Latest news with #OlympicandParalympicWinterGames
NBC Sports
a day ago
- Automotive
- NBC Sports
HONDA SUPPORTING THE HOME TEAM AS FOUNDING PARTNER OF LA28 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES AND OFFICIAL AUTOMOTIVE PARTNER OF TEAM USA
As a Founding Partner, Honda will work closely with LA28 to deliver an accessible vehicle fleet for the Olympic and Paralympic Games using a wide range of mobility products Official Automotive Partnership includes Honda support of U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams in the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 and LA28 Games Honda makes multi-year $1M donation dedicated to helping individuals reach their life's potential, supporting the spirit of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement Partnership reflects Honda investment in America including U.S. headquarters in Los Angeles for more than 60 years and over 30,000 U.S. associates across the country TORRANCE, CALIF. (June 2, 2025) – Honda will help the world's greatest athletes pursue their dreams in 2028 as a Founding Partner of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Honda, which established its first U.S. operations in Los Angeles in June 1959, will also serve as the Official Automotive Partner of Team USA, supporting the United States Olympic and Paralympic teams during the LA28 Games and upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. The partnership was announced today by LA28, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and Honda during a celebration at the American Honda headquarters in Torrance, California. American Honda President & CEO Kazuhiro Takizawa was joined by LA28 Chairperson & President Casey Wasserman, LA28 CEO Reynold Hoover, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Properties CEO John Slusher, USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland, and LA28 Chief Athlete Officer Janet Evans, in addition to U.S. Olympians and Paralympians Misty May-Treanor, Sara Hughes and Susannah Scaroni, along with community and business partners. 'The founders of Honda established our first U.S. operation in Los Angeles over 65 years ago, believing that success in America would lead to the success of Honda worldwide,' said Kazuhiro Takizawa, President & CEO of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. 'On behalf of our 30,000 associates across the U.S. and in Southern California, Honda is proud to partner with LA28 and Team USA to support the remarkable athletes who will follow that same path to realize their dreams in Los Angeles in the quest for gold in the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.' 'In 2028, thousands of athletes will descend on Los Angeles to chase their Olympic and Paralympic dreams. LA28 and Honda share a belief in the power of those dreams—and in the ability of the Games to inspire people everywhere to reach for excellence,' said Casey Wasserman, LA28 Chairperson and President. 'I'm proud to welcome Honda—a company deeply invested in the U.S. and the LA region—to the LA28 and Team USA family as a Founding Partner. Together we will drive excellence and innovation for the Olympic and Paralympic Movements.' 'We are thrilled to welcome Honda to the family of Team USA and LA28 partners, and we are grateful for their support of Team USA athletes as they chase their Olympic and Paralympic dreams,' said USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland. 'The LA28 Games will be transformative for athletes and fans alike, and partners like Honda will help tell that story and drive Olympic and Paralympic engagement to new levels.' Honda Role as an LA28 Founding Partner As a Founding Partner and the Official Automotive Partner, Honda will work closely with LA28 on an accessible vehicle fleet for the Games, featuring a wide range of mobility products—helping thousands of athletes, officials and other key Games stakeholders from around the world move across Southern California. 'Few events embody perseverance, self-belief, the spirit of competition and the pursuit of excellence like the Olympic and Paralympic Games—qualities that align with the longstanding Honda global brand slogan, 'The Power of Dreams – how we move you',' added Takizawa. 'The dreams of Honda associates serve as the driving force of our company, leading Honda to take on challenges to create a freedom of mobility that moves people physically, while also moving them emotionally. In this way, we can help the world's greatest athletes—and people everywhere—fulfill their own life's potential and enjoy their lives.' Honda will offer a wide range of mobility products for usage throughout the Games, maximizing the use of electrified vehicles like the upcoming Honda 0 Series and Acura RSX. Honda also will provide powersports products including motorcycles, ATVs and side-by-sides, as well as Motocompacto e-scooters plus Honda Marine engines. Additionally, LA28 plans for Honda and Acura vehicles to act as the official pace vehicles for all LA28 endurance events. This partnership builds on the six-decade commitment of Honda to Los Angeles and communities across the country. Honda will continue to support the spirit of the Games by committing $1 million over the next four years to organizations that help individuals reach their life's potential, on and off the field. This is on top of the more than $16 million committed by Honda and the Honda USA Foundation this year to support organizations advancing mobility, education, environment, traffic safety and community initiatives. Honda and NBCUniversal look forward to expanding the partnership to include a multi-platform media collaboration with NBCUniversal, spotlighting Honda across coverage of both Milano Cortina 2026 and the LA28 Games. 