#World rugby championship 2023

[wikiblair]

I really hope our Katie queen has lot of free time right now. Why you ask me? Because in France begun World Championship in rugby and she said several times she loves her rugby boys :-). So Katie.. Happy rugby watching :-)

[asiarugby]

How all 18 teams booked their place in inaugural edition of WXV

Following Italy’s WXV play-off win against Spain last week we know how the 18 teams will line up when the first edition of World Rugby’s new global annual women’s 15s competition gets underway in October. Continue reading Untitled

[coochiequeens]

Yet another case for SheWon.com. Not just any case, one where a grown ass white dude was allowed to compete against an 11 year old girl of color in the name of inclusiveness.

By Amy Hamm February 22, 2024

A trans-identified male is set to compete against women as the reigning Women’s Snooker Champion at the English Women’s Snooker Championship on May 24 in Walsall, UK. Jamie Hunter, 27, became the top women’s player following a semifinal victory against a young girl last year.

Hunter first rose to prominence during the English Women’s Snooker Champion finals in 2023 after he came out victorious against Mary Talbot-Deegan, finishing 3-1. Hunter had managed to make it to the finals after he beat out Ellise Scott, an 11-year-old rising star in the snooker world, taking 2-0 against her in the semifinal grouping. The event had been Scott’s debut in the tournament, and, prior to her match against Hunter, she had achieved three match victories against experienced female opponents.

Hunter had been participating in women’s cue sports since 2021, just one year after he “came out” as transgender.

Prior to transitioning, Hunter played in a mixed-sex amateur league for five years. Speaking with Snooker Zone in 2021, Hunter admitted that he had no intention of competing professionally until he discovered that there was a women’s tour.

“Until this year, cue sports was just a hobby, something I done once, maybe twice a week, but now finding out about the Women’s snooker tour, I believe that will change,” he said at the time. “They make out as if I played snooker as a man, I was rubbish, so decided to do it in the women’s instead. I changed my gender for my wellbeing and my life, not for anything else.”

Hunter received significant backlash after his 2022 US Women’s Open win, when former women’s world champion Maria Catalano criticized the policies enabling males to compete against females. In an interview with The Sportsman, Catalano argued that women’s snooker should exclude males from female categories, as some rugby leagues have, to ensure fairness for women. 

“We have fought so hard for our rights in the past – myself, Reanne Evans and others got people to write letters to allow us to play in leagues and clubs that banned women. I don’t believe that women can compete against men on a level playing field in sport. We are wired differently, we think differently. We are mentally different,” said Catalano. 

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) publishes a mixed sex international ranking of players. The highest-ranking female on their current list, Mink Nutcharut, is listed at 119.

In response to the criticism of his wins against women, Hunter has framed the backlash as transphobia.

“Everybody’s human. Regardless of what choices you make. You should treat everybody with respect,” said Hunter speaking to a BBC journalist last fall. Bizarrely, Hunter was interviewed while he sat in a gaming chair in a dark bedroom — which he refers to as “the dark girl cave.” The room has a transgender pride flag pinned up on the wall behind him.

The upcoming English Women’s Snooker Championship is set for May 24, 2024. It is being organized by the English Partnership for Snooker and Billiards (EPSB), which is the national governing body for the sport in England. They describe their goal as creating a “structured coaching environment that will inspire all regardless of gender, ability, or ethnicity to fulfil their potential in our sport.” 

The EPSB has a diversity, equity, and inclusion policy with a lengthy section on discrimination, including a ban on any “condition, rule or practice [that]… particularly disadvantages people who share a protected characteristic.” As for their list of protected characteristics, the EPSB includes “gender, gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, race, colour, nationality, religion, age, disability, HIV positivity, working pattern, caring responsibilities, trade union activity or political beliefs.”  

The English Women’s Championship is set to take place at the Landywood Snooker Club in Walsall, UK, on May 24.

This is not the first time a male has dominated women’s cue sports, sparking backlash from players and fans.

Last November, a female pool player refused to compete against a trans-identified male opponent at a women’s championship in Wales. Lynne Pinches received an outpouring of support as video began to circulate showing her walking away from the table after being matched to play against Chris Haynes.

Days later, two more female pool players refused to compete against Haynes in solidarity with Pinches during the Ultimate Pool tournament in Blackpool, UK.

In January, Pinches headed an effort to launch a lawsuit against the World Eightball Pool Federation (WEPF) and Ultimate Pool Group (UPG), accusing the governing bodies of subjecting women “to direct sex discrimination and harassment on the grounds of sex.”

What does he have to gain from this?

ENTRY FEES AND PRIZE MONEY

Entry: £30

Winner: £200 

Runner-Up: £100 

Semi-Finalists: £50

[atotaltaitaitale]

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It was a gold medal in my book… from start to finish and everything in between.

Warning: it’s very long. I know this is the era of short format and 30-sec attention spans…but please indulge me and read on. Thank you 🥰

What it is like to host a woldwide event under the microscope of the new social media phenomenon?

I feel like this is the first Olympic Games that is being held where social media and more specifically with the rise of TikTok during the Covid-19 pandemic are so prevalent in our daily lives. Of course pictures were shared on Instagram and Facebook for previous Olympic Games but the big change this time around is the mini video format of TikTok where everyone has become a “reporter” (not to use the term “influencer”) and as such gets to reach a worldwide audience with their personal opinions in an under 1-minute format. Opinions that become trends and in order to get views (and maybe even a monetary compensation) it is clear that “click-baits” are the way to go. Our brains have been hardwired through evolution to focus on the negative, and when adding to the mix Frenchbashing and France’s national sport of complaining you then get the perfect storm for what seemed to transpire in the news. The negative effect is a cognitive bias that says something very positive will generally have less of an impact on a person’s behavior and cognition than something equally emotional but negative. Negative draws more attention. The internet empowers weak people to vent crap, we all need to pay less attention to the opinions of others that have zero connection to you. However if you get away from yellow journalism or sensationalized headlines you get maybe a more nuanced picture of the games. Dare I say a lot more positive, borderline enthusiastic.

Now the core of the Olympics. The brief: “Make It Iconic”. And wow did they deliver!!

For months and in true French spirit I heard and read the most negative comments about the Olympics : it was going to be a disaster, we will be the laughing stock of the world, I’m leaving the city to avoid the chaos, etc etc. In truth it’s always the same scenario : a country of naysayers and then each and every time we pull ourselves together and we party like there is no tomorrow. It happened with football (soccer) and rugby championship… just this year! Since the Olympic cauldron was lit, every site in Paris has turned into powerfully vibey, unapologetically French summer party. There was no scenario where I wouldn’t be in town for at least some of the events; and it turned out that we stayed the whole time. How often do you get to live in the heart of the city hosting the Olympic Games? Well turned out twice for us: first Beijing2008 then Paris2024. The chaos of the pre-game preparation is part of the hassle of hosting but walking around the city in the past few months and seeing the infrastructure being erected in the heart of the city, while I recognize could be disruptive to some, I could see the vision of the Olympic committee. I personally was certain it was going to be amazingly breathtaking and it didn’t disappoint.

Refurbishing existing landmarks is the smartest Olympic investment and they have turned each event into a love song to France - brilliant marketing for tourists, as well as investment for the future. Even though France has topped the list of the most visited country in the world for at least the last 3 decades, with a staggering 100 millions visitors in 2023. France has earned gold by every measure. Every Parisian who dared to stay in Paris this summer will tell you the same thing: they have never enjoyed the city as much as this past few weeks. The people are joyful, the sports venues are iconic, the monuments are shining, the traffic is almost inexistant, the subway is even working well. Tourists mentioned how well organized it is, how the city is calm and relaxed, people are happy and dancing... these games are a huge success. Everything is amazingly on time, safe, clean, no lines, no wait times, no wrong seating, no confusion. Rude Paris service might even just be a myth. The haters can keep whining on social media, it won't change a thing!

I had a very unique way of choosing events to attend. I chose the venues over the disciplines. I wanted to experience the games in the heart of the city with breathtaking background as I don’t have a favorite sport or root for a particular team (well apart for Team France mostly!). So I chose Stade Tour Eiffel, and it just happened that Beach Volleyball was the sport (I even got to see a game with the France team and even the USA team by chance). I did the same with Stade Les Invalides and saw Archery, Stade Concorde and saw amazing young women athletes in skateboarding. I went all the way in the suburbs to go see water polo (again by chance the French team and the USA team played) at the only purpose-built for the Olympics infrastructure Centre Aquatique Saint Denis. I will get to go to the Grand Palais (one of my favorite monument in Paris) for the Paralympics and also Stade de France for Para Track & Fields, as prices were a lot more reasonable and I’m a big advocate of the paralympics. Roland Garros with wheelchair tennis and Paris Arena with para swimming (didn’t make it to Taylor concert so at least I can see how they build a swimming pool where a stage was just a few months prior!!!) are also on my list of places I will be for the paralympics.

The organizing committee had committed to using 95% of existing or temporary venues, which aligns with their vision of promoting responsible event production and reducing the environmental impact. They were the very first Olympic Games with full gender parity, because the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allocated 50 per cent of the quota places to female athletes and 50 per cent to male athletes for a total of 10,500 competitors. Countries were encouraged to have a female and male flag bearer. Parity was there even in the lighting of the flame. The last event of the Olympics was also switched from the Men Marathon to the Women Marathon. Holding the women’s marathon after the men’s event, bringing the Games to a close, is hugely symbolic. Especially with the marathon, because women struggled for a long time to be able to take part. The route itself recognized a key moment from the French Revolution: the Women’s March on Versailles on 5 October 1789 when market women shopkeepers and workers from popular quarters gathered in front of the Hotel de Ville in Paris to demand bread and arms. Between 6,000 and 7,000 Parisian women marched through Paris to Versailles to bring the king back to the Tuileries Garden. That day, Louis XVI finally agreed to ratify the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens.

Providing people in France with an outstanding Games experience has always been Paris 2024's ambition. With the Marathon pour Tous (Mass Participation Marathon), amateur athletes were able to run the same route as the Olympic marathon enabling people to follow in the footsteps of outstanding athletes. In line with the parity of the games 20,024 participants (half women and half men) got to run during the night of Saturday and an additional 20,024 participants (again half women, half men) got to run a 10k route. A truly amazing addition to this year Olympics. With the Olympic Cauldron, which has always remained on the ground in the past, the committee decided to pay tribute to French pioneers Joseph-Michel Montgolfier and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier, who invented the Montgolfier-style hot air balloon, so the Cauldron was designed as part of a hot air balloon. The Olympic cauldron reflects the organizers' desire to place the Games and their symbols at the center of life in the capital, making the Olympic flame visible to all and contributing to the Olympic fervor in Paris. The golden balloon and cauldron sits in the Tuileries Gardens and it is sent a hundred feet up in the air every day at sunset. In 1783, the Mongolfier balloon took off from the Tuileries in front of 400,000 spectators and in the 1790s, the first-ever aerostiers brigade, the French Air Force’s hot air balloon corps, did its earliest hydrogen experiments in the Tuileries next to the Louvre.

Multiple other French rituals were also added to this Olympics. For example at the start of each sporting event, three blows are given to the floor, in the manner of theatrical tradition; these three strokes of the brigadier (the stick) are a way of combining sport and theater, and paying tribute to France's cultural tradition. In addition to the cultural symbolism, this tradition is intended to impose a certain solemn and ceremonial dimension on the event, emphasizing the importance of respecting the athletes' performances and is intended to create a strong bond between spectators and athletes. These three strokes are a reminder that each event is a unique performance that deserves the public's attention and respect. Another fun ritual is the restored bell from Notre Dame that hadn't been rung since the fire that damaged it in 2019. It has Paris 2024 engraved on it and gold medalists get to ring it and forever leave their mark on the famous city when the Games conclude, as the bell is moving to its new home at Notre Dame when the cathedral's renovations are complete.

But we cannot finish a post about Paris 2024 without addressing the elephant in the room i.e. the Opening Ceremony.

