Golf’s Open chiefs change tack on Saudi sponsorship following LIV-PGA deal July 19, 2023 Open Championship chiefs have admitted they would consider sponsorship from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund despite previously criticising its impact on the sport through LIV Golf. On the eve of last year’s tournament Martin Slumbers, chief executive of the R&A, said LIV Golf was “harming the perception of the game” and depicted it as “entirely [...]
Is it time for the Commonwealth Games to move on and change tact? July 18, 2023 In the early hours of Tuesday morning a statement dropped announcing that the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games would not take place in the southern state of Australia. It triggered a crisis for the Commonwealth and what it perceives to be its legacy. Once the British Empire Games, the Commonwealth Games encompasses a modern Britain and [...]
‘Absolutely embarrassing’: Victoria blasted for Commonwealth Games hosting U-turn July 18, 2023 A bitter war of words has broken out over the 2026 Commonwealth Games after the Australian state of Victoria abruptly pulled out of hosting the event. Victoria was named host for the multi-sport championships last year but reneged on that commitment on Tuesday, citing spiralling costs – plunging the Games into doubt. Commonwealth Games Australia [...]
2023 Women’s World Cup: Prize money up three-fold – but Lionesses in bonus row July 18, 2023 The Women’s World Cup may not have kicked off yet but it has already been hailed as a transformative moment in the growth of the game, with prize money increasing more than three-fold and, for the first time, most of it being paid directly to players. But some financial issues, including a bonus row between [...]
Formula E CEO takes swipe at Formula 1 over sustainability claims July 17, 2023 Formula E chief executive Jeff Dodds has hit out at motorsporting rival Formula 1 over its sustainability claims, stating that the world’s premier racing division is not sustainable and that improvements it has made are built upon a very low base. Dodds is new to the electric racing series, which most recently completed a double [...]
2023 Women’s World Cup ads showcase new-found star power of players July 17, 2023 Four years ago, the Women’s World Cup in France was billed as the biggest to date, but despite the hype it was still struggling to be commercially attractive for sponsors and advertisers in its own right. As the Women’s Sport Trust explained “when women’s sport is approached using the same commercial frameworks as men’s sport [...]
Carlos Alcaraz’s Wimbledon win pulls in nearly as many viewers as coronation July 17, 2023 Carlos Alcaraz’s thrilling Wimbledon triumph attracted a peak audience of 11.2m viewers on BBC One – just short of the number who tuned in for the coronation of King Charles. Alcaraz, 20, came from a set down to beat 23-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and win his first men’s singles title at the All [...]
Fan-owned AFC Wimbledon named best-run club in English football July 17, 2023 AFC Wimbledon are the best-run club in English football, according to a new report on the future funding of the game by campaigners Fair Game. The Fair Game Index rates all 92 teams in the top four divisions in four areas: financial sustainability, governance, fan engagement and equality standards. Wimbledon achieved the highest score of [...]
Harry Kane wants to join us, says Bayern Munich president July 16, 2023 Bayern Munich chiefs are increasingly confident of signing England captain Harry Kane despite seeing two offers rejected by Tottenham Hotspur. The Bundesliga champions held negotiations with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy last week and have also had talks with Kane’s camp. Tottenham dismissed a second bid of £68m last week but Bayern honorary president Uli Hoeness [...]
Manchester City receive biggest payout for releasing players for 2022 World Cup July 15, 2023 Manchester City received $4.6m (£3.51m), the biggest payout of any club, for releasing players for last year’s World Cup in Qatar. City’s compensation from world governing body Fifa narrowly beat Barcelona’s $4.54m and the $4.33m paid to Bayern Munich. Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, who both received $3.84m, completed a top five monopolised by leading [...]