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England produced a magnificent display as they thrashed Ukraine in Rome to set up a Euro 2020 semi-final against Denmark at Wembley after Gareth Southgate's victory over Germany in the last 16 by producing a performance of composure and the highest quality to continue their impressive progress in this tournament.

Ukraine barely threatened and England were on their way to a second successive semi-final when Harry Kane followed up his goal against Germany by poking home a superb pass from Raheem Sterling after only four minutes.

Defender, Harry Maguire, then powered home a header from Luke Shaw's free-kick seconds after the break. Full-back Luke Shaw was the creator once more four minutes later with a perfect cross that was headed in from six yards by Kane.

An impressive England overpowered Ukraine with substitute Jordan Henderson getting the fourth goal when he arrived with perfect timing to head in Mason Mount's corner. To add to Southgate's satisfaction, they kept their fifth successive clean sheet to maintain their record of not conceding a goal at Euro 2020.

Southgate's faith was rewarded when Kane got off the mark with England's crucial second in the 2-0 win over Germany. It was the catalyst for the real Kane to come alive in the tournament - and he punished Ukraine in trademark style by pouncing for his first, then rising to power in a second goal - and almost completed a hat-trick with a left-foot volley that was turned on to the post by Ukraine keeper Georgi Bushchan.

On social media, midfielder Henderson wrote; ‘Means everything to get on the scoresheet for my country! In a Euros quarter-final is even better. Lads were outstanding. Full focus on the semis!’

Former England striker and pundit Alan Shearer wrote; ‘When you consider the amount of football some of these players have played over a long season they had, to still have this energy and attitude they had [towards the end of the game].. they are still in tune and still trying to press and win that ball back. It is such a positive for England.’

Denmark's emotional Euro 2020 campaign continued as they marched on to the semi-finals courtesy of a victory over the Czech Republic in Baku earlier. After the game, Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand said he felt his squad will have Eriksen in their thoughts when they take on England.

"I definitely feel it," he said. "The whole world of football understood that second, and the days after, the fundamental things in life and in football, the fundamental values of football came through right at that moment.

"I am still thinking of Christian every single day. He should have been here."

England and Denmark will now meet in the last four at Wembley on Wednesday.

Trayvon Bromell, the fastest man in the world this year, is part of a mouth-watering men’s 100m field at the Müller British Grand Prix in Gateshead on Tuesday 13^th July. The 25-year-old holds the world-leading mark for 100m in 2021 with 9.76 and he recently won the US Olympic trials in style.

But at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in North East England in less than a fortnight he takes on Olympic bronze medallist Andre De Grasse of Canada plus British athletes Adam Gemili, CJ Ujah, Zharnel Hughes and Reece Prescod. The power-packed line-up also includes Fred Kerley, who ran 9.86 for third place behind winner Bromell at the US Olympic trials last month.

Bromell said: “I am really enjoying my season so far and looking forward to racing 100 metres at the Müller British Grand Prix on 13^th July. I remember running in northern England at a street athletics event in Manchester five years ago and the support was great from the fans so I am hoping there will be similar atmosphere in Gateshead.” Back in 2016 Bromell won the world indoor 60m title and was touted as a successor to Usain Bolt, but injury struck and he spent time on the side-lines before rediscovering his form this year with a streak of victories and fast times.

De Grasse will prove tough opposition, though. The 26-year-old took silver behind Bolt in the 200m at the Rio Olympics and won 100m and 4x100m bronze at those Games as well, whereas he has been in fine form in 2021.

British sprinters will have home support, though. Gemili won the national 200m title last weekend and he said: “After the Müller British Athletics Championships in Manchester I’m looking forward to racing in front of a home crowd again, this time over 100 metres in Gateshead.

“It will be good to test myself against some of the best sprinters in the world too on the eve of the Olympic Games.” Such is Gemili’s ability, he has broken 10 seconds for 100m and 20 seconds for 200m and finished fourth in the Olympic 200m final.

Ujah, meanwhile, won the British 100m title last weekend and he has a best of 9.96, whereas Hughes is the European 100m champion and his best is 9.91. They are all on their way to the Olympics as well after being named in the British squad this week.

In addition, Prescod is part of Team GB in Tokyo and after a spell of injuries he is hoping to return to the kind of form that saw him run 9.94 for 100m in 2018. Elsewhere, British star Dina Asher-Smith will be racing over 200m in Gateshead while Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands will compete in the women’s mile.

Johannes Vetter of Germany could give Jan Zelezny’s world record a scare in the javelin if conditions are good, while the women’s pole vault sees British record-holder Holly Bradshaw taking on Olympic champion Katerina Stefanidi, world outdoor champion Anzhelika Sidorova, world indoor gold medallist Sandi Morris and world leader in 2021 Katie Nageotte. Gateshead staged the first Wanda Diamond League event of 2021 in May after it was moved from Rabat in Morocco to the North East of England and now, on 13^th July, the same venue will host the seventh Diamond League of the season.

