Olympics

Workers stand in the water storage tank construction site in Paris, Wednesday, April 5, 2023. A costly and complex clean-up is resuscitating the River Seine just in time for it to play a starring role in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The city and its region are rushing to make the Seine’s murky waters swimmable, so it can genuinely live up to its billing as the world’s most romantic river. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Fancy a dip? An Olympic reboot underway for Paris’ toxic River Seine

A costly and complex cleanup is resuscitating the Seine with an eye on 2024

 

Japanese Olympic Committee President Yasuhiro Yamashita, from left, and Sapporo Mayor Katsuhiro Akimoto listen to International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, right, speak during a news conference in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Jan. 11, 2020. Sapporo’s bid for the 2030 Winter Olympics has been slowed, but not stopped, by fallout from the still-developing corruption scandal around the 2020 Tokyo Games. (Masashi Inoue/Kyodo News via AP)

Sapporo may delay Olympic bid to 2034 after Tokyo scandal

International Olympic Committee struggling to find a host for the 2030 Winter Games

 

Sapporo Mayor Katsuhiro Akimoto, left, speaks during a news conference at a proposed site for the Olympics ski jump in Sapporo, northern Japan, on July 30, 2022. Sapporo’s bid for the 2030 Winter Olympics has been slowed, but not stopped, by fallout from the still-developing corruption scandal around the 2020 Tokyo Games. (Yuta Omori/Kyodo News via AP)

Sapporo election could restart bid for 2030 Winter Olympics

Sapporo and Vancouver were the only known candidates for 2030

 

Vernon’s Elena Gaskill, Beijing Olympian in 2022, will join four-time NFL Super Bowl winner Rob Gronkowski at a dinner fundraiser in Vancouver March 28. (Contributed)

Vernon Olympian raising funds with Super Bowl winner Gronk

Elena Gaskell and four-time champ Rob Gronkowski part of fundraiser in Vancouver March 28

Vernon’s Elena Gaskill, Beijing Olympian in 2022, will join four-time NFL Super Bowl winner Rob Gronkowski at a dinner fundraiser in Vancouver March 28. (Contributed)
Photo of runner Percy Williams seen July 28,1932. THE CANADIAN PRESS

Olympic gold medals won by B.C.’s Percy Williams replaced 43 years after theft

Williams took first place in the 100 and 200-metre races at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam

Photo of runner Percy Williams seen July 28,1932. THE CANADIAN PRESS
IOC (International Olympic Committee) President Thomas Bach, right, stands in the finish area of the alpine ski, men’s World Championship downhill, in Courchevel, France, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

Nations call on Olympic Committee to clarify ‘neutrality’ before letting Russia back in

More than 30 nations penned letter to IOC Monday

IOC (International Olympic Committee) President Thomas Bach, right, stands in the finish area of the alpine ski, men’s World Championship downhill, in Courchevel, France, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)
A tiger is depicted on the helmet of Italy’s Federica Brignone at the finish area of an alpine ski, women’s World Championships super G, in Meribel, France, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

Lack of Winter Olympic bids may lead to rotating fixed hosts

Vancouver among the spots being talked about as part of the rotation

A tiger is depicted on the helmet of Italy’s Federica Brignone at the finish area of an alpine ski, women’s World Championships super G, in Meribel, France, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)
Olympic medalist in swimming and former world record holder Elaine Tanner nicknamed “Mighty Mouse”, was awarded the Service Medal in 1969. The government renamed the medal to the Order of Canada medal in 1972. She’s photographed in Saanich, B.C., on Tuesday, January 31, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Elaine Tanner, 1960s swimming superstar, cherishes rare medal that Canada wanted back

In 1970, Tanner became the youngest Canadian to be awarded the Medal of Service

Olympic medalist in swimming and former world record holder Elaine Tanner nicknamed “Mighty Mouse”, was awarded the Service Medal in 1969. The government renamed the medal to the Order of Canada medal in 1972. She’s photographed in Saanich, B.C., on Tuesday, January 31, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
The Canadian team pose for photographers before the start of the Football World Cup match between Canada and Hungary in Irapuato, Mexico on June 6, 1986. Left to right standing; Ian Bridge, Randy Samuel, Igor Vrablic, Randy Ragan, Bob Lenarduzzi, Gerry Gray. Front row left to right; Bruce Wilson, Carl Valentine, David Norman, Tino Lettieri, Paul James. Hungary defeated Canada 2-0. Canadian head coach Tony Waiters knew what he wanted when he prepared his team for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. THE CANADIAN PRESS

Former Men’s national soccer team, Ken Garraway, enjoys current team’s success

former national team forward sees qualifying as having “huge impact” on the future of soccer in Canada

The Canadian team pose for photographers before the start of the Football World Cup match between Canada and Hungary in Irapuato, Mexico on June 6, 1986. Left to right standing; Ian Bridge, Randy Samuel, Igor Vrablic, Randy Ragan, Bob Lenarduzzi, Gerry Gray. Front row left to right; Bruce Wilson, Carl Valentine, David Norman, Tino Lettieri, Paul James. Hungary defeated Canada 2-0. Canadian head coach Tony Waiters knew what he wanted when he prepared his team for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. THE CANADIAN PRESS
A Seabus passenger ferry, right, travels across Burrard Inlet at sunset as downtown Vancouver and the port are seen from Burnaby Mountain, on Monday, July 11, 2022. Chief Jen Thomas of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation says an Indigenous-led bid to host the 2030 Olympics in British Columbia is over after the province declined its support. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

2030 Olympic bid not quite dead, but B.C. government must join talks: First Nations

Leaders have since requested a meeting with incoming premier, say they have been turned down

