To be a spectator at the LA28 Olympics, you can buy tickets directly from the Organizing Committee, or you can book a hospitality package through On Location, the Games' official hospitality provider. Paul Caine, president of On Location joins us to talk all things Olympic hospitality, from how the company did at Paris 2024 and Milano Cortina 2026, to what they're planning for once-in-a-lifetime experiences related to the LA 2028 Olympics.

Find out more about LA28 packages at https://hospitality.la28.org/. Learn more about On Location and its other events (they're gearing up for World Cup) at https://onlocationexp.com/.

Going to the Paralympics? Don't worry - there will be hospitality packages for the Paralympics too - more info will be released in the future.

We have a ton of Games News to share - from an Olympic trials pool up for sale to Milano Cortina's instant budget shortfalls and legacy issues. For you that means the slidingnovela is back! We have the information we most definitely are not shocked to hear.

LA28 has announced that ticket drop #2 will take place in August. If you haven't signed up for the ticket lottery, do so here: https://tickets.la28.org/

What's the likelihood of snagging some $28 tickets? We've got some interesting stats from the first ticket drop that may surprise you.

Plus, French Alps 2030 is having trouble finding a place to hold the ice hockey tournament, but never fear, Paris and Lyon would like to step up and host those events.

Also, the World Games 2029 sport program is out, and it's a doozy!

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

Photo courtesy of On Location.

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

***

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

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Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

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VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348

While we still have Winter Olympics and Paralympics on the brain, we take a look at what's going on with Utah 2034 with Catherine Raney-Norman, Utah 2034's vice president development and athlete relations. Catherine is a 4x Olympic speed skater who transitioned into development work after retiring from competition.

Given that Utah 2034 can't go after sponsorship deals until after LA28, it has created an innovative funding program called Podium 34. For the first time in Olympic history, private donors are stepping up to help fund the Games.

Catherine talks about the program and how it's changing Games funding for the future.

To learn more about Podium 34, visit: http://utah2034.org/podium34/

In LA28 news, Santa Monica is making plans to host a Nations Village during the Games. Also, if your event tickets take you to a venue at USC, you may want to build in some travel time.

Plus, if you're in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, this summer, check out the Tread of Pioneers Museum's free weekly Olympic Heritage tour! Olympian Ben Berend will lead this series, which runs from June 2 through Sept. 9. Find out more at the museum's website.

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

Photo courtesy of Utah 2034.

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

***

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod

Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348

The International Olympic Committee has released a new policy on the protection of the female (women's) category in Olympic sport, which calls for gene screening for all female athletes. We talk about what this entails, what it could mean for sports, and whether or not we, as two women, feel protected.

If you want to read the policy for yourself, you can find it here: https://stillmed.olympics.com/media/Documents/International-Olympic-Committee/EB/policy/policy-on-the-protection-of-the-female-category-english.pdf

The UN's response is here: https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/04/un-expert-welcomes-international-olympic-committee-policy-protecting-female

Here's the Time article we referenced: https://time.com/article/2026/04/03/how-the-olympic-ban-on-transgender-women-could-affect-all-women-athletes/

And geneticist Andrew Sinclair's thoughts on SRY gene screening: https://www.mcri.edu.au/news/insights-and-opinions/world-athletics-sry-gene-conversation

Also, LA 2028 has released its "look of the Games," which is called "LA in Full Bloom." Inspired by the California Superbloom phenomenon, the look features colorful graphics. Typography is inspired by signage found throughout the city of LA. Overall, the look caused us to have different--and surprising--reactions. Listen on to find out more!

Ticket sales have also started for the LA28 Olympics. Aren't those two years away? Yes, but there's no time like the present to create some hype (and FOMO). We've got word on how the first ticket drop is going, and what you can do if you haven't gotten tickets yet (spoiler alert: time is on your side).

