ago, and the company refused to provide them because it doesn't want to be made a "scapegoat" in this scandal. So they need to be sued to be forced to be transparent in this case.

"That means another approximately 150,000 francs (163,000 euros)", sources familiar with the case told us.

"But it may not get there, because if Romania does not pay 90,000 euros (representing arbitrator fees, court costs), then Jordan Chiles will remain with the bronze medal from the Olympic Games. Because the ranking at the end of the final will be taken into account", concluded the GOLAZO.ro sources.

Bogdan Matei, president of the National Agency for Sports, Mihai Covaliu, president of the ROSC, and George Boroi, secretary general of the ROSC, could not be contacted to provide details on this issue.

What happened at the Paris Olympics, and after, with the Olympic bronze?

In the floor gymnastics final, Ana Maria Bărbosu's performance was scored with 13,700, ranking 3rd.

Floor sample ranking:

1. Rebecca Andrade - 14,166

• 2. Simone Biles - 14,133
• 3. Ana Maria Barbosu  - 13,700
• 4. Sabrina Voinea - 13,700
• 5. Jordan Chiles  - 13,666

American Jordan Chiles' performance was scored 13.666. The athlete's coach decided to appeal, and the judges accepted the appeal. They increased her score by one tenth to 13.766. With the new score, Jordan Chiles overtook Ana Maria Bărbosu in the event standings and received the bronze medal.

The Romanian Olympic delegation did not give up and filed an appeal with the CAS, requesting the annulment of the appeal made by Cecile Landi, the American coach. The reason? Exceeding the 1-minute time limit allocated for filing the appeal.

The Lausanne Forum accepted Romania's appeal, and on August 16, 2024, Ana Bărbosu received the bronze medal she won in Paris. The award ceremony took place on the esplanade of the Olympic House in Bucharest.

The US Olympic Committee appealed to the last possible avenue of appeal for Jordan Chiles to win the bronze medal: the Swiss Federal Tribunal (SFT). It decided, on January 29, 2026, to refer the case back to the CAS, for the following reasons:

• The SFT acknowledged serious shortcomings in the CAS's collaboration with the American side. More specifically, communication left much to be desired.
• There were serious violations of the regulations by the International Gymnastics Federation.
• The discovery of new evidence that was not considered in the first trial at the CAS. Specifically, the video evidence of the Americans. Netflix was making a documentary about Simone Biles and has footage of the moment Cecile Landi files her appeal at the referees' table.

I wanted to share a Google Map overlay I created that denotes every Olympic venue from Athens 1896 through Utah 2034. 

I’ve always been into the host city / venue aspect of the Games. And I started working on this map during the recent Milano Cortina Games once I realized that the curling venue was once an open-air venue that hosted the 1956 Cortina Opening & Closing Ceremonies... that sent me down a rabbit hole. It was really enjoyable researching and putting this map together.

Link to map here:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1m3WArPPs0n8vyXS775sJWa31JBO3y5s&hl=en&ll=-3.81666561775622e-14%2C0&z=1

(map tends to function a bit better on desktop version)

Please let me know what you think! I hope it can be a resource for students, journalists, researchers, and Olympic fans. 

I continue to update the map as new venues are announced for future Games. Most importantly, I want it to be fully accurate -- so please let me know if you see a mistake! And look out for some easter eggs throughout.

https://preview.redd.it/3sni6q4gevah1.jpg?width=1856&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=108257de98386264f3c66859aaff41cdc9fc8d47

https://preview.redd.it/zvir7p4gevah1.jpg?width=1818&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=67a16251d524aa237b4e3f586054e559fce92b3f

https://preview.redd.it/r7rl0q4gevah1.jpg?width=1964&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f751d93faa52a1719b7af04864e4681c2eaddf29

The IOC has started the bidding process for the 2036 Summer Olympics and as always, there is much discussion and debate over where should the games end up. But one needs to consider what is needed to make for a great Olympic host city and ultimately a great Olympic Games.

In your opinion, what qualities in a city make for a great Olympic host city?

I'm writing a character and would like to know if one person can qualify for both hockey and figure skating at the same time? Like, can they do both?

Six teams per gender will participate in the men’s and women’s T20 format cricket competitions at LA28. A total of 28 matches will be played across the two competitions.

The qualification systems set out the pathways athletes must follow over the coming months to earn their place at LA28.

Cricket will make its long-awaited return to the Olympic Games at LA28, 128 years after its only previous appearance at Paris 1900.

The updates in surfing see an increase in places through the WSL professional tour to eight men and eight women, alongside a clearer and more structured role for the ISA pathway, maintaining a balance between performance and universality.

The timeline within the qualification framework is maintained (2026-2028) and sees further refinement to sequencing and hierarchy across events leading to the final allocation.