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Police clear out a migrant camp in central Paris. Activists say it's a pre-Olympics sweep
Jade Le Deley And Nicolas Garriga, Associated Press | Updated April 23 - 5:57 a.m. | Save Story
French police have evicted migrants from a makeshift camp in Paris a few steps away from the Seine River. It's the latest operation in what aid groups call a campaign of "social cleansing" ahead of the Summer Olympics. Around 30 teenage boys and young men from West Africa were awakened by police officers and urged to pack their tents and belongings. The operation came days after police carried out a large-scale eviction at France's biggest squatter camp. Such evictions happen every spring. But aid groups say these efforts are intensifying ahead of the Olympics. Paris police say the operation was carried out for security reasons.
Olympic gold medalist Allisha Gray hopes to be part of US 3x3 team in Paris Games
Doug Feinberg, Associated Press | Posted April 23 - 3:30 a.m. | Save Story
Allisha Gray is glad to be back playing 3x3 with an eye towards being a member of the team at the Paris Olympics this summer. She's the only player returning from the foursome that took home the gold at the Tokyo Games three years ago. That was the inaugural appearance of the sport at the Olympics. Gray was one of eight players selected from the 15-person training camp over the weekend to participate in a 3x3 tournament in Springfield, Massachusetts at The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. She's on a team with Dearica Hamby, Cameron Brink and Linnae Harper. The other U.S. team in the tournament features Cierra Burdick, Rhyne Howard, Lexie Hull and Hailey Van Lith.
WADA stands by decision to clear Chinese swimmers for Tokyo Olympics, citing contaminated samples
Graham Dunbar, Associated Press | Updated April 22 - 12:19 p.m. | Save Story
The world's top anti-doping regulator says after reviewing a documentary and other media reports that it stands by its decision to clear 23 Chinese swimmers to compete at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics despite testing positive for a banned heart medication. The World Anti-Doping Agency issued a statement Sunday following the release of a German documentary on the cases. In an earlier statement WADA said it agreed with Chinese authorities and ruled that the swimmers' samples had been contaminated. The New York Times reported that Chinese anti-doping authorities found the results of the tests were Adverse Analytical Findings, but cleared the swimmers without any penalties after finding that the samples were flagged as positive as a result of contamination.
Chinese doping case sparks unusually harsh spat between global and US drug-fighting agencies
Eddie Pells, Associated Press | Posted April 20 - 1:44 p.m. | Save Story
Revelations of nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers whose positive doping tests went unpunished have sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency and the head of the U.S. drug-fighting organization. WADA says it will turn to legal counsel to address a statement released by Travis Tygart, the CEO of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. Tygart says WADA and anti-doping authorities in China failed to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.
WADA confirms it cleared Chinese swimmers to compete at Tokyo Games citing contaminated samples
The Associated Press | Updated April 20 - 9:33 a.m. | Save Story
The world's top anti-doping regulator says 23 Chinese swimmers were cleared to compete at the Tokyo Olympics despite testing positive for a banned heart medication because it agreed with Chinese authorities and ruled that their samples had been contaminated. The World Anti-Doping Agency said Saturday that the swimmers tested positive for the heart medication trimetazidine in the months leading up to the start of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. The Daily Telegraph in Sydney and The New York Times reported that Chinese anti-doping authorities found the results of the tests were Adverse Analytical Findings (AAF) but cleared the swimmers without any penalties after finding that the samples were flagged as positive as a result of contamination.
Olympic torch makes Acropolis overnight stop a week before handover to Paris organizers
The Associated Press | Updated April 19 - 3:58 p.m. | Save Story
The flame that will burn at the Olympics is spending the night at the ancient Acropolis in Athens, a week before its handover to Paris 2024 organizers. Ceremoniously lit at the ruined birthplace of the ancient Games, Olympia in southern Greece, the flame is being carried around Greece by a string of torchbearers. Parts of the relay are being made by ferry or plane. Late Friday, the champagne-colored torch for the Paris Games was brought to the Acropolis, the ancient citadel that dominates the Athens skyline and is Greece's top tourist attraction. On Saturday, the flame will travel to Delphi and central Greece.
Olympic organizers unveil strategy for using artificial intelligence in sports
Kelvin Chan, Associated Press | Updated April 19 - 2:08 p.m. | Save Story
Olympic organizers have unveiled their plans to use artificial intelligence in sports, joining the global rush to capitalize on the rapidly advancing technology. The International Olympic Committee outlined its agenda for taking advantage of AI. Officials said it could be used to help identify promising athletes, personalize training methods and make the games fairer by improving judging. IOC President Thomas Bach said the committee is "determined to exploit the vast potential of AI in a responsible way." The IOC revealed its AI strategy as it gears up to hold the Paris Olympics, which are set to kick off in just under 100 days.
The Paris Olympics menu: More French, more local, less meat
Reuters | Updated April 19 - 2:03 p.m. | Save Story
Athletes at this year's Olympics will be eating fresh produce mostly made in France, with a focus on local and organic products and more vegetarian options.
Cycling star Evenepoel targets June return from crash ahead of Tour de France and Paris Olympics
The Associated Press | Posted April 19 - 10:00 a.m. | Save Story
Two-time world champion cyclist Remco Evenepoel is targeting a June return to racing after a bad crash this month. Evenepoel says he expects to return at the week-long Critérium du Dauphiné ahead of the Tour de France and Paris Olympics. The Belgian needed surgery after breaking a collar bone and shoulder blade in a crash while descending two weeks ago in the Tour of Basque Country. He won the worlds time trial last year and the road race in 2022. He should target both Olympic events on the Paris streets.
