| KNOW THE BEST IN SPORT Global Edition |
| January 19-25, 2021 |
K2 ascent: Humanity pushing boundaries for better and for worse
The Nepalese ascension of K2 during winter was remarkable. It places among of the greatest feats of adventure sport. Particularly the fact that one mountaineer did it without oxygen marks the moment of completion of one of the ultimate tests that this world has to physically test humankind.
However, humanity is imposing a tougher test of survival upon ourselves: climate change. Humanity is destroying the world through actions such as the consumption of meat and excessive deforestation. Such actions are changing the way the world is.
Climate change has affected mountaineering in various ways. It was made some mountains deadlier during winter due to stronger winds, falling rocks and more avalanches. Spanish Sergi Mingote died in a K2 attempt last weekend, for example.
At the same time, the increase in temperature has significantly reduced the glaciers in the world’s tallest peaks and has also increased the air temperature at the top, which makes it easier to breathe – due to the lower air pressure, which allows a better flow of oxygen.
The mixed externalities made this feat more difficult and easier than at other times, so it has the same merit. But regardless of the impact it has on mountaineering itself, the underlying reason that allowed this ascent to happen is not one to celebrate but rather one that should trigger a state of emergency.
| Five things to know from last week |
- European Cups upsets. PSG defeated Olympique Marseille for the French Trophée des Champions and Athletic Club Bilbao beat FC Barcelona for the Súpercopa de España. Other Cups have had big surprises. in Spain, Liga leader Atlético de Madrid was eliminated by third-tier UE Cornellà last week. This week Bayern Munich was eliminated by second-tier KSV Holstein in penalties. (The Sportspedia)
- Master at 20. Debutant Yan Bingtao (CHN) won the Snooker Masters by defeating John Higgins (SCO) at the age of 20. Yan had a great tournament. Before this final he defeated Champion Stuart Bingham (ENG, seeded # 1) in the Semifinal. Stuart for his part had started the tournament with a “maximum break” in his victory against Shaun Murphy (ENG) in the quarterfinals. (The Sportspedia)
- Ice Hockey World Championship moved from Belarus. The International ice Hockey Federation announced that the 2021 IIHF World Championship will be moved from Belarus. This follows the Human Rights violations that the current regime in Belarus has committed, particularly during demonstrations in 2020. (IIHF statement)
- Skiing three-peats. Maxim Burov (RUS) won three golds (two individually and one team) at the FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup in Russia and remains undefeated this season. In Alpine Skiing, Marta Bassino (ITA) won three Giant Slalom World Cup races this week. Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) won the other one, scoring her record 100th World up podium. (Watch one of Burov’s winning runs in Yaroslavl – FIS)
- Seventh in a tow. Felix Loch (DEU) won his 47th Luge World Cup gold, in Oberhof (DEU) and he has now won 7 World Cup Olympic-length races in a row, a record. In Natural Track, Evelin Lanthaler (ITA) won 3 golds out of 3 for a 30th World Cup win at the World Cup in Italy. Watch the runs from Oberhof (FIL)
| GLOBAL PODIUM OF THE WEEK |
 Gold: Team Nimsdai, Team Mingma G, Sona Sherpa(Nepal, Mountaineering) A group of ten Nepalese conquered one of the greatest tests in nature than humankind had not conquered: the ascension of the K2 during winter. This was the only “eight thousand” that had not been fully ascended during winter. Nimsdai Purja ascended without oxygen, marking another first. List of climbers: Nimsdai Purja, Mingma David Sherpa, Mingma Tenzi Sherpa, Geljen Sherpa, Pem Chiri Sherpa, Dawa Temba Sherpa, Mingma G, Dawa Tenjin Sherpa, Kilu Pemba Sherpa, Sona SherpaWatch some seconds of footage from their attempt |
 Silver: Stéphane Peterhansel/Edouard Boulanger(France, Auto Racing) “Monsieur Dakar”, Stéphane Peterhansel, won his 14th Dakar Rally -eighth in car, a record-, by far more than anyone else. He also won his 81st stage, more than anyone else across all categories and 48th in car, second of all-time. Boulanger won for the first time. It was also a great Dakar for the South Americans, with Kevin Benavides (ARG) taking motos, Francisco “Chaleco” López and Juan Pablo Latrach Vinagre (CHL) won in Lightweight vehicles, and Manuel Andújar (ARG) won in Quads. Marc Douton and Emilien Etienne (FRA) won the Dakar Classic and the Kamaz team led by Dmitry Sotnikov (RUS) won in Trucks. Watch a video with highlights of the Rally (Dakar Rally) |
 Bronze: Francesco Friedrich/Alexandre Schüller(Germany, Bobsleigh) Francesco Friedrich won the two-man Bobsled World Cup in St. Moritz with a track and start record. He did the same in the four-man competition one day later, and kept on extending his record as the winningest bobsledder of all time in World Cups. He has also won seven competitions in a row. Alexander Schüller won with him both times and now has 7 wins in the season. Watch the IBSF Highlights magazine for St. Motitz |