A Seabus passenger ferry, right, travels across Burrard Inlet at sunset as downtown Vancouver and the port are seen from Burnaby Mountain, on Monday, July 11, 2022. Chief Jen Thomas of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation says an Indigenous-led bid to host the 2030 Olympics in British Columbia is over after the province declined its support. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
FILE - The Olympic rings are seen during the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics on Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)

B.C. won’t support bid for 2030 Winter Olympics

Bid was forwarded by an Indigenous-led team for the first time in history

FILE - The Olympic rings are seen during the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics on Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)
Kelowna’s Kelsey Serwa with a silver medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. (Photo/BC Sports Hall of Fame)

B.C.’s Kelsey Serwa headed to sports hall of fame

2012 Pentiction Vees BCHL team also being inducted

Kelowna’s Kelsey Serwa with a silver medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. (Photo/BC Sports Hall of Fame)
Chloé Dufour-Lapointe, of Canada, smiles after her run during women’s moguls finals at the Beijing Winter Olympics in Zhangjiakou, China, on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. Six months after becoming the first Canadian freestyle skier to compete in four Olympic Games, Chloe Dufour-Lapointe is retiring. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Four-time Olympian and moguls specialist Chloe Dufour-Lapointe is retiring

30-year-old moguls skier from Montreal won silver at the 2014 Sochi Olympics

Chloé Dufour-Lapointe, of Canada, smiles after her run during women’s moguls finals at the Beijing Winter Olympics in Zhangjiakou, China, on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. Six months after becoming the first Canadian freestyle skier to compete in four Olympic Games, Chloe Dufour-Lapointe is retiring. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Randy and Kim Longmuir visit the PQB News/VI Daily studios. (Peter McCully photo)

PODCAST: Legendary Longmuirs retire after lengthy athletics coaching career

PQBeat: Coaches helped numerous Vancouver Island athletes

Randy and Kim Longmuir visit the PQB News/VI Daily studios. (Peter McCully photo)
Alycia Butterworth, right, and her training partner Regan Yee. (Mark Janzen photo)

PODCAST: Parksville’s Alycia Butterworth discusses her Olympic experience

PQBeat: Steeplechase runner now has eyes on Paris Games in 2024

Alycia Butterworth, right, and her training partner Regan Yee. (Mark Janzen photo)
Ellia Green with his partner Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts and their daughter Waitui pose in Sydney, Australia, Monday, Aug. 15, 2022. Green, one of the stars of Australia’s gold medal-winning women’s rugby sevens team at the 2016 Olympics, has transitioned to male. The 29-year-old, Fiji-born Green is going public in a video at an international summit aimed at ending transphobia and homophobia in sport. The summit is being hosted in Ottawa as part of the Bingham Cup rugby tournament. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Olympic champion Ellia Green finds liberation in transition

Australian rugby star hopes speaking out helps end transphobia and homophobia in sport

Ellia Green with his partner Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts and their daughter Waitui pose in Sydney, Australia, Monday, Aug. 15, 2022. Green, one of the stars of Australia’s gold medal-winning women’s rugby sevens team at the 2016 Olympics, has transitioned to male. The 29-year-old, Fiji-born Green is going public in a video at an international summit aimed at ending transphobia and homophobia in sport. The summit is being hosted in Ottawa as part of the Bingham Cup rugby tournament. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
FILE - “Ariagato” is displayed at the end of the closing ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. The Tokyo Olympics survived the COVID-19 postponement, soaring expenses and some public opposition. A year later, the costs and benefits are as difficult to untangle as the Games were to pull off. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian, File)

Tokyo Olympic aftermath still being untangled a year later

Japan’s goal after the pandemic-fueled postponement was to get through it

FILE - “Ariagato” is displayed at the end of the closing ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. The Tokyo Olympics survived the COVID-19 postponement, soaring expenses and some public opposition. A year later, the costs and benefits are as difficult to untangle as the Games were to pull off. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian, File)
Chief Wayne Sparrow of the Musqueam Indian Band takes part in a joint press conference between the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Four Host First Nations, and the cities of Vancouver and Whistler where the “hosting concept” for the 2030 Winter Olympics bid was unveiled in Whistler, B.C., on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff Vinnick

Vancouver council OKs next step in Indigenous-led 2030 Olympic bid

Next steps are to get commitment from federal and provincial governments as partners

Chief Wayne Sparrow of the Musqueam Indian Band takes part in a joint press conference between the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Four Host First Nations, and the cities of Vancouver and Whistler where the “hosting concept” for the 2030 Winter Olympics bid was unveiled in Whistler, B.C., on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff Vinnick
Tricia Smith, President of the Canadian Olympic Committee, takes part in a joint press conference between the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Four Host First Nations, and the cities of Vancouver and Whistler where the “hosting concept” for the 2030 Winter Olympics bid was unveiled in Whistler, B.C., on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff Vinnick

Canadian Olympic Committee sees ‘ample time’ for 2030 bid as BC cities discuss doubts

Report by the Vancouver city manager says proposed timeline for the bid is ‘not achievable’

Tricia Smith, President of the Canadian Olympic Committee, takes part in a joint press conference between the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Four Host First Nations, and the cities of Vancouver and Whistler where the “hosting concept” for the 2030 Winter Olympics bid was unveiled in Whistler, B.C., on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff Vinnick
A spectator looks on as the Olympic Caldron is relit in downtown Vancouver, Wednesday, February 12, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Hosting 2030 Winter Olympics in B.C. estimated to cost $1.2B in public funds

Events would be hosted in Whistler, Metro Vancouver and Sun Peaks

A spectator looks on as the Olympic Caldron is relit in downtown Vancouver, Wednesday, February 12, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward