Here is this week's dose of “5-Point Friday”. A weekly round-up of the sports news and stories that I find most interesting and enjoyable.
What I have been reading -
Why are there so few black and minority ethnic sporting statues?, by Katie Shanahan (@KatieShanahan3) & Sanjeev Shetty. The article takes a look at the current situation in the UK with athlete statues, and the lack of diversity. Currently, in the UK there are only ten statues that depict a sportsperson who comes from an ethnic minority background.
Soccer news I am excited about -
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), the governing body for soccer in Brazil, announced that men and women will be paid the same amount for representing the national team.
CBF president Rogerio Caboclo says the measures were put in place in March.
"Since March of this year, CBF has made an equal value in terms of prizes and daily rates between men's and women's football," he said.
"That is, the players earn the same thing as the players during the calls. What they receive by daily call, women also receive."
The FA also announced the same arrangement has applied in England since January, with an FA spokesperson saying it pays women the same as men for representing their country, both for match fees and bonuses.
Caboclo says its arrangement also applies to performances at international tournaments such as the World Cup and Olympics.
"There is no more gender difference, as the CBF is treating men and women equally," he said.
"What they will gain by conquering or by staging the Olympics next year will be the same as the men will have."
Rugby story I am following -
South Africa’s rugby union team is being lined up as a replacement for Japan in the expanded Six Nations tournament later this year. After the Cherry Blossoms had to withdraw last week due to domestic Covid-19 restrictions.
Six Nations vice-president Bernard Laporte (@BernardLaporte_) told French newspaper Le Progress, “The Japanese will not come to Europe, we are looking for a nation to replace them and we are in advanced talks with South Africa…It would be great to be able to face the Springboks, world champions, but it’s not yet done.”
The Six Nations is planning to have two additional teams in its tournament this year. Fiji is currently the seventh team.
Soccer story I am feeling positive about -
Fans of English League One club Wigan Athletic managed to raise $664,000 to secure the future of team.
The supporters' club set a further target of $995,000 by the end of the week. In a statement, the supporters' club said, "Over the past week we are so pleased to have played a part in galvanizing our fellow fans at a time when many of us were at our lowest point.
"We absolutely believe that our club will be stronger when our supporters work together to safeguard its future."
The club also confirmed their Euxton training ground has been sold to Championship club Preston North End, as it continues to sell assets in order to clear its debt. Administrator Gerald Krasner said, “We have sold the Euxton training ground – I don’t think that comes as a surprise to anyone.
“Why have we sold it? With respect, a League One club does not need two training grounds. We took the decision, we needed that money and to be in a position to go on in September.
Cycling news I am excited for -
David Lappartient (@DLappartient), the president of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), said in an interview with Dutch media outlet WielerFlits that Amaury Sport Organization (ASO) will organize a stage race to be held in 2022 that will be seen as the women’s equivalent to the Tour de France.
“Whether this race will also be called Tour de France, I don’t know yet,” Lappartient said. “I am assured that ASO will be ready to put this event on the calendar in 2022. This is a very good step in the further development of women’s cycling.”
The race will reportedly have eight stages and will start in Paris on the last day of the men’s Tour de France.
Have a wonderful weekend, all!
Jonathan