Sports – Page 183 – Michmutters

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Newcastle Knights awful in loss to Canterbury Bulldogs, coach Adam O’Brien on future

Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien insists he is the right man to turns the club’s fortunes around despite another dire season in the Hunter.

The Knights have won only five of 19 games this season, and on Sunday suffered their sixth loss in seven consecutive games, and fourth on the trot.

A 24-10 defeat at the hands of the Bulldogs – one of the worst teams in the NRL – was possibly flattering to Newcastle given the way the side played.

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“They looked pretty ordinary with the ball in hand,” Cooper Cronk noted, being polite.

Fellow league legend Greg Alexander said “they haven’t looked like scoring a try.”

The Knights sit 14th on the ladder but statistically they are the worst team in the competition, having leaked the most amount of points and scored the least of all 16 clubs this year.

“It’s been a tough year for that man in the box, Adam O’Brien,” Alexander said on Fox League.

“I agree with Corey Parker – if the Dogs go on to win this big, I think there could be carnage up here in Newcastle, I really do.”

Under O’Brien’s watch, the Knights have managed to sneak into finals the last two years, despite last season winning only 50 per cent of their games.

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They’ve failed to make an impact in the post-season, though, being bundled out meekly both times. They won’t make the playoffs this year.

O’Brien is contracted to the club until the end of 2024, and he believes he can still turn the team into a premiership contender.

“I’ve still got confidence in my ability,” he said.

“I know that I know what wins. There’s no good moaning about it, we need to fix it.”

The coach was clearly at a loss to explain Sunday’s performance.

NRL Highlights: Knights v Bulldogs – Round 20

“It was a shock. It’s something I didn’t see coming, I didn’t see in our prep,” O’Brien said.

“I was really concerned after the first two sets of the game.

“I’m seeing the training that goes into it, and we’re training well. It’s a hard one for me… previous to getting this job here I was involved in four grand finals.

“I know how the team’s prepared, those teams. I know the systems they use defensively. You don’t un-learn that knowledge. Applying it and getting it ingrained is going to take some time, clearly.

“I’ve seen how the teams prepared for those four grand finals, I’ve seen how the club prepares, how it performs. I’ve seen all that stuff and I haven’t un-learnt that.

“We’ve got the right people in the joint, we just need to have a plan and coach the hell out of it. Hopefully we’ll look back at this season as a season that helped us grow. Had we scraped into finals this year it would have stuck a bandaid on the problem that’s still there.”

The Knights next play the Tigers in round 21.

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Commonwealth Games in pictures: Heartmelting moment Aussie para-swimmer learns of gold-medal feat, world record

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Andrew Redmayne penalty heroics as Sydney FC beat Central Coast Mariners

The ‘Grey Wiggle’ became the ‘Yellow Wiggle’ as Andrew Redmayne’s penalty shootout heroics were again on display on Sunday.

Redmayne, the Socceroos hero last month against Peru, was again called upon after Sydney FC and the Central Coast Mariners were unable to be separated after 120 minutes in their Australia Cup match.

Beni N’kololo opened the scoring for the Mariners before the home side went 3-1 up thanks to Adam Le Fondre, Anthony Caceres and Max Burgess.

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Michael Ruhs got one back for the Mariners before Jason Cummings’ header trickled into the net from a corner, deep into stoppage time.

There were no more goals to come in the extra 30 minutes of play at Leichhardt Oval, leaving the game to be settled from 12 yards.

Cummings went first, and after a bit of back-and-forth with the Sydney keeper, had his effort saved by a diving Redmayne, flinging himself to his right just as he did against Peru’s Alex Valera.

Le Fondre’s penalty was then saved by Yaren Sozer, before Jacob Farrell’s effort was blasted over the crossbar.

Rhyan Grant, Max Balard and Jaiden Kucharski all held their nerve for their respective clubs, before Storm Roux’s miss gave Connor O’Toole the chance to win the shootout for Sydney, and he duly obliged.

Sydney advances to the last 16, and will be looking to win the trophy previously known as the FFA Cup for just the second time, having beaten Adelaide in extra time in 2017.