UK Athletics has started the recruitment process to appoint a successor to Nic Coward as non-executive Chair.

The new Chair will join the governing body of the nation’s leading Olympic and Paralympic sport after the Tokyo Olympics, at an exciting time for the whole sport in the UK, implementing the new strategy to 2032.

Applications close on Monday 6 September, with interviews in person on Thursday 16 September and second interviews on Tuesday 21 September in London. Details are at careers.ukathletics.org.uk

Nic joined as Interim CEO in January 2020, with the task of stabilising the organisation after a period of turmoil and starting the necessary transformation process.  He agreed to then become Chair when Joanna Coates joined as CEO in March 2020.

Together they have led the organisation through a considerable period of change, during the pandemic and the postponement of Tokyo 2020, delivering a new sport-wide strategy “Athletics Unified” in collaboration with the Home Country Athletics Federations, a new-look board reflecting the diversity of the sport, new executive leadership team following a restructure, and UK Athletics’ own Operational Plan to deliver its responsibilities under Athletics Unified to be launched on 13 July 2021 after a broad consultation process.  The changes made include a significantly enhanced approach to Standards and Safeguarding.

Having agreed to continue as Chair until after Tokyo, Nic will stay involved to enable a handover to the new Chair.

New research from leading mobile reseller Buymobiles has ranked 28 of the UK’s major cities based on a number of metrics to determine the best places to watch the European Football Championship this summer, as England march on to the quarter-finals.

The data reveals that Manchester is the best place in the UK to watch the Euros, with the best average score based on phone signal, the average cost of a pint, the number of venues, venue ratings, sun hours and a ‘footy-mad’ rating – determined by Google Trends.

Ranking second place is Liverpool, which makes the North West the place to be for the ultimate viewing experience. Edinburgh, Newcastle and Glasgow made up the top five followed by Leeds, Belfast and Southampton. 

Aberdeen was next on the list meaning Scotland can boast three cities in the top ten with Yorkshire duo Sheffield and York ranked closely behind. London, the UK’s capital, ranked low, taking twelfth place despite having one of the best football-mad ratings and the biggest population by a considerable distance. 

Unfortunately, London had the highest average cost of a pint when compared to 27 other cities.

Other locations that scored low include Birmingham, which was just behind the capital, and Bristol coming in at twenty-first of the twenty-eight cities analysed. This is despite both cities having more than one football club and having a higher population than the vast majority on the list. 

Welsh Capital Cardiff also found itself ranking in the lower echelons, placing in twenty-third, followed by Portsmouth, Sunderland, Coventry and Plymouth. This leaves Swansea as the worst place in the UK to watch the championship, due to a lack of venues, poorer venue ratings and a comparatively low amount of sun hours. 

Jess Canning, Mobile Expert at Buymobiles said on the new research: “We’ve missed so much live entertainment as a result of the pandemic, and the Euros is a fantastic start to some normality returning. Whilst we know every fan will make the best of this tournament, whatever city they watch the games in, it’s a great conversation starter for the group football chat. 

“Afterall, what more could you need while watching the Euros than sunshine, a cheap pint and a good strong signal on your mobile to stay connected while you celebrate. None of us expected London to rank outside the top ten given its size and number of venues, but perhaps not so surprisingly, the average cost of a pint let the capital down as it was the highest on the list. 

“Likewise, with some of the bigger cities like Birmingham and Bristol, which we thought would come in the top ten.”

Namibian teenager Christine Mboma - who just broke the 30-year-old world 400m Under-20s record - is out of the event at the Olympics after being found to have naturally-occurring testosterone levels beyond those specified by World Athletics.

The time set by 18-year-old Mboma in the Polish city of Bydgoszcz was the seventh-fastest 400m run by a woman of all time - and suggested she was a prime candidate for gold in the event at Tokyo. But Namibia's national Olympic committee (NNOC-CGA) has now confirmed both sprinters are unable to run the distance in Tokyo because of World Athletics rules on "Athletes with Differences of Sexual Development", or DSD, following testing conducted by the global body.

"It is important to understand that both our athletes were not aware of this condition," the NNOC-CGA said in a statement. "Neither did any family member, their coach or the NNOC-CGA." Mboma had enjoyed a remarkable year, breaking a series of personal bests, national, continental and global records over 400m.

Her time of 48.54 - nearly nine-tenths faster than the mark youth set by East German athlete Gritt Breur in 1991 - was so fast that she was suddenly a possible contender for an Olympic medal, especially after a week in which one main rival, Bahrain's Salwa Eid Naser, was banned for two years for breaching anti-doping rules. But Mboma's ever-improving displays caught the attention of World Athletics (WA), who requested preliminary medical assessments, conducted in Namibia.

Further tests were carried out this week with both Mboma and Masilingi at the duo's training camp in the Italian capital Rome, the results of which ‘indicated that both athletes have a natural high testosterone level’. "The NNOC-CGA and our medical officer are in close contact with (the) medical officer of World Athletics with regards to the way forward in the interests of our two sprinters," said the NNOC-CGA.

