Why the British and Irish Lions have never been more popular with players, rugby fans and sponsors July 24, 2021 “It shouldn’t work,” former England captain Lewis Moody says of the British and Irish Lions. The concept of a band of disparate players from the four Home Nations thrown together, shipped to the other side of the world and tasked with beating rugby’s strongest nations does feel anachronistic, a relic from the game’s amateur days. [...]
The top five cybersecurity threats facing the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and how they could disrupt events, halt broadcasts and expose sensitive data July 23, 2021 The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, which officially begins today, isn’t going to look anything like the Olympic Games that have gone before it. Since no spectators are permitted at the live sports, this is likely to be one of the most streamed events of the year, with millions of people watching from home. It isn’t [...]
10 Team GB medal hopes for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, including Dina Asher-Smith, Adam Peaty, Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Sky Brown July 23, 2021 Team GB head into the Tokyo 2020 Olympics somewhat in limbo. Having won a record 67 medals, including 27 golds, at Rio 2016, it seems they might be more difficult to come by over the next few weeks. Stars of past Games Mo Farah, Nicola Adams and Alistair Brownlee, who won four golds between them [...]
Opening match of The Hundred sets UK TV record for women’s cricket July 22, 2021 The opening match of The Hundred, English cricket’s new competition, attracted a record UK television audience for a women’s match. A peak audience of 1.95m watched as the Oval Invincibles beat the Manchester Originals in a closely-fought curtain-raiser to the tournament. The figures marked an encouraging start for a competition that has divided opinion since [...]
Football review chair: Game could face “existential crisis” without reform and regulation July 22, 2021 Tracey Crouch, the former sports Minister tasked with a review of football governance in the UK, has written to the Culture Secretary to say “football authorities have lost the trust and confidence of fans.” In her interim findings, Crouch calls for an independent regulator of football clubs to monitor in particular financial regulation, corporate governance [...]
Tokyo 2020: What Covid-19, no fans and public opposition mean for sponsors and the International Olympic Committee July 22, 2021 The 60,000 seats of Japan’s national stadium, built for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, are coloured in muted shades of green, brown, beige and grey. Architect Kengo Kuma chose those tones to fit his vision of the stadium, which he wanted to look as natural and organic as possible. Timber is the most visible material and [...]
Tokyo 2020 opening ceremony director Kentaro Kobayashi sacked for Holocaust joke July 22, 2021 The director of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics opening ceremony has been sacked on the eve of the Games for making jokes about the Holocaust. Kentaro Kobayashi says “let’s play massacre the Jews” in a 1998 comedy sketch, footage of which has recently appeared online. It is the latest in a series of embarrassing departures of [...]
Rugby League World Cup in doubt after Australia and New Zealand pull out and brand England ‘simply too unsafe’ due to Covid-19 July 22, 2021 The Rugby League World Cup, due to take place in England later this year, has been plunged into serious doubt after Australia and New Zealand pulled out. The two southern hemisphere giants said they would not send their men’s, women’s and wheelchair teams due to the Covid-19 situation in the UK. World Cup organisers noted [...]
Brisbane confirmed as host city for 2032 Olympics and Paralympics after uncontested vote July 21, 2021 Brisbane has been confirmed as the host of the 2032 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. The decision – effectively already known as there was no other bidder – was rubber-stamped at an International Olympic Commitee (IOC) meeting in Tokyo today. The delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics officially opens on Friday. Paris will host the Summer Games in [...]
Tokyo 2020 Olympics could still be cancelled, says Games chief July 20, 2021 Tokyo 2020 Olympics chiefs say they have have not ruled out cancelling the Games at the last minute. With just three days until the opening ceremony, the head of the Tokyo Organising Committee, Toshiro Muto, said a late U-turn remained an option. Covid-19 cases have already hit the athletes’ village and continue to rise in [...]