Latest news with #Winter Olympics
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
European football giants set to play Serie A game in Australia NEXT year - but not everyone is happy about it
In what would be a historic first, AC Milan have the permission of the Italian Football Federation to host a domestic league match against Serie A rivals Como in Perth next year - but the move hasn't impressed some football fans. As it stands, the game would clash with the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics, to be staged at the club's famous San Siro home on February 6. So the European football giants have looked outside the square - and if the fixture goes ahead, it would mark the first time a competitive Serie A match has been played outside of Italy. A number of supporters have slammed the idea, with one labelling the bold suggestion 'pathetic.' 'How much will it cost? You are making people laugh, pathetic,' the fan said. 'Who the hell in Australia would want to watch (AC) Milan versus Como?, another asked. 'Why don't we play Inter Milan and Juventus on the Gaza Strip,' suggested a third, tongue firmly in cheek. AC Milan were recently in Western Australia, taking on A-League side Perth Glory in a pre-season clash at HBF Park on July 31. The gulf in class was quickly apparent, with the Rossoneri winning 9-0. 'The ease of the way they were able to score, we are disappointed by that, but it shows the quality they have,' Perth Glory coach David Zdrilic said. 'They are able to just kill you in any moment. There's so much power and speed in every aspect of their game and we knew that. To see it live was unbelievable. 'For us to see what the level is overseas is a great learning experience.' Meanwhile, La Liga - Spain's premier football division - were keen to see Barcelona tackle Atletico Madrid in Miami last year. The idea was eventually dropped due to time constraints. And in 2019, Barcelona also planned to stage a match against Girona in Miami, but the idea was scrapped following vocal opposition from Spain's football association and the players' union.
Forbes
12-08-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Italy Hopes Growing Chinese Passion For Winter Sports Leads To Olympic Business Gold
When it comes to ancient culture, few countries rank with Italy and China in influence and depth. Italy has the most UNESCO World Heritage sites – 61, followed closely by China with 60. In the here and now, the two cultural superpowers are finding a new common interest: winter sports. Italy has longer-standing success when it comes to ski visits. Last year, it had 32 million, ranking No. 4 in the world. Interest and investment in skiing in China has taken off since the country hosted the 2022 Winter Olympics, however, turning it into one of the fastest-growing ski markets in the world. From May 2023 to April 2024, the number of skier visits at domestic ski resorts was 23 million, a year-on-year increase of 16% and more than double that of decade ago, according to the China Ski Industry White Book. The number of ski resorts open to the public in 2023-2024 rose by 22 from a year earlier to 719, the report said. With Italy poised to host the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina on Feb. 6-22, businesses from the southern European country are looking to seize upon growing Chinese interest in winter sports to promote commerce related to tourism, skiing and travel at home, said Lorenzo Riccardi, chairman of the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce in a recent Zoom interview. The Beijing-headquartered business group has about 800 members. 'We know that China really focused on the Olympics in terms of communications, brands and company exposure' in 2022, Riccardi said. 'We believe it is a very important opportunity.' The push comes at a time when changes in global trade are leading countries to look for new partners and common bonds. New U.S. tariffs of 15% on most imports from Europe are 'significantly' impacting the Italian economy and 'Made in Italy' exports to the U.S., Riccardi said. 