Before I start, it was so disappointing that the weather decided to turn ugly after days of sunshine just as the ceremony was starting and if you looked at a weather map during the event you would have seen that the rain was located only above Paris. But C’est la Vie!

From my French point of view seeing it in France, having just moved back here after 25+ years abroad, and after talking to many friends from different countries, the French TV commentators gave a lot more explanation during the ceremony so even if you didn’t necessarily have all the cultural references you could follow along and get it. I think it would have generated a lot less controversy if international TV commentators had had some knowledge or at least some guidelines, but then it would have spoiled the surprise if leaked before the ceremony. Just my 2 cents. Every host country tries to inject their own culture into the opening ceremony. As a reference I feel we got a different point of view of the Beijing Olympic Opening ceremony in 2008 because we lived there and understood the culture a little more than average Jo on TV and it’s true for each country. We just went a little above average… because well we are French ;-)

The opening was a mixture of references to history, culture, sport, music and, last but not least, the current issues. It carried a strong political message. All that on the backdrop of the City of Light with its plethora of buildings, parcs, spaces and the majestic Seine. It may have been tough to catch every nod to a book, character, painting or song during the event. The French have put a lot of thoughts into the significance of the olympics and of their country. It’s sad that it got nitpicked and focused to one or two scenes.

But we also have to talk a little about confirmation bias: this is our tendency as humans to process information by looking for, or interpreting, information that is consistent with our existing beliefs. This means if we read something or hear something that lines up with what we already think, then we are all in, often no questions asked. And then we may just hold on to our bias for dear life. “It’s a mockery of the Last Supper” may fit in really well with our confirmation bias for example if we are already feeling persecuted or believe we are being attacked. So when we hear that it wasn’t based on “The Last Supper” at all and instead on Greek mythology “Feast of Dionysus” painted by Jan Harmensz between 1635-1640 in France and hung in the Magnin Museum in Dijon, which makes more sense in reality since it links a piece of art located in France with Greece and the theme of opulence, we still have a really hard time stepping away from what we read or believe about the Last Supper. We may dig in and hold on explaining away all the things that don’t line up. We may choose to think everything that doesn’t fit with our bias is false, even if it comes directly from a source that should be given credit, for example the people who planned it! This is normal brain behavior and we all do it. I don’t care what “side” you are on, your brain does this. The trick is to know it and help your brain do better.

At the same time I know it can be hard for foreigners to understand all the messages this ceremony tried to convey. The title of the opening ceremony was “Ca Ira” (meaning it’s going to be ok) it’s a revolutionary song. The opening ceremony has the power to change people’s minds. Even though we are facing great challenges, “Ça ira”. The ceremony was created like a theater play by one of the greatest French theater directors of his generation, Thomas Jolly. They scripted it like a play to take you on an amazing journey from point A to Z. The ceremony took place in the city and unfortunately in the rain! It was spectacular. Axelle Saint-Cirel, a French Black woman, sang the French national anthem. In these times in our country, this is bold.

One of the best comments I read online: “Reading opening ceremony hot takes makes me think a lot of y’all have never heard of the French and their French ways”. It also reminded me of something I heard a while back “the French do not care what you think of them. You are not the main character here.”

Paris is, and always has been, a city of romance, excess, and toppling authority.

Also one must remember the Latin phrase used as the motto of the city of Paris: ‘Fluctuat nec mergitur” “tossed by the waves but does not sink”

The Olympic Games Paris 2024 will go down in history for their stunning venues in the heart of Paris and across France, their focus on sustainability and legacy, and the record-breaking performances by athletes from the territories of 206 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and the Refugee Olympic Team. Media Rights-Holders (MRHs) are reporting record figures compared to previous Games, with Paris 2024 anticipated to be the most followed Games ever, with over half of the world's population expected to have engaged with them.

Olympics 2024 organizers said the Paris Games broke the record for the most number of tickets sold or allocated in the event's history: 9.7 million tickets were sold or allocated for this year's Olympic and Paralympic Games, with 8.7 million sold for the former and a million for the latter. The previous ticket sales record was held by Atlanta in 1996 (the “Centennial Game”) when 8.3 million tickets were sold.

Good luck to the next country/city.

LA: You might not have iconic historical landmarks as backdrop but you have showbiz. Your stadium are big, bigger and biggest and so is your motto. You might not have to worry about rain but I hope you won’t have to worry about wild fires. Anyway You do you. You should do whatever is best for you, no matter what other people think… because France sure did.

With love from Paris 🇫🇷

PS: do not forget the Olympics are not quite finished… there is still the Paralympics and the amazing athletes competing. They need our encouragement too.

There is no excuse since Paris 2024 will make history as the first Paralympic Games to offer some live coverage from each of the 22 sports. There will be record number of broadcasters to cover Paris 2024 Paralympics. Media Rights Holders in more than 160 countries and territories have committed to broadcasting the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

Edit: I wrote a shorter version for the Paralympics… give it a go here you may as well 🤷‍♀️

[p-redux]

https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/match/pool-b-scotland-romania

If you can not hear Scotland VS Romania, you can listen to the play. just press the "play", close to the emblem of the championship to the left.

Anon, I'm confused, are you saying that Sam is watching the Scotland vs Romania Rugby World Cup Match live...and is in France, where it's held?

Please come back and clarify. Thanks !

[redwineconversation]

Selma Bacha Le Progres Interview (October 17, 2023)

Blah blah standard disclaimers apply; god I HATE invasive behavior so much it genuinely makes my skin crawl; @OL Comms Dept a PSL I beg of you; y'all know the speech by now. I don't want to commit to translating Le Progres articles on a regular basis but as is everything in life, that is subject to change.

In which the prodigal child returns from the cold, remembers Lyon's win/loss record against Barcelona, disses Lyon's men's team, and confesses love and admiration for WoSo's favorite Bad Catholic.

It was basically a fan Q&A and anyone with a Le Progres subscription will be able to find their names; however I took out the fans' names because I just don't feel comfortable outing private information like that. (See, it's that easy to be a decent human being and respect someone's privacy!!! Who would have thought!!!!)

SELMA BACHA LE PROGRES INTERVIEW

Selma Bacha: "My biggest strength is my instinct"

For one hour, the Olympique Lyonnais and French International left back talked with Le Progres readers with all the spontaneity and frankness we have come to expect from her. Without shying away from a single question. Her tenacious character, the difference in attendance for men's football compared to women's football, the support from her family, how she regards mental strength, her role models, her relationship with Wendie Renard... A Bacha with no filter!

[Fan]: Do you play any other sport apart from rugby?

I do a lot of boxing during preseason and when we're in preseason. It allows me to blow off steam. I also enjoy swimming, and because I'm such a competitor, I always have to swim against someone who swims professionally so I can improve and to improve my mental strength. I also go hiking even if I like it a little less. Ever since I was young, I really loved sports in general. In middle school, I did cross country. I wanted to do my middle school proud so I gave everything, and I finished third in the French Championship.

[Fan]: Did you play with the boys in the academy?

I started playing with the boys when I was five. I was recruited really quickly by Lyon when I was eight. But my parents got divorced at that time and I lived with my father and my brother, so I have certain male characteristics. But maybe that's what gave me my desire to win, the determination, how to be aggressive and not let anything go.

[Fan]: What would you say is the difference between men's football and women's football? The difference in attendance?

We do the same job, but female players don't bring in as much money as the men do. But we're seeing some progress, we see it with the French National Team where we often play in front of sold-out crowds. It's up to us to win over supporters, to make them proud and gain interest in us. I have a lot of confidence in that even if it's a little frustration to play the final of the Coupe de France or the Trophee des Championnes in front of a small crowd. That being said, then a game is at 9pm on a Sunday, I understand that's it is complicated for families.

[Fan]: Were you disappointed not to play the derby [against ASSE] at the Groupama Stadium?

I think I can speak for the team but we would prefer to play in front of a smaller crowd with a great atmosphere, which may have been lost if we played at the Groupama Stadium.

[Fan]: What is your best memory in the Champions League?

My first final in Kiev [Lyon beat Wolfsburg 4-1]. I wasn't even expecting to be on the team sheet and I went to the pregame meeting and I found myself starting at the age of 17. The atmosphere was incredible. Overseas, people are really interested in those types of events. Here in France, we're sleepwalking our way through it, even if after the [2019] World Cup a lot of people started to get more into women's football.

[Fan]: Other countries have overtaken women's football in France. What do you think about that?

It's not to put down our league because things were put in place and we were heard, so respect for that, but when there is a clash like Chelsea-Manchester City in England, it's hard to compete against. Discussions were had, I'm a bit young but Wendie Renard is taking part in them and things are starting to change. In July, professionalism was put in place, so it's moving forward. Slowly but surely.

[Fan]: What has been the most difficult thing in your career?

I integrated the professional group very quickly. I saw everything through rose tinted glasses at first. And when I was on the bench, I was asking the right questions of myself. I was talking with the physical fitness coach, the psychologist, the nutritionist, and I told myself I need to work twice as hard to achieve what I really wanted. I'm someone who is always very smiley and when I'm hurting, no one will know. I can internalize a lot but it will explode, I implode by myself and obviously, that's not good mentally. I have my parents, my team and my best friend, Alyssa Paljevic (former goalkeeper at Lyon), who is a shoulder to lean on. She doesn't judge me and she tells me if I'm wrong or not.

[Fan]: Are you properly supported in terms of mental health?

It depends on each individual. I often tell the youth to make sure to have a good support system. When I arrived at 16 [to the pro group], I wasn't paying a lot of attention to nutrition, to sleep, to recovery, the invisible part of training. I quickly understood you needed support and structure to achieve my objections, which are really high. When I go the [team] psychologist, it's because it helps me a lot mentally.

[Fan]: What qualities do you need to become professional?

Being good at football obviously. Beyond that, only hard work pays off. I give a lot of credit to the people working behind the scenes who put things in place for us. The invisible part of training is also really important. Beyond that, it comes down to having a lot of fun and confidence, you have to follow your instinct. Now it's my turn to ask if you want to be a professional football player? You'd like that? Right there, you can't say "I'd like to". You have to say "I want to" to send the right information to your brain and have confidence in yourself.

[Fan]: Have you stayed in contact with FC Gerland, the team you started with?

I'm the godmother of my former club which is still very dear to me. Last season, I was able to gift them jerseys thanks to my sponsor. Whenever I can go and give them advice, I do it without hesitation.

{Fan]: Do you play Fifa?

From what I'm told, apparently in the game, I'm expensive and a "cheat code"... Personally I don't really play, I prefer to relax.

[Fan]: Do you train in the morning and afternoon like the men's team?

Who told you the men's team train in the morning and afternoon? (laughter) We often have training in the morning, but sometimes we have double or even triple sessions when we come back from vacation. But yeah, we're like the men, we do the same job.

[Fan]: Do you interact with the men's team?

Yes, and besides that, once a year, during the gala for OL Foundation [Lyon charity], we're seated a table with investors and there's obviously a player from the men's team next to us. You might think they have big egos but when you get to know them, they're real softies. We see them in the cafeteria as well.

[Fan]: Was the transition post-Aulas easier for the women's team?

I don't know what's going on on their [men's team] end but from our end, Michele Kang came to see us, we had talks. We're not an easy team to handle but we're not complicated. (laughter)

[Fan]: Which players are your role model?

I'm a footballer but I don't watch a lot of football. The players who inspire, it's Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, because they're hard workers.

[Fan]: Have you recovered from your ankle injury in Australia?

My ankle doesn't bother me anymore otherwise I wouldn't be on the field, especially because I have a long season ahead and therefore we won't want to take any risks. But it's true the sprain was no joke. I had 10 days to recover. It didn't hurt at all during the World Cup even if it was swollen. I'm not a cheat: if I'm not 100 percent it's not worth putting me on the field. So yeah, my ankle is a little unstable since, it'll roll sometimes, I'll be in pain for 30 seconds up to a minute, but that's normal. Let's just say I played my joker. At Lyon there is all the necessary medical staff, I'm in good hands.

