Sports News

Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who tested positive for Covid-19 last week, has been admitted to hospital. Tendulkar tweeted that he decided to go to a hospital in Mumbai as a matter of abundant precaution under medical advice.

The former captain, who is loved by millions, added that he was hoping to be back home in a few days. Several Indian cities, including Mumbai, have seen a sharp rise in Covid-19 cases in the past few weeks. Tendulkar, 47, shared the news at a time when India is staring at what experts have called a "deadlier second wave".

India reported 81,466 news cases and 469 deaths on Thursday - the highest daily spike since December. The country's Covid caseload had dropped sharply in January when it was reporting less than 15,000 cases daily. But cases began to spike again in March, largely driven by poor test-and-trace and lax safety protocols.

Many of the new cases were reported in the western state of Maharashtra, where Tendulkar lives in the city of Mumbai. Since the pandemic began, India has confirmed more than 12.2 million cases and over 163,000 deaths. It has the third-highest number of infections in the world after the United States and Brazil - however, its number of deaths per capita is far lower.

India has registered 118 deaths per million, compared to 1,487 in Brazil and 1,668 in the US.

India launched its vaccination drive in January and so far more than 65 million doses have been administered. But experts say the pace needs to further pick up to halt the spread.

Some have also attributed the uptick in numbers to a highly contagious variants of the coronavirus, but the government has denied this. The surge in cases comes during what some experts have called a "delicate phase" of the pandemic for India.

States are now reintroducing restrictions to stem the spread of the virus.

In his tweet, Tendulkar thanked his fans for their wishes and prayers. His fans and many of his former teammates have responded with prayers for his recovery.

He retired from cricket in 2013 but continues to be one of the most popular public figures in India. He recently took part in the Road Safety World Series Challenge, a veterans' tournament in the central Indian city of Raipur.

He made his international debut aged 16 in November 1989, setting off an illustrious 24-year career that earned him global recognition. In that time, he amassed a record 15,921 Test-match runs, the highest number by any batsman in cricket history.

In 2012, Tendulkar became the only batsman ever to reach 100 international centuries. One of his most memorable Test centuries was an unbeaten 103 that inspired India's victory over England in December 2008, and came shortly after terror attacks hit his home city of Mumbai.

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and insidethegames.biz have launched an exciting new partnership to tell inspiring Commonwealth Sport stories in the lead-up to Birmingham 2022.

A new section dedicated to Commonwealth Sport has gone live on the world leading and award winning Olympic news website, which features an in-depth overview of the movement. It includes the history of the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games, round-ups of major Commonwealth Games moments, biographies of star athletes and details of the CGF's drive to use sport for social change.

CGF President Dame Louise Martin said: "I am delighted to announce this exciting new partnership with our friends at insidethegames.biz.

"The CGF and insidethegames.biz have worked closely together for many years, across numerous editions of the Commonwealth Games, Commonwealth Youth Games and other key events on our calendar. They have unparalleled connections in global sport and are as passionate as we are about providing a voice and a platform for our diverse, committed Commonwealth sporting family.

"We are delighted to be moving this strong relationship a step further, with insidethegames.biz hosting a new section that will shine a light on the inspiring stories that are at the heart of the Commonwealth Sport. This will be particularly beneficial for some of our small states and island states, who will have a truly global platform to share their stories.

"My thanks go to editor Duncan Mackay, managing director Sarah Bowron and the entire team at insidethegames.biz for their support in working to promote our movement." insidethegames will produce multiple news articles on Commonwealth Sport each week, covering the 72 Commonwealth Games Associations which are preparing to compete in Birmingham next year.

"We are delighted to be working in partnership with the Commonwealth Games Federation," said Bowron. "Our experienced team have long enthused with infectious excitement about the Commonwealth Games. I caught the bug at Glasgow in 2014 alongside the younger members of our team. Our affection has continued to grow with memorable visits to Samoa, Edmonton, The Bahamas, the Gold Coast and Rwanda among others. 

"Everybody at the CGF and in the CGAs are like a big Commonwealth Family and we are delighted to feel a part of this fantastic global movement. Everybody in our team is looking forward to help tell the story of Commonwealth Sport to the insidethegames.biz influential readership of more than 20 million in over 200 countries and we hope that this will be a partnership for many years to come.

"I would like to thank Dame Louise and the entire team at the CGF for working with us to create this ground-breaking partnership. I am sure it will be a huge success." 

Making football history, when she stepped out to take charge of the Juventus vs. Dynamo Kyiv Champion’s League game, the name ‘Stephan Frappart’ was talked about all over the world's media.

Having inspiring young girls everywhere, the 37-year-old became the first woman to take charge of a men's match in a major UEFA competition when Liverpool and Chelsea met in the 2019 Super Cup. That year, she also refereed the Women's World Cup final between the United States and the Netherlands, and has refereed French Ligue 1 games since 2019.

Unmoved, though, by the worldwide attention she is receiving, a stoic Stephan said: "I never read newspapers about me. I make my bubble. I know that in football everybody speaks about referees and performance.

"I still ignore everything. I prefer it like this."

Having played football from the aged 10, she took charge of her first Europa League game in October when Leicester City hosted Zorya Luhansk. Since then, she said that refereeing at the men's World Cup in 2022 would be a bonus for her. A presence in those types of high-profile games would be a bound and would inspire young girls watching to follow in her foot-steps.

She said: “This would be a great pleasure. I know that I am a role model.