'Honda has a rich history in the United States, with deep roots in Los Angeles, and their commitment to achieving excellence directly connects to the spirit of the Olympic and Paralympic Games,' said Mark Marshall, Chairman, Global Advertising and Partnerships, NBCUniversal. 'They are the perfect partner to join the Movement for both LA28 and Milan-Cortina, and we are excited to showcase empowering stories with Honda's support throughout our comprehensive coverage of the Games. We look forward to extending our strong partnership with Honda across NBCUniversal.' Honda Commitment to Supporting the Dreams of Athletes Honda has long supported athletes in their efforts to achieve their Olympic and Paralympic dreams. Global Honda was proud to sponsor three Paralympic athletes who competed at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, including U.S. Paralympian Susannah Scaroni, who spoke during the press conference, and medaled in four Para Track & Field disciplines: 800m, 1500m, 5000m and the Marathon. Scaroni won a gold medal in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and is an LA28 hopeful. Additionally, for nearly four decades, Honda has sponsored the Collegiate Women Sports Awards and the prestigious Honda Cup, which counts numerous U.S. Olympic medal winners among its ranks including Southern California natives Lisa Fernandez (3x Gold Medalist, Softball) and Misty May-Treanor (3x Gold Medalist, Volleyball), who was on hand at the press announcement. Honda in Southern California Honda has shared a special bond with Los Angeles since 1959, when it opened its first U.S. office in a Pico Boulevard storefront. Just five years later, the company moved to Gardena, eventually settling into its current corporate campus in Torrance in 1990. Over the decades, Honda's ties to Southern California have only deepened—through long-standing partnerships with cultural institutions, live sport competitions, local attractions and venues across Southern California. Additional background on Honda's enduring relationship with SoCal and Honda in America is available here. ABOUT LA28 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES The LA28 Games will mark Los Angeles' third time hosting the Olympic Games, previously hosting in 1984 and 1932, and first time to host the Paralympic Games. Los Angeles will host the world's most elite athletes in 2028 as it welcomes Paralympians and Olympians from around the world to compete on the biggest stage in sports. The LA28 Games are independently operated by a privately funded, nonprofit organization, with revenue from corporate partners, licensing agreements, hospitality and ticketing programs, and a significant contribution from the International Olympic Committee. ABOUT HONDA IN AMERICA Honda started operations in the United States with American Honda Motor Co., Inc. in 1959. Today, Honda employs over 30,000 associates in America engaged in the development, manufacturing, sales and service support of Honda and Acura automobiles, Honda power equipment, Honda powersports products and the HondaJet advanced light jet. Based on its longstanding commitment to build products close to the customer, Honda operates 12 major U.S. manufacturing facilities, working with 620 U.S. suppliers to produce a diverse range of Honda products using domestic and global parts. Honda has built automobiles in America for over 40 years, and in 2024, nearly 64% of all Honda and Acura automobiles sold in the U.S. were produced in America. Honda also conducts research and development activities at 23 facilities in America where it fully designs, develops and engineers many of the products the company manufactures in America. Honda and Acura high-performance racing programs are also conducted in America including the design and development of powertrain, chassis, electronics, and performance parts, as well as technical and race support. Learn more with the Honda Digital FactBook. ABOUT TEAM USA Team USA is the world's largest and most diverse team of athletes from across the United States who compete at the Olympic, Paralympic, Youth Olympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games. The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, founded in 1894, serves as the National Olympic Committee and National Paralympic Committee for the United States and is responsible for protecting, supporting and empowering Team USA athletes. For more information, visit ABOUT NBCUNIVERSAL NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our theme parks and consumer experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, USA Network, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Universal Studio Group and have world-renowned theme parks and attractions through Universal Destinations & Experiences. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. Visit for more information. ### LA28 Press Contact: Press@ Honda Press Contact: Andrew Quillin andrew_quillin@ —LA28—
Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
HONDA SUPPORTING THE HOME TEAM AS FOUNDING PARTNER OF LA28 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES AND OFFICIAL AUTOMOTIVE PARTNER OF TEAM USA