'The Italian government is looking to new markets and emerging regions,' mainly in the Far East, to offset the blow, he said. The disruption to Italian companies already invested in China is less than it might be for newcomers because they have already adjusted supply chains and flows of goods in recent years, Riccardi said. Italian investment in China is increasingly for China or regional Asian markets – not aimed at shipments to the U.S., he said. Italian businesses benefit from the locally well-received centuries-old travels of businessman Marco Polo along the Silk Road, and more recent ties between the European Union and China, which this year marked 50 years of diplomatic relations. Two-way trade between Italy and the EU was $36 billion in the first half of 2025 – little changed year-on-year; the EU is China's largest trading partner after the ASEAN block. High-profile visits by Italian government leaders have also helped. Italy's Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini visited China in July to give a boost to businesses ranging from machinery makers to fashion brands; he also highlighted the convenience of domestic travel within Italy on the country's high-speed rail system, and complemented China on its advances. 'China is an innovation giant that cannot be ignored,' Salvini reportedly said. Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni traveled to Beijing last year and reached an agreement on a three-year action plan. China's interest in winter sports took off after the government embraced the industry ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics. Chinese athletes rose to the moment, winning a record 15 Winter Olympics medals including nine gold (Italy had 17), attracting a large social media audience and new skiers and snowboarders to the slopes. 'If the (Beijing) Olympic Games in 2008 were relevant, the Winter Olympics (in 2022) were even more interesting in generating new trends in terms of the Chinese market and the experience of Chinese consumers,' Riccardi said. This year, 'luxury and fashion brands traditionally not into sports or the mountain economy are now focusing on this segment as a new niche market,' he said, including Prada and Georgio Armani. Italian companies know from home how winter sports such as skiing can help regional economies and business due to the popularity of those activities in the Italian Alps and earlier Olympic experience. The country first hosted the Winter Olympics in the ski town of Cortina d'Ampezzo (abbreviated as Cortina) in 1956; Italy then hosted the Summer Olympics in Rome in 1960, and the Winter Olympics again in Turin in 2006. Businesses have 'excellent' experience in sports, tourism, hospitality and lifestyle pursuits, Riccardi said. One Italian company, TechnoAlpin, had a notable presence at the 2022 games in China as a supplier of the artificial snow. 'We believe it is an opportunity to attract Chinese tourists, consumers and travelers, and an opportunity to promote cooperation between Italian and Chinese companies,' he said. The China-Italy Chamber itself will focus on the Olympics, winter sports and culture at its annual gathering in Beijing, 'Notte Italiana,' in November. Chinese corporate sponsors to the 2026 games include Alibaba, Mengniu and TCL. To be sure, business is China remains challenging for Italian and other foreign firms. 'Competition with local and international companies in the Chinese market is the No. 1 challenge for Italian investments into China,' Riccardi said. Geopolitical instability, changing global tariffs, new trends in economic relations with other major economies, rising operational costs and supply chain disruptions 'are considered the major challenges for Italian companies in China' by Chamber members, Riccardi said. And yet the opportunities remain at a time when China's GDP growth of 5% is among the world's best. Based on a member survey in July, Riccardi said Italian companies – as a group the second largest manufacturers in Europe -- see industrial innovation as an opportunity to show 'Made in Italy' technology. 'The rising demands of the Chinese middle class can create opportunities for Italian quality products and foreign brands looking to this giant market that is China,' he said. Partnership with Chinese groups is considered an avenue for expansion into the market by Italian firms, Riccardi continued. 'Italian companies consider that it is necessary to have a long-term and stable presence in the market' that often involves one or more local partners, he said. Italians in Shanghai first formed a chamber-like organization to advance local exchanges in 1903, Riccardi noted. 'Not only Marco Polo is a symbol,' said Riccardi. 'We have had our business community long present.' Cultural heritage between the two ancient cultures 'is very relevant for companies' even today, he said.
