It's the final week of the World Games - Chengdu 2025! We're joined by John Moorhead, 2017 World Games athlete and current USA Fistball secretary, to get some insight as to how the athletes in Chengdu have enjoyed their time at the World Games.

Jill and Alison also recap their week 2 watching, with thoughts on:

• Boules
• Breakdancing
• Cheerleading
• Gymnastics
• Drone Racing
• Flag Football
• Inline Skating
• Motosurf
• Billiards
• Racquetball

Plus, we recap an amazingly short Closing Ceremony. It's been fun, Chengdu! We'll see the World Games again in 2029 in Karlsruhe, Germany!

In other news, LA 2028 will offer naming rights to its venues. This is a huge shift in visible sponsorship at the Olympics. Is it the right move?

The International Paralympic Committee recognized two new sports and will be holding board elections again in September.

Also, Salt Lake City 2034 offered insights on ticket prices. If you're interested in volunteering for the Games, organizers offer some advice.

We have a ton of news from TKFLASTAN, including Listener Tommy Phillips new book on Moscow 1980. You can order it here (affiliate link) (https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-1980-moscow-olympics-a-day-by-day-history-tommy-a-phillips/21750849?aid=17781&ean=9781476695181&listref=best-books-on-the-summer-olympics-paralympics).

If you haven't seen Noah Lyles get into it with TKFLASTANI Kenny Bednarek, find that here. (https://youtu.be/mkE7-OEPP_I?si=Lvq9wl8S4eL5MFvb)

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 Olympics and Paralympics Fan Podcast with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown. New episodes released every week and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics.

Leave us a review, and we might read it on the show!

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

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The 12th edition of the World Games, Chengdu 2025 is underway! We discuss what sports and events we and other listeners have been bingeing on our feeds.

We start with the excellent Opening Ceremonies, which took a cue from Paris 2024.

Sports we discuss include:

• Canoe Polo
• DanceSport
• Dragon Boat racing
• Finswimming (we have a lot of thoughts about freediving)
• Floorball
• Gymnastics (including thoughts on the new format)
• Orienteering
• Parkour
• Squash
• Tug of War
• Wakeboard

Plus, our traditional Games question: What volunteer or officiating job would we want to do? And (surprise), we've got some beefs.

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: Chengdu 2025

***

Keep the Flame Alive: The Olympics and Paralympics Fan Podcast with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown. New episodes released every week and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics.

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

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

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

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It's our monthly look back at the Sydney 2000 Olympics and Paralympics! This time, Jill looks at the Olympic equestrian eventing competition, including venue construction, difficult quarantine processes, and a vastly different competition format than you see in today's Olympic eventing.

Check out the cross-country course and its amazing fences: https://app.crosscountryapp.com/sydney-2000/phase-d-lntt

Then Alison takes to the harbor to discuss the first appearance of para sailing in the Paralympics, with Australian legend Noel Robins.

Plus, one other very important sport had its debut at Sydney 2000: Wheelchair rugby. Alison looks back on that first Paralympic tournament, which involved a lot of crashes and some unfortunate hair dyeing.

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

For a complete list of sources used in this episode, visit: https://tinyurl.com/sydney2000sources.

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

***

Keep the Flame Alive: The Olympics and Paralympics Fan Podcast with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown. New episodes released every week and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics.

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

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

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

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

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

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Book Club Claire is back for our summer reading selection: Above & Beyond: Tim Mack, the Pole Vault and the Quest for Olympic Gold by Bill Livingston. Tim Mack won the gold medal at the Athens 2004 Olympics (perhaps a surprise winner), and this book details his very long journey to the top of the podium and the unique training methods he developed that helped him achieve his goal.

What did we think of the book? Listen to the show to find out!

Our next selection is A Team of Their Own: How an International Sisterhood Made Olympic History by Seth Berkman. This tells the story of the combined Korean women's hockey team that competed at PyeongChang 2018. We're looking forward to reading a story that took place during the life of this podcast! Get your copy now, and look for this episode to drop in November.

Also on today's episode, we have news on the one-year anniversary of the Paris 2024 Games. Ice hockey will have blended officiating teams at Milano-Cortina 2026. LA plans to become more accessible. The World Games had its first torch relay.

Reminder: you can watch World Games 2025 online at the World Games' streaming platform. (https://live.theworldgames.org/) The World Games start on August 7, 2025.

In news from TKFLASTAN, we hear from:

• Fencers Lee Kiefer, Lauren Scruggs, Nick Itkin, Alexander Massialas and Gerek Meinhardt
• Racewalker Evan Dunfee
• Wheelchair tennis player Charlie Cooper
• Goalball player Calahan Young
• Shooter Sagen Maddalena

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: Where possible, we use affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, we may earn a commission.

***

Keep the Flame Alive: The Olympics and Paralympics Fan Podcast with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown. New episodes released every week and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics.

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

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

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

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 https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

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Today we are talking with 2x Paralympian Noelle Lambert who competes in the 100m and long jump. We get into the details of running blades (and how much they cost), how she improved her 100m between the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Paralympics, and how she's training for LA 2028.

Noelle is also the founder of the Born to Run Foundation, which raises money to provide sports prosthetic legs for amputees. Born to Run is having its next bi-annual golf fundraiser on September 22. Go to theborntorunfoundation.org or its Facebook page to learn more.

Follow Noelle on TikTok and Instagram: @noellelambert

Also on this episode:

• London 2012 and Paris 2024 doping news
• Milano-Cortina 2026 releases its medals
• Drama for French Alps 2030 Olympic and Paralympic venues
• News from Team Keep the Flame Alive (TKFLASTAN)

For a transcript of this episode, visit flamealivepod.com

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

***

Keep the Flame Alive: The Olympics and Paralympics Fan Podcast with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown. New episodes released every week and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics.

