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☆ Leigh Haussen: Umpire suspended after dressing up as Osama bin Laden at party
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-05 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Australian Rules umpire Leigh Haussen has been suspended after dressing up as Osama bin Laden at a party, the Australian Football League (AFL) said in a statement sent to CNN. According to the AFL, the theme of the party was “characters from the 2000s.”“Haussen dressed in a costume as Osama Bin Laden. AFL head of umpiring Stephen McBurney said that Haussen has owned up to his choice of costume. Leigh is a valued member of the umpiring group with an unblemished record both throughout his umpiring career and since his elevation to the AFL umpires list in 2017. “We will support Leigh to make his return to umpiring AFL football following this suspension.”

Persons: Leigh Haussen, Haussen, Al, ’, ”, Osama Bin Laden, “, Stephen McBurney, “ Leigh, ” McBurney, Leigh Organizations: CNN, Australian Football League, AFL Locations: Al Qaeda, Melbourne

☆ Field of Vision’s haptic device is helping blind sports fans ‘feel’ the game
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-10 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Dublin-based Field of Vision has produced a handheld, haptic feedback device that it says can help blind and partially sighted fans not just hear, but “feel” the action, enhancing the live experience. “The main feedback we’ve gotten (about the device) has been that it actually makes them feel like they’re part of the game and they’re experiencing it with everyone else,” Field of Vision co-founder David Deneher told CNN. A blind fan tests out the Field of Vision device. (Left to right) Tim Farrelly, Omar Salem and David Deneher developed the Field of Vision idea during the Covid-19 pandemic. He said that a test run with the Field Of Vision tablet added new levels of context to proceedings on the pitch.

Persons: David Deneher, ” Deneher, –, Tim Farrelly, Omar Salem –, Mike Kearny, Kearny’s, Stephen Garcia, Omar Salem, Declan Meenagh, ”, it’s, ” Declan Meenagh, James Dyson, Tom Sears, Josh Chadwick, “, Deneher Organizations: CNN, Vision, Trinity College Dublin, Queen’s University Belfast, Aerospace, Salem, English Premier League giant’s Anfield, Royal National Institute of Blind People, Dublin football, Bohemians, Club, Initiative, Irish, Manchester City’s Etihad, Marvel, Football, Australian Football League, AFL, Getty Locations: Irish, Dublin, Liverpool, Melbourne, Australia, England, Spain, France, Germany, Italy

☆ Pesto the chonky Australian penguin chick captivates Katy Perry and the internet
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-27 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, Australia — Pesto the huge king penguin chick has drawn hundreds of visitors to an Australian aquarium, and now the bird can count Katy Perry as one of his biggest fans. Chocolate-brown and fluffy, Pesto is a 9-month-old king penguin that weighs 52 pounds, more than twice the combined weight of his parents. Most of Pesto’s weight comes from the brown fuzz that keeps penguin chicks warm through winter. Like all king penguins, Pesto is non-sexually dimorphic, which means he does not have externally visible traits that distinguish him from female penguins. The average parental care for a baby king penguin can span over a year.

Persons: Australia —, Katy Perry, Pesto ”, Michaela Smale, “ We’ve, ” Smale Organizations: Australian Football League, Channel Seven, Melbourne, Reuters Locations: SYDNEY, Australia, U.S, Melbourne

☆ Australia women’s goalkeeper jerseys finally go on sale – six months after the World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —From this week, soccer fans will be able to buy Australian goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold’s Nike jersey, more than six months after she wore the purple top at the Women’s World Cup. Arnold kept a tournament-high four clean sheets during the Matildas’ run to the semifinals of last year’s Women’s World Cup, which was co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. That prompted England shot-stopper Mary Earps to campaign vociferously for the sportswear company to release the women’s goalkeeper jerseys ahead of the tournament. CNN has contacted Nike for comment regarding the release of the Australian goalkeeper jersey. Arnold kept four clean sheets at the Women's World Cup last year.

