ICYMI: Cortina 2021 Concerns; Biden and the Olympics; Belarus Hockey Decision

#ICYMI -- In Case You Missed It ... Sometimes the best stories don't get the attention we think they deserve. Here are our staff picks for articles this week they really want you to know about..

Cortina 2021 Unveils Main Sponsor But Financial Worries Remain

(ATR) Amid economic uncertainty that comes with staging a two-week sporting event without spectators, Cortina 2021 organizers unveil EA7, the Italian sports brand of Emporia Armani, as its new main sponsor.

The partnership was reached through Infront, the event’s exclusive media and marketing partner. EA7 will receive top priority and benefit from global exposure at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, scheduled for Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Feb. 7-21.

"Cortina is one of the best locations in the world for skiing competitions and, for us, being present at such an important event not only underlines the spirit of the brand, which encompasses values of passion and fair play, but also sends a message of confidence in these difficult times," said Italian fashion icon Giorgio Armani.

Cortina 2021 chief executive officer Valerio Giacobbi noted the significance of the newly signed partnership.

"We have always hoped for the involvement of a leading Italian fashion brand at an international level – for Cortina this is certainly a further important sign of recovery and confidence despite the difficult situation," Giacobbi said.

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Biden White House Raises Olympic Expectations

(ATR) Olympic leaders say they expect smooth relations with the new administration of U.S. President Joe Biden.

IOC President Thomas Bach sent congratulations to Biden in November as soon as the outcome of the Nov. 3 election was certain. The two first met in 2015 when then vice president Biden spoke at the general assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees in Washington, D.C.

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Belarus Stripped of Ice Hockey World Cup

(ATR) Belarus will no longer be co-hosting the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Council, meeting remotely on Monday, determined that it was "unavoidable" to move the event out of Minsk "due to safety and security issues that are beyond the IIHF’s control".

Calls to strip Belarus of co-hosting the event with Latvia because of human rights abuses against athletes and political discrimination by the Alexander Lukashenko government had been growing. Widespread protests across Belarus began in August after Lukashenko was re-elected president in what is considered a rigged vote.

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