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

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

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

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

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

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

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

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This week, Keep the Flame Alive is celebrating a big milestone: Our 400th regular episode! This episode is an online party with many citizens of TKFLASTAN (Team Keep the Flame Alive, which are our guests and listeners of the show), and we're thrilled to be joined by:

• Past guests Sean Colahan, Harry Blutstein, Rich Perelman, Roy Tomizawa and John Moorhead
• Listeners Ean, David, Mark, Patrick from Chicagoland, Meredith, Sarah and Tommy
• Producer Ben and Book Club Claire

Like all great party conversation, it runs the gamut and includes Milan-Cortina's ever-expanding budget, potential politics at LA 2028, the IOC reexamining the host city bidding process, and some great ideas for where the Winter and Summer Olympics should be.

Grab a snack, a fun drink, and your best party hat and join in the fun!

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 Olympics and Paralympics Fan Podcast with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown. New episodes released every week and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics.

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

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

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

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

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

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

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

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We travel back to 2000 for another look back at the Sydney 2000 Olympics and Paralympics. This month Alison explores what's considered to be the biggest Paralympic scandal of all time, Spain's cheating in the Basketball ID tournament. Then Jill looks at the Olympic Road Cycling events, which feature inspirational legends, amazing comebacks, and Lance Armstrong.

If you want a thoroughly depressing look at doping in cycling during this era, here's a handy infographic: https://www.sportingintelligence.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Cycle-of-suspicion-JPEG.jpg

For a complete list of sources used in this episode, visit https://tinyurl.com/sydney2000sources.

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 Olympics and Paralympics Fan Podcast with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown. New episodes released every week and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics.

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

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

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

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 https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

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It's been nearly a year since we said, "Bonjour!" to the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics, so what's been happening in Paris since the cauldron went out? Let's take a look at the initial legacy of these Games!

We look at the money, initial economic impact, audience figures, building legacies, and elements of the Games that are still impacting Paris. If you're interested in training in the sport climbing warm-up gym, check out Le B.O.S.E.. If you want to swim like an Olympian, the newly-built (and very gorgeous) Centre Aquatique Olympique is now open for swimming and so much more. Le Prisme has opened in Bobigny to provide another workout facility that includes accessible training--and para sport research.

Paris also leveraged the Games to rejuvenate some areas of the city. If you're in Paris on July 20 and want to see how that process is coming along, check out the Olympic Heritage Grand Walk, which goes from Parc de la Villette to the Bassin de la Maltournee in Saint-Denis. It's a free day-long adventure with plenty of surprises planned. Register here.

Cleaning up the Seine was another major project, and on July 26, the first anniversary of the Olympics, the city will host a big water festival along the Seine, including a free open-air karaoke session on the Place du Chatelet.

Plus, we revisit moments that really stick out to us as the legacy of Paris 2024 starts to take shape in our memories. What moments from Paris 2024 stick out in your heads a year later? How do you think the legacy of these Games is shaping up? Will they be among the greatest Games of all time? Will they be an economic boon to the city and country? Let us know!

Don't forget! Our 400th episode party is coming up on Monday, July 14 from 8 to 10pm Eastern. Hope to see you there!

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 Olympics and Paralympics Fan Podcast with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown. New episodes released every week and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics.

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

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

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

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

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

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

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

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We're delving into the sport of wheelchair tennis with American Charlie Cooper, who's currently ranked #2 in the world for junior wheelchair singles. He talks with Alison about the sport and his plans to qualify for LA 2028.

Plus, we also talk with Dr. Thomas Rietveld, a researcher at the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport at Loughborough University in the UK. Dr. Rietveld's PhD thesis examined wheelchair tennis chairs, so he answers our burning questions about tennis chairs that we had after Paris 2024.

Follow Charlie on Insta: @charliejcoop

Learn more about the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport here: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/phc/

Milan-Cortina 2026 has unveiled its art posters. This is a set of 10 works (five Olympic, five Paralympic) created by emerging Italian artists. Check them out here: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/milano-cortina-2026-olympic-paralympic-art-posters-revealed

Also, if you're interested in volunteering for the Olympics Closing Ceremony or Paralympics Opening Ceremony, find the application here: https://milanocortina2026.olympics.com/en/news/volunteers-experience-ceremonies-verona

This past week was Olympic Day, and the International Olympic Committee celebrated by officially instating Kirsty Coventry as the new president of the organization.

Plus, we have updates from Team Keep the Flame Alive - TKFLASTAN has been busy!

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 Olympics and Paralympics Fan Podcast with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown. New episodes released every week and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics.

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

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

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

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

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

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

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

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We're talking technology at the Olympics with Pascal Wattiaux, IT Consultant and former Director of Technology at the International Olympic Committee. He got his start with Olympics technology at Albertville 1992, and most recently he consulted with Paris 2024. He's seen massive amounts of change in technology used at the Olympics--and what it takes to deliver it. He tells all about the tech challenges of an Olympics–and there's so much that you may have not realized.

Follow Pascal on LinkedIn!

The big news from Milano-Cortina 2026 is that the ice hockey groups and schedules are out. Who from the NHL has already been named to the men's teams? How tough is the women's Group A?

If you want to see the US and Canadian women battle it out ahead of the Games, check out the Rivalry series this fall.

In World Games news, the Chengdu 2025 medals have been released, and we've never seen anything like it!

We also have a ton of news from Team Keep the Flame Alive -- TKFLASTAN has been busy, including Bree Walker's turn on Have You Been Paying Attention?

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 Olympics and Paralympics Fan Podcast with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown. New episodes released every week and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics.

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

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

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

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

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

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

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

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