Persons: Mackenzie Arnold’s Nike, Arnold, ” Arnold, England, Mary Earps, vociferously, Brendon Thorne, Ashley Reade, ’ Organizations: CNN, Football Australia, France, Australia, Nike, Reuters, Nike’s Pacific, Australian, Uzbekistan Locations: Australia, New Zealand, England, US, France, Netherlands, Melbourne, Paris

☆ Ange Postecoglou: How Australian coach is transforming his club and winning the hearts of soccer fans
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Samuel Joseph | Sam Joseph | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

However, the top flight of English soccer had never seen an Australian manager in its 31-year history – that is until the arrival of Ange Postecoglou. Ian MacNicol/Getty ImagesThe Australian was greeted with a similar reception when he was hired by London club Tottenham in the summer of 2023. “He’s inspired Australian football and inspired Australian football coaches,” Dr. Craig Duncan, one of the nation’s leading sports scientists who worked with Postecoglou during his tenure with the Socceroos – the Australian national team – told CNN Sport. So much so that, according to Duncan, many Australian football fans he has spoken to will immediately check the score of Tottenham’s matches when they wake up. “This isn’t about us playing good football, it’s about us winning games of football,” Postecoglou told reporters after a recent 2-1 defeat by West Ham.

Persons: Ange Postecoglou, Postecoglou, Callum McGregor, Ian MacNicol, “ We’ve, “ He’s, ” Dr, Craig Duncan, –, Duncan, ” Postecoglou, “, Postecoglou’s, Craig Foster, Foster, unemployable ”, Ryan Pierse, Postecoglou's, ” Duncan, Spurs, Antonio Conte’s, you’re, ”, Anusak, “ Ricky Sacks, Sacks, Pedro Porro, Yves Bissouma, Pape Matar Sarr, ’, Mauricio Pochettino, Pochettino, José Mourinho, Nuno Espírito Santo, Conte, Harry Kane, Son Heung, he’s Organizations: CNN, Premier League, Spain’s Basque, Australian’s Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur, Scottish, Celtic, Glasgow, Scottish Premier League, London, Tottenham, Spurs, Socceroos –, Australian, CNN Sport, BBC Sport, Sky Sports, South Melbourne FC, FIFA, Australia, Panachaiki, Brisbane Roar, Roar, Melbourne Victory, Socceroos, Brisbane, Melbourne, Marinos, Tottenham Hotspur “, ” Spurs, ‘, Champions League, Bayern Munich, Spurs ’ Locations: Argentinians, Australia, Greece, Japan, Australian, Postecoglou, Athens, Victoria, Brazil, South Melbourne, Yokohama, Scotland, North London, West Ham, London

☆ The inside story of how FanDuel upended US sports betting with the same-game parlay and used it to dominate the market
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Ashley Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

The daily-fantasy-sports company, which European gambling giant Flutter Entertainment had acquired, was racing to introduce its "same-game parlay" to the US. The same-game parlay, a phrase FanDuel coined, has since caught fire, meshing well with the high-scoring, stat-driven, athlete-personality focus of US sports — and propelled FanDuel to the forefront of the betting market. "The same-game parlay was the right product in the right market at exactly the right time." Every sports-betting operator, from DraftKings to newcomer Fanatics, now has or is building its version of the same-game parlay. After the NBA resumed play in July 2020, the same-game parlay grew from 5% to 10% of FanDuel's bets, Farren said.

Persons: FanDuel, Scott Longley, parlay, Conor Farren, FanDuel's, DraftKings, Entain, parlays, Longley, would've, John Maguire, Maguire, isn't, LeBron James, Jalen Rose, Sportsbet, Paddy Power Betfair, Farren, It's, Ben Hider, Penn Organizations: NFL, Krejcik, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Australian Football League, Australian rugby, NBA, ESPN Bet, FanDuel, Industry Locations: DraftKings, Melbourne, Australia, England, FanDuel

☆ Too daunting to take on Saudis in 2034 World Cup bid, says Football Australia CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Christian Radnedge | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Australia would have found it difficult to compete with Saudi Arabia's bid to host the 2034 men's World Cup, Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said on Tuesday after his country opted not to enter the race to stage the tournament. Johnson said Australia, who recently co-hosted the Women's World Cup with New Zealand, would instead focus on bids for the 2026 Women's Asian Cup and the 2029 Club World Cup. The president of the Asian Football Confederation, the sport's continental governing body to which Australia belongs, said "the entire Asian football family" would stand united in support of the Saudi bid. The 2026 men's World Cup will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada. FIFA awarded the 2030 World Cup earlier this month to Morocco, Portugal and Spain, also adding centenary games in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.

