Sat, Nov 30, 2024 page7

• SPORTS BRIEFS

  • AGENCIES
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  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.
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