Olympics
Swimming Toward LA
Syrian triathletes Ehab Khallouf and Adnan Zaki are chasing qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games. Under Assad, they were routinely denied visas to compete abroad. Now, with a new federation president pushing reform and travel possible again, the qualification window is finally cracking open.
Zambia’s Women Soccer Stars
Two Zambian players defied the odds to emerge as the world's most expensive transfers in the history of women’s soccer. Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji overcame resistance from their families, unfair treatment compared with the men's team and the controversy of gender verification tests imposed by the Confederation of African Football.
Imane Khelif’s Punch and the Culture Wars
In her home country of Algeria, the controversy around Imane Khelif’s gender has managed to rally the entirety of a nation whose multiethnic nature and sprawling and varied geography have long defied easy categorization.
Paris Police Are Cracking Down on Vulnerable Communities Ahead of the Olympics
Earlier this year, 17 organizations issued a report accusing French authorities of “forcefully” evicting vulnerable communities across Paris ahead of the Olympic Games, including sex workers. They mentioned “increased repression” by authorities, warning of detrimental consequences for the safety and well-being of women.