United News of Bangladesh

State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque on Monday told Parliament that the current government has taken a plan to build sports villages in 64 districts of the country. “The present government has a plan to build sports villages in 64 districts of the country as per its election manifesto. There will be arrangements for the development of cricket under this plan,” he said while replying to a starred question from ruling party lawmaker Mohammed Fakhrul Islam (Noakhali-5) in the House. Earlier, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, tabled the question-and-answer session at the outset of Monday’s sitting. The state minister also said the government has initiated the process of undertaking a project titled "Construction of an International Standard Sports Tourism Complex in Cox's Bazar District". Under this project, an international standard cricket stadium will be constructed in Cox's Bazar district, he said. Besides, a plan has been taken to build an international standard cricket stadium in Purbachal, Dhaka, said Aminul Haque.

The 117th edition of the historic Jabbar-er Boli Khela is set to be held on April 25 at Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram, alongside a three-day Baishakhi fair from April 24 to 26. Digital operator Banglalink is sponsoring the event for the 12th time, continuing its long-standing support for one of the country’s most iconic traditional sporting events. Preparations for the event were outlined at a press conference held on Wednesday at the Chattogram City Corporation Library. Also known as Abdul Jabbar-er Boli Khela, the century-old wrestling competition has been an integral part of Chattogram’s cultural heritage since its introduction in 1909 by local merchant Abdul Jabbar Sawdagor. Traditional ‘Jabbar er Boli Khela’ begins in Chattogram Originally aimed at inspiring youth, the event has grown into a major public gathering that draws wrestlers and spectators from across the country each year. Banglalink said its continued association with the event reflects its broader commitment to preserving and promoting Bangladesh’s cultural traditions, alongside its focus on customer service. This year’s competition will be livestreamed on Toffee, enabling audiences nationwide to watch the event in real time and expanding its reach beyond Chattogram. The descendants of Abdul Jabbar, along with members of the local community, continue to play a vital role in organising the event, helping maintain its authenticity and ensuring wide participation. With digital support and growing national interest, organisers hope the traditional sport will reach new audiences while retaining its historic significance.

A fire broke out Wednesday morning at Rio de Janeiro's Olympic Park velodrome, prompting a major emergency response involving about 80 firefighters and 20 vehicles, authorities said. Rio state military fire department said the blaze was under control and largely confined to the venue’s fabric roof. There have been no reported injuries, and the interior of the building — including the Olympic Museum — remained untouched. While the cause of this latest incident is currently under investigation, the facility has a history of roof fires. Two similar blazes occurred in 2017, both caused by falling paper sky lanterns. Since hosting track cycling during the 2016 Summer Games, the Velodrome has served as a primary training base for Brazil’s national cycling and weightlifting teams.  

NBA legend LeBron James made history Friday night by recording the league’s first-ever father-son assist, passing to his son Bronny James for a 3-pointer during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 116-99 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. Bronny, playing alongside his father for nearly four and a half minutes in the second quarter, described the moment as “special for us two, and a lot more to come down the road.” Both generations contributed to the scoring during their shared on-court time, with LeBron first making a layup before assisting Bronny, who sank a three from just behind the arc. LeBron called the milestone “a cool moment for us, and also for the family,” highlighting the significance of playing meaningful minutes together in back-to-back games. Bronny, now in his second season with the Lakers, has mainly seen limited playing time but earned rotation minutes this week due to an injury to starting guard Marcus Smart. He has also continued to refine his offensive game in the G League. “My shot has gotten more comfortable just by getting reps and keeping at it,” Bronny said. LeBron added that Bronny’s shooting is returning to the level it had before a cardiac arrest incident in 2023, praising his confidence, rhythm, and recovery. LeBron and Bronny are the first father-son duo to ever play in the NBA simultaneously, and the historic assist adds to LeBron’s already record-breaking career. “I’ve been wanting to play basketball my whole life,” Bronny said. “It’s a dream come true to play professionally and alongside my dad. I love every second of it.”