Persons: James Johnson, Johnson, we've, they've, Christian Radnedge, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Saudi, Football Australia, Australia, FIFA, Doha, Australian, New, Asian Football Confederation, Thomson Locations: Australia, Asia, Oceania, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, New Zealand, Brisbane, United States, Mexico, Canada, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay

☆ Saudi Arabia clear to host 2034 World Cup after Australia drops out
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Football Australia (FA) boss James Johnson had said the country was "exploring the possibility" of 2034, but on Tuesday the governing body said it would instead focus on bids for the 2026 Women's Asian Cup and the 2029 Club World Cup. The president of the Asian Football Confederation, the sport's continental governing body to which Australia belongs, said "the entire Asian football family" would stand united in support of the Saudi bid. Australia hosted a successful Women's World Cup this year but has never hosted a men's World Cup. "We believe we are in a strong position to host the oldest women’s international competition in the world - the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 - and then welcome the greatest teams in world football for the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup," FA said. FIFA awarded the 2030 World Cup to Morocco, Portugal and Spain, also adding World Cup centenary games in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.

Persons: James Johnson, Bernadett Szabo, Ian Ransom, Neil Fullick, John Stonestreet Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA World, Qatar, Australia Press, Football Australia, Rights, Australia, FIFA, Asian Football Confederation, Saudi, AFC, Thomson Locations: Doha, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Asia, Oceania, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Melbourne

☆ Venomous snake on field of play delays AFLW game in Australia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —A venomous snake delayed the start of an AFLW game in Blacktown, Australia by half an hour as players waited for a snake catcher to remove it from the field. The red-bellied black snake, which the Australian Museum says will only bite under extreme circumstances, was spotted on the field before Greater Western Sydney Giants played Richmond Tigers in the AFWL, the women’s Australian football league. “It’s pretty interesting,” said the Giants’ head of women’s football Briana Harvey during the delay, according to the AFL. “There’s a little red-bellied black snake on the ground at the moment, just in one of the far pockets. After the delay, the Giants sunk to their third consecutive loss of the season as Richmond completed a 19-point victory.

Persons: “, ”, Briana Harvey Organizations: CNN, Australian Museum, Western Sydney Giants, Richmond Tigers, Australian, Giants, AFL, Richmond Locations: Blacktown, Australia

☆ Wanted: Female Athletes. Multiple Vacancies.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Rory Smith | More About Rory Smith | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Brooke Walker spent that first night watching as much Australian rules football as she could. She did the same the next night, and the night after that. Walker had not grown up playing what is, depending on whom you ask, Australia’s most popular sport. As a child, she had played touch, the minimal-contact version, and rugby league. “Even when I was 14 or 15, I wouldn’t ever have seen it,” she said.

Persons: Brooke Walker, Walker, ”, “, — Organizations: league, Australian Football, — Carlton Locations: New Zealand, Australia, Melbourne

Two of Australia’s largest grassroots Indigenous football bodies – Indigenous Football Australia (IFA) and the Australian Indigenous Football Council (AIFC) – say there’s no funding for Indigenous football in Legacy ’23, the 357 million Australian dollar ($228 million) post-tournament fund dedicated to growing soccer in Australia. By contrast, the AIFC oversees state and territory Indigenous football councils and organizes the First Nations Indigenous Football Championships and teams who play as the Indigenous Roos and Koalas. The AIFC recently signed a “Football Treaty” with New Zealand equivalent, Māori Football Aotearoa, and Gilbert wants to create a World Indigenous Football Council and Indigenous World Cup, independently of FIFA. Pickering-Parker seems more hopeful that the World Cup will bring more funding to his small team of volunteers: “Right now. If hosting a Women’s World Cup isn’t going to do it, I don’t know what else is,” she said.

