Latest news with #OlympicWinterGames
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Meet Elsa Desmond - Ireland's luge star who refused to give up on Olympic dream
Very few people would go to the extreme of setting up a national sports federation to pursue their Olympic dream. That's exactly what Elsa Desmond did when she was 19, setting up the Irish Luge Federation after a long and then intensive period of lobbying the Olympic Federation of Ireland. From there it took almost two years for her to be allowed to race internationally. Her big ambition was to qualify for the Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina next February yet she squeezed into the 2022 Games in Beijing. "I'd had this sort of 48 hours of being utterly miserable because we thought I wasn't in," she explained. Desmond was travelling in a minibus from Sigulda in Latvia to Oberhof in Germany, a two-day journey of the kind that the smaller competing nations take as a matter of course on the circuit, when Ireland's chef de mission Nancy Chillingworth phoned her. "She said, 'I'd normally ring your coach but since you don't have one, I'll tell you, you've qualified for the Olympics'," Desmond recalled. "I may have made her say it three or four times because I just didn't believe her. I really didn't think that that was possible. Then I remember her hanging up and I just cried for about 10 minutes before I was even able to call my mom." Desmond has always lived a life less ordinary. She was raised in a family surrounded by Olympic rowers in Buckingham. Her father had competed internationally and her mother was an elite swimmer. "I didn't think being an Olympic gold medallist was that big a deal until I got older because so many of them were my family and friends, it's just something I grew up around," she said. Desmond fell in love with luge while watching the 2006 Torino Olympics. "I knew from then that it was what I wanted to do," said the 27-year-old, who qualifies for Ireland through her grandparents from Cork and Cavan. "Then I got on the sled as a teenager and there was no going back. My life has never been the easy path, so this just made sense." Luge riders speed down a slippery ice track, relying on reflexes for steering - and with no protection. "The danger wasn't really something I considered," Desmond reflected. "I always just thought Luge was this beautiful sport because it's a mix of power and precision. "Unlike bobsleigh and skeleton, where you can hit a wall and still win an Olympic medal, you can't do that in Luge. It requires perfect, and I always thought there was beauty in that." But there are no luge tracks in Britain and Ireland and so the first time Desmond got on a track was after extensive requests to accompany the British military to Innsbruck in Austria. "It was all these adult men and me, this teenage girl, and I was faster than all of them. And I just fell in love with it from that first run," she said. And if it had gone badly? "Knowing myself, I think I would have persevered for a while, to be sure that I was terrible at it," Desmond smiled. "But it's one of those sports you need a natural ability to start with. I've seen so many people who are naturally athletic, but you put them on a sled and they're useless. "You'd never know which way it's going to go with luge. But we started with me from a very low start height, I only did sort of five or six corners on that first run. "My speeds weren't very high but I didn't crash particularly more than anyone else that week. I think they thought I was a pain in the ass. Like I've been trying to get on that camp for years and I think they finally thought, 'right, let her have a go and then she'll leave us alone'. And that unfortunately didn't happen!" Still on the board of the Irish Luge Federation and also coaching Lily Cooke and Finnian Zimmerman, who are up and coming athletes, Desmond is also an emergency medicine doctor. She left behind the stress of life in the NHS system for a job in Akureyri, in northern Iceland, where she works half the hours for double the pay and that allows her to focus on her training. Now ranked 28th in the world - she was 54th going to Beijing and finished in 33rd place - Desmond makes her life as a luge athlete work despite the obstacles in terms of funding and resources. In Beijing she used a junior beginner sled and now, in the process of sourcing a new senior standard racing sled, she is looking at a €20,000 price tag. "I might have to sell my car in autumn to be able to afford this new equipment and if I have to do that, I have to do that, it'll be worth it," she said. That the next Games will be in Italy, where this journey began for her, is what everything is building towards for Desmond. "Italy would be huge, partly because I was inspired by an Olympics in Italy," she said. "I watched the women's event, and there were no Irish women. There were also no British women, so there was no one there that I felt represented me. So I decided I would do it. "And now the idea that there might be an Irish child the same age I was watching and seeing me would be really a dream come true."
