the mad sports man

 It's the Democratic Republic of Congo, beating Jamaica 1-0 to become the 47th nation to qualify for the world Cup. Iraq vs Bolivia to become the last team to qualify. Stay tuned.

 Czechia, Sweden, Turkiye and Bosnia and Herzegovina have all qualified for this year's world Cup. Czechia in group a, Bosnia and Herzegovina in group b, Turkiye in group d and Sweden in group f. Two inter conference games, one on now and the other at 9 pm Prince Albert time will end qualifying. Stay tuned.

 Uconn just beat Duke 73-72 to reach the final four. They will play Illinois, who beat Iowa yesterday 71-59. Earlier today, Michigan beat Tennessee 74-69. They will play Arizona, who beat Purdue 79-64. Uconn v Illinois and Arizona v Michigan will play Saturday to play for the championship.

 Spring began at 8:46 am Prince Albert time. It's definitely felt like it the past few days. Supposed to cool off starting this weekend. And some snow.

 This one went to overtime. #11 VCU beat #6 North Carolina 82-78. Will there be another tonight? Stay tuned.

 Didn't take long to get it. #12 High Point (where?) beat #5 Wisconsin 83-82. There may be more. Who knows when.

  Its the time of the year where everyone is Irish for the day. People wearing green, drinking green beer, or green juice, the Chicago River is green. Enjoy the day.

 Three tidbits. 1. Brazil won its first ever winter Paralympic medal in cross country skiing men's sprint. It was a silver by Cristian Ribiera. 2. Latvia also won its first ever winter Paralympic medal, it was a bronze in mixed doubles curling. Polina Rozkova and Agris Lasmans. 3. Canada was the first team to go undefeated in the wheelchair curling 4 team event. Mark Ideson, Jon Thurston, Ina Forrest, Collinda Joseph and alternate Gil Dash won gold here. There are your 3 Paralympic tidbits.

 The speeches have been made. Flame is out. Performances were made. The 2026 are officially finished. Another Olympic and Paralympic adventure is done. Canada finishes with 3g, 4s, 8b for 15 total. Next stops: Los Angeles for the 2028 summer games and French Alps for the 2030 winter Games.

 The United States beat Canada 6-2 for para hockey gold. Clearly the better team today. Canada finishes the Paralympics with 3g 4s 8b for 15 total. Coming up - the closing ceremony.

 Kalle Ericsson and guide Sierra Smith have a bronze in slalom vision impaired. It's their 3rd medal. That is now 3g, 3s, 8b for 14 total. And one more to come in pata hockey.

 The flag bearers will be Natalie Wilkie and Mark Ideson. Ideson found out after receiving his gold. Wilkie won 4 medals. Closing ceremony is tomorrow.

 First the bronze. Michaela Gosselin has a bronze in the standing slalom. This medal is also the 200th Paralympic medal. Now the gold. The wheelchair curling team beat China 4-3 to claim gold and go undefeated at the same time. So now that is 3g, 3s, 7b for 13 total.

 Natalie Wilkie has her FOURTH medal of the games, this one a gold in the sprint pursuit. That is now 2g, 3s, 6b for 11 total.

 Both bronze. First Brittany Hudek in the women's 10k cross country skiing. Second is Mark Arendz in the men's 10k cross country skiing. That is now 1g, 3s, 6b for 10 total.

 Natalie Wilkie has her third medal of the games. It's a bronze in women's cross country sprint standing.  That is now 1g, 3s, 4b for 8 total. Yes!!!

 Kalle Ericsson and guide Sierra Smith have another bronze (also their second), this one in the visually impaired super G downhill. That is 1g, 3s, 3b for 7 total.

 .... Matt Dunstone of Manitoba. Him, Colton Lott, EJ Harnden, Ryan Harnden and alternate Jacob Horgn defeated Kevin Koe and his team 6-3 to win his first Brier. Dunstone will represent Canada at the men's worlds later in the month in Ogden City, Utah.  Congratulations.

 Three more medals. First the bronze. Tyler Turner wins it in the para snowboard cross. Next the gold. Natalie Wilkie wins it in the women's para biathlon individual. Now the silver. Mark Arendz wins it in the men's para biathlon individual. That is now 1g, 3s, 2b for 6 total.

 A silver and a bronze. The silver is from Natalie Wilkie in para biathlon and the bronze is from Kurt Oatway in para sit skiing. Yippee!! That is 2s, 1b for 3 total.

 .......a silver in men's downhill visually impaired. Kalle Ericsson and guide Sierra Smith have it. Great start. More to come.

 The flame has been lit, speeches made, formalities are done. 55 nations at the ceremony. A pretty good opening ceremony today. 9 days of competition to begin. Canada with 50 athletes here. Let's go.