Keep the Flame Alive

The Olympics always has test events to make sure the venues are in working order and everything is ready to go for the Games. We've got one too--and that's the Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) that are taking place in Gangwon, South Korea (and using many venues from PyeongChang 2018!).

Alison has wholeheartedly jumped back into double screening, and her maternal vibe is really coming out for these kids. Jill? Well, she has thoughts about the YOG and is still working through them.

On this episode, we cover Days 1-4, including:

• What officiating/volunteer job would we want
• Feed beefs -- of which there are many, even though we understand that the YOG are a smaller event
• A fantastic Opening Ceremony
• Another great Korean mascot
• Alpine Skiing
• Biathlon
• Bobsled
• Curling
• Freestyle Skiing
• Ice Hockey
• Luge
• Short Track Speed Skating
• Speed Skating
• Skeleton
• Ski Jumping
• Snowboard

Plus, Milan-Cortina 2026 delivers another episode in our slidingnovela. Will Italy attempt to build a new sliding track that will be ready to go for the 2026 Olympics and have a legacy plan that's better than what happened to the track built for Torino 2006 (that is no longer operational)?

And World Games: Chengdu 2025 has an opportunity for budding graphic designers. Enter their logo, mascot, and slogan contest! The deadline is February 28, 2024, and you can find more details here.

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

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Keep the Flame Alive: The Podcast for Fans of the Olympics and Paralympics with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown. New episodes released every week and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. Also look for our monthly Games History Moment episodes in your feed.

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

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How did the Winter Olympics begin? We've got the story for you in our new Games History Moment (GHM) show, which for 2024 will focus on the first Winter Olympics that took place in Chamonix, France, in 1924.

The origin story has drama, competition, backtracking, and throwing people under the bus--which goes to show that the International Olympic Committee has had telenovela-esque situations since its early days.

Alison explores how winter sports were an element in some of the very early Summer Olympics and how World War I impacted the introduction of even more winter sports. The Nordic Games--and its instant success--was also a key factor in how the Winter Olympics came to be, as was a marketing scheme put together by the organizers of the Paris 1924 Summer Olympics.

Sources for this episode:

• Olympedia (and the OlyMADMen)
• Olympics.org
• Diagoras: International Academic Journal on Olympic Studies - Alison cites this article as a good read.

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

Photo: Project Gutenberg

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Keep the Flame Alive: Games History Moment with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown - released monthly. Look for our regular episodes every week, with daily editions during the Olympics and Paralympics.

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

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Sports marketing and sponsorship expert Terrence Burns is back to discuss how sports marketers don't get the Olympic brand. Terrence is the Owner, Chairman & CEO of T. Burns Sports Group, LLC, which does sports marketing, sponsorship sales/negotiation/strategy, bidding advisory services, and brand & communications development.

Terrence has a wealth of knowledge about the world of the Olympics -- check out his blog for some good behind-the-scenes stories of Olympic bids past. He's also a good follow on X and LinkedIn.

In Paris 2024 news (timely, given our show topic), the International Olympic Committee--and Team USA--have a new sponsor in the form of InBev. This mark's the IOC's first beer sponsor....and as you may recall, Paris 2024 will not be selling alcohol in any stadium. Never fear though, because Corona Cero is here!

The French kit has arrived! Check it out here and see if you agree with our take on it.

The post-Games plans to sell some of the Athletes' Village apartments are not going well--we have the latest on how low the prices are going.

The Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon is starting up this week, and one of its innovations is a digital flame. Jill's thoughts on it turn out to be fightin' words in Alison's world.

And in news from TKFLASTAN, we hear from:

• Pole vaulter Katie Moon
• Nordic combined racer Annika Malacinski
• Bobsledder Josh Williamson
• Breakdancer Sunny Choi
• Author Andrew Maraniss
• Speed skater Erin Jackson

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

***

Keep the Flame Alive: The Podcast for Fans of the Olympics and Paralympics with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

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Olympic road cyclist Coryn Labecki joins us to answer one of our burning questions: How does a road cycling peloton work? Coryn's got answers--and why being short is a useful quality in a race.

Plus, remember that wild race at Tokyo 2020 where Dutch favorite Annemiek van Vleuten thought she had won the gold--until she realized she hadn't? Coryn was in that second breakaway group and saw it all go down. She shares the full story with us!

Check out Coryn's website, and follow her on Facebook, YouTube, Insta, X, and Strava!

Paris 2024 has announced yet another first for the Olympics: Team relays within the torch relay that will showcase Olympic and para sport, as well as the support systems around the Paralympic movement.

