World Sports

Rio will host the 15th edition of the summer Paralympic Games Russian athletes have been banned from competing at the Rio 2016 Paralympics following the country’s doping scandal. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) had opened suspension proceedings following the McLaren report, and has now confirmed the ban. That report, published last month, detailed a state-sponsored doping programme operated by Russia. The Russian Paralympic Committee will reportedly appeal against the decision…

Media playback is not supported on this device Pogba scores for France at Euros Manchester United are on the brink of re-signing Paul Pogba from Juventus in a deal worth over £100m ($131m). United will pay a world record £89m (105m euros) transfer fee, with other costs such as agents fees to be added. Pogba will have a medical in the next few days with the deal due to be…

This wasn’t his decision. Alex Rodriguez said that the Yankees informed him a few days ago that they wanted to release him. The news surprised him. The terms of his departure will stun the baseball world. The relationship between Rodriguez and the Yankees is not ending badly. In fact, it is continuing, Rodriguez said, first with him playing one final game at Yankee Stadium on Friday, then remaining with the team as an ambassador, instructor and special…

1.55pm EDT13:55 Katie Ledecky sets new Olympic record The absurd Katie Ledecky has just delivered an absurd performance in the 400m freestyle heats. The 19-year-old American, who’s going to win absolutely everything this year, just set a new Olympic record, shooting home in 3m 58s. She could be setting a new world record in the final later tonight. Updated at 1.57pm EDT

Media playback is not supported on this device Great Britain’s Adam Peaty wins the men’s 100m breaststroke semi Great Britain’s Adam Peaty qualified easily for Sunday’s 100m breaststroke final having earlier broken his own world record. The 21-year-old qualified fastest in 57.62 seconds as he aims to become the first British male to win an individual Olympic swimming gold since 1988. The City of Derby swimmer’s 57.55 in the heats…

After what seemed like an eternal buildup to these Games, culminating in the pomp and pageantry of the opening ceremony, the time for sporting action to finally take centre stage in Rio arrived. That’s what the Olympics is about, after all. Yet despite the first medals beings won – three of which (two gold and one bronze) made a resurgent Australia the tentative leader on the medal table – this…

(CNN) – Basketball, track and swimming have been staples at the Olympics for decades, drawing thousands of spectators. But solo synchronized swimming or live pigeon shooting? They are among the strangest events that have, at one time or another, taken place at the Games. Here are the 10 oddest sports that have actually graced the modern Olympics: Oxymoron alert! Yes, this sport features one female swimmer synchronizing with herself. The…

Dan Currier RIR Peter Valavanis tosses a bean bag as he plays a game of cornhole in the parking area before the 62nd Annual Toyota Owners 400 Sunday April 24, 2016 at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va. Posted: Saturday, August 6, 2016 10:00 pm McElroy: Five more Olympic sport recommendations for 2024 BY WES MCELROY Special correspondent Richmond Times-Dispatch What I learned in sports this week is that it’s…

Outside the beach volleyball venue Saturday, Brazilians and tourists danced on the boardwalk, munched on grilled shrimp, scanned racks of cheap jewelry and played futevolei — soccer on a volleyball court. If you want to feel alive, you come to Copacabana Beach on a glistening, 85-degree day. And if you want to feel good about the Olympics and fall in love with a new sport, you go to a venue…

(CNN) – Basketball, track and swimming have been staples at the Olympics for decades, drawing thousands of spectators. But solo synchronized swimming or live pigeon shooting? They are among the strangest events that have, at one time or another, taken place at the Games. Here are the 10 oddest sports that have actually graced the modern Olympics: Oxymoron alert! Yes, this sport features one female swimmer synchronizing with herself. The…

x Embed x Share French gymnast Samir Ait Said suffered a gruesome injury during artistic gymnastics men’s team qualification at the Rio Olympics on Friday. The sound of his leg snapping could be heard throughout the arena. USA TODAY Sports Samir Ait Said of France receives attention after falling while competing on the vault.(Photo: Scott Halleran, Getty Images) RIO DE JANEIRO — French gymnast Samir Ait Said will now be remembered alongside…

The International Paralympic Committee is set to do what its Olympic counterpart did not and ban Russia outright from its Games later this month, the Observer has learned. In the wake of the publication of Professor Richard McLaren’s report that revealed jaw-dropping details of systemic doping in Russia, the IPC provisionally suspended Russia from the Paralympics. Related: Richard McLaren accuses IOC of misrepresenting doping findings It is understood that after…

Media playback is not supported on this device Rio 2016 Olympics: Highlights of the opening ceremony The 2016 Olympics have been formally opened with a colourful and pulsating ceremony at Rio’s Maracana stadium. Broadcast to an estimated audience of three billion, it celebrated Brazil’s history, culture and natural beauty, before former marathon runner Vanderlei de Lima lit the Olympic cauldron. Wimbledon champion Andy Murray led the Great Britain team into…

The Olympic Games are finally here. The modern incarnation began back in 1896, but the Olympic tradition harkens back to the ancient Greek festival where a massive municipal infrastructure boondoggle was offered unto the gods as a tribute. Many of the sports appearing at the Summer Games have storied and truly ancient histories, and not just the obvious ones like the discus and javelin events. The race Herodotus presumably called…

Media playback is not supported on this device Rio 2016: Biles, Ennis-Hill & Whitlock in BBC team’s athletes to watch The 2016 Olympic Games officially start in Rio on Friday with the opening ceremony at the Maracana Stadium. Athletes from 206 nations and a refugee team are in Brazil to compete in 28 sports and be watched by a global audience of billions. The build-up has been dominated by a…

Earlier this week, the International Olympic Committee announced the addition of five sports to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo — baseball, softball, karate, skateboarding, climbing and surfing. Surfing’s Tyler Wright was beyond stoked, but others were less enthused about the IOC’s attempts at “bringing the Games to young people.” But concern trolling over the fidelity of the Olympics’ roster of sports overlooks just how capricious the traditional selection process has…

The Summer Olympics are full of some of the most iconic sporting events of all time. But what about the little-known sports that could use some much-needed love? These 16 sports aren’t so famous but they are, in fact, Olympic events. Race walking, also know as speed walking, debuted at the 1908 Games. Today, race walking seems to be at it most competitive, with every Olympic record being broken at…

Rio de Janeiro – Do you believe in fairytales? I wish I did. It’s not easy when you’re a sports news correspondent. Sport has become a murky business, murkier than anything you’ll find in the notorious Guanabara Bay. In response to doping, we need to inject ourselves with “the benefit of doubt” before watching and celebrating the glory of the Rio Olympics. In my pre-Olympics report for TV, I…

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facebook Share twitter Share The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today agreed to add baseball/softball, karate, skateboard, sports climbing and surfing to the sports programme for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. The decision by the 129th IOC Session in Rio de Janeiro was the most comprehensive evolution of the Olympic programme in modern history. Plans call for staging the skateboarding…