In this continuing series, Annie Roach ’22, a major in English and Italian Studies from Northampton, Mass., Reviews alumni books and offers a selection for those seeking knowledge, ideas and inspiration. The volumes, which are sent to us by the elders, are forwarded to the Olin Library as gifts to the University’s collection and made available to the Wesleyan community.

Scott Gottlieb ’94, Uncontrolled spread: Why COVID-19 has crushed us and how we can beat the next pandemic (Harper, 2021)

Since March 2020, the news cycle has been riddled with desperation, conflicting information and false theories. Even with vaccines, social distancing and masking, COVID-19 is not going to go away, and the next pandemic could be around the corner. Since our realities have changed so much, it’s difficult to determine where and when exactly the United States (and the world) went wrong in handling the COVID-19 crisis, and what the best steps to take. In his new book Uncontrolled spread: why COVID-19 has crushed us and how we can beat the next pandemic, Doctor and former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb answers everyone’s most pressing questions about the COVID-19 pandemic and consolidates his answers into a strong and cohesive narrative.

Gottlieb offers a way forward that is both promising and urgent, forcing his readers and the US government to be proactive in preventing a future crisis that could be even more devastating than the one we have already experienced. Using historical knowledge, epidemiology, and political science, Gottlieb forms a strong argument that will leave readers with a better understanding of the world we live in and a more urgent mission to improve its future.

Scott Gottlieb is a resident researcher at the American Enterprise Institute. He was the twenty-third commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administrator and is a CNBC contributor and a partner of New Enterprise Associates. He is a member of the board of trustees of Wesleyan University. He is a member of the board of directors of Pfizer Inc. and Illumina, Inc. He lives in Westport, Connecticut.

Julie Scolnik ’78, Paris Blue: a memory of a first love (Books Koehler, 2021)

“It was as if a panoramic cinema camera on a sea of ​​faces stopped and focused on just one: a striking young man, in his thirties, sitting at the end of the second row of basses”, writes Julie Scolnik in her new thesis Paris blue, describing the moment when, among the faces of the Orchester de Paris, she first laid eyes on the quiet married Frenchman Luc, whom she would soon fall in love with. At the beginning of the memoirs, Scolnik is an extrovert and curious twenty-year-old Wesleyan student studying the transverse flute in Paris. By the epilogue, the reader traveled twenty-five years with Scolnik and experienced her transformation as she navigated the relationship and several iterations of heartbreak and separation. Through it all, Scolnik’s passion for classical music shines through, and his prose itself is musical and radiant as it unveils its history.

It is a rare pleasure to find a memoir that reads like a novel, and Scolnik’s book can be counted among this elite. The author delivers beautiful prose, a precise memory and a thrilling story that will feverishly leaf readers to find out what happens next. Fans of travel, romance and music will be obsessed.

Julie Scolnik is a concert flautist. She is the founding artistic director of Mistral Music, a series and ensemble that she founded with her husband in 1997. She has released two solo CDs, “Salut d’Amour & Other Songs of Love†and “Bejeweled: Short Concert Gems â€. She lives in Brookline, Massachusetts with her family.

Arielle Shanok ’98, Thrive in Graduate Studies: The Expert’s Guide to Success and Well-Being (Rowman and Littlefield, 2021)

“Above all, we [the editors] encourages you to take care of yourself. Your trip is unique but you are not alone â€, we read in the introduction to Thrive at doctoral school, a user-friendly, in-depth guide to surviving the often daunting world of higher education. The book contains chapters written by a diverse group of experts who have experience of higher education themselves and who have professional and personal wisdom to impart. The majority of contributors are psychologists, and as the introduction indicates, maintaining and fostering good mental health is at the forefront of the book’s mission.

Each writer is heartwarming and honest, striking a good balance between an emphasis on the positive and exciting aspects of graduate study and being candid about the many struggles that graduate students often face, due to being minorities in their lives. programs to juggle parenthood through exhaustion and stress. The chapters provide both personal anecdotes and general advice, and there is something useful about each essay for everyone. Even undergraduates can find the book to be relevant to their lives. In a time troubled by the COVID-19 pandemic, so many students will appreciate the solace this book offers.

Arielle Shanok is a registered clinical psychologist specializing in depression, anxiety and low self-esteem. She works as the Assistant Director of the Wellness Center for Student Advisory Services at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. In addition to co-creation and co-publishing Thrive at doctoral school, she has published articles and book chapters focusing on the effectiveness of psychotherapy, gender, money and teenage pregnancy.

NEW YORK, NY – It all comes down to this. Almost a month after the start of the UEFA European Championship with 24 teams vying for the title, Italy and England will meet on Sunday at 3 p.m. for the final of this prestigious tournament.

Neither team lost a game on the road to the Euro 2020 final – so called because it was scheduled to take place last year but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Italy beat Spain on penalties and England beat Denmark in extra time in their respective semi-finals.

While England and Italy have a well-documented football history, the two sides were not chosen by many experts to reach the final. The English have not played in an international final since 1966 and have never won a European championship in their long history.

On the other hand, Italy had more chances to win it all at the start of the tournament, but the national team are still coming out of a 2018 World Cup cycle where they failed to qualify for the first time since 1958.

The United States may not be playing in the competition, but New York City has plenty of English and Italian natives and fans whose Sunday kick-off time is circled on their schedules.

Here’s where you can watch the game online and on TV, plus some of the best Italian and English football bars in town to watch with friends and supporters.

TV and online

Much like the rest of the tournament, the final will be broadcast on ESPN. If you don’t have a TV, you can go online on Watch ESPN.

English bars

Carragher’s Pub Restaurant & Seasonal Rooftop: 228 West 39th Street

• The bar is generally known as a meeting place for Liverpool fans, as this English waterhole is also very popular for international matches.

The Churchill: 45 East 28th Street

• Anglophiles will love this very British bar, which presents itself as the “home of English supporters”.

Italian bar

Ribalta: 48, 12th Street East

• Ribalta has already been a major meeting place for Italian fans during the tournament, and the Lower Manhattan bar and restaurant will once again welcome fans for the final.

Other fun football bars in New York

Smithfield Hall NYC, 138 West 25th Street: When it comes to football bars, it’s hard not to start with Smithfield. The bar is called “the home of football in New York”, and it’s worth checking out for this tournament final.

