May Madness is ready to take over the best British basketball teams with all eyes on the prize of reaching the showpiece finale of the Play-Offs.

And this year sees an exciting change as the BBL and WBBL series sees 20 games across two weeks and three venues with Week 1 of the series featuring doubleheader action every day between Saturday 1 May and Friday 7 May. All games will also be broadcast by Sky Sports which sees for the first time all WBBL playoff games broadcast.

The three central venues hosting the Play-Offs are Vertu Motors Arena in Newcastle, University of Worcester Arena, and the Morningside Arena in Leicester. The series tips off on Saturday 1 May at the Vertu Motors Arena with the WBBL quarter-finals and Round 1 of the BBL quarter-finals before moving to University of Worcester Arena for Round 2 of the BBL quarter-finals and the WBBL semi-finals. The Morningside Arena will host the BBL semi-finals and the WBBL and BBL finals on Sunday 16 May.

The change in format was in response to the ongoing requirements of the Covid 19 protocols. With fans unable to return to indoor sporting events and the regular season stretched due to rearranged fixtures, condensing not only the timetable but also the venues allowed the best chance of finishing the season with a bang. Andy Webb, COO of BBL, said

"The 2020/21 season has been challenging but ultimately rewarding as all teams have stepped up to meet these challenges and play one of the most exciting and unpredictable seasons we've seen. Basketball fans will be treated to a fantastic end to the season and we're delighted to bring all the games to them with Sky Sports."

Sky Sports will be showing all 20 games for free on their YouTube channel for fans in the UK with the BBL semi-finals and the BBL and WBBL Finals also aired live on Sky Sports. Fans in the UK and overseas will also be able to watch free on BBL Player.

Warwickshire County Cricket Club and Vestel Visual Solutions, a leading manufacturer of professional display solutions for schools and colleges, have launched the new Six4Schools community programme, which is designed to make Birmingham Bears Vitality Blast games even more accessible for families and to give back to local schools.

Now open for registrations from across Birmingham and Warwickshire, every school that registers for theSix4Schools programme will receive a unique discount code that allows the parents of pupils to secure adult tickets for a Vitality Blast T20 fixture at Edgbaston Stadium for just £12; a saving of £13 on the match day price. Alongside this, parents can secure free tickets for all children aged under 16.

What’s more, each school will receive £6 cashback on every ticket sold through its unique code and the school that sells the most tickets will receive an interactive screen from Vestel, designed to help deliver more engaging and collaborative lessons.

Ravi Masih, Head of Community Engagement at Warwickshire CCC, said: “We recognised how tough the pandemic has been for families and schools and in response Six4Schools is a brand-new initiative that we’ve launched with Vestel and the Warwickshire Cricket Board, which is working closely with more than 250 primary and secondary schools across the region. However, any school can register online, obtain a unique code for parents and gain the benefits of our cashback programme; selling 200 tickets would bring a £1,200 reward.

“There’s just over nine weeks until the first game at Edgbaston and, in the build-up, we’re planning a programme of special coaching sessions at schools and competitions across the county with our Bears squad. We can’t wait to get underway.”

Launched at Kingsland Primary School in Kingstanding, Bears players George Furrer and Marie Kelly joined Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street to deliver a special T20 coaching session for the pupils and gave an insight of what it takes to make it as a Bear.

“We‘re proud to partner with Warwickshire CCC to launch the Six4Schools initiative, supporting efforts to give back to local schools while at the same time making cricket more accessible,” said David Flintoft, Sales and Marketing Director, Vestel.

“We know through our work with schools across the country just how difficult the past year has been, for staff and pupils alike. The relationship between sport and education has always been closely aligned, so it’s great to be involved in supporting the return of both to UK life, while also putting money back into the pockets of schools, which can then be reinvested into the learning experience.”

Launched at Kingsland Primary School in Kingstanding, Bears players George Furrer and Marie Kelly joined Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street to deliver a special T20 coaching session for the pupils and gave an insight of what it takes to make it as a Bear.

Birmingham-based mechanical and electrical services specialist J S Wright has renewed its sponsorship of the West Midlands’ premier junior netball club for the third consecutive season.

The company, which has its HQ in Aston and an office in London, will remain the principal sponsor of Parkside in Sutton Coldfield whose girls currently play at Under 12 to Under 15 levels in the Birmingham Intermediate Netball League (BINL) and at Under 14 and Under 16 levels in the National League. 

The continued backing has accompanied the sport’s huge rise in popularity among girls inspired by the success of the Vitality Roses England women’s netball team as it prepares to participate in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games as defending champions.

J S Wright’s renewed sponsorship will enable Parkside to continue to invest in quality training equipment and subsidise the entry fees for tournaments as its members return to indoor netball following the easing of Covid lockdown curbs.

