Italy
FILE - The Olympic flame burns as fireworks explode during the opening ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 23, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. Creative director Marco Balich, reveals to The Associated Press that he has been working for a year on a 30-minute show that will run ahead of the World Cup 2022 opening game between Qatar and Ecuador. He says local organizers "wanted to create a real show, which FIFA is not accustomed to.” (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
AP Exclusive: Balich leads Olympics-style World Cup ceremony

By Andrew Dampf Nov. 16, 2022 04:05 PM EST

Russian Kamila Valieva, foreground, prepares to compete in the women's free skate program during the figure skating competition at the 2022 Russian Figure Skating Grand Prix, the Golden Skate of Moscow, as her coach Eteri Tutberidze, right, looks at her at Megasport Arena in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022. With its teams suspended from international competitions such as the Grand Prix series, Russia is holding its own series of figure skating events in various cities, also under the Grand Prix name. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
Russian skater Valieva could miss 2026 Olympics over doping

Nov. 14, 2022 06:49 AM EST

FILE - The logo of 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics and Paralympics, right, are unveiled to the journalists at a press conference in Rome, March 30, 2021. Another expensive venue for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics has been approved, with a 50 million euro ($50 million) project slated to place a roof over the outdoor speedkating oval in Baselga di Pine. The Milan-Cortina organizing committee said Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022 that it couldn’t comment on "a choice made by Baselga,” but noted that speedskating was slated for Baselga in the bid dossier and that the International Skating Union prefers an indoor oval.(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, file)
2026 Olympic speedskating oval to get $50 million roof

By Andrew Dampf Nov. 08, 2022 03:45 PM EST

FILE - Ilia Malinin competes in the men's short program during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. All eyes will be on 17-year-old Ilia Malinin when he makes his senior Grand Prix debut at Skate America this weekend. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski, File)
Malinin headlines Grand Prix opener at Skate America

By Dave Skretta Oct. 20, 2022 01:38 PM EDT

FILE - The Calgary Flames introduce Mike Keenan as the team's new head coach at a news conference in Calgary, Canada, June 14, 2007. Keenan was named coach of Italy’s men’s national ice hockey team on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, giving the Stanley Cup winner a chance to guide the host country at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. (Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press via AP, File)
Mike Keenan to coach host Italy in hockey at 2026 Olympics

Oct. 14, 2022 04:44 PM EDT

Boston set to host 2025 figure skating world championships

By Dave Skretta Oct. 12, 2022 02:46 PM EDT
The International Skating Union awarded the 2025 world figure skating championships to Boston on Wednesday, giving the U.S. the opportunity to host the last worlds...

Far-Right party Brothers of Italy's leader Giorgia Meloni speaks to the media at her party's electoral headquarters in Rome, early Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. Italians voted in a national election that might yield the nation's first government led by the far right since the end of World War II. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
IOC president Bach meets with Meloni over 2026 concerns

Sep. 29, 2022 01:17 PM EDT

In this undated photo made available by Athletica Vaticana on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, Dutch-born cyclist Rien Schuurhuis, center, poses with his team in front of St. Peter's Basilica at The Vatican. Schuurhuis will race for the Vatican in the Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022 road race at the cycling world championships in Wollongong, Australia. It's the first time that the Vatican has entered a team for the event. Chiara Porro, Schuurhuis' wife, is Australia's ambassador to the Holy See. (Ivan Sommonte/Athletica Vaticana)
Vatican cyclist spreading the pope's message at worlds

By Andrew Dampf Sep. 23, 2022 08:50 AM EDT

FILE - Bobsleds are parked next to the track in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, on Feb. 17, 2021. Costly construction delays, a leadership vacancy linked to a volatile political climate and a lack of sponsors amid a spreading financial crisis has prompted International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach to acknowledge the "challenges" facing organizers for the 2026 Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti, File)
IOC president Bach discusses 'challenges' for 2026 Games

By Andrew Dampf Sep. 16, 2022 11:00 AM EDT

RESENDING TO PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE CROP OF AJM190 - Romania's David Popovici competes during the men's 100m freestyle final at the European swimming championships, in Rome, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Romanian teen swimmer Popovici breaks 2009 mark in 100 free

Aug. 13, 2022 02:32 PM EDT

France supporters wave flags during the Women Euro 2022 semifinal soccer match between Germany and France at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, England, Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
France vs Germany 7/27/2022

Jul. 28, 2022 07:26 AM EDT

Sportlight-Week Ahead, July 22-28, Take two

By The Associated Press Jul. 21, 2022 10:00 AM EDT
July 26 1859 — The first intercollegiate Regatta is held in Worcester, Mass., with Harvard beating Yale and Brown. 1928 — Gene Tunney...

A young fan holds a Spanish flag during the Women Euro 2022 group B soccer match between Denmark and Spain at Brentford Community Stadium in London, England, Saturday, July 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Spain vs Denmark 7/16/2022

Jul. 19, 2022 07:02 AM EDT

From left, England's players Jill Scott, Chloe Kelly, Lauren Hemp, and and Ellen White cheer during a training session ahead of the Women Euro 2022 quarter final soccer match between England and Spain, at the Lensbury training center in Teddington, London, Tuesday, July 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Spain vs England 7/20/2022

Jul. 19, 2022 07:02 AM EDT

Belgium fans on the stands shade themselves from the sun while waiting for the start of the Women Euro 2022 group D soccer match between Italy and Belgium at the Manchester City Academy Stadium, in Manchester, England, Monday, July 18, 2022. Britain's weather agency has issued its first-ever "red warning" of extreme heat for Monday and Tuesday. Temperature in Manchester reached 35 C, 95 F, on Monday. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Belgium vs Italy 7/18/2022

Jul. 19, 2022 07:02 AM EDT

England's Beth Mead celebrates after scoring her third goal, England's 8th, during the Women Euro 2022 group A soccer match between England and Norway at Brighton & Hove Community Stadium in Brighton, England, Monday, July 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Norway vs England 7/11/2022

Jul. 19, 2022 07:02 AM EDT

Germany's manager Martina Voss-Tecklenburg gives directions to his/her players during the Women Euro 2022 group B soccer match between Finland and Germany, at MK stadium in Milton Keynes, England, Saturday, July 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
Germany vs Finland 7/16/2022

Jul. 19, 2022 07:02 AM EDT

FILE - The United States' Ryan Crouser competes in the men's shot put during the Prefontaine Classic track and field meet at Hayward Field Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Eugene, Ore. Among those who might break their own world records are hurdlers Sydney McLaughlin and Karsten Warholm and shot putter Ryan Crouser. Jamaican speedster Elaine Thompson-Herah could make a run at 100-meter record that Florence Griffith-Joyner has held since 1988. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman, File)
McLaughlin leads speedy group to 1st track worlds on US soil

By Eddie Pells And Pat Graham Jul. 13, 2022 02:24 PM EDT

FILE - AC Milan's Franck Kessie celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the Italian Cup quarter final match between AC Milan and Lazio at the San Siro stadium, in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022. Barcelona has boosted its midfield by signing Franck Kessie as a free agent on Monday, July 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)
Lazio Rome vs AC Milan 2/9/2022

Jul. 04, 2022 09:16 AM EDT

FILE - AC Milan's Franck Kessie celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the Italian Cup quarter final match between AC Milan and Lazio at the San Siro stadium, in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022. Barcelona has boosted its midfield by signing Franck Kessie as a free agent on Monday, July 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)
Barcelona adds former AC Milan player Kessie to its midfield

Jul. 04, 2022 09:14 AM EDT