Latest news with #Olympic-related
Los Angeles Times
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
San Clemente looks to form Olympic committees ahead of being a host city
With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games three years away, San Clemente is starting to plan for its role as a host city with surf competitions set to take place at Lower Trestles. San Clemente City Council Tuesday discussed the merits of forming a local Olympic committee to work on logistics, economic opportunity and host city duties ahead of the games. San Clemente is one of two Olympic host cities in Orange County with Anaheim as the other, thanks to indoor volleyball coming to the Honda Center. An April 15 Olympics news release praised the selection of Lower Trestles for surfing. 'The venue is synonymous with surfing culture, playing host to numerous World Surf League competitions and earning a mention in the Beach Boys' 1963 hit 'Surfin' U.S.A.,'' it read. Ahead of surfing competitions, Olympic committee duties outlined in a San Clemente staff report included coordinating logistics with the Orange County Transportation Authority, Metrolink, LA28, law enforcement and other agencies. Members would also work with the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce, local businesses and the media to expand economic opportunities that come with being a host city. Helping to organize Olympic watch parties and medal ceremonies as the games commence rounded out the list of future responsibilities. With San Clemente's world-renowned surf at Lower Trestles set to be showcased on such a grand stage, the City Council wrestled with the decision of forming one Olympic committee or several subcommittees, as everyone on the dais displayed enthusiasm about being a host city. Councilmember Victor Cabral favored creating just one ad hoc committee with two of his council colleagues appointed to it, which would streamline its activities outside of the state's open meeting laws. 'All of us will be involved in some way or another,' he said. 'Just having one committee is the right approach. The question for me is, who's on that committee?' Councilmember Mark Enmeier supported forming three subcommittees so that everyone interested would have a meaningful chance to participate. 'This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,' he said. 'I would hate for any one of us to be sidelined with this process.' Mayor Steve Knoblock wanted to appoint Cabral to a single Olympic committee alongside a permanent seat for the city's mayor, a position electorally up for a two-year term next year, until the games conclude. Even though Cabral supported forming one committee, he appeared hesitant to accept Knoblock's appointment with three other colleagues on the dais looking on. Knoblock argued that a majority of the council are ultimately going to vote on Olympic-related initiatives that arise from a committee. 'There's just too many things [for] two council members [to] handle,' Councilmember Zhen Wu said. 'Some of you will run a campaign next year.' 'That's the nice thing about having two people on every subcommittee,' Enmeier echoed in agreement. 'If one can't make it [to a meeting], then there is a second person there to fill that spot.' Councilmember Rick Loeffler has past experience with the Olympics. When Los Angeles last hosted the games in 1984, he received a medal for working security and surveillance. Cabral moved to appoint the mayor and Loeffler, given his credentials, to a single committee, but his colleague's deference defined the dynamics of the evening's discussion. Loeffler wanted to postpone a vote to a future council meeting until after council members have had a chance to converse with staff on how best to move forward, which they unanimously agreed to do. 'This city is going to have an opportunity to shine,' Knoblock reassured. 'We're all going to have an opportunity to shine.'
NBC News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC News
NFL owners to decide fate of 'tush push' and players in 2028 Olympics
NFL owners this week could decide whether the "tush push" belongs in the game, and whether NFL players belong in the Olympics. Beginning Tuesday, owners are holding a three-day spring meeting in Minnesota where two of the most-anticipated changes involve a proposal to ban the quarterback-sneak play that has become wildly successful for the Philadelphia Eagles, in particular, and whether to allow NFL players to compete in flag football during the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Since 2022, the Eagles have converted on reportedly 90 percent of short-yardage situations by modifying the typical quarterback sneak by stationing multiple teammates behind quarterback Jalen Hurts to push him forward at the snap. While the so-called "tush push" is not used exclusively by the Eagles, it was integral to their winning last season's Super Bowl title. Earlier this offseason, the Green Bay Packers emerged as the most vocal opposition to the play, creating a proposal that would "prohibit any offensive player from pushing a teammate who was lined up directly behind the snapper and receives the snap, immediately at the snap." In February, Packers president Mark Murphy had called the play "bad for the game, and we should go back to prohibiting the push of the runner," he wrote bluntly on the team's website. Murphy added that "there is no skill involved and it is almost an automatic first down on plays of a yard or less." (The Packers were 0-2 against Philadelphia last season.) In April, team owners tabled a vote on whether to keep or ban the play. The Eagles reportedly used that extension to lobby owners to reject the proposed ban. During Philadelphia's trip to the White House in April to celebrate their Super Bowl title, President Donald Trump publicly supported keeping the "tush push" legal. "They should keep it," Trump said. "... I like it. It's sort of exciting and different." "We also appreciate the endorsement for the tush push," Eagles coach Nick Sirianni responded. The NFL has used its cachet to support the creation of flag football leagues across the country in recent years and runs its own, yet whether the league and its players union would permit players to take part in the flag football competition during the 2028 Olympics remained to be seen because of injury risks. Owners are set to discuss a resolution that would permit two players per NFL team to take part — one 'designated international player' and another player. The move would open the possibility of NFL players competing for countries outside the U.S. According to the proposal, any Olympic flag football team hoping to add an NFL player would need to abide by minimum standards for medical staff and field surfaces. Also, NFL teams would receive protections in case their players are injured while participating in Olympic-related events, such as a credit under the salary cap. In April, commissioner Roger Goodell said that he had "heard directly from a lot of players who want to participate and represent their country, whether it's United States or the country that they came from." Because the 2028 Olympics will run from July 14-30, it will end before the NFL's preseason schedule begins, making it easier for the league to accommodate. Cities that host each Olympics are permitted to add competitions on a one-time basis, which is how organizers in Los Angeles added flag football, cricket, softball, lacrosse and squash and brought back baseball and softball, which were not contested at the 2012, 2016 or 2024 Olympics but were played in 2020. How well the additions are received helps determine whether they are contested in future Olympics.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Flag football at 2028 Olympics could feature NFL stars if league gives the green light soon