Football Factory at Legends, 6 West 33rd Street: Lower Manhattan prides itself on creating a true game day experience with fantastic surroundings and 20 large screens that show over 100 football games every week.

Banter Williamsburg Public House, 132 Havemeyer Street: The Brooklyn Bar specializes in European football matches, and outdoor seating and viewing is also available in the football mecca.

O’Hanlons, 349 East 14th Street: The Irish sports bar in the East Village puts football first when it comes to audiences. With over 16 beers and draft beers, a fun environment, and employees who know their football, O’Hanlons is a great place to watch the Euro 2020 final.

The Astoria Tavern, 33-16 23rd Avenue: For those in Queens, there is no better place to watch a football game than the Irish pub Astoria Tavern. The local joint has the best happy hour in America and has enough big-screen TVs to make any sports fan happy.

11th Street Bar, 510 East 11th Street: The official home of the New York Liverpool Supporters Club, this East Village bar is absolutely great for soccer games. With plenty of drinks and a focus on whole property football, this is another great place to catch the Euro 2020 final.

Clinton Hall Bronx, 601 East 189th Street: For any football fan in the Bronx, Clinton Hall is a fun place to do just about anything, including catching a Euro 2020 game. The bar offers plenty of food and drink options, with some of the top rated burgers.

Happy Halloween, Oak Park and River Forest! Here’s your five-minute recap of what’s hot in town on October 31st.

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Showcase your local business here for just $ 79 / month. Click here to begin.

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First of all, the weather forecast for the day: Mostly sunny and windy. High: 52 Low: 36.

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Here are the best stories today in Oak Park-River Forest:

1. OPRF high school the students were banned from last night’s football playoff game against Evanston after “unsportsmanlike behavior” and “extreme disrespect” were reported in the October 26 semi-final match. Sports director Nicole Ebsen say it IHSA warned of serious consequences for the team if the behavior continues. (Wednesday newspaper)

2. Public health officials ask deceivers to “respect the fact that not everyone is comfortable participating in Halloween festivities, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. ” Oak to park and River Forest both offer printable signs to hang on windows today if you want stuff or treats to bypass your home. (VOP)

3. Theft of bicycles and motor vehicles continues to occupy an important place in the Oaks Park area, according to the latest police department crime report. At least four bikes, worth over $ 400, were stolen from the village the week of October 21, including one locked to a bike rack outside the library. Two vehicles, both unlocked and running, were stolen on Lake Street the same week. (Paid source: Oak leaves)

4. Pediatric medical professionals are needed to help the patient. Oak Park Public Health Department with the administration COVID-19[female[femininevaccines to children in local clinics. Volunteers would be needed on three dates in November and one in December to help children get vaccinated against the virus. (VOP)

5. Breakfast and lunch cafe Chicago Waffles is configured to open on Lake Street early 2022. The new location of the micro-chain will open in the former house of Saigon Pho. (Wednesday newspaper)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Trunk or Treat to Oak Park Unity Church. (12h)
• World Film Forum at River Forest Public Library. (2 p.m.)
• Create Halloween characters from fused glass Stern glassware. (3 p.m.)
• Listen to a “Professional Jazz Jam” at Eastgate Cafe. (3 p.m.)
• A Concordia choral concert takes place on campus. (4 p.m.)

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Oak Park-River Forest Patch Notebook

• The Town offer Halloween safety tips for trick-or-treaters today. (Facebook)
• The Trinity High School The volleyball team is the 2021 IHSA regional champion. (Trinity)
• Fenwick football will advance to the IHSA playoffs after beating Kaneland 50-14 on Friday. (Fenwick)
• The Creators of the United States podcast mentioned Oak Park Stack it in an article on supporting small businesses. (ABC7)
• Registrations open tomorrow to reserve football pitches at Keystone East and Washington municipalities this thanksgiving. (RFPD)

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From our sponsors – thank you for supporting the local news!

Events:

Concerts and services:

Jobs :

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That’s all for today, OPRF! Have a safe Happy Halloween.

– Georgi Presecky

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The final weeks of the 2021 European road racing season will feature a new series of races organized by Filippo Pozzato in the Veneto region of northern Italy with an innovative professional gravel race placed between the Giro del Veneto Wednesday October 13 and the new Veneto. Classic on Sunday October 17.

The Serenissima Gravel race will take place on Friday October 15, with a Granfondo VENEtoGO ride on Saturday October 16 open to the public.

The series of races and rides is called “Ride The Dreamland” and was officially presented at the Venice Casino on Thursday evening. The aim of the racing series is to promote cycling and tourism in the Veneto region.

Pozzato, originally from Sandrigo near Vicenza, in the heart of Veneto, retired in 2018 after a 15-year professional career including victory at Milan-San Remo. He successfully organized the Italian National Championships in 2020 with his business partner Jonny Moletta and hopes to secure a place in the WorldTour for the Veneto Classic race.

Pozzato will also host a round of the new Cyclocross World Cup on December 12 in Vermiglio, in the region of Val di Sole which recently hosted the MTB World Championships.

“Our concept for events is focused on offering the public a full range of events, not just a bike race. It has been months and months of hard work by our whole group and now we are ready for the start of something special, â€said Pozzato in Venice.

“Our special thanks go to our partners, the Regione Veneto but also the Veneto Federation of the BCC, Campagnolo, Wilier, Sidi, Elite and Vittoria. Without their support, this multi-year project would not have seen the light of day.

“UCI President David Lappartient told us that if things go well we can aim to have the Veneto Classic in the WorldTour in two or three years. We would like to see the start of the race in Saint Mark’s Square in the heart of Venice and thus create one of the most spectacular race starts ever, â€Pozzato explained to Tuttobici.

Pozzato and Moletta had to establish ad hoc special rules for professional serious racing with the Italian Federation.

It remains to be seen which renowned riders will participate in the Giro del Veneto, Serenissima Gravel and Veneto Classic, with some classic riders ending their season after Paris-Roubaix on October 2 and others after Il Lombardia on October 9. However, a quality start list is expected, including a number of WorldTour teams.

