American Kim joins LIV Golf after 12 years away from game

America’s Anthony Kim will make his first professional appearance in 12 years at an event in Saudi Arabia next week after joining LIV Golf.

American Ogletree becomes first two-time International Series winner in Qatar

Andy Ogletree has ‘got it done’ in a blustery Doha, claiming a three-shot victory in the inaugural International Series Qatar. This result marks a second professional victory for the prodigious 24-year-old talent who captured his first Asian Tour win at the International Series Egypt in November 2022.

American three-time Olympic medallist and ex-world champion Tori Bowie dies

It was announced that the USA’s three-time Olympic medallist and former 100m world champion, Tori Bowie, has died.

The only American woman to win an Olympic or world 100m title since Carmelita Jeter in 2011, she won 4x100m relay gold at the Rio 2016 Olympics, plus 100m silver and 200m bronze. She also won the World Championships 100m in London, as well as relay gold.

An eloquent and thought-provoking book on racism and prejudice by Liverpool and England legend John Barnes.

He spent the first dozen years of his life in Jamaica before moving to the UK with his family in 1975. Six years later he was a professional footballer, distinguishing himself for Watford, Liverpool and England, and in the process becoming this country's most prominent Black player.

An open letter to Wasps RFC fans, partners, staff and community from CEO, Stephen Vaughan

As everyone is aware, we are living through extraordinary times and none of us can predict the future or speculate when the current situation will end.

As a club and business, we are having to make difficult decisions to navigate these unchartered waters and ensure the Club is in a position to continue its exciting journey when we come through this global emergency.  

We would all love the season to be back underway immediately, but all Rugby activities are currently suspended and there are no guarantees as to when we might start playing again. In light of the latest advice and information from the Government, along with the pattern of escalation we have seen in the last few days, businesses around the world are being heavily impacted and we, Wasps, are no different.

With this in mind, we need to take some extremely difficult and significant action to reduce costs immediately so we can resume doing what we love when this is all over. The impact of these decisions is going to be felt across the whole business.

Having discussed this situation at length with my colleagues from across the league, as well as Premiership Rugby, we are putting in place salary reductions of 25 per cent across the majority of the Rugby department until we are playing Gallagher Premiership matches again.

These measures will take effect from 1 April 2020. A number of lower paid staff will be excluded from these salary reductions.

I spoke with Lee Blackett and senior members of the playing squad last night, and we then communicated this message to the wider team and colleagues. I could not be more proud of their response, understanding and determination to help the Club in such testing times. The same is true of the players’ efforts to support our wider community stay connected and keep talking, which I am sure you will be aware of.

These are extraordinary times which call for extraordinary and robust measures. We do not know with any certainty how long these reductions will be in place, but we will review the situation on an ongoing basis and continue to keep the entire Wasps family up to date with developments.

This great Club has a proud history spanning over 150 years and, with everyone working together, we will ensure it has a great future.

An open letter to Wasps RFC fans, partners, staff and community from CEO, Stephen Vaughan

As everyone is aware, we are living through extraordinary times and none of us can predict the future or speculate when the current situation will end.
  
As a club and business, we have to make difficult decisions to navigate these unchartered waters and ensure the Club is in a position to continue its exciting journey when we come through this global emergency.  
 
We would all love the season to be back underway immediately, but all rugby activities are currently suspended and there are no guarantees as to when we might start playing again.

In light of the latest advice and information from the government, along with the pattern of escalation we have seen in the last few days, businesses around the world are being heavily impacted and we, Wasps, are no different.
 
With this in mind, we need to take some extremely difficult and significant action to reduce costs immediately so we can resume doing what we love when this is all over. The impact of these decisions is going to be felt across the whole business.
 
Having discussed this situation at length with my colleagues from across the league, as well as Premiership Rugby, we are putting in place salary reductions of 25 per cent across the majority of the Rugby department until we are playing Gallagher Premiership matches again.

These measures have taken effect from 1 April 2020. A number of lower paid staff has been excluded from these salary reductions.
  
I spoke with Lee Blackett and senior members of the playing squad and we then communicated this message to the wider team and colleagues. I could not be more proud of their response, understanding and determination to help the Club in such testing times. The same is true of the players’ efforts to support our wider community stay connected and keep talking, which I am sure you will be aware of.
 
These are extraordinary times which call for extraordinary and robust measures. We do not know with any certainty how long these reductions will be in place, but we will review the situation on an ongoing basis and continue to keep the entire Wasps family up to date with developments.
 
This great Club has a proud history spanning over 150 years and, with everyone working together, we will ensure it has a great future.

Anderson and Leach complete famous victory in India

James Anderson and Jack Leach bowled England to a famous 227-run victory against India on the final day of the first Test in Chennai. Anderson inspired England with 3-17 and Jack Leach took 4-76 as England inflicted just a second home defeat on their hosts in eight years.