The road to Olympic gold might soon lead through the gridiron—well, sort of. With flag football set to make its debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, the NFL is inching closer to a groundbreaking decision that could allow its players to participate on the world stage. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While it's still early, the momentum is building—and so is the intrigue. NFL players might compete at the 2028 Olympics as decision on flag football participation looms NFL insider Tom Pelissero recently revealed that league owners are preparing to vote on a resolution during next week's spring meeting in Minneapolis. If passed, the proposal would open the door for active NFL players to try out for Olympic flag football squads. However, the resolution comes with some carefully drawn boundaries. Participation would be limited to just one contracted player per NFL team, plus each club's designated international player. The league's official statement reads: "The membership believes that participation by NFL Players in flag football during the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Calif. will support such growth and advance several League interests, including increasing fan and public interest in flag football, expanding the global reach of the NFL, and providing greater opportunities for fan engagement and for our League partners." Clearly, the league sees this as more than just an Olympic opportunity—it's a marketing mission. And there's no doubt that showcasing NFL talent on a global stage could help flag football surge in popularity across untapped international markets. But, of course, there are concerns. The NFL isn't about to let its multimillion-dollar stars hit the Olympic field without some safeguards in place. The resolution proposes injury protection, salary cap credits for teams affected by Olympic-related injuries, and agreements on medical staff standards and field conditions. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It also requires that the Olympic flag football schedule not clash with NFL commitments—something that appears achievable given the Games run from July 14 to July 30, just ahead of training camps. Still, the notion of letting elite athletes compete in a high-stakes tournament so close to the regular season is sparking plenty of debate. As ESPN's Adam Schefter noted, "A resolution about whether NFL players can participate in Olympic football will be under consideration at next week's league meeting in Minneapolis." The Olympic stage could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for NFL players to represent their country in a sport they've mastered, albeit in a non-contact form. Whether owners will embrace that vision—or err on the side of caution—remains to be seen. For now, all eyes are on Minneapolis. The NFL might just be on the verge of blending football with Olympic history—and giving fans around the world something truly special to cheer for. Also Read:
Associated Press
10-02-2025
- Science
- Associated Press
2025 PhD Students and Early Career Academics Research Grants Awarded
International Olympic Committee news In the framework of the PhD Students and Early Career Academics Research Grant Programme, the IOC Olympic Studies Centre (OSC), with help of its Grant Selection Committee, has selected four research projects based on their academic quality and link with Olympic studies. The selected candidates and their chosen projects are: The chosen candidates benefit from a grant which allows them to carry out their research project and, if relevant, to consult the Olympic Studies Centre's resources in Lausanne (Switzerland). The results of their research must be submitted to the OSC at the end of 2025. 35 candidates from 20 countries and 5 continents applied For this 26th edition of the programme, 22 applications were submitted by doctoral students and 13 by early career academics. Background of the programme The PhD Students and Early Career Academics Grant Programme is one of the two research programmes that has been organised by the OSC, aiming to support Olympic-related academic research since 1999. It contributes to promote the presence of Olympic studies in the universities by reaching out to the next generation of professors. What is the selection process? The grant holders were selected by a committee composed of academic experts who are renowned for their involvement in Olympic studies and of OSC representatives. The selection committee for the 2025 edition of the programme comprised the following academic members: Mahfoud Amara (Qatar University, Qatar), Dikaia Chatziefstathiou (Canterbury Christ Church University, Great Britain), Angela Schneider (Western University, Canada), Tracy Taylor (RMIT University, Australia) and Paul Wylleman (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium). Other research grant opportunities University professors, lecturers and research fellows who have completed their doctorate and who currently hold an academic/research appointment covering the period of the grant are eligible to apply to the Advanced Olympic Research Grant Programme. The call for applications for the 2025-2027 edition is now open and the deadline for submitting applications is 27 January 2025. This programme aims to promote advanced research by established researchers with a humanities or social sciences perspective in priority fields of research identified by the IOC. The full list of research projects funded by the Olympic Studies Centre since the creation of its grant programmes in 1999 is available here. For more information on the Olympic Studies Centre and its programmes and services, visit its website or contact [email protected]. To discover the full OSC's collections including 40,000 publications and 1.5km of IOC historical archives, visit the Olympic World Library. The Olympic Studies Centre is the official centre of reference for Olympic knowledge. Its missions are to make Olympic knowledge accessible, foster and support education, teaching and research among students and academics and stimulate the dialogue between the academic community and the Olympic Movement.
