Sports News

For the first time since 1904, golf is being reintroduced to the Olympic Games and will be one of the participating events in Rio 2016. To mark the significant return of the sport, the newly built and rather unique venue, Marapendi Olympic golf course, will open specially for the championships. Over the past few decades, golf has rapidly expanded to become a popular sport around the world, both at amateur and professional level. As a result of this globalisation, the International Olympic Committee decided that the sport should return to the Olympic Games.

Some of the biggest stars in world athletics will feature at the Birmingham Diamond League, held at the Alexander Stadium on Sunday June 5. With double Olympic, world and European champion Mo Farah already competing, a further 12 British and international stars have confirmed that they will appear at the IAAF Diamond League event.

Preparations are underway for Wolverhampton’s sixth annual walking festival – with residents invited to put their best foot forward for a choice of more than 30 free walks. The Wolverhampton Walking Festival 2016, from Saturday 7 May to Sunday 15 May, promises to take people off the beaten track to explore different parts of Wolverhampton and the surrounding area – and with walks for people of all ages and abilities, there’s sure to be something for everyone.

As Trinidad and Tobago joins the rest of the world in celebrating the West Indies dominance of World T20 cricket, sport tourism continues to play a vitally important role in our country’s social, cultural, economic and infrastructural development. The year 2016 is already a period of great celebration and renewal for sport in the Caribbean and Trinidad and Tobago is set to build a sustainable sport tourism niche, diversify visitor and resident experiences, while highlighting the islands’ unique attributes.

After 30 rounds of enthralling action, the 2015-16 BBL regular season reaches its conclusion with a blockbuster weekend which sees the Championship title and the final Play-Off spot decided. Leicester Riders and Esh Group Eagles Newcastle split the first two pieces of silverware this season, and go into the final round with identical 28-3 league records ahead of tonight's huge clash at the LCS Arena.

Endurance athlete and adventurer, Laura Kennington, will circumnavigate three of the Channel Islands in June 2016 in her own 'Channel Islands Triathlon', supported by VisitGuernsey. The 29 year old British athlete will swim around Sark, kayak around Guernsey and cycle around Jersey over three days in a challenge that has never previously been attempted.

Get ready Rugby Sevens fans! This year, the Hong Kong Sevens is not just bringing together some of the most talented players from around the world; it's also brought in top Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth, who made a surprise appearance at Hong Kong's Ocean Terminal, where he showcased his skilful rugby kick-off by the iconic Victoria Harbour with Hong Kong Island's spectacular skyline as the backdrop.  

Birmingham Bears have signed New Zealand wicket-keeper batsman Luke Ronchi for all 14 NatWest T20 Blast group games in 2016. Ronchi (34) has won 29 international T20 caps and recently played in the ICC World T20 semi-final against England, as well as being an integral part of the BlackCaps team that reached last year's ICC Cricket World Cup final. He will join Birmingham Bears ahead of the first NatWest T20 Blast group game away to Notts Outlaws on Friday 20 May.

The relationship between FC Barcelona and La Manga Club moves from strength to strength after announcing that the global football giants will hold their Official Barcelona Junior Football Camp at Spain's flagship resort for the third year in a row this summer. Leading the way with Five Time World Footballer of the Year Lionel Messi, the Spanish and European champs continue to set the benchmark in club football, with youngsters able to discover what it takes to be the best at the camp, which takes place at La Manga Club from July 25-29.

Runner Rebecca Drackley is taking on the Marathon des Sables – known as the toughest footrace on earth – to raise funds for working animal charity SPANA.Thirty-seven year-old Rebecca from Birmingham will begin the ultra-marathon on 8 April and over six days will cover 156 miles of the Sahara desert, in temperatures up to 48˚C. The rules of the race means that she will have to be self-sufficient, carrying everything that she will need to survive, in her backpack.

Birmingham based Muay Thai World Champion, Dean James defeated experienced Frenchman, Hakim Hamech, with a dominant display at Muay Thai Grand Prix 3 at the Indigo O2, London. Three-time World Champion James put on a Muay Thai masterclass from the first round, filled with his trademark knee strikes and clinch drills. He sealed the win by way of unanimous decision.

World and Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill has said it would be ‘quite a buzz’ to compete in the 2017 World Championships in London before she retires. Ennis-Hill, who will find out next month if she has won the 2016 Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award, has not yet announced what her plans are beyond the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

As the IAAF World Indoor Championships drew to a close in Portland the USA handed the baton to the UK who will host the next edition in 2018 at Birmingham’s Barclaycard Arena. The city previously hosted the Championships in 2003 as well as the European Indoor Championships in 2007, giving t a proven track record and pedigree in staging major championships.

As the sporting world mourns the death of Johan Cruyff, it’s rest assured that his legacy will live bright in the game he so uniquely graced. The Dutch master, who lost his following a five-month battle against lung cancer, will always be remembered for being the leader of that great Netherlands team who brought a new dimension to the world game, with their newly invented brand of ‘total football.’