Keep the Flame Alive

We talk a lot about more nations getting involved with sports, or smaller nations having more presence at an Olympics or Paralympics. For a nation to be at the Games, they need to have a national governing body in the sport – but what does it take to start one? On this episode we're talking with skeleton athlete Shannon Galea, who has dual citizenship with Canada and Malta, and who founded the Maltese Bobsled and Skeleton Federation with hopes of qualifying for the Olympics.

Follow Shannon on Insta, and you'll be able to find her federation's website through Malta's National Olympic Committee once it's finalized.

In our Albertville 1992 history moment, Alison found a competitor who went on to have some notoriety in life.

A lot's been happening in TKFLASTAN too. We've got updates from:

• Andras Toro
• Evan Dunfee
• Ness Murby
• Michelle Carter
• DeAnna Price
• Mallory Comerford
• Nick Zaccardi
• Ginny Thrasher

The Modern Penthathlonovela has an update too - and this is getting to be a very slick TV production, which is quite fitting for a telenovela-esque situation.

We also have updates from Paris 2024, including the launch of its Cultural Olympiad, and lots of news on Milan-Cortina 2026, namely budget woes (who's surprised at this?) and the announcement of the sports program....which does have more equality for women, but not for our very own Annika Malacinski.

Finally, Spain's out of the running for hosting the 2030 Winter Olympics, and the USOPC gives reasons why Salt Lake City might also not be selected to host those Games, even though they are ready and willing for whenever the IOC needs them.

For a transcript of this episode, please visit: https://wp.me/pbRtIx-1V5

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:

Tell a friend: http://flamealivepod.com

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

Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

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

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

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

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312069749587022

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

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

Book Club Claire is back for another session of book club! This time we've got our first Paralympics-related selection: "Driven to Ride: The True Story of an Elite Athlete Who Rebuilt His Leg, His Life, and His Career" by two-time Paralympic Snowboarder Mike Schultz (affiliate link).

Follow Claire on Twitter and Insta, and on YouTube her channel is C Nat.

Keeping with the Paralympics theme, in our Albertville 1992 history moment, Jill looks at the Tignes-Albertville Paralympics, which was the first time the Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympics were paired together. If anyone has footage of the Paralympic Opening Ceremony, let us know--it had a bit with hang gliders that sounded pretty cool.

Things are relatively quiet in TKFLASTAN, but our ice dancer Charlie White got some good news!

In Games-related news, the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee presented its final budget (it's a doozy, but better news than anticipated), as well as its final reports. Now that all of its duties are complete, the committee will dissolve at the end of the month.

We also have an update on how the athlete villages and some hotels from Beijing 2022 are currently being used.....and it's not good. Plus, international federation payout from Beijing 2022 is going to be smaller, so look for some belt-tightening.

For a transcript of this episode, please visit: https://wp.me/pbRtIx-1U0

Thanks so much for listening, and 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:

Tell a friend: http://flamealivepod.com

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

Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

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

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

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

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312069749587022

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

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

Nordic Combined is the only sport on the current Olympic program that is only open to men. Many athletes are working to change that, including Team USA's Annika Malacinski. We talk with Annika about how the sport works, which surprisingly involves a lot of body measurements (see: ski jumping suit scandal at Beijing), and we learn about one of the best winner's prizes ever.

Annika gets pretty frank with us about how tough it is to not have her discipline in the Olympics. It tried to get into 2022, but was denied. Its attempt to get into 2026 needs your help!

Next week, the International Olympic Committee Executive Board will meet, and finalizing the Milan-Cortina 2026 sports program is on the agenda. You can show your support for inclusion of women's Nordic combined by:

1. Contacting an IOC member.
2. Signing the Change.org petition.
3. Posting support on social media - be sure to tag USA Nordic, FIS Nordic Combined, US Ski and Snowboard, Team USA, the Olympic Games and local/national news outlets with your support or opinion.

Here's USA Nordic's call to action.

Follow Annika on Instagram and TikTok!