India made a decent start in their pursuit of a world record 420, before Anderson swung the game in devastating fashion when introduced. He bowled Shubman Gill and Ajinkya Rahane in an incredible over of reverse swing and had the dangerous Rishabh Pant caught soon after.

Virat Kohli held England up in the afternoon session with 72 but he was bowled by one that scuttled low from Ben Stokes. Leach claimed the key wicket of Cheteshwar Pujara at the start of the day and saw off Ravichandran Ashwin, who put on 54 with Kohli. Jofra Archer sealed the win by having Jasprit Bumrah caught behind 35 minutes before tea.

England, heavy underdogs before the series began, take a 1-0 lead into the second match of the four-Test series, which begins on Saturday at the same ground. They have also jumped to the top of the standings in the World Test Championship but must win the series 3-1, 3-0 or 4-0 to reach this summer's final. The victory must rank as England's greatest in recent years in Test cricket.

There have been landmark successes: the Ben Stokes-inspired victory in the 2019 Ashes, a historic win in Cape Town 13 months ago and a fine comeback against Pakistan last summer. But this is India in India. Kohli's side had lost one of their last 35 home Tests, a run going back to their last series defeat on home soil - England's victory under Alastair Cook in 2012.

There were questions about the tourists' tactics on the fourth day, and Kohli delayed things for a while, but Anderson and Leach ensured those whispers were irrelevant. It was almost the perfect performance from England, who are unbeaten in 11 Tests under Joe Root's captaincy. Root has also equalled Michael Vaughan's record of 26 Tests wins as England captain, doing so in 47 Tests as opposed to Vaughan's 51.

There were stand-out performances from experienced players like Root, whose first-innings 218 set up the win, Stokes and Anderson but also contributions from their emerging young players.

Kohli batted well on the final day and looked to be finding form after a period out for the birth of his first child. Spinner Ashwin will also be boosted by nine wickets in the match. India showed during their recent series in Australia they can respond to adversity. There they were bowled out 36 in losing the first Test and recovered to take the series 2-1.

They must do so again now to maintain their run of 12 home series wins in a row.

Angola rises above a day of equilibrium in Afcon

The African Cup of Nations continued as Group D. took more of a shape as Baghdad Bounedjah's 95th-minute equaliser salvaged a second point for Algeria with a draw against Burkina Faso, whilst Gelson Dala scored twice as Angola beat Mauritania to close in on the last 16.

Anguilla Tourist Board congratulates athletes after the tiny island nation takes on international giants at Commonwealth Games

The tiny British Overseas Territory of Anguilla in the eastern Caribbean, home to just 14,000 residents, fielded its largest ever Commonwealth squad at Birmingham 2022.

The island is likely to be better known to Brits as a dream holiday destination given its location in a quiet corner of the eastern Caribbean and its 33 dazzling white-sand beaches.

Anita Asante: Ex-England defender announces retirement after 19-year career

Former England international Anita Asante will be retiring at the end of the season following a 19-year career at the top of the women's game. The Aston Villa defender's final game is set to be against rivals Birmingham City in the Women's Super League.

The 36-year-old, who began her career at Arsenal before joining Chelsea and then moving abroad, has had a hugely successful career, winning 71 caps for England and representing Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Applications now open for Severn Trent Community Fund’s new green focus

Applications are now open for Severn Trent Community Fund’s new focus to celebrate its partnership with Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

This spring, the Community Fund is looking to fund local community projects that specifically aim to take care of nature and the environment.

Arena Birmingham set for new indoor track in £1.2m council investment

Arena Birmingham is set to receive a £1.2m council investment for a new indoor athletics track with the aim of hosting more international sporting events following the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Plans to invest in a new track, which will replace the original one installed almost 30 years ago, will be reviewed by Birmingham City Council's cabinet on February 9. The £1.2million purchase will see the original track installed almost 30 years ago replaced as it worn and at the end of its useable life.

A replacement will ensure Birmingham is well-placed to achieve its aim of hosting more major international sporting events in the coming years following the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games – and help support the city’s events and hospitality industries by providing the infrastructure that ultimately acts as a catalyst for those sectors. The Cabinet report also details the fact that the track will only be purchased once any contracts are secured for future indoor events.

Councillor Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “The city of Birmingham is one of the pre-eminent locations globally for indoor and outdoor athletics, having staged two fantastic Indoor World Championships in 2003 and 2018.

“This is a competitive sector of the events market and we need to ensure we can offer international federations and governing bodies the best facilities if they are to continuing coming here. We know that competitors and spectators love their time in Birmingham and this investment will ensure there are many more memorable events in the future, supporting the many local businesses in the events and hospitality sectors, which have been devastated by the impact of COVID-19.”