The 168 km Giro del Veneto will start in Cittadella and end in Padua after a loop to Vicenza, the homeland of Campagnolo, then south into the hills of the Colli Euganei. The race will also visit Vo ‘Euganeo, one of the first places in Italy to be hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 126.6km Serenissima Gravel Race will start in the seaside resort of Jesolo north of Venice and head inland on the Sile and Treviso-Ostiglia cycle paths before ending in Piazzola sul Brenta near Padua . It includes 11 sections of gravel roads that represent approximately 75 percent of the race distance. The race ends with three 11 km laps around Piazzola sul Brenta so that spectators can see the race several times.

The 113 km Granfondo VENEtoGO race will start and end in Cittadella. Click here enter.

The 209.9 km Veneto Classic will start in Venice and visit Treviso, Conegliano and the Prosecco Hills before ending in Bassano del Grappa after three 13.8 km circuits that include the ascent of La Rosina and the cobbled ascent of Muro della Tisa.

A shoulder injury may have cut short the 2021 season for Grace Brown, but there was no doubt it was the best season of the Australian rider’s career so far, but with big plans underway for the year to come, it may not stay that way for long.

It will be a new team in 2022 for the 29-year-old player who is moving away from the team she started her career with, Team BikeExchange, to join FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope. In addition, she will focus firmly on the Tour de France Women and Paris-Roubaix Women, as well as the road world championships at home and it doesn’t stop there. It may be a post-Olympic year, but there’s certainly no shortage of big goals for 2022 that Brown can afford when asked what would make next season a good one.

“I want to establish myself as one of the leaders of the peloton and have consistent results. Obviously it would be great to get some more WorldTour wins, â€said Brown. Cycling news, smiling as she continued her wishlist for 2022.

“And hopefully a Commonwealth Games medal in the time trial, preferably gold. And yes, I would say a medal at the World Championships, that would be a pretty good year, â€she added with a small laugh.

High hopes, but given how quickly the rider has progressed over her three years as a professional, it doesn’t seem unreasonable to dream big. Even with just 27 days of international racing in 2021, Brown earned her first victory in the Women’s WorldTour, followed by another, seven podiums, 15 top ten and a near-failure of the time trial podium at the Tokyo Olympics. .

An impressive record for a season cut short due to a shoulder injury suffered during the Giro d’Italia Donne. She managed to qualify for the Olympics, but it soon became apparent that her injury was not healing as it should have been and that surgery would be required. This meant there was no choice but to pause and watch from a distance – and hopefully without too many regrets – as the World Championships befitting and the very first Paris -Roubaix feminine was taking place.

“I gave myself a little time to reflect on the fact that it had been a really good year and that I was really proud of the success that I had had and that I put an end to it,†said Brown. . “It was a really great time until my injury, and then it was about saying, okay, now I just have to work on the surgical process and recover from that.

Vision and passion

Brown, 29, made a late start in cycling after giving up running, but quickly found his way into the sport and signed with Australian team GreenEdge, now known as Team BikeExchange, from 2019. In her second season as a professional in 2020, she has already started to stand out with opportunities to step into a managerial position, first due to the departure of Annemiek van Vleuten for Movistar, then with Amanda Spratt faced with problems due to iliac artery endofibrosis.

It was during this first season interrupted by a pandemic that she won her first European victory at Brabantse Pijl before reaching even higher heights in 2021. Given her growth within her national team, she joined the French team which finished eighth in the UCI ranking. this year it wasn’t exactly the expected option, but it was an option she wholeheartedly embraced.

“I spoke to other teams and in the end my instinct was that FDJ was the best fit for me, that cultural fit as well,†Brown said. “The obvious is to stay with GreenEdge, but when I’m done with my career I want a range of experiences and I think that means moving around a bit. I don’t want to be constantly moving, but I think I’ll be a more complete rider if I get out of the comfortable team environment and try something new.

At FDJ, she will join a team that appears to be gaining tremendous momentum, with an array of talented young riders developing and a few key players who cannot be ignored as a threat within the peloton. The longtime team have risen through the ranks over the past two seasons and Brown’s signing in 2022, with young Italian rider Vittoria Guazzini, is part of their plan to rise even higher.

“They had a lot of vision and passion to have me on the team and I was inspired by that and also by what they are trying to do with the team,†said Brown. “It’s a good thing to be a part of that and to be with a team that are really aiming to be on top and are coming a little behind. But yeah, that’s a nice goal they have and that’s inspired me, and I think they also really enjoyed the type of driver that I am and want that style of racing in their team.

It’s not hard to draw parallels between Brown’s attitude in the races and the decision to move on to her new team as she is a runner who looks for opportunities, will defend herself against the big names and, rather than stay seated and play the game safe or let others dictate terms, don’t be afraid to take a risk to try and win.

With these attributes, it’s easy to see why she seems to fit in well with the often-racing animation team of Futuroscope FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine, which includes Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, Marta Cavalli, Evita Muzic, Clara Copponi and her compatriot. Australian Brodie Chapman. There she will come in as one of the leaders, who is also perfectly prepared to slip into a supporting role, and the team’s growing firepower means that attack on multiple fronts should more often become a option.

“I think with the other front runners they have on FDJ like Marta and Cecilie they are both very good climbers and I think my strengths compliment them because I’m not the same type of runner. than them, but I think we can really play against each other and get some good results. ”

Targets

Brown’s shoulder injury may have interrupted her season, but she was back on the bike and able to train from October, meaning she’s actually likely to start the season. 2022 before where it usually would be. However, while his form of training may have had time to develop, there was a lot of time between races.

His last event was the Olympic time trial in July, but luckily before heading to Europe there are a few Australian races to ease the transition as even though the international events are canceled there are still events. national in progress.

We spoke to Brown on the sunny foreshore of Geelong in December after the launch of the race that will be his first in more than five months, the Lexus of Blackburn Bay Crits. The two-day event on January 8-9, where she will race for the Lexus of Blackburn team, will be an opportunity to test her form ahead of the Australian National Road Championships January 12-16.

First place at the Australian Championships will be the time trial, which she won in 2019, but has finished second behind Sarah Gigante in the past two years. The pair were head and shoulders above their rivals in 2021 but, having faced health issues in 2021, Gigante won’t be defending his title, so Brown looks almost unbeatable. Brown has also been on the podium in road racing for the past two years, but she will be lining up under very different circumstances this year.

