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Olympic officials investigate medal durability issues

The organisers of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics are examining the matter of damaged Olympic medals, following reports that a number of athletes have experienced problems with their awards.

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A surprising incident occurred when Johnson's triumphant moment was overshadowed by a medal malfunction, prompting an astonished reaction of "That didn't just happen!"

The Milan-Cortina 2026 organising committee has acknowledged the issue of broken Olympic medals and is allocating considerable resources to investigate the cause, following reports from several affected athletes.

American gold medallists Breezy Johnson and Alysa Liu have reported that the ribbon on their medals detached shortly after they were awarded, with both athletes experiencing the issue.

During a post-competition press conference, Johnson, the women's downhill alpine skiing gold medallist, displayed her damaged medal, highlighting the problem that has arisen with some of the Olympic prizes.

When speaking to the press, she pointed out the components of her award, noting that a small part meant to secure the medal to the ribbon had come loose.

Liu shared a similar experience on social media after claiming gold in the figure skating team event as a member of the United States team.

In the video, Liu is seen holding the medal and ribbon separately, accompanied by the caption: "My medal don't need the ribbon."

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She expressed confidence that the issue would be resolved, stating, "I'm sure somebody will fix it."

Aerial footage from the Olympics has sparked attention, with some finding it captivating and others considering it a distraction.

A daily schedule is available for those looking to follow the Winter Olympics, providing a breakdown of events as they unfold.

The current medal standings for the Winter Olympics in 2026 are being tracked and updated.

A similar incident occurred with the German team, which took home the bronze medal in the biathlon event. A video posted on Instagram, external, captures the moment when the medal slipped off the ribbon as an athlete jumped up and down in excitement at the team's hotel.

According to Andrea Francisi, the chief Games operations officer for Milan-Cortina 2026, an investigation is underway to address the issue at hand.

According to Francisi, the situation is being closely monitored, with an investigation underway to determine the root cause of the problem.

Francisi emphasized that the medals will receive meticulous attention, as the moment of presentation is a pivotal one for athletes, and accuracy is paramount.

A spokesperson for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee informed BBC Sport that they are awaiting a resolution from the organizers regarding the matter.

The possibility of athletes receiving new medals has not been officially confirmed at this time.

The Olympic Games have previously faced concerns regarding the quality of medals awarded to athletes, making this incident not an isolated one.

By February 2025, the number of requests to replace medals awarded at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games had reached 220, primarily due to damage from wear and tear.

Yasmin Harper, the diver who secured Team GB's inaugural medal at the 2024 Olympics, reported that her medal was exhibiting signs of deterioration, including tarnishing.

According to the organisers of the Paris 2024 Games, athletes whose medals have been damaged can have them replaced.

Breezy Johnson, the gold medal winner in the women's downhill event, publicly displayed her broken medal after her victory.

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UAE Defeats Canada to Enhance Super 8s Qualification Chances

The United Arab Emirates boosted their slim chances of advancing to the T20 World Cup Super 8s, securing a narrow five-wicket victory over Canada, thanks in part to Aryansh Sharma’s unbeaten 74.

In a crucial match for the United Arab Emirates, Aryansh Sharma achieved his fifth T20 international half-century, contributing to the team's victory over Canada.

The Men's T20 World Cup, being held in Group D in Delhi, saw an intense competition between the two teams.

Canada's innings resulted in a total of 150-7 after 20 overs, with Harsh Thaker scoring 50 runs off 41 balls, while Junaid Siddique took 5 wickets for 35 runs.

The UAE team responded with a total of 154 runs in 19.4 overs, led by Aryansh Sharma's unbeaten 74 runs off 53 balls and Sohaib Khan's 51 runs off 29 balls, despite Bin Zafar taking 3 wickets for 14 runs.

The United Arab Emirates secured a five-wicket win over Canada, boosting their chances in the tournament.

Aryansh Sharma played a pivotal role in the UAE's win, scoring an unbeaten 74 runs to help his team overcome Canada's total.

