Tag: Action

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Commonwealth Games events today including Laura Kenny and Alex Yee in action

Commonwealth Games events today including Laura Kenny and Alex Yee in action

Laura Kenny, Alex Yee and James Wilby are among the Tokyo medallists targeting the podium as the Commonwealth Games get underway in Birmingham on Friday.

Wilby will be looking to kickstart England’s gold rush in the pool as he defends his men’s 200 metres breaststroke title. Scotland’s Ross Murdoch, who finished runner-up to Wilby on the Gold Coast four years ago, may have other ideas. Birkenhead’s Freya Anderson is in the women’s 200m freestyle alongside Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus, while Wales’ Dan Jervis is in the men’s 400m freestyle.

Kenny will be in action when the track cycling gets under way at the Lee Valley Velodrome in London, racing alongside Josie Knight, Maddie Leech and Grace Lister in the women’s team pursuit. And husband Jason will be coaching as Ryan Owens, Joe Truman and Hamish Turnbull chase gold in the men’s team sprint.

Birmingham-born Joe Fraser, the former world champion on parallel bars, will lead England’s bid to retain their men’s team title at the NEC on a day that also doubles as individual qualifications. Experienced duo Frank Baines and Hamish Carter will hope to steer Scotland into at least the silver medal position, while Northern Ireland’s Rhys McClenaghan attempts to qualify on pommel.

Yee is a big favourite to build on his silver medal from the Tokyo Olympics as he stars in the men’s triathlon. The outcome of the women’s event is far less cut and dried with Georgia Taylor-Brown, like Yee a double medallist in Japan, facing stiff competition from former world champion Non Stanford, who is representing Wales, and another world champion in Bermuda’s Flora Duffy.

England’s bid to retain the netball title they won so thrillingly on the Gold Coast kicks off with a Group B game against Trinidad and Tobago. Featuring a sizeable contingent of players who were present on the Gold Coast, Jess Thirlby’s side are full of confidence, but are sure to have to overcome perennial favourites Australia and New Zealand once again.

Schedule and event timetable today

Friday 29 July

Lawn bowls and para lawn bowls: 8:30-13:45, 15:00-20:15

Badminton: 09:00-12:30, 14:00-17:30, 19:00-22:30

Gymnastics: 09:00-14:30, 17:00-20:30

Hockey: 09:00-12:30, 14:00-17:30, 19:00-22:30

Rugby Sevens: 09:00-13:30, 17:30-22:00

Table tennis and para table tennis: 09:30-14:30, 16:00-21:00

Cycling; track and para track: 10:00-13:00, 16:00-18:30

Aquatics; swimming and para swimming: 10:30-12:30, 19:00-22:00

Cricket T20: 11:00-14:30, 18:00-21:30

Triathlon and para triathlon: 11:00-16:00

Boxing: 12:00-15:00, 18:30-21:00

Netball: 12:00-15:30, 18:00-21:30

Squash: 12:00-15:15, 18:00-20:30

Basketball 3×3 and wheelchair basketball 3×3: 15:30-18:00, 19:30-22:00

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Jane Goodall returns to live events in effort to inspire hope, action on environment

Jane Goodall returns to live events in effort to inspire hope, action on environment

“It was a grind,” she said, “because we created virtual Jane and virtual Jane could do Zooms and Zoom interviews and attend conferences every day.”

Goodall, 88, said she keeps telling her story both online and in person to try to inspire others to find their own way to deal with threats such as climate change and the loss of biodiversity.

“If we don’t have hope, then we become apathetic and do nothing. So, if we all become apathetic and do nothing, we’re doomed,” she said. 

“We are at a critical juncture and it’s desperately important that people get together and actually take action.”

Climate change is altering the water cycle and has led to floods, droughts and wildfires. It has also driven biodiversity loss, with research suggesting that a million plant and animal species are at risk of extinction around the world.

Both have happened, Goodall said, because of a lack of respect for the natural world.

“We need to remember that we are part of the natural world and, in fact, we depend on it,” she said. “We depend on it for clean air, water, food, everything.” 

Goodall said that means having a healthy ecosystem.

“I see an ecosystem as a beautiful tapestry and, within that tapestry, each species of plant and animal has a role to play,” she said. “As they become extinct from that ecosystem, it’s like pulling threads from the tapestry until it hangs in tatters and then the ecosystem will collapse.”

She said people need to learn to live with species such as wolves, which are an important part of the ecosystem, and people also need to do their part to help restore nature.

“I think we’ve somehow got to reach into people’s hearts,” she said.

“You’ve got to find stories to help them realize that this is a crisis, but I actually can do something.”

Some, she said, may feel as though they are just one person who picks up plastic trash each day and isn’t making much of a difference. “But, when you think that there are millions of people picking up bits of trash, you realize it is making a difference. Collectively, a big difference.”