"We will analyse all information. We are positive on their future as elite athletes. Both Christine and Beatrice will be able to compete in the 100m and 200m events. "Their coach is positive to continue working with the girls on those events while we are consolidating on the way forward."

Both Mboma and Masilingi will be competing in their first Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, when the Games take place between 23 July and 8 August. World Athletics bars athletes classified as DSD from competing in any distance between 400m and the mile in the female category unless they artificially reduce their testosterone levels, which the global body claims give the runners an unfair advantage.

WA says testosterone can boost endurance and muscle mass, among other effects, and that DSD rules are needed to "ensure fair and meaningful competition within the female classification". Athletes can reduce levels by taking specific drugs or having surgery - although that option is discouraged - with one DSD athlete, Margaret Wambui, having recently called for a third category of athletics to be introduced to allow those with naturally high testosterone to contest their preferred event.

The Kenyan is one of three women, all of whom took 800m medals at the 2016 Olympics, who have since been barred from contesting the distance because of their classification, with gold medallist Caster Semenya of South Africa and Burundi's Francine Niyonsabo the others. Semenya is currently fighting World Athletics' testosterone rules at the European Court of Human Rights, in what is considered a final bid to be able to contest her favoured distance.

The 30-year-old failed to qualify for the Olympics after failing to run fast enough in the 5,000m, with the two-time Olympic champion having chosen a longer distance even than a sprint. "The ban doesn't make sense at all," she said afterwards. "I'll keep fighting for my rights."

54 athletes have been named in a strong team for the European Under 23 Championships taking place between the 8-11 July in Tallinn, Estonia.

Five athletes ranked in the top three of the 2021 European U23 rankings have been selected, while one reigning champion returns to the fold at the Championships.

Currently second in the European U23 rankings in the women’s 100m, Kristal Awuah will line up for the British team in the short sprint and 4x100m relay.

Erin Wallace, who is third in the European U23 1500m rankings, won silver in the event at the Müller British Athletics Championships at the weekend. She is in good form with a PB of 4:08.10 earlier this month at the BMC Grand Prix in Watford.

Eleanor Bolton [women’s 10,000m], George Mills [men’s 1500m] and Tom Mortimer [men’s 5000m] are all ranked third in Europe in their respective events this year.

Looking to retain his European U23 200m title will be Shemar Boldizsar. He was victorious at the trials at the England Athletics U23 Championships recently to guarantee his spot on the team. Jona Efoloko joins Boldizsar in the 200m field.

The men’s 400m hurdles see the gold and silver medallists from the Müller British Athletics Championships, Alastair Chalmers and Alex Knibbs in the team. The former retained his title while Knibbs continued his impressive early season form in second place following a personal best of 49.82 earlier this month in Belgium. 

The women’s field events see two British champions taking their spots on the team. Bekah Walton in the javelin and Tara Simpson-Sullivan in the hammer throw. Walton threw a PB of 54.03m to be crowned champion at the weekend. Meanwhile British number one Simpson-Sullivan, who improved her personal best to 68.91m in April, is also ranked fourth in the European U23 ranking this year.

Michael Afilaka, Team Leader, said: “I am very pleased that we have been able to select such a strong team to go to Tallinn. There were some impressive performances from the athletes at the age-group Championships in Bedford and the British Championships this weekend which sets us up well for the Europeans. The team has a good mix of experience and developing talent and I am looking forward to some great competition out in Tallinn.”

The British team for the European U23 Championships:

Women

100m

Kristal Awuah (Matthew Thomas, Herne Hill)

Alisha Rees (Leon Baptiste, Edinburgh AC)

200m

Georgina Adam (Joe McDonnell, Loughborough Students)

Amber Anning (Brighton & Hove)

Kiah Dubarry-Gay (Clarence Callender, Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets)

400m

Yasmin Liverpool (Stewart Marshall, Coventry)

800m

Izzy Boffey (Luke Gunn, Enfield & Haringey)

Khahsia Mhlanga (Mick Judd, Herts Phoenix)

1500m

Erin Wallace (Andy Young, Giffnock North)

5000m

Eleanor Bolton (Ribble Valley Harriers)

Izzy Fry (Mick Woods, Newbury)

10000m

Eleanor Bolton (Ribble Valley Harriers)

100m Hurdles

Jenna Blundell (Toni Minichiello, Bristol & West)

Anastasia Dawes (John Blackie, Blackheath & Bromley)

400m Hurdles

Zoe Pollock (Nick Dakin, Oxford City)

3000m Steeplechase

Sarah Tait (Linda Smith, Lasswade)

Elise Thorner (Wells City)

Pole Vault

Molly Caudrey (Stuart Caudery, Thames Valley)

Long Jump

Lucy Hadaway (Matt Barton, City of York)

Javelin

Bekah Walton (David Turner, Blackheath & Bromley)

Hammer

Anna Purchase (Rob Careless, Notts)

Tara Simpson-Sullivan (Robert Halliwell, Wigan & District)