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia Excluded From 2026 Olympic Ice Hockey Tournaments
Numerous international media outlets are reporting that the International Ice Hockey Federation has made the decision to ban Russian teams from competing in the men's and women's ice hockey tournaments at the Olympic Winter Games next February in Milan, Italy. The decision was reportedly made at Friday's annual congress in Stockholm, Sweden. Multiple sources have cited an initial report from Latvian media outlet SportaCentrs. The IIHF has not yet publicly confirmed the news. If confirmed, the groups for the men's tournament, which runs from Feb. 11 to 22, will be: Group A: Canada, Switzerland, Czechia, France Group B: Finland, Sweden, Slovakia, Italy Group C: United States, Germany, Latvia, Denmark The groups for the women's tournament, which runs from Feb. 5 to 19, will be: Group A: Canada, United States, Finland, Czechia, Switzerland Group B: Gemany, Sweden, Japan, Italy, France Latvia, Denmark, Slovakia (and maybe France) qualify for 2026 Olympics Three teams qualified for the men's ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Sunday by winning de facto play-in games on the last day of the final qualifying tournament. In both cases, France takes the place of Russia, although the groups would have been different, based on the IIHF World Rankings. France was the highest-ranked second-place team in the final round of qualifying for men and women. Russian teams last competed in an IIHF-sanctioned event at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, where both men's and women's teams were called "Russian Olympic Committee" for sanctioning reasons. Photo: Russian teams wearing "ROC jerseys at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing © George Walker IV-Imagn Images Dominik Hašek Accuses High-Ranking Russian Politician Of Threatening His Life Czech hall-of-fame goaltender Dominik Hašek has never been one to hide his opinions and has been relentless over the past few years in his condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and those who support it – explicitly or implicitly – and influential Russian politicians have apparently taken notice.
Calgary Herald
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Olympian, University of Calgary star Dawn Richardson Wilson returns to national bobsleigh program
Article content Dawn Richardson Wilson is back in bobsleigh. Article content The multi-sport athlete from Edmonton has confirmed she will make another run at earning a spot to represent Canada at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano/Cortina, Italy. Article content 'I'm excited to return to bobsleigh for the chance to re-engage with the sport now with a renewed purpose, deeper focus and a stronger sense of identity,' said the 25-year-old. 'The intensity of the ice, the team's unity at the start line, and the precision required to compete at the highest level are irreplaceable experiences. I have truly missed the rush, challenge, and camaraderie of wearing the maple leaf. Representing Canada is an incredible honour and I am doing so now with a fresh perspective, maturity, and gratitude so it means more to me than ever before.' Article content Article content Richardson Wilson stepped away from the icy track after making her Olympic debut at Beijing 2022 to complete her education at the University of Calgary where she also represented the Dinos in track and field. Over the last four years, she set new school records, achieved personal bests and challenged herself across various events from 60m to 300m to hurdles. Outside of sport, she worked as a correctional officer at the Calgary Remand Centre. Article content Article content 'This time away has truly been a gift. It has provided me with the space to slow down, recover physically, and allow myself to reflect on why I pursued this path in the first place – and that work is far from done,' said Richardson Wilson. Article content 'Spending time in track and field was about returning to the basics and honestly addressing the areas where I needed improvement. In bobsleigh, the start is crucial; those first few seconds can make or break a run. I realized I needed to become more explosive, quicker off the line, and sharper in my sprint mechanics. Track training allowed me to isolate and focus on these elements without the distraction of the sled. It helped me rebuild a solid athletic foundation, concentrating on speed, power, and proper movement. Although it wasn't easy, the process has been both humbling and rewarding, and I can already feel the difference in how I move and push.' Article content Article content The multi-sport athlete competed for Canada at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games, but her journey into bobsleigh began after having a conversation with her mentor and high school basketball coach, Dean Walls. He drew her attention to an open recruitment camp for bobsleigh that was taking place in Edmonton. Richardson Wilson rose to the challenge. She began training with her strength and conditioning coach and impressed during her first camp. Small in size and stature, big in heart, work ethic and natural talent, Richardson Wilson made an immediate impression on national bobsleigh program coaches. Article content
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
HELLO AGAIN WORLD - Press Conference for World Winter Sports Expo Held in Beijing
