Sports News

For the first time since the original coronavirus outbreak closed China's borders, the country is preparing to allow foreigners to enter again in large numbers for the winter Olympics next February.

This had not seemed like it would pose much of a problem. People had become accustomed to life without many Covid restrictions, with authorities stamping out each outbreak of the virus as it came along.

Liverpool have said that they are satisfied that Naby Keita is safe and well as they work to get him out of Guinea following an attempted coup in the country. The 26-year-old was set to represent his country in a World Cup qualifier against Morocco.

The match, however, was postponed following hours of heavy gunfire near the presidential palace, with an attempted coup taking place in the capital Conakry. A Liverpool spokesman said that the club was in constant contact with Keita.

With 325 days to go, the Volunteer Selection Centre for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games opens today, with over 25,000 people expected to pass through the doors over the coming months.

The application process opened in June and thousands of people from Birmingham, the West Midlands and further afield have applied to become part of the ‘Commonwealth Collective’; a community of passionate and dedicated people who will play a vital role in delivering the Games in just under a year’s time.

Christine Mboma produced a powerful late surge to edge out Shericka Jackson in a star-studded women's 200m race at the Brussels Diamond League. The Namibian clocked 21.84 seconds to finish ahead of Jackson (21.95) and Britain's world champion Dina Asher-Smith (22.04).

American Sha'Carri Richardson was fourth with a time of 22.45. Double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah did not race after dropping out with an Achilles injury.

Fifa has opened disciplinary proceedings after racist abuse was aimed at England players during the 4-0 win over Hungary in a World Cup qualifier in Budapest. Raheem Sterling and Jude Bellingham were both targeted.

England players were also pelted with objects in the second half and a flare was thrown on the pitch by the home fans at Puskas Arena. England condemned the abuse as "completely unacceptable".

Sporting Equals in partnership with Youth Sport Trust are pleased to invite you to the Breaking Boundaries project impact event taking place on Wednesday 15th September 2021, at Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B5 7QU at 2.00pm - 4.00pm.

They will share details and impact from the Breaking Boundaries programme, which is funded by Spirit of 2012 and delivered by local organisations in Birmingham, Manchester, Slough, Barking & Dagenham (London) and Bradford. It aims to bring young people, their families and communities from different ethnic and faith backgrounds together through regular engagement in cricket (playing, spectating and volunteering) and wider sport and physical activity.

Wolverhampton’s new Cycling Ambassador, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Hugh Porter MBE, has been sharing his passion for biking by exploring new initiatives to encourage cycling in the city.

Hugh, one of Britain's greatest former professional cyclists, took part in a West Midlands Cycle Hire skills session in West Park before taking a tour of new cycle lanes being created in the city centre.

Wasps Rugby Football Club have officially opened the doors of their new state-of-the-art Elite Performance and Innovation Centre – which gives the club one of the finest training complexes in English rugby. The multi-million-pound centre at Henley-in-Arden will be the new home of Wasps’ men’s first team and academy.

It has taken six months to build the facility on the 13-acre site at a cost of £4 million, with the construction project completed by Warwickshire-based development partner Wigley Building & Development.

Aston Hall grounds were packed with mascots and mayhem at the first ever Aston Community Games 2021.

The event showcased numerous sports and wellbeing activities for families and locals to enjoy. Despite a little rain and windy weather more than 600 tickets were sold for the fun day out.

West Ham striker Michail Antonio is set to make his first appearance for Jamaica at the age of 31 in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

He has been named in the Reggae Boyz squad to face Panama in the game, in Kingston, on Sunday. Covid travel restrictions will stop him flying to Mexico and Costa Rica for their other qualifiers this month.

Looking for a challenge? Birmingham Museums are inviting people to make history count with three running challenges set to raise vital funds for the city’s museums.

With many official running events postponed this year Birmingham Museums virtual fun run challenges are a chance for seasoned runners, as well as novices, to keep moving over the summer while adding to their medal collection.

Former Zimbabwe cricketer and renowned coach Andy Flower has decided against coaching Pakistan team due to his busy schedule.

According to sources, the previous Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regime led by Chairman Ehsan Mani were looking to replace current Head Coach Misbahul Haq, with Flower, after Pakistan’s recent T20I series defeat against England. Flower, who is the head coach of PSL franchise Multan Sultans, CPL’s Saint Lucia Kings, T10’s Delhi Bulls, The Hundred’s Trent Rockets while also being the assistant coach of IPL side Punjab Kings, has told the PCB that he is not interested in coaching any international side, at the moment, as he is more inclined towards franchise cricket.

It has been said that plans to lift the ban on standing in the English Premier League and Championship are set to be announced by the government, with a handful of grounds being able to use designated safe standing areas before the end of the season. With an announcement set to be made within the coming weeks, it would mean that for the first time in over 25 years, fans of some top-flight football clubs would be legally allowed to stand and watch their team play.

Chair of the Football Supporters Association, Malcolm Clarke, said it was a "welcome" development that would benefit all fans, adding: "People who want to stand should be able to do so in safety. Those who want to sit should be able to do so without having their view blocked."

It has been announced that former Birmingham City defender Sam Oji has died.

Starting his career as a youth player with Arsenal in 2000, he joined the Blues in 2004 in search of first-team football, before featuring for Doncaster Rovers, Bristol Rovers and Leyton Orient. In July he became assistant manager of Highgate United.

Twenty-seven athletes from West Midlands have been selected to compete at the 2021 School Games National Finals – a major multi-sport event for talented young athletes across the UK, taking place at Loughborough University from the 2nd to the 5th of September.

The School Games National Finals will be the first multi-sport event for young athletes following the lifting of lockdown restrictions. The event will celebrate the athletes’ achievements in working hard to maintain training and motivation over the last year and a half of restrictions.

The long-term future of indoor athletics in Birmingham is set to be secured through a proposed 10-year partnership agreement between UK Athletics and Birmingham City Council.

A decade-long deal, due for discussion by the council's Cabinet on September 7, would see Birmingham host the Indoor Grand Prix and British Indoor Championships on consecutive weekends annually from February 2022 to February ‘32.