As a Founding Partner, Honda will work closely with LA28 to deliver an accessible vehicle fleet for the Olympic and Paralympic Games using a wide range of mobility products Official Automotive Partnership includes Honda support of U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams in the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 and LA28 Games Honda makes multi-year $1M donation dedicated to helping individuals reach their life's potential, supporting the spirit of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement Partnership reflects Honda investment in America including U.S. headquarters in Los Angeles for more than 60 years and over 30,000 U.S. associates across the country TORRANCE, Calif., June 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Honda will help the world's greatest athletes pursue their dreams in 2028 as a Founding Partner of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Honda, which established its first U.S. operations in Los Angeles in June 1959, will also serve as the Official Automotive Partner of Team USA, supporting the United States Olympic and Paralympic teams during the LA28 Games and upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. The partnership was announced today by LA28, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and Honda during a celebration at the American Honda headquarters in Torrance, California. American Honda President & CEO Kazuhiro Takizawa was joined by LA28 Chairperson & President Casey Wasserman, LA28 CEO Reynold Hoover, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Properties CEO John Slusher, USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland, and LA28 Chief Athlete Officer Janet Evans, in addition to U.S. Olympians and Paralympians Misty May-Treanor, Sara Hughes and Susannah Scaroni, along with community and business partners. "The founders of Honda established our first U.S. operation in Los Angeles over 65 years ago, believing that success in America would lead to the success of Honda worldwide," said Kazuhiro Takizawa, President & CEO of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "On behalf of our 30,000 associates across the U.S. and in Southern California, Honda is proud to partner with LA28 and Team USA to support the remarkable athletes who will follow that same path to realize their dreams in Los Angeles in the quest for gold in the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games." "In 2028, thousands of athletes will descend on Los Angeles to chase their Olympic and Paralympic dreams. LA28 and Honda share a belief in the power of those dreams—and in the ability of the Games to inspire people everywhere to reach for excellence," said Casey Wasserman, LA28 Chairperson and President. "I'm proud to welcome Honda—a company deeply invested in the U.S. and the LA region—to the LA28 and Team USA family as a Founding Partner. Together we will drive excellence and innovation for the Olympic and Paralympic Movements." "We are thrilled to welcome Honda to the family of Team USA and LA28 partners, and we are grateful for their support of Team USA athletes as they chase their Olympic and Paralympic dreams," said USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland. "The LA28 Games will be transformative for athletes and fans alike, and partners like Honda will help tell that story and drive Olympic and Paralympic engagement to new levels." Honda Role as an LA28 Founding PartnerAs a Founding Partner and the Official Automotive Partner, Honda will work closely with LA28 on an accessible vehicle fleet for the Games, featuring a wide range of mobility products—helping thousands of athletes, officials and other key Games stakeholders from around the world move across Southern California. "Few events embody perseverance, self-belief, the spirit of competition and the pursuit of excellence like the Olympic and Paralympic Games—qualities that align with the longstanding Honda global brand slogan, 'The Power of Dreams – how we move you'," added Takizawa. "The dreams of Honda associates serve as the driving force of our company, leading Honda to take on challenges to create a freedom of mobility that moves people physically, while also moving them emotionally. In this way, we can help the world's greatest athletes—and people everywhere—fulfill their own life's potential and enjoy their lives." Honda will offer a wide range of mobility products for usage throughout the Games, maximizing the use of electrified vehicles like the upcoming Honda 0 Series and Acura RSX. Honda also will provide powersports products including motorcycles, ATVs and side-by-sides, as well as Motocompacto e-scooters plus Honda Marine engines. Additionally, LA28 plans for Honda and Acura vehicles to act as the official pace vehicles for all LA28 endurance events. This partnership builds on the six-decade commitment of Honda to Los Angeles and communities across the country. Honda will continue to support the spirit of the Games by committing $1 million over the next four years to organizations that help individuals reach their life's potential, on and off the field. This is on top of the more than $16 million committed by Honda and the Honda USA Foundation this year to support organizations advancing mobility, education, environment, traffic safety and community initiatives. Honda and NBCUniversal look forward to expanding the partnership to include a multi-platform media collaboration with NBCUniversal, spotlighting Honda across coverage of both Milano Cortina 2026 and the LA28 Games. "Honda has a