Most of Iran's women's soccer team left Australia on Tuesday, with only seven players having accepted offers of permanent asylum. Tense scenes unfolded at Sydney Airport as Australian officials held last-minute private meetings with each player, explaining through interpreters that they could choose not to return to Iran. Earlier, seven players had received humanitarian visas to stay in Australia permanently. Despite emotional appeals and tearful protests from the departing players, no additional team members chose to remain. Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke described the airport meetings as "emotional," adding that one of the seven women who initially stayed behind later decided to return to Iran. The episode drew national attention after the team’s first Asian Cup match, where some players remained silent during Iran's national anthem. Their silence was widely interpreted as a protest or act of defiance, while others viewed it as a form of mourning. Burke said the gesture had “been heard as a roar all around the world” and noted that Australia offered the players a safe choice. The team arrived in Australia before the outbreak of the Iran war on Feb. 28. Following Iran’s exit from the tournament over the weekend, players faced the prospect of returning to a country under conflict. Iranian-Australian groups warned the players could face serious consequences for their actions, even as the players themselves did not publicly explain their silence. U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Australia for not offering asylum, although Australian officials confirmed private discussions with the players had already been ongoing. Meanwhile, Iranian authorities insisted the players were safe and that the government would protect them. Burke said Australian officials had made every effort to allow players to decide freely, arranging last-minute discussions, private phone calls, and separation from team minders to ensure decisions were made with dignity. The six players remaining in Australia were relocated for security, guaranteed permanent residency, and provided health, housing, and support. The Asian Football Confederation confirmed the squad had moved to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where it would continue to receive support until further travel arrangements.

Iraq’s head coach, Graham Arnold, has appealed to FIFA to postpone his team’s intercontinental World Cup playoff due to the disruptions caused by the escalating war in Iran. The Iraqi squad faces major challenges ahead of their winner-takes-all match against either Suriname or Bolivia, set for March 31 in Monterrey, Mexico. With Iraqi airspace closed until April 1, Arnold’s team — mostly made up of domestic league players cannot fully assemble. Many players are also unable to secure visas for Mexico because of embassy closures, while Arnold himself is stuck in the United Arab Emirates amid the conflict. “Please help us with this game because right now we are struggling to get our players out of Iraq,” Arnold, a former Australian national team coach, told the Australian Associated Press. The turmoil has already forced the cancellation of a planned training camp in Houston. Arnold said relying only on overseas-based players is not a viable solution. “It wouldn’t be our best team, and we need our best squad for the country’s biggest game in 40 years,” he said. Arnold has suggested a strategic delay: let Suriname and Bolivia play their preliminary match this month, but postpone Iraq’s final playoff until a week before the World Cup starts. “This would give us time to prepare properly and allow FIFA to see how the situation with Iran develops,” he said. “If Iran withdraws, we go to the World Cup, and it also gives the UAE, who we beat in qualifying, time to prepare for either Bolivia or Suriname.” Iraq Football Association president Adnan Dirjal is reportedly working tirelessly to make the World Cup dream a reality, and Arnold stressed that a quick decision from FIFA is crucial.

Beijing has been recognized as the world's leading sports event city, according to a report released Wednesday during an academic symposium on "Sports and Urban Development" at the Olympic Museum. According to the Leading International Sports Event Cities Influence Index 2025, Beijing - the first city in the world to host both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games - joins Berlin, Doha, New York, Shanghai, Sydney, Paris, London, Tokyo and Los Angeles in the ranks of leading international sports event cities. "In recent years, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports has leveraged the legacy of hosting both the Summer and Winter Olympics to create a 'Dual-Olympic City of International Sports Events,' thereby promoting the high-quality development of the sports sector," said Shi Fenghua, deputy director general of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports. Paul Downward, a professor at the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom, told Xinhua that Beijing holds a "unique position" after becoming the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics. He added that this position reflects a broader international trend where countries use sports events to drive social and economic development. "China's Olympic success also offers a distinct opportunity to enhance national pride and well-being through sport," Downward said. The index, developed by Xinhua Indices Institute, establishes a systematic evaluation system for major global sports event cities based on four key dimensions: the city's sport DNA, event hosting capability, integrated sports industry ecosystem and global connectivity. Following the principles of "broad coverage, benchmark alignment and strong representativeness," cities worldwide were screened using four selection criteria: industrial scale, event level, overall urban development and international influence.

