Olympic leaders from the United States and Great Britain will outline a plan for a multi-sport competition between the two countries at a meeting in New York next month.

The transatlantic rivals, who finished in the top two places in the medal rankings at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, want to organize a biannual competition that takes place alternately in the two countries. Half a dozen sports would be presented there and the first edition would be held in 2019, in preparation for the Tokyo Games.

“ The question now is to know which sports would work best with such a formula and approach these federations. »said British Olympic Association chief executive Bill Sweeney.

The United States is a power in swimming and athletics, while the British excel in cycling and rowing.

“ Several sports federations have told us that they are interestedSweeney added. The concept is a home-and-away series, played every two years, as is done in golf. »

The Ryder Cup was a tournament between the two nations until 1979, when European golfers joined.

British Olympic sports have had their funding cut by UK Sport, despite finishing second in Rio, due to a decline in national lottery sales. This confrontation with the Americans could prevent possible further reductions in their financing, especially since the holders of the Olympic broadcasting rights in Europe and the United States, Eurosport and NBC, participate in these discussions.

The United States won 121 medals in Rio de Janeiro to 67 for the British, their best performance outside of the London Games.

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