BREAKING NEWS Former MLB All-Star Jim Clancy dies at the age of 69
The Blue Jays franchise announced Clancy's death in an emotional statement on social media. A cause of death was not provided.
'We are saddened to learn of the passing of Blue Jays great, Jim Clancy,' the statement read. 'His impact on our organization will be remembered forever. Our hearts go out to his family and friends during this difficult time.'
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The Independent
30 minutes ago
- The Independent
How climate change could force FIFA to rethink the World Cup calendar
Soccer had a fierce reckoning with heat at the recently concluded FIFA Club World Cup in the United States — a sweltering preview of what players and fans may face when the U.S. co-hosts the World Cup with Mexico and Canada next summer. With temperatures rising worldwide, scientists warn that staging the World Cup and other soccer tournaments in the Northern Hemisphere summer is getting increasingly dangerous for both players and spectators. Some suggest that FIFA may have to consider adjusting the soccer calendar to reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses. 'The deeper we go in the decade, the greater the risk without considering more dramatic measures, such as playing in the winter months and/or cooler latitudes,' said Prof. Piers Forster, director of the Priestley Centre for Climate Futures in Leeds, England. 'I'm getting increasingly worried that we are only one heatwave away from a sporting tragedy and I would like to see governing bodies lean into the climate and health science.' Tournament soccer in June and July is a tradition going back to the first World Cup in 1930. Since then, the three-month period of June, July and August globally has warmed by 1.05 degrees Celsius (1.89 degrees Fahrenheit), according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Meanwhile, European summer temperatures have increased by 1.81 degrees C. The rate of warming has accelerated since the 1990's. Climate scientists say that's a factor that needs to be considered when playing high-intensity outdoor sports like soccer. 'If you want to play football for 10 hours a day, they'll have to be the hours of the early morning and late evening,' climatologist Friederike Otto from Imperial College, London, told The Associated Press in an email, 'if you don't want to have players and fans die from heatstroke or get severely ill with heat exhaustion.' FIFA adapts Extreme heat and thunderstorms made an impact on FIFA's newly expanded tournament for club teams. The Club World Cup was held in 11 American cities from June 14 to July 13. FIFA adapted by tweaking its extreme heat protocol to include extra breaks in play, more field-side water, and cooling the team benches with air fans and more shade. Still, Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández said the heat made him dizzy and urged FIFA to avoid afternoon kickoffs at the World Cup next year. The global soccer players union, FIFPRO, has warned that six of the 16 World Cup cities next year are at 'extremely high risk' for heat stress. FIFA president Gianni Infantino addressed the heat concerns on Saturday, saying the handful of World Cup stadiums that are covered would be used for day-time games next year. Extreme heat could become an even bigger challenge at the following World Cup in 2030, which will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Games are scheduled to be played in afternoons and early evenings from mid-June to mid-July. All three countries have already seen temperatures rise above 40 degrees C (well above 100 Fahrenheit) this summer. FIFA downplayed the heat risk in its in-house evaluation of the 2030 World Cup bid, saying 'weather conditions are difficult to predict with the current development in global and local climate, but are unlikely to affect the health of players or other participants.' Heat exhaustion The physical effects of playing 90 minutes of soccer in direct sunshine during the hottest part of the day can be severe and potentially result in hyperthermia – abnormally high body temperatures. 'When players experience hyperthermia, they also experience an increase in cardiovascular strain,' said Julien Périard of the University of Canberra. 'If core temperature increases excessively, exertional heat illness can occur,' leading to muscle cramping, heat exhaustion, and even life-threatening heat stroke, he said. Many sports events held in the summer adjust their start times to early morning or late night to minimize the risk heat-related illness, including marathons at the Olympics or track world championships. Morning kickoffs, however, are rare in soccer, where World Cup match schedules are often set with European TV audiences in mind. It would be hard for FIFA to avoid day-time World Cup kickoffs given the packed match schedule as the number of participating teams increases from 32 to 48 in 2026. Calendar rethink Heat mainly becomes an issue when the World Cup is held in the Northern Hemisphere, because June and July are winter months in the Southern Hemisphere. FIFA has stuck to its traditional June-July schedule for the men's World Cup except in 2022 when it moved the tournament to November-December to avoid the summer heat in Qatar. Something similar is expected when neighboring Saudi Arabia