Heptathlon

Holly Mills (Laura Turner-Alleyne, Andover)

Jade O’Dowda (Toni Minichiello, Newham & Essex Beagles)

Jodie Smith (Laura Turner-Alleyne, Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow)

4 x 100m Relay

Georgina Adam (Joe McDonnell, Loughborough Students)

Kristal Awuah (Matthew Thomas, Herne Hill)

Ellie Booker (Lewis Samuel, Rotherham)

Kiah Dubarry-Gay (Clarence Callender, Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets)

Cassie-Ann Pemberton (Sharon Morris, Birchfield Harriers)

Alisha Rees (Leon Baptiste, Edinburgh AC)

4x 400m Relay

Amber Anning (Brighton & Hove)

Izzy Boffey (Luke Gunn, Enfield & Haringey)

Hannah Kelly (Les Hall, Bolton)

Yasmin Liverpool (Stewart Marshall, Coventry)

Zoe Pollock (Nick Dakin, Oxford City)

Men

100m

Dominic Ashwell (Marvin Rowe, Shaftesbury Barnet)

Jeremiah Azu (Helen Patricia James, Cardiff)

Brandon Mingeli (Ryan Freckleton, Cambridge Harriers)

200m

Shemar Boldizsar (Stephen David Loft, Harlow)

Jona Efoloko (Clarence Callender, Sale Harriers Manchester)

400m

Joe Brier (Matt Elias, Swansea)

Alex Haydock-Wilson (Michael Baker, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow)

800m

Finlay McLear (Exeter)

Ben Pattison (Dave Ragan, Basingstoke and Mid Hants)

Thomas Randolph (Craig Winnow, Tamworth)

1500m

Tiarnan Crorken (Andy Bibby, Preston)

Josh Lay (Anthony Love, Rugby & Northampton)

George Mills (Jon Bigg, Brighton Phoenix)

5000m

Issac Akers (Bill Boyd, Crosby)

Rory Leonard (Morpeth)

Tom Mortimer (Christopher Brown, Stroud)

10,000m

David Melville (Harvard Uni)

110m Hurdles

Tade Ojora (Caryl Smith-Gilbert, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow)

Josh Zeller (Adrian Brown, Bracknell AC)

400m Hurdles

Alastair Chalmers (Matt Elias, Guernsey)

Alex Knibbs (Nick Dakin, Amber Valley & Erewash)

High Jump

Joel Khan (Deidre Elmhurst, Worcester)

Hammer

Ben Hawkes (Adrian Palmer, Cardiff)

4 x 100m Relay

Dominic Ashwell (Marvin Rowe, Shaftesbury Barnet)

Jeremiah Azu (Helen Patricia James, Cardiff)

Shemar Boldizsar (Stephen David Loft, Harlow)

Jona Efoloko (Clarence Callender, Sale Harriers Manchester)

Brandon Mingeli (Ryan Freckleton, Cambridge Harriers)

Destiny Ogali (Winston Thomas, Dacorum & Tring)

4 x 400m Relay

Joe Brier (Matt Elias, Swansea)

Alex Haydock-Wilson (Michael Baker, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow)

Alex Knibbs (Nick Dakin, Amber Valley & Erewash)

Alastair Chalmers (Matt Elias, Guernsey)

Lewis Davey (Newham & Essex Beagles)

Ethan Brown (Bromley & Blackheath)

Aidan Leeson (Glyn Hawkes, Rugby & Northampton)

England struck twice late on to end a 55-year wait for a knockout tie victory over Germany amid scenes of huge tension and elation at Wembley to reach the Euro 2020 quarter-finals.

Gareth Southgate's side battled hard to earn the statement victory that has so often eluded England, and it was their talisman of this tournament, Raheem Sterling, who made the decisive breakthrough.

Sterling, who scored the winners against Croatia and the Czech Republic in the group stage, steered in Luke Shaw's cross after 75 minutes to send England's fans, with more than 40,000 inside Wembley, into wild celebrations.

The Manchester City forward, who put England in front with a close-range finish at a time when the game was in the balance said: "We knew we needed to put a big performance in.  Scoring for your country will always be special and it is definitely a special moment for me."

The win was secured when captain Harry Kane headed in from a Jack Grealish delivery for his first goal of Euro 2020.

The victory marked the end for Joachim Low as Germany coach after a glittering career that brought a World Cup win in 2014 in Brazil. He now makes way for Bayern Munich's Champions League-winning coach Hansi Flick - and this performance showed there is rebuilding to be done.

England will now face Ukraine in the quarter-finals in Rome, Italy, on Saturday

Birmingham’s Edgbaston Stadium has again been confirmed as part of the Government’s Events Research Programme (ERP) and will operate at 80 per cent capacity for the Royal London International (ODI) between England and Pakistan.

Taking place on Tuesday 13 July, Edgbaston will be able to accommodate around 19,000 fans, including under 16s, in the stadium bowl and hospitality lounges without social distancing as part of the research study.

