John Leicester

Read the latest stories and analysis from John Leicester.

Spanish soccer fans gesture as they watch on a giant display the World Cup soccer match between Spain and Chile, in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, June 18, 2014. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Column: Adios Spain, but good years not forgotten

John Leicester · June 19, 2014 5:59 pm

Mexico's goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa makes a save during the group A World Cup soccer match between Brazil and Mexico at the Arena Castelao in Fortaleza, Brazil, Tuesday, June 17, 2014. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Brazil, Belgium tough day; Russia-Korea draw

John Leicester · June 18, 2014 12:34 am

Brazil's Neymar celebrates scoring his side's 2nd goal during the group A World Cup soccer match between Brazil and Croatia, the opening game of the tournament, in the Itaquerao Stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, June 12, 2014. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

It’s finally here! Brazil World Cup begins

John Leicester · June 13, 2014 12:05 am

A worker carries cardboard inside Arena Corinthians stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, June 11, 2014. The World Cup soccer tournament starts Thursday. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

All right on the night? World Cup stadium a worry

John Leicester · June 11, 2014 11:56 pm

The paradox of Olympians’ “garbage” teeth

John Leicester · May 16, 2014 1:43 pm

Fireworks explode over Olympic Park during the closing ceremony for the 2014 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Costly, political, successful: Sochi Olympics end

John Leicester · February 23, 2014 7:20 pm

Photographers take pictures during the men's and women's snowboard parallel slalom quarterfinals at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park, at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014, in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Analysis: Sochi Games, winding down: an assessment

John Leicester · February 22, 2014 5:39 pm

FILE - In this Friday, Feb. 7, 2014 file photo, members of the United States Olympic team _ many of them holding up mobile phones to record the moment _ enter Fisht Stadium in Sochi, Russia, for the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics. Picking up new followers on Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms is the smart play for Olympians at the Sochi Games. Athletes who share their experiences from their privileged backstage access at the games could come home from Russia with far stronger hands to woo and squeeze more money from sponsors. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)

Some sponsors compose Olympians’ tweets

John Leicester · February 16, 2014 3:21 pm

FILE - In this Friday, Feb. 7, 2014 file photo, members of the United States Olympic team _ many of them holding up mobile phones to record the moment _ enter Fisht Stadium in Sochi, Russia, for the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics. Picking up new followers on Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms is the smart play for Olympians at the Sochi Games. Athletes who share their experiences from their privileged backstage access at the games could come home from Russia with far stronger hands to woo and squeeze more money from sponsors. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)

Tweet this: Olympians turn medals into buzz, money

John Leicester · February 14, 2014 12:57 pm

Under orange lighting, gold medallist Sven Kramer of the Netherlands walks through a crowd of cheering fans after winning the gold in the men's 5,000-meter speedskating race at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014. Kramer set a new Olympic record in the race. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Fans shun Sochi over bombs, bureaucracy, big bucks

John Leicester · February 9, 2014 3:13 pm

A USA women's ice hockey player jumps over the boards and into bench during third period of the game against Finland at the 2014 Winter Olympics womens ice hockey match at Shayba Arena, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/J. David Ake)

No talk of gay rights, please, we’re Olympians

John Leicester · February 8, 2014 3:46 pm

Russian President Vladimir Putin pets a snow leopard cub at the snow leopard sanctuary in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014. Putin checked in Tuesday at a preserve for endangered snow leopards and visited a group of cubs born last summer in the mountains above the growing torrent of activity in Sochi for the Winter Games. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Nikolsky, Presidential Press Service)

Column: Sochi much more than mere fun and games

John Leicester · February 5, 2014 3:53 pm