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Olympic medalists offered rapid repair service from Italian state mint

MILAN (AP) — The national mint of Italy is ready to repair the faulty medal fixings for athletes, organizers of the Milan Cortina Olympics said Tuesday.

Ribbons and clasps, rather than the gold, silver and bronze designs, have been the problem for medalists in the opening days of the Winter Games.

“A limited number for medals have had a few problems,” Olympic organizing committee spokesman Luca Casassa said in translated comments.

A “targeted intervention” was found with the Zecca dello Stato (state mint) in Rome that produced the medals.

“Athletes who have medals with problems are invited to give them back through the appropriate channels,” Casassa said, “so that they can be immediately repaired.”

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AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

The arrival of AJ Dybantsa gives Wizards hope

For the first time in almost a half-century, the Washington Wizards could be closer to contending for an NBA title with the arrival of AJ Dybantsa. The team drafted the 6-foot-9 forward with the first pick of the 2026 NBA draft after finishing as one of the worst teams in the league in the past three years. They got the No. 1 overall pick after winning the draft lottery in May for the first time since 2010 -- when they drafted John Wall. The Wizards hope, with the arrival of Dybantsa, that they can start winning games and competing for the playoffs with a chance to win their first championship since 1978. In the past three seasons, they finished with a combined record of 50-196. “We’re definitely getting a difference maker on the basketball court. There’s no doubt about that,” Wizards general manager Will Dawkins said. “What I would want our fans to know night one is that he is a worker. He is a passionate person who loves basketball and will continue to work and get better.”
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