In our Albertville 1992 history moment, Alison's back on the ice with details about the top four ice dance teams and one controversial costume.

n our Team Keep the Flame Alive Update (TKFLA), we have news from TKFLASTANIs:

• Wheelchair curler Steve Emt
• Race walker Evan Dunfee
• Commentator Rob Snoek
• Beach volleyball player Kelly Claes Cheng
• Former bobsledder Nick Cunningham
• Paralympian John Register - check out his article in U.S. Veterans Magazine.
• Speedskater Erin Jackson

In Paris 2024 news, the disagreements over the proposed basketball venue are quickly turning into a novela. Who will end up in Lille, basketball or handball?

In Winter 2030 bid news, a First Nations/Canadian bid team has announced its engagement phase for a Games coming back to Vancouver and Whistler....and Sun Peaks (Kamloops). We've got details on the initial plan and run down what's going on with the other bid city hopefuls. Targeted dialogue should start in December, with a host city possibly announced at the IOC Session in Mumbai next May/June.

For a transcript of this episode, please visit: https://flamealivepod.com/2022/06/17/episode241/

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:

Tell a friend: http://flamealivepod.com

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

Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

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

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

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

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312069749587022

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

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

Wheelchair curler Steve Emt returns to talk with us about his experiences at the Beijing 2022 Paralympics.

Follow Steve:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephen.emt

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/stephen.emt

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-emt

And his website, steveemt.com

In our Albertville 1992 moment, Jill looks at the men's ice hockey competition, notably, thoughts on hockey referee Sven-Erik Sold, who officiated a number of games at these Olympics.

We also travel to TKFLASTAN to check in with our Team Keep the Flame Alive (TKFLA) and have news on:

• Shooter Tim Sherry
• Speedskater Erin Jackson
• Race walker Evan Dunfee
• Shot putter Michelle Carter
• Para Shooter McKenna Geer
• Beach volleyball player Kelly Claes Cheng
• Curler John Shuster

TKFLASTANI worlds collide when Evan Dunfee guested on sustainability expert Matthew Campelli's podcast.

And in our Games updates, we have some not-so-great legacy news from Tokyo 2020, and some thoughts on the International Skating Union's age limit increase that will be in place by Milan-Cortina 2026.

For a transcript of this episode, please visit: https://wp.me/pbRtIx-1Ti

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:

Tell a friend: http://flamealivepod.com

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

Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

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

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

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

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312069749587022

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

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

Olympic Host Cities usually get a reputation for spending a ton of money building venues that become white elephants, but that's not necessarily the case. The International Olympic Committee has released a report that catalogs all of the modern Olympic venues and what's happened to them. We delve into this report and examine the IOC's findings. We find some surprises--and sadly, some disappointments. Find out which cities have done it right and which ones haven't.

We also have an update from TKFLASTAN and our Team Keep the Flame Alive.

Doping and classification woes abound, and there's a new installment of our modern pentathlonovela.

Plus, Paris 2024's got some inflation woes, Milan-Cortina 2026 released its song, and LA 2028 is getting a little closer to figuring out what sports should be on its program.

For a transcript of this episode, please visit: https://wp.me/pbRtIx-1SX

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:

Tell a friend: http://flamealivepod.com

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

Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

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

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

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

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312069749587022

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

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

It's Memorial Day weekend here in the U.S., and we're breaking our tradition of publishing a Lightning Round episode to bring you an interview with Olympic speed skater Erin Jackson, one of our TKFLASTANIs who appeared on our friend Elizabeth Emery's podcast Hear Her Sports.

For a transcript of this episode, please visit: https://wp.me/pbRtIx-1SB

We'll be back next week with a full dose of us. Until then, thanks so much for listening and remember to 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:

Tell a friend: http://flamealivepod.com

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

Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

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

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

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

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312069749587022

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

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

Today we welcome Paralympian-turned-broadcaster Rob Snoek. Rob competed in athletics at the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Paralympics before transitioning to a career in sports broadcasting. Today Rob calls all sorts of sports and has worked with the CBC on their Olympics and Paralympics coverage since 2002.

At Beijing 2022, Rob was the CBC's snowboard play-by-play announcer for the Olympics, commentating from Toronto. Then he traveled to Beijing to work as a sled hockey (or sledge hockey, as Rob says) commentator for the Olympic Broadcasting Service.

