This Day. Jack Johnson demolishes Jim Jeffries and the racist myth of the ‘Great White Hope’

Jack Johnson | United States Library of Congress

On July 3, 1910 one century ago this day in Reno, Nevada, African-American boxer Jack Johnson knocked out the white supremacist Jim Jeffries, triggering a series of racist attacks across the United States; about 20 Blacks died, and hundreds were injured. Johnson holds a seminal position not only in boxing but also in athletics and in the movement for the rights of all.

IOC to analyze situation of Tokyo Olympics

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that it will analyze the current situation of the new coronavirus pandemic, and the preparations for the Tokyo Olympics, postponed until the summer of 2021.

Again the IOC will analyze the pros and cons of the next edition of the Olympic Games | The Republic

It’s Olympic Day — but there’s not much to celebrate this year. Olympic Day was started in 1948 to mark the birth of the modern Games, which came into being on June 23, 1894. Today, the Olympic “movement” finds itself on hard times. The Tokyo Games, which should be opening about a month from now, were postponed by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The dance of millions

The real possibility of cancelling the Olympics is under consideration | Oscar Sánchez Serra

How long will we have to wait to see the world’s top athletes compete in another edition of the Olympics? | Aym sports

(May 29) – The International Olympic Committee’s president has stated that if the Tokyo Games are not held in 2021, they will be cancelled. Why?

Physical activity increases life expectancy in cancer patients, study reveals

The study found that the risk of dying from cancer was 82 per cent higher compared to people who are less sedentary. Regular moderate physical activity can also cut your risk of other diseases in half

Avoiding sedentary lifestyle is one of the most common recommendations of medical professionals. Recently a study revealed that life expectancy is reduced in cancer patients who did not have an active physical life.

This Day. Muhammad Ali takes his stand

Pele and Muhammad Ali

On June 20, 1967, the great Muhammad Ali was convicted in Houston for refusing induction in the U.S. armed forces.

Ali saw the war in Vietnam as an exercise in genocide. He also used his platform as boxing champion to connect the war abroad with the war at home, saying, “Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on Brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs?”

For these statements, as much as the act itself, Judge Joe Ingraham handed down the maximum sentence to Cassius Clay (as they insisted upon calling him in court): five-years in a federal penitentiary and a $10,000 fine.

Ali’s refusal to be drafted was an inspiring moment for many of us.

– Dougal MacDonald

Body Break

Hal Johnson and Joanne McLeod hosted Body Break for more than 30 years. Johnson says the TV segment was inspired by his experiences with racism | Body Break

Hal Johnson, who co-hosted Body Break — the long-running, informative TV segments promoting health and fitness — with his wife Joanne McLeod, says it was racism, and not fitness, that inspired the idea. Johnson shared a four-minute video on the background of Body Break, which started when Johnson was hired in June, 1988 to be a sports reporter for TSN, a division of Bell Media and partly owned by ABC/Disney. But that offer was recanted because executives at the sports network did not want two Black reporters.

May the change be genuine!

Sarah Hirshland, CEO of the U.S. Olympic Committee, addresses Black athletes and announces “athlete-led group to challenge rules and systems in our own organization that create barriers…” | Alfonso Nacianceno

Gwen Berry’s protest during the awards ceremony oN August 10 in Pan American Games in Lima | La Nación

Olympic fencing medallist Race Imboden took a knee in protest during his team’s foil medal ceremony at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru on August 9, 2019.

Sarah Hirshland, CEO of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, on June 8 in Colorado Springs, announced the creation of an “athlete-led group to challenge the rules and systems in our own organization that create barriers to progress, including your right to protest.”

Egypt’s woman coach

Rama Naguib Jweily is a professional lawyer, a former Egyptian league player and an academy coach. Her goal is to spark a renaissance for girls soccer in Egypt. (video)

Hockey players take their stand

Seven current and former NHL players have formed a group to fight racism in hockey. The Hockey Diversity Alliance is co-headed by San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane and ex-NHLer Akim Aliu. The other members are Detroit Red Wings defenceman Trevor Daley, Minnesota Wild defenceman Matt Dumba, Buffalo Sabres forward Wayne Simmonds, former NHLer and current minor leaguer Chris Stewart and retired player Joel Ward.

There will be no Vanier Cup this fall – and maybe no Canadian university sports at all

Calgary Dinos celebrate winning Vanier Cup title in 2019 | Jacques Boissinot/Canadian Press

U Sports, the national governing body for interuniversity athletics, announced today that it’s cancelling this year’s fall championships because of the pandemic. The most prominent event lost is football’s Vanier Cup, which has been around since 1965. The other sports affected are men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross-country running, women’s rugby and women’s field hockey.