Sport

Earlier this week, Wikinews interviewed Sarah Walsh, a former Australian women's national soccer team (Matilidas) player, about women's football in the country. The Australian women's team is currently ranked ninth by FIFA, down one spot from the previous quarter when they were tied at eighth with the North Korea women's national football team. Meanwhile, Australia's men (Socceroos) are currently ranked 59th in the world, between the Burkina Faso and Slovakia national football team. Walsh retired from the national team in September of last y

Over the weekend, FIFA President Sepp Blatter faced criticism from British women associated with soccer for his support of a Brazilian model chosen to conduct the televised draw for the 2014 FIFA World Cup on Saturday. Fernanda Lima, who has no previous connection to football or sport prior to her involvement as a FIFA 2014 World Cup presenter, appeared on stage wearing a gold dress with a plunging neckline and matching heels. She stood alongside secretary general of FIFA Jérôme Valcke, Blatter and soccer greats including Uruguayan Alcides Ghi

Tirunesh Dibaba won her first World Championship title in six years, coming first in the 10,000 meter race at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Russia last night. Dibaba finished with a time of 30 minutes and 43.37 seconds, giving her the third World Championship victory of her career. Dibaba’s victory last night ended a six-year drought for the athlete on the World Championships stage, having been unable to win a World Championship title since 2007. In that period of time, Dibaba had more luck in the Olympics, winning the 10,000 meter f

Zaragoza, Spain — On Thursday, Wikinews traveled to Zaragoza, Spain to interview the nation's most decorated Paralympian and IPC Athlete Council representative Teresa Perales. A wide range of topics about the Paralympics and sport in Spain were discussed including the evolution of Paralympic sport, disability sport classification, funding support across all levels of elite sport including the Paralympics and Olympics, the role of sportspeople in politics, sponsorship issues, and issues of gender in Spanish sport. Evolution of the Paralympics

Madrid, Spain — On Wednesday night, Spanish La Liga football team Real Madrid defeated Celta Vigo 4–0 in Copa del Rey octofinals in a return match played at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid. Real Madrid lost the first leg of the round at an away match against Celta Vigo 1–2 and needed to win this game by a score of 1–0 to advance. Their 4–0 victory gave them an aggregate score of 5–2 which allowed them to advance in Copa del Rey. They were led in scoring by Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo who scored a hat trick, with goals in the second

Former Zimbabwean professional footballer Adam Ndlovu has died in a car accident that also left his brother critically injured. Adam and his brother Peter, also a former professional footballer, were in the accident after failure of a tire on the BMW X5 Adam was reportedly driving. Reports also suggest an unidentified female passenger may have died in the accident. George Bhebhe, a friend of Adam, spoke to The Zimbabwean about the circumstances of the accident. He said "Adam died early this morning when their vehicle veered off the road after

London, England — When Solomon Islander Hellen Saohaga finished fifteenth in Saturday's women's shot put - F57/58, she set a personal best and became the second-highest finishing Solomon Islander ever in Olympic and Paralympic competition; only Olympic powerlifter Wendy Hale has bettered her performance, coming twelfth in competition at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Saohaga qualified for this year's Paralympics on the basis of being a wildcard invite; a representative of the Solomon Islands Paralympic Committee believes, with better coaching and a

Former Pakistani international footballer Abdul Ghafoor has died in Karachi at the age of 71. Ghafoor, known as the "Pakistani Pele" died afer a long illness. He was the captain of the Pakistani national football team during the 1960s and 70s. Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, the President of the Pakistani Football Federation (PFF) released a statement after Ghafoor's death. He said “I was deeply saddened by the death of Pakistani Pele. This must be very difficult for all football lovers and players. Abdul Ghafoor was a kind person who will b

London, England — This morning, Great Britain beat Turkey in the 7th–8th place classification match in 5-a-side football by a score of 2–0 at London's Riverbank Arena. Following the match, Great Britain's 41-year-old captain David Clarke retired from the sport with a national team career that included 128 goals scored in 144 caps.

London, England— Prince Harry met Paralympic swimmer Maddison Elliott Tuesday morning at the Aquatic Centre in the Olympic Park. So far, Elliott has won a gold in the Women's 4 x 100 metres Freestyle Relay in world record time, a silver in the Women's 50 metres Freestyle S8 event and bronze in the Women's 400 metres Freestyle S8 event. Aged thirteen, Elliott is the youngest member of the Australian Paralympic Team, and the youngest Australian Paralympian to ever win a medal at the Games. Coming to London, accomplishing this feat was one of her

London, England— Fifteen Paralympic gold medals were awarded Sunday night, the fourth night of competition at London's Olympic Park. As runners raced around the track, a 'wall of sound' from the crowd followed them. Given the potential for confusion about Paralympic classification, commentators and video screens provided repeated explanations of relevant classifications. In the centre of the field, during the men's 400 metre heats and other finals, javelin competitors' efforts were greeted with "oohs and aahs" from the stadium whilst their t

London, England — The Gliders, the Australia women's national wheelchair basketball team, won a close contest 52–50 against Brazil Thursday night in front of a crowd of 3,288 at the Basketball Arena in Olympic Park, London. The Gliders have won medals at the last three Paralympics, but have yet to win a gold medal. The game was close and tough. The scores were tied fifteen times and at no point were the Australians more than five points in front. Before the game and at each break, the Australians linked arms in a common affirmation of teamw