All attendees will be required to show a negative COVID lateral flow test result, this is necessary for anyone aged 11 years and older, or proof of two vaccinations (first and second dose) at least 14 days before the fixture to secure entry.

Any ticket purchasers who no longer wish to attend can request a refund for all tickets in their booking via our online form and all requests must be made before our deadline at 4pm on Thursday 1 July.

Today’s announcement follows on from Edgbaston’s successful hosting of the LV= Insurance Test Match between England and New Zealand, which accommodated around 60,000 spectators (70 per cent capacity) across four days with the same spectator entry requirements.

Stuart Cain, Chief Executive at Edgbaston, said: “It’s fantastic for sport in the West Midlands that so many cricket fans will be able to enjoy another blockbuster fixture in England versus Pakistan at Edgbaston.

“The recent Test match gave us a fantastic opportunity to build a new model for large scale sporting events and I’m pleased to see elements of this first trial being carried forward for the Pakistan match.  Technology played a big part in this and we will again focus on using this as a way of creating a safe environment whilst enhancing Edgbaston’s reputation as one of the best atmospheres in world cricket.”

Edgbaston’s hosting of the recent LV= Insurance Test Match saw the Birmingham venue introduce its new smart phone app with mobile ticketing, queue time checker, food and drink click and collect and a delivery to seat option for disabled spectators.

During the Test Match, 95 per cent attendees entered Edgbaston through a digital ticket, which could be accessed via the app. This app received 314,344 views across the four days of play for tickets, retail purchases, spectator information and food and beverage orders.

A second workshop will be held today (Tuesday 29 June) for local sports clubs and physical activity providers which want to claim a grant of £1,000 towards the costs of being Covid-19 compliant.

Volunteer-led sports clubs and physical activity providers in Wolverhampton are eligible for a Covid Compliance Grant offered by the City of Wolverhampton Council to encourage regular rapid Covid-19 testing and Covid-safe environments by offsetting the costs involved in this.

Sports clubs and physical activity providers in Wolverhampton can apply for the grant by calling 01902 290242 or visiting www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/covidcompliant, and are invited to find out more at the virtual workshop taking place tomorrow from 4pm-5pm.

It will cover what being Covid-compliant looks like, how organisations can be Covid-secure and how to apply for the grant. There will also be a question and answer session and further information about testing and risk management. To register, please visit https://bit.ly/3iY5H1t. Please note, it is not compulsory to attend the workshop in order to apply for the grant, it is for guidance only.

Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: “A third of people with Covid-19 don’t have any symptoms and could therefore pass it onto others unknowingly. Regular testing is helping to track down these cases and prevent onward transmission, protecting individuals and the wider community.

"That’s why we are asking people in Wolverhampton to get a free rapid test twice a week, either at one of our public test centres, at home or in the workplace where available.

“The Covid Compliance Grant is intended to help our city’s grassroots sports clubs and physical activity providers get back on their feet and, at the same time, encourage them to be Covid-secure and embrace a routine of regular coronavirus testing.

“This will give people confidence that clubs are doing all they can to protect participants from Covid-19 and keep the wider community safe from this deadly virus.

“I would encourage eligible organisations to join the free workshop to find out more about the scheme.”

Former Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers striker, Marlon Harewood, has been named as an official ambassador for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, to help raise awareness of the organisation’s vital work across the region.

41-year-old Marlon, who led a successful footballing career across the world for over 20 years, now resides in the Midlands, and is supporting the rapid response service as part of his community-oriented activities.

For several years from 2007, Marlon played for West Midlands’ Premier League teams Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers, clocking up over 45 appearances during his time at the local clubs. His affiliation with the charity is a natural fit for the sportsman, as sporting event incidents are a regular occurrence for the lifesaving crews of Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.

Hanna Sebright, chief executive for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said: “We are so pleased to welcome Marlon Harewood as an ambassador for the charity during our 30^th anniversary year.

“His support will help to raise awareness and draw attention to the lifesaving work of the charity which receives no Government or NHS Charities Together funding and relies solely on the generosity of the general public for its 4,500 missions in the region each year.”

On becoming an official ambassador for the much-loved charity, Marlon said: “I have always admired the work of the charity and now as an ambassador, I look forward to officially supporting the organisation, starting with the Jail or Bail event. It’s so important to raise the profile of this lifesaving service, both locally and nationally, as no one knows when they could need the assistance of the incredible medically advanced aircrews.”

To find out more about Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, visit midlandsairambulance.com and follow the service on social media.

A group of 22 athletes have been selected in the first of two waves of selections for next month’s European Athletics U20 Championships in Tallinn, Estonia (15-18 July).

Two athletes selected are currently ranked number two in the 2021 European U20 standings: Sophie Ashurst [women’s pole vault] and Temi Ojora [women’s triple jump].

Sale Harriers Manchester’s Sophie Ashurst cleared a personal best of 4.16m in the pole vault in Loughborough earlier this year and won the trial event at the England Athletics U20/U23 Championships last weekend. The 18-year-old earned her first British vest as GB Junior at the Loughborough International where she finished in third place.

