On its 4-Year Cue, Skiing Re-enters the Spotlight Ahead of Olympics

By BY MATTHEW FUTTERMAN from NYT Sports A series of races known as Birds of Prey in the Rocky Mountains helped to show who is rounding into form ahead of the Beijing Games. A Norwegian, the Swiss and Austrians appear strong — as usual.https://nyti.ms/3ooESG8

What Major Sports Are Still in China Amid Peng Shuai Scandal?

By BY VICTOR MATHER from NYT Sports For now, the WTA is the only organization that has moved to distance itself from events in China as a result of its government’s handling of Peng’s allegations against a top political figure.https://nyti.ms/3diYBk8

I.O.C. Says It Held Second Call With Peng Shuai

By BY TARIQ PANJA AND ANDREW DAS from NYT Sports Olympic officials said they ‘shared the same concern as many’ about the safety of the Chinese tennis star but offered no details of what they discussed with her.https://nyti.ms/3dcsFxV

The Question the I.O.C. Is Too Weak to Ask

By BY KURT STREETER from NYT Sports Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai went missing after publicly accusing a former government official of sexual assault. Tennis stars, led by Naomi Osaka, and the WTA have all asked #whereispengshuai?https://nyti.ms/3kSxYqp

U.S.O.P.C. Will Require Covid-19 Vaccinations for Winter Games

By BY ANDREW KEH from NYT Sports Any athlete vying to represent the United States at the 2022 Olympics or Paralympics in Beijing will be required to present proof of inoculation by Dec. 1.https://nyti.ms/3AAXCGa

Broadcaster Apologizes for ‘Inappropriate’ Images Aired During Olympic Parade

By BY NEIL VIGDOR from NYT Sports The South Korean broadcaster MBC showed photographs associating pizza with Italy, Chernobyl with Ukraine and Count Dracula with Romania in its coverage of the opening ceremony.https://nyti.ms/3rDAzqn

Let the Games … Be Gone?

By BY JOHN BRANCH from NYT Sports After bidding scandals, human rights outrages, overburdened host cities, rampant cheating, a pandemic — and, sure, thrilling competitions — has the world had enough of the Olympics?https://nyti.ms/3xHR3jz

Let the Games … Be Gone?

By BY JOHN BRANCH from NYT Sports After bidding scandals, human rights outrages, overburdened host cities, rampant cheating, a pandemic — and, sure, thrilling competitions — has the world had enough of the Olympics?https://nyti.ms/3wSchu0

Mikaela Shiffrin Is Not Going Downhill

By BY BILL PENNINGTON from NYT Sports This winter, Shiffrin didn’t win as often as she usually does, but the ski racer says she is exactly where she needs to be given the pandemic and the death of her father.https://nyti.ms/3rBd8MX

Lamoureux Twins Have One Last Act Before Retiring From Hockey

By BY SETH BERKMAN from NYT Sports Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson and Monique Lamoureux-Morando, who scored crucial goals in the 2018 gold medal Olympic game, will reprise a role from four years ago: negotiating a deal with USA Hockey.https://nyti.ms/3tENpoV

Read the CAS Decision Reducing Russia’s Doping Ban

By Unknown Author from NYT Sports The ruling reduced a four-year ban to two, but will keep Russian teams out of the next two Olympics and dozens of other global competitions.https://nyti.ms/38arJaw

Russia’s Doping Ban Is Halved by Court of Arbitration for Sport

By BY TARIQ PANJA from NYT Sports The ruling reduced a four-year ban to two, but will keep Russian teams out of the next two Olympics and dozens of other global competitions.https://nyti.ms/3gUPjfj

Mikaela Shiffrin, Staggered by 2020, Wants to Enjoy Ski Racing Again

By BY BILL PENNINGTON from NYT Sports Her father’s death, pandemic-caused cancellations and a wildfire evacuation gave the World Cup champion a new view on competing: “I want to enjoy it, the way I have enjoyed it in the past.”https://nyti.ms/2Ene44Y

The N.H.L., Seeking Fans in China, Calls In the Great One

By MIKE IVES from NYT Sports China wants to have 300 million winter sports fans by the time it hosts the 2022 Olympics. The N.H.L. wants to build its Asian fan base. The two missions converged this past week.https://nyti.ms/2pixEnR