"Young women are watching TV, so I know that if I am here on the field they can see that it's possible.”

Having been in the pool of referees for top flight men's football in France for the 2019/20 season, Stephan Frappart has proved, over a number of years, that she is one of the best referees, not just in Europe but across the world.

Yesterday marked 20 years since David Rocastle passed away.

The Arsenal legend – who also playing for Leeds United and Chelsea, shocked everyone in the footballing world when his death - from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma – was announced. The life of the former England international was cut short, at 33-years-old, by a disease that couldn't be beaten, even by a man of seemingly endless courage.

Few Arsenal players of the modern era ever had the connection with supporters that David "Rocky" Rocastle had. The Lewisham-born star who joined Arsenal's academy in 1982, was always an inspirational fans’ favourite, as he balanced his unique blend of trickery and pace on the wing with a spirit that was way and above so many of his peers – at the time and since.

Two decades on since his passing and Rocastle's legacy is one of outright praise. A player loved by both fans and players alike, ‘Rocky’ was by all accounts the nicest man in English football, and the greatest tributes paid are from his peers – then and till today.

"Remember who you are, what you are, and who you represent," was his poignant mantra as he rose above and beyond those around him with supreme skill, grace and dignity.

Remembering the Gooner legend, another Arsenal great, Ian Wright reminisced about his former friend and teammate when saying that he was involved in the favourite game of his career – when the two played together at Highbury in the 1991-1992 season before Rocastle moved on to Leeds, and they helped the Gunners finish fourth in the old First Division.

Rocky, who also play for Manchester City and Sabah, in Malaysia, tragically passed away at the age of just 33 after suffering with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Always willing to share his invaluable experience and tips to others – regardless of who he spoke to,

20-years on since his passing, and David ‘Rocky’ Rocastle's legacy remains as one of outright praise.

David Weir and Shelly Woods showed their quality in tough conditions at the Thruxton Circuit and Venue as they recorded victories at the inaugural Müller 2021 Wheelchair Marathon, Thruxton Circuit. Weir scored a comprehensive win in the men’s marathon, but he was pushed over the opening four laps of the 12-lap contest by Danny Sidbury who would go on to claim second place and a personal best.

Sidbury led from Weir in the opening stages with the multiple Paralympic champion tucking in behind the Sutton & District athlete as the wind continued to pick up around the circuit. JohnBoy Smith was tracking their every move over these early moments of the contest, while Michael McCabe, who was completing the half marathon distance, followed behind. As they entered the finishing straight to embark on their fifth lap, Weir had opened a small lead on Sidbury, and he never looked back.

At one stage, he was on track for the 1hr35 pace but as the gusty conditions added to the complex nature of the task ahead he crossed the line in 1:44:45. Sidbury was not far behind, crossing the line in 1:46:01, taking 23 seconds off his previous best.

Meanwhile, as JohnBoy Smith dropped out due to a shoulder issue, Callum Hall moved into third place after the halfway mark, and a display of perseverance – racing alone for almost 25 miles - saw him ultimately finish in that position in a time of 1:48:20.

Weir said post-race: “To be honest, it is probably one of the toughest marathons I have done in a long time. Quite a tough one to start the season but I’m just thankful that we could get out and do something.

“Otherwise, I probably wouldn’t have had a marathon until Tokyo. It’s good practice and it shows me what I need to do in the next phase of training. For this time of the year, I’m in pretty good shape, probably the best shape I’ve been in for as long as I can remember. So, I’m pretty pleased with the performance.

“It’s nice to be out and see some of the lads as well and see these young athletes competing in the marathon distance. I haven’t got the top ten athletes here and I was going out on my own, but I felt pretty strong all the way around. Usually it takes me a few marathons to get up to speed.

“I’m hoping I’ll get the opportunity to race abroad at some point, so we’ll have to see. It’s a good start so I am happy.” In what she described as the ‘toughest marathon she’s ever done’, Shelly Woods won the women’s marathon in a time of 2:00:40.

Working with Sammi Kinghorn (Rodger Harkins; Red Star) around the first six laps, Woods clocked her fastest 3.6km lap of 9:39:1 on in the first loop and she showed patience as she took on the final half of the marathon in a solo effort. It was a solid push over the final few laps as she took the win to show her credentials in Paralympic year.

Woods said afterwards, “It was very very tough. I was aiming for 1:58 (the Minimum Entry standard for the Paralympics) but I was just outside it. But with those conditions I am quite pleased with the time I did.

“It was brutal out there but, it is great to race. There aren’t many opportunities to race at the moment, especially the big marathons, so it’s amazing that British Athletics were able to put this event on.

“My training has been going well and I’ve proved I can do a good time. I’m still coming back after I had my son. I had some time out after London Paralympics and didn’t go to Rio. It’s my son’s fourth birthday today, so I’m still steadily getting my times back up there. I feel like I’m getting better all the time, so that is a good thing.”

Mel Nicholls was second placed female athlete in the 26.2-mile race, recording a time of 2:22:48. Athletes also had the option of competing over the half marathon or the 10km at Thruxton due to limited competition opportunities over the last year.

The aforementioned Kinghorn finished 13.1 miles in 58 minutes following a solid push, while Michael McCabe was the first male finisher over the distance in 56:14. Only two athletes competed over 10km; multiple European medallist Ben Rowlings was the first across the line in 30:28, while World Para Athletics Junior champion Zien Zhou was second in 33:35.

