The Arab Women Sports Tournament (AWST), organised by Sharjah Women’s Sports  (SWS), has broken a personal record. The tournament’s Supreme Organising Committee (SOC) has announced the largest participation in its eight-year history with a record number of 74 clubs from 16 Arab countries, which will be competing in the fifth edition.

Set to run from Feb.2–12 in Sharjah, AWST 2020 will be held under the patronage of Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, Chairperson of SWS.

The announcement was made at a press conference on Wednesday at the iconic Sharjah World Book Capital 2019 Monument, in the presence of Sheikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Head of the SOC of AWST; Issa Hilal Al Hizami, Secretary-General of the Sharjah Sports Council; Nada Askar Al Naqbi, Deputy Head of the SOC of AWST, Head of the Executive Committee and Director General of SWS; Abdulaziz Taryam, CEO, Advisor and General Manager of Etisalat – Northern Emirates; and Rashid Al Obaid, Director of Sharjah Sports Channel.

During the event, SOC revealed that the UAE topped the list with 14 participating clubs, followed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) with 12 clubs, which is the highest number of clubs from KSA that has signed up to compete in any edition of AWST.

The Committee also confirmed that nine clubs will be representing Bahrain, while Jordan, Kuwait, and Algeria would participate in the sporting event with six clubs each.

The rest of the participating countries include Egypt with 4 clubs; Libya, Sudan, Qatar, Syria, Tunisia, and Palestine with two clubs each; and Oman, Iraq, and Morocco with one each.

The committee announced that UAE and Bahrain will compete in all nine sports: shooting, basketball, volleyball, table tennis, athletics, show jumping, fencing, archery and karate. Saudi Arabia will compete in all sports except shooting.

Kuwait is gearing up to take part in the shooting, basketball, volleyball, table tennis, archery and karate competitions, while Egyptian clubs will compete in shooting, basketball, volleyball, table tennis, archery and karate.

Jordanian sportswomen will be aiming for top spots in basketball, volleyball, table tennis, athletics, show jumping, and karate. Algerian athletes will concentrate on volleyball, table tennis, archery, karate, shooting and basketball, while Libya will participate in table tennis, athletics, and karate.

Sudanese athletes will compete in athletics, show jumping, and archery, while Syrian sportswomen will take part in volleyball and karate. The Tunisian teams will compete in volleyball and basketball, while Palestinian sportswomen will test their might in athletics and karate. Shooting will be the only sport Omani athletes will participate in, while Qatari sportswomen will compete in fencing and shooting. Iraq and Morocco too will participate in only one sport each, archery and table tennis, respectively.

In a keynote speech, Sheikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi stressed that Sharjah’s commitment to organising this biennial tournament reiterates its firm belief that sports is more than a past time or a hobby; it is a social and human right. He noted that the state of sports in a country was an indicator of its advancement.

He said: “We consider AWST as our message to the rest of the Arab societies, a bridge for collaboration, and a platform for Arab sportswomen. Since the beginning, Sharjah has worked tirelessly to make sports accessible to everyone. The emirate founded many institutions, including the Sharjah Sports Council, to achieve that goal. We can proudly say that we are on the crest of achieving this monumental development goal.”

Abdulaziz said: “It is a great honour for Etisalat to sponsor some of the prestigious sporting events, including AWST, which brings together world-class athletes from clubs in the UAE and the Arab world. This step aligns with our philosophy of leading the efforts to support community initiatives in the UAE, in line with the national ideal of empowering women across all fields, especially in sports.”

“The UAE is committed to developing effective plans and strategies to support women in all walks of life. We also believe in the role of sports in maintaining and improving the physical and mental health of society members. We wish the next edition of AWST great success, where players will be able to achieve their sporting dreams,” he added.

Fresh from breaking the pole vault world record in Glasgow, 20-year-old superstar Mondo Duplantis will return to the UK this summer to compete at the Müller Anniversary Games in London on Sunday 5^th July 2020 of the Müller Anniversary Games weekend.

One of the biggest young stars in world athletics, Duplantis’ rise to prominence has come on the back of a number of major medal wins and record-breaking feats over the course of the last few years.

Most recently, Duplantis historically revised the pole vault world record twice in the space of one week, first with a clearance at 6.17m in Torun, Poland on February 8 before then going 1cm better at the Müller Indoor Grand Prix Glasgow with 6.18m on February 15.