Goodall said Roots and Shoots, a youth leadership program that’s part of the Jane Goodall Institute, helps young people figure out how they can help.

“If our young people lose hope, we’ve had it,” she said. “It’s not true that nothing can be done. 

“We’ve got this window of time — I have no idea how big that window is, I know it’s still closing — and so Roots and Shoots is about giving young people hope by empowering them to take action, to choose themselves projects to make the world a better place.”

She said the program has members from kindergarten to university, and adult groups are also forming.

“This is my greatest hope for the future,” said Goodall. 

“That, and our brain that is beginning to turn to finding ways to heal the harm we’ve inflicted and the resilience of nature — that places we have destroyed can once again support nature and animals on the brink of extinction have been rescued.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on June 24, 2022.

Colette Derworiz, The Canadian Press

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Melbourne Events Are Back in Action

Melbourne Events Are Back in Action

MELBOURNE, Australia, June 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — According to the premier event technology platform HeadBox, corporate event bookers in Melbourne have regained confidence and there has been a huge increase in both enquiries and bookings. As the city enters its first COVID winter without a lockdown, there is a renewed sense of optimism, with the ‘new normal’ looking good for the local events industry.

Melbourne has enjoyed a bustling calendar of major events since the start of the year, including the Australian Open, Fashion Week, Food and Wine Festival, Australian Grand Prix and more. As international business returns and the local market continues to bounce back, HeadBox says Melbourne is the ideal location for organisations looking to offer a premium program. 

The hotel industry is also starting to build momentum after being heavily impacted by the delayed recovery to business and meeting travel. While the slow return of workers to Melbourne’s CBD has had a negative impact on city hotels, the recovery of the corporate events industry will continue to have a flow effect for other sectors such as tourism.

As the fastest growing event tech brand in the UK, HeadBox launched in Australia in 2020 and earlier this year began operating in Melbourne. Since launching, the company has provided support to many corporate clients in planning and managing events across Australia.

After a difficult few years, HeadBox explains that many businesses reduced or removed their in-house event planning teams. Specialising in assisting corporate clients who are searching for the best function venues Melbourne-wide, HeadBox offers a premium product for bookers, enabling organisations to manage, control and streamline their entire meeting and event spend.

HeadBox’s software makes venue finding easy with the best function rooms Melbourne–wide listed on their platform. With a team of professional and highly experienced event planners and managers, the HeadBox team can also handle all the details and logistics for corporate clients.

For assistance in planning corporate meetings and events or to search for the best event and party venues Melbourne-wide, visit HeadBox online.

For press enquiries: press@headbox.com

Related Images

Image 1: HeadBox Melbourne

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

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Red Shirt Day (of Action for Accessibility and Inclusion) 2022 – GlobalNews Events

Red Shirt Day (of Action for Accessibility and Inclusion) 2022 - GlobalNews Events

Red Shirt Day (of Action for AccessAbility and Inclusion) is a day when people across Canada come together and wear red in schools, workplaces and spaces everywhere in order to create a visible display of solidarity: to show their support for persons and families who are living with disabilities, celebrate the achievements of people living with disabilities, and to pledge their commitment to help create a fully accessible and inclusive society that honours and values the contributions of people of all abilities in all aspects of life in Canada. Red Shirt Day was started by Easter Seals Canada in 2019, and takes place on the Wednesday of National AccessAbility Week each year. In 2022, Red Shirt Day will take place on June 1st. On that day, Canadians are invited to wear red and post a selfie or a group photo with family members, friends, classmates or colleagues – along with their pledges to accessibility and inclusion – on social media with the hashtags: #RedShirtDay, #RedForAccessAbility, #EasterSeals. For more info and free resources, visit http://www.RedShirtDay.ca

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Launch event of the Coalition of Action on Healthy Diets from Sustainable Food Systems for Children and All

Launch event of the Coalition of Action on Healthy Diets from Sustainable Food Systems for Children and All event flyer

Launch event of the Coalition of Action on Healthy Diets from Sustainable Food Systems for Children and All event flyer

Background

Health, nutrition and environmental sustainability need to be core, cross-cutting foundations of food systems transformation. During the United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) of 2021 the call for action to deliver healthy diets from sustainable food
systems echoed through dialogues, social movements and national pathways. Formed as an outcome of the UNFSS, the Coalition of Action for Healthy Diets from Sustainable Food Systems (HDSFS) brings Member States, UN Agencies, Civil Society Organizations,
Academic Institutions and social movements together to deliver on this call. 

The Coalition will strive to act as a mechanism for coordinated action on healthy diets from sustainable food systems that provides countries the opportunity to share, learn and inform. It will foster, maintain and gain momentum from multiple stakeholders
on the issue, and allow for all to inspire and be inspired. 

The workplan of the Coalition revolves around three key functions.