Chris Thompson and Steph Davies produced personal best performances on their way to securing their marathon spots for Tokyo at the Müller British Athletics Marathon and 20km Walk Trial at Kew Gardens. Ben Connor also secured his place with a second spot in the men’s marathon, while Tom Bosworth sealed his second Olympic Games spot with a similar second place finish in the men’s 20km race walk.

In the men’s marathon race Chris Thompson ran a perfectly judged race, staying off the mid-race pace and at one point languishing 35 seconds behind the lead group of Dewi Griffiths, Ben Connor and Mo Aadan who were being led by the top-class pacing duo of Callum Hawkins and Jake Smith. Yet it was after the departure of the pace athletes, in between 30k and 35k when the evenly judged run by Thompson began to reap dividends. Reunited with the leading group at 35k, he then pushed on to establish a gap on Connor and Aadan, taking the bell for the final lap at 2:00.30.

The 39-year-old looked almost incredulous to be finding himself with a significant lead as he circled Kew Gardens, running well inside his previous marathon best and more importantly, inside the qualifying time for Tokyo, and he crossed the line in 2:10.50. Thompson, who became a Dad earlier this week, said: “This week has just knocked me for six. I have been trying to hold it together and I have just never felt so much emotion in all my life and I have always controlled it.

“I just said don’t cramp on that last lap, because everything fell into place in the last couple of laps. After 30mins I released, I worked the course out and worked out you can’t keep pushing like this, the turns and everything was just building up and I thought I need to check back because these guys need to be in really good shape to keep this going. I checked back and I just thought, an hour and a half, I have either messed this up royally or its going to turn around very quickly. I kept saying to myself, stay on course for the time and see what happens. I was in dreamland, the last to laps I was like ‘I am going’, nothing is stopping me now.

“This sounds bad, but I knew I had it with two laps to go, and I was starting to control my emotions then because I knew I had timed it right. I entered my own little mind palace of ‘this is just the rhythm I need for me’. If they stay gone, then good luck to them, just execute my own race and the other thing I kept telling myself, was just stay inside the time and you still have a chance.”

He added, “To be honest at one-point, worst case scenario, if you are the third Brit with the time, you still have got a chance. Or fourth Brit, because I think three ahead, but they came back to me very quickly once the pacemakers dropped out. I was running on cloud nine, the last two laps just…I feel like someone is going to tell me this didn’t happen. Seriously, I am 39! This doesn’t happen, last night my wife said, ‘finish it off’ and in my head I thought I am going to leave everything out there. I thought if we pull this off, I don’t know how we have done it. This is not like me. My new baby is called Theo and he has a lot to live up to. He has got a two-time Olympian dad!”

In second place and securing the second automatic slot having previously achieved the qualifying time, Ben Connor finished in 2:12.06, 14 seconds ahead of marathon debutant Mo Aadan who ran an admirable first 26.2 mile distance finishing in 2:12.20 for third. Connor added: “I am delighted; obviously I would have liked the win but delighted to have secured the spot. Job done, rest and recover now, get to do it all again in five months.

“I came into it as a race more than anything, as I didn’t have to worry about the time, so I literally just had to finish in the top two. Obviously, I came into win it anyway, so I wasn’t keeping an eye on the watch or anything, but I didn’t know what we were going through halfway, but I knew it was quick. Thommo obviously paced it a lot better. He decided to drop off a little bit but then come through stronger and the run the pace the whole race. Smart racing from him. Glad to hang on myself at the end.

“It hasn’t quite sunk in that I am going to Tokyo yet, but I am sure it will do. I will have a bottle of wine tonight and let it sink in and enjoy it. Be nice if we could go to the pub but I will have to wait a couple of weeks to celebrate.”

In the women’s race Steph Davies put on a superlative performance to dominate after starting to split away from the field having passed halfway in 74.06. She pushed on with the pacing team recording an impressive negative second half split of 73.10, eventually crossing the line in 2:27.16 – a PB by 24 seconds and 2 mins and 14 secs inside the Tokyo qualifying mark.

It was a bittersweet second for Natasha Cockram, whose 2:30.03 was some 43 seconds outside of the qualifying time but it was an impressive PB by some 46 seconds. Completing a hat trick of personal best performances, third spot went to Rosie Edwards (Robert Hawkins) in 2:31.56 – almost nine minutes inside her previous best performance over the marathon distance.

“Anything can happen in the marathon, you can’t just know that this is going to be your day”, said Davis, adding, “It was an amazing event today, flat course, the corners were fine, and I am really happy to take the win and secure that spot and a small PB.”

“Phil and I work very closely as a team, I think I am a bit different to other marathon runners he’s coached before. I don’t do the high mileage, it’s just something I have never done. I do a lot of cross training but with Covid and the gyms being closed, I had to train at home. Doing 6/7 hours on the bike a week, and then my average was about 60/65miles through the week. So, the focus was on the big quality sessions and its always worked for us. We kind of replicated what I did for Valencia, and apart from Phil throwing in some extra-long hard sessions to test me and push me to that next level, that’s really helped to get me there and get me here today with that result.”

Callum Wilkinson stormed to an overwhelming victory in the men’s 20km race walk trial. Almost immediately at the 6am start, Wilkinson was out on his own in an attempt to get the 81:00 Olympic qualifier and was on target at 5km but out on his own in the breezy and damp conditions he fell just over a minute short with a time of 82:47 and won the British title in the process. While Wilkinson’s Tokyo appearance is dependent on a future qualifying time, Tom Bosworth already had the time and by finishing second he confirmed his place on the team for Tokyo. Bosworth was second in 86:24 with Guy Thomas third in 90:19.

