Olympics
IOC urged to suspend medal from Iranian accused of being part of terrorist group

A campaign group in Iran has called for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to suspend the Olympic shooting gold medal awarded to Javad Foroughi after claiming he is part of a “terrorist organisation”.
United for Navid, set up after the execution of Iranian wrestler Navid Afkari and which has frequently called for action to be taken against Iran for alleged breaches of the Olympic Charter, has urged for the IOC Ethics Commission to launch an immediate investigation.
The group said Foroughi is “a current and long-term member” of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps-Quds Force, which the United States has designated as a terrorist organisation.
It warned the IOC was “complicit in promoting terrorism and crimes against humanity” if they fail to act.
“Awarding an Olympic gold medal to a member of a terrorist organisation is an appalling affront to athletes and Olympic ideals and leaves a grievous black mark on the IOC,” the group said in a statement.
“United For Navid calls for an immediate investigation by the IOC, and until an investigation is completed the suspension of any medal award.”
Foroughi won the 10 metres air pistol gold medal at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics here on Sunday (July 24).
The IOC has been urged to take action against Iran as the country continues to refuse to allow its athletes to face Israelis.
Despite the number of such cases, the IOC has never suspended Iran.
There have already been examples of countries refusing to share the field of play with Israelis at these Games.
Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine and his coach Amar Benikhlef were sent home from Tokyo 2020 after the athlete withdrew to avoid the possibility of meeting Israeli Tohar Butbul.
The International Judo Federation (IJF) said that it would investigate and that both Nourine and Benikhlef had been suspended.
In April, the IJF banned Iran for a period of four years after the country instructed Saeid Mollaei to avoid facing an opponent from Israel at the 2019 World Championships.
The IJF is the only country to sanction Iran for a policy it has carried out at sporting events for decades.
“The IOC is always concerned in these cases and is monitoring it very closely,” said IOC director of NOC relations and Olympic Solidarity James Macleod.
“If there are flagrant abuses of the Olympic Charter, the IOC will take all necessary measures in that respect.
“We will investigate anything that is raised to us, and work with the NOC/IFs on a case-by-case basis.
“The IOC has been very clear that non-discrimination and autonomy are things we will not flinch from.”
-insidethegames
Olympics
Olympic Committee set to replace ‘defective’ Paris 2024 medals

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed that the “defective medals” from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games will be replaced in the coming weeks as more than 100 athletes have signalled the deterioration of their awards.
“The Paris 2024 Olympic Games Organising Committee is working closely with the Monnaie de Paris, the institution responsible for the manufacture and quality control of the medals, to assess any complaints about the medals and to understand the circumstances and cause of any damage,” the IOC said.
“Defective medals will be systematically replaced by the Monnaie de Paris and engraved identically.
“The replacement process should begin in the coming weeks.”
A spokesperson for the Monnaie de Paris refuted the term “defective” and said that the medals signalled by athletes as being “damaged” since August have already been replaced.
“We have replaced all the damaged medals since August and we will continue to do so in the same professional manner as before,” said the spokesperson, adding that replacements were “underway” and were being made “as requests come in”.
More than 100 defective medals
According to French online media outlet La Lettre, “more than 100 defective medals have been returned by disgruntled athletes”, who have seen their awards deteriorate.
Some Olympians from the Paris Games took to social media to share photos of their medals.
One such athlete was American skateboarder Nyjah Huston, who won bronze in the street skateboarding competition on 29 July.
Ten days later he posted a picture of his medal, where he complained about its quality.
“These Olympic medals look great when they’re brand new, but after letting it sit on my skin with some sweat for a little bit and then letting my friends wear it over the weekend, they’re not as high quality as you would think,” he said.
“It’s looking rough. Even the front. It’s starting to chip off a little.”
According to La Lettre, the medals “had to bear the brunt of the new products used”, as new regulations banned a component of the varnish previously employed and “had to be replaced at short notice”.
The 5,084 gold, silver and bronze medals for Paris 2024 were designed by luxury jewellery and watch firm Chaumet and produced by the Monnaie de Paris.
Each medal contains a small piece of the Eiffel Tower, taken from the stocks of the Parisian monument’s operating company.
-RFI/ AFP
Follow the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Olympics
Fears for LA 28 Olympics over California wildfires!