During his breakthrough as a senior athlete, Duplantis backed up becoming the youngest world finalist for some 34 years at London 2017 – his last outing in the British capital - with European gold in 2018, the winning height a hugely notable one given the mark of 6.05m saw him set a huge personal best as well as revise his own under-20 world record.

World silver followed last October in Doha following a gripping shoot-out for a first global senior gold. Now with the world record his own, Duplantis is targeting an eye-catching performance in London this July as part of his preparation for a debut Olympic Games come Tokyo 2020.

The news follows previous announcements confirming the attendance of Britain’s reigning world champions Katarina Johnson-Thompson (coach: Bertrand Valcin; club: Liverpool Harriers) and Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie; Blackheath & Bromley) at this year’s event.

World record holder and multi-global medallist, Mondo Duplantis spoke of his excitement ahead of returning to London: “I’m hugely excited to be heading back to the UK to compete at the Müller Anniversary Games this summer. The memories I have of vaulting in the UK – from competing at my first world championships in front of tens of thousands of people to breaking the world record in Glasgow a few weeks ago – are unforgettable, so to have another opportunity to return to the UK is huge for me.”

“Both of my previous performances in London and Glasgow owed so much to the support of the British crowd, and I’ll definitely be looking to feed off that support and produce an amazing performance in London come July.”

Major Events Director for British Athletics, Cherry Alexander OBE said: “We’re incredibly excited to have Mondo heading back to the UK. At just 20, his world-record breaking performance in Glasgow has cemented him as one of the most exciting athletes to watch in the world both at current and for years to come, so the British fans are in for a real treat when he heads to London this summer.

“Having Mondo confirmed on the bill for the Müller Anniversary Games alongside two of our homegrown heroines in Kat and Dina is magnificent news for the event, and is ultimately part of our ambition and commitment to building the best fields in the world, for the best fans in the world.”

The Müller Anniversary Games is the 10^th stop on the 2020 WANDA Diamond League calendar, which also features Gateshead’s Müller Grand Prix on 16 August.

Birmingham’s Edgbaston Stadium has reached an agreement with Cricket Ireland to host a men’s Twenty20 International (T20I) match between Ireland and Bangladesh on Friday 29 May 2020.

Edgbaston, which is already hosting a One-Day International (ODI) between world champions England and Ireland on Saturday 12 September as part of a seven-day England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) major match programme in 2020, is one of four English venues to be named by Cricket Ireland as a host for the four-match IT20 series.

Neil Snowball, Chief Executive of Edgbaston Stadium and Warwickshire County Cricket Club, said: “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to extend our programme of major match cricket and to bring another international cricket fixture to Birmingham and to the wider West Midlands region.

“Ireland fans bring great colour and noise wherever they play in the world, so we’re very excited to host them for the first time, whilst Bangladesh fans won so many plaudits and created a great atmosphere in their visits to Edgbaston during the ICC men’s Cricket World Cup and ICC Champions Trophy.

“Our masterplan for the redevelopment of Edgbaston has been created to ensure that Edgbaston remains one of the leading cricket venues in the world and to enable us to host a broader portfolio of events and fixtures.

“We’re looking forward to working with the Cricket Ireland team and we hope that this can be the start of a partnership, which could lead to further opportunities in the future.”

Ireland’s schedule for the T20I series with Bangladesh begins at the Kia Oval in London on Friday 22 May, with following fixtures at the Essex County Ground in Chelmsford on Sunday 24 and the Bristol County Ground on Wednesday 27 before the fourth and final fixture is played at Edgbaston on Friday 29 May.

Cricket Ireland Chief Executive, Warren Deutrom, said: “Edgbaston is quite simply one of the most iconic and heralded grounds in England, and this will be the first time in 15 years Ireland has played at the ground. We have in fact, back in our Associate days, played Warwickshire three times at the ground, but apart from these encounters, Ireland’s greatest association with Edgbaston is through our players who have played for the County.

“Icons of our game like William Porterfield and Boyd Rankin, as well as one of our brightest emerging talents, Mark Adair, have played in recent times here. We hope to see the local fans, regardless of allegiance, come out and enjoy what will undoubtedly be a competitive spectacle.”

