Week in Sportbiz: Tokyo 2020 Olympics hit by another sexism scandal; World Rugby boosts women’s game; LaLiga brings tiki-taka teachers to East Sussex March 18, 2021 “I would like to show a new direction,” said Seiko Hashimoto upon taking over as president of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in the wake of a sexism storm last month. Four weeks later, Hashimoto’s hopes have been torpedoed by revelations that another senior male official for this summer’s Games made derogatory comments about women. Tokyo [...]
Creation Stories review: A familiar, nostalgic Britpop biopic March 18, 2021 Modern movies have a habit of romanticising the generations before it. The 80s pined for the 50s with Back To The Future, Diner, and Stand By Me, while the 90s longed for the 60s with My Girl, Forrest Gump, and Austin Powers. As we venture into the 2020s, it’s the turn of the 90s to [...]
Assassins film review – N Korea murder doc is an unbelievable hit March 18, 2021 A controversial hit at last year’s Sundance Film Festival, Assassins has had a bumpy road to the screen, but those who seek it out will discover an unbelievable tale. Assassins follows the trial of Vietnamese citizen Đoàn Thị Hương and Indonesian Siti Aisyah, for the 2017 murder of Kim Jong-nam, the elder half-brother of North [...]
Why the Premier League TV rights bubble really might be about to burst this time March 18, 2021 The Premier League TV rights for 2022 to 2025 will go under the hammer in the next few months. The outcome of that process could put the competition’s very existence at risk. In 2018, the UK segment of the Premier League TV rights sold for £4.5bn, down from a £5.1bn high in 2015. The rights [...]
Thousands of Dutch football fans to return next week for Holland v Latvia World Cup qualifier March 17, 2021 Holland has revealed plans to allow thousands of football fans, some without face masks, back into stadiums next week. Dutch football chiefs and the government will open doors at the Johan Cruyff Arena for the World Cup qualifying match between Holland and Latvia on Saturday 27 March. Up to 5,000 spectators will be allowed into [...]
Premiership Rugby Cup 2020-21 cancelled over player welfare and competition integrity concerns March 17, 2021 The Premiership Rugby Cup has been cancelled for this season due to complications caused by Covid-19. Premiership Rugby, which represents England’s leading clubs, cited concerns over player welfare and the tournament’s integrity if it went ahead. It means there will be domestic cup competition in English club rugby for only the second time in half [...]
Cheltenham Festival set for biggest TV audience in 10 years as organisers broadcast more races and shorten intervals March 16, 2021 This year’s Cheltenham Festival is set to attract its biggest UK television audience in a decade, according to analysts. The expected boost to viewing figures is a result of additional races being broadcast and the racecourse being closed to spectators, says Nielsen Sports. Cheltenham Festival, the most eagerly anticipated week of National Hunt racing in [...]
England in line for more Euro 2020 games as Uefa vows to ditch host cities that cannot guarantee crowds March 16, 2021 Euro 2020 organisers will axe host cities if they cannot guarantee that fans will be allowed to attend matches at this summer’s tournament. Dublin, Glasgow and Bilbao are the three hosts considered most likely to be cut from the pan-European, 12-city format. “The ideal scenario is to play the tournament in the original 12 venues, [...]
Sam Torrance: Justin Thomas underlines Masters credentials with sublime showing at Sawgrass March 16, 2021 One moment in the final round on Sunday summed up the whole weekend for Justin Thomas at the Players Championship. Leading by one as he stood over the final tee, Thomas launched a perfect shot that sailed dangerously close to the water before skipping to safety after a kind bounce. There is no way he [...]
Diverse Oscar noms drag 90-year-old awards into 21st century March 15, 2021 In recent years, the nominations for the Academy Awards have often drawn anger and frustration. #OscarsSoWhite became a regular trend for past ceremonies as actors of colour were ignored, while there was ongoing criticism at the absence of female behind the scenes nominees, and LGBTQ+ artists. Today, observers held their breath as this year’s nominations [...]