Sports News and Discussions

[Time_Traveller]

UEFA to hold international football tournament for refugees

Tuesday 21 June 2022

A new international football tournament for refugees will be held at the end of this month.

Teams will be made up of 70% refugee and 30% non-refugee players and it will take place on 29 June in Nyon, Switzerland, where UEFA's HQ is based.

The Unity Euro Cup is a friendly competition and will feature teams from Austria, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Malta, the Republic of Ireland and Switzerland.

Its aim is to strengthen links between communities and displaced people through football. The announcement of the tournament was made on World Refugee Day.

UEFA signed a cooperation agreement with the United Nations Refugee Agency last year as parts of its "Strength Through Unity" strategy.

https://news.sky.com/story/uefa-to-hold ... s-12637659

[Time_Traveller]

Sue Barker in tears as emotional tribute is paid before her Wimbledon farewell

16:42, 3 Jul 2022

Sue Barker was reduced to tears after Wimbledon celebrated her 30 years of coverage with a wonderful tribute.

The 66-year-old, who appears to have recovered from laryngitis, is set to retire after the 2022 edition of the tournament after she has been the face of BBC ’s coverage for the last three decades. Barker’s television partner John McEnroe got the atmosphere going and kicked the tributes off towards the Brit during a parade of champions to celebrate 100 years on Centre Court.

“Sue, one final word,” the American seven-time Grand Slam champion said. “On behalf of all the players, I just want to say that we're going to be lost without you.

"After 30 years of covering this tournament magnificently, please give it up for Sue Barker."

The Centre Court crowd erupted to give the 1976 French Open champion a touching ovation, and Barker was visibly tearful as she thanked the Wimbledon Organisers. She then made a fitting joke at McEnroe’s expense, suggesting he is set to be demoted to lower courts.e]

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/tennis/s ... e-27387543

[Ozzie guy]

The footballer Harry Kane turned 29 on the 28th of July.

Why I find this interesting.

Harry Kane is probably the best player that has not one a single team trophy for club or country as one of the best players in the world for a significant period of time this is insane.

Based on statistics for his position in 2010-2020 the age players reach their prime is 26-28. Suggesting his performance is already on a slow decline and this decline will exponentially speed up with age.

He may end up becoming the best ever player that did not win anything.

To get an idea for how good he is he is equal 4th highest market value in the world despite being just past his prime.

He has also managed to miss out on all the significant individual awards (Ballon d'or and golden boot.)

https://www.transfermarkt.com/spieler-s ... ktwertetop

[caltrek]

I just realized that the Olympic Channel has gone off the air. For me, that is a real bummer as that was a good place to go, be entertained, and get away from the madness of it all. There is still the Golf Channel, but that gets old fast. Hopefully, the Tour de France, major track and field events, and many winter sporting events will continue to be available elsewhere, without having to go the pay per view route.

[Time_Traveller]

I just realized that the Olympic Channel has gone off the air. For me, that is a real bummer as that was a good place to go, be entertained, and get away from the madness of it all. There is still the Golf Channel, but that gets old fast. Hopefully, the Tour de France, major track and field events, and many winter sporting events will continue to be available elsewhere, without having to go the pay per view route.

Never heard of this channel, here in the UK.

[caltrek]

I just realized that the Olympic Channel has gone off the air. For me, that is a real bummer as that was a good place to go, be entertained, and get away from the madness of it all. There is still the Golf Channel, but that gets old fast. Hopefully, the Tour de France, major track and field events, and many winter sporting events will continue to be available elsewhere, without having to go the pay per view route.

Never heard of this channel, here in the UK.

I think it was an NBC affiliate, which is an American broadcasting network. Before it went off the air, it carried coverage of the Commonwealth games.

[Time_Traveller]

I just realized that the Olympic Channel has gone off the air. For me, that is a real bummer as that was a good place to go, be entertained, and get away from the madness of it all. There is still the Golf Channel, but that gets old fast. Hopefully, the Tour de France, major track and field events, and many winter sporting events will continue to be available elsewhere, without having to go the pay per view route.

Never heard of this channel, here in the UK.

I think it was an NBC affiliate, which is an American broadcasting network. Before it went off the air, it carried coverage of the Commonwealth games.

Sounded like an interested channel to watch though, all the different olympics throughout time.

[caltrek]

Never heard of this channel, here in the UK.

I think it was an NBC affiliate, which is an American broadcasting network. Before it went off the air, it carried coverage of the Commonwealth games.

Sounded like an interested channel to watch though, all the different olympics throughout time.

Yes, and in addition to relatively recent Olympics, it also featured sporting events, outside of the actual Olympics, that one finds in the Summer and Winter games. Hence their interest in broadcasting the Commonwealth games.

[wjfox]

[Time_Traveller]

I was just looking at this via another website. Absolutely shocking.

[SpencerBurgess]

I have relatives that they harmed at that match...