[Fan]: Does it help you to play in your hometown?

There are advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is I was born here, all my family is here and I'm really close to my family so I have a lot of support, that really helps me. But sometimes, you just want to be alone and that's not always an option.

[Fan]: What is your relationship like with Wendie [Renard]?

Wendie, she took me immediately under her wing as soon as I integrated the pro group. She knows the love and admiration I have for her. She's in my heart, she's a big sister for me who I can always count on. Our friendship goes beyond football. When things were going badly and I thought about quitting football, she really helped me. I owe an enormous amount to her.

[Fan]: Do you think you will change clubs in the upcoming years?

That's a good question! (laughter) I'm under contract with Lyon until 2025. I have incredibly strong feelings for this club, I grew up with them. For the moment, I'm good here, I live it day by day and for the moment, I'm not imagining myself elsewhere.

[Fan]: You wouldn't want to go to Barcelona?

Why would I choose Barcelona? (laughter) I'm not afraid to test myself in a new league. Each year, in my room, I take a blank piece of paper and write down my objectives. Last season [2021-2022], I wasn't expecting to be be the youngest player in the Champions League, have the most assists, be nominated to the Ballon d'Or... I couldn't believe it. But when you play for the team and you put the team first, the individual stats will follow by themselves.

[Fan]: Do you practice a lot shooting from afar?

Let's just say it's instinct. I have a very strong left foot. The assistant coach for the French National Team teases me a lot about that: he tells me I have a more powerful shot than certain male players but I need to put them on target (laughter), so I know what I have to improve on. I'd say that above all else, my strength, it's my instinct. I always follow it: if I have to take a shot, I'll shoot, if I have to get my teammate to score, I'll do it. I don't think just about me. I'd rather have an assist than score, even if scoring, it's a really special feeling.

[Fan]: Which team has the best style of play in your eyes?

Olympique Lyonnais (laughter). Otherwise I'd say Barcelona, because I am a player who likes ball possession and at the top level, the Spanish players are the best. I like to watch Barcelona.

[Fan]: Who was the best team you played against?

That's a good question. I'd say Chelsea and Barcelona.

[Fan]: And the best player according to you?

There are a lot. At the moment, I'd say Eugenie Le Sommer. Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona) as well, she's really good.

[Fan]: Do you chip in training?

Ball control, nutmeg, shooting, yes. But not really chips.

[Fan]: What is it like being an undisputed starter with the French National Team?

It's an honor! My team knows how much I struggled and all the tears I shed. Compared to other players, I integrated it a little later but I never gave up. There were nights when I was crying at home and I was thinking: "what am I missing?" And one day, when Lyon was at Issy-les-Moulineaux, I learnt that I would be called up because Sakina Karchaoui was injured. At first I couldn't believe it and I was even afraid the coach was pranking me. I screamed really loudly in the bus, everyone was really happy for me. Being at Clairefontaine, seeing the castle, it was a childhood dream. I'll never forget my first game against Kazakhstan, especially because I was a starter. And then I scored in my second game against Wales! I couldn't dream it any better. Now, my status has changed, but I'm not going to get a big head over it. I stay smiley, likable and I never forget where I came from. I want to keep my feet on the ground because it can all change so quickly.

{Fan]: How did you handle coming back from the World Cup?

That night, obviously I didn't sleep. But despite my missed penalty, I told myself that I gave everything and shouldn't have any regrets. Especially because I came into the tournament with an injury and had 10 days to recover from a big sprain. Afterwards? There was a long flight with a lot of sadness and frustration. I landed mid-morning in Lyon, I went to see my family and that afternoon, I went to Montpellier and then the next day to Marrakech. I turned my phone off and no one knew where I was. I needed a lot of time before I could talk about the World Cup.

[Fan]: What was missing for this World Cup?

Efficiency of course. We weren't able to impose our style of play and we were subjected to Australia's. Maybe we lacked a bit of bite as well. Ellie Carpenter, my Australian teammate, when she has one touch of the ball, she moves up 10 meters. When you foul a Brazilian player, they form a group around the referee to put pressure on her. When we had a team meeting about it, Kenza Dali actually called me out by name and said we needed to be more like me, aggressive. Of course you need to respect the referee and not waste energy for no reason when she has already made her decision, but in the quarterfinal of the World Cup, I think we can go talk to the ref. And not just in football. Look at rugby!

[dailyrugbytoday]

Wallabies vs All Blacks Rugby Second Bledisloe Cup clash at Forsyth Barr Stadium

New Post has been published on https://thedailyrugby.com/wallabies-vs-all-blacks-rugby-second-bledisloe-cup-clash-at-forsyth-barr-stadium/

The Daily Rugby

https://thedailyrugby.com/wallabies-vs-all-blacks-rugby-second-bledisloe-cup-clash-at-forsyth-barr-stadium/

Wallabies vs All Blacks Rugby Second Bledisloe Cup clash at Forsyth Barr Stadium

The second Bledisloe Cup match between the Wallabies vs All Blacks will take place on August 5 at Forsyth Barr Stadium between Australia and New Zealand.

Will our team’s players smash their way to victory in the second Bledisloe match at the Glasshouse? Be at the center of the action as the All Blacks take on their toughest opponents from across the ditch at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium!

When is the Bledisloe Cup 2023?

Match

Date

Time (AEST)

Venue

Game 1

Sat. July 29

7:45 pm

MCG, Melbourne

Game 2

Sat. Aug 5

12:35 pm

Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

The All Blacks compete in the Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship Test Match Series and face a formidable 2023 with the Rugby World Cup in France in September and October. However, before that, they must deal with home test matches against a formidable South Africa team and the eagerly anticipated Bledisloe Cup match against Eddie Jones’ Australia.

On August 5, the All Blacks will play a rare afternoon home Test match at Forsyth Barr Stadium (2.35 PM start time), bringing the Bledisloe Cup back to Dunedin for the first time since 2017. All Blacks Hospitality anticipates that the Bledisloe Cup test match will be in high demand because there will only be one test match played on the South Island in 2023. To avoid disappointment, we advise you to confirm your hospitality requirements as early as feasible.

2023 Second Bledisloe Cup All Blacks will play home Test match at Forsyth Barr Stadium

In the All Blacks final home Test of the year against Australia on Saturday afternoon in Dunedin, assistant coach Jason Ryan says there is still more to work for. The breakdown will be one area of focus following the 38-7 Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup victory in Melbourne on Saturday.

Ryan claimed that the match had been intensely physical, as one could anticipate from a Bledisloe Cup match.

The Australians had displayed some excellent play at the breakdown.

“They put pressure on us there, and we occasionally lost our rhythm. I believe that our carry contributed to the breakdown in some way, so we’ll seek to adjust a few things there with our height. However, as we regained some momentum and began to play quickly, we felt fairly confident.

Watch the Bledisloe Cup 2023 on 9Now outside of Australia.

The Bledisloe Cup, one of the major events on the international rugby calendar, is eagerly awaited by rugby fans everywhere. Our step-by-step instructions will help Australian expats understand how to watch Bledisloe Cup 2023 outside of Australia on 9Now.

The game will be broadcast live on 9Now from July 29, 2023, through August 5, 2023, at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin and the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne.

Due to geographical limitations, watching this match on 9Now from outside of Australia can be difficult.

However, you can easily get around this limitation and watch 9Now outside of Australia to support your preferred team from the comfort of your own location by using a reliable VPN service like ExpressVPN.

Rugby’s Bledisloe Cup 2023: How to watch the match live Online.

The rugby union game was a long-standing institution. Australia will attempt to wrest the Bledisloe Cup from New Zealand for the first time in 17 years at Eden Park after a decisive victory in the opening rugby match.

Since roughly 85 years ago, the Wallabies of Australia and the All Blacks of New Zealand have competed in a rugby union matchup known as the Bledisloe Cup. That much history may be found in a custom that dates back to the early 1930s.

[laresearchette]

Saturday, July 08, 2023 Canadian TV Listings (Times Eastern)

I'm Back!

WHERE CAN I FIND THOSE PREMIERES?: A ROYAL CHRISTMAS CRUSH (W Network) 8:00pm V.C. ANDREWS’ DAWN (Lifetime Canada) 8:00pm

WHAT IS NOT PREMIERING IN CANADA TONIGHT? GREATEST GEEK YEAR EVER: 1982 (CW Feed)

NEW TO AMAZON PRIME CANADA/CBC GEM/CRAVE TV/DISNEY + STAR/NETFLIX CANADA:

CBC GEM WORLD PARA ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS (July 8th to 17th)

CRAVE TV HALLOWEEN ENDS

WIMBLEDON TENNIS (TSN3) 6:00am: Early Round Coverage - Day #6 (TSN4) 1:00pm: Early Round Coverage - Day #6 (TSN4) 9:00pm: Primetime

MLB BASEBALL (SN) 1:00pm: Jays vs. Tigers (SN/SN Now) 4:00pm: A’s vs. Red Sox (SN/SN Now) 7:00pm: Atlanta vs. Rays (SN Now) 9:00pm: Angels vs. Dodgers (SN) 10:00pm: Diamondbacks vs. Angels

NBA SUMMER LEAGUE (SN Now) 3:00pm: Miami vs. Boston (SN Now) 10:00pm: LA Clippers vs. Utah

US WOMEN'S OPEN (TSN) 3:00pm: Third Round

CALGARY STAMPEDE (SN1) 3:30pm: Calgary Stampede: Rodeo - Day 2 (SN/SN1) 10:30pm: Calgary Stampede: Rangeland Derby - Day 2

PACIFIC 4 NATIONS RUGBY (TSN4) 6:55pm: Canada vs. New Zealand

CFL FOOTBALL (TSN3) 7:00pm: Redblacks vs. Ti-Cats

ABSOLUTELY CANADIAN (CBC) 8:00pm: Toronto Stories: Ethiopian Musicians and Winston LaRose includes two short documentaries, "Tizita" and "Mr. Jane and Finch."

NATION UNTAMED (APTN) 8:00pm: Sam and Chuck journey to Canada's arctic, gaining a new appreciation for the far North and the people who live there; they experience a landscape and a traditional hunt unlike any they have witnessed before.

BACK TO ROOTS (APTN) 8:30pm: Matricia describes the versatility and benefits of wild blueberries, then bakes wild blueberry muffins over an open fire and makes a wild blueberry mocktail; she plays her drum and sings a song called "Mother Mother."

DEATH OF A LADIES' MAN (CBC) 9:00pm: A carousing college professor's life takes a series of unimaginable twists when he begins to have surreal hallucinations. Inspired by the songs of Leonard Cohen.

BARB & STAR GO TO VISTA DEL MAR (CTV Life) 9:00pm: Lifelong friends Barb and Star embark on the adventure of a lifetime when they decide to leave their small Midwestern town for the first time ever.

HALLOWEEN ENDS (Crave) 9:00pm: Four years after her last encounter with Michael Myers, Laurie Strode finally decides to liberate herself and embrace life. However, a local murder unleashes a cascade of violence and terror, forcing her to confront the evil she can't control.

HOW TO PLEASE A WOMAN (Super Channel Fuse) 9:00pm: Inspired by a birthday surprise from her friends, a 50-year-old woman has a business idea to launch an all-male house-cleaning service.

MLS SOCCER (TSN/TSN5) 10:30pm: Vancouver vs. Seattle

THE AMITYVILLE CURSE (Crave) 10:55pm: Friends intend to flip the Amityville house but find a paranormal presence.