The IOC is also hoping for more gender equity at Paris, asking National Olympic Committees to have two flagbearers (male and female), as well as more women in coaching roles. How possible is that? If you haven't listened to our episode with Dr. Michele K. Donnelly, that'll help explain why this is a tough ask.

What's the status of venue construction? A little behind? Or right on time?

We've also got a little news from TKFLASTANIs Connor Fields, Annika Malacinski, and Sean Colahan.

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

***

Keep the Flame Alive: The Podcast for Fans of the Olympics and Paralympics with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

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Happy Olympic and Paralympic Year! It's been a while since we've been able to say that phrase, but Paris 2024 is coming, and we couldn't be more excited! This week we've got all the important news about the Summer Games: Hotel taxes, food, the Russian participation situation, and Snoop Dogg. More importantly:

• The lottery to get tickets to the TeamNL House is now open. Register here by January 17. If you get selected in the lottery, you'll have 48 hours to purchase your ticket (h/t House Party).
• An IOC/Kinomapp partnership lets you exercise on the Paris 2024 courses at home.
• We share quite possibly (but never say never) the last installment of the surfingnovela.

The International Olympic Committee published a long article following up on some climate change research it commissioned, which has some concerning news about the future of the Winter Games.

And in our visit to TKFLASTAN, we have news from:

• Senator Marnie McBean
• Race walker Evan Dunfee
• Gymnast Jake Dalton
• Author Aime Alley Card

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thank you so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

***

Keep the Flame Alive: The Podcast for Fans of the Olympics and Paralympics with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

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Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at http://flamealivepod.com

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It's our last episode of the year! Film Buff Fran joins us with a lively discussion of the 2017 documentary "Over the Limit," which follows Russian rhythmic gymnast Margarita Mamun. Will it be a thumbs-up holiday family film recommendation? Listen to find out!

We also close our year of looking back at the Seoul 1988 Olympics and Paralympics. Our summer Intern Annalee Deabel looked at the legacy of these Games and what they did for the city of Seoul and the country of South Korea.

In TKFLASTAN news, we have updates from:

• Skeleton racers Shannon Galea and Brendan Doyle
• Para powerlifter Louise Sugden
• Speed skater Erin Jackson
• Pole vaulter Katie Moon
• Wheelchair rugby player Chuck Aoki
• Artistic swimmer Jacqueline Simoneau
• Nordic combined skier Annika Malacinski
• Author Andrew Maraniss

The International Testing Agency is starting re-testing of samples from the Rio 2016 Games. We're hoping its not a repeat of the London 2012 situation.

In Paris 2024 news:

• The International Olympic Committee has released guidance on allowing individual Russian and Belarusian athletes at these Games.
• Parc de la Villette is going to be hopping with hospitality houses -- we've got info on Archi-Folies' sport pavilions and more details on Club France.
• Kit news from the Netherlands!
• What would an episode be without another installment of the surfingnovela?

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

***

Keep the Flame Alive: The Podcast for Fans of the Olympics and Paralympics with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

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Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/flamealivepod

Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at http://flamealivepod.com

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Book Club Claire is back for our final book of 2023, Speed Kings: The 1932 Winter Olympics and the Fastest Men in the World by Andy Bull. It covers the early days of the sport of bobsledding--and so much more. So much so that Claire's take on it surprised us!

Buy your own copy through our bookshop.org storefront (affiliate link, for which we may earn a commission).

We're winding down our Seoul 1988 history moments. Jill looks at the Closing Ceremony for the Paralympics, which includes a lot of sappy K-pop, a revolving dais and floating Gomdoori.

In TKFLASTAN News we have updates from:

• Nordic combined racer Annika Malacinski
• Bobsledder AJ Edelman
• Slider Brendan Doyle
• Speed skater Erin Jackson
• Para powerlifter Louise Sugden
• Filmmaker John MacLeod
• Race walker Evan Dunfee
• Former bobsledder Nick Cunningham
• Boccia player Alison Levine - vote for her CAN People's Choice award here!

The International Olympic Committee has invited two bids into targeted dialogue for Winter 2030 and Winter 2034. Did our faves make the cut?

Plus, news from Beijing 2022 and Paris 2024 (including a surfingnovela update!).

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

***

Keep the Flame Alive: The Podcast for Fans of the Olympics and Paralympics with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

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Newsletter: Sign up at http://flamealivepod.com

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You can buy tickets to the Olympics and Paralympics, but then you can also buy "hospitality packages," but what does that really mean? On this episode, we talk with Will Whiston, Executive Vice President of Olympic and Paralympic Games for On Location to demystify "hospitality."