Meanwhile, Temi Ojora has been in consistent form during the 2021 season to date and sits second in the European rankings with a mark of 13.62m last month. The US-based athlete earns her first call-up to a British team in Tallinn.

Welsh athlete Osain Perrin is ranked third in the European U20 rankings in the men’s 5000m, and he set his PB of 13.53.03 on his way to victory in the trial race at the BMC Grand Prix in Watford earlier this month.

Additionally, Mary John lies third in the women’s 400m rankings after she posted a career best time of 53.49 in Lee Valley at the start of the month.

Under 17 sprinter Success Eduan pipped Sophie Walton to the victory at the trials at the weekend, but both have received a call-up for the 200m in Tallinn. Walton is ranked fourth in Europe in the U20 rankings this year, with Eduan sixth, so both will be targeting high placings at next month’s championships.

In the men’s 100m, Toby Makoyawo booked his place in the team after clocking 10.64 to win at the trials at the weekend. His PB of 10.37 ranks him fourth in Europe (U20) so far this year.

Dominic Ogbechie and Charlotte Payne, both on the British Athletics Futures Academy Programme, are selected for the men’s high jump and women’s hammer respectively.

The rest of the team for the European Athletics U20 Championships will be announced in the second wave selections on Tuesday 6 July 2021.

The British team (first wave) for the European Athletics U20 Championships, Tallinn, Estonia

Women:

100m: Joy Eze (Michael Donnelly, Gateshead)

200m: Success Eduan (Anita Richardson, Sale Harriers Manchester) Sophie Walton (Trevor Williams, Horwich)

400m: Mary John (Alan James, Woodford Green Essex Ladies)

5000m: Alice Garner (Mick Woods, Aldershot Farnham and District)

100m Hurdles: Lily Parris (Julie Benterman, Chelmsford)

Pole Vault: Sophie Ashurst (Andy Ashurst, Sale Harriers Manchester)

Triple Jump: Temi Ojora (Nick Newman, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow)

Shot Put: Nana Gyedu (John Hillier, Blackheath and Bromley)

Discus: Samantha Callaway (David Callaway, Newham and Essex Beagles)

Javelin: Elizabeth Korczak (Bob Willows, Brighton and Hove)

Hammer: Charlotte Payne (Paul Dickenson, Reading)

Heptathlon: Abigail Pawlett (Joe Frost, Stockport T&F)

Men:

100m: Toby Makoyawo (Peter Griffiths, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow)

400m: Edward Faulds (James Wright, Rugby and Northampton)

5000m: Osian Perrin (Andrew Walling, Menai)

3000m Steeplechase: Kristian Imroth (Stephen Murphy, Shaftesbury Barnet)

110m Hurdles: Joseph Harding (Laura Turner-Alleyne, Basildon)

400m Hurdles: Adam Booth (Graeme Gourlay, Poole AC)

High Jump: Sam Brereton (Fuzz Caan, Birchfield) Dominic Ogbechie (Marius Guei, Highgate)

Long Jump: Brad Davies-Pughe (Jake Awe, Shaftesbury Barnet)

Six reigning Paralympic champions are among the first group of 12 athletes selected to represent ParalympicsGB at the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games this summer.

Hollie Arnold, Jo Butterfield, Hannah Cockroft, Aled Davies, Sophie Hahn and Richard Whitehead all won gold at Rio 2016 and are part of a stellar group of athletes who are announced in the first wave of para-athletics selections.

Five-time Paralympic champion Cockroft, who lowered her own world records in the women’s T34 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m in Switzerland last month, is joined by fellow T34 wheelchair racer and Rio 2016 silver and bronze medallist, Kare Adenegan, in the women’s T34 100m and 800m.

For Whitehead and Davies, Tokyo 2020 will be their third summer Games - both claimed gold at London 2012 and Rio 2016. Whitehead has been selected to compete in the T61 200m, while Davies will go in the F63 shot put.

Hollie Arnold – selected for her fourth Games - will be looking to defend the title she won five years ago in the women’s F46 javelin, while reigning world champion Jonathan Broom-Edwards – a silver medallist at Rio 2016 – is selected in the T64 high jump. Sabrina Fortune, who won her first world title in 2019 to add to the bronze she won in Rio, will line up in the women’s F20 shot put.

Reigning Paralympic, world, European and Commonwealth champion, Sophie Hahn will go for a tilt at her second T38 100m Paralympic title in Japan. Meanwhile, Rio 2016 bronze medallist Andrew Small has sealed his place in the men’s T33 100m.

Scottish sprinter Maria Lyle, who won three Paralympic medals in Brazil five years ago, was in terrific form at the recent European Championships, claiming two golds to take her tally of European titles to eight since making her debut in 2014. The 21-year-old will compete in the T35 100m and 200m in Tokyo.