BEIJING, May 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 15, 2025, the press conference for the World Winter Sports Expo (WWSE) was held in Shijingshan District, Beijing. Under the theme "Hello Again World", this event marks the beginning of a new decade for the globally renowned expo, which has become a cornerstone of the winter sports industry. The press conference was attended by government officials, diplomats from leading winter sports nations in China, representatives from relevant industry departments, hosts, industry leaders, and nearly a hundred media representatives from both domestic and international outlets. Deepening Ice and Snow Cooperation, Shaping a New Future for Economy At the press conference, Zhang Shengjun, Member of the Leading Party Members Group and Vice Mayor of Shijingshan District, delivered the opening remarks. He expressed that since the inception of the WWSE, Shijingshan has collaborated closely with it to shape a promising future for the ice and snow industry. This nearly decade-long partnership highlights the district's strategic role in the ice and snow economy and reflects the strong bond between both parties. This year, with the tenth WWSE being held once again in Shijingshan, it not only brings new opportunities for the local ice and snow industry but also injects fresh vitality into the district's ice and snow development initiatives. Looking ahead, Shijingshan will further deepen its collaboration with the WWSE to drive the development of the ice and snow industry. It will intensify efforts to attract investment, drawing more renowned domestic and international ice and snow enterprises to establish a presence here. It will continue to enhance the construction of ice and snow facilities, improve services, and strengthen the industry chain, so as to create a comprehensive ice and snow industry ecosystem that integrates sports, tourism, culture, and technology. A Decade of Dedication: Paving a New Path for International Cooperation and Industrial Prosperity Ms. Zhang Li, Co-President of Asia Digital Group, opened by reflecting on the ten-year journey of the WWSE. She emphasized that hosting the WWSE aligns with Beijing's commitment to the international community made during its bid for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games. Since its inception in 2016, the WWSE has become a benchmark platform for the global ice and snow industry. Over the past nine years, it has grown into the world's leading winter sports expo, with its scale expanding dramatically. The previous versions attracted participation from prominent international winter sports organizations, including the International Olympic Committee, the International Biathlon Union, the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation, and government bodies and industry groups from over 30 countries and regions, such as Finland, Austria and Switzerland. It covers the entire ice and snow industry chain, from equipment and technological innovations to the integration of culture and tourism. With an internationalization rate of 68%, it has solidified its position as a key hub for global winter sports resource connections. The WWSE has provided a vital platform for the industry's growth and facilitated more than 200 projects under international cooperation, driving the global expansion of winter sports and industry upgrades. It has become an essential showcase for the vitality of China's economy and a testament to international collaboration. Over the past decade of the WWSE, the global winter-related industry has undergone a structural transformation, with notable growth in market scale and participation. While Europe and North America continue to dominate the industry, the Asian market has been leading in growth. In China, the sector has surged from 270 billion yuan in 2015 to an estimated 1 trillion yuan by 2025, with its global market share rising from 3% to 15%. On the participation front, global ski visits reached 350 million during the 2021-2022 ski season. Driven by the national strategy to "engage 300 million people in winter sports", China has become a key driver of global growth. With the dual push of technological advancements and policy support, the legacy of the Olympic Winter Games continues to unfold, enabling a deep transformation of China's winter sports industry. The sector is shifting from expansion in scale to technological self-reliance and event commercialization. "HELLO AGAIN WORLD". Building on a decade of experience, the WWSE has established an international platform for cooperation within the global ice and snow industry. This initiative facilitates the cross-border flow of technology, capital, and resources, underscoring China's deepening integration of its relative economy into the global supply chain. As the WWSE moves forward, it drives industry evolution and upgrade through innovation, illustrating China's strategic shift from scale expansion to high-quality development. Furthermore, it supports the global ice and snow economy in accelerating its transformation towards low-carbon, intelligent, and inclusive growth. Three Highlights Expanding Global Industries, Ice and Snow Platform Connecting a Diverse Ecosystem The press conference also offered a detailed overview of the preparations for this WWSE. Ms. Zhang noted that, marking its tenth anniversary, the WWSE will showcase three highlights: internationalization, industrialization, and pioneering. A wide array