Sports in Brief: IOC allows Olympics in two countries

By what International Olympic Committee President

Thomas Bach

called a unanimous show-of-hands approval Monday, even though it clearly seemed not everyone raised a hand to vote, the IOC created the possibility for future summer or winter Olympic Games to take place in more than one country for money-saving reasons.

The change also applies to splitting the host role between two cities in the same country, opening the way for a joint bid by the two California cities, Los Angeles and San Francisco, among the four finalists in the likely U.S. candidature for the 2024 Summer Olympics. That is unlikely, since IOC members - many already predisposed to disdain for the U.S. - undoubtedly would ask why cities of that size needed help to stage the Games.

The decision's first impact could be on the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Games, since the IOC has suggested the organizers move the sledding sports out of South Korea to save the expense of building a $100 million bobsled, luge, and skeleton facility in a country with no interest in those sports and likely no legacy use for the track. Sliding centers in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Japan would be alternatives.

The IOC also signed off on changes that would allow the Tokyo 2020 Olympic organizers to resurrect baseball and softball. If Tokyo asks the IOC to add those sports, which are very popular in Japan, and possibly squash as well, the approval could come at the regularly scheduled IOC meeting in July.

The decision to allow flexibility in adding sports or events within sports will create an opportunity to bring in new sports with more appeal to younger fans, such as skateboarding, surfing, and rock climbing.

But maintaining limits of 10,500 athletes and 310 medal events could touch off an internecine battle among federations who may be forced to pare athletes and events in their sports.

Also, the IOC will go ahead with an Olympic TV channel, hoping to get it up-and-running by the end of 2015. It will focus on historical footage, training tips, and features, with no immediate plan for live competition.

The U.S. Bobsled & Skeleton Federation announced in Lake Placid, N.Y., that it is changing its name to USA Bobsled & Skeleton.

COLLEGES La Salle senior forward Kelsey Haycook has been named one of 16 semifinalists for the 2014 Hermann Trophy, the National Soccer Coaches Association announced. The award is given annually to the top male and female college soccer players by the Missouri Athletic Club of St. Louis. The winners are determined by a vote of Division I soccer coaches. Haycook set the La Salle women's soccer single-season record for goals (20) and points (43) this season.

GOLF Cheyenne Woods will be on the LPGA Tour in 2015. With a fifth-and-final-round 70 in the final stage of LPGA Q-School in Daytona, Fla., Woods secured her status on the circuit for next year. Woods, a 24-year-old Wake Forest grad who is the niece of Tiger Woods, finished in a tie for 11th place. The top 20 players earn the best status possible from Q-School, meaning the opportunity to play close to a full schedule.

- Staff and wire reports