US national Larry Nassar, 58, is serving a life sentence after pleading guilty in late 2017 and early 2018 to sexually assaulting athletes while working as a sports medicine doctor at USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University. According to a settlement with USA Gymnastics, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee and their insurers victims will receive $380 million. The settlement -- one of the largest ever recorded for victims of sex abuse -- ends a five-year legal battle that erupted following the abuse scandal that rocked the US Olympic movement. USA Gymnastics reported Nassar to the FBI in July 2015, but he continued to work at MSU and sexually abused at least 70 more women until a newspaper exposed him in September 2016.
EU authorities disallow breakaway competitions
Some of Europe’s biggest football clubs wanted to break away from the Champions League and run their own competition called the Super League, but it quickly collapsed within 48 hours of launch in April following protests by fans and governments. European lawmakers have now voted their opposition to breakaway competitions following the aborted Super League project that Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus are still backing. With 597 votes to 36 and 55 abstentions, members of the European Parliament said they want European sporting culture “to be aligned with EU values of solidarity, sustainability, inclusiveness for all, open competition, sporting merit and fairness.” They opposed breakaway competitions that they feel undermine these principles and endanger the stability of the overall sports ecosystem.
Lewis Hamilton 4th F1 driver to be knighted
Lewis has become just the fourth F1 driver to be knighted after Sir Jackie Stewart in 2001, Sir Stirling Moss in 2000 and Sir Jack Brabham in 1979. The motorsport icon was denied a record eighth title in Abu Dhabi on Sunday as Max Verstappen claimed his maiden championship in controversial circumstances. Despite the controversy surrounding the season finale, Hamilton was gracious in defeat. The Brit was seen speaking to Prince Charles at Windsor Castle just moments after receiving his knighthood on Wednesday morning.
Taliban ruled Afghanistan to host Pakistan team for cricket series
Afghanistan will host Pakistan for a three-match One-day International series in 2023, according to the Future Tours Programme (FTP) announced by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Tuesday.
A total number of 11 ODIs, four T20Is and two Test series have been included in Afghanistan schedule for the upcoming two years. These series are scheduled on home and away basis, among which Afghanistan will play 18 home and 34 away matches, apart from participating in the Asia Cup 2022, ICC T20 World Cup 2022, Asia Cup 2023 and the ICC World Cup 2023
The series with Pakistan on home turf will take place in February-March 2023, however the exact schedule will be released later.