As an under-fire soccer chief stands firm, women's soccer in Spain may be preparing for new beginnings
The thrill of making history isn't supposed to sour. It is the moment, the magnificent, once-in-a-lifetime feat, that should be the cause of time standing still; cameras panning in slow motion to the overachievers lifting the prize won, ticker tape falling like magic from the sky, extraordinary talent overshadowing everything else. But that is not the world in which we live.
2023-09-03 20:28
F1 Kids broadcast an admirable idea – but a reminder that all children want to be is grown up (cloned)
“Now it’s time to cross over to our F1 Juniors,” said Sky’s lead presenter Simon Lazenby, in a feel which became familiar throughout the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend. Often the broadcaster striving for new avenues, never afraid of the status quo, Sky Sports took their television trials to a different avenue this weekend with the first-ever Formula 1 broadcast for children. An admirable experiment, it gave three teenagers a few days to savour as they started their summer holidays in Budapest alongside broadcasters Radzi Chinyanganya and Harry Benjamin. For Braydon, Scarlett and Zak – the latter a go-karter at junior level, the former duo presenters on Sky’s BAFTA-winning kids show FYI – it presented opportunities of a lifetime with interviews, quizzes and predictions with the best drivers and pundits in the paddock. And it provided some indisputably heartwarming moments. Like the segment where Zak met Lewis Hamilton and spoke to his hero about how inspiring the Mercedes star has been to black kids around the world, before then sitting in his Mercedes car. Or Scarlett and Braydon quizzing the “terrible trio” of George Russell, Lando Norris and Alex Albon about what ice cream they’d describe themselves as. “Vanilla”, Norris quipped, pointing at Russell. There’s something about the involvement of adolescents in a press environment which can bring some much-needed lightheartedness to what can sometimes be a sterile process for all involved. For example, who can forget the young boy, in awe of his sporting icon, who asked Roger Federer at the US Open in 2017: “Switzerland is really cool, right? There isn’t too much livestock. So why do they call you the GOAT [greatest of all time]?” Yet, away from one-on-ones with drivers, the core aspect to the alternative broadcast was the informal race coverage, live on free-to-air Sky Showcase, which presented an F1 race in an entirely different format. There were bright, 3D-augmented graphics throughout, with a colour-coordinated leaderboard which, frankly, seemed clearer than the usual feed at times. Explainers popped up at various points, defining key F1-focused terms for younger viewers. The use of avatars for each driver was a cute touch, though obviously best kept for this experiment. Overall, it provided something completely unique and distinctive for a 70-lap race which provided a common routine in the obligatory Max Verstappen victory. Sure, nobody was asking for an F1-kids broadcast. And inevitably, naysayers online will have been quick to roll their eyes at the initiative. It was notable that both Sky F1 and Benjamin turned off replies to their tweets involving F1 Juniors over the weekend. Less an indication of the general reaction to the initiative and more a sign of the times – and the highly-charged, often-abusive nature of social media. But that is not the point. F1 has for a while been a step ahead of other sports in the intuitiveness and creativity of its product, to the stage now where it is in the midst of a period of unprecedented worldwide popularity. The most obvious is the fly-on-the-wall nature of Drive to Survive on Netflix, a format only now being followed by the professional tennis and golf tours in search of extra eyeballs. It is a fine balancing act, though. During practice and the qualifying show, there were regular interspersions on the main feed to the Juniors, a process which may well have irritated petrolheads and fans of a sterner generation. While Sky like to push boundaries, their executives will be all too aware of trying to avoid alienating their core viewership. The one-off nature of F1 Juniors, at least this season, means this is unlikely to materialise. And there were moments of awkwardness. Like cutting to Christian Horner on the pit wall, seemingly in a baffled daze, who bluntly said: “Can we come back and do this in another 10 