It's On Location's first Games as the International Olympic Committee's official sponsor. Will tells us how that partnership came about, and he also explains some of the different hospitality experiences on offer for Paris 2024. We also look ahead to some of the possibilities for Milan-Cortina 2026 and LA 2028.

We're almost done with our year-long look back on the Seoul 1988 Olympics and Paralympics, so Alison looks back at the Olympic Closing Ceremonies.

In our visit to TKFLASTAN, we have news from:

• Boccia player Alison Levine
• Wheelchair rugby player Chuck Aoki
• Bobbsledder Josh Williamson
• Skeleton racers Brendan Doyle and Shannon Galea
• Speed skater Erin Jackson
• Author Warren Perrin - his GoFundMe is here
• Paralympian John Register
• Swimmer Mallory Comerford
• Wrestler Alex Sancho
• Nordic combined racer Annika Malacinski

Paris 2024 has had another ticket drop -- 400,000 tickets this round, all sports, all sessions (except surfing), and ceremonies in a variety of price ranges. And they have a Christmas card if you're giving them for the holidays!

We've also got some travel planning news, particularly around flying in on the day of the Opening Ceremonies (try not to), boating on the Seine ahead of the Opening Ceremonies (won't be possible), and public transport tickets (will be more expensive, but who's surprised?).

Plus, another Paris 2024 boutique, Olympic Truce news (guess which country had a little tiff about it?), another installment of the surfingnovela--with Paris 2024 providing a really long explanation about why they want to replace the existing wooden judges stand with an aluminum version--and the announcement of the first torchbearer for the Olympic Torch Relay! It's getting close!

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

Photo courtesy of On Location.

***

Keep the Flame Alive: The Podcast for Fans of the Olympics and Paralympics with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod

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Newsletter: Sign up at http://flamealivepod.com

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It's Thanksgiving in the U.S., which means we've got a helping of Lightning Rounds to serve up with your turkey dinner!

Lightning rounds are a set of five questions that we ask every guest. They're not necessarily lightning fast, as you'll see with one of our guests, and often inspire additional questions. They're one of our favorite features because there are so many different answers there are for the same questions. It shows just how diverse and interesting our TKFLASTANIs are!

Today's episode features author Stephen Lane and hockey turf expert Paul Kamphuis. Stephen wrote the the book Long Run to Glory: The Story of the Greatest Marathon in Olympic History and the Women Who Made It Happen, which we discussed on Episode 303. Paul is the General Manager, Polytan Asia Pacific. Polytan has done the turf for 8 Olympics, including Paris 2024. We talked turf with him on Episode 296.

Don't forget to support our Kickstarter project, which will cover production costs for our 34 daily episodes from the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics!

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

Note: Links to products may be affiliate links. We earn commissions through purchases made through them, which helps to fund the show.

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Keep the Flame Alive: The Podcast for Fans of the Olympics and Paralympics with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

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Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at http://flamealivepod.com

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The world of sports has always been captivating, filled with stories of determination, resilience, and triumph. The legendary Tennessee State Tigerbelles are one of those teams that triumphed throughout many Olympics, even with the odds against them.

On this episode with talk with Aime Alley Card, author of the new book The Tigerbelles: Olympic Legends from Tennessee State. Aime's book covers the early years of the Tigerbelles, when Ed Temple became coach of the women's track and field team, through the Rome 1960 Olympics. Through meticulous research and interviews, Aime captures the teammates' voices to not just tell the story of the team, its hard work, and its Olympic triumphs, but she also gives us insight into how these women grew up and the segregation they dealt with at college and traveling around the country for meets.

It's an excellent read--you can get a 20% discount if you pre-order a copy at Rowman.com. Use code LPTIGERBELLES24 [note: we do not receive any compensation for this offer.]

In our Seoul 1988 history moment, Jill tells the story of the North Korean plot to take out the Olympics--and she gets a new nickname!

In our visit to TKFLASTAN, we've got updates from:

• Speed skater Erin Jackson
• Bobsledder Josh Williamson
• Author Andrew Maraniss

In Paris 2024 news, the Paralympic Torch Relay route has been announced. See the details of the short, but fantastic event!

We also officially have a novela for these Games: The surfingnovela! Activists are worried about the metal structure that's planned for the area of Tahiti that will host the surfing competition. Concerns include irreparable damage to the reef and changing the wave itself. Paris 2024 has said it'll comment more at the end of November.

Please keep our flame alive and support our Kickstarter. For Paris 2024 we'll be producing 34 daily episodes coming to you from the City of Lights. That type of coverage isn't cheap, and we rely on listener support to keep our flame alive. Please invest in this coverage today.

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

***

Keep the Flame Alive: The Podcast for Fans of the Olympics and Paralympics with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

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VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348