Athletics’ world governing body is "seeking assurances" that the new immigration policy in the U.S. "will not affect the 2021 World Championships," according to the PA. President Donald Trump has "issued an executive order banning individuals born in seven mainly Muslim countries" -- Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen -- and all refugees from entering the U.S. The U.S. is scheduled to host the World Championships for the first time in '21 -- in Eugene, Oregon -- and the IAAF has "asked for more information on the immigration order." In a statement, the IAAF said, "We clearly need to understand the implications of this new U.S. immigration policy and will be seeking assurances that it will not adversely affect the IAAF World Championships in the USA in 2021." Mo Farah, who won the 5,000m and 10,000m double at the World Championships in '11 and '15, "expressed his relief after the Foreign Office said Trump's order did not apply to U.K. nationals." Farah, currently training in Ethiopia, is a British citizen but his ability to return to his family in the U.S. was "initially unclear because his country of birth, Somalia, was included on the banned list" and he accused Trump’s decision of being "ignorant and prejudiced." However, irrespective of birthplace, British nationals are "exempt from Friday's order," according to the Foreign Office, and will be allowed to enter the U.S. (PA, 1/30).
WIDE IMPACT: In N.Y., Jere Longman wrote Trump's order "could have a wide impact on international sports, including jeopardizing a warm relationship" between the U.S. and Iran in wrestling competitions and "threatening the chances" of L.A. hosting the 2024 Olympic Games and of the U.S. securing the 2026 World Cup. Sports officials "struggled to understand the implications" of Trump's order, "including the question of whether athletes from the targeted nations could enter" the U.S. to compete (N.Y. TIMES, 1/29). In N.Y., O'Brien, Cohen, Futterman & Germano reported in the long run, athletes and officials "aren’t sure how the ban, which has resulted in confusion and in protests in the U.S. and abroad, might affect bids for hosting international events or competing in them." For U.S. sports leagues, Trump’s order "runs counter to a push in recent years to draw more international players" (Wall Street Journal, 1/29).
L.A. BID: In a separate piece, Longman wrote the "most immediate effect may come in wrestling." Iran said that it would "stop American citizens from entering the country, in retaliation." Meanwhile, the ban on visitors "comes at a delicate time" for the U.S. Olympic Committee and L.A. 2024's bid. Olympic historian and author David Wallechinsky said of Trump's order, "I would consider it a blow to the Los Angeles bid -- not fatal but a blow" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/29). USA TODAY's Christine Brennan reported Trump's order is "entirely new territory" for a U.S. city bidding for the Olympics, and "not in a good way." It "flies in the face of L.A.'s elaborate and finely tuned strategy to win the Games by presenting to the world the most diverse and inclusive leadership and image of any U.S. bid city in history" (USA TODAY, 1/30). Olympics writer Philip Hersh on his personal website wrote the time has come for the USOC to "end its silence" on Trump's ban. It is also "high time" for the three U.S. IOC members -- including two women, one of whom is an African-American -- to "show they stand against intolerance." Meanwhile, British runner Farah and U.S. national football team player Michael Bradley have "chosen conviction about justice and freedom over the cowardly complicity of silence" (GLOBETROTTINGBYPHILIPHERSH.com, 1/29).
WAIT-AND-SEE: ESPN.com reported U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati said that the organization still "hasn't decided whether it will bid" for the 2026 World Cup, adding that he is "taking a wait-and-see approach" to how Trump's order might impact the potential bid. Gulati: "How this plays out in terms of international events, I think that's frankly a secondary issue right now. The issue involving the executive order and its implications are far broader than that" (
ESPN.com, 1/29). In L.A., Dylan Hernandez reported Bradley posted on his Instagram account, "The Muslim ban is just the latest example of someone who couldn't be more out of touch with our country and the right way to move forward." U.S. Soccer "didn't have any problems with Bradley sharing his opinion," as the message was "approved by other players on the team" (
L.A. TIMES, 1/30).
NIKE REACTION: In Portland, Jeff Manning wrote Nike President, Chair & CEO Mark Parker in a memo to employees on Sunday said that the "traditional values of inclusiveness his company stands for are being 'threatened'" by Trump's order. Parker: "Nike believes in a world where everyone celebrates the power of diversity. ... This is a policy we don't support" (OREGONIAN, 1/30).
