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Andre de Grasse led Canada to a thrilling victory in the Olympic men's 4x100m relay in Paris on Friday, marking a historic moment for the nation. The Canadian quartet, comprising Aaron Brown, Jerome Blake, and Brendon Rodney, displayed exceptional teamwork and speed to secure the gold medal with a time of 37.50 seconds.South Africa claimed the silver medal with an African record time of 37.57 seconds, while Great Britain took the bronze in 37.61 seconds. Defending champions Italy, featuring 2021 100m champion Marcell Jacobs, finished fourth in 37.68 seconds.The United States, who were considered favorites, suffered a disappointing disqualification after a botched baton handover between Christian Coleman and Kenny Bednarek. The incident occurred during the first exchange, causing Bednarek to come to an almost complete standstill. Despite the efforts of Kyree King and Fred Kerley, the US quartet was unable to recover and finished seventh in 37.89 seconds.This disqualification continues the United States' dismal Olympic run in the men's 4x100m relay. The last time the US men medalled was with a silver at the 2004 Athens Games. In recent years, the team has faced setbacks, including a botched handoff in the heats of the 2021 Tokyo Games, a disqualification at the 2016 Rio Games, and a failure to medal in London in 2012 and Beijing in 2008.Canada's victory is a testament to their hard work and determination. Andre de Grasse, who anchored the team, has emerged as a world-class sprinter and played a crucial role in securing the gold medal. The Canadian quartet's success is a source of pride for the nation and a reminder of the power of teamwork and perseverance.

The 2024 Candidates chess tournament, scheduled to take place in Toronto, Canada, from April 3 to 23, faces an uncertain future due to unresolved visa issues for players and participants. The tournament, which determines the challengers for the world champion title in both the open and women's categories, is at risk of being moved out of Canada if the visa problems are not resolved by Friday.Vladimir Drkulec, president of the Chess Federation of Canada, expressed concern over the situation, stating that "if we cannot resolve these issues by Friday, the tournament will be moved to Spain." He emphasized the need for "political will" to address the issue and expressed cautious optimism that a resolution could be reached before the deadline.The tournament faces uncertainty as many players, including India's teen sensation R Praggnanandhaa, have not received their visas. As many as 40 participants, including 16 players, are yet to secure visas. Vidit Gujrathi, Gukesh D, and Vaishali Rameshbabu, Praggnanandhaa's sister, are among those who have not been issued visas.The International Chess Federation (FIDE) made an urgent appeal last Friday, expressing concern about the lack of visa updates for players who submitted their applications months ago. The appeal, posted on social media, tagged Canada's Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Marc Miller, and his department.Drkulec stated that the federation has contacted multiple members of parliament and government ministers, receiving positive responses from their staff. FIDE director general Emil Sutovsky emphasized that the tournament will not be postponed or players replaced due to visa issues.This will be the first time the nearly 70-year-old tournament is being held in North America and will feature 16 of the world's best players. The tournament is a significant event in the chess world, and its relocation would be a major disappointment for the Canadian chess community and fans worldwide.