Clubs encouraged to apply for Be Active Wales Fund

Sport Caerphilly is encouraging community sports clubs and organisations across Caerphilly County Borough to apply for support through the ‘Be Active Wales Fund,’ delivered by Sport Wales with National Lottery backing.

Cockcroft heads British 1-2-3 as Young gets bronze

Hannah Cockroft led a British one-two-three in the women’s T34 400m during the World Para Athletics Championships.

Cockram the first athlete selected for the 2023 World Athletics Championships

Natasha Cockram is the first Great Britain and Northern Ireland athlete selected for the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary in August (19-27).

Following the completion of round one of the process outlined in the selection policy for road events, Cockram has been selected, with any further marathon places – as per the policy - being considered in round two at the end of April.

Collaboration launches initiative to install 100 new community cricket pitches across England and Wales

KP Snacks, the Official Team Partner of The Hundred, teamed up with Girls Aloud star Kimberley Walsh to launch an initiative funding brand new community cricket pitches as part of KP Snacks’ initiative to give back to local communities and encourage more people to get active through cricket.

Comcast debuting football-focused video package ahead of World Cup ‘26

Internet and media giant Comcast have just launched a soccer-focused video package exclusively for its Xfinity customers, as it looks to attract sports fans ahead of major events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Comeback Queen Lionesses see-off brave Italy for yet another major final

Reigning champions England produced yet another remarkable comeback to reach the Euro 2025 final with a last-gasp victory over Italy in extra time.

COMM - Queen’s Baton Relay reaches 30th destination as tour of Asia draws to a close

The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay has completed its journey through Asia, meaning the Baton has toured 30 out of the 72 Commonwealth nations and territories.

The Relay began on 7 October 2021 during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace, where The Queen placed her message to the Commonwealth into the Baton. It has since travelled to Cyprus and Malta, 19 Commonwealth countries and territories in Africa, and most recently Asia with visits to Pakistan, The Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam.

Commonwealth Day celebrated at the Alexander Stadium as countdown to Birmingham 2022 continues

To celebrate Commonwealth Day, former, current and future stars of athletics in Birmingham tried out the track at the newly transformed Alexander Stadium and they were joined in the impressive new facility by 72 school children from across Birmingham. Each pupil represented one of the nations and territories that will participate in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, with the facility in the Perry Barr area of the city set to play a crucial role at Games time, hosting the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, as well as 59 athletics events.

Commonwealth Games baton relay route revealed for West Midlands

The Queen's Baton Relay will travel by coracle, barge and on a steam engine around the West Midlands ahead of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. The full route around the UK has been revealed as the baton reaches the region on 18 July.

Other highlights in the West Midlands include a journey on the canal and arriving by helicopter in Shrewsbury. The tour will end at Birmingham's Aston Hall on the day of the opening ceremony, 28 July.

Commonwealth Games champion Hugh Porter MBE named as Batonbearer for Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay

Wolverhampton’s own Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Hugh Porter MBE, has been unveiled as one of the Batonbearers for the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay.

Hugh, one of Britain's greatest former professional cyclists, was nominated to carry the Queen’s Baton to recognise his lifelong commitment to the sport.

Commonwealth Games champion Hugh Porter MBE shares joy of cycling in the city

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.

Commonwealth Games impact in action as sports equipment to be gifted to West Midlands groups

A wide range of sports equipment used by teams and athletes across all of the venues during the Commonwealth Games will be gifted to local sport and community groups in the West Midlands. In a join-up between Sport England, the Birmingham 2022 organisers and the Department for Digital, Culture Media & Sport (DCMS), over 16,000 sports items - including bikes, martial arts mats, weights, T20 cricket equipment, basketballs, boxing gloves and weights, as well as general equipment, such as cones and bibs - will all be made available.  

Commonwealth Games legacy already packing a punch in Solihull

A year after being ringside to watch world-class boxers compete at the Commonwealth Games, a group of young people from Urban Heard youth centre in Fordbridge, Solihull, are now pulling on the gloves themselves as part of its legacy.

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), visited Urban Heard as part of his one-year Games anniversary tour to see how communities across all parts of the region are already benefiting from the legacy. Urban Heard is one of 300 grassroots sport and community groups that shared 16,000 pieces of sports equipment used by elite athletes last summer as part of a kit giveaway.

Commonwealth Games mascot design competition launched for Birmingham 2022

Birmingham 2022 has launched a competition to find a child to design the official mascot for the 2020 Commonwealth Games.

Open between the ages of five and 15 from across the country, children have to create a mascot for the Games, with the winner to be given tickets for the Birmingham 2022 Opening Ceremony.