French athletes at Paris Olympics will receive better mental health protection
Jerome Pugmire, Associated Press | Posted April 19 - 7:26 a.m. | Save Story
French athletes at the Paris Olympics will be offered better protection for their mental health with priority given to curbing online harassment and cyberbullying. France's Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra and Secretary of State for Digital Affairs Marina Ferrari are discussing ways to ensure mental health is looked after at the July 26-Aug. 11 Paris Games and Aug 28-Sept. 8 Paralympics. Oudéa-Castéra pointed out the continued threat of cyberbullying to mental health in society in general. It is a risk magnified when high-profile athletes are continually in the spotlight. She says "athletes as well as many of our citizens are exposed to these risks." Three psychologists will be onsite at the Olympic Village during the Games.
Paris Olympics opening ceremony on river Seine will last nearly 4 hours
Jerome Pugmire, Associated Press | Posted April 18 - 9:15 a.m. | Save Story
With sunset and moonlight gleaming on the river, the grandiose opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics will last nearly four hours. A total of 205 delegations will parade on more than 80 boats on the Seine. The parade will drift slowly from from east to west along a six-kilometer route. Proceedings begin at 3:45 p.m. and finish at 11:15 p.m. local time. Around 320,000 fans will watch the athletes' parade from the embankments. Once the 10,500 athletes have disembarked, the final part of the ceremony takes place at the Trocadéro plaza overlooking the Eiffel Tower. But there are ongoing tensions surrounding the safety of the ceremony.
French police evict hundreds from abandoned Paris warehouse ahead of Olympics
Thomas Adamson, Associated Press | Updated April 17 - 6:26 p.m. | Save Story
The Paris Games are 100 days away, and police have carried out a large-scale eviction at France's biggest squat in the south of Paris. Authorities, including dozens of gendarmes, cleared out the makeshift camp at an abandoned bus company headquarters in Vitry-sur-Seine on Wednesday. It had become home to about 450 migrants, with images of the evictions quickly spreading across social media. This action is part of a broader push by local authorities to dismantle makeshift camps before the Olympics begin in late July.
Despite security risks, plans to open Paris Olympics on River Seine remain unchanged and on track
Jerome Pugmire, Associated Press | Posted April 17 - 2:20 p.m. | Save Story
The question of holding the Paris Games opening ceremony on the Seine River loomed large as countdown clock to the Olympics passed the 100-day mark. Organizers, French government officials and French athletes have assured visitors and fans that they will be safe in Paris during the Olympics and Paralympics this summer. They say preparations to open the Games with ceremony involving 10,500 athletes on boats on the Seine are in full swing and should go ahead as planned. On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron said the exceptional open-air event in central Paris could be shifted to a more conventional opening ceremony at the Stade de France if the security threat is deemed too high.
Jade Carey and Leanne Wong are hoping their path to the Olympics goes through the NCAA Championships
Will Graves, Associated Press | Posted April 17 - 12:18 p.m. | Save Story
Gymnastic stars Jade Carey and Leanne Wong are carving out a unique path in their quest to reach the Paris Olympics. Carey and Wong have competed collegiately this year rather than focusing strictly on elite gymnastics. Both will be at the NCAA Championships this week looking to build momentum along the Olympic trail. Carey, the Olympic champion on floor exercise, is competing for Oregon State. Wong, an Olympic alternate in 2021 and a four-time world championship medalist, leads a young Florida squad into the eight-team semifinals.
Olympic champion Suni Lee back in form after debilitating kidney ailment
Eddie Pells, Associated Press | Updated April 17 - 10:41 a.m. | Save Story
Olympic gymnastics all-around champion Suni Lee revealed that at the height of dealing with a kidney disease last year, she questioned whether a return to top form was even possible. Speaking at the Team USA media summit, with 100 days until the Paris Games, she said she lived with pain, nausea and lightheadedness and her motivation started to fall. She says she's in remission now and gearing up for Paris. At its worst, the illness left Lee unable to bend her legs or squeeze her fingers together. She said she looked like a completely different person and was "very, very miserable."
USA Basketball announces its men's team for the Paris Olympics
Tim Reynolds, Associated Press | Updated April 17 - 9:56 a.m. | Save Story
LeBron James is going back to the Olympics for the first time in 12 years. Stephen Curry is headed to the games for the first time. Kevin Durant will go there with his eyes on history. And they're just part of a star-studded roster the Americans have assembled for the Paris Games. USA Basketball announced the Olympic men's team on Wednesday. James, Curry, Durant, Bam Adebayo, Devin Booker, Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday, Tyrese Haliburton, Anthony Edwards and Kawhi Leonard have all accepted invitations to be on the Olympic roster. Durant is seeking to be the first men's player ever with four gold medals.
Noah Eagle picked by NBC as play-by-play voice for basketball at the Paris Olympics
Tim Reynolds, Associated Press | Posted April 17 - 8:00 a.m. | Save Story
but because of the pandemic, he did that from a studio in the U.S. This time, he'll be courtside.
The United States and China are expected to win the most medals at the Paris Olympics
Stephen Wade, Associated Press | Updated April 17 - 5:46 a.m. | Save Story
The Paris Olympics open in 100 days and the United States and China are expected to finish 1-2 in the overall and gold-medal count. The United States is projected to win 123 medals overall, including 39 golds. China is projected to win 35 gold and 89 overall. This forecast is done by Nielsen's Gracenote Sports, which supplies statistical analysis for sports leagues around the world. It also tracks major competitions involving Olympic sports leading up to the Games.
