Common sense has finally prevailed. I have previously written about sports bodies’ poor track record of selecting host cities for major events. On this occasion though, IOC officials, perhaps weary of criticism, have made the right decision. Yesterday, they announced Tokyo will host he 2020 Olympics, ahead of rival bids from Madrid and Istanbul. It […]
Sport
Willian signing will test Mourinho’s mettle
Upon his return to Chelsea, Jose Mourinho recognised he had inherited a young, talented but unbalanced squad. Signing Willian from under the noses of Tottenham is undoubtedly a coup, but it remains to be seen whether he was the right signing at a time when owner Roman Abramovich is tightening the purse strings to adhere […]
Competition to host international sporting events has lost all credibility
It is idealistic to believe that politics and sport can ever be separated and the competition to host a major international event will always be fraught with intrigue. But when the months and years leading up to these heralded events spark such widespread anger, the manner in which the bids are selected needs to be […]
Del Potro well placed for return to the elite
As Novak Djokovic licks his wounds in the aftermath of his defeat to Andy Murray in the Wimbledon final, another player will also be wondering what might have been. For while Djokovic lost in three, admittedly tortuously tight sets, Juan Martin del Potro would have been playing in the final himself had he been able […]
Everyone wins as Courtois’ loan is extended
So often in the football transfer market, deals are made with an element of compromise. Even the elite sometimes have to turn their attentions elsewhere after failing to land their preferred target. For example, when Neymar signed for Barcelona rather than their rivals Real Madrid, their efforts were redirected to make Gareth Bale their desired […]
The Special One not especially happy to be back
Jose Mourinho doth protest too much. Despite announcing on his return that he was now ‘The Happy One’, the adulation of the Chelsea fans is insufficient consolation for a manager who is widely believed to have sought the Manchester United job. When he talked last season of leaving Madrid to return to the Premier League, […]