Bosworth added: “Today’s race was not really a race for me, it was really really tough. I have suffered with an injury over the last month, but you know, I have qualified for my second Olympic games, I’m on the plane.

“The winter has gone really well, and then about a month ago I suffered a reoccurrence in my lower back of an injury that I had two years ago, which makes moving pretty painful. So, getting through 20k is not easy, even when you are fit, let alone when you are struggling but I knew that was going to be the case. From about 5k in, I was in quite a lot of discomfort and it just got worse and worse. It was just managing the race, I’m experienced enough now, I knew that if I finished first or second, I’d be going to the Games.”

The women’s race was a clear victory for Heather Lewis. After building up a short early lead on the first 5km she was overtaken by Gemma Bridge, but the Oxford City athlete was disqualified and that left the Welsh athlete out on her own, falling short of the 91:00 qualifying time but is hopeful of another opportunity. She recorded a time of 94:49 with Bethan Davies taking second in 97:04 while Erika Kelly sealed bronze in 1:46.31.

Amazon Prime Video has released the official trailer for the Amazon Original docuseries La Leyenda de Sergio Ramos. This new season about the life of the international football player - which follows the success of El Corazón de Sergio Ramos - will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in Spain next April 9th, and on June 18th in the rest of the world.

The 6-episode docuseries will go through the milestones that the legend of Sergio Ramos has written, is writing and is yet to write using the most decisive moments of his life and professional career during this past season as a starting point. La Leyenda de Sergio Ramos will show unpublished images of La Liga, thoughts on the most relevant decisions of his career, memories of great moments and future plans, all this with the testimonials of those who have shared his personal and professional life.

A  story  that  will  speak  of epic  and  glory,  but  also  of pain  and  disappointment,  because  the  path  of a hero demands sacrifice and after more than 15 years in the elite, Sergio Ramos continues to surrender himself to the sport that he has loved since day one.

La  Leyenda  de  Sergio Ramos includes  testimonials  of some  of the  people  who  have  been  part  of the footballer's  career  including  his  teammates  and  coaches  Zinedine  Zidane,  Vicente  del  Bosque,  Luka Modric,  Marcelo  Vieira,  Toni  Kroos,  Raphaël  Varane,  Lucas  Vázquez,  Raúl  González  Blanco,  Roberto Carlos,  Iker  Casillas,  Jesús  Navas  and  Sergio  Busquets;  as  wellas  friends  and  celebrities  who  have influenced his life such as Alejandro Sanz, Jorge Valdano or Rafa Nadal.

The  6-episode  series  is  an  ESI  (Banijay  Iberia)  production,  executive  produced by Javier  Pereira  and directed by José Rueda.

Nadeshiko Japan saw the Tokyo 2020 Olympics get under way as the Torch Relay started in Fukushima. As the flame’s journey will begin in the J-Village national football training facility, the route, which is unchanged from a year ago when the Games were postponed, will see the Olympic flame travel through 859 municipalities, passing within a short distance of the majority of the Japanese population.

Over 10,000 torchbearers, hand-selected from over half-a-million applicants, will have the responsibility of carrying the Olympic flame on its journey across the host country. With its pink gold colour - inspired by cherry blossom, a flower synonymous with Japanese spring - each torchbearer, who was chosen for their ability to overcome adversity, will celebrate the best in everyone.

With the aim of uniting people around messages of supporting, accepting and encouraging one another, the Olympic torch is again on the move - one year after it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With no crowd to witness the start, the first runner to carry the torch was Azusa Iwashimizu, a Japanese player who was part of the team that won the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The ceremony was the beginning of what will be a four-month tour around Japan, culminating with its arrival at Tokyo's Japan National Stadium during the Opening Ceremony in July.

The official mascot for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games has been revealed as Perry the Bull was unveiled.

Designed by Emma Lou, from Bolton, in Greater Manchester, who won a national competition, the mascot is named after the Perry Barr area of Birmingham, where the Alexander Stadium will host athletics events as well as the opening and closing ceremonies.

An excited 10-year-old Emma said: "It feels as if I'm in a dream. I chose a bull because of the Bullring in Birmingham, and I decided to use hexagons because they are the strongest shape and the whole world depends on each other.

"I am so excited that my design will be seen by so many people."

The Birmingham Games will take place across the West Midlands from July 28 to August 8 next year and is set to be the most expensive sports event staged in Britain since the London 2012 Olympics.

Olympic gold medal winner Denise Lewis said: “I truly believed that the games would represent a ‘beacon of light’ amid the coronavirus pandemic”.

The president of Commonwealth Games England, she added: "We know there's an Olympic Games to get through first - a very different Olympics - but the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, for a lot of people, will be the end of what has happened. It is a beacon of light, probably a symbolic sign of what we've come through,"

Ian Reid, Chief Executive of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, said: "Perry is everything I hoped our mascot would be and more: bright, colourful, energetic and totally representative of modern Birmingham and the West Midlands. Perry will celebrate diversity,

community and our region's heritage as well as its future.

"From today, Perry becomes a powerful icon for Birmingham 2022 all over the world, and you'll be seeing a lot more of him during the countdown to the Games."

The mascot will also be brought to life through augmented reality allowing Facebook and Instagram users to summon an animated version and pose for pictures with him.