Persons: “, that’s, it’s, ”, Ros Moriarty, James Johnson, Karen Menzies, John Maynard, “ I’ll, I’m, I’ll, Maynard, –, who’ve, Asanka Brendon Ratnayake, Moriarty Football, John’s, Moriarty, ” Lawrence Gilbert, Gilbert, ” John Moriarty, John Moriarty, Johnson, We’ve, It’s, Jennifer Pickering, Tai Tokerau, “ You’re, ” Pickering, Claudia Bunge, Michaela Foster, Mathias Bergeld, Phillip Pickering, Parker, Pickering, Kyah Simon, who’s, Lydia Williams, Williams, ” Williams, Matt King, Australia’s, That’s, crowdfunding, NIAG, we’ve, Menzies, we’re, … Organizations: Sydney CNN —, Indigenous Football Australia, IFA, Australian Indigenous Football Council, Indigenous, Moriarty Foundation, Football Australia, CNN Sport, FIFA, Indigenous Advisory, CNN, Aboriginal Soccer Tribe, UNICEF Australia First Nations, Aboriginal, Torres Strait, Elders, Commonwealth, First, First Nations, Reuters, Australian, soccer team, ” John Moriarty Football, New South, Nations Indigenous Football, Indigenous Roos, Treaty, Māori Football Aotearoa, Indigenous Football Council, Nations Australian, Nations, . New Zealand, ”, New Zealand Football, AFL, Australian Football League, Sydney Football Stadium Locations: Australia, New Zealand, Brisbane, New South Wales, Koalas, Tai, New, ., Norway, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, Perth, “

☆ Australia’s Matildas Unite a Nation and Crack the Code Wars
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Rory Smith | More About Rory Smith | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Inside the vast sweep of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, almost nobody was paying attention to what was happening on the field. Those fans who remained in their seats were staring up at the big screens, absorbed by a game a thousand miles away. The live sporting event playing out in front of them could not compete with the appeal of the Matildas. Over the course of the last three weeks, Australia has fallen — and fallen hard — for its women’s soccer team. Images of Matildas players beam out from billboards and television screens and the front pages of every newspaper.

Organizations: Melbourne Cricket, Australian Football League, Carlton, France, soccer Locations: Melbourne, Brisbane, Australia

☆ Women's World Cup: Australia dares to dream of win as Matildas mania sweeps the country
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Sydney CNN —Two matches stand between Australia and a historic Women’s World Cup win, and the nation – perhaps prematurely – is debating the pros and cons of a national holiday should the squad defeat Spain on Sunday. Soccer mania has swept the country in a culture where rugby, cricket and the local “Aussie Rules” football usually dominates. Australia players celebrate after winning their quarterfinal match against France in Brisbane, August 12. Zara Borcak beams as she holds the jersey Sam Kerr gave her after Saturday's match against France, August 12, 2023. Maybe it’s because the last time the country came together to fight a common cause, they were desperately trying to stay apart.

Persons: Tertius Pickard, Asanka Brendon Ratnayake, Sam Kerr, “, ‘, ”, Zara Borcak, Selma Borcak, Anthony Albanese, Albanese, Andrew Cornaga, Ben Crowe, Crowe, Eleanor Roosevelt, Ash Barty, it’s, ” Mackenzie Arnold of Australia, Norvik, that’s, Mackenzie Arnold, I’ve Organizations: Sydney CNN, Spain, Sunday, England, Australia, France, FIFA, Reuters Sporting, – Basketball Australia, AFL, Australian Football League, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, ”, NRL, ’, Sweden, Wimbledon, Richmond AFL Locations: Australia, France, Australia’s, United States, Brisbane, Sydney, Green, Brazil, Zara, Spain, Eden, Auckland, Denmark, Melbourne

☆ Australia Women's World Cup: After Barbie, the Matildas became the new heroes in cleats
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