  1. Mobilise and coordinate existing expertise and stakeholders to align action across food systems for collective impact at the country-level.
  2. Facilitate peer-to-peer learning among countries. 
  3. Manage special projects on integrating nutrition, health and sustainability through food, determined by country priorities 

This official launch event aims to celebrate the formation of the Coalition and provide an update on its progress and future activities, inspire current and new members of the Coalition and catalyze supportive action towards its vision. 

Objectives

  • To share the vision, collective expertise and actions of the HDSFS Coalition and thereby establish the Coalition as an impactful mechanism for coordinated action on healthy diets from sustainable food systems;  
  • To launch the Coalition’s 2022 work plan and present  the progress on different functions, added value and
    modalities of collaboration; 
  • To gauge interest of new Member States and others to engage with the HDSFS Coalition; and, 
  • To inspire supportive action towards the vision of the HDSFS Coalition at the country, regional and global level.

Agenda

Moderator – Abigail Perry, Director Nutrition, WFP

14:00

Opening remarks, Beth Bechdol, DDG, FAO 

14:10

Opening remarks, Zsuzsanna Jakab, Deputy Director-General, WHO

14:11 – 14:15

Opening remarks, Frontrunner country

14:16 – 14:19

Coalition Video

14:20 – 14:30

Corinna Hawkes, Centre for Food Policy, City, University of London, representing the core team. Remarks highlighting the work plan and what the coalition will accomplish in the short and long term 

14:31 – 14:45

Remarks from 3 Front runner countries highlighting action for 2022, interest, and expected impact of the Coalition (4 minutes each)

14:45 – 14:48

Remarks from youth representative, Lana Weidgenant

14:48 – 14:52

Remarks from Coordinator Hub,Stefanos Fotiou

14:52 – 15:00

Next steps and closing – Brent Loken, Global Food Lead Scientist, WWF

Register

Register for the launch event here: https://fao.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9EPxqoYuSfmNCmjTJLPTJw

Or watch the live stream: https://www.fao.org/webcast/home/en/item/5840/icode/ 

Interpretation: available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish

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WHO/Europe training course for prison health-care workers: innovation in NCD policy and action

WHO/Europe virtual press briefing: Humanitarian emergency in Ukraine and the wider region

May 2022 online training course

The WHO European Regional Office for Europe, in collaboration with the Yale School of Medicine, has developed an online training course to empower and enhance professional development of national counterparts and clinicians working with prisons and other detention facilities.

The online course will give its participants the knowledge and innovative tools to:

  • review the latest evidence on the burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCD) such as cardiovascular diseases, obesity and overweight, cancer, respiratory diseases, and mental health disorders; and their risk factors;
  • implement successful NCD practices in a prison context;
  • develop further advocacy strategies; and
  • train their peers to deliver the WHO-recommended interventions.

Level and demands

The course is aimed at health professionals specializing in prison environments from any of the 53 Member States of the WHO European Region. Professionals from other regions are also welcome to express their interest in participating.

The training is free of charge for all selected participants.

Course timeline and composition:

The course starts on 10 May 2022 and ends on 24 June 2022.

It will consist of several modules and include educational videos, webinars, practical workshops, and participant activities.

Application deadline:

Please send your expression of interest to participate in the course to Filipa Alves da Costa (azevedof@who.int) by 5 May 2022. All participants will be notified on further course details by 9 May 2022.

Certification:

All participants receive a digital certificate after successfully completing the course.

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U.S. Sportsbooks Stop Taking Action On Russian Sporting Events

U.S. Sportsbooks Stop Taking Action On Russian Sporting Events

Sportsbooks across the United States have come up with their own sanctions against Russia by no longer accepting bets on Russian sporting events. Both mobile and physical sportsbooks have suspended their Russian betting markets in response to the war in Ukraine.

At the Superbook at Westgate Las Vegas, director John Murray says it previously took action on Russian soccer, but the sportsbook decided to remove the market this week after the invasion. “It was an easy decision,” he says. “It’s minor part of the business and we don’t deserve to be praised for it.”

DraftKings, which offered bets on Kontinental Hockey League, the professional league headquartered in Moscow composed of teams across Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and China, closed its Russian sports market. “We will no longer offer betting on sports leagues and events in Russia and Belarus, such as the KHL,” DraftKings said in a statement.

Caesars confirmed that it has also closed its betting market on Russian soccer, hockey, table tennis and volleyball, and Fanduel “indefinitely suspended” all betting markets on sports leagues and events held or connected to Russia and Belarus. PointsBet is no longer accepting bets or posting lines for Russian and Belarus based professional sports leagues and events as well.

Sports leagues are also cutting ties with Russia. FIFA and the Union of European Football Association said on Monday that Russia’s national soccer team will not be allowed to compete and Formula 1 terminated its contract with the Russian Grand Prix.