The club, which trains at North Birmingham Academy and plays its BINL matches at the University of Birmingham, plans to resume matches on a friendly basis from May and to take part in tournaments again from June 21.

Run entirely by volunteers, Parkside has an enviable record of producing county and England players, with former England captain Ama Agbeze MBE and current internationals Beth Cobden and Layla Gusgoth among those that started as juniors at the club.

Having won numerous county and national titles since it was founded in 1995, Parkside juniors currently make up more than half the Birmingham Academy (county) squad, while the club’s Under 12s won the inaugural Sutton Netball League at the start of last year winning all 16 of their matches.

David Griffiths, Parkside Netball Club Chairman, commented: “Given that most of last season was cancelled, the club is extremely grateful that J S Wright has continued to support us in these difficult times.”

He added: “J S Wright’s support has proved invaluable in giving the increasing numbers of girls across Birmingham that are keen to take up netball the opportunity to train and play in a safe environment, gain confidence and achieve their potential, and make lasting friendships.”

Andrew Smith, J S Wright National Design and Estimating Director, whose daughter Lily plays for the club, said: “As a company that is committed to providing a safe and inclusive career path for our young people, we are delighted to continue to support a club that both nurtures the sporting ambitions of young girls in the community and aids their fitness, confidence and mental health.”

Established in Birmingham in 1890, J S Wright designs, manufactures and installs mechanical and electrical services for the hotel, residential, social housing, student accommodation, leisure and commercial sectors. Its residential maintenance company, Wright Maintenance, provides planned preventative maintenance cover for commercial landlords, property agents and homeowners.

J S Wright was voted one of the UK's Top Ten Specialist Contractors to Work For in the 2016 Construction Enquirer Awards, was a finalist in three categories in the 2018 H&V News Awards and was named Construction Services Employer of the Year in the 2020 BAME Apprenticeship Awards.

UEFA, the Premier League and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson have condemned 12 major European clubs, including the 'big six' from England, signing up to a breakaway ESL (European Super League).

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham are part of the group. La Liga's Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid and Serie A's AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus are involved.

UEFA said it will use all measures possible to stop the cynical project. Senior figures at European football's governing body are furious about the proposals. In a seismic move for European football, the Premier League clubs will join AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus and Real Madrid.

The ESL said the founding clubs had agreed to establish a "new midweek competition" and that the inaugural season is intended to commence as soon as practicable. It also anticipated that a further three clubs will join the breakaway.

Manchester United co-chairman Joel Glazer will be a vice-chairman of the hew Super League. He said: "By bringing together the world's greatest clubs and players to play each other throughout the season, the Super League will open a new chapter for European football, ensuring world-class competition and facilities, and increased financial support for the wider football pyramid."

Prime Minister Johnson said the plans would be very damaging for football and that the UK government supports football authorities in taking action. He added: "The clubs involved must answer to their fans and the wider footballing community before taking any further steps."

UEFA had hoped to head off plans with a new-look 36-team Champions League set to be confirmed today. The European governing body released a joint statement together with the English Football Association, Premier League, Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), La Liga, and the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) as well as Serie A.

They said they will "remain united" in trying to stop the breakaway, using both judicial and sporting measures if required. They also reiterated Fifa's stance that players taking part in the Super League would be banned from all other competitions at domestic, European or world level and could be prevented from representing their national teams.

In a separate statement, the Premier League said it condemned the proposal as it "attacks the principles of open competition and sporting merit which are at the heart" of domestic and European football. Details on how the breakaway league would work are scarce, but there were talks in October over a new £4.6bn competition that would involve replacing the Champions League.

It would likely be a 'members only' concept, where many of Europe's richest clubs would have guaranteed entry, without the threat of relegation or the possibility of failing to qualify.

The threat of forming a European Super League could also be a handy tool for big clubs to use in their negotiations with UEFA for a better deal.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said in a statement the government is "concerned this plan could create a closed shop at the very top of our national game". He added: "We have a football pyramid where funds from the globally successful Premier League flow down the leagues and into local communities.

"I would be bitterly disappointed to see any action that destroys that." Labour leader Keir Starmer said the clubs involved should rethink immediately or face the consequences of their actions. "This proposal risks shutting the door on fans for good, reducing them to mere spectators and consumers," he said.

Juventus owner Andrea Agnelli, Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and AC Milan chief executive Ivan Gazidis would all have had a significant input into the Champions League discussions. However, those clubs are among those to have broken ranks, to the fury of Uefa, whose president Aleksander Ceferin wanted to stave off a Super League threat.