Lyle’s compatriot and defending Paralympic F51 club throw champion, Jo Butterfield (Phil Peat, Forth Valley Flyers), completes the duo of Tokyo-bound Scots in this first wave of selected athletes.

20-year-old Thomas Young makes his Paralympic debut after impressive performances on the European and world stage in recent years, including T38 100m gold the European Para Athletics Championships earlier this month.

Great Britain and Northern Ireland finished third in the para-athletics medals table at Rio 2016, behind China and USA.

Para Athletics Head Coach Paula Dunn said: “I am very pleased to confirm our first wave of athletes for this summer’s Paralympic Games. It has been a long wait for these athletes, but this is a significant milestone in their career, so I hope they savour this moment and reflect on their achievement so far and use it to fuel them in the final few weeks of preparation for the Games. 

“I am proud of how these athletes have conducted themselves over the last year or so under very challenging circumstances. They have kept their focus on their goals in a year like no other, and I wish them all the best over these final few weeks of preparation prior to the Games. I am looking forward to seeing how they all perform out in Tokyo.”

ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission Penny Briscoe said: “It’s a great pleasure to welcome such talented athletes to the ParalympicsGB team with just over 60 days to go before the Games get underway in Tokyo.

“This tremendous group of athletes from both track and field has already shown great ability on the global stage, including gold and silver medal-winning performances at the last World Championships. I am in no doubt that their talent and experience will stand them in great stead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and I look forward to joining them on that journey.” The rest of the para-athletics team will be announced on Wednesday 21 July 2021.

The athletes selected for the Paralympic Games:

Kare Adenegan (Job King, Coventry) – Women’s T34 100m and 800m

Hollie Arnold (David Turner, Blackheath and Bromley) – Women’s F46 Javelin

Jonathan Broom-Edwards (Graham Ravenscroft, Newham and Essex Beagles) – Men’s T64 High Jump

Jo Butterfield (Phil Peat / Shona Malcolm, Forth Valley Flyers) – Women’s F51 Club Throw

Hannah Cockroft (Jenni Banks, Leeds) – Women’s T34 100m and 800m

Aled Davies (Ryan Spencer-Jones, Cardiff) – Men’s F63 Shot Put

Sabrina Fortune (Ian Robinson, Deeside) – Women’s F20 Shot Put

Sophie Hahn (Leon Baptiste, Charnwood) – Women’s T38 100m

Maria Lyle (Jamie Bowie, Team East Lothian) – Women’s T35 100m and 200m

Andrew Small (Rick Hoskins, Stockport) – Men’s T33 100m

Richard Whitehead (Keith Antoine, Southwell) – Men’s T61 200m

Thomas Young (Joe McDonnell, Charnwood) – Men’s T38 100m

Johannes Vetter is the latest global track and field star to sign up to the Müller British Grand Prix and all eyes will be on whether he can break Jan Zelezny’s world javelin record at the Wanda Diamond League event in Gateshead on Tuesday July 13.

Zelezny’s mark of 98.48m was set 25 years ago in Jena, but Vetter came close to surpassing it last year with 97.76m in Poland – the longest throw in the world for more than two decades.

The 28-year-old from Germany looks in world record-breaking form this year, too, as he threw 96.29m to win his event by 11 metres at the European Team Championships last month. The omens are good as well when it comes to Vetter attacking Zelezny’s record at Gateshead.

The last time he competed in Britain he won the world title in London in 2017. It is also not unusual to see javelin world records set in England. Czech legend Zelezny threw a world record of 95.66m in Sheffield in 1993, whereas Britain’s Steve Backley broke the world record with 90.98m at Crystal Palace in London in 1990.

Vetter said: “I have been really pleased with my form so far this year and am hoping for another good performance at the Müller British Grand Prix in Gateshead next month. It will be an important test ahead of the Tokyo Olympics and I look forward to throwing well there.

“I have good memories of competing in England. My world title in 2017 was won in the Olympic Stadium in London and there is always good support at British meetings from their knowledgeable crowd.” On attacking the world record, the German said earlier this year: 

“The conditions have to be right and in the javelin you need your whole body. You need the right speed, a good plant foot, the right release point, trajectory and transfer of weight. Trying to throw long is like going into a casino and playing roulette – the odds are against you.”

The news of Vetter’s participation follows the announcement of a world-class women’s pole vault line up that sees British record-holder Holly Bradshaw taking on Olympic champion Katerina Stefanidi, world outdoor champion Anzhelika Sidorova, world indoor gold medallist Sandi Morris and world leader in 2021 Katie Nageotte. In addition, British star Dina Asher-Smith will be racing over 200m and Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands will compete in the women’s mile, with further announcements to follow in coming days.

Gateshead staged the first Wanda Diamond League event of 2021 in May after it was moved from Rabat in Morocco to the North East of England and now, on July 13, the same venue will host the seventh Diamond League of the season after it was moved from its original home of London. The Müller British Grand Prix will be broadcast internationally from 7-9pm with BBC showing the action live for domestic viewers.