West Bromwich Albion is delighted to confirm Principal Partner Ideal Heating will proudly adorn the front of the club’s shirts for a further three years. The UK’s largest heating firm became Baggies sponsors in 2018 and the new deal, which runs to the conclusion of the 2023/24 season, will see the partnership extend to a sixth campaign – making it one of the longest commercial relationships in the club’s history.  

Ideal Heating (formally Ideal Boilers) first agreed a deal with Albion at the start of the 2018/19 season, with the sponsorship taking social media by storm when the now-world-famous “Boilerman” – arguably the most iconic mascot of all time - was unveiled at The Hawthorns. The three-year partnership has gone from strength to strength, with Ideal Heating providing hundreds of tickets to local organisations, as well as merchandise competitions for Baggies fans, and many other successful, supporter-led initiatives.

Ideal Heating has been at the forefront of designing and manufacturing heating technology here in the UK for more than a century. It’s known and loved by homeowners, business owners and installers alike for its industry-leading product range and its creative marketing and sponsorship activity.

Formerly known as Ideal Boilers, the rebrand to Ideal Heating in 2020 was designed to better reflect Ideal’s wide range of heating products and solutions. Alongside the rebrand, and as part of its commitment to a low carbon future in the UK, the business launched a specialist environmental division – hence the new green dot on the ‘i’ for Ideal. Simon King, Albion’s Chief Commercial Officer, is delighted to have extended the agreement, having worked closely with the club’s Principal Partner since 2018.

He said: “Ideal Heating are a brand that continues to grow rapidly and are at the forefront of innovation within their sector. They are a true partner in every sense of the word and it has been quite a journey with them so far, both on and off the pitch. I’m looking forward to seeing our long-standing relationship with Ideal Heating continue to flourish and we will strive to build on the fantastic results our partnership has already delivered.”

Chief Executive of Ideal Heating, Shaun Edwards, added: “We take our role as Principal Sponsor very seriously, but we also like to have a good time – which is why we get on so well with West Brom and its fans. Our legendary Boilerman character was born at The Hawthorns three years ago, and is now centre stage in all of our TV ads and installer materials.

“As well as being a part of the team’s success over the past few seasons, we’ve loved getting to know local people, and will continue to focus on our charity and community work throughout this next term. We’re incredibly excited to be back for another three years, and look forward to building on everything we’ve already achieved with the club.”

Ideal Heating’s new logo is already in place at The Hawthorns and will feature on club shirts for the 2021/22 season.

London Lions have won the BBL Trophy for the first time in their history after overcoming Plymouth Raiders 88-82 in a dramatic final live on Sky Sports at the University of Worcester Arena. It came after their WBBL team achieved the same thing earlier in the day.

It's Lions' third piece of silverware since January 2019, and atones for a defeat in the final of this competition two years ago against their capital city rivals, while also bouncing back from BBL Cup Final defeat in January.

London meant business from the off in this one, leading from tip-to-buzzer despite it being close late on. A DeAndre Liggins step-back and a steal and dunk from Dirk Williams sparked a 12-2 burst that made the score 18-7 in the first quarter, as they allowed Plymouth just one bucket in five minutes.

Rapid starts to the second and third periods kept Raiders close, with the latter being a 15-2 burst that included nine for Rickey McGill - who finished with a game-high 31 – and that was a theme of this game as Raiders stayed within striking distance throughout, but could never get in front.

Every time London's lead look threatened, it seemed like one of their standouts - Williams or Liggins - was there to hit a big shot. Williams snapped the third quarter run with a three-pointer, and then hit another in a 9-2 response that sent the lead back to 63-55.

Lions could never shake Plymouth off, and they were back within one shot on numerous occasions in the fourth period, including at 74-71 before Liggins made a big 'and-one' play. And with the game still on the line heading into the final minute, he made a free-throw and then had a second one that was bouncing around tipped in from the rim by the defence for two points, 84-77 with one minute to play.

There was still time for more late drama as Justin Robinson missed a pair of free-throws before Denzel Ubiaro tipped in to make it a one shot game with 12 seconds to go, but Orlando Parker iced a pair at the charity stripe to ultimately settle it. It was Liggins who lifted the MVP award, with a near triple-double of 19 points, eight assists, seven rebounds, and five steals.

"I feel great,” DeAndre said. “We came out and played extremely hard, and we just fought to the end and came out victorious.

"We were battling covid earlier in the season, and I had to miss the Cup Final and felt really bad. That's something I couldn't control, so I'm glad that we could pull this one out and get the win.

"We couldn't miss this opportunity again. So I just came in focused from the jump, and we found a will and found a way to come through adversity in the game. We just kept fighting to come out victorious."

Head Coach Vince Macaulay said: "I need to shoutout to the London Lions fans because they are not here to enjoy this with us. We are doing this for them, working really hard in this environment with no one around us and it's for the fans, and I know they will appreciate getting this.

"We had to be animated today, and in all reality we were very focused on the job at hand. It was important for us to come out here and just concentrate on Lions and what we were doing, don't let anything take us out of what we need to do, and I think we did that very well all the way down the stretch.

"In sports it's all about winning, if you don't win it doesn't matter how well you have played. We have been there, stood on the side line while Newcastle Eagles lifted the Cup having played extremely well in that game. It's all about counting those trophies, because we want that to be the result of all our hard work."