The Premier League said a European Super League would destroy the dream of fans that their team may climb to the top and play against the best. It added such a league would undermine the appeal of the whole game and that they would work with the FA, the English Football League, Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), League Managers Association (LMA) and fans to "defend the integrity and future prospects of English football.

The FA said it will not provide permission to any competition that would be damaging to English football and will take any legal and/or regulatory action necessary. Bundesliga sides are opposed to the plans because the German model means commercial investors cannot have more than a 49% stake in clubs, so fans hold a majority of their own voting rights.

It is understood French Ligue 1 side Paris St-Germain are not part of the group. UEFA said it thanked those clubs in other countries, especially the French and German clubs, who have refused to sign up" to the breakaway league.

"We call on all lovers of football, supporters and politicians, to join us in fighting against such a project if it were to be announced," they added. "This persistent self-interest of a few has been going on for too long. Enough is enough."

Quite when the European Super League would start is unclear. However, world governing body Fifa has already said it would not recognise such a competition and any players involved in it would be denied the chance to play at a World Cup.

Serie A has called an emergency board meeting to discuss the matter. The Football Supporters' Association said it is "totally opposed" to the plans, which it said were "motivated by nothing but cynical greed".

They added: "This competition is being created behind our backs by billionaire club owners who have zero regard for the game's traditions and continue to treat football as their personal fiefdom." The PFA said it had substantial concerns about the proposal, adding it would detract from the strength and joy of domestic football and diminish the game for the vast majority of fans across the continent.

France's President Emmanuel Macron said he welcomes the position of French clubs to refuse to participate in a European Super League that threatens the principle of solidarity and sporting merit.

A statement from the French presidency added: "The French state will support all the steps taken by the LFP (France's professional leagues governing body), FFF (France's football association), UEFA and FIFA to protect the integrity of federal competitions, whether national or European." It has been agreed the new-look Champions League will involve an initial phase where every club plays 10 matches each rather than the current group phase.

In addition there would be play-offs, followed by a knockout phase. The most controversial aspect of the proposals surround the allocation of the four additional places, with two being reserved for the clubs ranked highest in UEFA's co-efficient table who fail to qualify for the Champions League through their domestic competition, but do secure some kind of European football.

At the moment, Liverpool and Chelsea would be the clubs who benefited from that system if it was in place this season. Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville said he was disgusted by the plans.

"I'm a Manchester United fan and have been for 40 years," Neville, who also co-owns League Two club Salford City, said. "It's an absolute disgrace.

"Honestly, we have to wrestle back the power in this country from the clubs at the top of this league and that includes my club." The former England defender said the six English clubs involved should be docked points and fined.

"It's pure greed," Neville said. "The club's owners imposters. They're nothing to do with football in this country. There's 100-odd years of history in this country of fans who have lived and loved these clubs.

"We're in the middle of a pandemic and an economic crisis. Football clubs in the [semi-professional] National League are going bust, furloughing players and these lot are having Zoom calls about breaking away.

"Dock them all points tomorrow. Put them at the bottom of the league and take the money off them. Seriously. You have to stamp on this."

Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli says the European Super League (ESL) project cannot proceed as AC Milan, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid joined the six Premier League clubs in withdrawing.

Agnelli was one of the chief architects of the breakaway plans, which involved 12 clubs from England, Spain and Italy.

Barcelona and Real Madrid are yet to comment.

"To be frank and honest no, evidently that is not the case," said Agnelli, on whether the ESL could still happen. "I remain convinced of the beauty of that project, of the value that it would have developed to the pyramid, of the creation of the best competition in the world, but evidently no. I don't think that project is now still up and running."

Agnelli has been replaced as chairman of the European Club Association by Paris St-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the Qatari who resisted repeated attempts to persuade the French club to become founder members of the breakaway league. Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan announced their withdrawal on Wednesday morning, followed by statements from AC Milan and Juventus.

Agnelli was described as a "snake and a liar" by Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin after the announcement of the breakaway plans. The Juventus chairman resigned his position as chairman of the European Clubs' Association and refused to take calls from Ceferin.

In a statement, Juventus said there were "limited chances that the project be completed in the form originally conceived" but that the club "remains convinced of the soundness of the project's sport, commercial and legal premises".

The six Premier League clubs involved all withdrew within hours of each othe following a furious backlash against the plans. Manchester City were the first club to pull out after Chelsea had signalled their intent to do so by preparing documentation to withdraw. The other four English sides - Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham - then followed suit later.

In announcing their withdrawal on Wednesday, Atletico Madrid said "harmony is essential" between the club and the fans, and added that the first-team squad and coach Diego Simeone had backed their decision because "sporting merits must prevail over any other criteria".

In their statement, Serie A side Inter Milan said they were "committed to giving fans the best football experience", adding: "Our engagement with all stakeholders to improve the football industry will never change.