USA Fencing is working on an exhibit for LA28 and is looking for fencing-related movie/TV artifacts. If you have an item of interest, let them know: https://airtable.com/appAn0O4fg39xtN9Y/pagB3jzyIt9DbFzD1/form

Plus, we have a new Olympic and Paralympic travel segment, which features exhibits, events and more. On this episode, we feature Georgia Tech's new exhibit about its legacy with Atlanta 1996. Find out more about that here: https://www.library.gatech.edu/news/now-open-centennial-summer-georgia-techs-olympic-legacy

And USA Gymnastics announced the location for its 2028 Olympic trials, which will be in Louisville, Kentucky. Learn more here: https://usagym.org/louisville-to-host-2028-u-s-olympic-team-trials-gymnastics-become-gymnastics-city-usa-2028/

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

***

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod

Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348

Step back in time to Cortina 1956! We're back with another Olympics history episode, looking at the torch relay and Opening Ceremony for the Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956 Winter Olympics.

These two events were vastly different than what we saw at Milano Cortina 2026, and we compare 1956's short torch relay (partly on wheels and never in Greece) and short Opening Ceremony that for the first time was broadcast to the world on TV--and featured a major gaffe.

Listen to find out what went down and the surprises we learned from the 1956 Winter Olympics.

For a transcript and complete list of sources used in this episode, visit: https://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

Photo: Jill Jaracz

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

***

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod

Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348

The Milano Cortina 2026 cauldron might be out, but our community still has a lot to say about these Games! Hear what the listeners thought about a spread out Paralympics and the amazing sports that we watched. And there might be a feed beef or two.

Plus, Alison gives an update on her friend Eric Heiden, and Jill reports on the late 1980s downhill skiing scene in Northern Indiana.

Thank you for being part of this podcast and community and for making the Olympics and Paralympics more fun than we could have ever imagined!

Until next time, keep the flame alive!

***

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

***

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod

Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348

The Paralympic flame has been extinguished, and sadly, the Games of Milano Cortina 2026 are over. However, there was still plenty of action on the final day of competition!

Thanks to your support of our Grande Finale 150 campaign, we went to Milano to watch the para ice hockey medal games, both of which were the icing on the cake (especially in terms of record attendance) of a great Paralympics.

Sports on today's program:

• Para Alpine skiing
• Para cross-country
• Para ice hockey

Finally, the Closing Ceremony in Cortina at the curling stadium may have been in a small venue, but it included beautiful and poignant performances around the theme of memories.

The cauldron may be out, but we're still keeping the flame alive! We have multitudes of memories from Milano Cortina 2026, and we hope you do too! Share them with us this week as we have two call-in shows. Alison will record on Tuesday, March 17 from 8-9pm ET. Jill will record at the same time on Wednesday, March 18. Here's the link to our studio. It works best with Chrome or Edge. It doesn't like Firefox.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

We're at the penultimate day of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics, and it was our last day in Cortina. Time to say good-bye to many friends we've met and fit in one last cultural moment.

In terms of sports, we some some exciting competitions. In para Alpine skiing, the women battled rain and shifting light conditions to finish out their Paralympics with the slalom competition. We also saw most of the gold medal wheelchair curling match, which went down to the wire and had a nail-biting finish.

In para cross-country, the relays took place, with an exciting come-from-behind win for Team USA (3/4 of which was from TKFLASTAN). The International Paralympic Committee is also looking into a potential podium protest by Germany during the women's sprint classic visually impaired class, which was won by RUS Anastasiia Bagiian and guide Sergei Siniakin. Silver medallists Linn Kazmaier and Florian Baumann from Germany who kept their hats on during the anthem and did not turn towards the flags.

