Millions tune in to the Women’s World Cup, but how many follow teams at the club level?
Ina Fassbender/Reuters
The Women’s World Cup has become a hugely popular, global event. But what’s happening at the club level?
Even for middle-class families, the growing costs of youth sports can be a huge burden.
'Baseball' via www.shutterstock.com
In a $5 billion industry, there’s no longer a level playing field.
At the youth level, the long-term effects of football hits aren’t known.
Brian J. McDermott/flickr
When pro football players like Chris Borland quit, it should send a strong message to parents. But there are a host of issues, besides health, to consider.
The FBI’s net may fail to ensnare FIFA’s “teflon don,” but it could inspire other probes.
Reuters
Corruption at the pinnacle of sports sets a tone for all the rest. Targeting its roots is the right thing to do no matter what comes of the FBI’s investigation.
Looks pretty bad from where we stand.
EPA/Justin Lane
Football is a huge deal in Europe but less so in the states. So why did it take action from Loretta Lynch to topple FIFA?
How long before we start designing our future athletes from scratch – before they are even born?
A breakthrough in genetic of the human embryo raises the question of whether we want to create designer babies with greater athletic abilities.
It’s hard for a human to keep an eye all the players’ performance in any game, such as this typical AFL match at the MCG in Melbourne. So let the machines do all the work.
Flickr/Sascha Wenninger
When it comes to keeping an eye on all the action in sport a coach can only see so much. But machine learning can crunch all the data and look for improvements.
The Green’s need to be more radical with their plans for sport.
Peter Byrne/PA
The potential of sport is overlooked in the Green’s manifesto.
The NFL’s winning formula has made it the most popular and profitable professional sport.
Football closeup via www.shutterstock.com
It turns out, there are few benefits to remaining nonprofit, but many reasons to give it up.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr and Manny Pacquiao will face off on Saturday.
Steve Marcus/Reuters
A perfect storm of personalities, demand and money has created unprecedented hype. How should the media respond?
A judge has claimed bridge exercises the “brain muscle”.
European Bridge League/flickr
A recent court ruling paved the way for the card game bridge to be classified as a sport. But don’t rely on the judge’s understanding of biology.
Lib Dems keep sport on the sidelines.
Paul Townsend
Lib Dems want to “build a healthier society”, but hardly address physical activity.
The real game gets filtered by the imaginary.
OlegDoroshin / Shutterstock.com
Football games are now watched through a haze of statistics, generated by betting, fantasy football and video games.
Bend it like Miliband.
Stefan Rousseau/PA
Labour hasn’t made any new evident spending pledges for sports. Is it failing to see sport as a crucial part of culture?
The SNP manifesto only mentions sports in two places.
Chris Radburn/PA
The SNP should acknowledge the role sport could have in many of their manifesto pledges.
Mo'ne Davis riveted the nation last summer with her dominating performance in the Little League World Series.
USA Today Sports/Reuters
The intense spotlight on one female baseball star might lead some to believe that she’s the first and only one. She’s not.
If they want to get kids on the pitch, Plaid will have to address inequalities.
joncandy/Flickr
Plaid Cymru scores with Inspire Wales programme, but fails to grasp the bigger picture when it comes to sports.
Or do they completely miss the mark?
Reuters
It turns out the only insider knowledge you’ll need is a copy of last year’s standings.
It may be that the seemingly inhumane aim of causing your opponent to lose consciousness by punching them separates boxing from other sports.
Kate Gardiner/Flickr
The death of a 23-year-old boxer has prompted a call by the Queensland branch of the Australian Medical Association for the sport to be banned in Australia.
Camille Muffat celebrates her 2012 gold medal.
Patrick B Kraemer/EPA
It’s not all about spoilt footballers in France.