Michael Johnson: Track and field needs more best versus best to attract fans May 16, 2023 Four-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson says track and field’s lack of “best versus the best” battles on the calendar has contributed to declining interest in athletics. The sport has been at a crossroads for a number of years. While it can claim the fastest man and woman in the world and remains the epicentre [...]
Track and field must shine in 2023 or risk a painful death May 2, 2023 So a new track and field season is upon us, with the Diamond League set to begin on Friday in Doha. And while those in Qatar may have their eyes fixed on Manchester United at the moment, the athletics circus is returning to their back yard in a year in which the sport is looking [...]
Keely Hodgkinson to make London Stadium track and field debut April 27, 2023 British superstar Keely Hodgkinson will make her debut at the London Stadium this year in track and field’s Diamond League leg in the capital in July. Hodgkinson has never competed in the stadium that was built for the London 2012 Olympics and will be looking to build on her recent indoor and outdoor medals. Hodgkinson [...]
Ed Warner: Sport England data shows activity is falling. We need to make it easier April 27, 2023 As Sport England’s latest Active Lives survey shows that we are exercising less, Ed Warner argues that we need to make participation easier. An elite athlete cadges a lift to skip a couple of kilometres of an ultra race. Tough Mudder turns Finsbury Park into a swamp and is barred from using the venue next [...]
Kelvin Kiptum breaks London Marathon record as Mo Farah bows out April 23, 2023 Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum smashed the course record to win the elite men’s race at the London Marathon as Mo Farah bowed out of the 26-mile distance. Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m champion Sifan Hassan also provided fireworks in the women’s elite race, the Dutchwoman overscoming cramp to win in her first ever marathon. Kiptum’s time of [...]
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 [...]