Sport fairy tales that we want to happenFebruary 22, 2017

Australia hosting the Winter Olympics. The odds are against it, as Oz is warm and sunny while many skiing resorts in Europe host the World Cup events by the International Skiing Federation (FIS). Furthermore, only three cities from the southern hemisphere hosted this prestigious quadrennial event. It doesn't mean that it won't happen sooner or later; the Australian Olympic Committee is looking at Jindabyne, located in the snowy part of New South Wales. There were reports that this town might bid for the right to host the 2026 Winter Olympics, but not a few could see the writer(s) pulling a leg. Then again, why not. After all, the upcoming Asian Winter Games will mark the first time that Australia and New Zealand taking part in this event. The chances of many athletes from Oceania may not be as good as the Japanese delegation, who will play host and the Chinese speed skaters. It's still a sign of good things to come. This will lead to the next item.

Alex Pullin will win the Olympic gold medal in snowboarding in Pyeongchang. It might happen. The native of Mansfield, Victoria was the favourite in Sochi, winning the world championships in Stoneham, Quebec the previous year. But he crashed out in the quarterfinals. This would be the nature of the sport, which excited spectators. Anything could happen after the jump. (Lindsey Jacobellis learned it the hard way.) Pullin won a World Cup event in Feldberg, Germany the weekend before last while Olympic champion Pierre Vaultier emerged victorious in the race the day before it. Both snowboarders are behind overall leader Alessandro Hämmerle. (The Austrian has the most podium places.) Expect the three to compete for Olympic glory in South Korea, as Vaultier would have the slight edge over the other competitors. (The Frenchman won the overall World Cup last year.) Pullin wasn't nicknamed Chumpy for nothing, yet he would need the luck to get that elusive Olympic gold.

Nick Kyrgios will be a Grand Slam champion. It won't happen this season. Patrick Rafter stepped down as Tennis Australia's head of performance after the relationship between Tennis Australia and the Tomic family took a nosedive. Ditto with Nick Kyrgios. Bernard Tomic was unavailable for the Davis Cup's first-round tie against the Czech Republic, but some gave Tomic, once ranked 17 in the world, a benefit of a doubt. Wally Masur came in place of Rafter, and there seemed to be a warming up between both parties. As for Kyrgios, both Masur and Lleyton Hewitt were convinced that the Canberran doesn't need a coach. "If they ever want to talk to me, I'm happy to talk," Rafter said of Australia's top two players. It won't be happening anytime soon. Grigor Dimitrov is the hottest player on the tour at the moment, holding a 16-1 record. (His only loss happened at the Australian Open.) The Bulgarian is likely to make another deep run in the majors this summer. Local fans are divided on Kyrgios, but they've been waiting for the next Aussie star to lift a major trophy. Give him a year (for rebound). Don't expect him to win three tournaments this season.

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