Participate in the ‘Mascot Maker’ competition will be tasked to design a mascot which "reflects the identity, heritage, and culture of the West Midlands, and embodies everything the region stands for: youthfulness, diversity, dynamism and creativity" with entries to be judged by a panel that includes English athletes such as squash player Sarah-Jane Perry, Para track and field competitor Katrina Hart and weightlifter Sarah Davies with the designs submitted as part of the competition to be drawn, painted or a collage.

The mascot is due to be revealed later this year.
The launch of the competition follows the staging of the ‘Virtual Mascot Summit’, which saw children from across Birmingham and the West Midlands take part in various tasks to help develop what the mascot looks like, as well as what its characteristics, values and movements should be.

Commonwealth Games England President and Olympic heptathlon gold medallist Denise Lewis, champion at Sydney 2000, Commonwealth Games gymnastics gold medallist Dominick Cummingham and television presenter Radzi Chinyanganya are among the decision making team.

Birmingham 2022 chief executive Ian Reid said: "Birmingham 2022 will embrace and champion youth, diversity, humanity and pride in the region and the Commonwealth, and we’re thrilled to invite children across the UK to create our mascot. The Games will be a true celebration of world-class sport and culture and aims to leave a lasting positive impact. 

"Our mascot will become an international icon for the Games, and this is a great opportunity for children, parents and teachers nationwide to take part to help us welcome the world to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games."

Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive David Grevemberg said the start of the mascot design competition was an "exciting moment" for organisers.

He added: "There have been some truly iconic Commonwealth Games mascots including at our most recent events with Glasgow 2014 featuring Clyde, the patriotic and adventurous thistle, and Gold Coast 2018 showcasing Borobi the koala, who is now working hard in Australia as an indigenous language champion.

"I have no doubt that children across the UK will create a fantastic Commonwealth sport ambassador for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games."

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games are due to be held from July 27 to August 7.

Commonwealth to unveil ‘4D strategy’ on reviving sport at ministerial forum

A four-dimensional strategy has been unveiled at a major ministerial forum, to help governments sustain the sport sector ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Commonwealth Secretariat’s ‘Data, Digital, Diversify and anti-Discrimination’ strategy will help the sector adapt to the new normal and continue contributing to health and wellbeing, community spirit and economic growth.

The sport industry is expected to experience a recession several times worse than the average sector of any economy, according to a new Commonwealth supported study. Thousands of jobs, livelihoods and social benefits could be at risk.

The ‘data’ pillar provides critical research on COVID-19’s impact on the sport sector to help countries monitor and better target responses.

The ‘digital’ pillar offers a repository of COVID-19-adapted virtual solutions, including training courses and knowledge products, which are reproducible and accessible to all member countries.

The ‘diversify’ pillar contains policy guidelines to modify modes of delivery to get more people active safely and spread investment and resources to grow domestic sport markets. The final pillar includes a call to action to intensify the fight against racism and discrimination in and through sport in the Commonwealth. Supported by the four pillars, the strategy will help governments design, modify and implement resilient sport policies and programmes to tackle the pandemic’s impact on the sector.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said: “It is clear the sport and physical activity sector demands consideration in the ongoing response to the current pandemic and the preparation for any future outbreaks. It is important then for member countries to take advantage of our suite of new resources, cleverly designed to help them respond to the new COVID reality and create pandemic-resilient sectors and populations.”

The Commonwealth Ministerial Forum on Sport and COVID-19 takes place virtually on 23 July, which will be attended by ministers, senior officials and representatives of sport bodies and regional organisations.

The virtual forum will hear from member countries on how they are responding to and planning to recover from the COVID-19 shocks in the sport sector and ensure the Secretariat’s work is finely tuned to their existing and emerging needs.

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Culture and Heritage, Amina Mohamed, will chair the virtual forum. She said: “Today, we find ourselves in an unprecedented global health crisis, which has touched almost every corner of the world and our lives, including our mobility. I am hoping that through this forum, we can leverage the Commonwealth cooperation and partnership to collectively overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic in the sport sector and beyond.

“Responding to new challenges requires coming up with fresh solutions on the back to existing approaches so this gathering is an important opportunity for Commonwealth countries to share their experiences on what has and what has not worked in tackling COVID-19 disruptions.”

Community representatives needed to help secure lasting Birmingham 2022 legacy

Organisers of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games are searching for volunteer community representatives to join the event’s Legacy and Benefits (LAB) Committee - a cross-partner group set up to ensure that Birmingham and the West Midlands takes full advantage of its moment in the national and international spotlight during the summer of 2022.

Successful candidates will be part of a group tasked with establishing a legacy strategy and overseeing the delivery of a comprehensive programme of benefits for the city and region, covering key topics like civic pride, culture, tourism, trade and investment, jobs and skills, education, sustainability and physical activity and wellbeing.

John Crabtree OBE, Chair of Birmingham 2022, who also chairs the LAB Committee said: “Over the next few years the work of the Legacy and Benefits Committee is going to be crucial and we’re looking for dynamic volunteers to join us to help improve the region. We need individuals who are innovative, commercially astute and can match our dedication to delivering the most sustainable, inclusive, and accessible Commonwealth Games to date.”

He added: “All of the partners that are involved with the Commonwealth Games, including Birmingham 2022, Birmingham City Council, the West Midlands Combined Authority and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, are committed to delivering a strong legacy for the region and this committee will play an important role in ensuring this comes to fruition, as we absolutely must make the most of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that hosting an event of this magnitude provides.”

The physical legacy of Birmingham 2022 is already obvious as the Games is proving to be a catalyst for transformation in the city and the region, with a brand new aquatics centre being built in Sandwell, the creation of the Athletes’ Village in Perry Barr and the redevelopment of Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium.

Hosting the Games is also accelerating the development of infrastructure and public transport improvements that will benefit the city and wider region for many years to come.

The mission for Birmingham 2022, which all Games partners are signed up to, also includes ensuring that this major multi-sport and cultural event will bring people together, improve health and wellbeing, help the region to grow and succeed and put Birmingham and the region on the global map, so the committee will play a vital role in ensuring that all elements of this mission are accomplished.

The closing date for applications is the 18 November and to apply candidates just need to send a CV and covering letter outlining why they would be a good candidate for the role, their relevant knowledge and experience, and demonstrating their genuine passion and aspiration for the region.

Successful candidates will be required to attend approximately five meetings per year and to read and comment on committee business in between meetings.

Community work by football supporter group recognised with national award nomination

Blues 4 All, a supporters club set up to strengthen and deepen the connection between Birmingham City FC and the South Asian community, has been shortlisted in the Fan Group category of the 2024 Asian Football Awards.

Competitor lists available for the Müller British Athletics Marathon and 20km Walk Trials

The competitor lists for the Müller British Athletics Marathon and 20km Walk Trials at Kew Gardens, London on Friday 26 March are now available to view. The event, which is the official trial for the marathon and 20km race walks for the Tokyo Olympic Games, will be streamed at britishathletics.org.uk

Ben Connor is the fastest in the men’s marathon field having gone inside the Olympic qualifying standard with a time of 2:11.20 at the Virgin Money London Marathon last October. He will be seeking one of the top two positions to earn automatic selection for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Dewi Griffiths will be among those who will also be chasing the qualifying standard at the event having posted a 2019 best of 2:11.46; his PB stands at 2:09.49 from 2017. In the women’s contest, Stephanie Davis is the fastest in the field having run inside the Olympic qualifying standard, posting a time of 2:27.40 in Valencia in 2019.

In the 20km race walks, Tom Bosworth headlines the men’s contest and is currently the only British athlete who holds the standard for Tokyo. Callum Wilkinson, who showed great form in clocking 39:05.85   in the 10,000m race walk earlier this month, will be chasing the 1:21.00 World Athletics qualifying mark having clocked a PB of 1:21.21 in Lithuania last September. The first two placed eligible athletes in each individual trial event, who hold an Olympic qualifying standard, will earn automatic selection for Tokyo.

Action will get underway from 6:00am with the men’s and women’s 20km race walks, while the men’s and women’s marathon races will start at 8am. The race walks start and finish in front of Palm House taking in 12 small laps, while the marathon begins at Kew Palace and finishes at Palm House, including one small lap and 12 large laps.

Katie Brazier, Competitions and Events Director at British Athletics, said: “With a week to go until the Müller British Athletics Marathon and 20km Walk Trials, excitement is really building. Although the event will be held behind-closed-doors, we are delighted the race walks and the marathon will be streamed at britishathletics.org.uk so it can be enjoyed by viewers at home.

“Our thanks go to all the stakeholders involved in delivering this event under challenging circumstances.”

British Athletics continues to adhere closely to the Government’s advice and Covid-19 guidelines to ensure the safety of all those involved in delivering and competing at events currently being staged.

Connecticut Sun highest paying WNBA team with an average player salary of $139.9 thousands

Women’s sports leagues have started to make foray into the mainstream sports during the past decade or so.

Construction of World’s Largest Lego F1 Car Begins

The Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) – Promoter of the 2021 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix – has officially begun its Official Attempt at assembling the world’s largest Lego brick build of a Formula 1 car today, with HRH Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi, advisor to the governor of the Makkah Region and acting Governor of Jeddah and HRH Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, Chairman of SAMF, laying the first brick at the downtown activation site located by Jeddah’s Red Sea Mall.

The Official Attempt is being carried out as part of the Kingdom’s celebration of Formula 1’s imminent arrival on the streets of Jeddah in December and to raise vital funds for Ehsan - Saudi Arabia’s focal national charity.