But now, seemingly in the blink of an eye, we’re all wearing green and gold for our newest heroes, Australia’s Women’s World Cup hopefuls, the Matildas. Sam Kerr takes the ball during a FIFA World Cup 2023 round of 16 match between Australia and Denmark at Stadium Australia on August 7. “A lot of people just frankly don’t want to believe women’s sport is doing well,” Lassey told CNN. Football Australia said part of the rationale for bringing the Women’s World Cup to Australia was to use it to grow the women’s game – backed by a 357 million Australian dollar ($232 million) FIFA legacy fund. Argus says the World Cup is a turning point for women’s sport because the turnout and viewing numbers have proven that there’s an enthusiastic audience.

Persons: Barbie, Margot Robbie, Greta Gerwig, Australia’s, they’ve, Sam Kerr, Mary Fowler, Caitlin Foord, Hayley Raso, Daniela Porcelli, “, ”, Jackie Schougaard, Alfred Hotel, “ Everyone’s, It’s, Jason Lassey, –, ” Lassey, Matildas, —, “ I’m, Hannah Mckay, Bruce McAvaney, I’m, Maddie Meyer, Kevin Argus, ” Argus, we’ve, Lassey, We’re, Robbie, Gerwig, Barbie ”, ” Gerwig Organizations: Australia CNN, Neighbours, Hollywood, Chelsea, FIFA, Stadium Australia, France, Brisbane, Caxton, Footy Industry, –, AFL, Australian Football League, CNN, Denmark, Sydney, Football Australia, team, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, RMIT, Socceroos, ”, “, Australian Broadcasting Corporation Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Denmark, Melbourne

☆ Sam Kerr: the superstar carrying Australia’s hopes on her shoulders
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —Even as a 15-year-old, Sam Kerr had the weight of a nation on her shoulders. Fast forward to 2023 and Kerr is one of best players in the game and a global star. Kerr has had to wait longer than expected for the honor at this tournament having been forced to miss Australia’s opening two games because of injury. But a surprise defeat to Nigeria in the Matildas’ second group game have left their hopes hanging by a thread. Kerr takes a selfie as she celebrates with her Chelsea teammates after winning the Women's FA Cup in 2022.

Persons: Sam Kerr, Kerr, Alyssa Mautz, ”, Tony Gustavsson, Don Arnold, Tony, it’s, I’m, ’ Kerr, Daniel, Bobby Despotovski, “, ” Despotovski, Nicola Williams, ” Williams, Williams, Mautz, ” Mautz, she’s freakin, ” Kerr, Ryan Pierse, Western New York Flash, Rich Barnes, Vanessa DiBernado, Vanessa, ‘, ’ ”, …, swag, Michael Regan, –, Eddie Keogh, she’s, She’s, soccer’s Organizations: CNN, Australia, Perth Glory, Chicago Red Stars, National Women’s Soccer League, FIFA, reining Olympic, Canada, coy, Sydney Opera House, Getty, Reuters, West Coast Eagles, Australian Football League, Glory, AFL, CNN Sport, Western New York, Sky Blue FC –, NY Gotham FC, Western New York Flash, Perth, Sky Blue, Chelsea, Super League, Red, League, – Chelsea, EA Sports Locations: Canberra, Italy, Australia, Brisbane, New Zealand, South Korea, Nigeria, Western Australia, Chelsea, NJ, Rochester , New York, Perth, Illinois, –, Chicago, London

☆ CTE: Heather Anderson, first professional female athlete to be diagnosed with degenerative brain disease
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CTE is a neurodegenerative disease that can occur after repeated traumatic brain injuries or hits to the head, with or without a concussion, and to date it has only been diagnosed in professional male athletes. In Australia, lawyers representing dozens of former professional AFL players have filed a class action suit against the Australian Football League (AFL), seeking compensation for injuries caused by alleged negligence. The AFL has acknowledged a link between head trauma and CTE and says it’s committed to mitigating the risks. The AFL Player’s Association, which represents the athletes, is pushing for greater support for current and former players, many of whom are living with the impact of successive brain injuries. Buckland said what’s most needed is a shift in attitudes, so that it’s no longer encouraged or even acceptable to expose children to activities where repeated head injuries are part of the game.