[nrlonline]

Watch NRL Live Penrith Panthers vs Brisbane Broncos On 03 March 2023

Penrith Panthers, the champions of the 2022 National Rugby Championship, will begin their 2023 season against the Brisbane Broncos at BlueBet Stadium. In the World Club Challenge Cup, the Penrith Panthers were defeated by the St. Helens team, while the Brisbane Broncos triumphed over the NQ Cowboys team.Watch Live

Penrith Panthers - favorite to win The incredible work that the Penrith Panthers put in over the previous season resulted in them finishing first on the table in the regular season with 42 points from a possible 24. The home team in the 2022 season scored 636 points, the most points of any club in the league, and allowed 330 points, the fewest points allowed in that season. The Penrith Panthers, on the other hand, went further in the playoffs and won the final game. Before this, they had prevailed against the Parramatta Eels in the 1/8 round, the Canberra Raiders in the quarterfinal stages, and the North Queensland Cowboys in the semis. Prior to the start of this season, the Penrith Panthers had a winning record of four out of their previous five matches.

Brisbane Broncos - will hope for an good start The Brisbane Broncos beat the North Queensland Cowboys in their last preseason game, so they are coming into this game with a bit of momentum. On the other hand, this will be a different matchup for them, with more stringent requirements and demands. The Brisbane Broncos had 28 points at the end of the regular season last year, which put them ninth in the National Rugby League standings. However, they did not make the playoffs. The away team's record in their last five games was one win, one tie, and three losses. This means that they will start the new season with the same record.

Expert Betting Tips After a quick examination, it appears that the team playing at home has the advantage and is best positioned to come out on top. As a result, we are pulling for them to launch the defense of their championship with a performance that is completely dominant. As a result, I am hoping that they will prevail in both halves of the match. In addition, taking into account the players they have available and how well they played during the preseason, I feel that they will be able to cover the spread.

THE TEAM NEWS

PENRITH PANTHERS

Penrith Panthers made it back-to-back Premierships as they defended their crown with a comfortable win over Parramatta Eels in last season's Grand Final with Ivan Cleary’s men harbouring hopes of a three-peat. The Panthers fell short in the World Club Challenge against St. Helens but will be in much better shape for this, although they will have to deal with the loss of Taylan May for the entire campaign after he suffered an ACL injury against the English outfit. Starting 13: Edwards, Turuva, Tago, Crichton, To’o, Luai, Cleary, Leota, Kenny, Fisher-Harris, Garner, Martin, Yeo – Interchanges: Luke, Sorensen, Leniu, Salmon – Reserves: Hosking, Eisenhuth, Peachey, Cogger, Smith

Unavailable: Taylan May (Injured)

BRISBANE BRONCOS

Brisbane Broncos somehow missed out on a spot in the finals in 2022 as they lost five of their final six games to finish the regular season in what was a hugely disappointing end to what had been a promising campaign. The Broncos will view a top eight spot as the bare minimum this season but they have been forced into a re-jig for this opening contest with new signing Reece Walsh out with a facial fracture so Selwyn Cobbo will slot in at fullback. Starting 13: Cobbo, Oates, Staggs, Farnworth, Arthars, Mam, Reynolds, Jensen, Walters, Haas, Capewell, Riki, Carrigan – Interchanges: Paix, Palasia, Flagler, Taupau – Reserves: Mariner, Piakura, Willison, Madden, Hoeter

Unavailable: Kobe Hetherington (Injured), Reece Walsh (Injured)

[thesocialchronicles]

Ireland wing Jacob Stockdale has ended speculation over his future by signing a new two-year deal with Ulster, keeping him at the club until 2027.The 28-year-old had been linked with a move to France, but has committed his future to the Belfast-based club for the duration of the current World Cup cycle. Stockdale enjoyed a strong 2023-24 season with nine tries in 16 United Rugby Championship games and has added three this term, leading to his Ireland return in last month's Autumn Nations Series win over Fiji. The 2018 Six Nations Grand Slam winner and player of the tournament has made 127 appearances for Ulster having broken into the team in 2016. "I'm delighted to sign for the next couple of seasons here," said Stockdale, who has 38 Ireland caps. "I feel good about where my game is at and where this team is heading. There is a lot of excitement around the place with the young players coming up and I am enjoying my role as one of the experienced players in the team."Stockdale has not played for Ulster since 18 October having returned from Ireland duty with what the club's head coach Richie Murphy described as a "significant" hamstring injury. Ulster general manager Bryn Cunningham said: "Securing Jacob's future is key for us, given his importance in the team. It was no surprise to hear about interest in his signature from elsewhere, given his talent and special skillset."We believe we are seeing Jacob get back to the form he was showing before his long-term ankle injury a couple of years ago. He has showed great resilience and hard work to get back to that level of strength and fitness."A fit and confident Jacob is one of the deadliest wingers in rugby and we think the next couple of seasons will see the peak years of his career, both for Ulster and on the international stage in a green jersey."Stockdale is the latest in a series of Ulster contract extensions in recent weeks with Ben Carson and Mike Lowry also having extended their deals. Ireland Sevens star Zac Ward also penned a three-year contract with the province after a successful trial period. 2024-12-24 12:18:31 https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/branded_sport/1200/cpsprodpb/4743/live/8cb78ae0-c1f2-11ef-b28c-1f5932281567.jpg

[calacuspr]

Lessons learnt from the top sports crises of 2024A

Another year, another series of dramas that brought sport into disrepute.

From governance issues to doping dramas, 2024 will go down as a year when sport faced reputational crises that underline the importance of good planning, good governance and an understanding of how to manage the media when a storm blows.

It’s a reminder of the importance of crisis communications preparation – the insurance to help you navigate not just those crises that you can foresee, but those you can’t.

As we say every year, planning, a code of ethics and transparency can often alleviate many of the reputation-damaging crises we have seen in 2024, but panic and self-preservation often lead to foolish decisions which ultimately do more harm than good.

BILL SWEENEY

Since rugby became a professional sport in the mid-1990s, it has faced some challenges adapting to the world of elite sport.

The international calendar clashes with domestic games, for instance, that resulted in a tug-of-war between clubs and the Rugby Football Union (RFU).

Rugby doesn’t attract the same finances as football, for instance, and the English governing body has got itself into problems over executive pay.

Chief Executive Bill Sweeney has caused an outcry after it was revealed that his salary for the 2023-24 financial year rose to £1.1million.

The RFU reported an operating loss of £37.9m for the same period, the highest it has recorded while Tom Ilube, Chair of the RFU board, sought to justify the increase in executive remuneration.

He said: “During the pandemic, the executive team took deeper and longer salary cuts than the rest of the organisation along with a reduced bonus.

"The long-term incentive plan, put in place post Covid, recognised the material and voluntary reduction in remuneration, despite an exceptional increase in workload while also incentivising the executive team to remain in post to deliver against challenging multi-year targets. The targets included revenue growth, cost control and underlying profit, stretch targets were also in place in relation to other measures including performance and participation."

But with the RFU also making 42 staff redundant in September and grass roots participation in decline, the topics aren’t good.

Three former RFU chairmen then called for Sweeney to step down after doing “enormous and irreparable damage” to the organisation.

Martyn Thomas, Graeme Cattermole and Brian Baister asserted in a letter that the positions of Sweeney and Ilube were “untenable” as the executive director team expenditure rose from £2.8 million last year to £4.9 million.

Reports also suggest that up to 10 members of the RFU senior leadership were handed promotions to become directors.

“The recent RFU announcement of a world record net financial loss to reserves for a sports NGB [national governing body] of £42 million accompanied by large pay increases and bonus payments being made to the Chairman, CEO and other executives, just a month after declaring 42 staff redundancies, has done enormous and irreparable damage to the reputation of the RFU with member clubs, employees and supporters of the game,” read their letter.

“We would respectfully suggest that the positions of the Chairman, CEO and the relevant RFU Board Members are now untenable. We believe a new leadership team is required to chart a new way forward, start the process of rebuilding trust and respect and therefore urge those officers responsible to do the honourable thing.”

The second tier of English rugby is also seeking a vote of no confidence in Sweeney with the 12 RFU Championship clubs requesting a special general meeting (SGM) to debate the leadership of Sweeney and Ilube.

The Championship clubs voted unanimously to add their voices to the demand for a special general meeting, which has also been backed by the Rugby Football Referees’ Union.

England’s 2003 World Cup-winning head coach Sir Clive Woodward described Sweeney’s “unacceptable” pay as “an insult to the wider English rugby public.

The Championship clubs have been engaged in a long-running dispute with the RFU over funding and this season are receiving their lowest ever sum of £133,000 each.

The RFU has sought to defend itself and said in a statement: “The RFU ends this latest four-year cycle with a strong balance sheet, no debt, a robust cash position and positive P&L reserves.

“The RFU has continued to invest strategically in the game at all levels and for the last two years the RFU have been working hard to develop a redesigned Championship with the aim of developing a whole game solution to support the development of England Rugby.

“The objective has been to create a second tier that supports the English rugby system by developing young English talent, whilst supporting the clubs to become financially sustainable by growing local audiences, improving standards, and increasing the value of the league. Significant research has been undertaken and external independent advice sought to underpin the strategy.

“Minimum standards have been proposed along with increased RFU funding and a mechanic for promotion and relegation with tiered capacities for entry into the Premiership and a governance structure to give greater self-determination.”

Learnings

Sports governance is deeply political and can become a distracting sideshow that affects all levels of the game.

Perception is reality when a chief executive and his colleagues are taking higher salaries at a time where redundancies and cost-cutting are being felt by others within the organisation and the game at large.

It’s hard to see how the Chief Executive and his colleagues recover from the growing mood of no confidence after failing to understand the optics in tricky financial times.

PGMOL & DAVID COOTE

Refereeing, from grassroots level to the highest echelons of the game, is beset by criticism with disagreements over decisions a naturally partisan pastime.

But the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the English professional football governing body, does not help itself with a strategy and narrative that seems to change according to the circumstances.

When Howard Webb took over in 2022, replacing Mike Riley, he talked about an improvement in standards, particularly in reference to the video assistant referees (VAR).

In stark contrast to Champions League games, where referees appear to let the game flow without fanfare, there is a perception that referees are becoming the main talking point after many of the Premier League’s most high profile games.

A one-sided TV show on Sky Sports which glosses over inconsistencies and makes excuses rather than taking ownership for mistakes has hardly helped.

Never is Webb pushed on why decisions are so inconsistent, even on the same weekend, underlining a lack of scrutiny, preferring chummy appearances on The Overlap instead of grasping the serious problem the PGMOL is facing.

With PGMOL facing financial challenges, there have been reports that the organisation may have to cut its training programmes, which would add to the problems developing a new generation of top referees and improving diversity.

While the quality of refereeing could certainly be improved, raising standards should come not only through investment in training and education, but in accountability for bad performances.

There is a steady stream of ambitious young referees in Select Group 2 and beyond who should be given the opportunities to prove themselves more readily when mistakes occur.

Currently, there is little in the way of meaningful consequence for referees making what can be egregious, season-defining errors, and therefore standards remain mediocre.

Integrity is fundamental in sport at any level, but particularly in high profile elite competition.

The VAR team for Tottenham’s win against Liverpool last season made a major error but when it transpired that they had worked in the UAE the day before, accusations that they were fatigued did little to calm emotions.

The governing body’s reputation suffered another blow late in 2024 when a video emerged of senior referee David Coote appearing to make derogatory remarks about Liverpool and their former manager Jurgen Klopp who he disliked for having a go at him during a match.

Coote was suspended before another video appearing to show him snorting white powder during Euro 2024 in Germany – where he was officiating – was published by The Sun.

Later in November, The Football Association (FA) launched an investigation into allegations that Coote discussed giving a yellow card ahead of a match in 2019.

Coote insisted nothing improper took place and said: “Whatever issues I may have had in my personal life they have never affected my decision-making on the field. I have always held the integrity of the game in the highest regard, refereeing matches impartially and to the best of my ability.”

After an investigation, Coote’s contract was terminated and the PGMOL statement said: "Following the conclusion of a thorough investigation into David Coote's conduct, his employment with PGMOL has been terminated today with immediate effect.

"David Coote's actions were found to be in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable.

"Supporting David Coote continues to be important to us and we remain committed to his welfare.”

Coote has a right to appeal the decision to terminate his employment, according to the PGMOL.

Learnings

The PGMOL has a serious reputational problem.

