There's a developing story in the Winter #Olympics at #MilanCortina 2026 where the IOC has stripped #VladyslavHeraskevych of his accreditation in row over helmet he planned to wear in the skeleton commemorating Ukrainian athletes killed by Russia. Full details in *free to read* edition #ZeusFiles ⬇️

The IOC has refused to condemn Donald Trump after he criticised a USA athlete competing at @milancortina2026.bsky.social who said “just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the US.” That's no surprise with @la28games.bsky.social hosting next Olympics ⬇️

Since the #ZeusFiles revealed exclusively that revenue generated by Olympic worldwide sponsorship programme in 2025 had fallen to $560m, several insiders have told us situation is “far more critical”. Is Kirsty Coventry facing the first major test of her IOC Presidency, @dodo938.bsky.social asks? ⬇️

US Vice-President #JDVance has been booed at the #Olympics in #MilanCortina2026 and the ICE team in Italy protecting him the target of demonstrations. But the IOC President Kirsty Coventry has shared “very good chemistry” with him, Olympic officials have revealed. Latest in the #ZeusFiles ⬇️

The Italians overcame the logistical challenges of having four live sites for the Opening Ceremony of the #Olympics at #MilanCortina2026 with a show that captured the imagination, despite the empty seats and boos for some of those taking part. The thoughts of Philip Barker in the Zeus Files ⬇️

Tickets for the Opening Ceremony of the #Olympics are normally the thing everyone wants, but for @milancortina2026.bsky.social there are reports that 10,000 remain unsold for tonight's event in the San Siro. Philip Barker reports from Milan in this *free Friday* edition of the #ZeusFiles. Link ⬇️

A campaigner has condemned the appointment of an Iranian as an IOC member. “At a time athletes have been arrested, threatened, or punished for expressing dissent or participating in protests, decisions that elevate representatives of Iranian institutions contribute to a false sense of normalcy." ⬇️

The IOC consolidated statement of activities in the new financial report reveals the amount generated by the Olympics TOP programme marketing has dropped in the space of a year by $311.5 million, @dodo938.bsky.social reports for the #ZeusFiles duncanmackayveritas.substack.com/p/iocs-top-p...

The appearance of Casey Wasserman in the Epstein files and publication of a series of historic salacious emails he exchanged with convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell is deeply embarrassing for him but is unlikely to jeopardise position as chair of @la28games.bsky.social. Latest Zeus Files ⬇️

Olympic Hospitality Houses have grown from a tent at Barcelona 1992 to a massive business with several countries have already found locations for @la28games.bsky.social. Find out which countries have signed deals in this edition of the #ZeusFiles at duncanmackayveritas.substack.com/p/la-confide...

Baltic countries Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, along with Poland, nations who border Russia and fear being attacked next the most are fighting an increasingly lonely battle to ensure they are kept out of #Olympics sport. My latest #ZeusFiles at duncanmackayveritas.substack.com/p/a-kick-in-...

The election of Sheikh Joaan as President of the Olympic Council of Asia ends the long soap opera surrounding Sheikh Ahmad, but more significantly gives Qatar important platform to promote bid to host the 2036 Olympics. Latest edition of #ZeusFiles at duncanmackayveritas.substack.com/p/as-one-mid...

To mark the 50th anniversary next month of John Curry winning the Olympics gold medal for in the men’s figure skating at Innsbruck 1976, I have written a piece for the @theobserveruk.bsky.social on how he revolutionised his sport observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...

New IOC President Kirsty Coventry has struck a noticeably different tone to her predecessor Thomas Bach, who thought of himself as the pseudo-leader of the 194th member of the UN. Coventry has stripped back the IOC to what it is - a sports body that organises events. My latest for the Zeus Files ⬇️

After the controversy of the #Olympics Opening Ceremony at #Paris2024, @milancortina2026.bsky.social is promising that their event will be a “platform to convey good messages and not messages that divide”. Philip Barker reports for the #ZeusFiles in link ⬇️

A record-breaking first day for @la28games.bsky.social as they opened registrations to enter the Olympics ticket draw, but did FIFA really receive 500 million requests for World Cup tickets? We discuss all of this in the latest issue of the #ZeusFiles in link⬇️

Appeal by a Queensland Indigenous group has failed to stop work on the Olympics stadium for Brisbane 2032 and why couples getting married are angry about it. Brisbane 2032 President Andrew Liveris has added another role to his portfolio. Plus, learn to talk like an Aussie. In the #ZeusFiles link ⬇️

