As Europe "awoke on Wednesday morning to the news that Donald Trump had been elected the new president" of the U.S., athletes were not shy in "sharing their thoughts on the Republican's victory," according to Sean Gibson of the London TELEGRAPH. The athletes' responses were "a mixture of lamentation," grim acceptance, a few pockets of positivity and "more than the odd joke, as the unexpected Trump victory was confirmed." While some were "keen to move on quickly and get back to the ongoing cricket match between India and England," others wished they had "thought on and put some money on the outcome." Below are tweets from a number of top int'l athletes (TELEGRAPH, 11/9).
The BBC's Richard Conway opined Trump's victory "will also have an impact on a range of sporting issues," including the U.S. 2024 Olympic bid, the investigation into FIFA, the 2026 World Cup and the "continued global expansion of American football, baseball and basketball." Trump's victory could be "highly significant" for L.A.'s hopes and "could boost its main rival, Paris." The IOC is "due to hold a vote to decide the host of the Games next September with Budapest the only other candidate." FIFA "is deliberating" over expanding the World Cup to 40 or even 48 teams. In tandem with that there is a "definite shift in thinking" within FIFA's leadership toward encouraging joint bids between countries. The leadership of America's three big sports have "ambitious plans for overseas expansion." Games have been played in recent years in cities such as London, Barcelona, Rio de Janeiro, Mexico City, Shanghai and Berlin. But economists warn that "tariffs could lead to a trade war" between the U.S. and its trading partners. Would countries such as China, facing possible tariffs of 45%, "be open to hosting games" for the principal benefit of U.S. franchises and "permitting beneficial tax arrangements for visiting teams and leagues?" (
BBC, 11/9). More reactions from int'l athletes are below:
