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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● International Olympic Committee ● The IOC announced adidas as the official supplier for the Refugee Olympic Team for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games on through to the LA28 Olympic Games. Also:

“In its capacity as official kit supplier to the ORF, adidas will also equip all refugee athletes who are part of the Refugee Athlete Support programme with performance apparel for training and competition.

“Over the same three-year period, adidas will support the ORF’s community work around the world.”

It’s an interesting play for adidas, with just 37 members of the Refugee Olympic Team for Paris 2024, but could have an out-sized impact in advertising and promotional value.

● Athletics ● “Behind the scenes” tours are not just for the FIFA World Cup. World Athletics is doing the same for its Ultimate Championship this week, with its own tours of the Zsivotzky National Athletics Centre in Budapest on 11-12-13 September during the day, some hours ahead of the evening sessions.

The one-hour tours “explore areas usually reserved for athletes and teams” and attendees will receive a personalized competition bib, a souvenir photo, a gift bag and a chance to win a seating upgrade.

It’s not free; prices are €75 for adults and €40 for those under 16. That’s $87.10 and $46.45 in U.S. dollars; for comparison, tickets for the Ultimate Champs are still on sale from HUF 29,000 up to HUF 69,000, or $92.96 up to $221.18.

At the USATF 20 km Championships, held in conjunction with the Faxon Law New Haven Road Race in Connecticut on Monday, training partners Keiran Tuntivate (THA) and Charles Hicks broke away, with James Mwaura close, after about 10 km and then Tuntivate and Hicks separated in the final mile to finish 1-2 in 58:03 and 58:06, making Hicks the national champion. Mwaura was third in 58:20.

In the women’s race, Biruktayit Degefa, whose change of allegiance from Ethiopia became official in March 2026, was the early leader, up 13 seconds by 10 km. But her roommate, Rachael Rudel caught up by 15 km and surged ahead to win easily in 1:04:58. Elena Hayday was a distant second in 1:05:33, followed by Amanda Vestri 1:06:05. Degefa faded to seventh in 1:07:15.

It was Hicks’ second career USATF title and the first for Rudel.

● Basketball ● The U.S. women were back in action at the FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin (GER), faring better against the 0-2 Czech Republic and leading, 57-33 at half. Forward Breanna Stewart had 13 on 5-8 shooting from the field and forward Napheesa Collier and guard Jackie Young had 12 and 10.

It was 82-47 after three, and the final was 105-64, for the 33rd straight win in World Cup play for the U.S. Stewart, playing in her fourth World Cup, led the Americans with 19 points on 8-11 shooting, and Collier (12), Young (12), guard Paige Bueckers (10), forward Angel Reese (13) and guard Sonia Citron (10) were all in double figures.

The U.S. shot 53% from the floor and held the Czechs to 33%.

The playoffs begin on Tuesday. Group A was won by Spain (2-1), Olympic silver winners France crushed three opponents in a row to win Group B (3-0) and Belgium was 3-0 in Group C. The Americans won Group D, also at 3-0. All four group winners advance to the quarterfinals on Thursday, to face the winners of play-in games for the nos. 2-3 finishers in the other groups. The U.S. will play the winner of Hungary vs. Japan.

● Biathlon ● The next US Biathlon Board meeting has been scheduled for this Wednesday, 9 September, at 3 p.m. Eastern time.

No agenda for the meeting was attached to the Web announcement; the prior meeting of 27 August was slated to review the “Strategic Alliance” agreement with U.S. Ski & Snowboard.

● Curling ● American Beau Welling was elected for a second term as President of World Curling at the federation’s Annual General Assembly in Bratislava (SVK).

He received 75% of the vote, defeating Hugh Millikin (AUS). Welling said after the vote:

“This means the world to me. To have the trust of the World Curling Family to go forward for another four years really means a lot. It’s also a responsibility, but I take that on.

“I look forward to working with everyone to leverage our exposure from the success of the Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games. I feel like curling has arrived and we need to take a big leap forward in the development of the sport to spread our mission and our values around the world.”

● Taekwondo ● Host Korea led the World Taekwondo Grand Prix in Muju, winning in three classes, with Jun-Seo Bae taking the men’s 58 kg gold, Jin-Ho Mun winning at 68 kg and Da-Bin Song claiming the women’s +67 kg class.

China won twice, with Worlds bronzer Xiaolu Fu at 49 kg and Jiani Xing at 67 kg. World Champions Seif Eissa (EGY: men’s +80 kg) and Maria Pacheco (BRA: women’s 57 kg) won their classes.

The U.S. won three medals, with a silver from C.J. Nickolas, the 2023 Worlds runner-up, at 80 kg and bronzes from Worlds third-placer Maikol Rodriguez at 68 kg and from Isaiah Young in the men’s 80 kg class.

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