‘Faster, Higher, Stronger’? Virtual technology to push sports industry into the next era

By Li Chenqi and Josh McNally

After a shutdown of exactly five months due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) restarted on the afternoon of June 20. But, like most of the other recently rebooted professional sports leagues in the world, there was no audience at the venue – even the cheerleaders could only perform via an LED screen beside the court.

Leather balls and 3,000-year-old pants hint at an ancient Asian sport

They were found in the Yanghai Tombs in modern-day Northern China | ISAAC SCHULTZ

The leather balls were found in different graves in Yanghai and two were marked with red crosses.

(NOVEMBER 17, 2020) – A LITTLE OVER 3,000 YEARS ago, a roughly 40-year-old man was laid to rest in a cemetery in what is now the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region in Northwest China. He was wearing fancy pants. Possibly the oldest trousers in the world, they had an enlarged crotch area, indicating he spent a lot of time on horseback. A pair of red leather boots completed the ancient ensemble.

But perhaps the most curious component of the grave was a leather ball, around the size of a human fist.

Swimming Australia’s glass house comes crashing down with positive doping samples

National sport body, highly critical of Chinese team, faces ban for Shayna Jack

BY DENNIS PASSA  · The Associated Press

Swimming Australia chief executive Leigh Russell speaks to the media in Melbourne after Shayna Jack’s positive doping samples | William West/AFP/Getty Images

(July 30) – If only the world championships ended as well as it started for the swimmers from Down Under.

The much-vaunted Australian squad had an impressive but controversial beginning on the opening day of the swimming program — an upset win by 18-year-old Ariarne Titmus over three-time 400-meter freestyle champion American Kate Ledecky.

Olympic imperialism

Ye Shiwen, 16, Gold Medal 400m Medley Swim.

FLASHBACK – The Western press lashed out as one against China’s medal-winning athletes at the London 2012 Summer Olympics. Without the slightest shred of evidence, it systematically raised suspicions of doping, pointing the finger in particular at the young swimmer Ye Shiwen. MANLIO DINUCCI* reminds us that such anti-Chinese racism has a bitter taste of déjà vu.

Manchester City’s plan for global domination

Football has already been transformed by big money – but the capitalists behind Man City are trying to build a global corporation that will change the game for ever | GILES TREMLETT in The Guardian 

(December 15) – On 19 December 2009, Pep Guardiola stood and wept in the middle of Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The 38-year-old Barcelona manager clasped a hand across his face as his body gave way to huge, shoulder-heaving sobs. Zlatan Ibrahimović, the club’s towering Swedish striker, wrapped a tattooed arm around Guardiola’s neck and then gave him a vigorous push in order to jolt him out of it. But Guardiola could not stop.

Rio Olympics: How China charmed the world

By Cao Jianjie and Michael Place

RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) – It was one of the most moving moments of the Rio Olympics and it didn’t have anything to do with sporting achievement.

Commentary: Unprecedented solo rerun by US women’s relay team runs against Olympic spirit of fairness

American womens’ 4X100m

BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) – Although the U.S. women’s 4×100 metres relay team won a gold medal in Rio Friday, its victory is not without controversy.

Many had not expected to see the U.S. team in the final after sprinter Allyson Felix dropped the baton in the relay.

The American womens’ 4X100m that failed to qualify earlier today, gets a “do over”

American women’s 4X100m relay team

From a Facebook post by Tony Seed on August 19, 2016. 

The American womens’ 4X100m relay team that failed to qualify earlier today got a “do over.”

Allyson Felix lost her balance during a baton exchange after making contact with a Brazilian sprinter, but that it did not make her drop the baton; she threw it away like a hot potato. Perhaps she knew they could complain and get a re-run. This team had lost fair and square; the incident is what can be considered a normal hazard of competition and the U.S. team should not have been afforded a second chance. Sport can and should allow for such failures, as it is fair and healthy.

Opinion: Media ethics in question over Australian athlete’s Olympic slander

By LUO JUN

BEIJING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) – The slander made by Australian swimmer Mack Horton against his Chinese rival Sun Yang was an inappropriate remark by an individual athlete, before biased media reports spun it into a row between Olympic fans and sports authorities of the two countries.

Chinese investors snap up another English soccer team only a month after acquiring Aston Villa

STEVE DOUGLAS

West Bromwich Albion’s Welsh Head Coach Tony Pulis (C) celebrating at the final whistle in the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion| Lindsey Parnaby / AFP / Getty Images

AP (August 5) – West Bromwich Albion will soon become the latest English football club to be bought out by Chinese investors.

The Premier League team said Friday that Yunyi Guokai (Shanghai) Sports Development Limited, headed by entrepreneur Lai Guochuan, will complete a takeover of the club, subject to approval by the league and English financial authorities.