Japanese authorities have told the Olympic and Paralympic committees that it was highly unlikely that entry to the country could be guaranteed. Organisers have said that the move now gives clarity to ticket holders and helps ensure a safe and secure Games for all participants and the Japanese public.

The Games are due to begin on July 23 with the Paralympics following a month later, from August 24. Organisers said that the Covid-19 situation in Japan and many other countries, global travel restrictions and emergence of variant strains of the virus had led to the decision and that ticket holders would be refunded.

The Olympics were postponed by a year in March last year because of the growing spread of coronavirus across the world. It is the first time in the event's history it has been postponed, with more than 11,000 athletes from about 200 countries scheduled to take part in 2020.

Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, said: “The move is a great sacrifice for everybody. We share the disappointment of all enthusiastic Olympic Games fans from around the world, and of course the families and friends of the athletes, who were planning to come to the Games. For this I am truly sorry.

"Every decision has to respect the principle of safety first. I know that our Japanese partners and friends did not reach this conclusion lightly. We stand shoulder-to-shoulder at the side of our Japanese partners and friends, without any kind of reservation, to make the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 a great success."

International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons said: "Difficult decisions had to be made with safety the top priority.

"It goes without saying that in an ideal world we would prefer to have international spectators at the Games. But at the moment we must acknowledge that due to the global pandemic we are not living in an ideal world."

The British Olympic Association (BOA) said that while it is a very disappointing situation, it highlights the extreme determination to stage a safe event during the pandemic. A BOA statement said: "This is very sad news, not only for British fans but particularly for the family and friends of athletes."

The exclusion of international fans comes as another major financial blow to the Tokyo Games.

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.

Australia all-rounder Ellyse Perry has joined Birmingham Phoenix for this summer's Hundred competition.

The 30-year-old has won five Twenty20 World Cups and was named player of the decade by the International Cricket Council in December. New Zealand T20 captain - and the world's number one ranked batter - Sophie Devine will lead the side.

"It's always a special moment in sport when something like this comes along," Perry said. "I feel really chuffed that another country wanted me to come and play in their competition."

The new 100-ball competition, which was postponed by a year because of the coronavirus pandemic, features eight city-based teams and begins on July 21. Phoenix's first fixture will be against London Spirit at Edgbaston two days later.

At 16, Ellyse became the youngest person - male or female - to represent Australia at cricket when she made her one-day international debut against New Zealand in Darwin. Just two weeks later, she made her senior debut for the country's football team and helped them reach the last eight of the 2011 World Cup, scoring a brilliant goal in their 3-1 defeat by Sweden.

In cricket, she has played eight Tests, 112 one-day-internationals and 120 T20s for Australia. Among her many achievements, in July 2019 she became the first cricketer to complete the double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in T20s.

Perry will link up with Birmingham Phoenix head coach Ben Sawyer, who is also assistant coach and fast bowling specialist for the Australian women's team.

Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games organisers and its partners have released a national Legacy Plan, outlining a series of Games’ firsts that will leave a lasting, positive impact on jobs, skills, education, culture, physical activity and investment across the West Midlands and the UK. It outlines how the Games’ £778 million public investment into the West Midlands is benefiting people in the region and beyond, will continue to do so after the Games, and can provide a legacy blueprint for future host cities.

The plan is delivered in partnership between the Birmingham 2022 organising committee, the Government, Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Combined Authority, Commonwealth Games Federation, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, West Midlands Growth Company and Commonwealth Games England.

The national plan includes aims to deliver several Commonwealth Games firsts, including:

1.    The first carbon-neutral Commonwealth Games;

2.    The first time firms bidding for contracts must include a social value requirement;

3.    The largest business and tourism programme of any Games to attract international visitors and investment to the region and the UK;

4.    The first Games to fully integrate volunteers from all delivery partners into a united volunteer programme.

The legacy plan is united by Birmingham 2022’s vision to be the Games for Everyone. Its objectives will be delivered against the Games’ five missions: to bring people together, improve health and wellbeing, help the region grow and succeed, be a catalyst for change, and put us on the map. 

Across nine legacy programmes, the plan sets out a bold vision for how the Commonwealth Games can transform the region and unite communities across the West Midlands, the country and the Commonwealth with a message of hope and recovery following the pandemic. The plan includes:

·         State-of-the-art legacy facilities at the Alexander Stadium and Sandwell Aquatics Centre for community use after the Games 

·         1,400 homes in the first phase of the Perry Barr Regeneration Scheme, with hundreds more in future phases;

·         A procurement spend of around £350 million to benefit businesses across the UK 

·         35,000 jobs and opportunities available, with the first Commonwealth Jobs and Skills Academy offering a blueprint for reaching disadvantaged groups;

·         200,000 hours of volunteer training for 12,500+ people, with a framework for developing skills and employability that could be replicated by future Games;

·         “Commonwealth Active Communities”, a £4 million Sport England fund to harness the power of the Games to support inactive people to become more active;

·         A six-month, UK-wide Cultural Festival reaching 2.5 million people and prioritising underrepresented communities, offering and a blueprint to support the long term growth of the arts and culture sector;

·         A £6 million Commonwealth Games Community Fund from Birmingham City Council to help communities build pride, respect and cohesion by celebrating the Games their way;

·         An ambition to directly engage with one million children and young people through a learning programme, with classroom resources on the Games offered to children across the UK and the Commonwealth; 

·         A £23.9 million programme to highlight the wealth of opportunities available in the West Midlands, as well as promoting England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland , around the world, enhancing the country’s profile as a destination for tourism, trade and investment and supporting post-pandemic recovery. The Queen’s Baton Relay will travel across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland before arriving in England, with communities across the UK encouraged to take part

·         The first Commonwealth Games to incorporate, measure and evidence the social value impacts and benefits of hosting the Games, offering a model to future host cities.