Birmingham Phoenix have finalised their coaching teams ahead of the start of The Hundred.

Andrew McDonald is unable to travel over to England this summer due to scheduling issues caused by the pandemic. Former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori will step up from his Assistant Coach role to the role of Men’s Interim Head Coach this summer while McDonald will continue to support the side in an advisory role before his planned return as Men’s Head Coach in 2022, subject to international commitments.

After a hugely successful playing career that sees him remembered as one of New Zealand’s greatest ever cricketers, Vettori has gained extensive coaching experience having had spells in charge of Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash, Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL and Middlesex in the Vitality Blast. He will be supported by two Assistant Coaches - Alex Gidman & James Franklin who have extensive experience in England, both on and off the field, and are currently Head Coaches at Worcestershire & Durham respectively.

Ben Sawyer remains as Head Coach of the Women’s side with some exciting additions to his backroom staff. Former England cricketer Caroline Foster (nee Atkins) is one of three Assistant Coaches alongside Dominic Ostler and Gareth Davies who currently coach the Warwickshire and Worcestershire Women’s sides.

Foster is a former World Cup and Ashes winner and coached Western Storm to the final of the Kia Super League in its inaugural season in 2016.

Daniel Vettori said: “I feel really honoured to be asked to step up and take the reigns from Andrew this year. Andrew has helped build a very strong squad we’ll continue to communicate regularly, and Andrew’s advice and support will be vital to hopefully bring The Hundred trophy to Birmingham.”

Andrew McDonald commented: “Unfortunately I am no longer able to travel to the UK this summer and coach the team, which is disappointing; but I will be doing everything I can in my revised role to support Dan, his coaching team and the playing group. Dan has been an integral part of the planning and I’m confident we can achieve success in The Hundred this year.”

Caroline Foster said: “I feel thrilled to be working with Birmingham Phoenix this summer. Ben is a fantastic coach who has experience around the world and I can’t wait to work with him and the players ahead of what is an incredibly exciting moment not just for Birmingham Phoenix but for women’s cricket as a whole.”

Sprinter Usain Bolt has had twin boys, named Thunder Bolt and Saint Leo Bolt. Bolt, 34, announced the news on Instagram on Father's Day, with a lightning bolt emoji next to each of his children's names. The Olympic champion posted a photo of him and partner Kasi Bennett, with their twin boys and one-year-old daughter Olympia Lightning. The couple did not say when exactly the twins were born.

Bennett also posted a photo with the babies, saying that Bolt was the rock of this family and the greatest daddy to our little ones. Olympia Lightning was born in May 2020, and her name was announced publicly two months later. Before her birth, Bolt had kept followers updated of Bennett's pregnancy on his social media. However, neither he nor Bennett had posted about her pregnancy with the twins. Bolt, a Jamaican sprinting icon, retired from athletics in 2017 and still holds the 100m and 200m world records, making him the fastest man in history. He is also the only man to have won three 100m Olympic titles and 23 major gold medals during his career.

After leaving athletics he tried to play professional football, but then announced he was leaving sports entirely in 2019. Bolt is not the first celebrity to use a play on words when naming children. In 2013 Kanye West and his wife Kim Kardashian West, who are currently separated, made headlines when they named their child North West. Musician Jermaine Jackson named his son, who is now 20 years old, Jermajesty.

And television actor Rob Morrow from 1990s series Northern Exposure named his daughter, who is now also an actor, Tu Morrow.

Up to 10,000 Japanese fans will be permitted at Tokyo 2020 Olympic venues, despite warnings from health bosses. Overseas spectators are already banned but organisers said domestic fans could attend providing crowds did not exceed 50% of a venue's capacity.

Fans will not be allowed to shout or speak loudly, and must wear face masks at all times while in venues. The Olympics are scheduled to begin on July 23, while the Paralympics follow a month later, from August 24.

Spectator numbers for the Paralympics will be confirmed by July 16, said a joint statement from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Tokyo 2020 organising committee, the Tokyo metropolitan government and the government of Japan. The decision to allow spectators comes despite the release of a report last week by Japanese medical experts that said holding the Games without spectators was the least risky and most desirable option.

Tokyo 2020 organising committee president Seiko Hashimoto said: "There are so many cases, domestically and internationally of sports events with spectators."

"By exercising thorough measures and based on the government criteria, we believe we can hold the Games with spectators. The entire world is facing the same issues and we have to work together to overcome them."

Should there be a rapid increase in Covid-19 infections and impact on Japan's healthcare systems, the five parties will consider further restrictions. This could include further reducing spectator numbers at venues.

There are fears that the Games may trigger a surge in coronavirus infections in Japan. As a result, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga last week encouraged the Japanese public to watch the Games on television, rather than attending events in person.

A state of emergency in Tokyo has been lifted, five weeks before the start of the Olympics with emergency Covid-19 restrictions having been in place in Japan's capital and other prefectures since late April amid a surge in infections. However, some quasi-emergency measures will remain in some areas, including Tokyo, until July 11.