Grassmarket

Yeah the attitude seems to be. "Governments criticizing journalists is an attack on free speech." Yes it is. "Ordinary citizens criticizing journalists is an attack on free speech" Errm....no. Ordinary citizens saying what they like about journalists is an EXAMPLE of free speech.

Ah, so “press freedom” now means “the extent to which journalists are treated like royalty”

So in their view Elon Musk’s RELAXATION of censorship laws on Twitter was a blow to press freedom because…..well, who knows. And they don’t realise that speech laws in & are completely different, that’s some ace reportering right there.

Full Doha programme. https://doha.diamondleague.com/programme-results-doha/

Coverage here too, so they’ve maybe got a couple of guys off cycling for the day. https://www.lesoir.be/510451/article/2023-04-29/luca-brecel-le-rebelle-qui-ecrit-lhistoire-du-snooker

Seems like we have got more men winning women's cycling races to look forward to this summer. A well-deserved reward for all those women who've struggled over the last decade to get three Grand Tours, all the Classics etc etc. Well done the UCI! Transgender cyclist Austin Killips wins women's Tour of the Gila – next stop Olympics? (msn.com)

Wow, that’s someone whom everyone of my generation knew. We only won three golds in 76, so Modern Pentathlon suddenly became a huge story. 5 disciplines in 5 days - the world was younger then. Also there was a bad guy - Boris Onischenko fencing cheat!

History made in the USA as for the first time a man wins a women’s UCI-ranked Stage race. https://tourofthegila.com/2023-tour-of-the-gila-concludes-uci-women-press-release-stage-5/ And it was a unique double because a man also won the men’s race! Truly a day to remember. https://tourofthegila.com/2023-tour-of-the-gila-conclude-uci-men-press-release-stage-5/

Pretty incredible. I will guarantee you that as of 1983 there was not a single billiards table with pockets in the whole of - French-style three cushion carom was the cue sport game they played.

Having had a look at the names……Cambodian cricket is Cambodian to the same degree cricket is Swiss. (ie it’s all subcontinentals)

He did veer wildly out of his lane, but things are a bit informal here, not an auto DQ in the 100m.

Would not trust that at all, they have absolutely no online presence, unlike Recast, Vinco Sports or other small but legit providers.

Used to live in . Very normal for sport to start at dawn to avoid brutal noon-time heat.

Yeah, World Athletics have had the genuinely great idea of starting the main season with three big events Track & Field from Gabarone as discussed. MultiStars dec & hep weekend from Lake Garda Madrid Race Walking Grand Prix. Sadly no TV coverage of the MultiStars, but the Madrid walking tomorrow is live & not-geoblocked on LaLiga TV. Think you need to register though. https://www.laligasportstv.com/sports/6395c153-6f07-4e9b-f0bd-08d90a1e43c7

Another weird one, with a angle. Antonio Tiberi and Trek-Segafredo have parted ways after he shot dead a minister's cat in San Marino. The 21-year-old Italian reportedly said he was trying out an air rifle and pointed it at a cat that belonged to San Marino's tourism and posts minister Federico Pedini Amati. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/65428878

TV Coverage for this and the other meets in the Gold Tour series, or alternatively suggestions for VPNs. https://worldathletics.org/news/news/2023-how-follow-watch-continental-tour Field looks good, more than just African athletes. https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-continental-tour/news/botswana-golden-grand-prix-2023-gaborone

Speedway Grand Prix starts this weekend, with a GP in Croatia. Looking forward to it - should be a battle between & for the overall.

After checkmate or resignation, the contest is resolved by best of three head kicks, with the stage 1 winner having a 1-0 advantage.

New Stadium progress - seems to be ready in good time, which is a rarity world-wide. https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-championships/budapest23/news/news/the-hungarian-national-athletics-centres-brand-new-track-unveiled

Some exotic ones lately. Two track and field officials in Albania have been banned from the sport for falsifying an athlete's result to help him qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, the Athletics Integrity Unit said Wednesday. Long jumper Izmir Smajlaj was cleared of being part of the conspiracy to register a national record in May 2021 that gained him entry to compete at the Tokyo Games. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-12019801/Izmir-Smajlaj-Albanian-track-field-officials-banned-Olympics-conspiracy.html

Still, you always have the ski jumping.

Jess Diggins interviewed on eating disorders. I know that Norways pull athletes from competition once they develop symptoms. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12013099/Running-5-miles-eating-cookie-Social-media-eating-disorders-female-athletes.html

Qualification Criteria for the 2024 Relays published. https://www.worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-relays/nassau24/news/press-releases/qualification-system-relays-nassau-24

Finally finished The Walking Dead after about 15 years. Was a great show for a while but ended up going around in circles a lot. Still had some good moments. Don’t like this idea that after 150 episodes or whatever of gore & extreme violence, what viewers want is a message of peace, love & brotherhood.

First big meet of the season is as early as this Saturday 29th - Continental Gold Tour from Gabarone . https://www.worldathletics.org/competitions/diamond-league/news/2023-outdoor-track-field-season