Rob talks with us about his experiences at the Paralympics, as well what it takes to call any sport.

Follow Rob on social! He's @robsnoeklive on Twitter and Insta.

In our Albertville 1992 history moment, Alison delves into figure skating, starting with the wild results of the men's competition.

We have lots of great news from Team Keep the Flame Alive in our TKFLASTAN update, including updates from:

• The dulcet tones of Jason Bryant
• Micheal Warren, who was on the PhD Unpacked podcast
• Alex Deibold
• Connor Fields
• Lauren Gibbs – Learn more about her AMA here.
• McKenna Geer
• Evan Dunfee
• Felicity Passon

Plus we have news from Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 – including a visit from Alison's French alter ego.

For a transcript of this episode, visit: https://flamealivepod.com/2022/05/20/episode237/

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

Photo courtesy of Rob Snoek.

***

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

Support the show:

Tell a friend: http://flamealivepod.com

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

Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

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

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

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

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312069749587022

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

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

Josh Williamson, our very first TKFLASTANI, makes a return visit on the show. He's no longer an Olympic hopeful; he's now an actual Olympian, and we couldn't be more proud of him. Josh tells us about his experiences at Beijing 2022, which involve COVID positives, an unusual competition, lots of issues with security during the Closing Ceremonies, and a robot who said he was beautiful.

In our look back at Albertville 1992, Jill has one of the many amazing stories from the speed skating oval. This one features German Jacqueline Börner, gold medalist in the 1500m, and her amazing journey to qualify for these Games.

In Team Keep the Flame Alive news, our TKFLASTANIs have been quiet, but beach volleyball player Kelly Cheng is competing, and sports agent Jesse Lichtenberg appeared on MarketPryce's YouTube show during their Women's History Month Series.

We also have news from Paris 2024. Who's still close to getting KO'd? Yep, boxing is still a concern for the IOC.

For a transcript of this episode, please visit: https://wp.me/pbRtIx-1S3

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:

Tell a friend: http://flamealivepod.com

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

Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

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

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

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

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312069749587022

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

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

John Coates has stepped down as president of the Australian Olympic Committee. UIPM, the modern pentathlon federation, has selected a sport to test to replace the horse showjumping discipline. The International Skating Union is set to vote on raising the minimum age limits for senior-level athletes. So much going on in the world of the Olympics this week!

In our history moment, Alison explains the Unified Team from Albertville 1992.

We also have news from TKFLASTANIs Teri Hedgpeth, Stephanie Roble, Maggie Shea, Joe Maloy, Tom Scott and Chloe Kim. Plus, Team USA went to the White House!

And we have updates from Barcelona 1992, Beijing 2022, Paris 2024, Milan-Cortina 2026 and the 2030 Winter Games.

Plus, TBach recently got a special honor. Find out what was named for him!

For a transcript of this episode, please visit: https://wp.me/pbRtIx-1RM

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:

Tell a friend: http://flamealivepod.com

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

Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

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

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

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

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312069749587022

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

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

Author David Davis returns to the show to talk about his book Waterman: The Life and Times of Duke Kahanamoku, about the legendary 3x Olympic medalist and surfing pioneer. David's book has been turned into a documentary that will air on PBS' American Masters in May.

Duke Kahanamoku won back-to-back gold medals in the 100m freestyle at the 1912 and 1920 Summer Olympics. He also won silver at the 1924 Summer Olympics, just losing out to Johnny Weissmuller, in an Olympic career that spanned a whopping 12 years.

If it weren't for Duke, surfing might not have become the sport it is today. Duke spread his love of surfing around the world, essentially starting surfing cultures in California and Australia.

Follow David on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ddavisla

Check out his website: http://www.ddavisla.com/.

You can get his books (and support the show) by shopping through our Bookshop.org storefront.

Also on today's show, we have:

• An Albertville 1992 Winter Olympic first
• News from TKFLASTAN
• Updates from Paris 2024 and Milan-Cortina 2026

For a transcript of this episode, please visit: https://wp.me/pbRtIx-1QV

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:

Tell a friend: http://flamealivepod.com

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

Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

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

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

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

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312069749587022

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

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