Dick Pound
FILE - A police officer wearing a face mask and goggles to protect against COVID-19, stands near a poster of a skier on the wall at a train station in Zhangjiakou in northern China's Hebei Province, Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. China is threatening to take “firm countermeasures" if the U.S. proceeds with a diplomatic boycott of February's Beijing Winter Olympic Games. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Monday accused U.S. politicians of grandstanding over the issue of not sending dignitaries to attend the events that China hopes will showcase its economic development. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)
Column: US dignitaries shun Olympics. What about sponsors?

By Jim Litke Dec. 07, 2021 03:57 AM EST

FILE - Peng Shuai of China reacts after scoring a point against Monica Niculescu of Romania during their women's singles match of the China Open tennis tournament at the Diamond Court in Beijing, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017. The head of the women’s professional tennis tour announced Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021, that all WTA tournaments would be suspended in China because of concerns about the safety of Peng Shuai, a Grand Slam doubles champion who accused a former high-ranking government official in that country of sexual assault.(AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)
Column: Women's tennis leads lonely fight for human rights

By Paul Newberry Dec. 02, 2021 06:11 PM EST

Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee (TOGOC) President Yoshiro Mori speaks to the media after a video conference with IOC President Thomas Bach at the TOGOC headquarters in Tokyo Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. The IOC and organizers in Japan repeatedly insisted on Wednesday there is no Plan B for the Tokyo Games, which were already postponed by one year during the coronavirus pandemic. (Takashi Aoyama/Pool Photo via AP)
Fans or no fans? Tokyo Olympic organizers still mum

By Stephen Wade Jan. 28, 2021 07:23 AM EST

A man wearing a protective mask to help curb the spread of the coronavirus walks near a banner of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Column: Athletes can get in line for vaccines like everyone

By Tim Dahlberg Jan. 28, 2021 02:28 AM EST

The Olympic rings are seen at the empty Odaiba waterfront in Tokyo, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021. The Tokyo Games, postponed in the midst of a pandemic, are scheduled to open on July 23. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
IOC, Tokyo Olympics to unveil rule book for beating pandemic

By Stephen Wade Jan. 26, 2021 11:23 PM EST

People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus stand at the Odaiba waterfront as Olympic rings is seen in the background in Tokyo, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
Tokyo Olympic Q&A: Officials try to explain how games happen

By Stephen Wade Jan. 26, 2021 05:03 AM EST

FILE - This is a Friday, July 6, 2007 file photo, World Anti-Doping Agency chief Dick Pound as he gestures during a press briefing at the 119th Session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Guatemala City. In an interview with Japan’s Kyodo news agency published on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, Pound says the Tokyo Olympics can go ahead without fans. Pound says: “The question is — is this a ‘must-have’ or ‘nice-to-have.’ It’s nice to have spectators (AP Photo/Andres Leighton, File)
Former IOC VP Pound says fans optional for Tokyo Olympics

By Stephen Wade Jan. 21, 2021 02:18 AM EST

A man wearing a protective mask to help curb the spread of the coronavirus walks near a banner of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics at an underpass in Tokyo Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. The Tokyo Olympics are to open in six months on July 23. Interestingly, Tokyo organizers have no public program planned to mark the milestone. There is too much uncertainty for that right now. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Tokyo Olympics Q&A: 6 months out and murmurs of cancellation

By Stephen Wade Jan. 19, 2021 12:40 AM EST