rich history in the United States, with deep roots in Los Angeles. Their commitment to achieving excellence directly connects to the spirit of the Olympic and Paralympic Games," said Mark Marshall, Chairman, Global Advertising and Partnerships, NBCUniversal. "They are the perfect partner to join the Movement for both LA28 and Milan-Cortina, and we are excited to showcase empowering stories with Honda's support throughout our comprehensive coverage of the Games. We look forward to extending our strong partnership with Honda across NBCUniversal." Honda Commitment to Supporting the Dreams of AthletesHonda has long supported athletes in their efforts to achieve their Olympic and Paralympic dreams. Global Honda was proud to sponsor three Paralympic athletes who competed at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, including U.S. Paralympian Susannah Scaroni, who spoke during the press conference, and medaled in four Para Track & Field disciplines: 800m, 1500m, 5000m and the Marathon. Scaroni won a gold medal in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and is an LA28 hopeful. Additionally, for nearly four decades, Honda has sponsored the Collegiate Women Sports Awards and the prestigious Honda Cup, which counts numerous U.S. Olympic medal winners among its ranks including Southern California natives Lisa Fernandez (3x Gold Medalist, Softball) and Misty May-Treanor (3x Gold Medalist, Volleyball), who was on hand at the press announcement. Honda in Southern California Honda has shared a special bond with Los Angeles since 1959, when it opened its first U.S. office in a Pico Boulevard storefront. Just five years later, the company moved to Gardena, eventually settling into its current corporate campus in Torrance in 1990. Over the decades, Honda's ties to Southern California have only deepened—through long-standing partnerships with cultural institutions, live sport competitions, local attractions and venues across Southern California. Additional background on Honda's enduring relationship with SoCal and Honda in America is available here. ABOUT HONDA IN AMERICAHonda started operations in the United States with American Honda Motor Co., Inc. in 1959. Today, Honda employs over 30,000 associates in America engaged in the development, manufacturing, sales and service support of Honda and Acura automobiles, Honda power equipment, Honda powersports products and the HondaJet advanced light jet. Based on its longstanding commitment to build products close to the customer, Honda operates 12 major U.S. manufacturing facilities, working with 620 U.S. suppliers to produce a diverse range of Honda products using domestic and global parts. Honda has built automobiles in America for over 40 years, and in 2024, nearly 2/3 of all Honda and Acura automobiles sold in the U.S. were produced in America. Honda also conducts research and development activities at 23 facilities in America where it fully designs, develops and engineers many of the products the company manufactures in America. Honda and Acura high-performance racing programs are also conducted in America including the design and development of powertrain, chassis, electronics, and performance parts, as well as technical and race support. Learn more with the Honda Digital FactBook. ABOUT LA28 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMESThe LA28 Games will mark Los Angeles' third time hosting the Olympic Games, previously hosting in 1984 and 1932, and first time to host the Paralympic Games. Los Angeles will host the world's most elite athletes in 2028 as it welcomes Paralympians and Olympians from around the world to compete on the biggest stage in sports. The LA28 Games are independently operated by a privately funded, nonprofit organization, with revenue from corporate partners, licensing agreements, hospitality and ticketing programs, and a significant contribution from the International Olympic Committee. ABOUT TEAM USATeam USA is the world's largest and most diverse team of athletes from across the United States who compete at the Olympic, Paralympic, Youth Olympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games. The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, founded in 1894, serves as the National Olympic Committee and National Paralympic Committee for the United States and is responsible for protecting, supporting and empowering Team USA athletes. For more information, visit ABOUT NBCUNIVERSALNBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our theme parks and consumer experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, USA Network, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Universal Studio Group and have world-renowned theme parks and attractions through Universal Destinations & Experiences. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. Visit for more information. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Honda 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
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Shiffrin says in essay she feels 'like myself again' after recovering from ski racing crash, PTSD