• United by Birmingham 2022 is bringing together community projects in support of the Games
• 12 West Midlands organisations have been awarded the United by Birmingham 2022 status
• Gold medal winning, Ama Agbeze, named as the official United by Birmingham 2022 ambassador

4^th March 2020:  TODAY, the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games is launching its new community programme, United by Birmingham 2022. 

The United by Birmingham 2022 programme is bringing together ambitious and innovative West Midlands based community projects that share a common purpose with the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

United by Birmingham 2022 is recognising grass-roots organisations that are having a positive impact on the communities they serve across a diverse range of subjects. This includes, but is not limited to, projects that aim to improve skills, offer training, provide volunteering resources, benefit the environment, encourage participation in sport, or deliver youth engagement activities.

To mark today’s launch, over 40 representatives from 12 local charities and social enterprises are coming together in Oozells Square, Brindley Place in Birmingham city centre to take part in a 5km United by Birmingham 2022 run.   The run is being led by Team England gold-medal-winning athlete and United by Birmingham 2022 official ambassador, Ama Agbeze. It is facilitated by GoodGym, a UK-wide community of runners that combines getting fit with doing good deeds.  Together, representatives from the founding 12 United by Birmingham 2022 projects will run along Birmingham’s canals, carrying out a litter pick to ensure that the canal network is clean.  

The United by Birmingham 2022 programme is now open for not-for-profit organisations to apply to. Projects will be awarded the United by Birmingham 2022 status if they can demonstrate how they share a common purpose with Birmingham 2022. The programme will enable projects that align with the ambitions of Birmingham 2022 to be recognised for the work they are doing and use the new community programme logo in their communications and at events to amplify their activity.

The United by Birmingham 2022 programme recognises non-commercial community projects that are aligned with the vision and mission of the Games. These are:

• To bring people together
• Improve health and wellbeing
• Help the region to grow and succeed
• Be a catalyst for change
• Put the region on the map.

The run will conclude at disability charity Sense’s TouchBase Pears centre in Selly Oak where the attendees will take part in a chair yoga session. Those who don’t run will join World Against Single Use Plastic (WASUP) on a litter pick.

The 12 founding projects of United by Birmingham 2022 programme are:

• Goodgym – Group Sessions - During group sessions, GoodGym members run to visit isolated, older people, to provide friendly contact and to help with practical tasks.
• The Prince’s Trust – Youth Summit 2021 – Using the United by Birmingham programme to support the 2021 Youth Summit, which hopes to increase engagement with young people across the region.
• Canal & River Trust – Community Activity and Wellbeing Programme - This programme provides free events and taster sessions in fishing, performing, running, walking, cycling and paddling and works with partners to ensure regular physical activity takes place. 

• EmployabilityUK - Inspiring Young Birmingham programme, which will recruit new volunteers and provide consistent training and online support for young people. 

• Sense, - Connecting communities programme which will help the Sense TouchBase Pears Centre become a centre of excellence for disability arts.
• Jericho Foundation – awarded for their Equiano project which helps raise awareness of their cause and encourages people to support their work
• Sport Birmingham – supporting the Daily Mile Commonwealth Challenge, to amplify their influence and encourage more people to take up this challenge. 
• Acorns Children’s Hospice, - for the Gift of Time programme which helps emphasise the urgency and immediacy of the need for communities to rally together for the greater good. 
• Bringing Hope, has been awarded the United by Birmingham mark for two projects – ‘Food Taste and Talk Pots’ and their ‘Sports and Talk Spot’ events
• Witton Lodge Community Association - has been awarded the United by Birmingham mark for their Perry Common Games events, to improve health, wellbeing and community relations in the local area. 
• World Against Single Use Plastic – Schools Engagement Canal clean-up programme, a project that helps to make the local environment better
• Compass Support -  sporting development programme, to promote and celebrate their intergenerational activities that reduce isolation and encourage an increase in physical activity. 

Nigel Huddleston, Minister for Sport, Tourism and Heritage, said:

"It is fantastic that the United by Birmingham 2022 community programme is launching today. On my visit to Birmingham and Sandwell last week I saw the real enthusiasm and excitement that is building towards 2022. This initiative presents a great opportunity for community organisations from across the West Midlands and beyond to connect with the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and boost awareness of their projects.