As part of Team BikeExchange, Australia’s only women’s world team, Brown has lined up over the past three years with the team that is generally the dominant force in the race, but this year she’s been on the line. will face alone as her only Aussie teammate Chapman won’t. back to racing in Buninyong this time. This means that a different approach is needed.

“It won’t necessarily be harder, you just have to run in a different way when you’re on your own,†Brown said. “I think I have to be a little more courageous in a way. I will only have to commit myself. Depending on how the race goes, I might have to take bigger risks.

After the national championships, attention will then turn to the Santos Festival of Cycling, with a four-day National Road Series event held from January 23-26 to replace the usual international event, which was canceled for a second year in amid the COVID-19 pandemic. During this race, she will lead a young national team, Team Garmin Australia, before returning to Europe and settling in her new team FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope.

Brown said although she doesn’t have her exact schedule yet, she could start with February’s four-stage Setmana Ciclista Valenciana as a warm-up before the cobblestone classics where her main targets will likely be Flanders, where she came third. in 2021, and the second edition of the Paris-Roubaix Femmes. So the next big thing is the Tour de France Women, a huge event for everyone, but especially for a French team, and it’s a race where Brown has said she will target stages.

This will be quickly followed by the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in early August before September offers the rare opportunity to compete in the home world championships in Wollongong, Australia. Brown said that since full routes, lap details and elevation gain details had yet to be released, it was unclear exactly what the route – which crosses the coast before to travel a street circuit and a loop with an ascent of Mount Keira – would bring.

“From the information we have, I think it will be a Classic style race. There’s that longer climb, which is going to work a bit on the attrition in the race and then I expect it to be a bit more punchy towards the end, but it depends on how it all lines up. . But based on the information I have, I think this will be a suitable course for me.

“But, we have to wait and see and also I have to juggle the time trial and road racing so that more information comes out, we can make a better plan around it.”

There may still be some uncertainty around Brown’s exact timeline and plans, especially without all the details of the world being revealed, but there is one thing there is no doubt about.

“It will be a year filled with a lot of great things,†Brown said.

Celebrity couples who married during the Covid-19 pandemic have had to stay on the low side, forgoing the usual high-profile coverage, lavish surroundings and star-studded guest list.

Instead, these lovebirds said “yes” in small, intimate weddings, often in their homes. Or, in the case of American singers Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton, in a chapel he built on his sprawling ranch.

Due to travel restrictions, some were unable to invite relatives, such as Singaporean singer Kelly Poon, who hosted her banquet in Taipei without a family.

Others did not have the wedding of their dreams, such as American actor Nicolas Cage, who wanted to marry his fifth wife, who is Japanese, in a traditional Shinto ceremony in Kyoto.

Closer to home, local singer Benjamin Kheng and actress-DJ Naomi Yeo opted for an intimate night out, instead of having everyone run over at a big wedding party.

On the bright side, the pandemic has made it possible for those who wanted to keep their marriages a secret to succeed, like former Spice Girl Emma Bunton, who finally married after 23 years of dating to British singer-turned-chef Jade Jones. .

And of course, no love story in the era of the pandemic is without a virtual wedding ceremony – American actor Sean Penn took his vows to Australian-born actress Leila George via Zoom.

1. Ariana Grande & Dalton Gomez: stuck with you

The lyrics of American pop star Ariana Grande’s song Stuck With U, performed with Canadian singer Justin Bieber, epitomize the experience of couples living with a pandemic.

The song, released in May last year, tells a story familiar to many couples – forced to settle down quickly or be separated due to distancing measures.

Grande, 28, and her four-month-old boyfriend Mr Dalton Gomez, 26, made their first public appearance in her music video.

A year later, Grande married the luxury real estate agent.

At the wedding at her home in Montecito, Calif., Grande was taken down the aisle by her parents, echoing lyrics from her 2018 hit, Thank U, Next, in which she sings, “Someday I’ll Walk In. the aisle. Holding my mom’s hand. “

A small circle of close friends and family were there to attend the wedding, with no other stars present.

2. Kelly Poon & Roger Yo: Yam seng in Taipei

When Singaporean singer Kelly Poon recorded her marriage to Taiwanese music producer Roger Yo in February last year, she tried to keep a low profile, but was spotted by photographers from the household registry office in Taipei.

If she had done what she wanted, she would also have kept her marriage a secret in November of last year.

She had hosted a 45-table banquet at Regent Taipei, but her friends and family in Singapore were unable to attend due to the pandemic.

However, Singaporeans based in Taiwan, such as former actress Yvonne Lim, singer-actress Boon Hui Lu, and singer Huang Jinglun, as well as friends from the music industry in Taiwan, came to wish the good luck to the couple, with famous lyricist Yao Chien walking her down the aisle.

Unsurprisingly, the bride and groom both performed songs at the wedding, which incorporated Singaporean touches, such as a pandan cake, a bouquet of orchids for her, and raucous toast of “yam seng”.

The couple, both 38, even surprised their friends when they revealed they were dating after being friends for years. They are planning to have another wedding dinner in Singapore.

3. Sean Penn & Leila George: Zoom on I do it

US actor Sean Penn, 61, not only had a secret wedding, but he also did so in a way that mirrors those pandemic days – via Zoom, with just three guests.

The Oscar-winning actress married Australian-American actress Leila George, 29, on July 30 last year at home with the county commissioner officiating on Zoom.

George’s brother and Penn’s two grown children, from his second marriage to American actress Robin Wright, were also present at the wedding. He was also married to pop star Madonna.

Penn had been dating George, daughter of American actor Vincent D’Onofrio and Italian-Australian actress Greta Scacchi, since 2016.

Asked about the benefits of a small wedding on the Late Night With Seth Meyers chat show a few days after the most important Zoom call of his life, Penn joked: “Let’s say there are social liberators under Covid. . “

On their first anniversary this year, George posted a rare photo of them riding a bike with the caption: “365 days of marriage to an amazing man with the biggest heart who makes me proud and makes me smile”.

4. Benjamin Kheng & Naomi Yeo: No singing and dancing

Like many Singaporean couples, singer Benjamin Kheng, 31, and actress-DJ Naomi Yeo, 26, have seen their marriage plans disrupted by the pandemic.