Argentina legend Maradona's World Cup shirt sells for £7.1m at auction

The shirt Diego Maradona wore when he scored the much vaunted 'goal of the century' for Argentina against England at the 1986 World Cup has sold for a record £7.1m. It is the highest price ever paid for a piece of sports memorabilia.

Former England midfielder Steve Hodge put it up for auction 36 years after he swapped it with Maradona following the famous quarter-final in Mexico. After Maradona died in November 2020, Hodge said the shirt was not for sale.

Army deliver successful Alexander Stadium test event

British Army athletes helped put the lead venue for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games through its paces last Wednesday. The UK Midlands Army Athletics Championships were staged at the Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr, Birmingham. 

This was the first athletics event at the venue since its £72million redevelopment and was one of the designated test events for the stadium to receive the required safety capacity certificate.

Arsenal looking to increase team’s diversity following all-white photo criticism

As Black History Month continues to shine a light on the major contributions made by Black people in all walks of life, Arsenal Football Club have stated that they are making it their main priority to increase the diversity of its women’s team following criticism of their all-white women's squad photo.

Arsenal’s Nwaneri the youngest player to feature in Europe’s Top 5 leagues, aged 15yrs, 5 months

Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri is the youngest player to feature in any of Europe’s top 5 leagues.

That’s per a SportingPost.com data presentation showing the attacking midfielder made his senior team outing on the 9th of September 2022, aged 15 years and 5 months.

Arun Kang OBE CEO Sporting Equals Equality of Opportunity in the Sport Sector

After recent events that uncovered the appalling lack of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) presence at a leadership level in the sport sector here in the UK, Recently it was reported there were only 5 black women on sports boards out of 415. We at Sporting Equals felt it key to highlight the lack of equality of opportunity in recruitment in our sector and how it impacts BAME communities.

Equality of opportunity in employment translates to, fairness in which all job applicants are treated similarly, unhampered by artificial barriers or prejudices or preferences, except when particular distinctions can be explicitly justified. Allowing each viable candidate an equal chance of success in securing employment.

The lack of equality of opportunity is prevalent in the sport sector. With potentially 95% of senior management, board members and the workforce being white. This lack of presence had already been acknowledged with change implemented by the FA to remedy the problem of racial prejudice hindering hiring practices in the sector looking at coaching specifically.

The FA introduced the ‘Rooney Rule’ – this rule implements a procedure whereby sporting authorities– must interview a BAME applicant when recruiting for senior coaching positions, on the basis that they meet the role specification. There is no quota or preference given to BAME communities in the hiring of candidates the rule simply reinforced equality of opportunity to worthy candidates, while accounting for unconscious and conscious bias against race. This rule first trialled in the USA to aid with similar issues of racial prejudice impacting hiring procedure in the NFL.

The FA followed suit and adopted the ‘Rooney Rule’ in 2018.

We feel it is pivotal to replicate the ‘Rooney Rule’ across the sport sector at every level from Board and senior positions right down to entry level, to ensure the eradication of nepotism within the sector tackling conscious and unconscious bias and dismantling of racially prejudiced hiring practices by allowing for candidates of all backgrounds who fit the role specifications to have an equal footing. We wish to go beyond coaching and leadership, looking at the sector as a whole. We must extend this rule across the board to create fairer and more equal recruiting practices in our sector. Recently the Minister for Sport Nigel Huddleston highlighted that he is open to looking at targets and reviewing implementing a ‘Rooney Rule’ structure here in the UK.

There is a severe lack of representation, diversity and equality when looking at race in the UK’s sport sector. An implementation of the ‘Rooney Rule’ across all levels of the sport sector would only positively affirm and ensure we are vetting, interviewing and hiring the best possible candidate – thus allowing for and protecting equality of opportunity.

We must now act and commit to making changes that will give real and visible results which we can measure and evaluate, this is a necessity if progress and equality is to be achieved.

As Japan beat Indonesia to seal Asian Cup last-16 spot, Iraq top group after Vietnam win

Japan beat Indonesia 3-1 in their final Asian Cup Group D game qualify for the last-16 while Iraq went top with maximum points after sealing a 3-2 win over Vietnam.

As Senegal dominate from the off, five-time champions Cameroon are held

Whilst holders Senegal began their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with their Group C. victory over 10-man underdogs The Gambia, five-time champions Cameroon were held to a draw by, also 10-man, Guinea – and again already - another surprise results.

As shocks continue, Afcon proving to be ‘equal’ than ever before

As the African Cup of Nations continued at a pace, and more countries can see themselves as ‘equal’ to their peers on the continent, Burkina Faso, Namibia and Mali made their announcements with tight victories over Mauritania, Tunisia and South Africa (respectively).