Their dialogue with friendly journalists does nothing to enhance their credibility and attracts criticism as they avoid real scrutiny or a grasp of the issues sub-par refereeing performances attract.

Howard Webb has made no significant improvement to the PGMOL’s reputation, appearing, if anything, to love the limelight without any self-awareness.

The Coote saga further raises questions about the depth of bias within the roster of top flight referees and why more isn’t done to improve culture and performance.

ENHANCED GAMES

Enhanced Games

With the recent backing of PayPal billionaire Peter Thiel and other tech businessmen, it looks like the controversial Enhanced Games has the financial backing to take place in 2025.

The Enhanced Games is a proposed international athletic competition, not unlike the Olympic Games, but with one major difference: they explicitly do not test for Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs). This is not to say that athletes are forced to dope, but rather than doping is perfectly permissible in the eyes of the organisers.

Their stated goal is to see how far humans can go, using a combination of chemical and technological doping; the former including anabolic steroids and hormone therapy, the latter technology like ’super trainers’ and swimsuits based on sharkskin.

The main philosophy of the Enhanced Games is that PED use should be seen as a ‘demonstration of science’ rather than as cheating.

Clearly, there are grey areas when it comes to genetic and competitive advantages, so it could be argued that any and all enhancements should be allowed.

The Enhanced Games also claim to have a vastly improved pay structure compared to the Olympic Games, including a stipend for all athletes that compete, as well as substantial prizes for the most successful – including up to and above $1m for gold medallists.

A 2017 study carried out by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) suggested that as many of half of tested athletes had used PEDs in the last year.

Unsurprisingly, WADA condemned the new Games, calling it “a dangerous and irresponsible concept. WADA warns athletes and support personnel, who wish to participate in clean sport, that if they were to take part in the 'Enhanced Games', they would risk committing anti-doping rule violations under the World Anti-Doping Code,

"Athletes serve as role models and we believe this proposed event would send the wrong signal to young people around the world.”

Travis Tygart, CEO of the US Anti-Doping Agency, described the Enhanced Games as ”farcical… likely illegal in many states” and “a dangerous clown show, not real sport.”

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe was scathing in his assessment and said: "There's only one message and that is if anybody is moronic enough to feel that they want to take part in that, and they are from the traditional, philosophical end of our sport, they'll get banned and they'll get banned for a long time."

One of the Enhanced Games website slogans is: ‘My body, my choice,’ clearly attempting to echo the pro-choice slogans of pro-abortion activists while a further slogan of the Enhanced Games is ‘Science is real,’ echoing pro-vaccination arguments during the Covid Pandemic. These attempts to co-opt major worldwide political issues for the gain of the Enhanced Games organisers and investors is unlikely to improve the organisation’s credibility.

Whether or not they can attract sufficient athletes remains to be seen. At the time of writing, very few have publicly supported the new competition.

D’Souza claimed that 500 ‘sleeper’ athletes had privately agreed to take part, but with the very real safety concerns, the question remains: who will actually benefit from the Enhanced Games?

Whether more athletes will sign up in the fullness of time remains to be seen.

Learnings

There is so much that the Enhanced Games have got wrong from a communications perspective.

Instead of demonstrating an understanding of the concerns and addressing them in a sensitive way, the approach has been one of aggressive belligerence.

The risks to athlete safety alone will ensure continued widespread condemnation from the sports world and beyond.

And will sponsors or broadcasters want to be associated with such a controversial competition which would potentially undermine their own ethics and ethos?

THE INTERNATIONAL BOXING ASSOCIATION

Gender has become a huge issue in sport as well as society.

Ever since South African middle-distance runner Caster Semenya underwent tests to prove her gender back in 2009, and the LGBTQ+ community has found a voice in mainstream society, there have been questions raised about fairness and eligibility.

The International Boxing Association, (IBA) has had a difficult few years, with concerns over governance and integrity ultimately seeing it removed as boxing’s Olympic governing body by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2023.

IBA President Russian Umar Kremlev, is said to have strong links to state President Vladimir Putin, there has been concern over the integrity of bouts and judging in a report by sports investigator Richard McLaren which said “corruption abounded” when reporting about IBA’s governance.

So, it’s fair to say that IBA’s credibility continues to be stretched.

Last year, Khelif and fellow boxer Lin Yu-Ting of Taiwan were disqualified from IBA’s World Boxing Championships and at Paris 2024, Khelif, who was born and raised a woman, and does not identify as either transgender or intersex, was caught in a gender storm that overshadowed the boxing competition.

The issue was back in the news during the Paris 2024 boxing competition when Italian Angela Carini broke down in tears and quit her bout against the Algerian Khelif after 46 seconds in a fight that sparked huge controversy.

Carini expressed regret over her actions in the ring. "All this controversy makes me sad," Carini told Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport. "I'm sorry for my opponent, too. If the IOC said she can fight, I respect that decision. It wasn't something I intended to do. Actually, I want to apologise to her and everyone else. I was angry because my Olympics had gone up in smoke."

The IOC made a statement criticising IBA’s governance and later IOC President Thomas Bach confirmed that the boxers were not transgender and that the issues was a politically motivated campaign by Russian interests against the IOC and the Paris Olympics.

He said: “We have two boxers who are born as women, who have been raised as women, who have a passport as a woman and have competed for many years as women. Some want to own a definition of who is a women.

“What we have seen from the Russian side and in particular from the (IBA)…they have undertaken already way before these Games with a defamation campaign against France, against the Games, against the IOC.”

Despite their lack of involvement from Paris 2024, IBA called a press conference to build upon the controversy and explain why they had banned Khelif from their own event last year.

The event was a shambles, with technical issues, while Kremlev used the opportunity to attack the IOC and President Bach again, claiming that he was standing up for women’s sport, despite all the speakers being men.

He said; "Today we are witnessing the death of women's boxing, the corruption of judges. All this is happening while Mr Bach is president (of the IOC). Under no circumstances should we allow women's boxing to be destroyed. Today not only is women's boxing being destroyed, but I believe that in the future they will also try to destroy women's sport.”

Several journalists and other people who were attending left in disgust, at not just the language, but the tone of the answers from the IBA participants.

No wonder the IOC’s Mark Adams responded: “It was a chaotic farce. The organisation and the content of this press conference tells you everything you need to know about their governance and credibility.

"It clearly demonstrates that the sport of boxing needs a new federation to run boxing. If you ever needed any evidence at all that the IBA is unfit to run boxing just look at the key members of the IBA who took part in that travesty yesterday.”

After winning welterweight gold by beating Chinese world champion Yang Liu by a unanimous decision over five rounds, Khelif said: “I am fully qualified to take part in this competition. I’m a woman like any other woman.

"For eight years, this has been my dream, and I'm now the Olympic champion and gold medalist. That also gives my success a special taste because of those attacks.

"We are in the Olympics to perform as athletes, and I hope that we will not see any similar attacks in future Olympics. I was born a woman, I lived a woman, I competed as a woman, there’s no doubt about that. [The detractors] are enemies of success, that is what I call them. And that also gives my success a special taste because of these attacks.”

Learnings

Given their reputation as an organisation, and despite of the facts as laid out by the IOC, what IBA needed to do was show leadership, authority and professionalism.

That would send a message to the world that they are a serious organisation capable of representing the diverse boxing family and acting with integrity.

What transpired was quite the opposite.

The speakers rambled, avoided answering direct questions and there was no coherent messaging to convince the attending media that IBA, and by extension its point of view, was credible.

Not once did any of the speakers show any sympathy for the online bullying and abuse that Khelif has faced.

Nothing is ever off the record with journalists and it was laughable that Roberts then contradicted his President by confirming to media away from the main conference that Russian energy firm Gazprom was still a sponsor and also undermining the validity of the 2023 tests by saying that there was no independent presence when they took place.

One reporter described the event as “the most extraordinary, chaotic, shambolic and badly organised international sporting press conference I have ever attended,” and it was perhaps a fatal blow to IBA’s hopes of regaining Olympic Programme control for boxing.

CHARLOTTE DUJARDIN

There was a time when Charlotte Dujardin was considered the darling of dressage.

She became known as “The Girl on the Dancing Horse” after her partnership with Carl Hester’s horse, Valegro, winning double Olympic gold at London 2012 followed by another gold and silver in Rio four years later, and two bronze medals in Tokyo three years ago.

But the double Olympic champion withdrew from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after a video emerged of her whipping a horse 24 times during training.

The initial complaint was made by the Dutch equine lawyer Stephan Wensing on behalf of an unnamed client. In an interview with The Times in July, Wensing compared Dujardin’s conduct to “old-style abuse of elephants at the circus”.

Dujardin’s reputation has been in ruins since the video  emerged with sponsors withdrawing their support and a global horse welfare charity, Brooke, dropping her as an ambassador.

"Our whole ethos is around kindness and compassion to horses, and to see the opposite of this from someone with such a high profile is beyond disappointing," it said.

Two of Dujardin's sponsors, equestrian insurance company KBIS and Danish equestrian equipment company Equine LTS, have removed their backing while UK Sport also suspended her eligibility for public funding.

Dujardin admitted to being “deeply ashamed” of her actions when the four-year-old video emerged on the eve of the Games.

"What happened was completely out of character and does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my pupils, however there is no excuse.

"I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example in that moment."

The timing of the video release was questioned, with Madeleine Hill, a former dressage reporter for Horse & Hound magazine, telling the BBC Radio 4 Today programme it felt like "sabotage".

She believes the FEI should have waited until after the Olympics before imposing any sanctions, adding that "top riders are being persecuted" on social media by people who are against the use of horses in sport.

Following an investigation, Dujardin was banned from dressage competition for a year by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI).

“It is regrettable that this case has put our sport in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, especially during a critical time leading up to the Olympic Games,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said.

“Yet, despite the challenges, the FEI acted decisively by immediately opening an investigation and imposing a provisional suspension.

“These significant sanctions send a clear message that anyone, regardless of their profile, who engages in conduct that compromises the welfare of the horse will face serious consequences. We believe this outcome reaffirms the FEI’s commitment to equine welfare and to its role as guardian of our equine partners.”

In a statement, Dujardin said she “fully respects” the decision to ban her — and also revealed that she is expecting a baby. “As the federation has recognised, my actions in the video do not reflect who I am and I can only apologise again,” she said. “I understand the responsibility that comes with my position in the sport, and I will forever aim to do better.

“This has undoubtedly been one of the darkest and most difficult periods of my life, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported me during this time.

“To those of you who have sent messages, emails and tried to reach me to check in on how I am — thank you. Every kind word truly has made a difference, more than you’ll ever know.

Wensing said his client, the whistleblower, was “happy with the outcome of the case.

“My client is satisfied this sanction sends out a strong message to the whole dressage industry regarding what is a very important issue,” Wensing said.

“The punishment is fair and it’s good that it has finally been concluded. It is also good that Charlotte Dujardin has admitted everything and taken responsibility. My client is happy about that too.”

Whether Dujardin returns to the sport to try to become Britain’s most successful female Olympian at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028 remains to be seen.

Learnings

The sorry episode raises more questions about the welfare of horses and what goes on behind closed doors.

To Dujardin’s credit, at least she didn’t try to make excuses or deny the severity of the incident, she was quick to apologise and has accepted her punishment – but her reputation is forever tarnished.

It’s a reminder that in this age of smartphones, everything you say or do can be filmed – doing the right thing at all times is vital.

DOPING IN TENNIS

Some big names from the world of tennis have been embroiled in doping recently, sending shockwaves through the sport and raising questions about the consistency of testing and punishments.

It’s not that long ago that Maria Sharapova was banned after being found guilty of taking meldonium, a banned substance.

But 2024 has seen more controversy, with Iga Swiatek and Janek Sinner both testing positive this year.

Five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine in August ahead of the Cincinnati Open and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced in November that she had received a one-month suspension after it was decided that she carried “no significant fault or negligence.”

