Ed Warner: Demise of UK Athletics is a scandalous situation April 20, 2023 I’ve largely kept my counsel on the shambles at UK Athletics since I left in 2017 but reports that the governing body is at risk of collapse have flipped my switch. Five years encompassing five chairs and six CEOs (some permanent, others interim), unnecessary politicking, pursuit of vanity projects, timidity and simple sloppiness have laid [...]
London Marathon director plays down fears of protestors disrupting Sunday April 19, 2023 The director of the London Marathon Hugh Brasher has played down the idea of the iconic 26.2-mile event being disrupted by protestors such as Extinction Rebellion. Brasher has said that Extinction Rebellion has assured the event – which will see elite athletes joined by 45,000 general participants run, walk and hop past some of the [...]
What is wrong with track and field? Why athletics could go extinct April 17, 2023 What is wrong with athletics? On the surface it doesn’t seem to be a question many are asking but within track and field it’s at the forefront of minds. Despite the quality of athletes remaining at historically high levels, the need and desire from fans to see them appears to be dwindling. Poor attendances at [...]
Ed Warner: British amateur sport must take a match to bonfire of bureaucracy April 13, 2023 Different patterns of belonging in this social media age are a stiff challenge to those of us attempting to build membership rosters for sporting bodies. What can we offer to persuade amateur athletes and casual fans to give a chunk of their identities – and a few quid from their virtual wallets – to organisations [...]
Russia’s athletics doping suspension is OVER, but ban remains due to Ukraine invasion March 23, 2023 World Athletics president Seb Coe has said that Russia’s seven-year doping ban has been lifted, but restrictions due to the Ukraine invasion remain. An investigation uncovered widespread state-sponsored doping was present across many disciplines in Russia and the country was banned from having athletes compete under the Russian flag unless they were categorically, in no [...]
Lineker row offers the BBC a chance to reflect on how it does sport March 16, 2023 National treasuredom isn’t codified. It is a status that creeps up on individuals, usually as they enter their twilight years. It does not reflect universal approbation, but certainly requires dissenters to be in a dwindling minority. Gary Lineker is clearly too divisive a figure to be considered a national treasure just yet, but the past [...]
I’m glad sport has moved on from distasteful ‘Plastic Brit’ debate – Ed Warner March 9, 2023 Dazzled by Great Britain’s three golden moments at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Istanbul last weekend, you’ll likely have missed the home nation’s unexpected victory in the women’s triple jump. Reeling from last month’s earthquake devastation, Turkey will have drawn some comfort from Tugba Danismaz’s winning leap. And she was only ranked ninth in [...]
Hodgkinson takes European track gold as Sawyers shines in field for Britain March 5, 2023 Keely Hodgkinson defended her 800m European Indoor Championships title as the Brit stormed to gold in Istanbul. The 21-year-old completed the four laps of the 200m track in a time of one minute 58.66 seconds and clear of the rest of the field. Slovenia’s Anita Horvat came home in second, nearly two seconds behind Hodgkinson, [...]
Politicians must step in to protect sport in legal minefield of trans policy – Ed Warner March 2, 2023 The ruck over transgender women participating in female sport is fiercely contested. Opinions are polarised, each side shouting in its own echo chamber. Into my inbox and into the debate drops an email from a PR agent containing a legal opinion that is a reminder that this issue is nuanced. It reinforces my own view [...]
‘Greta Thunberg of sport’ won’t fly to Australia over environment concerns January 26, 2023 British athlete Innes FitzGerald, dubbed the ‘Greta Thunberg of sport’, has refused to take part in a world championships event in Australia because of environmental concerns. FitzGerald, 16, has said the 10,000-mile flight fills her with “deep concern”. “The reality of the travel fills me with deep concern,” she said. “I would never be comfortable [...]