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Nunez upstages Haaland, Alvarez in Liverpool’s Community Shield win, but Manchester City’s new stars will shake off loss

Nunez upstages Haaland, Alvarez in Liverpool's Community Shield win, but Manchester City's new stars will shake off loss

LEICESTER, England — Erling Haaland will have better days in a Manchester City shirt, you can be certain of that, but his first taste of English football saw him resoundingly upstaged by Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez and City teammate Julian Alvarez as the FA Cup holders claimed a 3-1 Community Shield victory over last season’s Premier League champions at the King Power Stadium.

Few players in world football create quite as much noise as Haaland, the 22-year-old forward who moved to City from Borussia Dortmund in a €60 million transfer earlier this summer. The Norway international had his pick of every major club in Europe before agreeing to move to the Etihad and few expect him to do anything but score a truckload of goals on the way to winning trophies galore with Pep Guardiola’s team.

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But Haaland had a debut to forget against Liverpool. Not only did he fail to score, he barely touched the ball, missed an easy chance in stoppage time when hitting the crossbar from six yards and saw Nunez — Liverpool’s €75 million signing from Benfica — leave him firmly in the shade with a dazzling substitute performance which delivered a goal, an assist and an exciting showcase of the qualities he will bring to Jurgen Klopp’s team this season.

And then there was Alvarez, the 22-year-old signed from River Plate for €16 million, who gave an eye-catching City debut by scoring the equaliser, canceling out Trent Alexander-Arnold’s first-half opener, after replacing Riyad Mahrez early in the second-half. While Nunez was explosive, determined and clinical, Alvarez showed the ability to hold the ball, lay it off and take advantage of tight spaces before displaying a striker’s awareness when scoring from close range after goalkeeper Adrian had pushed away Phil Foden’s shot in 70 minutes.

Haaland will undoubtedly score goals for City. His record of him so far for Dortmund, FC Salzburg and Molde, has been so consistently good that he would be foolish to suggest he will do anything but continue his scoring ratio at the Etihad. But this was a day when he was up against one of the strongest teams in Europe, with defenders Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk one of the best partnerships anywhere in the game, so it was a tough baptism for Haaland. The space to run at defenders which he often enjoyed in the Bundesliga was denied him by Matip and Van Dijk, and any other red shirt that came within close distance. And when he can’t run into the final third with the goal facing him, Haaland is not quite the same threat.

Nunez looked much sharper, and much more able to receive the ball with his back to goal and move defenders around, but Haaland and City are clearly still learning how to work with each other. Mahrez failed to spot a clever Haaland run in the first-half, when the forward had peeled off his marker, while Kevin De Bruyne waved his arms in frustration at his new teammate when he strayed offside and made himself unavailable for a pass in the second half.

And while Nunez was prepared to run across the face of the 18-yard box, Haaland stayed within the tight confines of the central area of ​​the pitch and it made him easier to stifle and perhaps explained why he only managed 14 touches in 90 minutes. On this evidence — admittedly, just 90 minutes — Haaland will offer less to City when he doesn’t have the ball than Nunez will give to Liverpool. Nunez simply looks a more rounded player, but it doesn’t mean he will score more goals and Guardiola insisted that Haaland will deliver in the months ahead.

“He didn’t score,” Guardiola said. “Another day he will score. He has an incredible quality on that and he will do it.

“He fought a lot, made the movements. It’s good for him to see the reality of new country, new league, but he was there. He is going to help us a lot — he had the chances, he was there.”

Opponents that aren’t as accomplished are likely to be blown away by Haaland if he is given the space to hurt them, but ultimately, he has been signed to make the difference in the tight games, against the likes of Liverpool and in the Champions League, so he has still to show he can make that vital step up. It is difficult to envisage Haaland failing to take his game to that level, but he and City have work to do to make it come together.

Liverpool appear to have less to do to make Nunez fill the gap created by Sadio Mane’s summer move to Bayern Munich. His header from him, from Mohamed Salah’s cross on 80 minutes, led to the Ruben Dias handball which, after a VAR review, resulted in a penalty from which Salah made it 2-1 to Liverpool. And Nunez than scored his goal with a diving header, four minutes into stoppage time, after Andy Robertson had teed him up in the six yard box.