"AC Milan said "the voices and the concerns of fans around the world have clearly been expressed" about the plans and the club "must be sensitive to the voice of those who love this wonderful sport".The 12-team Super League was announced to widespread condemnation.

"Despite the announced departure of the English clubs, forced to take such decisions due to the pressure put on them, we are convinced our proposal is fully aligned with European law and regulations," the ESL said earlier on Wednesday, adding it was "convinced that the current status quo of European football needs to change".

"Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is insisting on the idea of keeping the group together to push for change," says Spanish football expert Guillem Balague.

"Barcelona say they agreed to the ESL, but only if the season ticket holders' assembly approve it, which could be their way out." Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City chiefs apologised to their supporters.

Ceferin welcomed the reversal by the clubs, saying: "I said yesterday that it is admirable to admit a mistake and these clubs made a big mistake.

"But they are back in the fold now and I know they have a lot to offer not just to our competitions but to the whole of the European game. The important thing now is that we move on, rebuild the unity that the game enjoyed before this and move forward together."

Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, PM Boris Johnson said the withdrawals were "the right result for football fans, for clubs and for communities across the country". He also promised a "root-and-branch investigation" into football governance and what the government could do to "promote the role of fans in that governance".

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer added the proposals "would have destroyed football" and that "we now need to get on with the other changes that are necessary". The League Managers' Association (LMA) welcomed the decision of the clubs to withdraw, saying: "There is no place in our game for clandestine collusion, driven by opportunism, with such a blatant disregard for the history and integrity of our game."

The LMA also called for a club licensing system that sets out a "clear and unified governance structure, with consistent game-wide checks and balances".

"The future of football should be one that upholds the values of integrity and transparency.

“Owners, and those responsible for the direction of the game, must be more connected to, and significantly more accountable to the game itself," it added.

The Football Supporters' Association said "the cabal of billionaire owners overplayed their hand" and all efforts needed to be poured into the review of football governance in order to "rebalance the power structure of the domestic game".

In a statement, the Professional Footballers' Association praised players "who stood up for the game they love" and former players who "used their platforms effectively and often devastatingly" to "passionately articulate why the preservation of the domestic game is so important".

The English Football League said it hoped events over the past few days would lead to "much needed change to the distribution of wealth" in domestic leagues to ensure all clubs can have a "sustainable future".

Seven-time Formula One racing champion Lewis Hamilton has urged F1 chiefs to add an African race to its calendar for the first time since 1993.

With the current F1 calendar featuring more than 20 races per season, which means travelling to countries such as Australia, China, Russia, Brazil and Abu Dhabi, this season’s current leading driver has called for a return to the Kyalami circuit in Johannesburg, in South Africa – which has been the one continent that has been missing from the F1 calendar for the past 27 years. The circuit there would reportedly need some upgrades while there have also been recent talks about a race in another African circuit in Marrakech, in Morocco.

In Q&A video from Petronas, Mercedes driver, Hamilton, said: "I would love for a Grand Prix to be in South Africa. They are great sporting fans and are just petrol-heads who love cars.

"I would love to go there, it would be absolutely insane. There is a huge following there and it is one of the most important Grand Prix we need to get on the calendar."

He went on to say: "It's such an important place to go back to. At the moment, Formula One goes to countries and doesn't really leave much behind if anything.

"Formula One has to shift into being a sport that does go to places and leaves behind something that can really help the communities. Bringing the attention back to Africa and really highlighting the beautiful place that it is.

"I think that's the most important place that we have to go to. It needs to be held where it's not all about money, it's about the people.

"In business, that's not always the case so that's something I'm really pushing for."

F1 global director of race promotion Chloe Targett-Adams, who deals with event organisers, says the continent is key to the sport’s development.

The South African GP featured 23 times on the F1 calendar following its debut in 1962 but was last staged in 1993. There have been a number of plans to return Formula One to the country but there are currently no race circuits in South Africa which would be approved by the FIA to host an F1 event.

"It's such an important place to go back. At the moment, Formula One goes to countries and doesn't really leave much behind if anything. Formula One has to shift into being a sport that does go to places and leaves behind something that can really help the communities.

"Bringing the attention back to Africa and really highlighting the beautiful place that it is. I think that's the most important place that we have to go to. It needs to be held where it's not all about money, it's about the people. In business, that's not always the case so that's something I'm really pushing for."

Australia, Singapore and Japan were among the countries said to not be rescheduled for the 2020 campaign for a much smaller season with an eight race in European, which also includes back-to-back races at Silverstone at the start of August.

The 2020 Formula One season finally gets underway next week when the drivers descend on Austria for the first of two races to be held in the European country.