Sports on today's program:

• Para Alpine skiing
• Para cross-country
• Para ice hockey
• Wheelchair curling

We want to hear what you thought of the Paralympics! We're hosting two call-in shows next week:

• Alison: Tues Mar 17 8-9pm ET
• Jill: Wed Mar 18 8-9 pm ET

Join us online at our studio: https://riverside.com/studio/keep-the-flame-alive-live

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

Photo credit: IOS Photos

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

***

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy Friends of Eric Heiden merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

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VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348

Coming to you from Piazza Roma in Cortina d'Ampezzo, it's Day 7 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics. Alison went to para snowboard to see TKFLASTAN crush it in the banked slalom. Jill had a cultural moment (and a blood pressure check) and saw some wheelchair curling before going up to Tofane to watch para Alpine. On that ride up the mountain, she made a big mistake.

Meanwhile, Alison got to celebrate some medals with Team USA athlete families and got some good intel along the way. Plus, she attended the latest International Paralympic Committee press conference, which had our Craig Spence dancing (literally).

Sports on the day's program:

• Para Alpine skiing
• Para biathlon
• Para ice hockey
• Para snowboard
• Wheelchair curling

GRAND FINALE 150! Help us end our coverage of Milano Cortina 2026 on a high note by covering our train fare to the para ice hockey medal matches. Please chip in and help us get back to Milano to give para ice hockey the coverage it deserves!

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

Photo credit: OIS Photos

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

***

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

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Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348

It's Day 6 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics, and the snow is holding up for a few more competitions. Jill went to para Alpine skiing for the women's giant slalom, while Alison went to wheelchair curling for mixed team play. Luckily, their time in Cortina allowed for a little cultural exploration because what they each stumbled upon was really good.

Plus, we recap the rest of the day's sports action, and Jill finds that Giacomo in the Morning takes a surprising turn. Suprise! A new day and time is coming for para snowboard!

Sports on today's program:

• Para Alpine skiing
• Para ice hockey
• Wheelchair curling

GRAND FINALE 150! Help us end our coverage of Milano Cortina 2026 on a high note by covering our train fare to the para ice hockey medal matches. Please chip in and help us get back to Milano to give para ice hockey the coverage it deserves!

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

Photo: OIS Photos

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

***

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod

Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348

It's Day 5 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics, and the running theme of the Games seems to be, "It's getting hot," as the snow gets slushier in the heat. Athletes are using coded language (and sometimes not-so-coded) to express just how tough the snow conditions are, and how hard it is to compete under them.

Jill and Alison went up to Cortina today for the medal round of mixed doubles wheelchair curling, which had amazing gameplay in both matches. Did Team Keep the Flame Alive's Steve Emt and Laura Dwyer beat the ice, or did the ice beat them?

Para cross-country skiing was also on the docket today, and it featured several TKFLASTANIs climbing the podium. Who had a great day?

Meanwhile, Jill opted for a culture morning and found something shocking at the post office.

GRAND FINALE 150! Help us end our coverage of Milano Cortina 2026 on a high note by covering our train fare to the para ice hockey medal matches. Please chip in and help us get back to Milano to give para ice hockey the coverage it deserves!

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

Photo courtesy of OIS Photos.

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

***

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod

Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348

It's Day 4 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics! Alison survives another Giacomo in the Morning experience to get to para Alpine skiing for (part of) the combined event. She also watched TKFLASTAN's Steve Emt and Laura Dwyer battle Korea in the semifinals of the mixed doubles wheelchair curling tournament. They've made it to the medal rounds, but what color are they playing for?

Meanwhile, Jill had the six-hour commute to watch two periods of para ice hockey, but they were good ones, as the USA faced China, and we got the answer to what China's goal song is!

Plus, TKFLASTAN has a great day at para cross-country skiing!

Sports on today's program:

• Para Alpine skiing
• Para cross-country skiing
• Para ice hockey
• Wheelchair curling

GRAND FINALE 150! Help us end our coverage of Milano Cortina 2026 on a high note by covering our train fare to the para ice hockey medal matches. Please chip in and help us get back to Milano to give para ice hockey the coverage it deserves!

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

***

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod

Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348