“We all know they are a special species, strikers,” Klopp said. “They all need goals and goal involvements.” [Nunez] would have been fine without his goal because he created the penalty with his header and had a chance when the goalkeeper reacted brilliantly. “His goal for him was the icing on the cake, brilliant for him and it’s a really good sign after the time he has been with us.”

So in the battle of the new signings, Nunez won his first encounter with Haaland and helped Liverpool to their first Community Shield success since 2006. But this is a game that means little in the long term. How Nunez and Haaland do in the Premier League and Champions League is what will truly define the success of their big moves.

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Commonwealth Games cyclists taken to hospital, spectators injured after velodrome crash

A male track cyclist lands in the crowd with his bike following a crash at the Commonwealth Games.

Three cyclists have been taken to hospital and spectators have been injured following a horrific crash during a heat of the men’s scratch race at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

England’s Matt Walls and Isle of Man’s Matt Bostock were involved in the crash along with several other riders.

Walls was catapulted over the barriers and into the crowd at the Lee Valley VeloPark. The 24-year-old received treatment for more than 40 minutes before leaving the velodrome in an ambulance.

Spectators were also hurt after Walls and his bike came over the top of the barriers on the high banking at a corner of the track.

Walls was trying to avoid riders who had failed in a crash lower down the banking, but he clipped another wheel and went over the top.

“Three cyclists and two spectators have been treated by the onsite medical team,” a Birmingham 2022 statement read.

“The three cyclists have been taken to hospital. The two spectators did not require hospital treatment.”

England team officials said Walls was to undergo “precautionary checks” in hospital.

The remainder of the morning Commonwealth Games cycling session was canceled and spectators were asked to leave the velodrome.

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‘Keep pushing’: boxer Tina Rahimi went from casual classes to Commonwealth Games in five years | Boxing

Five years ago, Tina Rahimi wanted to get a little fitter. Maybe lose a bit of weight. So she convinced one of her gym mates to sign up for a boxing class with her.

“I thought, you know, boxing will be fun. We’ll try it out,” she says.

They joined a female-only boxfit-style class in Sydney’s Greenacre, and were quickly motivated. They were both doing pretty well. Rahimi looked forward to every single session. In a matter of weeks, she wanted more. Something about the sport had drawn her in. So she convinced her friend of her again to move up a class, to the mixed adults. To spar.

“And I just – I just fell in love. I didn’t even know you could compete. I thought it was only professionals. ‘Cause I wasn’t really into boxing before, I only knew Mike Tyson. I didn’t know there was, like, current local competitions. Until I went to one and I was like ‘Oh my God, this is so exciting’.”

Six months after her first boxercise class, Rahimi stepped into the ring. After that first bout, “I was, like, ‘I wanna fight. I wanna fight.’ I could not wait to jump back in.”

Now, Rahimi is considered one of the best female boxers in the country. In a matter of days, she will represent Australia in the 57kg female category at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

(LR top) Ridge Barredo, Sharni Williams, Maurice Longbottom, Ellie Cole, (LR bottom) Charlotte Caslick, Jake Lappin and Tina Rahimi in Sydney.
(LR top) Ridge Barredo, Sharni Williams, Maurice Longbottom, Ellie Cole, (LR bottom) Charlotte Caslick, Jake Lappin and Tina Rahimi in Sydney. Photograph: Matt King/Getty Images

When Guardian Australia video-calls Rahimi, it’s 9am in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where she and the rest of the boxing team are in training camp before the Games. Training tapers off before competition, but she has done two hours of sprints today already. In another two hours, there’s sparring.

Sitting inside a bare, beige room, Rahimi is all smiles. There is little of the pugilist in her face – she could be mistaken for a YouTube makeup artist; perfect brows, long lashes and glossy manicured nails slide into view as she gesticulates – which is often. She speaks rapidly, and with warmth, frequently splicing sentences with a rhetorical “you know what I mean?”

Before boxing, Rahimi had done the odd bit of school sports. If there was an athletics carnival, she’d have a go (“I wasn’t really great”) and for a couple of years in her early teens she played football. Her dad de ella, who drove her to high school matches, had always been athletic – a champion wrestler in Australia and Europe in the 1980s and 1990s. Now, “he’s like: ‘You have my blood in you. Make me proud.’”