The renovation of their apartment was delayed – again, not thanks to Covid-19 – and their traditional wedding plan in the second half of the year was on hold.

So they decided to move their wedding date forward and move their move-in date back.

In an Instagram post on April 17, Kheng, who is pursuing a solo career after the hiatus from The Sam Willows, wrote: “To anyone’s surprise, I cried like crazy on my wedding day. Sunday in front of our closest friends and family.

“Nayo looked like a dream, and at first glance I misheard the cue to turn, so I spent the first few seconds staring at her jaw-dropping figure as she screamed, ‘You’re turning now. , ah? ‘”

The couple got engaged in New Zealand in March last year after a year-long relationship.

In an interview with online magazine Wonderwall.sg in May, Kheng said, “I really wanted everyone to sing, dance and get fucked hard at a big wedding party, but having a small and intimate one was. also really special. “

5. Gwen Stefani & Blake Shelton: No doubt about it

Rumors began to circulate in the middle of the year that No Doubt lead singer Gwen Stefani, 51, had secretly married American king of country music Blake Shelton, 45.

He proposed at the height of the pandemic last October, but the couple never set a date because everything was up in the air.

Everyone guessed and the superstar couple finally said “yes” after five years of dating on July 3 in a private ceremony at the Shelton ranch in Oklahoma.

He reportedly built a chapel on his property for the occasion, which had only hosted 40 guests, including Stefani’s three sons from his first marriage to British singer Gavin Rossdale, from 2002 to 2016.

This was the third time down the aisle for Shelton, who divorced his first wife Kaynette Gern in 2006 and was also married to American country singer Miranda Lambert, whom he divorced in 2015.

While Stefani wore white stiletto heel boots with her two wedding dresses, both from American designer Vera Wang, Shelton paired her tuxedo jacket with blue jeans in true country style.

Her breathtaking veil bore the embroidered names of her children – Kingston, 15, Zuma, 13 and Apollo, seven – as well as Gwen and Blake, a touching tribute to their formation of a new family.

6. Emma Bunton & Jade Jones: Spice Up Their Lives

It only took 23 years and a pandemic for former Spice Girl Emma Bunton, 45, and British singer-turned-chef Jade Jones, 42, to walk down the aisle.

The British couple, who started dating in 1998, made the surprise announcement of their wedding on their Instagram accounts on July 13.

It came as a shock as they had been engaged for over a decade and share two sons, Beau, 14, and Tate, 10, who attended the wedding with a few friends of the bride and groom.

Bunton said in a 2018 interview with BBC Radio 2 that they had been engaged for so long because they were terrible at arranging the wedding and keeping it a secret.

“We try, but we want it to be private. Every time we try, it’s out there. We want to do it privately by ourselves.”

7. Nicolas Cage & Riko Shibata: The fifth time, is it the charm?

Oscar-winning actor Nicolas Cage, 57, made the news when he married for the fifth time in February – to a Japanese woman 30 years his junior.

Little is known about his wife, Ms Riko Shibata, 26, who is also four years younger than her first son. The couple were first spotted together in February last year in New Orleans, and this is their first marriage.

Cage announced his engagement in August last year, revealing that the pandemic had prevented him from proposing in person.

He said at the time: “She left New York and went back to Kyoto, Japan, and I went back to Nevada and I haven’t seen her for six months. We are really happy together and we are really excited to spend this time together, I finally said, “Look, I want to marry you” and we got engaged on FaceTime. “

The engagement ring was sent to her by FedEx, and when travel restrictions were lifted, they tied the knot at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas in a small, intimate wedding.

According to its representative, they exchanged traditional Catholic and Shinto vows with poetry by Walt Whitman and haikus dotted around.

Cage was previously married to American actress Patricia Arquette, singer-songwriter Lisa Marie Presley (he was a big fan of his late father Elvis Presley), actress Alice Kim, and makeup artist Erika Koike.

After an entertaining 1-1 draw at Camp Nou, Napoli and Barcelona continue to fight for a place in the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 as they meet in southern Italy.

• Napoli finished second to Spartak Moskva in UEFA Europa League Group C in the autumn, clinching qualification with a decisive Matchday 6 home win against Leicester City. After 17 consecutive years in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, Barcelona failed to progress from their group, picking up just seven points to finish third behind Bayern München and Benfica and advance to the UEFA Europa League for the first times.

Previous meetings
• A first leg in which Barcelona made their UEFA Europa League debut ended in honours, although visiting midfielder Piotr Zieliński’s 29th-minute goal was equalized just before the hour mark by a penalty from Barça’s new signing, Ferran Torres.

• Napoli and Barcelona, ​​the two former clubs of Diego Maradona, have only been paired once before in UEFA competition, in the round of 16 of the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League. The encounter was interrupted for several months by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the first leg away to Napoli in February going 1-1 and the return leg at Camp Nou in August winning 3-1 for Barcelona.

• UEFA’s last 21 matches between Napoli and Spain have resulted in six wins, seven draws and eight defeats. At home their record is W3 D6 L1, with the only defeat coming five years ago when Real Madrid won 3-1 in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 to complete a win aggregate 6-2. Napoli won the last such game, 2-1 against European debutants Granada in the second leg of last season’s UEFA Europa League round of 16, but lost the tie 3-2 on aggregate, thus establishing his all-time record in home and away matches. against Spanish W1 L7 teams with losses in the last six.

• Barça have already faced Italian clubs 61 times, winning 30 (D19 L12). Their record 28 away games is W8 D12 L8, with wins in two of their last three visits – UEFA Champions League success at Inter in 2019/20 (2-1), in which Ansu Fati is became the youngest goalscorer in the competition, and Juventus in 2020/21 (2-0). The Catalan side’s record in home and away matches against Italian opposition is W9 L5, this 2019/20 success against Napoli the most recent.

• Barcelona have faced Italian opponents in five UEFA finals, winning three and losing two. The most recent was a 3-1 win over Juventus in the 2014/15 UEFA Champions League final in Berlin. They also lifted that trophy on Italian soil in 2009, beating Manchester United 2-0 in Rome.

Napoli vs Barcelona: The latest match news

Form Guide
Naples
• Napoli finished fifth in Serie A last season under Gennaro Gattuso, belatedly relinquishing fourth place and missing out on a fifth UEFA Champions League group stage in six seasons. So they returned, under new manager Luciano Spalletti, to the UEFA Europa League, where they won their group last season before being knocked out in the round of 16 by Granada.

