After losing IOC election, how about Seb Coe for chair of football regulator? March 27, 2025 It was, with hindsight, not a “keep Seb Coe out” but a “get Kirsty Coventry in” campaign that determined the International Olympic Committee (IOC) presidential election outcome. I was as guilty as most British observers in believing that Seb Coe would take it to the wire. Unconscious bias and all that. In the event, eight [...]
Coventry IOC election clears Russia ‘return to Olympic podium’, says Kremlin sport minister March 21, 2025 Russia believes the election of Kirsty Coventry as IOC president can see the banned nation “return to the Olympic podium”. Russian Olympic Committee president and sports minister Mikhail Degtyarev congratulated Coventry on her election, in a vote that surprisingly took just one round to find an overall majority conclusion. Briton Lord Coe got just eight [...]
Lord Coe awaits IOC election result in Greece March 20, 2025 Lord Coe will today find out whether he has been elected to one of the biggest jobs in sport, president of the International Olympic Committee. The two-time Olympic champion and current president of World Athletics spent the final few days of campaigning telling potential voters – IOC members – how he’d take the Olympic movement [...]
Trump is making Russia the next IOC president’s burning issue March 20, 2025 If Trump can claim to have brokered peace in Ukraine, and with swathes of the world still beholden to Russia, the IOC will have to accept them back into the Olympics, says Ed Warner. The final bell has sounded at the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Nis, Serbia. The tournament’s medal table is emblematic [...]
Ainslie heads 400 Olympians urging IOC to take fight to climate change March 14, 2025 British sailing great Sir Ben Ainslie heads a list of 400 Olympians who have signed a letter urging the next president of the IOC to prioritise tackling climate change. Other signatories include swimmer Emma McKeon, Australia’s most decorated Olympian, Ferdinand Omanyala, Africa’s fastest sprinter, refugee boxer Cindy Ngamba and Paris 2024 surfing gold medallist Carissa [...]
Scrapping relegation can help WSL dodge trap set by men’s football March 13, 2025 The WSL’s new leadership deserves credit for seriously considering ditching relegation in pursuit of a firmer financial footing for women’s football, writes Ed Warner. Manchester City have sacked their head coach with hopes of Champions League qualification this season fading and only cup dreams to cling to. No, not Pep Guardiola, but Gareth Taylor, now [...]
Allianz extension insures IOC against further sponsor losses March 12, 2025 The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has further shored up its sponsor roster after losing several big clients by extending its partnership with Allianz to 2032. Allianz has also added a further four years to its deal with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), which will conclude after the Brisbane 2032 Games. The insurance giant joined the [...]
FA Cup final in Riyadh? Why heritage competitions should follow the money February 27, 2025 Sixteen teams head into this weekend’s fifth round of the FA Cup, their fans celebrating shortening odds of a Wembley semi-final appearance and, in turn, final glory. Most will be oblivious to the £2m prize for the ultimate winners of the trophy. Club owners will likely consider this a paltry reward in itself, although broadcast [...]
Olympics recognises World Boxing after ditching Russia-led IBA February 26, 2025 The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has provisionally recognised World Boxing after disassociating with the Russian-led and funded IBA. The IBA – International Boxing Association – has been the governing body behind boxing at the Olympic Games but has made controversial calls and has Russian ties. The IOC withdrew its recognition of the IBA in 2023 [...]
Olympic Games set to steady ship with major Chinese sponsor February 6, 2025 Consumer electronics firm TCL is reportedly set to become an Olympic partner in a boost to the International Olympic Committee after long-term sponsors jumped ship. The Chinese organisation is in the final stages of signing a deal to join the IOC sponsorship family, according to SportBusiness. In 2023 the cooperation generated £19bn and its subsidiaries [...]