When Rahimi’s placement on the team was announced, making her the first female Muslim boxer to represent Australia, media requests flooded in. It was overwhelming, she says.

“I was like, ‘Oh wow. This is a lot.’ I just feel like I’m a normal person, you know what I mean?”

“I know that because I look different and I dress differently, it’s going to get a bit more attention. I mean, that’s why it kind of blew up.”

But she hopes her success can show others that how you look or dress doesn’t matter. “It all comes down to how hard you work, how disciplined you are, and how bad you want something.”

And Rahimi wants it bad.

Tina Rahimi at Brotherhood Boxn Gym in Sydney.
Tina Rahimi at Brotherhood Boxn Gym in Sydney. Photograph: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Before Belfast, she was training three times a day, six days a week. Although the schedule is lighter now, she is far from home and it is still grueling, she says.

“Like, I’ll be really honest: I’ve raised a few times here.”

“It was actually yesterday. I had a sparring session and I didn’t feel like I did the best that I could. It gets like that. Sometimes you’re tired. I walked out of the sparring session, and I was like ‘oh, I don’t feel like I did that great’, and I just sat down and just cried.

“Everyone sees all the pain that you go through. Everyone can kind of relate. But at the end of the day, it’s that battle that you have within yourself.”

She knows the women she will be competing against want to win just as much as she does. She knows they’re training their arses off for that gold medal. She knows the coming fights will be like a war, she says. “Every single fight.”

“You’ve always got to… feed yourself positive thoughts,” she says. “Yeah, you can cry here and there. You know, let it out. But you’ve gotta not let that get into your head. And just keep going. Keep pushing.”

Tina Rahimi.
Tina Rahimi. Photograph: James Gourley/AAP

Now, just days away from the Games, Rahimi says she is feeling strong. She feels she has a “natural strength”, and has been told so by male boxers she’s sparred against. So she’s focussing on perfecting her technique. Her jab from her is good, she says. It’s the best punch you can throw, in her opinion. Her right cross by her is good too, “when it lands”. It is the discipline of perpetual improvement, of learning, she says, that first drew her to the sport and, while “it’s so hard”, it keeps her going too. Even in the moments she hates it, she says, afterwards she feels amazing. “I just feel like I’ve accomplished something.”

“I just love it! I just love the feeling,” she says, searching through a smile for the words to explain.

“It’s that I know that I can push myself more than you can push yourself. I won’t give up. You know what I mean? I know that I’ll be the last person to give up in there.”

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Liverpool vs. Manchester City – Football Match Report – July 30, 2022

Liverpool vs. Manchester City - Football Match Report - July 30, 2022

Summer signing Darwin Nunez scored as Liverpool beat Premier League champions Manchester City 3-1 to claim the FA Community Shield at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.

The Uruguayan player, acquired from Benfica for an initial fee of €75 million, made himself an instant fan favorite after capping a lively appearance off the bench with a stoppage time goal to secure the first trophy of the season.

Despite being without Nunez in the first half, Liverpool were quick to strike, with Trent Alexander-Arnold opening the scoring in the 21st minute. His first-time strike took a slight deflection off the head of Nathan Ake and nestled in off the post.

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City’s Erling Haaland started his second game since signing for Pep Guardiola’s team and spurned two chances to draw level shortly before half-time.

Jurgen Klopp introduced new man Nunez from the bench an hour in, and Liverpool continued to look dangerous going forward, with City desperate for an equaliser.

And while all eyes were on Haaland, it was another summer signing — Julian Alvarez — who drew the game level in the 70th minute.

The Argentina forward squeezed a shot past Adrian after a goalmouth scramble that saw Phil Foden win the ball from the Spanish goalkeeper. Alvarez’s goal was initially ruled out as his original run in behind was deemed offside, but a lengthy VAR check ended with Craig Pawson overturning the decision.

But the goal didn’t keep City on level terms for long. Nunez drew a handball from Ruben Dias in the penalty area that eventually was awarded through VAR as a penalty. Mohamed Salah dispatched the spot kick with ease.

Victory was ensured for Klopp’s side in added time — and Nunez got his goal. He had to home past Ederson to give Liverpool a two-goal cushion and ensure a perfect start to his tenure at Anfield.

