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The Sun
19-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
UK bids for 2029 World Athletics Championships with government backing
THE UK government has thrown its support behind the United Kingdom's bid to host the World Athletics Championships and World Para Athletics Championships in 2029, PA Media/dpa reported. The events were last held in the UK in 2017 at the London Stadium, five years after hosting the Olympic Games. London is the proposed location for the World Athletics Championships in 2029, when the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport said 'the government is committed to taking the World Paras beyond the capital, with a host city to be confirmed in due course.' Prime Minister Keir Starmer said bringing the World Athletics Championships to the UK would be moment of great national pride, building on the country's global reputation for hosting memorable sporting events that showcase the very best talent. 'Hosting these championships would not only unlock opportunities for UK athletes but also would inspire the next generation to get involved and pursue their ambitions. 'The event would provide a boost for UK businesses and support jobs as well as bring our communities together. I'm delighted to support the bid,' he said. The government department has confirmed it will provide 'significant funding for both bids' and will work closely with bidder Athletic Ventures, UK Sport, and host cities. Lisa Nandy, secretary of state for Culture, Media, and Sport, said major sporting events deliver unforgettable moments and have the power to bring the country together like little else. 'That's why we're excited to be backing a bid to bring the World Athletics and World Para Athletics Championships back to the UK in 2029. 'As part of our Plan for Change, we want to build on our world-class reputation as hosts, delivering not just economic benefits for the country but engaging communities, inspiring the next generation, and showcasing the best of Britain to the world,' she said. - Bernama, PA Media/dpa
Ya Biladi
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Strict veil ban in sports under review by French Senate
Will all head coverings be banned in French sports federations? This is the core of a bill currently under examination by the French Senate, starting this Tuesday, based on the principle of neutrality. While the bill addresses all religious symbols, the issue of wearing the veil is particularly prominent. Republican Senator Michel Savin, the author of the proposal from March 2024, seeks to clarify the «legal gray area» surrounding this practice, especially regarding the «wearing of the veil, which is not explicitly prohibited». The bill will first be reviewed by the Commission of Culture, Communication, Education, and Sport. The rapporteur, Stéphane Piednoir, clarified that the ban would apply to «departmental, regional, and national competitions organized by the 120 approved federations», according to Le Figaro. The bill also addresses what it calls «diversions» of the principle of secularism, stating that «using part of a sports facility as a prayer room would constitute a diversion of its use». Article 3 of the bill specifically addresses sports clothing, particularly items considered Muslim religious symbols, such as the «burkini» in public pools and beaches. It recommends banning these items due to «breach of public order and the proper functioning of a public service». According to Francetv Info, the government will support the bill «provided that the majority's amendments» are passed. So far, federations have had the discretion to ban what they consider religious symbols in certain competitions. The French Football Federation (FFF) and the French Rugby Federation are among those that have already implemented these bans. If the bill is passed, athletics and handball will also be impacted. Officially, French institutions have already paved the way, guiding practices for over a year. After a long legal battle, the Council of State ruled on June 29, 2023, validating the FFF's decision to «ban any sign or attire manifesting an ostensible affiliation to a political, philosophical, religious, or trade union during sports competitions», in line with article 1 of the body's regulations, which has integrated the principle of neutrality since 2016. In contrast to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which does not ban head coverings during competitions, France has decided that its athletes will not wear the veil at the 2024 Paris Olympics, citing secularism. Over time, no less than eight sports and human rights organizations have opposed this measure, which has not been applied to athletes from other countries. The French government has faced criticism from experts appointed by UN bodies, who argue that the decisions against wearing the veil in sports have been unjustified. According to them, the French state «has taken no measures to ensure that the bans adopted by sports federations are proportionate and based on grounds recognized in international law to justify a limitation of human rights». With the ongoing examination of this bill, the debate over the issue of the veil in sports competitions is far from settled.