[Time_Traveller]

Cristiano Ronaldo’s giant mural removed from Old Trafford

Manchester United have removed a giant mural of Cristiano Ronaldo outside Old Trafford.

The 37-year-old Portuguese said in a recent interview with Piers Morgan that he feels “betrayed” by the Red Devils.

He also criticised the club’s manager Erik ten Hag and owners the Glazers.

The full 90-minute interview will be aired on Wednesday and Thursday evening, with the full details of the discussion on TalkTV set to be made public.

Ronaldo has a contract with the 20-time English champions until next June, but he is unlikely to play for the club again due to his recent comments, which caused shockwaves around the world of football.

Honestly, what was he thinking?

[Time_Traveller]

Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Manchester United with immediate effect

7 minutes ago

Cristiano Ronaldo has left Manchester United with immediate effect in the wake of his explosive interview with Piers Morgan ahead of the World Cup.

Ronaldo lashed out at United’s owners, executives, manager and even some of his own teammates in an extraordinary tirade which aired in the week leading up to the tournament, effectively torching his bridges with the club.

In a statement on Tuesday, Ronaldo said: “Following conversations with Manchester United we have mutually agreed to end our contract early. I love Manchester United and I love the fans, that will never ever change. However, it feels like the right time for me to seek a new challenge. I wish the team every success for the remainder of the season and for the future.”

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/foo ... 30756.html

[wjfox]

[wjfox]

Paris Olympics: Up to 40 countries could boycott Games, says Poland sports minister

2 February 2023

Up to 40 countries could boycott the next Olympic Games, making the whole event pointless, said Poland's sport and tourism minister Kamil Bortniczuk.

His comments came after Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia jointly rejected an International Olympic Committee (IOC) plan to allow Russians and Belarusians to compete in 2024.

Ukraine has threatened to boycott the Paris Olympics if that occurs.

But the IOC said on Thursday that any boycott would only "punish athletes".

Bortniczuk said he believed it would be possible to build a coalition of 40 countries, including Great Britain, the United States and Canada, to support a block on the IOC's plans before a meeting on 10 February.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/64503198

[caltrek]

Here is an article to make this "off topic" thread more "on-topic."

Does Our Sporting Future Lie Beyond Earth’s Atmosphere?
by Stephen Luntz
February 3, 2023

Introduction:

(IFL Science) For all of human history, and probably before, people have tried to put any new environment or technology to use for the purposes of food, alcohol, sex, or sport. It’s unlikely space will be any different. Growing food in space has turned out to be a difficult, but possible, task. Sex and home-brewed superstrength alcohol are likely to be big marketing tools for future space hotels, so it’s no surprise companies are planning for an era of sport in space, too.

Just because some people have big dreams, however, doesn’t mean they’ll come to fruition. There are a lot of obstacles to making space sports more than a novelty.

Space sports: a history

Probably the first performance of sport in space came when astronaut Alan Shepard hit some golf balls on the Moon during the Apollo 14 mission in 1971. It wasn’t exactly a professional effort – he didn’t even challenge his crewmate Edgar Mitchell to a round. Instead, Shepard’s efforts served as a demonstration of how even a one-handed swing with a makeshift six-iron could send the ball “miles and miles” in the low lunar gravity and absence of wind resistance, or at least so it seemed.

Reanalysis of the mission’s footage reveals the true flight path was about 36 meters (118 feet), presumably reflecting how hard the suit made hitting the ball squarely. Shepard and Mitchell also tried javelin throws with a solar wind collector, which Mitchell claimed to have narrowly won.

The following year, Charlie Duke and John Young conducted a “Second Moon Olympics” to celebrate the fact the Earthly event was coming up. The pair claimed to set records for the javelin and high jump, but after Young could have died falling on his back further leaps were abandoned.

Read more here: https://www.iflscience.com/does-our-sp ... ere-67314

[wjfox]

[wjfox]

England are through to the Women's World Cup Final.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/wo ... p/schedule

They will be up against Spain, tomorrow 11am GMT!

[wjfox]

Final score: Spain 1–0 England

Couple of stunning saves by Earps in the 2nd half!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/66562980

[wjfox]

World Cup 2026: Could climate crisis impact the men's tournament?

2 hours ago

"One player is going to die."

That was the stark warning from Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev as he battled the heat, humidity and Andrey Rublev at the US Open in New York last week. It came just a week after some races at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest were moved because of fears over the safety of competitors.

With extreme temperatures more likely across the globe as a result of climate change, these kind of impacts are becoming the new reality for sport.

In less than three years' time, the 2026 men's World Cup final will cap an expanded tournament of 48 teams playing 104 matches in six summer weeks across Canada, the United States and Mexico.

The previous edition - held in Qatar in 2022 - was moved from June and July, when temperatures regularly exceed 40C and can reach 50C, to November and December to protect players and fans.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66211285