Latest news with #CommonwealthGames
Scoop
an hour ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Olympian Wynd Joins Bike Auckland Board
Bike Auckland is thrilled to welcome experienced social policy expert and Olympian cyclist Donna Wynd to its Board. Board Chair Karen Hormann says: 'Donna brings to Bike Auckland experience in governance and in transport policy. She contributes to both the academic and the general media debate on the topics which matter most to Aucklanders. Donna has a perspective on cycling that is both grassroots and high-level strategy thanks to her experience.' Wynd has been cycling in Auckland for many decades as a recreational rider, commuter and New Zealand cycling representative. New board member Wynd shares: 'While cycling infrastructure in Auckland has improved over time, there is still a long way to go to make cycling safe and enjoyable for everyone. I'm excited about helping achieve that by serving on the Bike Auckland Board. It's a crucial period for shaping the future of transport in our beautiful region.' Wynd brings experience in transport policy to the role as well as an understanding of how transport impacts on individuals and communities. She has worked as an economic and policy analyst and has experience in social policy, housing and public health. Wynd was a member of the Alternative Transport Funding Group set up by previous Auckland Mayor Len Brown. Her work in the NGO sector is informed by a strong equity lens, and her governance experience includes serving as a board chair. Her social policy and public health research has been published in a number of respected academic journals. She is also a contributor to mainstream media, her writing appearing in many of our major NZ media outlets. Chief Biking Officer Fiáin d'Leafy welcomes the appointment: 'We love Donna's massive commitment to active transport, and transport equity. We love that she is a proud south Aucklander and a strong voice for South Auckland's communities.' New Zealand Olympian #751, Wynd represented Aotearoa New Zealand in track cycling at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games and the Victoria 1994 Commonwealth Games, where she won a spectacular bronze medal. A born and bred Aucklander, Wynd is a proud member of the Ōtāhuhu community. She joins an experienced board of five at community organisation Bike Auckland. Bike Auckland advocates for a better region for people on bikes.
BBC News
13 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Rive wins Island Games bowls gold for Jersey
Jersey's Michael Rive has won lawn bowls gold for Jersey at the 2025 Island topped the men's singles round-robin group in Orkney, having beaten all six of his dropped just one set - in a 2-1 win over Bermuda's David Leach - during the entire competition as he upgraded the bronze medal he won two years ago in who competed at the Commonwealth Games in 2010, returned to the sport in 2019 after some time off and took home a silver from the European Championships three years ago. He has a chance for a second medal when he begins his campaign in the men's triples later on Tuesday."It feels great. I came here to get gold and I managed to pull it off," he told BBC Radio Jersey."There's been some really good opposition - the Orkney guy that got silver was a really hard game and I managed to just scrape that one and lost just one game against Bermuda in a tie-breaker."
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Cricket at LA 2028 Olympics: Event to start on July 12, to be played at Fairgrounds Stadium
India's players celebrate during the third T20I against South Africa at SuperSport Park in Centurion, South Africa. (AP) Cricket is set to make its historic return to the Olympics after 128 years at the LA 2028 Games, with competitions scheduled to begin on July 12. The International Olympic Committee has confirmed that both men's and women's T20 format tournaments will be held, featuring six teams each competing for gold, silver, and bronze medals, with the medal matches scheduled for July 20 and 29 at the Fairgrounds in Pomona. The Fairgrounds Stadium in Pomena, located approximately 50 kilometers from Los Angeles, will serve as the cricket venue for the Games. Officially named Fairplex, the facility spans nearly 500 acres, and has been hosting the Los Angeles County Fair since 1922 and regularly serves as a location for various events including concerts, trade shows, sporting events, and cultural gatherings. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The competition schedule released by the LA 2028 organisers reveals that most matchdays will feature double headers, with games starting at 9:00 AM (9:30pm IST) and 6:30pm (7am next day) local time. The organisers have specifically noted that no cricket matches will be scheduled on July 14 and 21 during the Olympics. B by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Sunteck Presents 2/3BHK Sea View Homes at ₹98L+* in Mumbai Sunteck Realty Learn More Undo oth events will allocate 90 athlete quotas per gender, allowing teams to field 15-member squads. Cricket's previous, and only, Olympic appearance was at Paris 1900, where only two teams - Great Britain and France - competed in a one-off two-day match, now recognised as an unofficial Test. Great Britain emerged victorious, claiming the gold medal. Major League Cricket 2025 Explained: Teams, Schedule & Where to Watch The sport's inclusion in LA 2028 follows its growing presence in major multi-sport events. Cricket has previously featured in the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur for men, while women's cricket made its Commonwealth Games debut at Birmingham 2022. The T20 format has also been part of the Asian Games, with both men's and women's tournaments held in 2010, 2014, and 2023. READ | Satya Nadella column: Cricket in USA a homecoming, not arrival Cricket joins four other new sports approved by the IOC for LA 2028, including baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse (sixes), and squash. Squash, another new Olympic sport expected to draw significant Indian interest, will hold its events at the Universal City Squash Center in Los Angeles from July 15, with medal matches scheduled for July 23 and 24. Cricket's growing presence in the United States is evident from the hosting of several 2024 T20 World Cup matches across three venues - Grand Prairie, Lauderhill, and New York, as part of the tournament jointly hosted with the West Indies. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
NZ Herald
a day ago
- Business
- NZ Herald
Auckland must boost transport, housing to stay competitive: Report