• The 1988/89 UEFA Cup winner never failed to qualify for their UEFA Europa League group, winning six out of six this season, albeit second after losing at home (2 -3) and outside (1-2). to Spartak, who finished above them on a one-to-one record after the two teams finished tied on ten points. Napoli scored twice against Legia Warszawa (3-0 h, 4-1 a) while taking over Leicester (2-2 a, 3-2 h).

• Napoli’s ninth appearance in the UEFA Europa League knockout stage equals the competition record of Ajax and Olympiacos. They were knocked out five times in the round of 16, reaching the round of 16 in 2013/14, the quarter-finals in 2018/19 and the semi-finals, under Spain coach Rafael Benítez, in 2014/15 .

• The Partenopei’s home record in the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 is W6 D5 L3. They have only won three of their last ten European home matches in the spring (D4 L3).

• Napoli have won all eight previous UEFA fixtures in which they have drawn the first leg, most recently beating Swansea City in the 2013/14 UEFA Europa League Round of 16 (0-0 a , 3-1 h). Four of those eight successes came after 1-1 away draws in the first leg, the most recent against Boavista (2-1h) in the 1994/95 UEFA Cup second round.

Barcelona
• Barcelona were third in the 2020/21 Spanish La Liga behind Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid, the first time they have finished outside the top two since 2007/08, when they also finished third. They did, however, claim a record 31st Copa del Rey win, beating Athletic Club 4-0 in the final.

• Last season Barcelona also failed to reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2006/07, losing to Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16 (1-4 a.m.). , 1-1 a). This season they scored just two goals – both won 1-0 against Dynamo Kyiv – finishing third behind Bayern (0-3h, 0-3a) and Benfica (0-3a, 0- 0h) in Group E. Head coach Ronald Koeman was sacked in October and replaced the following month by former midfielder Xavi Hernández.

• While this is Barça’s first UEFA Europa League, their last UEFA Cup appearance was in 2003/04, when Frank Rijkaard’s side reached the fourth round before being eliminated by Celtic (0 -1y, 0-0h). Barcelona have never won the UEFA Cup, nor reached a final, suffering semi-final elimination on four occasions – in 1975/76, 1977/78, 1995/96 and 2000/01.

• Barça have won just one of their last 11 European spring games outside Catalonia (D4 L6) – all in the UEFA Champions League. It happened against Manchester United in the first leg of the 2018/19 quarter-final (1-0). Their first European away game after Christmas in each of the past four seasons has ended in a draw, including that visit to Napoli two years ago.

• The Azulgrana have been held to a draw at home in the first leg of a UEFA fixture on 11 previous occasions, including five times. In a first 1-1 draw at home, Barca’s aggregate record is W3 L3, with the most recent case seeing fellow Spaniards knocked out Atlético de Madrid in the UEFA quarter-finals Champions League 2013/14 (0-1a).

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UEFA Europa League squad changes
Naples
In: Faouzi Goulam
Outside: Kostas Manolas (Olympiacos)

Barcelona
In: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal), Ferran Torres (Manchester City), Adama Traoré (Wolves, loan)
Outside: Sergio Agüero (retired), Philippe Coutinho (Aston Villa, loan), Yusuf Demir (Rapid Wien, late loan), Iñaki Peña (Galatasaray, loan)

Links and stories
• Napoli midfielder Fabián Ruiz is a Spanish international who played in his native country for Real Betis (2014-18) and Elche (loan 2016/17).

• André-Frank Zambo Anguissa played on loan at Villarreal in 2019/20, losing both games against Barcelona (2-1a, 4-1h), while Napoli team-mate Stanislav Lobotka spent three seasons with Celta Vigo before joining the Italian side in 2020.

• Barcelona goalkeeper Neto knows Italian football well, having played for both Fiorentina (2011-15) and Juventus (2015-17). He kept goal for the Florence side in the 2014 Coppa Italia final defeat against Napoli, which the Partenopei won 3-1 thanks to two goals from Lorenzo Insigne and one from Dries Mertens.

• Mertens and Barcelona striker Memphis Depay were teammates at PSV Eindhoven from 2011-13. Also on the PSV schedule from 2017-19 were Barca’s Luuk de Jong and Napoli’s Hirving Lozano; they won the Eredivisie title together in 2017/18.

• Mertens has made 60 UEFA Europa League appearances, from group stage to final, one less than record holder Daniel Carriço.

• Napoli’s Eljif Elmas scored the winning goal past Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen as North Macedonia beat Germany 2-1 in 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying in Duisburg on March 31, 2021.

• Barcelona new signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who played youth football in Italy for AC Milan, scored his first European goal against Napoli in a 3-1 win for Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 6 of the 2013/14 UEFA Champions League. He also started both matches for Arsenal in their 2018/19 UEFA Europa League quarter-final loss to Napoli (2-0h, 1-0a).

• Ferran Torres, another newcomer to the Camp Nou in January, scored both goals for Spain in their 2-1 win over hosts Italy in the 2021 UEFA Nations League semi-final. Insigne and fellow Napoli club Giovanni Di Lorenzo were on the Azzurri’s side.

• Luuk de Jong’s last UEFA Europa League appearance before the first leg of this tie was in the 2020 final, when he was named Man of the Match after scoring twice for Sevilla in their 3-2 win over Barcelona. ‘Inter, an Italian opponent.

• The first leg was the tenth successive European match in which Barcelona failed to score a goal. Indeed, they were the only home team in all eight first legs of the UEFA Europa League knockout stages to score less than two goals.

• Debuting in the competition, Barcelona became the 224th side to take part in the UEFA Europa League, group stage to final, and the 13th from Spain.

