🥇 Commonwealth Is Health For The Next 11 Days

Oh hello, it's Thursday, 28 July. There's a bit going on in the world at the moment with COVID, the war in Ukraine and natural disasters every other week. Sport can't fix them but it can be a welcome distraction when times are tough. So if you could use a bit of cheering up, we give you the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where Australia's athletes are a pretty good shot at winning everything. Let's check it out!

⏱ 1182 words = 6 minutes

👀 Catch of the season?

THE MAIN GAME

🏉 Let the Games begin (tomorrow)

We're getting in early to preview the Commonwealth Games for you because the Opening Ceremony is on in the wee hours of Friday morning and we don't want you to feel left out.

Golden points: Birmingham. Big Aussie squad. Bulk gold medals. That's kinda all you need to know, but for a slightly more expansive explanation of what to expect keep on reading.

• The Comm Games started in 1930 and this will be the 22nd edition. South African city Durban was originally meant to host in 2022, but planning and financial issues meant it was scrapped. The British government then stumped over more than $1 billion and saved the day.

• 54 countries and 18 territories will compete, some you know, some you might not. Ever heard of Montserrat, Eswatini or Canada?

• The Games start with the Opening Ceremony at 4:45am AEST tomorrow and wrap up early on August 9. 3-time hockey gold medallist Eddie Ockenden and veteran squash player Rachael Grinham will carry the flag together at the Opening Ceremony.

• The competition eases into action with lawn bowls at 5:30pm tomorrow evening. Fingers crossed we see a flipper.

• There are 21 sports in total and 4 are exclusive to the Comm Games (in your face, Olympics). We're talking lawn bowls, netball, squash and women's T20 cricket.

• Australia is sending its second biggest team ever of 433, which is made up of 349 able-bodied athletes, 75 para-sport athletes, 4 triathlon guides, 2 lawn bowls directors and 2 cycling pilots. There is also a record 10 Indigenous athletes in the squad.

The stat: Australia has topped the medal tally in 13 of the previous 21 Comm Games and looks pretty certain to do it again. The Aussies won 80 gold medals at the 2018 Comm Games on the Gold Coast and should reach gold #1000.

Key clicks: Bookmark this page because it's the schedule of all the sports and where you can watch them. And here are 10 Australian medal hopes worth keeping an eye out for.

Watch it: Up to 30 dedicated channels on Channel 7 and its streaming service 7plus will be dedicated to covering the dedicated athletes. Coverage starts at 7pm AEST and finish at 5:30am AEST. Tough hours but not so for the truly dedicated.

QUICK SINGLES

🏉 NRL: Roosters coach Trent Robinson supports the push for an NRL Pride Round. Ahead of tonight's match against Manly, Robinson says his players would have no problem wearing a gay pride jersey or playing in a Pride Round that celebrates inclusion and diversity. "For us, in 2022, to not be inclusive and not say, 'It's OK to be who you are' is unacceptable."

🏉 AFL: The Kangaroos have called in 'Punter' to convince 'Clarko' to sign on. Former Test cricket captain and avid North Melbourne supporter Ricky 'Punter' Ponting will meet with Alastair 'Clarko' Clarkson this week to chew the fat about taking over as coach at the Kangaroos. But Ponting and the Roos have some stiff northern competition - Clarkson has already met with the GWS Giants 3 times so it looks like it's a 2-horse race. Punter must love those odds.

🎾 Tennis: Turns out Nick Kyrgios isn't quite back just yet. Yesterday we told you that Kyrgios was all set to make his singles return after playing in the final of Wimbledon. Well, we might have jinxed him because he pulled out at the last minute with a sore knee, but he might be playing doubles. If this you reading, Nick, our bad.

🏉 Football: Germany will play England in the Women's Euro final. Germany beat France 2-1 this morning to advance to the final where the tournament hosts wait. The final will be on Monday morning at 2am AEST.

⛳️ Golf: The LIV Golf tour has just started but it's already got expansion plans. Next year the LIV Golf invitational series will evolve into the LIV Golf League, with 14 events held all over the world. One of the new features will be a promotion-relegation system like the one used in the English Premier League.

LEFT OF FIELD

🏊‍♂️ Swimming: One of the great sights/memes to come out of the Tokyo Olympics last year was Aussie swim coach Dean Boxall and his kamikaze celebration when his pupil Ariarne Titmus won gold in the 400m freestyle final. He's in Birmingham and could go even harder (if that's possible) if Elijah Winnington wins at the Comm Games. He says he lost the plot again Winnington won gold in the 400m freestyle final at the World Championships in Budapest last month. "I actually had more room to run, so I was kicking, screaming and going nuts." Unfortunately for us, he did it behind the TV cameras. Winnington missed out at the Tokyo Olympics and considered quitting swimming, but Boxall and his support team kept him going and the reward was the win in Budapest. Cue the celebrations.

📽 Highlight reel: This might look like a pretty standard home run by New York Mets third baseman Eduardo Escobar, but check out old mate who catches it in the stands BAREHANDED. No glove required for this gentleman.

📸 Photo finish: Aussie swimmer William Yang is the unfortunate victim of a game of 'Who got the peg?' at the hands of fellow Dolphin Lani Pallister. From experience, this is a drinking game but it might just be water this time.

THE POLLING BOOTH

Wednesday's result: 55.13% said they'll be watching the Comm Games.

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

• ⚾️ 9:00am - MLB - Mets v Yankees - Citi Field, New York - Foxtel, Kayo

• 🏉 7:50pm - NRL - Sea Eagles v Roosters - 4 Pines Park - Channel 9, Foxtel, Kayo

• ⚽️ 4:45am (Friday) - Commonwealth Games - Opening Ceremony - Alexander Stadium - Channel 7, 7plus

All times AEST

THE MANAGER'S OFFICE

It's halftime. You're down by a goal. The team needs a lift. What would you say to fire up them up? Maybe something like: "Hey, have you heard about the Sport Today newsletter? It's heaps good. Here's a link to subscribe. Let's do this!" Love it. Please do that.