hosts the tournament in 2034. However, moving the World Cup to another part of the year is complicated because it means Europe's powerful soccer leagues must interrupt their season, affecting both domestic leagues and the Champions League. FIFA didn't respond to questions from AP about whether alternate dates for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups were being considered. When and where to schedule the World Cup and other outdoor sports events is likely to become more pressing as the world continues to warm. Athletes and even everyday people doing basic physical activities are now exposed to 28% more of moderate or higher heat risk in 2023 than they were in the 1990s, said Ollie Jay, a professor at the University of Sydney who has helped shape policy for the Australian Open in tennis. 'This is symbolic of something bigger,' said Michael Mann, a University of Pennsylvania climate scientist. 'Not just the danger and inconvenience to fans and players, but the fundamentally disruptive nature of climate change when it comes our current way of life.' ___
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Donald Trump spotted pocketing Club World Cup winners medal as president walks off stage
DONALD TRUMP was seen pocketing a winner's medal from the Club World Cup on Sunday. The President watched on at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey as Chelsea beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 to be named world champions of club football. 2 2 After the match, Trump was on medal-presenting duties alongside Fifa chief Gianni Infantino. However, when all the medals had been handed out, the 79-year-old was still seen holding a medal. Following a glance from Infantino, he then placed the medal into his inside suit pocket. He then walked over to the large trophy to present it to the Blues. Trump and Infantino walked it over together before handing it to Chelsea captain Reece James. But there was confusion in their ranks as Trump then refused to leave the podium and was caught up in the eager Chelsea celebrations. Trump has since revealed that the original Club World Cup trophy is currently being held in the White House's Oval Office. He revealed that he had asked about when they would take it, but he was told they can keep it "forever". The Republican told Dazn: "I said, When are you going to pick up the trophy? "[They said] 'We're never going to pick it up. You can have it forever in the Oval Office. We're making a new one.' Hilarious moment Trump gets caught inside Chelsea's trophy celebrations as Cole Palmer dances next to beaming Don "And they actually made a new one [for Chelsea]. So that was quite exciting, but right now [the original] is in the Oval.' Trump's presence at the game itself was a mixed bag. He was met by both applause and boos from the 80,000-strong crowd. Trump later told reporters: "We had a great time." He also labelled the crowd as "tremendous". Regardless, following the game POTUS joked he would sign an executive order to rename soccer, as it is known in the States, to its European name, football. The Club World Cup is the preamble for the US joint-hosting the World Cup proper next summer. Fifa have estimated as many as 6.5 million fans will be welcomed to stadiums across Canada, Mexico and the US for the tournament, with possibly more set to pack into fan parks. The 2026 World Cup will feature a record 48 teams playing across 16 cities.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Freddie Flintoff's Field of Dreams returns for a third series
The critically acclaimed, Bafta nominated and RTS award winning Freddie Flintoff's Field of Dreams is back for a third series with sporting legend Freddie Flintoff taking on an even tougher challenge. Determined to prove that his previous success wasn't a one off, having created a cricket team like no other in his hometown of Preston and taken them on a life changing tour to India, he's now set his sights on a much more ambitious plan. Freddie wants to supersize the project right across the North West of England: He'll attempt to form boys teams in Manchester and Liverpool while also attempting to create his first ever girls team in Blackpool at a club without any youth teams. Can he prove his blueprint for a league of dreams can work against a backdrop of a lack of funding, uninspired teens and derelict cricket clubs? Joining Freddie in an extended coaching team is former Lancashire fast bowler Kyle Hogg and new recruit, current England Women's international player Kate Cross. Clare Sillery, Head of Commissioning BBC Documentaries says 'Freddie Flintoff has proved himself an exceptional role model. To see his passion for and commitment to cricket shine through and the transformational impact it has had on the lives of the lads from Preston playing on his team has been incredible to witness. I'm so pleased that he is back for another series building on the success of the last one.' Freddie Flintoff's Field of Dreams was commissioned for BBC One and iPlayer by Clare Sillery, BBC Head of Commissioning, Documentaries. The series is produced by South Shore, and the Executive Producers are Andrew Mackenzie and Naomi Templeton. The BBC Commissioning Editor is Fran Baker. Watch Freddie Flintoff's Field of Dreams on BBC iPlayer and add to your Watchlist IC Follow for more