Shoot to the net
• Napoli’s UEFA record for three shots on goal is W1 L2:
3-4 v Toulouse, 1986/87 UEFA Cup first round
4-3 v Sporting CP, 1989/90 UEFA Cup first round
3-5 v Spartak Moskva, 1990/91 European Champion Clubs’ Cup second round

• Barcelona’s UEFA record for six shots on goal is W5 L1:
5-4 v AZ Alkmaar, 1977/78 UEFA Cup second round
3-1 v Ipswich Town, 1977/78 UEFA Cup third round
4-1 v Anderlecht, 1978/79 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup second round
5-4 v IFK Gothenburg, 1985/86 European Champion Clubs’ Cup semi-final
0-2 v Steaua Bucureşti, 1985/86 European Champion Clubs’ Cup final
5-4 v Lech Poznań, 1988/89 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup second round

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The Chautauqua Lake Pops have enjoyed 20 years of bringing the arts to the people through their Bemus Bay Pops concert series, lakeside at the Italian Fisherman restaurant and most recently at Mayville’s Lakeside Park in 2019 and 2021. concerts 2020 has been canceled due to the Covid Pandemic.

The Pops did their best to deliver a successful program to the Mayville community for three years, but it was met with resistance on many fronts. We don’t want to be where we are not welcome. We cannot afford to continue to suffer financial losses and manage conflicts.

In an effort to continue the series, the Pops approached the town of Jamestown, the village of Celoron and the town of Buffalo. Long Point State Park and Midway State Park were considered as possible locations. Bemus Point has also expressed interest in bringing the series back. We spoke at length to the Mayor of Bemus Point, but the question remains, how do we fund the program? The minimum annual budget for the Pops series is $350,000. Shows are expensive. They are really good shows. They come from all over the country.

The Pops is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that relies solely on donations and support from sponsors. Ticket sales alone cannot cover costs. To be successful, the Pops needs a long-term support commitment. A detailed economic impact study showed that the Pops series brought in more than $13,000,000 to Chautauqua County. These dollars went directly to retail owners, restaurants, hotels, and other local attractions and museums. Everyone enjoyed Pop’s summer concert series.

Presenting the Bemus Bay Pops series was easier when we owned the Italian Fisherman restaurant and could use some of the regular staff to help run it. The Bemus Bay Pops began as a rooftop concert on Labor Day in 1998. Five years later, we’ve moved from the roof and onto a floating stage with a summer-long concert series, growing larger each year. year and never look back. When we sold the restaurant in 2018, we retained the Pops and spent a year researching different places to move. In 2019, after choosing Mayville, the Bemus Bay Pops became the Chautauqua Lake Pops.

Under the contract the Pops originally signed with the Village of Mayville, we would pay a $1 fee for each of the first two years. In the third year, the entertainment venue would pay $2 per ticket sold for the first 2,000 tickets and $1 per ticket sold beyond 2,000 tickets. The Pops recently paid the Village of Mayville $3,394 representing 1,697 tickets sold in 2021.

A lawsuit has been filed against the Pops and the Village of Mayville by two summer residents of Ohio and a resident of Mayville. Load concerts took place in 2019 before receiving the required state permits for the floating stage and “produced excessive, dangerous and harmful noise levels”. We requested a contract renegotiation and extension as we had to cancel the entire 2020 season due to the pandemic, but received a denial from the Mayville Village Board. There has also been a rollback on the original agreement which allowed nearby cycle lanes to be closed during concerts. Closing the bike lane was a very important safety necessity during installation and performance. Safety was our main focus in modifying the path for cyclists, eliminating what could have been a dangerous situation. Weeks of unnecessary delays and costs were initiated.

We are very proud of our history. As evidenced by last year’s poll, people who attended the concerts loved the Pops. People want to be by the lake. It is a resort area, it is where people come to relax and enjoy their summers. The Pops have provided a wonderful venue unique to Chautauqua Lake, Chautauqua County and all of Western New York.

After consulting with the Pops Board of Directors, sponsors and ticket holders about the 2022 season, we have concluded that it is impossible to find a successful path by continuing the program in Mayville. We will continue our search for a new location with the goal of staying on Chautauqua Lake, if possible! We sincerely hope this isn’t the end of the Chautauqua Lake Pops!

Additional information can be found at ChautauquaLakePops.com and Pop’s Facebook page.

For more information on the floating stage, please visit floatingstage.com

Dan Dalpra is founder and CEO of Chautauqua Lake Pops.

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BOSTON – The influx of billions of dollars in federal relief funds and excess money prompts lawmakers to take money home for local pet projects, programs and initiatives – some of which only have little or nothing to do with recovery from a pandemic.

The State Senate on Wednesday introduced its proposal to spend more than $ 3.66 billion in American Rescue Plan Act funds and excess revenue to invest in housing, labor, schools and the health system to help workers, businesses and communities to support the hardest. hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

But lawmakers should load the relief bill with dozens of amendments that will likely increase its final price. The proposal leaves about $ 2.4 billion in unallocated surplus and federal relief funds, giving senators a long lead to incorporate more spending into the measure before it is taken next week.

Ways and Means Senate Speaker Michael Rodrigues D-Westport told reporters on Wednesday he expects the spending bill to increase to $ 3.95 billion in the process amendment.

The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives last week approved a relief bill containing tens of millions of dollars in earmarks for local programs and projects.

House leaders met mainly in private meetings to decide which of the more than 1,100 proposed amendments would appear in the final bill.

They accept several “mega-amendments” – each comprising hundreds of amendments – which have shot the net result of the spending bill to $ 3.82 billion.

Beacon Hill Watchdogs say Congress never intended to spend relief money on local pet projects and say lawmakers shouldn’t go on a spending spree.

“This money was supposed to be spent to alleviate the pandemic, but it is clear that many lawmakers saw that this was just another budget spending bill,” said Paul Craney, spokesperson from the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, a pro-business conservative group. “They shouldn’t be using this money for favorite projects during an election year.”

Hundreds of non-pandemic allotments were also added to the House bill, including $ 200,000 to improve bicycle safety in Andover, $ 100,000 for a lawn in North Reading, $ 150,000 to repair elevators at Melrose High School and $ 1.3 million for an Italian immigrant memorial in Boston’s North End.

David Tuerck, economist and president of the Boston-based Beacon Hill Institute, said lawmakers should be careful how they allocate exceptional federal aid and should not spend it on pet projects.

“The legislature is treating this bonanza of money as if it was Christmas morning,” he said. “They shouldn’t be spending this money on frivolous projects.”

Ways and Means House Speaker Aaron Michlewitz, D-Boston, said the House-approved bill was based on public hearings and input from hundreds of people and organizations. In his remarks, he called it a “truly fair spending program” that focuses on communities hardest hit by the pandemic.