“Our season started today, and it was important for us to get off on the right foot,” said Alexander-Arnold, who was full of praise for 23-year-old Nunez’s impact.

“He won the penalty, scored a goal and looked very lively. He’s been brought in to score goals, and he’s proved he can do that today,” he said.

“He’s a top player, a young player who is willing to learn. He’s bonded well with the lads. He came on with a point to prove.”

Information from Reuters was used in this report.

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Formula 1news | Russell draws first F1 pole as Verstappen flounders

George Russell stole the show Saturday at the Hungarian Grand Prix by earning his first career pole and first of the season for Mercedes — on the same day F1 champion and current points leader Max Verstappen qualified a season-worst 10th.

Russell screamed in celebration after a fast final qualifying lap helped him beat Ferrari drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc.

“Whooooo, come on! And it is! Hahahaha. You beauty! You beauty!” yelled Russell before jumping into the arms of his engineers.

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The Mercedes pace was surprising since Russell claimed Mercedes’ second practice was “disastrous” on Friday, when Russell was about a full second slower than Leclerc’s leading time.

“For us as a team it’s massive. We were all here until 11pm last night scratching our heads, and we all felt pretty lost,” Russell said.

“To come back and grab pole position is an amazing feeling. We absolutely nailed today, 100 per cent.”

Verstappen unleashed expletives as his qualifying bid was undone.

He struggled with grip then complained of having “no power … nothing works” on his second attempt.

“I still don’t know what it is. I need to talk to the team, but I hope everything is fixable,” Verstappen said.

“I know this track is very hard to pass at, so we have to be patient. This year has shown that a lot of things can happen.”

The Hungaroring track, nestled amid rolling hills just outside of Budapest, dried out somewhat for afternoon qualifying following a huge downpour during the third practice.

Leclerc — who has seven poles this season — crashed while leading the French GP last Sunday to hand Verstappen a win that gave the Dutchman a 63-point lead over Leclerc in the standings.

But now Leclerc has an ideal chance to close the gap on Sunday on one of F1’s hardest tracks for passing.

Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez had a disappointing session and starts from 11th place.

“It’s been a bad day,” Perez said. “It’s certainly going to be difficult to overtake tomorrow.”

Lando Norris of McLaren qualified fourth followed by Esteban Ocon — last year’s winner — Alpine teammate Fernando Alonso and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, who is F1’s record holder with 103 poles.

Russell, who replaced Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes this year, landed his seat in part by overperforming for struggling backmarker Williams last year with an incredible performance in the wet to qualify second for the Belgian GP.

“Dare I say better than the Spa one?” Russell said. “This is what racing’s all about. This is why I want to become world champion.”

After a first pole, the British driver is eyeing a first win.

“Hopefully we can drive off into the sunset tomorrow. I’m already thinking of what I can do to win,” he said. “Saturday doesn’t mean a huge amount, Sunday is when the points and prizes are won.”

Russell has what it takes to reach the top, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff believes.

“This is one of many milestones to come. George is a champion in the making,” Wolff said. “We would never have put him in a Mercedes if he didn’t think he could become a world champion.”

Hamilton had some bad luck as his drag reduction system stuck.

“My DRS stopped working, which was frustrating after all the struggle we had to finally have the chance to fight for front row,” he said. “We didn’t know how strong our pace was and where it came from, so it’s a very positive day for us. Huge congratulations to George, it’s an amazing feeling to get your first pole.”

Sainz called his form “nothing special” and conceded Russell “deserves that pole,” while Leclerc said he “struggled massively in Q3” because “the tires were definitely not in the right window.”

At least he has Verstappen where he wants him, seven cars back.

“Max might take a few more laps to come to the front,” Leclerc said.

Drivers had earlier tackled a difficult rain-drenched third practice.

Aston Martin driver Sebastian Vettel lost the rear tires and went backward into the crash barriers, bringing out a red flag with about 10 minutes to go. The session restarted with four minutes left.

After the intense heat of Friday, rain began thundering down around midday and the Hungaroring was drenched by the 1pm start.

The Ferraris were the first to go out and Leclerc slid as he missed a chicane.