The devastating California wildfires are both destroying neighbourhoods and raising alarm bells for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics Organising Committee.
With the Riviera Country Club and Sepulveda Basin under threat, the challenges of ensuring the Games’ safety are becoming increasingly apparent.
Los Angeles, one of the United States’ most iconic cultural and sporting hubs, is enduring what can only be described as a living nightmare.
Since Tuesday, 7 January, a massive wildfire has ravaged the region, destroying homes, landmarks, and now, alarmingly, some of the facilities planned for the 2028 Olympic Games.
Worse still, the death toll from California’s fires has risen to 11, with over 35,000 hectares reduced to ash.
With six active firefronts, the destruction has spread citywide. Local authorities report mass evacuations, with critical structures under threat. Yet, amid the immediate chaos, there lies a longer-term concern—one that mobilised multiple agencies: the fate of LA 2028.
The Games, intended to leave a lasting legacy, are now facing a very literal trial by fire
Among the most affected areas is the prestigious Riviera Country Club, slated to host the Olympic golf tournament.
Initially, outside the evacuation zones, the rapid spread of the Palisades fire, driven by winds reaching 100 mph (160 km/h), placed the club squarely within the danger zone.
Flames now encircle the area, which also borders natural landmarks like Topanga State Park, itself under threat.
Another critical site is the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area, set to host archery, BMX, and skateboarding events.
While local firefighters reported no structural damage or injuries so far, the situation remains volatile, with conditions that could change in an instant.
The risk is not confined to these venues. The historic Rose Bowl Stadium, scheduled to host football matches during the Games, is also within an evacuation protocol zone in Pasadena.
Beyond the Olympic venues, the environmental crisis deeply impacted athletes and professional teams across various leagues.
Many affected areas are home to current and former athletes, including ex-Olympic swimmer Gary Hall Jr., who lost his house and 10 Olympic medals in the Palisades fire.
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard returned to Los Angeles to support his family following their evacuation.
Meanwhile, Warriors coach Steve Kerr lost his childhood home, though his mother was rescued in time.
Both the NBA and NFL issued statements of solidarity with those affected.
Coaches like Lakers’ JJ Redick have seen their homes consumed by flames, highlighting that the sport, despite its global prominence, is not immune to the tragedies that devastate its surrounding communities.
For its part, the NFL decided to relocate the ‘wild card’ game between the Vikings and the Rams from Inglewood to Glendale, Arizona, due to the uncontrolled flames.
The Rams, who had to halt their training sessions after new flare-ups in West Hills, were unable to resume practice. This isn’t the first time wildfires disrupted the league.
Back in 2003, the Chargers were also forced to move a game to Arizona under similar circumstances.
“The entire NBA and NBPA family extends its thoughts and support to the Los Angeles community during these challenging times.
“We are grateful for the thousands of local firefighters and first responders who have shown incredible bravery.
“Our prayers remain with those affected by the unimaginable devastation caused by the fires,” expressed on Thursday by the NBA regarding support for the victims.
The Los Angeles 2028 Organising Committee also addressed the situation on social media, expressing gratitude to firefighters, volunteers, and other groups committed to recovery efforts.
They’ve shared resources to assist those in need, including the American Red Cross Los Angeles, the LAFD Foundation, the California Firefighters Foundation, and Airbnb’s Emergency Housing Assistance for those displaced by the fires.
Nevertheless, the disaster raises deeper questions. With just over three years until the Olympic torch lights up the city, doubts linger.
Can LA 2028 ensure the safety of its venues in a region increasingly vulnerable to wildfires? How will this catastrophe influence the event’s planning and global perception?
As the flames continue to consume hectares across Los Angeles, the road to the 2028 Olympic Games faces an unprecedented challenge.
But if there’s one thing this city is known for, it’s its ability to rise from the ashes—a spirit the organisers hope to channel into an event destined to be unforgettable.
-Inside The GamesFollow the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Olympics
Olympic champion medals lost in Los Angeles wildfires

Multiple Olympic champion Gary Hall Jr., lost both his medals and his home to the California wildfires on Thursday which he described as “worse than any apocalypse movie you’ve ever seen.” Shocked but reflective, he remarked on what truly matters: “What can you do? They’re just things.”
The devastating wildfires, which have ravaged Southern California destroying homes, structures, and lives, began on 7 January and intensified on the 9th with new outbreaks in Woodland Hills and the Angeles National Forest.
They have scorched more than 35,000 acres, leaving a tragic toll of 10 fatalities, over 5,000 structures destroyed, and thousands of residents displaced.
Strong winds and dry conditions have complicated containment efforts, forcing authorities to issue widespread evacuation orders across the Los Angeles region.
Hall Jr., renowned for his illustrious career in Olympic swimming, was at home when he saw the flames racing towards his property. In an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, the veteran athlete recounted the moment he realised the danger: “I saw a plume of smoke rising from my backyard. Within minutes, the flames were there. I had no time.”
He ultimately lost his home along with his 10 treasured Olympic medals in the blaze that swept through Pacific Palisades this second week of January.
“I had no time.” Hall described the chaos as he spoke with his daughter on the phone.
Houses were exploding, the sounds of blasts were constant, and traffic on Sunset Boulevard became impassable, with people abandoning their cars and running for their lives. In that instant, Hall managed to save only the essentials: his dog and a few personal items.
Among the most notable losses were his 10 Olympic medals, including five golds, three silvers, and two bronzes, earned during his appearances at the Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, and Athens 2004 Games.
“I thought about the medals but I had no time to grab them,” Hall explained. “Everyone asks if the medals were burned. Yes, everything burned. But they’re just things. I can live without them.”
-Insidethegames
Follow the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
-
UEFA Champions League1 week ago
Premier League teams always have the toughest schedules, says Guardiola
-
Nigerian Football1 week ago
Remo Stars set to tighten grip on league summit
-
Nigerian Football5 days ago
Nigeria football chieftains, Gusau, Elegbeleye go back to the classroom
-
Other Sports3 days ago
Lord’s Taverners donate sports kits to CSED Initiative
-
Governing Bodies4 days ago
BREAKING! FIFA’s axe falls on Congo
-
Nigerian Football2 days ago
Remo Stars continue perfect run with their fourth double of the season
-
DIPLOMACY6 days ago
Guatemalan Deputy FM hails Morocco’s plans for Western Sahara
-
AFCON1 week ago
CAF’s analysis of AFCON 2025: Nigeria and Tunisia face tricky Group C challenge