The entire sports division at the Washington Post might be shut down. Just two weeks ahead of the opening ceremony, management abruptly announced the cancellation of their coverage plans for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
This decision came alongside a report from Dylan Byers, a journalist with Pac News, who mentioned on Twitter that substantial layoffs at the newspaper were on the horizon.
Byers hinted that the sports desk might be permanently closed, along with significant cuts to the foreign desk.
No comment was available from the Washington Post’s spokesperson.
Kimi Yoshino, the Editor-in-Chief, informed over a dozen journalists that the paper would not dispatch any reporters to cover the Games in Milan-Cortina, despite having invested time and resources in the plans.
“In considering our priorities for 2026, we have opted not to send a team to the Winter Olympics,” Yoshino mentioned in an internal email, as noted by The New York Times.
She added, “I realize this decision will be disappointing for many—please reach out if you’d like to discuss it.”
This sudden shift caught many staff members off-guard; several reporters had already paid for travel, accommodations, and workplaces ahead of the trip, according to sources familiar with the situation.
Costs for housing had reportedly reached at least $80,000, and other expenses linked to Olympic coverage had mostly already been incurred.
The Washington Post usually sends between 10 to 20 reporters for the Olympics, and has 14 qualifications reserved for the event.
Just two years ago, the paper sent an impressive 26 journalists to the Summer Olympics in Paris, marking its largest contingent ever.
However, now, they have rescinded the report just days before the event was set to begin.
The possible closure of the sports department would mark a significant shift for the publication, which has been home to many influential figures in American sports journalism over the years.
Prominent authors affiliated with the paper include Shirley Povich, Thomas Boswell, Tony Kornheiser, Michael Wilbon, Christine Brennan, John Feinstein, and Sally Jenkins, among others.
In recent times, layoffs and job reductions have been implemented by leadership due to audience shifts and the swift advancement of technology in the industry.
According to the Washington Post Guild, at least 60 journalists took buyouts in 2025, contributing to a broader trend of departures among notable columnists and seasoned reporters across various departments.
The turmoil appears to stem from ongoing financial struggles.
Will Lewis, who became publisher and CEO in late 2023, took charge of a publication already experiencing losses—a fact he confirmed in 2024, revealing a loss of $77 million in the preceding year.
The situation has gotten worse in 2024, with the Washington Post estimated to be losing $100 million annually.