To mark the launch of the Legacy Plan, the Birmingham Poet Laureate and Birmingham 2022 Legacy and Benefits Committee member Casey Bailey has written a poem called “Dive In”, capturing the excitement and the opportunity that Birmingham 2022 bringing to the city, the region, the country and the Commonwealth. Birmingham 2022 is the biggest sport and cultural event in the UK since 2012, and the biggest ever held in the West Midlands. With 19 sports, including 8 para-sports, over 11 days of competition, the Games features the largest integrated para-sport programme at any Commonwealth Games, and will award more medals to women than men for the first time.

Research by the Commonwealth Games Federation in 2020 found significant economic benefits for Commonwealth Games host cities, including a £1 billion uplift for Gold Coast in Australia in 2018. 

Commenting on the legacy plan, John Crabtree, Chairman of Birmingham 2022, said: “The Games is a truly unique moment to showcase our great city and region to the world. It will help us to draw all our neighbours together after the most challenging of times, with a sense of unity and purpose. The Games’ partners are embracing this once in a generation occasion with both hands to ensure the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games leads our recovery with a legacy of renewal, growth, hope and inspiration.

“We are determined that the connections, friendships, and opportunities that the Games will provide us with, will continue to flourish and thrive. As individuals, as neighbours, as communities and as a region we must seize the Games moment as our catalyst to a happier, healthier, and more prosperous future.”

Nicola Turner MBE - Director of Legacy (Cross-Partner), Birmingham 2022, said: “More than ever, it feels like 2022 will be an important year. From cleaner air to new jobs I’m seeing so many possibilities for how the Games can help the West Midlands become a fairer, greener, healthier and more prosperous place. Planning for the legacy starts now and, fuelled by the Games for everyone vision, we intend to make the most of it.” 

Leader of Birmingham City Council, Councillor Ian Ward, said: “From day one, as we started developing the bid to host Birmingham 2022, I have emphasised that the Commonwealth Games will be more than 11 days of spectacular sporting action. Sitting alongside the council’s own vision for the city, the Legacy Plan outlines exactly how we and the other Games Partners will make this a reality.

“The Games are clearly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve the lives of local people by generating business, delivering much-needed regeneration, being bold by promoting the city on the global stage and bringing our communities together. We will do everything we can to set the standard for future major events in Birmingham, across the Commonwealth, and beyond.”

Nigel Huddleston, Minister for Sport and Tourism, said: "As the biggest sporting and cultural event ever held in the West Midlands, Birmingham 2022 is a global advert for the best of the UK that will leave a significant legacy. The games will create tens of thousands of jobs, volunteering opportunities and a boost to businesses in the West Midlands and beyond. It will help our country build back better from the pandemic and have a hugely positive impact on people’s lives.”

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, said: “One of the main reasons I fought so hard to help secure the Commonwealth Games for the West Midlands was the jobs it would create for local people – and that is exactly what the legacy plan sets out to do. 35,000 job and skills opportunities is an incredible number, and given the effect on livelihoods the coronavirus pandemic has had, it is mission critical we reach that number to help get people back into work as part of my two-year Mayoral jobs plan.

“Along with 1,400 new homes, a big step towards carbon neutrality by 2041, and a huge boost to West Midlands’ trade, the Commonwealth Games is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the region that will deliver far more than a few medals.”

Bruce Robertson CGF Vice President said: “We know that the Commonwealth Games has consistently provided an economic boost of over £1 billion for previous host cities, along with an array of positive social and environmental benefits.  It is now the turn of Birmingham and the West Midlands to create an amazing new legacy. 

“I am particularly excited about Birmingham 2022 being the first carbon-neutral Games and the innovative approach to driving social value through procurement.  Birmingham 2022 will set a brilliant standard for all future editions of the Games.  It will be for the people of the West Midlands to deliver a successful legacy from Birmingham 2022 and I have every confidence they will do just that, achieving something very special that benefit future generations.”

Commonwealth Games England Chair, Ian Metcalfe, said: “As a born and bred Brummie, I am delighted that Team England`s athletes, coaches and support staff will be central actors in the delivery of a successful Games Legacy. I firmly believe that a major part of the story to tell our children will be of an inspirational Team England, the most diverse English sporting team to compete anywhere in the world. A story not just of their medal winning feats, but of their unity and togetherness – a Team England which represents us all. What a legacy this will be.”

Zaina Mistry, a coach at the City of Birmingham Rockets Basketball Club, said: “Birmingham and the West Midlands is so diverse, and I think the legacy of the Commonwealth Games will be to show that no matter who you are or where you’re from, you can take part and get involved. That is the message I am giving to the young people I coach every week.

“This is such a great opportunity for Birmingham; the Games will open up a lot of doors for young people in sport, seeing world class athletes on their doorstep and inspiring them to achieve. It will provide the young girls and boys I coach with role models they can look up to.”

According to the findings of an independent review into historical child sexual abuse in the game, "Significant institutional failings" by the Football Association meant it "did not do enough to keep children safe".

It found the FA was "too slow" to have sufficient protection measures in place between October 1995 and May 2000. It said there was no evidence the FA knew of a problem before summer 1995. The report focused on the abuse of children between 1970 and 2005.