“Improving the health and wellbeing of people of all ages is at the heart of our mission for the Games, so I am delighted that many of the founding projects for United by Birmingham 2022 will help to make this ambition become a reality.”

John Crabtree, Chair of Birmingham 2022, said: “United by Birmingham 2022 is a unique opportunity for us to team up with not-for-profit organisations who are doing amazing things in their communities, through projects that are aligned to our vision and mission for the Games. By working together, we hope to shine a light on each and every one of our United by Birmingham 2022 projects and empower them through the Games.

“Bringing our founding projects together to launch United by Birmingham 2022 shows the wonderful things that can be achieved by working together, and we hope to inspire more organisations to sign up to become a United by Birmingham 2022 project and benefit from the Games.”

Ama Agbeze, Team England athlete and Official United by Birmingham 2022 Ambassador said: “As a local person and proud ambassador for United by Birmingham 2022 I’ve loved being part of the launch and I am excited to spend time with the projects to learn more about what they do and unlock the ways that we can work together to achieve common goals as we prepare for Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.”

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will bring athletes, officials, spectators and local people together in a unique celebration of sport, culture and business, creating growth and positive change in Birmingham the wider West Midlands. 

For more information about United by Birmingham 2022 or to submit your project application please visit: www.birmingham2022.com/United

ENDS

For more information about the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, please contact:

Birmingham 2022

Sarah Dickson                         This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.          07494 671802

He is making massive waves as he leads his Bayern Munich side to what seems likely to be yet another Bundesliga title. But, as Sarpreet Singh is just starting out in making his name at one of world football’s grand doyens, the attention he is getting in his parent’s native India is already fast growing to the proportions that can probably matched by the likes of Christian Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in their own native Portugal and Argentina respectively.

Born in Auckland, in New Zealand, the young attacking midfield player came to world prominence after he impressed Bayern scouts while he was playing for New Zealand at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

In fact, so impressed were the Bayern scout that they signed the young Singh on a three-year deal – said to be in the region between NZD $750,000 and $1,000,000, before almost immediately making his debut in the Bayern Munich II reserve team, which in itself was no mean feat.

And that, in itself, wasn’t the first time he was spotted by one of Europe’s leading clubs.

At the age of ten, he represented Auckland at the Australian National Futsal Championships, winning the MVP (Most Valuable Player) award and attracting interest from Premier League stalwarts Everton.

He made his international debut, for New Zealand’s under-17 level for the 2015 OFC U-17 Championship before competing at the 2017 and 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cups.

In an interview with FCBayern.com, he talked of his surprise at being integrated into Bayern’s first team almost immediately after moving to the club from Wellington Phoenix. After signed for Bayern Munich II, Singh said his initial plan was to get used to the German game in 3. Liga and simply take it "one step at a time".

"The move from the Australian league to Germany was a huge one," Singh said. 

Although seen as a beacon foe South East Asian football, Bayern insist that their decision to sign Singh was simply "a sporting one".

He (Singh) recognises his achievements could blaze a trail for South Asian and Kiwi footballers, saying: "Hopefully, I can set a good platform for the players that follow me.

"That's kind of my goal - to be the best I can be, set a good example for the kids to come and encourage them to keep working hard so that one day it'll be them."

Sapreet Singh’s early taste of first team football has made him more determined than ever to kick on with his career and make a name - and successful career - in Germany.

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre has announced that football legend, Paul Gascoigne, has joined the line-up of ‘A Tribute To Italia 90’, an evening of stories from the players of one of England’s most dramatic World Cup tournaments.

The evening will raise money for the Grand Theatre and The Steve Bull Foundation. 

Steve ‘Bully’ Bull will appear as part of the line up alongside Peter Shilton, Paul Parker, Dave Beasant and the newly announced Paul ‘Gazza’ Gascoigne. The evening will be hosted by Sky Sports’ Johnny Phillips.

Steve Bull said; “I love coming to the Grand Theatre, the shows they have on are absolutely unbelievable and I recommend anybody to come down.

“We are going to be reliving the 1990 World Cup, 30 years on! We might have a few more names to add yet, just wait and see! We’ll tell you loads of stories, see you there!”

From David Platt’s goal against Belgium, the extra time win against Cameroon, Gazza’s tears and that dramatic semi-final penalty shootout against West Germany.

Come Monday May 18, they surely will be discussing it all.