Yahoo
11-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ski jumping's suit trouble is back ahead of Olympics as numerous athletes disqualified
The right suit can help send a ski jumper soaring to gold. The wrong suit will get you grounded. Ski jumping faces more controversy with six months to go until the Winter Olympics after the first high-level competition of the new season saw numerous athletes disqualified over ill-fitting suits. The governing body says it's 'perfectly normal.' The ski jumping world was rocked in March by the discovery of illegally altered suits on the Norwegian team at the world championships. The International Ski Federation investigated officials and athletes over those changes which could help the wearer soar through the air for longer with the suit's larger surface area. In Saturday's first event of the 2025-26 season — a summer Grand Prix event on an artificial surface in France — six male ski jumpers were disqualified because of suit issues such as waist size and three more were 'not permitted to start.' Another jumper from Japan was blocked from competing as the Grand Prix continued Sunday. The federation told The Associated Press in an e-mailed statement that it's treating the spate of disqualifications as the natural result of tightening up the rules after the Norwegian suit scandal. FIS race director Sandro Pertile said he doesn't think anyone was trying to cheat and that fewer disqualifications will occur as teams get used to the rules. Making specialized ski jumping equipment is 'a fairly complicated matter,' he said. 'It's perfectly normal for teams to need some time to adapt to the new situation after such comprehensive changes to the equipment regulations. Some cope with it straight away, others find it difficult at first," Pertile told the AP. 'It's also important to highlight that these disqualifications are clearly a result of technical inadequacies — there's no sign whatsoever of ill intent from the teams.' FIS indicated that a further nine men and five women didn't compete following a 'technical approval' process, though it wasn't clear if all of those cases involved their suits. Five of those 14 were on the United States team, which didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Among those disqualified Saturday was Norway's Kristoffer Eriksen Sundal, who had previously been provisionally suspended earlier this year following the world championships. FIS signaled it will remain rigorous in its checks through the Olympic season but expects to find athletes wearing increasingly snug — and therefore legal — suits. 'The teams know that they have our full support, and we expect the number of disqualifications to decrease significantly in the coming weeks,' Pertile said. "With that said, we will remain strict and precise with equipment check the whole season long; there is no room for exceptions.' ___ AP sports: James Ellingworth, The Associated Press
Yahoo
10-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ski jumping's suit trouble is back ahead of Olympics as numerous athletes disqualified
The right suit can help send a ski jumper soaring to gold. The wrong suit will get you grounded. Ski jumping faces more controversy with six months to go until the Winter Olympics after the first high-level competition of the new season saw numerous athletes disqualified over ill-fitting suits. The governing body says it's 'perfectly normal.' The ski jumping world was rocked in March by the discovery of illegally altered suits on the Norwegian team at the world championships. The International Ski Federation investigated officials and athletes over those changes which could help the wearer soar through the air for longer with the suit's larger surface area. In Saturday's first event of the 2025-26 season — a summer Grand Prix event on an artificial surface in France — six male ski jumpers were disqualified because of suit issues such as waist size and three more were 'not permitted to start.' Another jumper from Japan was blocked from competing as the Grand Prix continued Sunday. The federation told The Associated Press in an e-mailed statement that it's treating the spate of disqualifications as the natural result of tightening up the rules after the Norwegian suit scandal. FIS race director Sandro Pertile said he doesn't think anyone was trying to cheat and that fewer disqualifications will occur as teams get used to the rules. Making specialized ski jumping equipment is 'a fairly complicated matter,' he said. 'It's perfectly normal for teams to need some time to adapt to the new situation after such comprehensive changes to the equipment regulations. Some cope with it straight away, others find it difficult at first," Pertile told the AP. 'It's also important to highlight that these disqualifications are clearly a result of technical inadequacies — there's no sign whatsoever of ill intent from the teams.' FIS indicated that a further nine men and five women didn't compete following a 'technical approval' process, though it wasn't clear if all of those cases involved their suits. Five of those 14 were on the United States team, which didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Among those disqualified Saturday was Norway's Kristoffer Eriksen Sundal, who had previously been provisionally suspended earlier this year following the world championships. FIS signaled it will remain rigorous in its checks through the Olympic season but expects to find athletes wearing increasingly snug — and therefore legal — suits. 'The teams know that they have our full support, and we expect the number of disqualifications to decrease significantly in the coming weeks,' Pertile said. "With that said, we will remain strict and precise with equipment check the whole season long; there is no room for exceptions.' ___ AP sports:
Washington Post
10-08-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Ski jumping's suit trouble is back ahead of Olympics as numerous athletes disqualified
The right suit can help send a ski jumper soaring to gold. The wrong suit will get you grounded. Ski jumping faces more controversy with six months to go until the Winter Olympics after the first high-level competition of the new season saw numerous athletes disqualified over ill-fitting suits. The governing body says it's 'perfectly normal.'