'We also are more car-dependent because we don't provide other transport options. So that's an example of one of the big consequences of our inability to solve this land-use planning challenge.' Thomas said the report mentioned that Brisbane had managed to snare hosting rights for the Olympic Games. Auckland's strengths are its quality of life and diversity, a new report has found, but these aren't enough to keep the city competitive. Photo / RNZ 'We won't have the Olympic Games in Auckland, but a Commonwealth Games, for example, is an example of a catalytic event that peer cities are doing and we can't even work out where to build a stadium.' Interest in hosting the 2034 Commonwealth Games was first floated by the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) in April 2023. The NZOC says its expression of interest still stands and work around a potential bid is ongoing. At the time, the Government said if a bid was to go ahead, the event would be nationwide – not confined to one city. Auckland risks 'falling further behind' The third annual State of the City benchmarking report identified strengths in sustainability, resilience and culture but also highlighted disadvantages in opportunity, experience and location. 'Weak economic performance, inadequate skills and innovation development and disjointed and delayed planning are causing Auckland to lose ground, with the risk of falling further behind,' Committee for Auckland's Thomas said in a statement. 'We must fix the productivity problem, back high-growth industries and innovation, actually deliver better transport and housing, and rebuild Auckland's reputation.' He endorsed an 'Auckland deal' under the Government's City and Regional Deals programme. Auckland's strengths were its quality of life and diversity, the report found, but these were not enough to keep the city competitive. 'This latest report shows Auckland isn't keeping up in key areas, but the green shoots of innovation and growth are a sign of what's possible if the city can drive higher productivity and create business conditions for sustained success,' Deloitte chief executive Mike Horne said. 'Auckland's productivity sets the pace for the rest of the country, so it has an opportunity - and a responsibility - to be bolder in lifting it.' The report recommends that the Government and local councils address land-use, housing, transport and regulatory settings which hinder productivity. It also recommended the council strengthen Auckland's international brand and 'develop a compelling story about Auckland's past, present and future that communicates its values, culture, and ambitions to the world'. Eden Park must be competitive with Australian cities, CEO says Eden Park chief executive Nick Sautner said Auckland was a great city but there was a need to align and prioritise. There was also a need to adapt and reuse existing infrastructure, such as converting offices into apartment buildings, while for the Eden Park 2.1 stadium upgrade, his organisation was looking to reuse the north stand, Sautner said. 'The CRL [City Rail Link] project is a $6 billion project, we need to intensify housing around [that] but also infrastructure in that area. 'Eden Park's going to be seven minutes from the CBD, there's no point in having a connection to the CBD if we don't have events, and we're advocating to ensure that we have event levies to ensure that we can compete with other cities like Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney for major content.' New Zealand's size meant there was only one option for a national stadium, Sautner said. 'We want to see that work and that investment done, that creates jobs but it also makes us competitive with cities like Brisbane who are spending $6.5 billion on their stadium infrastructure.' There were a number of reasons why big acts such as AC/DC, Oasis and Lady Gaga failed to come to New Zealand, Sautner said. 'The exchange rate, the freight costs but then also seed funding, at the moment there's no seed funding available, whether it be through MBIE [the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment] or local council.' The introduction of a bed-night visitor levy on short-term accommodation would enable a fund to attract major events, but without that, New Zealand would not get major concerts or sporting events, Sautner said. – RNZ
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Strictly star's horrifying photo of ‘lowest moment' as he reveals he's been sober for a year
STRICTLY star and Olympian Iwan Thomas has bravely opened up about his secret struggle with alcohol and shared a picture of his lowest moment. The 51-year-old retired athlete took to Instagram today to mark one year of sobriety after admitting he needed four or five drinks to become relaxed in any social situation. Advertisement 3 Iwan Thomas has revealed why he's given up drinking Credit: Instagram 3 He said he's a better dad without alcohol in his life Credit: Instagram Those drinks then escalated into downing shots and wild nights that led to periods of hangxiety and depression . "But at the moment it's how I'm choosing to live and if I'm honest I think it makes me a better person. I'm in no way trying to tell people how to live their lives, all I'm saying is I'm proud of myself…" In a video filmed at his home, Iwan said that while he didn't view himself as having an alcohol problem, he drank for acceptance and not pleasure. Advertisement READ MORE ON STRICTLY He admitted he missed drinking, but that he preferred the man he is without it and that it also made him a better dad. The final slide of his post showed him passed out on the floor beside a toilet. Alcoholism campaigner Calum Best said: "Really good video this." One follower wrote: "This is everything…..you don't have to have a 'problem' with drink to want to remain sober, it's about being & feeling a better person." Advertisement Most read in News TV A second said: "Yes my man! incredible and i hope you continue with it! nothing beats feeling great! legend! you've got it." A third posted: "Great stuff Iwan! So honest of you and should be great advice for many." Strictly star secretly welcomes third child as he reveals adorable name and shares sweet first picture Championship gold in the 1997 4x400m relay, a silver in the same event at the Olympics in 1996 and individual gold in the 1998 European and Commonwealth Games. He's starred in reality shows like Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Hunted since retiring with injury in 2006. Advertisement The Welshman became a father for the third time last year when his youngest son Bowie was born. He also has sons Dougie, six, and Teddy, three, with his longtime partner. 3 Iwan is a former World Champion and Olympic silver medallist Credit: Alamy