FILE - United States' Mikaela Shiffrin reacts on the podium after winning the women's slalom at the World Cup Finals, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/John Locher, File) Mikaela Shiffrin, U.S. World Cup alpine skier, is interviewed at a NBCUniversal and U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee press preview event to promote the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) Mikaela Shiffrin, U.S. World Cup alpine skier, is interviewed at a NBCUniversal and U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee press preview event to promote the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) FILE - United States' Mikaela Shiffrin reacts on the podium after winning the women's slalom at the World Cup Finals, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/John Locher, File) Mikaela Shiffrin, U.S. World Cup alpine skier, is interviewed at a NBCUniversal and U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee press preview event to promote the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) Two-time Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin finally feels 'like myself again' after recovering from a ski racing crash last season and lingering post-traumatic stress disorder. Shiffrin described in an essay for The Players' Tribune released Friday the physical and mental hurdles she needed to clear after her serious spill during a giant slalom race in Killington, Vermont, on Nov. 30. In the crash, something punctured Shiffrin's side and caused severe damage to her oblique muscles. Advertisement 'Everyone knows what it feels like to have a bad cough. But PTSD … it's not like that,' the 30-year-old from Edwards, Colorado, wrote. 'It comes in all shapes and sizes. Everyone experiences it in their own way, and no two cases are exactly alike.' Shiffrin was leading after the first run of the GS that day in Killington. With the finish line in sight on her final run, she lost an edge and slid into a gate, flipping over her skis. The all-time winningest Alpine World Cup ski racer then slammed into another gate before coming to a stop in the protective fencing. To this day, she doesn't know what led to the puncture wound, only that it was "a millimeter from pretty catastrophic,' she told The Associated Press. Shiffrin wrote in The Players' Tribune it was 'difficult to explain what the pain felt like. But the closest I can get would probably be, it was like … not only was there a knife stabbing me, but the knife was actually still inside of me.' In late January, Shiffrin returned to the World Cup circuit. The giant slalom, though, remained a cause of anxiety and she skipped the event at world championships. Advertisement Ever so steadily, she's working on overcoming the mental trauma surrounding the GS as she gears up for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games. She won an Olympic gold medal in the discipline at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. She's been working with a psychologist to conquer her mental obstacles. 'I can admit that there were some extremely low moments," recounted Shiffrin, who won her 100th career World Cup ski race in February. "Times when I started second-guessing myself, or was critical of myself because I felt like I was letting what happened mess with me so much. It was like: Come on, Mikaela, people have had way worse crashes than that, way worse injuries. Those people got through it. What is wrong with you? "On particularly bad days, I'd question my motivation, or whether I still wanted to do this anymore. In my head, I'd be saying to myself: You know what, I kind of couldn't care less if I ever race again.' Advertisement She and the therapist began looking at her recovery through the prism of PTSD. 'With me, I also think it's possible that the crash I had at the beginning of 2024 in Cortina, and then Killington happening. … that those two crashes maybe built on one another,' Shiffrin said. 'I talked with my therapist about that, and she let me know that past trauma, or a history of traumatic events, can sometimes affect your reaction to new traumatic events.' She lost her dad, Jeff, five years ago in a home accident. Her fiancé and fellow ski racer Aleksander Aamodt Kilde of Norway is still recovering from a serious ski crash on Jan. 13, 2024. 'Maybe when I crashed and got that puncture wound, maybe that was kind of a perfect-storm situation for PTSD to take hold," Shiffrin wrote. Advertisement Shiffrin said one thing that's helped is 'getting back to a place of joy.' She closed her essay with: "All I can do is smile with appreciation. Because, finally .... I feel like myself again.' ___ AP skiing:
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
After NFL approval, LA28's Wasserman is optimistic MLB players will also find a path to the Olympics
Chloe Kim, a two-time U.S. Olympic snowboard gold medalist, arrives at an NBCUniversal and U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee press preview event to promote the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, in Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) Oksana Masters, a Paralympic nordic skiing athlete, speaks at an NBCUniversal and U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee press preview event to promote the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) Mikaela Shiffrin, U.S. World Cup alpine skier left, and Mike Tirico, NBC Olympics primetime host meet at a NBCUniversal and U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee press preview event to promote the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, in Los Angeles Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) Casey Wasserman, chairman of LA 2028, the organizing committee for the 2028 Summer Olympics, is interviewed at an NBCUniversal and U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee press preview event