Persons: Heather Anderson, “, ”, neuropathologist Michael Buckland, …, Buckland, Anderson, CTE, James Elsby, It’s, it’s, what’s Organizations: Australia CNN — Scientists, Australian Football League, Sports Brain Bank, University of Sydney, AFL, league –, AFL Club, Adelaide Crows, Australian Defence Force, Australian Sports Brain Bank, US Centers for Disease Control, Boston, NFL, AFL Player’s Association, Boys ’ Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Darwin, United States

☆ Australia, NZ consider joint bid for 2029 Club World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, June 28 (Reuters) - Football Australia (FA) chief James Johnson believes FIFA's expanded Club World Cup is going to be a big success and is mulling a joint bid with New Zealand to host the second edition in 2029. Australia and New Zealand will co-host the Women's World Cup in July and August this year and Johnson has already said that could be a springboard for a joint bid for the men's version, possibly in 2034. "That's something we could look at, as well as the men's World Cup – but that's (after) we've delivered the best ever Women's World Cup." The last edition of the Club World Cup featuring seven teams will be hosted by Saudi Arabia later this year. The ninth Women's World Cup kicks off in Auckland and Sydney on July 20.

Persons: James Johnson, FIFA's, Johnson, Gianni Infantino, Infantino, Gianni, we've, Nick Mulvenney, Michael Perry Organizations: SYDNEY, Football Australia, New, New Zealand, FIFA, Sydney Morning Herald, League, UEFA, Club, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Australia, New, United States, Saudi Arabia, Auckland, Sydney

☆ Australia recommends testosterone limits for transgender athletes in elite female sport
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MELBOURNE, June 16 (Reuters) - Australia's peak sports authority has recommended testosterone limits for transgender athletes seeking to compete in elite female competitions as part of guidelines on inclusion released on Friday. The 'Transgender & Gender-Diverse Inclusion Guidelines for HP (high-performance) Sport' recommends transgender athletes have plasma testosterone levels of less than 2.5 nanomoles per litre for two years prior to competition. Transgender inclusion in female competition has become one of the most contentious and divisive issues in sport. Australia's guidelines come months after the national basketball federation rejected a transgender athlete's application to play in a semi-professional league, drawing criticism from LGBTI groups. Eligibility requirements for transgender athletes in elite female competition vary broadly in Australian sports.

Persons: Ian Ransom, Peter Rutherford Organizations: MELBOURNE, Australian Sports Commission, HP, AIS, Australian Institute of Sport, ASC, rugby, Australian Football League, Australian Rules, Cricket Australia, Thomson Locations: Melbourne

☆ 'Really, really surreal', Women's World Cup trophy lands in Australia
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, June 8 (Reuters) - The Women's World Cup suddenly became very real for Australia defender Clare Hunt on Thursday when she took part in the first stop on a tour of the trophy around the co-host nation. The trophy has already been to the 31 other participating nations ahead of the quadrennial tournament, which starts in Australia and New Zealand on July 20. With Hunt looking on, Briana Scurry, a World Cup winner with the United States in 1999, and New South Wales Premier Chris Minns unveiled the trophy at Taronga Zoo beside Sydney's harbour. The FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy is pictured during an event at Summit at One Vanderbilt observatory in Manhattan in New York City, U.S., April 14, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo"It's really, really surreal to be here in front of the trophy and to have it here in Australia," said 24-year-old Hunt, who is hoping to be in the Matildas squad for the tournament.

