OLYMPICS
Canberra announces funding
Australia’s sporting bodies have welcomed A$385 million (US$250.6 million) in federal government funding over the next 18 months announced yesterday by the Australian Sports Commission. The Win Well and Play Well schemes would offer funding for 70 sports with 95 percent of Olympic and Paralympic sports receiving increases as they prepare for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter and 2028 Summer Games. Australian Olympic Committee president Ian Chesterman said the investment was particularly welcome with the home 2032 Brisbane Olympics on the horizon. “It is critical to have this investment now, not only to ensure our athletes can prepare for Milano-Cortina 2026, and Los Angeles 2028, but also to ensure our team can put its best foot forward at Brisbane 2032,” he said in a news release. “For a home Games to be successful, we need a successful Australian team and now is the time to lay the groundwork for that,” he added. Australia won a record 18 gold medals at this year’s Paris Olympics under the leadership of Anna Meares, who was re-appointed as chef de mission for the 2028 Games this week.
SOCCER
Lampard joins Coventry
Ex-Chelsea manager Frank Lampard returned to soccer on Thursday when he was hired to coach Coventry City in the second division. The 46-year-old Lampard signed a two-and-a-half-year contract. Lampard would bring a “clear understanding of exactly what is needed to succeed at the very top level,” Coventry owner Doug King said. Lampard has been out of work since June last year, the end of an interim spell in charge of Chelsea. He previously managed the English Premier League club from 2019 to 2021 and followed that with less than a year at Everton. He also has experience in the second tier of English soccer, having begun his managerial career with Derby. “Frank cut his teeth in the Championship and knows what is needed in this league to be successful,” King said. The move to Coventry is a step down for Lampard, who was considered a rising talent when hired by Chelsea after only one season in management with Derby.
FORMULA ONE
Drivers unhappy with FIA
Formula 1 drivers have a simple question for the sport’s governing body: Which official will be “getting fired” next? said George Russell, director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, which represents the F1 drivers. His comments continue a split between the drivers and the FIA over the rapid turnover of staff and other issues, such as a push to punish drivers for swearing. Russell’s comments followed a report by the BBC that two more officials — race steward Tim Mayer and the deputy race director for Formula 2, Janette Tan — had left suddenly. Tan’s departure means newly appointed F1 race director Rui Marques would also have to oversee the two scheduled F2 races this weekend in Qatar, the BBC said. Other senior FIA officials left various roles at the organization earlier this year. Marques was only promoted this month to F1 race director from the F2 role as the FIA replaced his predecessor Niels Wittich this month in an unexpected move with three races remaining of the season. “Just when we’ve asked for a bit of transparency and consistency we’re getting rid of two highly important people in the governing body,” Russell said.
Manchester City have reached do-or-die territory in the UEFA Champions League earlier than expected ahead of what Pep Guardiola has described as a “final” against Club Brugge today. City have disproved the suggestion a new format to Europe’s top club competition would remove any jeopardy for the top clubs as Guardiola stares down the barrel of failing to make the Champions League knockout stages for the first time in his career. The English champions have endured a torrid season both in their English Premier League title defense and on the continent. A run of one win in 13 games, which included Champions League
Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Sunday poured in 35 points as the Thunder grabbed a bounce-back 118-108 victory in Portland to push their NBA-best record to 37-8. The Thunder, surprised by the short-handed Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, fended off a late surge from the Trail Blazers to snap their four-game winning streak. Jalen Williams scored 24 points and Isaiah Joe added 16 off the bench. Center Isaiah Hartenstein, back after a five-game absence with a calf injury, added 14 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and a big block. The Western Conference leaders were under pressure late as Portland, trailing by 15 heading
The Golden State Warriors on Wednesday withstood Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 52-point outburst to beat the Western Conference leading Thunder 116-109. Andrew Wiggins scored 27 points and Warriors superstar Stephen Curry scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half as Golden State erased a double-digit deficit and pulled away late for the victory. “We just stayed solid,” said Curry, who entered the contest mired in a shooting slump and had just four points on one basket in the first half. “Just all-around effort.” The Thunder, fueled by 31 first-half points from Gilgeous-Alexander, led by as many as 14 in the
Ousmane Dembele on Wednesday scored a hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain romped to a 4-1 win at VfB Stuttgart and qualified for the UEFA Champions League knockout stages. PSG were at risk of elimination after a disappointing league stage, with three losses and a draw, but were utterly dominant against an outclassed Stuttgart side as they confirmed their place in the playoffs. With six minutes gone, Bradley Barcola headed PSG in front after Desire Doue stood a cross up at the back post following a corner. Stuttgart probed for an equalizer, but PSG hit on the counterattack, Dembele tapping a Barcola pass into an
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