to promote the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) Casey Wasserman, chairman of LA 2028, the organizing committee for the 2028 Summer Olympics, is interviewed at an NBCUniversal and U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee press preview event to promote the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) Chloe Kim, a two-time U.S. Olympic snowboard gold medalist, arrives at an NBCUniversal and U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee press preview event to promote the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, in Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) Oksana Masters, a Paralympic nordic skiing athlete, speaks at an NBCUniversal and U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee press preview event to promote the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) Mikaela Shiffrin, U.S. World Cup alpine skier left, and Mike Tirico, NBC Olympics primetime host meet at a NBCUniversal and U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee press preview event to promote the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, in Los Angeles Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) Casey Wasserman, chairman of LA 2028, the organizing committee for the 2028 Summer Olympics, is interviewed at an NBCUniversal and U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee press preview event to promote the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) LOS ANGELES (AP) — The organizers of the Los Angeles Olympics remain optimistic that Major League Baseball will find a way to join the NFL in sending the world's best athletes in their respective sports to the 2028 Games. LA28 president and chairman Casey Wasserman said he has been in close contact with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred about the decision that must be made by both the league and the players' union on whether to send players to the Olympics in the middle of the 2028 baseball season. There's no current timetable for the decision. Advertisement 'I'm optimistic because it's the right thing for the sport of baseball, it's the right thing for the players and it's certainly the right thing for the Olympics,' Wasserman told The Associated Press on Wednesday. 'I think when things make sense for everybody, you can usually find a way to get things done.' LA28 was buoyed last week by the NFL owners' unanimous decision to approve the players' participation in the inaugural Olympic flag football event, with Wasserman calling it 'an awesome day." The Los Angeles organizing committee is hoping for similar news on baseball, whenever the decision is made. 'We're very engaged with the commissioner,' Wasserman said. 'I talked to him in anticipation of the NFL announcement so they knew what was coming. They have a different challenge because it's in the middle of their season, but we are very engaged in ongoing discussions with the hope to get to a good result.' Players' union head Tony Clark has said his players want to vie for Olympic gold — particularly those who got a taste of international competition in previous World Baseball Classics. Several superstars have expressed public interest in playing in the Los Angeles Olympic tournament, including reigning league MVPs Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani. Advertisement But the decision is much tougher for baseball because the Olympics fall in the heart of the regular season, necessitating major scheduling changes similar to the quadrennial disruption of the NHL season when the league participates in the Winter Olympics. Baseball also isn't a pillar of the Olympic program like ice hockey, being only intermittently included in the Summer Games for decades. The NFL players who make their nations' 10-man flag football teams are unlikely to miss more than a few days of training camp in July 2028, but MLB would have to make a dramatic adjustment to its normal competition schedule. Manfred spoke about the decision last month in New York at a meeting of the Associated Press Sports Editors. Wasserman has been pitching Manfred for over a year on the benefits of putting his sport under the Olympic spotlight. 'It's a complicated issue for us,' Manfred said at the APSE event. "Lots of major league players would be involved because of the different countries that would likely be involved, massively disruptive to our season given the timing, and we're trying to sort through all that. ... We do see LA28 as a real opportunity from a marketing perspective.' Advertisement The sport long known as America's Pastime was played only as one-game Olympic exhibitions until 1984, when it joined the Los Angeles program as a demonstration sport. Baseball became an official Olympic sport in Barcelona in 1992, but U.S. professionals weren't allowed to compete until 2000, when minor leaguers were allowed to play. The absence of the world's players was one reason cited when baseball was subsequently dropped from the London and Rio de Janeiro Games. The sport returned in baseball-mad Tokyo in 2021 — but only for MLB players not on a 40-man roster. Japan's top league shut down its season, and Japan won gold. Baseball was dropped once again in Paris, but restored for LA28. The tournament will be played at historic Dodger Stadium, the same venue that hosted the 1984 Olympic tournament. Advertisement Wasserman spoke about his baseball aspirations after an event that should remind MLB of the Olympics' unmatched marketing power. NBCUniversal has taken over a large soundstage complex in suburban Sun Valley to create extensive multimedia content to be used in the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics broadcasts in nine months, feeding the broadcast machine that boosts winter stars including Chloe Kim, Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn to international celebrity. ___ AP sports:
