Competition

China's first - ever AI - driven robot games have opened in Wuxi, a city in eastern China near Shanghai. These games mark a significant step as AI emerges from the laboratory to face the most human - like physical challenge: competition.

Cricket enjoys great popularity across the Asian continent, yet its involvement in the Asian Games has been rather limited. Among the previous 19 editions of the Asian Games, it has only been present in three.

The "No Olympics LA" organization, established in 2017 and in line with Democratic values, has been vocal in its opposition to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Eric Sheehaan, the group's spokesperson, stated that they have been outspoken about their discontent. In the past, they disrupted an International Olympic Committee press conference and held protests against Governor Gavin Newsom, warning that the Olympics could pose significant risks to the city's future.

Led by Germany’s Left Party, opposition to Hamburg’s bid for a future Summer Olympics grew louder at city hall last week. Activist Paul Aloisi and sports scientist Benjamin Bendrich outlined potential downsides of hosting such a major event.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) released its annual report on Monday, showing an escalation in its work. The body handled 100 international-level cases in 2024, with a key focus on the Olympic Games—97% of finalists underwent pre-competition testing.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that 7 research projects have been selected for the 11th “Advanced Olympic Research Grant Program” managed by the Olympic Studies Centre. These projects were chosen for their academic quality and relevance to the IOC’s defined priority areas for Olympic Movement research.

The IOC has reportedly cooled India’s enthusiasm for hosting the 2036 Summer Olympics, highlighting three key obstacles: governance issues, doping problems, and underwhelming competitive performance, according to The Indian Express. These concerns were shared during a recent meeting in Lausanne with an Indian delegation led by IOA President PT Usha and Gujarat Sports Minister Harsh Sanghvi.

The Icelandic National Olympic Committee (NOC) has announced a €128,000 funding package to cover costs for 285 young athletes representing national teams between January and March. The initiative is part of a broader high-performance sports program approved in late 2023, aiming to boost youth athlete development.

With the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics approaching, full schedules for Winter Sports World Cups and qualifying events are now available. The newly updated Sports Observer calendar includes 699 exclusive events for 2025 and 2026, plus select major competitions through 2034, serving as a key resource for athletes and fans.

Hamburg has revealed an ambitious proposal for a Summer Olympics and Paralympics bid—15 years after its last attempt—featuring a floating venue on the iconic Binnenalster lake in the city center. The plan aims to redefine urban Olympic experiences, drawing inspiration from Paris 2024’s stadium-breaking innovations.

The Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) has initiated strategic preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, focusing on logistics, planning, and cross-departmental collaboration—all built on Team Brazil’s strong performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics. With three years to go until the 34th Olympic Games, the COB gathered all key departments for a meeting to officially launch its strategic roadmap. The session reviewed key tasks and shared updates from a recent inspection trip to California.

Despite a string of failed bid attempts in recent years, Germany remains enthusiastic about redefining its relationship with the Olympic Movement through bids from Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, and the Rhine-Ruhr region. These cities are competing to host a Summer Olympics between 2036 and 2044, while actively seeking public backing.