Olympic and Commonwealth sprint relay champion Mark Lewis-Francis says the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games is going to deliver a lasting legacy for the region, and that he wishes he could have competed in his home city next summer. The Black Country-raised sprinter is the latest guest on the Birmingham 2022 podcast series 22 Voices, featuring sporting legends and cultural trailblazers in the run up to the Commonwealth Games.

Speaking to presenter Vital Powers, MLF (Mark Lewis-Francis) says the Games will have a huge impact on Birmingham and the West Midlands:

“Birmingham is definitely going to put on a good show. We always deliver. I’m a proud Brummie, born and bred, and some of the changes that have been made already, are going to create so many jobs, so much opportunity.

“I want the people of Birmingham to embrace it. We deserve this. It’s all about leaving a legacy for our future. Birmingham has got so much mad talent, and what these Games are going to do is open up a door for so many youngsters.”

The sprinter, who won gold and silver medals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, says athletics turned his life around after a difficult time at school, and he discovered the sport by chance after driving past the Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr with his father:

“I got expelled from high school, and spent six months at home. I remember driving past Alexander Stadium and asking him [his father] what that was. I’d never seen it before. So, we came back and I got introduced to my coach Steve Platt. Within a couple of months, I learned the ropes and things started to happen straight away. My schooling got better. The athlete was born in that very time.”

Lewis-Francis says his Jamaican upbringing on the Ge Lane estate in Smethwick helped him learn the discipline to succeed in athletics:

“My Mom was a strict Jamaican woman. Every black child that lived in Smethwick back then had rules and regulations you had to abide by. It made me the person I am today. My discipline really did start from home, watching my Mom work the amount of jobs she worked, and provide and put food on the table for us.

“That gave me my drive in sport to never give up and always try and aim high. My Mom came over here [from Jamaica] with nothing and she ended up getting an education and a good job. That was my first interpretation of what hard work is.”

In the podcast, the retired sprinter also reflects on his journey to an incredible Olympic gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, when he led the Great Britain 4x100m sprint relay team to victory, holding off the challenge of the American legend Maurice Green on the final leg.

He says that despite the odds, he always believed the team could win: “I always knew something special was going to happen at that Games. I remember feeling the Olympic buzz. We really tuned in as a team. We went out there as the underdogs; no one expected us to win an Olympic gold medal. I remember saying to the guys just before we went out there, ‘If you give me the baton in first place, I will not allow anybody to pass me’. And they gave me the baton in first place.

“I remember running down that track and everything just going blank, then crossing the line and there was no one there. It was one of the best feelings I have ever had.” He reflects on the injury problems that cut his career short, the impact of the death of his childhood coach

Steve Platt, how Linford Christie helped resurrect his career, and the quieter life he now enjoys in South Wales with his partner and four children. He also speaks about the Black Lives Matter movement sparked by the death of George Floyd, and his own experiences of racism in the West Midlands.

22 Voices is available to listen and subscribe from www.birmingham2022.com/22voices, and from all major podcast providers.

Previous episodes include world heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson, and a special International Women’s Day episode featuring Team England rugby sevens player Heather Fisher and Team England weightlifter Sarah Davies discussing gender stereotypes in sport. 

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.

Sports fans around the world can be part of next month’s Laureus World Sports Awards by voting in a global online poll to pick the Laureus Sporting Moment of the Year. Voting opens today!

The Laureus Sporting Moment Award celebrates fair play, sportsmanship, dedication or overcoming adversity. It recognises a unique, emotional moment or story that touches the hearts of millions and inspires people worldwide.

Recent winners have included the FC Barcelona Under 12 team (2017), who consoled their losing Japanese opponents after the final of the World Challenge Cup, the Brazilian Chapecoense side (2018), who returned to football after the disastrous air crash which wiped out almost all the team, and Chinese double amputee Xia Boyu (2019) who reached the summit of Mt Everest.

Each of this year’s shortlisted moments, below, symbolises the true value of sport and brings to life the message that sport has the power to change the world and can unite us all.

AN INCREDIBLE DREAM BECOMES REAL

It took 16 hours, 46 minutes and 9 seconds for Chris Nikic, a 21-year-old from Florida, to make history, becoming the first person with Down’s Syndrome to complete a full Ironman - 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and 26.2 mile marathon run.

DELIVERING INSPIRATION FOR CHINA

Zhang Fangyong has never given up his dream of becoming a boxer, no matter what the obstacles. Now he works as a delivery man to support his family and to allow him to afford to train. In China delivery men have made a great contribution to normal life during Covid-19, and his determination has made him a national sporting hero.

GERMANY KICKS CORONA TOGETHER

Bayern Munich players Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka set up the ‘We Kick Corona’ initiative to support charities, groups and organisations, who have struggled during the coronavirus pandemic.  So far it has raised more than €5 million.

MATCH POINT AGAINST COVID

An improbable tennis match between two young girls staged on the rooftops of Finale Ligure in Italy showed that not even Covid-19 lockdown rules could stop their spirit of friendship and love of sport. Their reward was an unexpected visit by Roger Federer.

RACE AGAINST THE ELEMENTS

When Storm Filomena brought the heaviest snowfall in decades to Spain, everything stopped. But Dr Álvaro Sanchez was typical of the resolute spirit of health care workers, walking 17km (10.5 miles) to reach his Covid-19 patients in hospital.

SPORT UNITES ACROSS LOCKDOWNS

When sport was cancelled in Japan because of Covid-19, many high school boys and girls lost the chance to showcase their performances for applications to universities and sports teams. #NeverStopPlayingSports, founded by two rugby internationals, has filled the gap.

Sean Fitzpatrick, Chair of the Laureus World Sports Academy, said: “In the last five years this Award has given us a new impetus. Firstly it has involved the sports fans of the world who can now have their own voice and pick their own Award winner. But also, it has moved away from the scoreboard or the winner’s rostrum and celebrates something very special in sport, something very special in life.”

Founded in 2000 as the Laureus World Sports Awards, Laureus has now also become one of the most influential and active sports-driven social enterprises through its charitable arm, Laureus Sport for Good.

Since its inception Laureus has helped to improve the lives of more than six million children and young adults, and now supports more than 250 sports-based community programmes around the world, fulfilling the visionary words of its First Patron Nelson Mandela - ‘Sport has the power to change the world’.

Laureus also provides a platform for sportsmen and women to use their collective voice to highlight and promote the value of sport in society and use their positions of influence to make a powerful impact on issues and conflicts which go beyond sport

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.

Cheshire Phoenix completed a BBL Championship sweep of Glasgow Rocks, avenging being knocked out of the Trophy by this opponent, with an 85-69 home win on Wednesday night.

It moves Phoenix to 14 wins, level with B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, and confirms their Play-off spot as they maintain their hope of finishing fifth in the table, despite this being just their second victory in the last eight games, both coming against Glasgow.

Kahron Ross hit seven early points as Phoenix scored 10 in a row in the opening five minutes, and held an early double-digit lead when Pharroh Gordon came from the bench to add another seven - those two shooting a perfect 7-7 in the first quarter - for a 26-14 lead on Gordon's triple.

They maintained that margin, and extended it to open the third quarter when Jalen Hayes scored all of Cheshire's points in another 10-3 push that made the lead 57-38. It peaked at 65-41 when Kyle Carey scored consecutively to cap an 8-0 burst, including an emphatic transition dunk, which gave them enough to see off a late fightback.

Phoenix were led by 20 points from Ross and 19 from Hayes, who missed just twice as he shot 8-10 from the field, while Mike McCall Jr. had 14 points and nine assists.

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".