Golfers can play for brand value at Olympics and Ryder Cup, not a pay cheque October 5, 2023 This week’s Ed Warner column looks at the Patrick Cantlay “pay or no pay” discussion and how Olympians can only dream of being in a situation where they don’t need payment to compete at the highest level. Can those Ryder Cup golfers simply increase their brand value by rubbing shoulders with Olympians in Paris next [...]
Idyllic Paris set to give Olympic Games much needed revival, and hospitality will play a part October 2, 2023 Bradley Wiggins rounding the Arc de Triomphe in the yellow jersey, Mark Cueto’s disallowed Rugby World Cup final try against South Africa and the Ronaldo “will he start?” debate ahead of the 1998 football World Cup final; it is fair to say Paris has hosted its share of incredible sporting moments. So it is no [...]
Russian athletes allowed to compete as neutrals at next year’s Paris Paralympics September 29, 2023 Russian athletes will be able to compete as neutrals at next year’s Paralympic Games in Paris despite the country’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. International Paralympic Committee member nations voted against a full suspension of the Russian committee at the organisation’s General Assembly in Bahrain, but a motion to partially suspend was passed on Friday afternoon. [...]
Poland confirms bid to host Olympic Games for first time – but faces major rival September 28, 2023 Poland will bid to host the Olympic Games for the first time in 2036 after president Andrzej Duda announced its intention to nominate Warsaw. The country has never staged either the Summer or Winter Games but successfully hosted the smaller regional version, the European Games, this year. Poland faces competition from other bidders including Mexico, [...]
Ed Warner: Is Saudi’s goal of using sport to boost GDP by 1.5 per cent achievable? September 28, 2023 John Maynard Keynes argued for government spending – any spending – to stimulate economies in recession, even paying people to dig holes and then fill them up again, given the multiplier effect when they spend their wages. Saudi Arabia may not be facing such an economic challenge, but the sports investments pursued by its Crown [...]
Dazn hits back at MP plans to close free-to-air sport loophole September 25, 2023 Calls from politicians to stop streaming platforms from bidding to show major sporting events have been slammed as “very narrow-minded and anti-competitive”. Sports streaming giant Dazn, best known for showing high-profile boxing matches, has hit out at recent recommendations by a group of MPs to stop streaming platforms from bidding for “crown jewel” sporting events. Crown jewel [...]
British athlete Potter crowned world triathlon champion September 24, 2023 British triathlete Beth Potter was yesterday crowned World Triathlon Championship Series winner after pulling clear on the run in Pontevedra, Spain. The 31-year-old has earned a spot at the Olympic Games in Paris next summer having only taken up the multi-sport event six years ago. “I wasn’t actually feeling too good on the swim and [...]
Government must close crown jewel loophole, new report says September 22, 2023 A new report has urged the government to close a loophole that could allow streaming services access to crown jewel sporting events. Crown jewel events are major sporting occasions that must be on free-to-air television, such as the Olympic Games and Fifa World Cup. A report from the Culture, Media and Sport committee, however, suggests [...]
Wiegman set for Team GB role at 2024 Paris Olympics September 20, 2023 Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman is in line to manage Team GB at the Olympics next year should qualification be achieved. In a statement released by the FA the England boss – who took her side to last month’s World Cup final – said: “My full focus is on the Nations League campaign, but I would [...]
‘I just enjoyed what I did’: Mo Farah bows out of athletics at Great North Run September 10, 2023 Mo Farah brought down the curtain on one of the most glittering careers in athletics today and declared: “I just enjoyed what I did.” The 40-year-old laced up his spikes for the last time for a farewell appearance at the Great North Run, finishing fourth in the half-marathon race. Farah, who retires with four Olympic [...]