Sports News

The Beijing Winter Olympic Games came to its calculated end as China capped an unprecedented period in the history of the movement.

Controlled and calibrated in ways only that particular country could pull off - in a ‘bubble’ that kept participants and the city around them well apart at arm’s length - Beijing handed off to Milan-Cortina, as it becomes the venue for the 2026 Winter Games.

The best was saved until last in Birmingham yesterday as a pulsating Müller Indoor Grand Prix came to a record-breaking end.

The fans turned out in force to see this showpiece, with British athletes testing their fitness, preparing for next weekend’s return to the city and the UK Athletics Indoor Championships and also looking to secure World Indoor Championships qualifying standards. The full house at the Utilita Arena Birmingham roared virtually every step of Keely Hodgkinson’s 800m victory, as the Olympic silver medallist began her competitive year with a run of the highest quality in what was the final track event of the meeting.

Tennis star and 20-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic visited the Serbia Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, ahead of workshops run by his charity organisation. Excited young fans gathered to watch the World No. 1’s arrival, prior to his tour of the pavilion, rushing to get a picture or two. Djokovic stopped at a number of exhibits.

I accept the decision issued by the Court of Arbitration for Sport today with sadness. I would like to make it clear that I unknowingly consumed a contaminated supplement and this was the reason why an anti-doping rule violation occurred at the Tokyo Olympic Games. I sincerely regret that this has inadvertently led to the forfeiture of the men’s 4 x 100m relay team’s Olympic silver medals at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

The eSkootr Championship (eSC) has appointed digital product specialists Ostmodern to relaunch the Championship’s website - official.esc.live - and develop an innovative eSC Fan Hub.

As a brand-new, purpose driven sport, eSC is working with Ostmodern to create a website and digital platform that will engage and excite fans about this revolutionary racing series, and where consumers will be able to watch the racing live.

Circuit of The Americas is thrilled to announce a five-year extension with Formula 1. As the highest-grossing weekend in Austin, the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix brings energy and undeniable buzz to the city that’s impossible to match.

The sport returned to the US in 2021, following a break due to the pandemic, to a huge reception with a record-breaking crowd in Austin that witnessed Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton battle it out.

Rumours are intensifying over the possibility of Rugby Football Union world champions South Africa joining the Six Nations with perennial ‘whipping-boys’ Italy being taken out of the tournament.

The Springboks are currently committed to Rugby Championship - until 2025 – but it has been reported that they have told the southern hemisphere’s governing body that they are exploring their option of joining the Six Nations after their tenure is complete as plans for a major overhaul of the global calendar grows.

The biggest stars in snooker are set to return to Wolverhampton next year after the success of last week’s Cazoo Players Championship at Aldersley Leisure Village.

City of Wolverhampton Council worked closely with the World Snooker Tour (WST) to stage the event in the city for the first time, with more than 4,000 people attending across the seven days.

Qatar Airways extends its congratulations to Chelsea F.C. for clinching the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2021 title, which took place yesterday in a highly competitive final against SE Palmeiras.  Qatar Airways, the tournament’s Official Airline Partner, was present at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in the UAE for a special prize distribution ceremony.

Start lists are live for the Müller Indoor Grand Prix Birmingham with 10 reigning Olympic or world champions competing in the Utilita Arena on Saturday 19 February. Athletes in the line-ups have a combined number of 136 world and Olympic medals between them.

In addition, they own a whopping 180 Commonwealth or European medals.

Sadio Mane is to have a stadium named after him in the south-western city of Sedhiou after helping Senegal to their maiden continental success.

The Liverpool forward scored the winning penalty as the Teranga Lions beat Egypt 4-2 on penalties to clinch their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), after the game ended goalless following extra time.

West Midlands Combined Authority ‘Get Set for the Games’ as they enter a 20-strong team to the Great Birmingham Run Mayor Andy Street and a team from West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) set to run the Great Birmingham Run on behalf of Cure Leukaemia.

Having urged residents and businesses to ‘Get Set for the Games’ ahead of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games - as more than a million visitors are expected to come to the West Midlands - Mayor of West Midlands Andy Street will be lacing up his running shoes, as he looks to raise funds for Cure Leukaemia in the Great Birmingham Run on May 01.

When speed skater Erin Jackson unexpectedly failed to qualify for the Winter Olympics, team-mate Brittany Bowe stepped in to rescue her long-time friend's Beijing dreams. It was an incredible gesture of friendship.

Jackson, the world's No.1 ranked 500m speed skater, unexpectedly failed to make the US team after slipping and finishing third in her country’s trials in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Bowe, who specialises in longer-distance races but had finished first in 500m qualifying, gave up her position to her teammate, Erin. 

A rugby player who was seriously hurt while scoring a try during a match has died.

Evesham Rugby Club player Jack Jeffery, 27, was taken to hospital after being injured in the Seniors League game against Berkswell and Balsall. Club chair Dave Summerfield said that the players were reeling, saying it was such a terrible shock.

Paralympic champions Sophie Hahn (coach: Leon Baptiste, club: Charnwood) and Thomas Young (Joe McDonnell, Loughborough Students) headline the mixed class Para 60m sprint events at the Müller Indoor Grand Prix Birmingham at the Utilita Arena on 19 February.

Hahn, the T38 world record holder in the 100m (12.38) and 200m (25.92), won Tokyo gold in an exceptionally high standard 100m where she equalled her own world record in qualifying.

West Bromwich Albion Women will make history in March when they play their first official match at The Hawthorns, the home of their male counterparts since 1900.

Albion Women, who regularly play their Women’s National League games at Sutton Coldfield Town’s Coles Lane ground, host high flying Derby County on Sunday, March 6, 2022 (ko 2pm).