With four overs remaining, Canada seemed poised to defend their total, but Sohaib Khan's aggressive batting reignited the UAE's chase, as he scored 17 runs off Dillon Heyliger's bowling.

In the final over, the UAE required eight runs to win, and Aryansh Sharma eased the pressure by hitting a six off Jaskaran Singh's first ball.

Sohaib Khan was dismissed after scoring a rapid 51 runs off 29 balls, including four sixes, leaving the scores level.

Muhammad Arfan then sealed the victory with two balls to spare, hitting a four off Jaskaran Singh, as Aryansh Sharma top-scored with 74 runs off 53 balls.

The UAE now stands third in Group D with two points, but they face an uphill task in their upcoming matches against full members South Africa and Afghanistan to advance to the next phase.

Although the UAE has never beaten a full member in any World Cup format, their performance in this match has given them some confidence.

Earlier in the match, Junaid Siddique achieved the best bowling figures by a UAE player in a T20 World Cup, taking 5 wickets for 35 runs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

Harsh Thaker's 41-ball half-century, which included three sixes and two fours, provided a solid foundation for Canada's total.

Thaker and Navneet Dhaliwal shared a 58-run partnership to help Canada recover from a difficult start, before Dhaliwal was run out for 34 runs.

After Thaker fell victim to Junaid Siddique's slower ball, Canada struggled to find boundaries against the UAE's tight bowling.

Shreyas Movva made a useful contribution of 21 runs off 21 balls, but Junaid Siddique took two wickets in the final over to claim his maiden five-wicket haul in T20 internationals.

In a separate match, Zimbabwe's Brilliant Muzarabani played a key role in his team's stunning win over Australia.

For more updates, notifications, and social media coverage, visit the BBC Sport website.

In another development, Paul Stirling has been ruled out of the remainder of the T20 World Cup due to injury.

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GB’s Bankes knocked out in snowboard cross quarterfinals

Charlotte Bankes of Great Britain was knocked out in the quarter-final stage of the women’s snowboard cross event at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Charlotte Bankes of Great Britain has been knocked out of the women's snowboard cross event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, failing to advance beyond the quarter-final stage.

For more Winter Olympics coverage, videos are available to stream.

Access to Winter Olympics video content is restricted to users in the United Kingdom.

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Tottenham set to appoint temporary boss ahead of permanent summer hire

Tottenham expect to appoint an interim manager to oversee the team for the rest of the season by this weekend, with plans to make a permanent appointment in the summer.

The task of finding a successor to Thomas Frank has fallen to Johan Lange and Vinai Venkatesham, who are overseeing the selection process.

Tottenham Hotspur intends to appoint an interim manager to see out the current season, with a view to making a more permanent appointment during the summer months.

The dismissal of Thomas Frank occurred earlier this week, at a time when the team was five points clear of the relegation zone.

According to sources close to BBC Sport, Tottenham Hotspur is expected to finalize an agreement with an interim manager before the team resumes training on Monday.

Following their early exit from the FA Cup in the third round, Tottenham has a nine-day break before facing Arsenal in the north London derby on February 22.

With no match scheduled for this weekend, the first-team squad has been given a brief break and is set to return to training on Monday.

The club is aware that the mid-season transfer window presents limited options, and it may be more feasible to secure a long-term manager at the end of the campaign.

An in-depth examination of Thomas Frank's tenure reveals the challenges he faced in winning over players and fans.

A closer look at Frank's time at Tottenham highlights the risks involved in his appointment and the ultimate failure of his tenure.

Although the search for an interim manager is still ongoing, the successful candidate will be considered for the permanent position if they perform well in the role.

Former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is a potential candidate to take the reins on a permanent basis, particularly since his contract with the US men's national team is set to expire after the World Cup this summer.

Another candidate being considered is Roberto De Zerbi, who recently parted ways with French club Marseille by mutual consent.

For the latest news, analysis, and fan perspectives on Tottenham, please refer to our dedicated section.

If you have any questions about Tottenham, feel free to ask and we will do our best to provide you with the information you are looking for.

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