As rain got even heavier and visibility worsened, Vettel — who is retiring at the end of the season — missed a turn and AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly just avoided a crash barrier then later did a 360 spin.

Russell said he was “struggling a lot,” Ricciardo spoke of having “absolutely no grip” and Haas driver Mick Schumacher complained his rear tires felt like they were slipping on ice.

Williams driver Nicholas Latifi surprised everyone by posting the fastest time on his final lap.

“I was wondering if that clapping was for me,” joked Latifi, who is last in the standings and yet to score a point.

That joy was short-lived as the Canadian driver was among the five eliminated from Q1, along with Vettel and Gasly.

“I’m gutted,” said Gasly, who had one of his lap times deleted for going off track limits, also at Turn 5.

Latifi starts last on Sunday.

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Brisbane Lions loss to Richmond, MCG losing streak, Chris Fagan press conference, why was Darcy Fort sub, Zac Bailey injury

Brisbane Lions loss to Richmond, MCG losing streak, Chris Fagan press conference, why was Darcy Fort sub, Zac Bailey injury

The Brisbane Lions’ premiership hopes took a significant hit on Sunday afternoon, with Richmond putting the side’s top-four hopes in jeopardy following a stunning come-from-behind win at the MCG.

Brisbane at one stage in the first half held a 42-point lead, but was reigned in during a thrilling second-half that ultimately ended in the Lions’ 11th straight loss at the MCG, with the side still yet to win at the venue since 2014.

Despite the loss, Fagan said the MCG hoodoo remained an external talking point rather than a genuine phenomenon.

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Brisbane Lions press conference | 06:30

“It’s our best performance at the MCG for a long period of time I would’ve thought,” he said post-game.

“It doesn’t matter to me but I thought anyone watching the game would’ve thought it was a fantastic game of football. We were in it all the way to the end.

“Richmond had a really strong team tonight outside of Dustin. They had a lot to play for, as did we, we were trying to cement ourselves in the top four, now we’re in a battle, they’re trying to get back in the eight … there was no lack of effort on our side or theirs, it was a good reply in that regard.”

Not helping the Lions’ cause was an injury to Zac Bailey in the opening half, which forced Darcy Fort – a ruckman – into the contest as his replacement.

It was a move that raised eyebrows, but one Fagan was coy on when asked post-game.

“In hindsight it was the wrong decision to have Darcy as the sub. It’s probably something I’d rather keep in-house to be honest,” he said.

“I appreciate you asking the question, but we have our reasons and they’re good reasons, but in reflection tonight it would’ve been better to have a running player for sure.”

Speaking on Fox Footy, Dermott Brereton said Fagan had every right to be more frustrated with his side.

“I wouldn’t like to be sitting on one of the wooden seats inside the rooms as coach Fagan decides to give them a recital of what he’s just seen in the last 60 minutes,” he said.

Richmond Tigers Press Conference | 08:42

“Even though they got to within two goals at three quarter-time, I felt like they could still stabilize, Brisbane. Not until Rioli bombed one from 55m did I go ‘woah, this is really dangerous for them now’.”

Co-host Nick Dal Santo said the MCG factor was less of a concern than the sheer collapse the side suffered in the second half.

“Yes the ground conversation will get brought up and I think rightly so, but more damning and more disappointing from a coach’s perspective and the leaders of this football club is they weren’t able to shut the game down during the third quarter, let alone the last quarter,” he said.

“Lachie Neale got enough of the football, so my question becomes what went wrong and who didn’t stand up?

“Because you can’t ask a lot more from their key forwards, particularly in that first half, but it dropped off so quickly and their inability to minimize the momentum when the Tigers had it.”

Asked if there were elements of a “choke” in the Lions’ loss, Dal Santo said: “You’d have to say yes. But to what degree of a choke, I’m not quite sure.

“But when you’re up by 42 points, you are well and truly in control.”

Brereton added: “I thought they put in well enough to say it wasn’t a choke. Richmond just went back to their tried and true formula.”

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UK points the way with Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

UK points the way with Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

Performers take part in the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Birmingham on Thursday.