Persons: Clare Hunt, Hunt, Briana, Chris Minns, Mike Segar, it's, Nick Mulvenney, Peter Rutherford Organizations: SYDNEY, Australia, New South Wales, Taronga, FIFA, Vanderbilt, REUTERS, Sydney's, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Australia, New Zealand, United States, New, Sydney's, Manhattan, New York City, U.S

In a full page statement published in The Sydney Morning Herald, Rugby Australia (RA) said the proposed referendum is "too important a contest to watch in silence". "Provision for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament in our Constitution is long overdue," it added. RA and the AFL join the National Rugby league (NRL), several AFL clubs, and other sports governing bodies like soccer's Football Australia, Tennis Australia and the Australian Olympic Committee in formalising support for Indigenous recognition through a referendum. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who has staked significant political capital on the referendum, has been keen to get the support of leading sports bodies and players. Some of Australia's top athletes are Indigenous, like NBA star Patty Mills, former Olympic sprinter Cathy Freeman and former woman's tennis world number one Ash Barty.

☆ Australian Rules-Tasmania savours victory in 'hard fight' to secure AFL team
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The state government signed off on commitments to secure the AFL's 19th team license and has targeted the 2028 season to launch in the Australian Rules top flight. "This has been a hard fight ... by many, many Tasmanians over a number of generations," state Premier Jeremy Rockliff said in the state capital Hobart. The AFL targeted richer eastern states and continues to spend a fortune propping up expansion teams in territory long owned by rugby league. AFL clubs relying on league distributions balked at the prospect of another drain on the league's coffers. ($1 = 1.5006 Australian dollars)Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter RutherfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ New AFL boss steals spotlight from Jones's Wallabies pitch
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Australia rugby union coach Eddie Jones poses with a ball, flanked by Wallabies players Andrew Kellaway and Reece Hodge at a news conference, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, in Melbourne, Australia, May 1, 2023. Whether the AFL’s late press call was by coincidence or design, Rugby Australia officials were left fuming as the spotlight shifted away from their global sport to the homegrown game popular in only the nation's southern states. Appointed in January, Jones's second stint in charge of the Wallabies sees them much diminished from his first when he took them to the final of the 2003 World Cup on home soil. In 2002, Jones was the last Australian coach to win the Bledisloe Cup, the annual series against New Zealand. Rugby Australia will hope Jones can deliver Rugby Championship wins along with his sharp wit and penchant for a sound bite to help build more buzz around the fallen twice World Cup winners.

☆ FIFA wants us to think the World Cup is about showing 'humanity can live in peace together.' It's really about money — but I'll still watch.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Marguerite Ward | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The 2022 FIFA Men's World Cup, hosted by Qatar, will begin Sunday. read a recent letter to World Cup teams signed by Gianni Infantino, FIFA's president. Telemundo's 2022 FIFA World Cup ad sales for its Spanish televising of the tournament hit "record revenue," a spokesperson said. Khalid Salman, the Qatar World Cup ambassador and a former footballer, said homosexuality is "damage in the mind" in an interview with the German broadcaster ZDF earlier this month. The 2022 World Cup is a cynical attempt at sportswashing.

☆ British LGBT activist urges captains to speak out in Qatar
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oct 28 (Reuters) - British activist Peter Tatchell said he hopes team captains at this year's World Cup in Qatar will follow the example set by Australia and reaffirm the rights of LGBTs, women and migrant workers during the tournament. Homosexuality is illegal in the conservative Muslim country, and some soccer players have raised concerns for fans travelling for the event, especially LGBT individuals and women. On Thursday, Australia's national team spoke out against Qatar's record. Human Rights Watch on Monday said security forces in Qatar arbitrarily arrested and abused LGBT Qataris as recently as last month. World Cup organisers did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

☆ Australian footballers call for reform in Qatar ahead of next month’s World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Jacob Lev | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Australia’s men’s footballers, the “Socceroos,” have called for reform in Qatar ahead of next month’s World Cup. In a video message produced by Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) and released on Wednesday, 16 Socceroos called on the host country to recognize and legalize same-sex marriage and improve the rights of migrant workers. The PFA also released an open letter to Qatar expressing the need for reform. The report – “categorically” denied by tournament organizers – did not connect all 6,500 deaths with World Cup infrastructure projects and has not been independently verified by CNN. The 2022 World Cup kicks off on November 20 and runs through December 18 in the Gulf nation.

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