A centerpiece of the back-up plan calls for spending $ 500 million on bonus checks for frontline workers who remained on the job during the pandemic.

True, the House bill provided $ 500 million to help replenish the state unemployment trust fund and $ 200 million in tax breaks for small business owners who paid income taxes. individuals on state or federal pandemic relief money.

It also included money for safety net hospitals, public health systems and mental health services that have struggled to meet demand during the pandemic.

There were also unrelated expense items, such as $ 12 million to help with the resettlement of Afghan refugees and $ 5 million to create a website tracking the number of contracts awarded to minority-owned businesses.

The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation noted that the House bill primarily used excess money to cover the cost of changes to the measure, not federal funds.

The Senate bill makes no distinction on the sources of funding, leaving the decision to the Office of State Administration and Finance.

Massachusetts received about $ 5.3 billion in direct funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, a $ 1.9 trillion stimulus package signed by President Joe Biden.

Governor Charlie Baker has argued with legislative leaders over control of the money. He initially proposed spending $ 2.8 billion, letting lawmakers distribute the rest. But lawmakers rejected his plan and swept most of the money into a fund controlled by the legislature.

Baker responded with legislation calling for $ 2.9 billion in spending on housing, the environment, transportation and other priorities.

Legislative leaders held public hearings on the governor’s proposal, but ultimately decided on their own plans.

Christian M. Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for newspapers and the websites of the North of Boston Media Group. Email him at [email protected]

Regarding my candidacy for the presidency of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), I am pleased to declare that my electoral campaign is continuing fully, said Farid Gayibov, president of European gymnastics, Trend reports citing his statement.

“In September, our offline meetings resumed after a long interval. During the pandemic, we held our European Championships in 2020 with the aim of conserving our events and giving our athletes the opportunity to compete in safe conditions. , overcoming the challenges we however only met to discuss our administrative issues face to face in Lausanne (SUI) on September 11-12, 2021.

Frankly, there is a big difference between online and offline meetings. This time around, we had lively discussions, in particular, regarding the theme of the strategy for the new cycle on the agenda …

But, first of all, I would like to stress that we have achieved our objective which we have been pursuing for 4 years. We have increased our funds thanks to the contracts we have concluded with our partners – SmartScoring, Eurovision and device suppliers (Gymnova, Janssen Fritsen, Spieth & Eurotramp). The Organizers of the European Championships have benefited considerably from these contracts. As a result, interest in hosting our events has increased. Thus, we managed to assign the events even for 2024.

… And, now, keeping in mind all the achievements and stable development, having funds to invest in other projects, we have deliberated on our new strategy for the next few years. We have clearly defined plans and tasks for ourselves that we need to finalize at our next meeting.

At our September meeting, technical regulations for 2022 and 2023, accreditation rules, medical rules and other regulations were approved. We also discussed preparations for the meeting of European gymnastics member federations in Frankfurt to be held tomorrow.

Impressed by the meetings and our fruitful discussions with our partners on our continued cooperation in Lausanne, I traveled to Pesaro (ITA).

This city is known as a frequent host of gymnastics events. And, this time, they opened their doors to members of the European Gymnastics family for 3 consecutive weeks. First, the European Aerobic Gymnastics Championships took place (September 17-19) followed by European competitions by age groups (September 23-26) and the European Championships (September 29 – October 3) of acrobatic gymnastics.

It was remarkable to see that the number of countries participating in the European Championships in aerobic and acrobatic gymnastics was almost the same as we had at this year’s World Championships in these disciplines. It can be associated with several factors and reasons including the global pandemic. This gives us a positive sign that we are gradually returning to a normal life. I congratulate all the winners of the European events. Thanks to the excellent work done by the Italian Gymnastics Federation, its Local Organizing Committee in close collaboration with the Technical Committees and the staff of European Gymnastics, we have had successful events. I am sure the Gymnastics family will be happy to return to Italy to participate in future events planned here in the near future.

September 13 marked the death of Bruno Grandi, who led the FIG for 20 years. A remarkable man with strong leadership and a love for our sport. We had the honor to visit his family and his resting place to pay homage to him and to show that we will always remember him as a friend, a leader and for all that he contributed to gymnastics .

As many of you know, last month I was appointed Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan. I am very grateful for all the kind messages and warm wishes I have received from all of you. I think it is a good stimulus for our gymnastics family that one of its members has become Minister of Sports, and I see it as a testament to the work we have done together to improve and popularize our sport both at the level national and international.

Regarding my candidacy for the presidency of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), I am pleased to report that my electoral campaign is continuing in all its glory. Following my appointment as Minister, I continued my commitments and responsibilities as President of European Gymnastics, attending all Gymnastics meetings, championships and events. The same will apply in the event of success in the FIG elections. As we all know, the activity of a President or a member of the Executive Committee within European Gymnastics or the FIG, is based on principles of volunteerism and should not be affected by time jobs. full that we all have. In my case, I only see positive impacts that could affect gymnastics, and I am determined to contribute to the good of our sport, to build policies and strategies for the progress of our disciplines, to involve the right partners to ensure the global development, and find new tools contributing to the prosperity of Affiliated Federations. We can achieve whatever we set for ourselves when we unite our ideas and steer our ship together as one.

The Golden Age Festival in Rethymno (GRE) started yesterday. The Hellenic Gymnastics Federation deserves special thanks as they have gone out of their way to organize the postponed events of 2020. This sporting event is unique in that it is inclusive for people aged 50 and over. Unique in the world !

Prior to the November Congress, the Artistic Gymnastics (October 18-24) and Rhythmic Gymnastics (October 27-31) World Championships will be hosted by Kitakyushu (JPN). Unfortunately, as a member of the FIG Executive Committee, I will not be able to attend these World Championships due to restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It has been a difficult year for our gymnasts following the pandemic, the Olympics and all the hard work and stress that goes with it. You deserve more than praise, and I firmly believe this is something we should start working on. I have mentioned several times that our gymnasts deserve more recognition on a global scale for all the hard work they do, and I think the “Gymnasts Of the Year Awards†and the increase in the prize fund during this period. competitions would be a great starting point to give back.

I wish success to all the gymnasts who will participate in the last major events of the year, “he wrote.