Johnson to “consider” boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics over Uighur ethnic cleansing July 7, 2021 Prime minister Boris Johnson today said he would consider calls for a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, but told MPs he is “instinctively against” taking such action. At prime minister’s questions today, former Tory minister Tim Loughton highlighted concerns over the “genocide” of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang and the wider human rights [...]
Daley Thompson interview: Double Olympic champion on why the world needs Tokyo 2020 to happen and why he’d be happily compete with Covid restrictions July 2, 2021 Daley Thompson chuckles as he remembers the contrasting backdrops to his two Olympic gold medals. “The first time I won was in Moscow. It was pretty dull and dreary, the weather wasn’t great and the place didn’t seem to hold a lot of joy,” Thompson tells City A.M. “The next one was in Los Angeles [...]
Former Olympic champion cyclist Chris Boardman MBE named chair of Sport England June 30, 2021 Former Olympic champion cyclist Chris Boardman MBE has been appointed chair of Sport England. Boardman will play a key role in getting more people active and developing grassroots sport. “I am delighted to take up the position of chair for Sport England,” said the 52-year-old, who won individual pursuit gold at the Barcelona 1992 Olympics. [...]
Net profits: Andy Murray on life as an entrepreneur and investor, his new sports drink venture and why he’ll focus more on business after tennis June 25, 2021 Sportswear entrepreneur Tom Beahon can remember one of his first meetings with Andy Murray, at the 2019 Australian Open. “Andy was in his hotel room, watching a Djokovic match, making notes on which side of the service box Novak was serving to just in case he played him in that tournament,” recalls Beahon, whose company, [...]
Tokyo 2020 facing threat of spectator ban, says Japanese prime minister June 21, 2021 Japan may ban spectators from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics if the country’s Covid-19 situation worsens, prime minister Yoshihide Suga has warned. Holding this summer’s delayed Games behind closed doors was “definitely a possibility”, Suga said. “I think that’s obvious from the standpoint of making safety and security our utmost priority.” Japan has been slow to [...]
Russian boss of Gazprom-backed boxing body AIBA turns to man who lifted lid on Russian state-sponsored doping to lead corruption probes June 17, 2021 Richard McLaren, the Canadian law professor and sports investigator, is best known for exposing Russia for state-sponsored doping. So eyebrows were raised this week when it emerged that McLaren had been hired by one of Russia’s most powerful sports administrators. Umar Kremlev has called on McLaren Global Sports Solutions as part of his bid to [...]
Mo Farah handed last chance to qualify for Tokyo 2020 and bid for hat-trick of Olympic gold medals over 10,000m June 14, 2021 Mo Farah has been handed one last shot at qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Farah is hoping to complete a hat-trick of gold medal triumphs in the men’s 10,000m in Japan this summer. The 38-year-old missed the chance to qualify at the official Team GB trials nine days ago. Farah was eighth overall and [...]
Week in Sportbiz: Mexican stand-off over Club Necaxa NFT; press conferences overshadow French Open; English football in distress June 3, 2021 From NBA Top Shot to Christian Fuchs, the march of the NFT in sport has looked unstoppable. Until now, that is. Mexican football chiefs this week put the brakes on the plans of Club Necaxa to become the world’s first sports team to sell an ownership stake using blockchain technology. Club Necaxa, whose shareholders include [...]
Britain looks bound for swimming success at Tokyo 2020 Olympics – and that can get a generation that has been left behind back in the pool May 26, 2021 The British success at the European Championships in Budapest last week was amazing to see, with 26 medals – including 11 gold – picked up in swimming alone, and so many names stepping up ahead of Tokyo 2020. I’ve seen some great British swimming line-ups over the years, but I think this is the most [...]
Week in Sportbiz: Bitcoin plunge hits chess grandmasters; ‘Stamford Beach’ stunt recalls Chelsea row; and Hundred teams get new spinners May 20, 2021 When is a $100,000 bonus not worth $100,000? That is a conundrum for the chess grandmasters taking part in the FTX Crypto Cup. The tournament, which features world champion Magnus Carlsen and starts this weekend, is offering a $320,000 prize to the winner – a record for an online chess event. But $100,000 of that [...]