laps or so?” Like a selfie in the commentary booth with Danica Patrick, who had earlier stated the nature of sport “is masculine and aggressive” as she spoke about the lack of female racing drivers. There were obviously a few mistakes here and there – and it wasn’t completely crisp and clear-cut. But then it wasn’t meant to be. And, frankly, nor is David Croft and Martin Brundle’s expert commentary always error-free. In a sport as technical and fast-paced as F1, perfection is near-on impossible. Of course, unless you’re Verstappen at the moment. But the underlying takeaway is this: as a child, all you want to be is treated as a grown-up. The best way of learning about the intricacies of a sport like Formula 1 is to immerse yourself in the usual feed on a regular basis, creating a curiosity gap to discover more. As a one-off, F1 Juniors was worthwhile and undoubtedly a commendable initiative. For intrigued parents, showing their children an F1 race for the first time, who knows how many may have flicked on the coverage? Who knows how many might now flick on an F1 race in the future on a Sunday afternoon? Something different is not to be something dismissed. Article originally published on 24 July 2023 Read More Lewis Hamilton makes damning statement about his level after Hungarian GP Daniel Ricciardo is back - and this time he wants to go out on top Mick Schumacher returns to racing with Alpine in 2024 Lando Norris posts update from hospital after Las Vegas crash Las Vegas Grand Prix dazzles on debut with usual dose of Max Verstappen reality
2023-11-22 20:22
Inter Miami's Robbie Robinson Threw Up During Lionel Messi's Debut
Lionel Messi made his MLS debut Friday night, as Inter Miami took on Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup. While everyone is sure to be discussing the finish of the match, where Messi came on and won it with a free kick in extra time, another moment caught out eye. Miami forward Robbie Robinson was struggling with the heat and humidity and could be seen throwing up on the pitch.
2023-07-22 10:40
Relatives of victims of alleged war crimes in Myanmar seek justice against generals in Philippines
Relatives of victims of alleged war crimes committed by Myanmar’s military have filed a criminal complaint in the Philippines against their nation’s ruling generals
2023-10-25 17:09
'Scandinavian sleep method' hailed as a saviour of marriages
People think a “Scandivanivan sleep method” might hold the key to a successful marriage after trying it out. No matter how much you love someone, sleeping in a bed next to them has the ability to be rage-inducing if they have a tendency to steal most of the duvet for themselves. Now, a phenomenon popular in Scandinavian countries, such as Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, is offering up a solution as couples sleep with two twin-sized duvets rather than one large one. The sleeping method is sweeping social media and has seen many hailing themselves as new fans of the system TikToker Erica Stolman Dowdy has gone viral on the platform, suggesting that it “could save marriages”. In the video, she explained she and her husband love visiting Copenhagen and she wanted to give their own home a Scandinavian-inspired makeover. This included getting two twin duvets, as Stolman Dowdy explained: “In Copenhagen, not once have I slept with one duvet. It is always two twins and we sleep so good. “No one’s fighting over blankets. Nobody’s too hot or too cold. It’s absolutely amazing.” @ericastolmandowdy the Scandinavian sleep method is an absolute game changer. 10/10 recommend ☁️ #scandinaviansleepmethod #danishdesign #danishinterior She continued: “This is just absolutely the comfiest way to sleep. I 10 out of 10 recommend it. It could save marriages.” In the comments, someone wrote: “Not me realizing I sleep with the Copenhagen method already and my husband and I LOVE it.” Someone else said: “Once you sleep with two comforters…you will NEVER go back to only one!!!” “Ohhh that’s such a great idea!” another person wrote. One TikToker wrote: “Legit started doing this last year and it is a GAME CHANGER. No more ‘empty space’ of cold air creeping in the middle of the bed.” Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-09-26 22:17
Morgan to lead Wales in World Cup warm-up against South Africa
Jac Morgan looks increasingly likely to lead Wales at the Rugby World Cup after the flanker was named as captain for a warm-up match against reigning champions...