of activities will be presented, including exhibitions, forums, business match-making, and carnival. In terms of internationalization, it will welcome deep participation from major winter sports powers such as Austria, Japan, and Germany to bring together top global companies and brands. It is expected to attract numerous industry organizations and leading enterprises from winter sports powers, with international participation projected to exceed 60%. Forum sessions will also feature international officials, government representatives from winter sports powers, executives from global winter sports brands, and industry experts, all working together to advance global exchange and cooperation in the ice and snow industry. Meanwhile, the WWSE will roll out programs such as the Global Cities Partnership Program, the Program of "China's Ice and Snow Welcomes the World", and the Exclave Program, aimed at enhancing exchanges between China and the world, while linking domestic and international networks. The WWSE will continue to drive industrial growth by offering one-stop ice and snow solutions through its forum-driven industry approach. The forums will focus on a range of topics, including winter sports, culture, equipment, and tourism, discussing trends and innovative pathways for the sector. Specific sessions will address the integration of culture with tourism, the rise of the winter-featured cities and the new economy, the innovative development of winter sports equipment, and the outdoor and mountain industries. Specialized discussions will also cover topics such as the global expansion of outdoor brands, the development of talent in winter sports and events, and the operation of ski resorts. In addition, entrepreneurship competitions, brand-focused meetings, and a series of closed-door discussions will be held. A key feature of the event will be the resource procurement matchmaking session, which will connect ski resorts and skating rinks of all sizes with suppliers, while also promoting collaborations with winter tourism clubs and travel routes. The industrial matchmaking event will focus on facilitating partnerships between government bodies and partner companies of the WWSE, as well as supporting the implementation of various projects, offering full-cycle customized services, and inviting procurement teams to participate. To mark its tenth anniversary, the WWSE will also host a series of awards recognizing the most innovative brands in global manufacturing services, popular clubs (including skiing, ice skating, and ice hockey), leading winter tourism destinations in China, successful winter sports marketing campaigns, the most competitive startups, medium and small-sized ski resorts of high quality, and top global personal equipment brands. These awards aim to highlight the most influential figures in the industry, set benchmarks, and shape the future of the sector. This WWSE has introduced a series of unique and exciting initiatives to drive mass participation in winter sports activities, furthering the success of the "300 million people engaged in winter sports" campaign. Notable highlights include the Winter Sports Carnival, which takes place in the form of a main venue and nationwide touring sub-venues, and features a range of immersive experiences such as limited-time figure skating performances, paid ice skating sessions, and indoor land surfing on skating rinks. These activities allow audiences to experience the elegance and passion of winter sports up close. The "Fun Shopping for Winter Sports" series can invigorate the consumer market by offering a one-stop shopping experience, combining both online and offline channels to deliver greater convenience and variety. The "Joyful Trendy Winter Market" showcases a wide array of products, including outdoor gear, sports nutrition, trendy beverages, and sports equipment, catering to diverse consumer needs. The "Personal Second-hand Free Trade Market" will facilitate the exchange of second-hand sports equipment, facilitating a circular economy and enhancing the social aspect of winter sports. Special events, including the Stamp Collection of Winter Olympics Journey, a "City Consumption Map" collaboration with local shopping malls, and the distribution of WWSE vouchers, provide consumers with tangible discounts and conveniences, further boosting the upgrade of consumption. Ten Exciting Activities Waiting for You, WWSE Opening a New Chapter in Its Decade-Long Journey Ms. Zhang also unveiled featured activities for the tenth anniversary, showcasing a host of unique and exciting activities. This WWSE will involve ten winter sports powers, such as Austria, Japan, and Germany, among others, to present the latest developments and features of their industries, promoting deeper international collaboration. In addition to these global showcases, the event will set industry standards through a series of multi-dimensional selections. Ten selections covers categories such as personal equipment brands, tourist destinations, and marketing cases. In line with the Global Ice and Snow Industry Alliance, ten inspection plans will be organized in renowned winter-featured cities. Ten interviews engages top industry leaders, renowned for their expertise and influence. Ten innovative projects will be selected, highlighting the most investment-worthy ventures in the field. Ten ambassadors promotion plans will be carried out in collaboration with influential figures