| GLOBAL SPORTS AGENDA Week Preview The NFL will define the two teams that make it to the Super Bowl. Aaron Rodgers’ (USA) Packers face Tom Bray’s (USA) Buccaneers, and Patrick Mahomes’ (USA) Chiefs face Josh Allen’s (USA) Bills. Mahomes might not play due to a concussion last weekend. The World Rally Championship starts with the famed Rally Monte Carlo, while the IMSA WeatherTech Championship has the Daytona 24 Hour qualifying race. Horse Racing has its big Pegasus World Cup. Winter Sports will continue to hold World Cups in over half of the Winter Olympic Sports and Para Alpine Skiing also has its first World Cup. The Vendée Globe Race is close to its conclusion and it is still up for grabs, as the boats take on the Atantic Ocean! Alpine Skiing: FIS World Cup (Austria, Switzerlandx2) American Football: NFL Conference Games Association Football: African Nations Championship Domestic Cups (Copa Diego Armando Maradona matches, DFB Pokal matches, Coppa Italia Round of 16, Copa del Rey Round of 16, FA Women’s League Cup, FA Cup, etc.) Domestic Leagues (Premier League, La Liga, Ligue 1, Bundesliga, Serie A, Liga MX, Brasileirão Assaí, Barclays FA Women’s Super League, etc.) Autosport: FIA RGT Cup – Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo (MCO) FIA World Rally Championship – Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo (MCO) IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – Daytona International Speedway (USA) Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (All-Tech Raceway x3, East Bay Raceway Park, USA) Trophée Andros – Lans en Vercours (FRA) Badminton: HSBC BWF World Tour Super 1000 – TOYOTA Thailand Open Bandy: XXIX Championship of Russia. Super League – 2020-2021 Stage I Baseball: Liga Mexicana del Pacífico Semifinals Serie Nacional de Béisbol de Cuba Basketball: FIBA Basketball Champions League Regular Season NBA Regular Season EuroLeague Women Regular Season Basque Pelota: Miami Jai Alai games Campeonato Parejas Clasificación Liguilla FFPB Main nue Pro individuel – 1ère Journée Biathlon: IBU World Cup (Italy) Billiards: World Snooker Tour Masters Bobsleigh: BMW IBSF World Cup (Germany) Women’s Monobob World Series (Germany) Bowling: PWBA Tour (USA x2) Boxing: interim World Boxing Association World Light Title – Rolando Romero (USA) vs Justin Pauldo (USA) World Boxing Organisation World Super Bantam Title – Angelo Leo (USA) v Stephen Fulton (USA) interim World Boxing Association World Super Bantam Title – Vic Pasillas (USA) vs Raeese Aleem (USA) Chess: Tata Steel Chess Tournament Climbing: UIAA ICE CLIMBING WORLD CUP (France) *Possible Cricket: 2019–21 ICC World Test Championship (Various) Australian Big Bash League One Day International Bangladesh v West Indies (x2), Afghanistan v Ireland Women’s ODI: South Afrrica vs Pakistan (x2) Cross-Country Skiing: FIS World Cup (Finland) World Loppet Cup (Austria) Cylo-cross: 2020-2021 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup (Netherlands) X²0 badkamers Trofee – Flandriencross Esports: Honor of Kings Champion Cup Winter Season 2020 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang M2 World Championship PUBG Mobile Global Championship Season 0 League Finals Quake Pro League Season 2: Stage 2 Red Bull Wololo III Starcraft Brood War – AfreecaTV StarCraft Team League Season 2 Flag Football: IWFFA International Women & Girls Flag Football Championships & World Challenge X Game 8 on 8 Freestyle Skiing: FIS World Cup Idre Fjäll SX (Sweden) Golf: European Tour – Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship (United Arab Emirates) LPGA Tour – Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions (USA) PGA Tour – The American Express (USA) Handball: 27th IHF Men’s World Championship Horse Racing (Flat): Indian Champion Cup (India) Centenary Sprint Cup, Stewards Cup (Hong Kong) Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, Pegasus World Cup Invitational (USA) Horse Racing (Jump): Clarence House Chase (England) Ice Hockey: Kontinental Hockey League Regular Season NHL Regular Season Indoor Soccer: Major Arena Soccer League Regular Season Luge: FIL World Cup (Austria) Mixed Martial Arts: UFC – Dustin Poirier (USA) vs. Conor McGregor (IRL) Motorcycling: AMA Kenda SRT National Hare & Hound Championship (Lucerne Valley) Auto Race – Opening commemorative race (Iizuka, JPN) Enduropale du Touquet Pas-de-Calais, Touquet Pas-de-Calais Vintage (FRA) Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship (Houston x2) Trophée Andros – Lans en Vercours (FRA) World Off-Road Championship Series Motorcycling (Lake Havasu) Mushing: IFSS World Cup Snow (Finland) La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc (France) Nordic Combined Skiing: FIS World Cup (Finland) Para Alpine Skiing: Veysonnaz 2021 World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup Platform Tennis: APTA Grand Prix Series – Grand Prix Series – Western New England Men’s and Women’s NRT Polo: GCPC – The Sterling Cup – High Goal Sailing: America’s Cup – Prada Cup Vendée Globe Tropheé Jules Verne – Gitana Skeleton: BMW IBSF World Cup (Germany) Ski Jumping: FIS World Cup (Finland) World Cup Women (Slovenia) Snowboard: World Cup Chiesa in Valmalenco SBX (Italy) World Cup Laax Half, Slope (Switzerland) Speed Skiing: FIS World Cup (France) Sumo: JSA- Grand Tournament – The January Tournament combats Surfing: Red Bull Magnitude Telemark Skiing: FIS World Cup (Germany) Tennis: ATP, WTA Australian Open Water Polo: FINA Women’s World Qualification Tournament *This agenda is based on official information at time of publication. All events are subject to change and/or cancellation. |
Sport’s best values
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Alex recently spoke with his family, and that was a very emotional moment for them…Nobody could believe it.“
Federica Alemanno (ITA)
Neurologist at San Raffaele Hospital in Milan
On Alex Zanardi’s improved condition.
GP Blog