Swiatek said that the substance entered her body due to the contamination of non-prescription medication she had been using for jet lag and sleep issues, and having already served 22 days of her ban in the autumn, she is now free to compete at her next two scheduled events: the United Cup and the Australian Open.

That news came after ATP world No.1 Sinner avoided a ban after twice testing positive for the anabolic steroid clostebol in March 2024, although the Italian is awaiting the outcome of a World Anti-Doping Agency appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Sinner’s explanation was that the  banned performance-enhancer  entered his system unintentionally through a massage from his physiotherapist, who used a spray containing the steroid to treat his own cut finger.

It’s understandable that Simona Halep was aggrieved after being given a four-year ban in September 2023 after testing positive for the banned blood doping agent roxadustat at the 2022 US Open.

The two-time Grand Slam winner’s ban was later reduced to nine months following her appeal to the CAS, although she said that there were "completely different approaches” to the processes of dealing with the cases.

In an Instagram post, liked by world No 2 Alexander Zverev and other leading players, Halep highlighted the contrast between her own fate – in which a four-year ban was eventually reduced to nine months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport – and the way that Sinner and Swiatek were allowed to play on with barely any interruption.

“I can’t find and I don’t think there can be a logical answer,” wrote Halep, who is 33. “It can only be bad will from ITIA, the organisation that has done absolutely everything to destroy me despite the evidence.”

Halep later added: “What I believe is not fair, either, is that they announced my case straight away, and I got all the heat from the press, and for these two players they kept it secret, and they just said about the case when everything was done, so it’s very weird.”

Swiatek rejected those assertions, saying: “I know that people need to automatically compare such situations to others that have already happened, but the truth is that each of these cases is completely different.

“I think this is a question more for ITIA than for the player. My fate, just like the fates of others, was in their hands and they decide how each case will turn out. I trust that this process is objective, that everything is done according to the regulations and no one judges a player this way or that way because of his position. But whether it is really like that, I think this is a question for ITIA.”

ATP Tour chairman Andrea Gaudenzi acknowledged that there “could have been better communication” in explaining the rules involved in Sinner’s doping case.

“I learned the day before we all learned,” Gaudenzi said. “And to be honest, I’m happy about that. I really thank the ITIA (International Tennis Integrity Agency) and our representatives there for intentionally keeping me and our entire team in the dark because that’s how it should be.

“It should be completely independent and that was agreed by the (parties). It was a shock, but obviously comforted by the evidence afterward.”

A final verdict in the Sinner doping case  won’t come until early 2025.

Learnings

The cases of Halep, Swiatek and Sinner have led to questions over the way anti-doping cases are handled and whether players are treated differently.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), which handles doping cases, has strenuously denied any differences in the way players are treated.

But the fact that Swiatek’s case was heard in secret and only revealed after the fact does raise concerns about consistency and the need for full transparency when sporting integrity and players’ reputations are at stake.

RAYGUN

The Olympic Games has made great strides to attract a younger audience in recent years with breakdancing, skateboarding and sport climbing attracting younger people and reflecting the diversity of sporting competition.

But Australian breakdancer Rachael Gunn became a figure of fun at the Paris Games, after she broke out a host of unorthodox moves against the world’s best breakdancers, with images of her moving like a kangaroo, a snake and a sprinkler becoming memes.

The 37-year-old Sydney university professor failed to score a single point and was heavily criticised, with parodies of her performance even played out on late-night TV in the US with comedian Rachel Dratch impersonating the Australian during Jimmy Fallon’s monologue to open The Tonight Show.

Online criticism has included allegations that the Oceania qualifying event, held in Sydney last October, was set up to favour Gunn, and it questioned the judging which allowed her to qualify.

Some even asked — or said outright — that it all might have been some type of hoax or research project for Gunn, 36, a full-time university lecturer who researches dance and gender politics and has studied a range of dance styles, according to her Olympics bio

Gunn ended up posting a response on Instagram where she said that the reaction to her routine was “pretty devastating" and called on the media to "stop harassing my family and friends.”

"I just want to start by thanking all the people who have supported me - I really appreciate the positivity and I'm glad I was able to bring some joy into your lives. That's what I hoped.

"I didn't realise that that would also open the door to so much hate, which has frankly been pretty devastating. While I went out there and I had fun, I did take it very seriously. I worked my butt off preparing for the Olympics. I gave my all - truly.

“I'm honoured to have been a part of the Australian Olympic team and to be part of breaking's [breakdancing's] Olympic debut."

"What I wanted to do was come out here and do something new and different and creative — that's my strength, my creativity," Gunn said, according to the  Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

"I was never going to beat these girls on what they do best, the dynamic and the power moves, so I wanted to move differently, be artistic and creative because how many chances do you get in a lifetime to do that on an international stage?"

Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) hit out at a "misleading and bullying" petition  signed by more than 50,000 which criticised Gunn.

“It amounts to bullying and harassment and is defamatory,” the AOC said of an online petition targeting the dancer and others, adding that the actions “stirred up public hatred without any factual basis. It’s appalling.”

While Gunn didn't win a round in her dance battles, some judges did give her a slight edge in originality, and at least one did so in "vocabulary" — the variety of moves a dancer employs. Those are two of the five criteria used to select winners.

The AOC released a 12-point fact-check to combat the spread of claims against Gunn, saying no athlete should be treated the way she has.

AusBreaking, the national governing body, also debunked the attacks on Gunn — including the widely circulated, but false, allegation that her husband and coach, Samuel Free, had somehow orchestrated her victory in last year's qualifying competitions. The Australian Associated Press agreed with the organisation, in a separate fact-check.

The World DanceSport Federation, breaking's sanctioning group, also issued a statement, saying it stands against harassment and abuse, including cyberbullying.

Learnings

Gunn and the Australian Olympic Committee dealt with the controversy well in the circumstances – and originality is certainly not deserving of criticism.

But knowing that she couldn’t compete with her rivals, Gunn could have made clear in advance of her intention to be creative rather than competitive, to face the situation head-on.

As it is, her performance gave fuel to those who ridiculed breakdancing being part of the Olympic Games Programme rather than underline the value of individual expression.

STEVEN VAN DE VELDE

The Olympic Values were severely tested when it was revealed that beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde had previously been convicted of raping a 12-year-old British girl.

The Dutchman served 13 months in prison which prompted victim support and safeguarding groups to call for him to be banned.

Kate Seary, co-founder and director of Kyniska Advocacy, which works for the protection and respect of women in sports, said: "His participation sends a message to everyone that sporting prowess trumps crime."

Dutch chef de mission Pieter van den Hoogenband said: "He's not going to downplay it [his conviction]. We have to respect that and help him as a member of the team to be able to perform."

In a statement the Dutch Olympic Committee said it had put in place “concrete measures” to ensure a safe sporting environment for all Olympics participants in light of Van de Velde’s participation.

It said Van de Velde had engaged with all requirements and had met stringent risk assessment thresholds, and stated that there is no risk of him reoffending. The Committee said: “Van de Velde has consistently remained transparent about the case which he refers to as the most significant misstep of his life. He deeply regrets the consequences of his actions for those involved. He has been open about the personal transformation he has undergone as a result.”

"Van de Velde has fully engaged with all requirements and has met all the stringent risk assessment thresholds, checks and due diligence. Experts have stated that there is no risk of recidivism.”

It said it “regretted” the “unforeseen renewed attention, on social media in particular, for those struggling with trauma from sexual offences and transgressive behaviour”.

Van de Velde and his playing partner Matthew Immers reached the quarter-finals in Paris with Van de Velde repeatedly subjected to a stream of boos and whistles from the crowd.

The Dutchman, who requested not to stay in the Olympic Village and was allowed to absent himself from post-match mixed zone interviews, admitted that he considered quitting the games before deciding to compete.

He said: "I thought, 'I don't want that. I'm not going to give others the power to decide they can bully me away or get rid of me'.

"If I think about how much I was focused on peripheral matters – with how I want to be on the field instead of with tactics against the opponent –  then you can say that that has had an influence, but there is no point in passing the buck."

Van de Velde, who received support from fans of the Netherlands, said he understood the commotion.

"Do you want somebody with a history? Can he stand on the podium? That is a legitimate question to ask," he added.

"I can't change what people think of me. Someone can hold me responsible forever for what happened and that's OK, because that's what it is. It is their right. So, I accept that. I'm not the person I was 10 years ago.

"It has been the biggest mistake of my life."

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) faced calls for an investigation into how the player had been allowed to compete at Paris 2024. In an email seen by the Guardian, a senior official with the Dutch Olympic Committee has insisted that Van de Velde was not a paedophile, in response to a concerned British man who lives in the Netherlands.

The IOC has said that inclusion in competition is a matter for individual nation’s Olympic committees. Asked if the IOC was “comfortable and happy” with Van de Velde’s involvement, its spokesman Mark Adams said: “I think to characterise it as ‘comfortable and happy’ would not be correct.”

He added: “I think a crime occurred some time ago, 10 years ago. A great deal of rehabilitation has taken place, and there’s very strong safeguarding in place also, and I believe … the athlete in question is not even staying in the village.”

Learnings

Should an athlete be prevented from competing because of past transgressions?

Child rape is a serious crime, and Van de Velde’s presence was another unsavoury sideshow for the Olympic Games.

The IOC dealt with the issue superbly, and the comments from the Dutch Olympic Committee were also understanding of the seriousness of the situation.

But it raises questions about whether an athlete with such a heinous past should be permitted to compete – or whether safeguards need to be put in place to ensure the spirit of the Olympic Movement is followed by every competing nation and its athletes.

CANADA WOMEN’S FOOTBALL

Canada's women's football team were caught in a huge controversy during Paris 2024 which stretched the spirit of fair play on which the Olympic Games were founded.

The team was deducted six points from their group and coach Bev Priestman was banned for one year after New Zealand reported to French police that a drone had been flying over their practice sessions.

FIFA announced the sanctions - which include a £175,720 fine for the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) – a day after Priestman was removed as Canada's Olympic head coach with CSA officials Joseph Lombardi and Jasmine Mander also been suspended for a year.

FIFA said in a statement: “The officials were each found responsible for offensive behaviour and violation of the principles of fair play in connection with the CSA's Women’s representative team's drones usage in the scope of the Olympic football tournament.”

Priestman ‘voluntarily’ withdrew from her coaching role for Canada's opening game against New Zealand after the opponents reported a drone had been flown over their training session.

FIFA and the CSA launched investigations and the latter said the 38-year-old was "highly likely" to have been aware of the incident.

Canadian Olympic Committee chief executive David Shoemaker was shocked by the severity of the punishment, which punished the team despite their lack of involvement in the drone activity.

Shoemaker commented: “We feel terrible for the athletes on the Canadian Women's Olympic Soccer Team who as far as we understand played no role in this matter."

Shoemaker later said there "appears to be information that could tarnish" Canada's women's football triumph from the Tokyo Games amid reports that drones had been used at previous tournaments – and with the men’s team as well.

The consequences were tough on the players, who had prepared for the tournament for years only to be handed a punishment for something they hadn’t been involved in.

Defender Vanessa Gilles told reporters after the New Zealand game that "there was a lot of emotion, frustration and humiliation because as an athlete, it didn't reflect our values ​​and what we want to represent as athletes at the Olympic Games. We are not cheaters."

Ultimately the women’s team crashed out in the quarter-finals to Germany on penalties, but that was far from the end of the controversy.

Former Canada men’s coach John Herdman also became embroiled in the scandal after reports that he had used drones as well and essentially taught Priestman the value of surreptitiously-obtained footage.

He refused to comment citing the "integrity of the investigation.

"I can again clarify that at a FIFA World Cup, pinnacle event, Olympic Games, at a Youth World Cup, those activities have not been undertaken. And I've got nothing else to say on that matter.”

Eventually whistleblowers came forward, telling Radio-Canada they faced "strong pressure" from Canada Soccer's top coaches to take part in the spying. 

"'No' wasn't an option," said a former player on the men's national team. "John Herdman put his staff under a lot of pressure. If his assistants refused they were put aside." 