Your chance to register online for the chance to buy Olympics tickets for @la28games.bsky.social for as little as $28 is now open! When LA last hosted the #Olympics in 1984 the ticketing system was via mail-order with brochures available from 3,700 outlets nationwide. Full story in the #ZeusFiles⬇️

FREE FRIDAY The World Cross Country Championships started in 1903 but is dying. Is the only hope of saving it, getting it in the Winter Olympics?https://open.substack.com/pub/duncanmackayveritas/p/cross-country-needs-olympic-inclusion?r=7mwrw&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Former IOA President Suresh Kalmadi, whose died at 81, will leave a mixed legacy. He modernised Indian sport but was in charge of the 2010 #CommonwealthGames, an event so badly organised the country's still trying to shake off the reputation as it bids for 2036 Olympics. Full story in #ZeusFiles ⬇️

The stadium being built for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympics will take inspiration from the “Queenslander,” a style of detached timber house in the state, as a team of architects are appointed to oversee the design process. Full details in the #ZeusFiles open.substack.com/pub/duncanma...

Could the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, centrepiece of the first Olympics of the modern era in 1896, start hosting major athletics events again? That's the dream after Greek billionaire and #NFFC owner Evangelos Marinakis agreed to fund a renovation project. Full story in the Zeus Files⬇️

Sergey Bubka hasn’t visited Ukraine since July 2022 and has failed to make any substantive statement condemning Russia since shortly after invasion started. Story of how Ukrainian icon became such a divisive figure in his own country in latest edition of #ZeusFiles open.substack.com/pub/duncanma...

The @la28games.bsky.social chairman #CaseyWasserman has promised Israeli athletes they will be welcome at the Olympics and their safety will be guaranteed. During his first visit to Israel he praised Benjamin Netanyahu for his leadership that "makes him proud to be a Jew." Link to #ZeusFiles story ⬇️

First priority for World Boxing President Gennadiy Golovkin will be to put the new international federation responsible for Olympic boxing at @la28games.bsky.social onto a firm financial footing. As @dodo938.bsky.social reveals for the #ZeusFiles, they're heavily reliant on funding from the IOC.

#VictorConte, architect of one of the biggest doping stories in sport, has died at 75. The self-taught pharmacist ended up a millionaire thanks to the range of nutritional supplements he continued to sell even after being sent to prison. Latest #ZeusFiles at open.substack.com/pub/duncanma...

Thank you to everyone who sent me messages for my 60th birthday. I spent it in the middle of the Pacific Ocean aboard the Anthem of the Seas on a cruise from Honolulu to Sydney with the lovely Sarah Bowron. Arrived in Australia today for a short visit before heading home.

#Kenya has avoided being declared non-compliant by #WADA - for now. A turning point in the fight against doping in the country? Or just delaying the inevitable. I discuss the controversial topic in the latest edition of the #ZeusFiles at open.substack.com/pub/duncanma...

A bid by #WladimirKlitschko to become President of #WorldBoxing has ended only days after it begun leaving another #boxing legend, #GennadyGolovkin, as overwhelming favourite to win the election with full backing of #IOC. Full details of #ZeusFiles *exclusive* at open.substack.com/pub/duncanma...

The decision by the International Paralympic Committee to lift the ban on Russia and Belarus has handed Vladimir Putin an unprecedented propaganda opportunity at Milan Cortina 2026 and @la28games.bsky.social. Analysis in this *free to read* edition of the #ZeusFiles open.substack.com/pub/duncanma...

Round-up of latest Olympic news, including a legend standing for President of World Boxing, India & Nigeria making pitches to host 2030 Commonwealth Games and Austria agreeing to sign-up to the FIS centralised marketing and media scheme. All in the #ZeusFiles at open.substack.com/pub/duncanma...

Whatever action Israel's taking in Gaza, the International Olympic Committee won't ban them from the Olympics at Milan Cortina 2026 or @la28games.bsky.social as they haven't broken the Olympic Charter. More in this *free* to read edition of the Zeus Files at open.substack.com/pub/duncanma...

Boxing legend #GennadyGolovkin is favourite to succeed Boris van der Vorst as #WorldBoxing President after he decided not to seek a second term. The IOC have lost confidence in him and there are questions over a marketing deal. *Exclusive* story in the #ZeusFiles open.substack.com/pub/duncanma...