It said: "The FA acted far too slowly to introduce appropriate and sufficient child protection measures, and to ensure that safeguarding was taken sufficiently seriously by those involved in the game. These are significant institutional failings for which there is no excuse."

The long awaited 710-page review, led by Clive Sheldon QC and commissioned by the FA in 2016, found:

·         Following high-profile convictions of child sexual abusers from the summer of 1995 until May 2000, the FA "could and should have done more to keep children safe".

·         There was a significant delay by the FA in putting in place sufficient child protection measures in football at that time. In that period, the FA "did not do enough" to keep children safe and "child protection was not regarded as an urgent priority".

·         Even after May 2000, when the FA launched a comprehensive child protection policy and programme, "mistakes were still made" by the FA.

·         The FA failed to ban two of the most notorious perpetrators of child sexual abuse, Barry Bennell and Bob Higgins, from involvement in football.

·         There were known to be at least 240 suspects and 692 survivors, yet relatively few people reported abuse and the actual level was likely to be far higher.

·         Where incidents of abuse were reported to people in authority at football clubs, their responses were "rarely competent or appropriate".

·         Abuse within football was "not commonplace". The overwhelming majority of young people were able to engage in football safely.

·         While several of the perpetrators knew each other, there was not evidence of a "paedophile ring" in football - Sheldon says: "I do not consider that perpetrators shared boys with one another for sexual purposes, or shared information with one another that would have facilitated child sexual abuse."

Sheldon's review has made 13 safeguarding recommendations, and he said: "Understanding and acknowledging the appalling abuse suffered by young players in the period covered by the review is important for its own sake. Survivors deserve to be listened to, and their suffering deserves to be properly recognised. As well as recognising and facing up to what happened in the past, it is also important that this terrible history is not repeated, and that everything possible is done now to safeguard the current and future generations of young players."

On 16 November 2016, former footballer Andy Woodward waived his right to anonymity to talk about how he was sexually abused by Bennell at Crewe Alexandra from the age of 11 to 15. Several other people contacted police in the following days, before former England and Tottenham player Paul Stewart said he was abused as a child by a coach, later named as Frank Roper.

Children's charity the NSPCC set up a hotline with the Football Association dedicated to footballers who had experienced sexual abuse - more than 860 calls were received in the first week. After investigations involving several police forces started, the FA announced an independent inquiry into non-recent child sex abuse, led by Sheldon.

The independent review made its first call for evidence in January 2017, writing to all football clubs in England and Wales, amateur and professional, asking for information about allegations between 1970 and 2005.

Sheldon's review said the FA was not aware that abuse had actually occurred in football prior to the summer of 1995, before Bennell had been convicted in Florida in connection with a football-related tour. The report found that the provision of child protection guidance was "not something which was happening widely within sport".

The report said that for much of the period the review covered:

·         club staff and officials were generally unaware of child protection issues;

·         they were not trained in child protection issues;

·         they did not identify or respond to signs of potential abuse;

·         and if they were aware of the signs, they did not examine them with curiosity or suspicion.

In March 2019, Manchester City set up a multi-million pound compensation scheme for victims of historical child sexual abuse carried out by former coaches. The report said that Manchester City senior management were aware of rumours and concerns about Barry Bennell's conduct in the early 1980s. "The club did not investigate these rumours. It should have done so. The club should also have investigated the arrangements for boys staying at Bennell's house."

Crewe Alexandra have reiterated that they were not aware of any sexual abuse by Bennell until 1994 when he was convicted of sexual assault, and did not receive a single complaint about sexual abuse by him. The Sheldon report said: "It is likely that three directors of Crewe Alexandra FC discussed concerns about Bennell which hinted at his sexual interest in children.

There’s no evidence that the advice of a senior police officer to the club's former chairman to keep a 'watching brief' on Bennell was heeded. The club should also have ensured that there were appropriate arrangements in place for boys staying overnight at Barry Bennell's house.

The boys should have been spoken to periodically to check that they were being properly cared for. Had such steps been taken, this might have led to boys making disclosures to the club".

Stoke City were "also aware of rumours about Bennell" during his time associated with the club in the early 1990s, said the report, and steps should have been taken to monitor his activities. Premier League clubs Aston Villa and Leicester paid damages to five victims of Langford in March 2020. The report said Aston Villa should have reported disclosures about sexual abuse by Langford to the police when his role as a scout was terminated in July 1989.

Southampton admitted "considerable failings" and said they were "deeply sorry" to young footballers abused by Higgins. The report found that Southampton and Peterborough FC were also aware of rumours about the inappropriate behaviour of Bob Higgins, and were aware that boys were staying at his home. This awareness should have resulted in greater monitoring by clubs. Had Higgins been properly monitored this might have prevented some of his abuse of young players.

At Chelsea, in relation to Eddie Heath, the Sheldon report said steps should have been taken to protect the young player who had made a disclosure about abuse in or around 1975. Newcastle United should have acted more quickly following disclosures of abuse by George Ormond at the youth club "Monty's" in early 1997.

Ormond was only removed from the club many months later, and after Ormond had been permitted to travel abroad with young players. The report found that despite being aware of the allegations, no additional safeguards were put in place by the club.

Among Sheldon's recommendations are the introduction of safeguarding training at several levels in the game, including all players and young people as well as the FA board and senior management team. He also recommends there should be safeguarding officers employed by all Premier League and English Football League clubs.