2023-08-16 19:07
NCAA committee recommends dropping marijuana from banned drug list for athletes
An NCAA medical committee is recommending the removal of marijuana from its banned drug list and suggesting that testing should be limited to performance-enhancing substances
2023-06-17 08:09
Don’t Sleep On The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale’s Best Home Deals
In a sea of trendy fashion, luxe beauty products, and designer shoes, it’s hard for Nordstrom’s home section to truly shine. But we refuse to let this year’s Nordstrom Anniversary Sale home deals go unnoticed. From 30%-off Diptyque candle sets to 37%-off Le Creuset dutch ovens, we think the following picks are some of the finest Nordstrom Anniversary Sale price cuts around.
2023-07-19 04:24
'Thank You For Coming' review: An empowering and raunchy feminist comedy
At 32, Kanika Kapoor has never had an orgasm. This is the central problem that
2023-09-15 23:20
Biden and Modi urge Pakistan to act against extremist attacks
By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON U.S. President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called on
2023-06-23 07:22
German government coalition agrees to bring disputed heating bill to parliament before summer recess
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party coalition says it would bring a disputed heating bill to parliament this week for consideration
2023-06-14 00:56
‘Getaway king’ French gangster who escaped prison in helicopter is jailed again
A jailed French gangster known as the “getaway king” after two dramatic escapes from prison - one involving a hijacked helicopter - will be locked up for a further 14 years. Redoine Faid, who says he drew inspiration for his criminal career from French and American gangster films, escaped from Reau prison, southeast of Paris, in July 2018. He had been in the prison’s visiting room when three men burst in and got him onto the aircraft, which had landed in one of the prison courtyards. Just five years earlier, in April 2013, he escaped from Sequedin prison in the north of the capital, using explosives to blast through five prison doors, taking four prison wardens hostage, and escaping in two getaway cars. A self-described “freedom addict”, Faid, who has multiple convictions for armed robbery, went on trial earlier this month and was this week sentenced to 14 years additional years behind bars for the prison break. The 51-year-old appeared at Assize Court with a smile and wearing a blue sweater. Among the 11 co-defendants were his two brothers, one of whom he greeted with a kiss, three nephews and a convicted member of the Corsica underworld. Prosecutors had requested 22 years for the jailbreak, spearheaded by Faid’s brother Rachid, who took a helicopter pilot hostage and ordered him to fly to the prison. Rachid got 10 years for his involvement in the plot. Three armed accomplices let off smoke bombs to confuse guards at the prison, one of the men - identified as Faid’s elder brother Rachid - used a disc grinder to cut through doors leading to the visiting room. Faid had been receiving a visit from another brother, Brahim. Inmates of the prison cheered as the helicopter took off with its new passenger, with the operation taking just 10 minutes. Brahim told the court he had no idea about the plan and he was acquitted. After Faid was sprung from the prison, the helicopter landed in Gonesse, a northeastern suburb of Paris, where he and his accomplices continued their escape by car. Authorities later found a burnt-out black Renault suspected of being the getaway car in Aulnay-sous-Bois, another suburb of the capital. The assailants are thought to have changed vehicles, continuing their escape in a van. Faid was arrested by special forces in October 2018 in an apartment located in the city of Creil, in the northern suburbs of Paris, having spent three months on the run. He had been seen dressed as a woman, wearing a burqa. In 2017, he was sentenced on appeal to 25 years in prison for masterminding a failed 2010 robbery, which claimed the life of a policewoman. As a young delinquent in a troubled suburb north of Paris, Faid took his inspiration from gangster movies. He told the court it was his love of freedom that drove him to escape from jail. "I’m in a concrete sarcophagus 23 hours out of 24… What am I going to do? Kick my heels indefinitely. I have an addiction which consumes me and which I cannot cure. I am addicted to freedom." Read More Russia-Ukraine war live: North Korea hands over 1,000 containers of weapons to Putin Putin’s many ‘heart attacks’ and why the rumours may be in his favour Russia recruits prisoners for Ukraine war as Putin replicates Wagner Russia-Ukraine war live: North Korea hands over 1,000 containers of weapons to Putin Putin’s many ‘heart attacks’ and why the rumours may be in his favour Russia recruits prisoners for Ukraine war as Putin replicates Wagner
2023-10-26 17:19
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