Category: ethics

teaching kids about UNSAFE touching

Parents of recreation gymnast needed to be educated about “spotting“, of course.

Grand Paris Express Métro

Paris already has one of the biggest and busiest subway networks in the world.

Simultaneous with Olympics 2024 construction, over 200km more are being built. 68 brand-new stations. The plan is to travel around the city, rather than crossing the congested centre.

It’s called the Grand Paris Express.

Of course there will be an economic boost everywhere easily accessible by the 4 new lines.

Hopefully, Paris will be one Olympic host where the legacy benefits outweighs the incredible cost for a … circus.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Mark Robinson v Simone Biles

North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson has been called “the GOP’s next top lunatic”.

Sure he’s homophobic, anti-semitic, an election denier, anti-science, anti-woman — BUT what made Gymnastics fans mad was when he dissed the greatest gymnast of all time.

Something tells me candidate Mark Robinson never did Gymnastics. 😀

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Aly on CBC Mornings

Promoting her new book.

USAG bungles Gabby petition

There should be criteria for WHO can be invited to U.S. National Team Camps.

If you don’t meet criteria, you MIGHT not have a petition accepted.

However — USAG did not have that criteria posted soon enough. In light of that oversight, had I a vote, 2012 Olympic champion Gabby Douglas would have been invited.

Even if there is no ill intent towards Gabby, it LOOKS BAD for an organization that is still trying to improve their reputation for fairness from the many, many wrong decisions of the past.

Listen to the specifics of this issue on the GymCastic PODCAST episode posted April 1, 2024.

NCAA student body diversity

In a perfect world, the ethnic background of your organization would reflect your geographical region.

ALL citizens would have equal access to higher education.

UCLA is often praised for being a Gymnastics team that celebrates diversity.

But Cal has an even more diverse student body.

Auburn and Clemson are two schools not very diverse. There could be multiple reason for that, of course.

This data from the most recent fiscal year disclosures made by schools to the U.S. Dept. of Education.

Iowa is being investigated

Iowa hires investigator to look into women’s gymnastics team culture.

Head coach Larissa Libby has been placed on paid administrative leave, not as a disciplinary measure but to protect the integrity of the review, the school said in a statement.

Gabby not invited to April Camp

Perhaps USAG is sticking to the rules.

BUT if I’d had a petition to add a former Olympic Champion, I’d vote YES.

It’s time to TAX the NCAA

Scott Hodge in the Indianapolis Star:

Prior to the NCAA allowing NILs, the rap against March Madness (and college sports in general) was that the universities and organizing conferences were getting rich off lucrative TV contracts and corporate sponsorships. Meanwhile, the athletes — who are the show — weren’t paid and shared in none of the spoils.

To some degree, NILs have taken steam out of that argument. For example, USC guard Bronny James is said to have endorsement deals worth $5.9 million, and Iowa Hawkeye Caitlin Clark’s total deals are nearing $1 million. …

Unlike professional leagues like the NBA, which must pay income taxes on the revenues they earn from TV contracts, ticket sales, and licensing merchandise, universities and athletic conferences including the NCAA can pocket the same income tax-free because of their tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. …

… college athletics earned upwards of $13.6 billion in total revenue in 2022 through various channels and entities, more than any professional sports league other than the NFL. …

NIL income has turned student athletes into paid athletes; the line between college sports leagues and professional sports leagues is thinning. If student athletes are taxed on their earnings, the NCAA and its brethren should be taxed on theirs.

Caitlin Clark pays income taxes on NIL. It’s time to tax the NCAA, too.

As some feared, NIL was the beginning of a slippery slope.

I could see College football leave the NCAA and become a minor professional league. Paying taxes.

That would be good for education. BAD for everything that is currently funded by College football.

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