Facing a backlash from the war, Russian billionaire and Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich announced Wednesday he would be selling the soccer team after members of Parliament said he shouldn’t be allowed to own the Premier League club.

The U.S. government has responded to Putin’s war by sanctioning billionaires—16 Russian business magnates have been hit with economic restrictions so far. The U.S. is also moving to seize assets like mega yachts.

A growing list of companies have pulled out of Russia, including Apple, Nike, H&M, Dell, Spotify, Ford. Western companies are ditching Russia’s lucrative and growing market as it has become a nightmare combination of logistical and operational obstacles topped with reputational risk.

Back in Las Vegas, Murray says sportsbooks are not “brave” for closing their Russian sports markets. “Given the climate and everything that’s going on in the world right now,” he says, “we just felt like it was better to get rid of it.”

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Upcoming sports events for India: Mirabai Chanu, Vinesh Phogat return to action

Upcoming sports events for India: Mirabai Chanu, Vinesh Phogat return to action

The last week of February has a slew of action for some of India’s biggest champions, as the likes of Mirabai Chanu, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia return to the international arena after the Tokyo Olympics.

With an eye on the upcoming Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, both Mirabai and Vinesh will be looking to adapt to their new weight categories.

Wrestling (Feb 24-27)

India’s premier wrestlers will be in action at the Yasar Dogu Tournament in Istanbul, Turkey from February 24 to February 27. This ‘1st Ranking Series’ event will see the likes of Bajrang Punia, Deepak Punia and Vinesh Phogat in action. The Istanbul event will mark the comeback of the former world no 1, who aims to continue her comeback trail subsequently at the Asian championships, followed by the CWG and Asian Games.

Basketball (Feb 24-28)

The Indian men’s basketball team begin their attempt to qualify for the 2023 World Cup at the Asian Qualifiers in Manila, Philippines. They will play four of six group matches in February.

They have two matches against New Zealand (February 24 and 28) and matches against Philippines (February 25) and South Korea (February 27).

Weightlifting (Feb 25-27)

Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu will return to action at the Singapore International from February 25 to February 27. Featuring the best Indian weightlifters, this event will see Mirabai headlining the team again after skipping the World Championships late last year.

Mirabai is also set to compete in a new weight class at this tournament as she prepares for the CWG and Asian Games. The Indian team have decided to push her weight class from 49kg to 55kgs for strategic reasons.

Hockey (Feb 26-27)

The Indian men’s and women’s teams will play their first matches of the Hockey Pro League at home in Bhubaneswar’s Kalinga Stadium this week. Both the teams will be taking on Spain in two-leg ties on February 26 and 27.

Shooting (Feb 26-Mar 8)

India’s best shooters will also be returning to the international arena at the Rifle/Pistol World Cup in Cairo, Egypt from 26 February to 8 March.

A 24-member Indian team has been named for the season’s first World Cup for pistol and rifle shooters. Some big names like Manu Bhaker, Abhishek Verma, Apurvi Chandela, Anjum Moudgil, Elavaneil Valarivan, Deepak Kumar, Tejaswini Sawant and Yashaswini Singh Deswal have missed out from the team, with the team formed based on scores in the recent national tournaments.

Boxing (Feb 19-28)

India’s boxers like Nikhat Zareen continue their campaign at the Strandja Memorial Tournament in Bulgaria. The Indian team for the World Championships will be decided based on trials held after this event.

Rowing (Feb 25-26)

India’s best rowers will be looking to make creditable finishes at the Rowing World Indoor Championships in Hamburg, Germany over two days. Parminder Singh created a new record at this event last year by finishing 6th in the U-23 category.

Table Tennis (Feb 27- Mar 5)

The pair of Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Manika Batra, who recently broke into the top 10 world rankings for mixed doubles, will be in action at the WTT Contender in Muscat, Oman from February 27.

Cricket (Feb 22-27)

The Indian women’s team play the final two matches of their ODI series vs New Zealand on February 22 and February 24 as their last assignment before the World Cup in March.

The men’s team will host Sri Lanka for a T20I series between February 24 and February 27.

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Introducing the Neighbourhood Led Action Plan Guide – Community Virtuals

Introducing the Neighbourhood Led Action Plan Guide - Community Virtuals

Meet us online for our Community Virtuals lunch & learn program. Topics are centered around ideas to help build strong, resilient neighbourhoods, including personal connections within communities. 

Introducing the Neighbourhood Led Action Plan Guide – Wednesday, February 16, noon-1:30

We know you have lots of great ideas for improving your neighbourhood, but how do you get organized and work out your priorities? The City’s Neighbourhood Team has designed a guidebook to help you create your own resident-led action plan.

Join us for this session as we introduce the guide and show you how it can further community development in your neighbourhood.

Register for your FREE ticket and learn more here.

Info: neighbourhoods@victoria.ca