from the industry. To further amplify its reach, the WWSE will partner with authoritative media platforms to launch ten platform linkage plans. Ten themed exhibition zones will showcase a broad range of topics, including winter sports, tourism, and lifestyle. The zones include Winter & Alpine Technology, National Pavilion, China's Ice and Snow Economic Clusters, Winter Tourism Destinations, Personal Winter Sports Equipment, Institutions and Industry Service, SRDIT Enterprises, and Winter Sports Culture and Events. What's more, ten special forums will delve into winter sports, culture, equipment, and tourism, while ten winter activities, including the Winter Sports Carnival, the Purchasing Festival, and Public Winter Festival, will offer global enthusiasts the chance to experience the passion and charm of winter sports firsthand. As a vital industrial milestone of the WWSE, the press conference also revealed that this year's "Research Report on China's Winter Sports Industry Development" will be launched on site as usual. Since the first release in 2016, the report has become China's first comprehensive industry report, covering the entire sector. It has played a key role in supporting the development of related industries by providing valuable research and data. Looking ahead, the WWSE plans to establish a research institute, designed to bring together global expertise and innovation from the industry. The institute will offer more specialized and comprehensive intellectual support for organizations and enterprises in the sector. Furthermore, it is committed to building a "Tenth Anniversary" ecosystem. This will include a focus on a global winter sports industry alliance and resource-sharing network, a collaborative platform for media, events, and activities, and a tenth anniversary all-media matrix. This integrated approach will ensure full-channel communication through official platforms and deepened cooperation across the industry. During the press conference, a roundtable discussion was held centered on the theme of "Driving Industry Innovation through the Growth of Ice and Snow Consumer Demand". Moderated by Ms. Zhang, the session involved six experts in the industry, who are long-time partners of the WWSE, that is, Ms. Melissa Säilä, Minister-Counselor at the Embassy of Finland, Beijing; Sunny Shen, Marketing Director & Engo Ice Devision Business Unit Director of Italian TechnoAlpin China; Mr. Ding Xiangxu, Head of Asia for TOMSEN; Mr. Luo Yun, Founder of Metaspace; Mr. Hu Wei, General Manager of Beijing Nanshan Ski Resort Co., Ltd；and Huang Jing, Marketing Deputy General Manager of Zhangjiakou Yunding Snow Park Management Company. The discussion circles around four areas, policy analysis, technological perspectives, cultural insights, and spatial restructuring. Together with industry representatives, the panel worked to develop a comprehensive vision for the innovative growth of the sector. As it marks its tenth anniversary, the WWSE will strengthen global connections, foster sustainable industry growth, and unlock new opportunities for the ice and snow economy. View original content: SOURCE World Winter Sports (Beijing) Expo Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Olympic skier from Turkey and his father killed in hotel fire
An Olympic skier and his father were killed Thursday in a fire at a closed ski resort hotel in northwest Turkey. The victims were identified by The Associated Press as Berkin Usta, 25, a skier who represented Turkey at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, and his father, Yahya Usta, 57, president of the Turkish Ski and Snowboard Teachers Association. Turkey's sports minister, Osman Askin Bak, addressed the loss in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. 'I learned with deep sorrow the news that our national athlete Berkin Usta, who represented Türkiye at the Beijing Winter Olympics, and his father, former national athlete Yahya Usta, passed away in a fire that broke out in Bursa,' he said according to a translation. Outgoing IOC President Thomas Bach also posted on X about the deaths, calling them tragic. Bach wrote, 'Berkin lived his Olympic dream by competing at the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 in Alpine skiing.' The skier and his father, whose wife, Fikriye, was said to have survived the fire, were all staying on the fifth floor of the Kervansaray Hotel in Uludag, Turkey, according to the AP, even though the hotel had been shut down in early January when its accommodation permit was cancelled. Authorities have not made clear why they were there, the AP reported. The provincial governor's office told reporters a dozen staff members but no guests were at the hotel when the fire began at 5:30 a.m. Several people suffering smoke inhalation were hospitalized. Television coverage of the fire at the 30-year-old hotel, located on the slopes of a popular ski destination less than three hours from Istanbul, showed it was quickly engulfed by flames, according to the AP, which said the upper floors were gutted. An investigation has been launched and the hotel manager has been detained according to the state-run Anadolu Agency. The deadly blaze comes two months after 79 people were killed in a fire that occurred during a school holiday at another Turkish winter resort. An investigation into the January 21 fire at the Grand Kartal hotel in Kartalkaya has led to the detention of 28 people who are awaiting trial.
