Rugby League World Cup in doubt after Australia and New Zealand pull out and brand England ‘simply too unsafe’ due to Covid-19 July 22, 2021 The Rugby League World Cup, due to take place in England later this year, has been plunged into serious doubt after Australia and New Zealand pulled out. The two southern hemisphere giants said they would not send their men’s, women’s and wheelchair teams due to the Covid-19 situation in the UK. World Cup organisers noted [...]
Brisbane confirmed as host city for 2032 Olympics and Paralympics after uncontested vote July 21, 2021 Brisbane has been confirmed as the host of the 2032 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. The decision – effectively already known as there was no other bidder – was rubber-stamped at an International Olympic Commitee (IOC) meeting in Tokyo today. The delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics officially opens on Friday. Paris will host the Summer Games in [...]
Tokyo 2020 Olympics could still be cancelled, says Games chief July 20, 2021 Tokyo 2020 Olympics chiefs say they have have not ruled out cancelling the Games at the last minute. With just three days until the opening ceremony, the head of the Tokyo Organising Committee, Toshiro Muto, said a late U-turn remained an option. Covid-19 cases have already hit the athletes’ village and continue to rise in [...]
Burnley sign spread betting and trading platform Spreadex as main sponsor on one-year deal July 20, 2021 Burnley have signed up spread betting and financial trading platform Spreadex as their main shirt sponsor for next season. The one-year deal will see the company’s sports fixed odds and spread betting arm, Spreadex Sports, replace Chinese brand LoveBet as principal partner. Spreadex is understood to be paying slightly less than LoveBet, whose £7.5m deal [...]
Toyota pulls Olympic related TV ads in Japan on eve of Games amid public opposition to Tokyo 2020 going ahead July 19, 2021 Major Olympic sponsor Toyota says it will not air Tokyo 2020-related TV advertising in Japan during the Games amid negative public sentiment towards the event. The Japanese car-maker has also decided not to send any executives to the opening ceremony, which takes place on Friday. More than half of Japanese are opposed to the delayed [...]
The Hundred: MD Sanjay Patel on profits, participation, gender equality and winning over sceptics with English cricket’s new competition July 17, 2021 Sanjay Patel, managing director of The Hundred, could be forgiven a few sleepless nights as Wednesday 21 July approaches. That is when the Oval Invincibles are due to host the Manchester Originals in a women’s match that raises the curtain on the controversial new competition designed to breathe new life into domestic cricket. Patel has [...]
The Open prize money 2021: Players in line for record sums at Royal St George’s as payouts continue to rise July 16, 2021 The biggest names in men’s golf are playing for record levels of Open prize money this week at Royal St George’s. Organisers of the world’s oldest tournament have laid on extra bread at Sandwich by increasing the prize fund and winner’s cheque on the Kent coast. The 156 players will be battling for a slice [...]
Rugby League World Cup chiefs confirm tournament will go ahead in England this year despite Australia refusing to commit yet July 15, 2021 The Rugby League World Cup will go ahead in England later this year, officials have said, despite Australia still not committing to playing. The participation of around 500 Australia-based players and staff has been in doubt due to the strict quarantine rules they would face on their return. And although Australian rugby league chiefs have [...]
Lionel Messi accepts 50 per cent pay cut to stay at Barcelona – but will still earn £59m a year July 15, 2021 Lionel Messi has ended speculation over his future by agreeing a 50 per cent pay cut to stay at Barcelona. The Argentinian superstar, 34, has been a free agent since his €138m (£118m)-a year contract expired last month. Messi had discussed a two-year extension but will instead sign for five years on a lower wage, [...]
What Amazon is doing with French football rights and the clues it offers to its plans for the Premier League July 14, 2021 Amazon is yet to make its widely anticipated big move for Premier League football rights, being content so far to buy up handfuls of live games and bundle them with its Prime Video subscription. But it is a different story in France, where the e-commerce behemoth is embarking on its first season as the main [...]