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Organizers unveil sleek metallic torches for Milan-Cortina Olympics and Paralympics
Former Italy's Cross Country skier Stefania Belmondo, right, and Paralympic champion Beatrice 'Bebe' Vio hold the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics torches during the unveiling ceremony in Milan, Italy, Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, left, passes the torch for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 to Italian paralympic athlete Martina Caironi during the official unveiling ceremony at Italian Pavilion of Osaka Expo 2025 in Osaka, western Japan, Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) Italian figure skaters, Carolina Kostner, center left, and Italian paralympic athlete Martina Caironi, center right, hold the torches for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 during the official unveiling ceremony at Italian Pavilion of Osaka Expo 2025 in Osaka, western Japan, Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) The torches for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 are unveiled during the official unveiling ceremony at Italian Pavilion of Osaka Expo 2025 in Osaka, western Japan, Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) Former Italy's Cross Country skier Stefania Belmondo, right, and Paralympic champion Beatrice 'Bebe' Vio hold the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics torches during the unveiling ceremony in Milan, Italy, Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Italian figure skaters, Carolina Kostner, left, and Martina Caironi, right, hold the Torches for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 during the official unveiling ceremony at Italian Pavilion of Osaka Expo 2025 in Osaka, western Japan, Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) Italian figure skaters, Carolina Kostner, left, and Martina Caironi, right, hold the Torches for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 during the official unveiling ceremony at Italian Pavilion of Osaka Expo 2025 in Osaka, western Japan, Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) Former Italy's Cross Country skier Stefania Belmondo, right, and Paralympic champion Beatrice 'Bebe' Vio hold the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics torches during the unveiling ceremony in Milan, Italy, Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, left, passes the torch for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 to Italian paralympic athlete Martina Caironi during the official unveiling ceremony at Italian Pavilion of Osaka Expo 2025 in Osaka, western Japan, Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) Italian figure skaters, Carolina Kostner, center left, and Italian paralympic athlete Martina Caironi, center right, hold the torches for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 during the official unveiling ceremony at Italian Pavilion of Osaka Expo 2025 in Osaka, western Japan, Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) The torches for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 are unveiled during the official unveiling ceremony at Italian Pavilion of Osaka Expo 2025 in Osaka, western Japan, Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) Former Italy's Cross Country skier Stefania Belmondo, right, and Paralympic champion Beatrice 'Bebe' Vio hold the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics torches during the unveiling ceremony in Milan, Italy, Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Italian figure skaters, Carolina Kostner, left, and Martina Caironi, right, hold the Torches for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 during the official unveiling ceremony at Italian Pavilion of Osaka Expo 2025 in Osaka, western Japan, Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) MILAN (AP) — Organizers for the Milan-Cortina Olympics on Monday unveiled a sleek and minimalistic metallic design for the torches that will be used in the traditional relay ahead of next year's Winter Games. The torches will be made primarily out of recycled materials, with a design system that lets the fuel canister be refilled up to 10 times — reducing the number of torches that will be needed, organizers said. Made from an aluminum and brass alloy, the Olympic torch features a blue-green hue while the Paralympic version is bronze colored. Advertisement 'The design of the torch is intended to enhance the flame itself, the true essence of the torch relay,' organizers said. 'The idea is to direct focus towards the flame, leaving the torch almost in the background. By concentrating on the simplicity of the design, the flame becomes the main protagonist.' The Olympic flame will arrive in Rome on Dec. 4 and will begin its journey across Italy two days later. The 2026 Games run Feb. 6-22 and the Paralympics run March 6-15. The torches, which were designed by Italian architect Carlo Ratti, were displayed at joint presentations at the Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, and in Milan. ___ AP Olympics:
