Sports News

Team GB star Dina Asher-Smith has condemned the Tokyo Olympics 2020 organisers of preventing athletes from protesting during the games. It following the IOC (International Olympic Committee) reversing their decision on originally reinforcing Rule 50 which states that no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.

The Olympics sprit hope said that they (the IOC) had no choice in regards of changing their decision. Organisers attempted to ban athletes from ‘taking the knee’ during the Games.

Set to compete in the 100 and 200 metres in Japan, Dina said she believes that the decision would have brought the Tokyo Games bad publicity. She also said; “If you were to penalise someone for standing up against racial inequality, how on earth would that go? Just how on earth are you going to enforce it?”

“Would you revoke someone’s medal for saying racism is wrong? But I think it’s good they have lifted it. How would you police that, particularly when people feel so strongly about that right now?

“Also, if you were to penalise someone or revoke a medal, how would that go optically?” she continued: “I did see it as completely unenforceable and I think they had no choice but to lift it otherwise they would have been faced with loads of athlete protests at the Games and it would have been very embarrassing for them,” she said.

“Unless they want to say they are against people being against racism I didn’t see how that was going to happen. One of the Olympics’ most iconic moments included the Black Power salute by Tommie Smith and John Carlos in 1968.

“That is something people remember the Olympics for, something they’re very proud to see at the Olympic Games. So, to think they’re suddenly going to get up and say ‘absolutely not’ – I think they’d be shooting themselves in the foot.”

Busy Birmingham parents looking for activities to keep their youngsters entertained during the summer holidays are encouraged to take advantage of a series of Sports Camps during the next six weeks. Delivered by Digbeth-based charity Sport 4 Life UK, children aged between 11 and 16, including those who are eligible for free school meals, will be targeted to participate in sports including football, golf, dodgeball and tennis.

The camps run throughout the day Monday to Thursday at sites including Hodge Hill College, the Muath Trust and Fox Hollies Leisure Centre in Acocks Green. People are advised to book in advance via the StreetGames website, as some events have limited availability. The sessions are being funded by the Government’s Holiday Activities and Food Programme and are part of the Bring it on Brum initiative aimed at keeping young people active and entertained during the break.

At the camps, Sport 4 Life UK, will distribute food and refreshments among participants. There is also an ‘enrichment’ element to the sessions covering personal responsibility and skills development opportunities. Commenting on the Sports Camp initiative, Sport 4 Life UK CEO and founder Tom Clarke-Forrest said: “The summer holidays can be a stressful time for families, with parents juggling work commitments while trying to keep children entertained.

“The Sports Camps can help to alleviate those pressures by providing fun sports activities alongside mentoring and skills development.” He added: “We’ve been delivering Sports Camps for a number of years and they are a great way to engage youngsters who perhaps wouldn’t have been reached by our programmes, which can make a real difference in terms of enhancing someone’s life chances.

“Our teams of trained sports coaches are really excited about welcoming youngsters along in the next few weeks.”

Established in 2006, Sport 4 Life UK exists to provide sports-themed personal development programmes to people aged between 11 and 29 years old and who are not in education, employment or training. In the year to June 2021, the charity supported a total of 1015 youngsters with on and offline mentoring, qualifications, and training programmes, in addition to structured sports sessions.

That figure is expected to grow over the next 12 months, as a result of the impact of the pandemic on the economy. Sport 4 Life UK will be delivering Sports Camps at the following locations during the summer holidays:

List of venues where Sport 4 Life UK is hosting Sports Camps:

Hodge Hill

Hodge Hill Academy,
AstroTurf & Sports Hall,
Bromford Road, B36 8HB

Week one: Monday 26th – Thursday 29th July
Week two: Monday 2nd – Thursday 5th August
Week three: Monday 9th – Thursday 12th August
Week four: Monday 16th – Thursday 19th August
Week five: Monday 23rd – Thursday 26th August

All camps run 11am – 4pm

The Muath Trust

Muath Trust,
Stratford Road, B11 1AR

Week one: Monday 26th – Thursday 29th July
Week two: Monday 2nd – Thursday 5th August
Week three: Monday 9th – Thursday 12th August
Week four: Monday 16th – Thursday 19th August
Week five: Monday 23rd – Thursday 26th August

All camps run 2pm – 7pm

Acocks Green

Fox Hollies Leisure Centre,
Shirley Rd, Acocks Green,
Birmingham B27 7NS

Week one: Monday 26th – Thursday 29th July
Week two: Monday 2nd – Thursday 5th August
Week three: Monday 9th – Thursday 12th August
Week four: Monday 16th – Thursday 19th August
Week five: Monday 23rd – Thursday 26th August

All camps run 11am – 4pm

Sandwell

Action For Children,
Greets Green Children’s Centre (off Claypit Ln),
West Bromwich, B70 9EZ

Week one: Monday 2nd – Thursday 5th August
Week two: Monday 9th – Thursday 12th August
Week three: Monday 16th – Thursday 19th August
Week four: Monday 23rd – Thursday 26th August

All camps run 11am – 3pm

Tennis legend, Naomi Osaka, had the honour of lighting the flame to mark the official opening of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games - a year later than planned, and in the midst of a global pandemic. A more sombre tone than previous opening ceremonies, it was a reminder that this is a Games taking place in a world still facing its toughest challenge.

"Today is a moment of hope," said Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). "Yes, it is very different from what all of us had imagined. But let us cherish this moment because finally we are all here together."

This Games is going to be different, dampened by masks, positive tests and the absence of fans. But it is still the Olympics; still the greatest show on Earth, still faster, higher, stronger and now together.

As for the ceremony itself, it was modest, a reminder of all the world has gone through yet offered hope for what is to come. But the lack of a crowd was stark as socially distanced and masked athletes - though some went without - waved to empty stands, no roar accompanying their march into the stadium.

The build-up to Tokyo 2020 was long – with some strong opposition from some Japanese people, outside the stadium, made their voices heard – with the stadium, itself, empty - but for a select number of dignitaries and Olympics officials.

For the world No.3, Naomi, she said that she was fit, rearing to go and ready to represent Japan – after saying that she will give up her US citizenship.

Born in Japan, to Japanese and Haitian parents, the family moved to New York when she was three and she represents Japan on the WTA Tour and in the Fed Cup. “I think that playing with the pride of the country will make me feel more emotional," she said.

The ‘poster girl’ for the Games, at every bus stop in Tokyo, she stared down from an advert, greeting passengers local and international. She is decked out in a neon pink jacket over black activewear with the slogan written half in English, half in Japanese.

Osaka, who renounced her US citizenship in 2019 in favour of her Japanese heritage, will make her return to tennis after two months out at the Olympics. It is from Florida, where the world's best young tennis players congregated and compete and she was the face of Tokyo 2020.

She is bringing change to what is said, by some, to be one of the least diverse countries in the world.

Birmingham’s Spark Green Park has been transformed as part of an initiative to celebrate the launch of the Birmingham Phoenix team and the men’s team captain Moeen Ali.

Australia and New Zealand have pulled out of the Rugby League World Cup because of "player welfare and safety concerns" related to Covid-19. The men's, women's and wheelchair events are scheduled to take place in England this autumn.

The Tokyo Olympics officially get under way today after a year-long delay due to the impact of Covid-19. With the Japanese capital entering a fourth state of emergency as a result of the pandemic, it was declared this month that spectators will not be able to attend the summer Games.

Warwickshire CCC and Sandwell College have announced a new partnership that will see a new two-year further education course delivered in collaboration with the club’s official charity the Edgbaston Foundation.

As cricket’s new 100-ball competition The Hundred launches later this month, aiming to open the game up to more families, research shows that nearly half of Brummy parents think playing cricket is a great way to get active – but 38% have never played the game as a family.

With just days to go before the start of the Olympic Games, six athletes and two staff members from Team GB's athletics team are self-isolating after being identified as close contacts of an individual who tested positive after their arrival into Tokyo.

The British team wrapped up the European Athletics U20 Championships by winning a trio of relay medals in majestic fashion to end the event top of the medal table with 12 overall; six gold, one silver and five bronze medals.

Egyptian heavyweights Al Ahly beat Kaizer Chiefs 3-0 in Morocco to become the first side in history to be crowned African champions ten times.

Kuehne+Nagel, one of the world’s leading logistics companies that offers highly specialised solutions for worldwide industries, has been appointed as the Official Event Logistics Provider for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Five medals were won by the British team on day three of the European Athletics U20 Championships with Derek Kinlock taking the men’s 200m title in phenomenal style at the Kadriorg Stadium in Estonia.

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games is coming to the West Midlands next summer, and from 14 to 30 July, people who live in the region can apply for tickets in an exclusive ballot by registering for an account at birmingham2022.com.  

England's Bukayo Saka said that he knew instantly the kind of hate he was going to receive after his penalty was saved during Sunday's Euro 2020 final.

Saka, 19, and Jadon Sancho had spot-kicks saved and Marcus Rashford hit a post as Italy beat England in a penalty shootout to win the tournament.

They say running is good for the soul but it may also now be good for future life prospects - thanks to a tie-up between Run Brum Crew and personal development charity Sport 4 Life UK.