Canada Soccer has ended up announcing the results of an independent review and it was telling that Herdman did not find time to be interviewed.

Chief Executive Kevin Blue initiated disciplinary proceedings against Herdman accepted that there may be a "systemic ethical shortcoming" that needs to be addressed.

He added: "The findings of the independent investigator reveal that the drone incident in Paris was a symptom of a past pattern of an unacceptable culture and insufficient oversight within the national teams.

"We are working to change Canada Soccer into a federation that Canadians trust and are proud of, and one that is not defined by unfortunate actions of the past."​

Canada Soccer also initiated disciplinary proceedings against Herdman for "potential violations of the Canada Soccer code of conduct and ethics.”

Learnings

An organisation’s culture is only as good as the people who adhere to it.

Athletes and employees deserve to compete and work without the fear of being tainted by the actions of their leaders.

If staff or athletes are scared of coming forward and voicing concerns, fearful for the consequences of their actions, it provides a perfect opportunity for serious reputational damage if individuals are abusing the system.

Whether Canada Soccer executives knew about the use of drones is open to debate, but the organisation’s ethical failures should prompt systemic changes and clarity of guidelines that are rigorously enforced.

MANCHESTER UNITED

There was a time when Manchester United set the standards by which other clubs were compared.

The era of Sir Alex Ferguson saw the club win 38 titles including 13 Premier Leagues, five FA Cups and two Champions Leagues. Off the field, the club capitalised on the Red Devils’ global profile to accumulate a raft of commercial partnerships which ensured the club remained competitive.

But when Sir Alex retired in 2013, the club encountered an inevitable decline, failing to win the Premier League or the Champions League again and, at last count, giving eight different coaches control of the first team.

United’s demise has coincided with the club’s sale to the Glazer family in 2005, the American family enjoying a honeymoon period purely down to Sir Alex’s brilliance.

Patriarch Malcom Glazer, an American billionaire and owner of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, acquired an initial 2.9% stake in the club in 2003 which he later increased to 15%, before increasing his stake in the club to 75% and ending its status as a publicly listed company, before taking full control in June of 2005.

Glazer was quick to isolate himself from United’s fanbase when it became clear that the deal was primarily funded through loans secured against United’s assets – landing the club in the red by hundreds of millions.

Despite fewer trophies over the past decade, United have secured record breaking sponsorship deals around the globe, with the club propelling its commercial revenue from £44m in 2005 to over £300m in 2023.

According to Deloitte’s Football Money League, they remain among the most commercially viable clubs around, an achievement that largely goes under the radar.

The MUST have described the Glazer’s running of the organisation as “slow and opaque,” and after a prolonged period of negotiation billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe acquired a 27.7% minority stake in the club in February this year for £1.25bn through his company Trawlers Limited, an amusing nod to United’s beloved Eric Cantona.

With his business success through the INEOS company, Sir Jim has already shown his passion for sport, backing the former Team Sky cycling team and backing the British America’s Cup bid as well as Ligue 1 club Nice and one-third of the Mercedes Formula 1 team.

At the time of the purchase, Sir Jim stated: “Whilst the commercial success of the Club has ensured there have always been available funds to win trophies at the highest level, this potential has not been fully unlocked in recent times.

“We will bring the global knowledge, expertise and talent from the wider INEOS Sport group to help drive further improvement at the Club, while also providing funds intended to enable future investment into Old Trafford.

“We are here for the long term and recognise that a lot of challenges and hard work lie ahead, which we will approach with rigour, professionalism and passion.”

The Ratcliffe reign has being littered with mishaps and embarrassments, though.

A quick win was to announce among his initial reforms that he would instigate a three-year freeze on dividend payments, bucking the controversial trend set by the Glazers.

A central part of this journey, says Sir Jim, is investing in the right people to ensure success can flourish, leading to changes in the club’s leadership team including the inclusion of Dave Brailsford, the director of sport at INEOS. But it hasn’t gone smoothly.

An audit of United staff and the club’s facilities led to some clumsy communications that further underline the need for expert PR support.

In late April, Ratcliffe made the decision to cut staff perks as part of his money-saving measures ahead of the men’s FA Cup final. A company-wide email outlined that while staff would be given a free ticket to the final, employees would have to pay for their own travel to and from the stadium.

Other perks such as the pre-match party, hotel accommodation and the ability for employees to bring friends and family to the match were also scrapped.

The i Columnist Kevin Garside wrote: “Almost six months since his Christmas Eve declaration of purchase, Ratcliffe’s motive is revealed for what it always was, a business opportunity aimed at deriving value from a fading asset even more than the hated Glazer regime he diluted.” It’s hard to disagree.

In early May, after a tour of the Trafford Training Centre, Ratcliffe sent another email to staff condemning the state of the training ground: “I had a good tour around some of the facilities. I am afraid I was struck in many places by a high degree of untidiness. In particular the IT department which frankly was a disgrace and the dressing rooms of the U18 and U21 were not much better. These standards would not come close to what we would expect at INEOS and we are a chemical company.”

Sir Jim also cited email traffic statistics to Manchester United staff as the basis for a ban on working from home and told them to seek ­“alternative employment” if they are not willing to come to club premises.

Sir Jim made his edict despite United’s lack of sufficient office space and some consultants on contracts whose terms do not require them to be in the club’s Manchester or London business complexes.

He later offered early administrative employees an annual bonus if they resigned by June 5 in a further attempt to trim the workforce.

According to the Sun, these communiques turned the atmosphere at the Carrington training centre ‘toxic,’ although it is understandable that Sir Jim wants to get the basics right and fix United’s organisational challenges.

When the staff £100 Christmas bonus was replaced with a £40 store voucher, it did little to raise morale – which will certainly not provide huge spending benefits and will almost certainly impact internal and media goodwill.

Shortly after these disciplinary measures, Ratcliffe attended United’s Premier League clash against Arsenal instead of the women’s FA Cup final at Wembley, when United’s women’s team won 4-0 against Tottenham to earn their first major trophy.

It didn’t help that more recently Ratcliffe dismissed any hint of focus on the Women’s team, saying: “There’s only so much you can do and our focus has been on the men’s team. If not, you get spread too thinly. We need to sort out the main issue, the men’s team.”

Such apathy is hardly going to raise morale among the women’s teams at Old Trafford and could have been handled with more diplomacy.

The regeneration of Old Trafford is a pressing issue with its leaky roof again attracting attention towards the end of United’s 1-0 defeat to the Gunners, that saw 41mm of water cascade through the roof, later dubbed the ‘Old Trafford waterfall.’

Ratcliffe made his plans for Old Trafford clear from the start, with a vision to create the ‘Wembley of the North’ and provide a stadium that the club can be proud of.

As Ratcliffe formed his new executive team, former Manchester City Commercial Director and Chief Football Operations Officer Omar Berrada was appointed as the new Chief Executive of the club in January as a precursor to Sir Jim’s official arrival the following month.

Berrada has an extensive background in football, particularly when it comes to player contracts and transfers, which will be crucial for United in the coming months and years.

The appointment of sporting director Dan Ashworth was controversial, especially after details of his covert email negotiations with Berrada were discovered, highlighting the fact that Ashworth was being tapped up, breaching Premier League guidelines and confidentiality agreements.

Ashworth did not recommend Ruben Amorim, who replaced Erik ten Hag just months after the Dutchman was handed a new contract.

Five months after he finally started work, Ashworth left Old Trafford, with reports suggesting that Ratcliffe was pivotal to the call to part ways, amid concerns that Ashworth’s performance had not met expectations.

Ratcliffe has come under fire from United fans for scrapping concessions of what the club says are the 3% of tickets that remain unsold for Premier League matches and introducing a minimum price of £66.

However, speaking to the respected 'United We Stand' fanzine, external, Ratcliffe says the move is aimed at trying to make United better.

Labelling the Red Devils as “mediocre”, Ratcliffe admitted that ticket prices had to rise.

Ratcliffe said it had to be done, even though he accepts many match-going supporters are from working class parts of Manchester and do not have huge amounts of disposable income.

"I understand that," he said. "I was brought up on a council estate in Manchester. "I don't want to end up in a position where the genuine local fans can't afford to come but I do want to optimise the ticketing.

"We need to find a balance - and you can't be popular all the time either. Here, we are talking about 3% of the tickets. I don't think it makes sense for a Manchester United ticket to cost less than a ticket to see Fulham."

Learnings

A club of United’s size will always receive significant media attention, so every mis-step has been pored over with results as indifferent to some of Sir Jim’s early initiatives.

These drastic measures demonstrate an unwavering commitment to getting Manchester United back on track in the long-term, and any attempt to instil a degree of vigour should be welcomed with open arms.

But it’s also a reminder that senior leaders, however successful they have been in their professional lives, would do well to work closely with their communications teams. Unlike his stated ambition, communication has not been consistently friendly and supportive.

So often we see that the best intentions, clumsily delivered, can do more harm than good that undermines credibility, trust and the support of those key audiences that leaders seek to engage.

[asiarugby]

U20 Championship heavyweights headline match-day two

Ahead of Thursday’s action in Paarl and Stellenbosch, we bring you teams news from each of the 12 nations competing at the World Rugby U20 Championship 2023. Continue reading Untitled

[dhowellafisheromen]

Biles, Marchand headline memorable moments at Olympics' halfway point

Biles, Marchand headline memorable moments at Olympics' halfway point

PARIS (AP) — The Paris Olympics at the halfway mark have brought the world “The Pommel Horse Guy, " a rugby star and social media sensation who wants to be on reality show “Love Island” and “The Real John Wick” in the form of a 51-year-old Turkish shooter.

These Olympics have been full of memorable moments since the dazzling opening ceremony: the Seine River was too dirty for the triathlon swim to go off as scheduled, a gender controversy has emerged in women's boxing, and Leon Marchand led France with four golds in four swimming events, and of course, Simone Biles has dazzled while winning two gold medals with more still up for her taking.

Here's a look at some of the memorable moments at the halfway point of the 2024 Olympics.

Simone Shines

The first week of the Paris Games has belonged to Biles, who went into the halfway mark with gold medals in the women's team final and the all-around and drew a star-studded crowd every time she competed. She now has nine medals in her Olympic career, including six golds, more than any other American gymnast.

Biles still has three more events, too. The vault is Saturday night and she has the balance beam and floor exercise on Monday.

Three years after she pulled out of most of her events at the Tokyo Olympics to address her mental health, Biles has bounced back to become only the third woman to become a two-time all-around champion. She joined Larisa Latynina of the Soviet Union in 1956 and 1960 and Vera Caslavska of Czechoslovakia in 1964 and 1968.

And at 27, she's the oldest to finish atop the all-around podium since then 30-year-old Maria Gorokhovskaya of the Soviet Union won the first-ever Olympic all-around in Helsinki in 1952.

Illona Maher, Yusuf Dikec and other stars emerge

The world was introduced to Stephen Nedoroscik, aka “The Pommel Horse Guy,” when he helped the U.S. men’s gymnastics team win its first Olympic medal in 16 years.

The bespectacled 25-year-old from Worcester, Massachusetts, sat practically still during the men's team final waiting his turn to take to the pommel horse, his only event in Paris. When it was time to go, he delivered 45 seconds of brilliance.

The celebration began before his feet even hit the mat on his dismount and Nedoroscik was an instant meme on social media.

Ilona Maher, who became a star in Tokyo with her behind-the-scenes social media posts, led the U.S. to its first ever podium in rugby sevens.

Maher has used her platform to promote body positivity and to document life in the athletes' village, which she renamed “The Villa” in reference to her beloved reality show “Love Island”.

The unlikeliest star, though, has been Yusuf Dikec.

The 51-year-old Turkish pistol shooter went viral on social media for a seemingly casual attitude while shooting his way to a silver medal in mixed 10-meter air pistol. Commenters called him “The Real John Wick” after the Keanu Reeves character in “The Matrix” series.