Announcement of the appointment of a company to create the masterplan for the main precinct to be built for the #Olympics at @brisbane2032.bsky.social comes week after expressions of interest opened for principal architects for Brisbane Stadium. Latest in #ZeusFiles open.substack.com/pub/duncanma...

Kenyan runner Sabastian Sawe is funding his own drugs testing programme with the Athletics Integrity Unit before the @berlinmarathon.bsky.social to prove he's clean. Last time anyone tried that was Lance Armstrong before his 2009 comeback. The latest #ZeusFiles at open.substack.com/pub/duncanma...

Memories of the 1991 World Athletics Champs, last time they were held in Tokyo. I was 25 and they were first championships I covered. Memories of "Carl Lewis and Sergey Bubka in the red vest of the Soviet Union for last time *Free to read* in the #ZeusFiles at open.substack.com/pub/duncanma...

The #WorldAthleticsChamps start tomorrow and female competitors must have taken a SRY test. It's been a contentious subject in athletics for decades and this is latest attempt by @worldathletics.org to find a solution. Special big read in the #ZeusFiles at open.substack.com/pub/duncanma...

The departure of Thomas Bach as International Olympic Committee President has led to a less confrontational style of dealing with #Olympics partners under Kirsty Coventry, which is a welcome change for the World Olympians Association. Latest news in #ZeusFiles at open.substack.com/pub/duncanma....

The Olympic Programme Working Group set up by IOC President Kirsty Coventry "will consider the suggestion that traditional summer or winter sports could cross over". That could be good news for the UCI and @worldathletics.org who both have Winter Olympic ambitions. open.substack.com/pub/duncanma...

Another day, another gender row in #boxing. But this time, it's Boris van der Vorst, President of World Boxing, who is being blamed for causing it with even the French Government condemning him. Full story in the #ZeusFiles at open.substack.com/pub/duncanma...

Build up to the start of the World #Boxing Championships has been ruined by more gender rows involving #ImaneKhelif and #LinYuting that should have been dealt with by the IOC during the #Olympics at Paris2024 following warnings from the IBA open.substack.com/pub/duncanma...

The fact there are two candidates to host a #CommonwealthGames which will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first edition in Hamilton in 1930 marks a major turnaround for Commonwealth Sport after they seemed to be staring into the abyss. Latest in #ZeusFiles at open.substack.com/pub/duncanma...

A poll from @nolympicsla.bsky.social has claimed 54pc of all respondents in the city indicated wildfire recovery and rebuilding efforts are more important for public resources and spending over the next 3 years than the @la28games.bsky.social . Latest #ZeusFiles at open.substack.com/pub/duncanma...

Swiss-Ski President accepts offer from ex-rival Johan Eliasch to become the first chief executive of FIS, FIFA President Gianni Infantino continues to dance to tune of @donaldjtrump-maga.bsky.social, another sports sex scandal and Saudi's winter desert dream melts open.substack.com/pub/duncanma...

New evidence, including audio files, photographs & documents, have emerged which show the IWF President was involved in helping manipulate the election in May. Worrying for sport in Olympics at @la28games.bsky.social having been threatened with expulsion by the IOC open.substack.com/pub/duncanma...

Today is the 10th anniversary of @sebcoe.bsky.social being elected President of @worldathletics.org. His greatest achievement has been the creation of the AIU which is catching more drugs cheats than ever. *Free* edition of the #ZeusFiles at open.substack.com/pub/duncanma...

A decision to allow naming rights for venues at @la28games.bsky.social is a significant historical shift for the IOC, who have previously fiercely protected a “clean policy” when it comes to advertising in arenas at the Olympics. Full analysis in the Zeus Files open.substack.com/pub/duncanma...

#Netball would boost gender equity and provide a cash bonus at @brisbane2032.bsky.social, it's claimed. Doubts continue over some venues for the Olympics and news of changes at the Australian Olympic Committee. Special #Brisbane2032 edition of the #ZeusFiles open.substack.com/pub/duncanma...

A document designed to ruin India's 2036 Olympics bid is being circulated within the IOC, just as the country is set to take a major step forward with its major events strategy and be awarded the 2030 #CommonwealthGames. Full *exclusive* story in the #ZeusFiles open.substack.com/pub/duncanma...

The @la28games.bsky.social chairman Casey Wasserman faced criticism following his performance in the White House when US President @donaldjtrump-maga.bsky.social set up an Olympics task force. Analysis in the latest Zeus Files at open.substack.com/pub/duncanma...