Performers take part in the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Birmingham on Thursday.Credit:AP

The opening ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the English city of Birmingham was quirky and entertaining, as far as these things go, but organizers will hope the most enduring moments from the night will have more to do with poignancy than pageantry.

The scenes that played out in Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium, and watched on TV by committed Australians in the small hours of Friday morning, were a celebration, for sure, but they also represented an opportunity taken by host nation England to lay down a new path for the Commonwealth Games. Organizers read the tea leaves and constructed a narrative that took responsibility for some of the wrongs of Britain’s past and set out its intent for a better future.

Matilda, the giant winking kangaroos of Brisbane 1982, and the winged flying trams of Melbourne 2006 conjure pleasant memories of Commonwealth Games past for many Australians, but simply rolling out cliched iconography doesn’t cut it in these more complex times.

Yes, Birmingham had its own giant animal/machine – a mechanical Raging Bull – but it was used to recognize England’s history of oppression of poor workers and women and the stain of slavery in Britain’s past, just as it was a symbol of the city’s proud history as an industrial innovator.

When champion British diver Tom Daley, a gay man, carried the Queen’s Baton into the stadium accompanied by an entourage of LGBTQ+ flag bearers, the Commonwealth was sending a clear message to the 35 of its 72 members that still consider homosexuality a crime – and those in particular that punish it with the death penalty.

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Even the Games mascot, a typically cartoonish creature designed to engage children, is striving for higher ideals. Multicolored Perry the Bull “celebrates diversity, community and our region’s heritage as well as its future,” said Birmingham’s Games boss Ian Reid.

Birmingham is Europe’s youngest city, with almost 40 per cent of its population aged 25 or under, and it is one of its most diverse. As host, it represented an opportunity to breathe fresh life into the Games and to address what Commonwealth Games Federation president Dame Louise Martin four years ago called an “existential crisis” for the event. “In recent times, our federation has done a lot of soul-searching to look at our impact and meaning,” she said, with the organization noting that “there is no easy way of saying the Commonwealth has a challenging history linked to colonial roots ”.

These issues were deftly handled by Birmingham, and for Victorians they pointed towards similar opportunities when the state hosts the Games in 2026.

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RB Leipzig vs. Bayern Munich – Football Match Report – July 30, 2022

RB Leipzig vs. Bayern Munich - Football Match Report - July 30, 2022

German champions Bayern Munich survived a late comeback from RB Leipzig to claim a 5-3 victory in the DFL German Supercup on Saturday with an impressive first half attacking display and new signing Sadio Mane scoring on his debut.

Bayern, aiming for an 11th consecutive Bundesliga title this season, were eager to prove they remained a serious attacking threat despite the departure of top striker Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona, ​​and they did not have to wait long.

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They scored three times before the break through Jamal Musiala, Mane and Benjamin Pavard to take control of the game.

“We did it really well in the first half. Leipzig defended deep and we had a lot of time to build things up,” Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann said. “We allowed only one shot. But in the second half after about an hour the compactness was not there.

“At the end we had to factor in that we would be running a bit out of steam as Leipzig are in preparation a bit longer. We are happy to have defended the title.”

Musiala rifled in the opener in the 14th minute before Serge Gnabry cut through the Leipzig defense and delivered a perfect assist for Senegal international Mane, who has joined from Liverpool, to tap in the second goal in the 31st.

Leipzig’s collapse looked complete in first half stoppage time when Musiala weaved his way into the box and set up Benjamin Pavard to drill the ball home.

Bayern’s backline was equally as effective in the first half with Leipzig having only one shot on goal in the 45 minutes.

That all changed after the break with the hosts hitting the woodwork in the 56th with substitute Andre Silva’s powerful header before Marcel Halstenberg went one better with his own header three minutes later to cut the deficit.

Gnabry briefly restored Bayern’s three-goal cushion when he fired into the top of the net on the rebound after Thomas Muller’s shot was palmed away by keeper Peter Gulacsi.

A 77th minute penalty by Christopher Nkunku made it 4-2 before Leipzig team mate Dani Olmo scored with a powerful shot to set up a nervous finale to an entertaining encounter.

However, late substitute Leroy Sane made sure of the first title of the season for Bayern, scoring on the break with the last kick of the game.

The Bundesliga season kicks off on Aug. 5.