Dikec was shooting in a T-shirt, one hand in his pocket, a seemingly standard pair of glasses and an impassive look on his face. He’s been likened to a regular guy competing at the Olympics, or even a hitman.

Gender Questions

An Algerian boxer is facing a gender outcry after her Italian competitor pulled out seconds into their bout.

Imane Khelif has faced vitriol from former U.S. President Donald Trump and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni. Khelif was disqualified from the 2023 world championships after failing unspecified and not transparent eligibility tests for women’s competition from the now-banned International Boxing Association.

Khelif was assigned female at birth and it says so on her passport, which is the International Olympic Committee’s threshold for eligibility for boxing.

Marchand and Katie Ledecky rule at the pool

The pool has belonged to Marchand, who electrified a home crowd Friday night when he won his fourth gold by setting an Olympic record in the 200-meter individual medley. He also won gold in the 400-meter individual medley, 200-meter butterfly and 200-meter backstroke.

Ledecky will look to tie Michael Phelps as the only two swimmers to win four gold medals in the same event.

Ledecky is seeking a four-peat of the women’s 800-meter freestyle, an event she first won in the 2012 London Olympics. Another win would be the ninth Olympic gold of her career, which would be tied for second for the most gold medals in the Olympics, Summer or Winter, in any sport.

Phelps, who won the 200 individual medley four times, won 23 gold medals.

Opening ceremony controversy

The opening ceremony prompted a storm of outrage for a contentious scene featuring drag queens and other performers.

Although artistic director Thomas Jolly has repeatedly said that he wasn’t inspired by “The Last Supper,” critics interpreted part of the show as a mockery of Leonardo Da Vinci’s painting showing Jesus Christ and his apostles.

Now, Paris police have opened a hate speech investigation following a complaint from Jolly over death threats.

Stinky Seine

Organizers have been adamant in their insistence the swimming portion of the triathlon and the marathon swimming events next week could safely be held in the Seine River amidst health questions about the quality of the water.

After several delays for elevated levels of bacteria, the triathlon swims were held and the views played well on television as athletes cycled and ran by Paris’ finest attractions.

It was all part of an ambitious plan to clean up the long-polluted Seine, spending 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion) in infrastructure improvements. A few swim practice sessions needed to be scratched and the men’s race pushed back a day due to water quality.

___

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

https://thescore.com/olym/news/3048113

[thatstormygeek]

Sometimes I think about 2016.

My focus is not, as one might expect, on the presidential election.

In May of 2016, the NBA moved its All-Star game out of North Carolina.

The NCAA and ACC declined to host their championships in North Carolina.

In April of 2016, PayPal and Deutsche Bank announced they were no longer planning to add new jobs in North Carolina.

Overall, North Carolina was taking quite a beating in 2016.

I think about that, and then I think about 2017 and 2018 and 2019 and 2020 and 2021 and 2022 and 2023

and now.

Bemused that this has somehow become business as usual. Not even worth comment: the sky is blue, the grass is green, states are voting on anti-trans bills.

As for the NCAA, well, they changed their mind. Other sports governing bodies - such as World Athletics, USA Swimming, the International Cricket Council, USA Boxing, British Cycling, FINA/World Aquatics, UCI, the International Rugby League, and even the International Chess Federation (FIDE) - have rushed to find new and inventive ways to restrict trans participation, mostly in the form of banning trans women. Though FIDE does get a nod for retroactively stripping titles won pre-transition from trans men. That was really going above and beyond.

So yeah. Sometimes I think about 2016. And then I think about 2024 think about 2024 about 2024 about

[sportsgr8]

This Is Bit Of A Kick In The Teeth : Ian Smith Slams SA Sending Weak Test Team To NZ

Former New Zealand: Former New Zealand cricketer Ian Smith has slammed Cricket South Africa (CSA) for naming a weak Test team for the upcoming two-match tour of New Zealand in February, saying it is a ‘bit of a kick in the teeth’ moment. South Africa recently named a 14-man squad for the New Zealand Test tour, to be captained by opener Neil Brand, who is amongst the seven uncapped players in the team. Capped Test players in the squad will be batters David Bedingham, Zubayr Hamza and Keegan Petersen, currently playing in the series against India. Other capped players on tour of New Zealand include batter Khaya Zondo, fast-bowling pair of Duanne Olivier and Dane Paterson, and spinner Dane Piedt. Cricket South Africa (CSA) has chosen to field a weakened Test squad due to the series clashing with the second season of SA20 league at home. “We (New Zealand) have such a proud record in sport in South Africa. Mainly through the rugby, All Blacks (and) Springboks is one of the great rivals. We’ve always got great respect for South African sporting people. So, this is a bit of a kick in the teeth, to be perfectly honest, for us anyway at this time,” said Smith on SEN Radio. Frontline Test players like Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Heinrich Klaasen, Rassie van der Dussen, Wiaan Mulder, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen, Anrich Nortje, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Tony de Zorzi, Nandre Burger and Simon Harmer will play in the SA20, as they are obliged to play in the league at home instead of being on national duties. Amidst heavy criticism over the move, CSA Board said it is a one-off instance for the Test team being depleted on tour of New Zealand due to the scheduling conflicts between the series and second edition of SA20. "The Board of Cricket South Africa (CSA) notes the concerns about the composition of the Test squad that will be travelling to New Zealand later this month. We reassure the fans that CSA has the utmost respect for the Test format as the pinnacle of the game we love. “The dates for this tour were set when the Future Tours Programme (FTP) for 2023-2027 was finalised in 2022. The window for the SA20 had not been determined at that stage. Once it became apparent that there would be a clash, we made every effort to find another mutually suitable time-slot for this 2 Test series in consultation with New Zealand Cricket.” "Regrettably the constraints imposed by the global cricket calendar rendered this impossible, as the games must be played before April 2025 as part of the World Test Championship. "We commend Head Coach, Shukri Conrad and his staff for preparing the selected players for this tour, and we are confident that they will represent the Proteas badge with honour. We wish them all the very best. It is an opportunity to demonstrate the depth of talent that we have in South Africa. "Our schedule for the remainder of the FTP has been managed to ensure that there will not be any further clashes between our bilateral commitments and the SA20. CSA remains fully committed to international cricket and to strengthening the SA20, a tournament that was initiated by us to help grow and sustain the game.” Read the full article

[dailyrugbytoday]

Newcastle Falcons manager Steve Diamond responds to reports involving Stuart Hogg

New Post has been published on https://thedailyrugby.com/steve-diamond-responds-to-reports-involving/

The Daily Rugby

https://thedailyrugby.com/steve-diamond-responds-to-reports-involving/

Newcastle Falcons manager Steve Diamond responds to reports involving Stuart Hogg

Steve Diamond talks about being taken aback. Rumours about Stuart Hogg as Newcastle looks to fix “bad recruitment” Steve Diamond, the consultant director of rugby at the Newcastle Falcons, has addressed rumours that Stuart Hogg has been discussing a possible comeback to rugby.

Before the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the legendary player from Scotland announced his retirement from the game, saying he was “knackered, physically and emotionally.” Nevertheless, it was revealed on Friday that Hogg had conversations with a failing Newcastle squad, who lost all 18 of their games and finished bottom of the Premiership.

Given Hogg’s ongoing legal battle for accusations of domestic abuse and stalking, it would be an unexpected and contentious move, but Steve Diamond emphasised that there was “no truth whatsoever” to the reports.

That seems to put an end to the rumour, though it must be acknowledged that the 55-year-old has flatly denied any transfers have ever occurred only for them to be made public shortly after. The former hooker is well aware that the Falcons require reinforcements following yet another crushing defeat at ninth-place Gloucester to cap off a terrible season.

The Cherry and Whites crushed Newcastle 54–14 on Saturday, and the team finished the season with just five bonus points after 18 losses and 0 wins.

Steve Diamond addresses Stuart Hogg Rumours

Steve Diamond remarked, “We looked like rabbits in the headlights again.” Gloucester performed flawlessly. They were getting ready for their major European final when they took a little heat last week for the team they fielded.

“The guys will be off for a few weeks, but I have to get to work right now. For a variety of reasons, the recruitment process here has not been excellent.

“You can survive in the Premiership with one or two that you bring from the Championship.” However, you cannot form a championship squad if you get them all together. And based on the outcomes, we have turned into precisely that.

“A team this demoralised cannot be instantly elevated to the top four.” However, the following time, we can aim to rise above the bottom of the league.

Stuart Hogg’s unexpected comeback to the Premier League in his retirement has been related. At the conclusion of the season, there might be just one spot between Newcastle and Gloucester, but in practice, there is a massive gap. A week after suffering a 90-0 humiliation at the hands of Northampton Saints, the Cherry and Whites concluded their domestic campaign on a positive note. They will try to carry that energy into the Challenge Cup final against the Sharks.

“Sharks are going to be a formidable squad. We are playing in a proper final with a proper team. Gloucester’s director of rugby, George Skivington, predicted that the Sharks would be a formidable squad. “This is a proper team we will be playing at a proper final and they will be hard to beat.” It’s going to be a huge event for all of the guys, so I’ll need to sit down and choose the squad after learning how each player is feeling.

It was crucial to end the season on a positive note because this was our final game. Although we didn’t have the desired league season, we still wanted to finish strong and score a few tries.

15 players will be leaving the Newcastle Falcons this summer, the team has announced. The team’s season has been disappointing because they haven’t won any Premiership games. Due of this, the northern team’s performance in the English Premier League this season has been subpar. Since there is currently no relegation, they will participate in the Premiership the following year.

Steve Diamond appoint ex-Sale and Worcester boss as consultant Director of Rugby

Between seasons, there are changes afoot as rugby consultant director Steve Diamond reorganises things. Barton, Phil, Sam Clark, Sam Cross, Mark Dormer, Rory Jennings, Louie Johnson, Matias Moroni, Matias Moroni, Guy Pepper, Vereimi Qorowale, Iwan Stephens, Josh Thomas, Michael van Vuuren, and George Wacokecoke are the players leaving.

Rugby’s chairman, Matt Thompson, stated The boys should be proud of their work ethic and attitude despite the difficult season. We always find it difficult to say goodbye to well-liked and gifted players in our playing group, many of whom have been with us for a long time and contributed greatly.

We are already well on our way to assembling our team for the upcoming season and beyond, with Steve Diamond leading a group that promises to be fiercely competitive.

Our fans have been incredibly supportive of the team, and I have no doubt that they will be just as kind in expressing their gratitude to the players who are leaving.”

After a few days off following the humiliating loss to Bristol last Sunday, Steve Diamond’s team returned to the training field on Wednesday, demonstrating his ability to pick himself up after the most recent Newcastle setback.

The bottom-of-the-table Falcons, who had shown improvement in their previous two games under new coach Steve Diamond, who took over for the fired Alex Codling, were destroyed 85-14 at Ashton Gate on a 13-2 try count, their fifteenth straight Gallagher Premiership loss this season for Rugby News thedailyrugby

On March 23, Newcastle battled to a 16–25 loss at Exeter, and six days later, they gave Leicester a scare with a 13–19 home loss. But the three-week break that had given them the impression that they would be a more prepared team was shattered when they trailed three tries as early as the 13th minute, making the 23-day wait until their next game against Bristol disastrous.

When RugbyPass questioned Diamond about the 500-kilometer journey, the athlete joked, “Well, they were high-fiving, we stopped at a couple of brothels on the way back and bought loads of booze.” Steve Diamond had been travelling back to the northeast on the squad bus. Liam, how would you describe it? The bus wasn’t too far away, but there wasn’t a dead quiet either. It felt like spending six hours at a funeral.

How were the hours passed? “We definitely watched the game in front of the bus and had a debate, but since I really believe in not reacting to situations hastily, we weren’t shoving people in the bus every 20 minutes.

Given the humiliating scoreline in Bristol, it would have made sense if Steve Diamond had given the players a hair dryer treatment a la Alex Ferguson. Nonetheless, his tact was applauded for not verbally abusing the situation. Read more about Newcastle Falcons manager Steve Diamond