VN news ticker: Brisbane, Australia to host 2032 Olympic Games; Saitama Criterium canceled due to COVID just days ahead of Tokyo Olympics

Brisbane, Australia to host 2032 Olympic Games

Ahead of the start of the Tokyo Olympics, the International Olympic Committee announced Wednesday that Brisbane, Australia has been awarded the 2032 Summer Olympic Games.

This is the third time Australia has been named host to the quadrennial event. The Summer Olympics were hosted in Sydney in 2000, and in Melbourne in 1956.

“It is first of all the passion and love for sport which the Aussies demonstrated,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. “Second it is… in line with the IOC reforms, for sustainable Games in every respect. Today’s vote is a vote of trust.”

Reuters reported that the IOC received only one bid for candidates for host city. Brisbane received 72 of 77 votes from IOC members. With the awarding of the games, Australia joins the United States as the only country to host the Summer Olympics in three different cities. Cities in Hungary, China, Qatar, and Germany had expressed early interest in hosting the games.

“It’s a historic day not just for Brisbane and Queensland, but for the entire country,” said Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

In 2019, the IOC updated rules for submitting bids to host the Summer Olympics, in order to reduce costs, and streamline the bidding process.

Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland, Australia, is already home to the Anna Meares Velodrome, among other existing sporting venues.

The rescheduled 2020 Olympic Games will open in Tokyo later this week. Paris, France will host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games; Los Angeles, California will host the 2028 Summer Olympics. LA also hosted the 1932 Olympics.

Japan’s Saitama Criterium canceled due to COVID just days ahead of Tokyo Olympics

The Saitama Criterium has been canceled due to coronavirus concerns, just days ahead of Friday’s Olympic opening ceremony.

“We have reached the conclusion that our priority is ensuring the safety and security of the people of Saitama, athletes and other participants, and fans,” organizers said in a statement late Tuesday. “Various anti-infection measures are being taken … but the expanding spread of infections in Japan remains unpredictable.

The traditional post-Tour de France event is held northeast of Tokyo and typically attracts up to 10,000 fans.

The Tokyo region has seen a surge of new coronavirus infections in recent weeks, prompting the central government to place the area under a state of emergency.

The news adds to the growing chorus of concern that the Tokyo Games can safely go ahead as planned. Athletes from many sports – including cycling – have already had to abandon their plans to participate due to catching the virus. Olympic officials stated Tuesday that they are still not ruling out a last-minute cancelation of the event.

Jacopo Mosca renews with Trek Segafredo through 2023 and on the road to recovery

Jacopo Mosca is on the road to recovery after a horrific crash at last month’s Italian national time trial championships and has two more seasons with Trek-Segafredo to look forward to.

The team confirmed Wednesday it has extended the 27-year-old’s contract to run through 2023.

“We decided to upgrade and to extend the contract until 2023 during the Corsa Rosa, and now we have signed it,” said team manager Luca Guercilena. “We did this not because he asked, but because he deserves it. There are only a few reliable and valuable riders like him around, so we’re holding him tight.”

Mosca is currently recovering from a terrible fall during the Italian nationals that left him with a collapsed lung, and fractures to his clavicle, scapula, vertebrae, and eight ribs. He also suffered with cranial trauma.

Team doctor Emilio Magni indicated the road back to racing is still long for Mosca, but that progress is being made.

“After the consolidation of vertebral and costal fractures, we will look to the physiotherapy phase, first passive and then active, to regain the functionality of the scapula-humeral articulation,” Magni said. “Then he will be able to pedal on a stationary trainer. Patience and caution are always needed, but overall, everything is going well.”