Hugo Alejandro Pérez was at his home, just a few miles from the stadium in Guadalajara set to host FIFA World Cup matches, when gunfire and explosions broke out nearby. The 53-year-old restaurant owner had already questioned whether his city was prepared to stage such a major international event. Frustrated by unresolved local issues like unreliable water service and persistent cartel violence in the surrounding state of Jalisco, he said this week’s surge in bloodshed — triggered by the Mexican military’s killing of a top cartel leader — reinforced his doubts. “I don’t think they should host the World Cup here,” Pérez said. “We have too many problems, and with all this violence, it’s not a good idea.” His concerns surfaced as others also questioned Guadalajara’s readiness to serve as a host city for the tournament, which Mexico will co-host with the United States and Canada. Mexican officials, however, insist the event will proceed as planned. President Claudia Sheinbaum said there are “every guarantee” that matches will be safely held in Jalisco, adding there is “no risk” to visiting fans. Jalisco Governor Jesús Pablo Lemus said FIFA officials have no plans to relocate any of Mexico’s venues. Meanwhile, Portugal’s soccer federation said it was closely monitoring developments ahead of a scheduled friendly against Mexico in March at the renovated Estadio Azteca, which will host the tournament’s opening match on June 11. Jalisco has long grappled with intense cartel violence, including the discovery of a suspected killing site at a ranch last year and a growing crisis of disappearances. The state is considered a stronghold of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), whose leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes — known as “El Mencho” — was killed Sunday during a military operation. The crackdown unleashed widespread violence that left at least 70 people dead. Armed groups torched vehicles to block roads and clashed with security forces across multiple states before authorities said the situation was brought under control. The operation forms part of Mexico’s intensified campaign against organized crime, amid pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to curb cartel activity. The White House confirmed providing intelligence assistance in the mission and praised Mexican forces for eliminating one of the most wanted figures in both countries. Still, analysts warn that eliminating a cartel leader can sometimes spark further instability, as rival factions compete for control. Experts say uncertainty remains over whether CJNG has a clear successor, raising fears of internal conflict or territorial disputes with rival groups. For residents like Pérez, the violence underscores lingering insecurity. When gunmen set a vehicle ablaze near his home during clashes Sunday, he sheltered neighbors inside as the firefight continued for an hour. He remains unconvinced that the World Cup’s projected $3 billion economic boost — estimated by Mexico’s soccer federation — will benefit working-class communities like his, even those close to the stadium. Despite the turmoil, Guadalajara appeared to regain a sense of normalcy Tuesday. Businesses reopened, traffic returned to the streets, and workers continued preparing the stadium. Security forces maintained a visible presence across the city. Some residents urged calm, saying the unrest had been exaggerated, while others worried about the long-term impact on tourism. Maria Dolores Aguirre, who runs a small shop in the mountain town of Tapalpa where the military operation took place, said she fears the violence could hurt local livelihoods. “It’s going to affect us. The whole world saw what happened,” she said. “People are going to think twice before coming.”  

US President Donald Trump’s relationship with the National Football League has long been tense and complicated, marked by legal battles, failed ownership bids and sharp political clashes, even as recent public appearances suggest a temporary thaw. The complexity was on display last May when NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stood beside Trump in the Oval Office to announce that Washington DC would host the NFL Draft in 2027. The moment appeared symbolic, given Trump’s decades long disputes with America’s most popular sports league. Trump’s clashes with the NFL date back more than 40 years. In the early 1980s, he tried but failed to buy an NFL franchise before purchasing the New Jersey Generals of the now defunct United States Football League. He later pushed the USFL into direct competition with the NFL and led an antitrust lawsuit accusing the league of monopolising television contracts. Although a jury ruled the NFL an illegal monopoly, it awarded the USFL only nominal damages. The league collapsed soon after, and Trump’s hopes of forcing a merger and gaining an NFL team ended. Trump made further attempts to buy NFL teams over the years, including the Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills, but each bid failed. Analysts and former associates have suggested those setbacks fuelled his resentment toward the league and may even have influenced his later political ambitions. Tensions escalated during Trump’s first presidency when NFL players protested racial injustice by kneeling during the national anthem. Trump publicly criticised the players and urged team owners to discipline them, drawing sharp responses from league officials and several team owners. The controversy deepened divisions between the White House and the NFL, with Trump calling for rule changes and boycotts, while the league defended players’ rights to peaceful protest. The issue also affected traditional White House visits by Super Bowl champions, with some teams declining invitations and others seeing visits cancelled. Despite past hostility, Trump has recently sought closer ties with the NFL. He became the first sitting US president to attend a Super Bowl and has promoted major league events in Washington DC. He has also revived the presidential fitness test and formed a sports council that includes NFL figures. Still, friction remains. Trump has criticised the NFL’s choice of performers for the Super Bowl half time show and has threatened to intervene in league matters, including disputes over team names and stadium deals. With Super Bowl 60 set to conclude the current season, observers say Trump’s relationship with the NFL continues to shift between cooperation and confrontation, shaped as much by politics and personal history as by sport itself.   With inputs from BBC

The 25th Winter Olympics is almost here, returning to Europe with a record 116 medal events, including three in the new sport of ski mountaineering. Here’s what you need to know about Milan-Cortina 2026. Britain eyes historic Winter Games Great Britain has never won more than five medals – or more than one gold – at a single Winter Olympics, but 2026 could change that. UK Sport is now targeting four to eight medals, while Team GB chef de mission Eve Muirhead says there is an "opportunity to get the most we ever have." British athletes recently won nine medals at World Championships across bobsleigh, curling, figure skating, freestyle skiing, skeleton, and snowboarding. Medal hopefuls also include snowboarder Mia Brookes and freestyle skier Kirsty Muir, both winners in this season’s World Cup events. However, GB’s previous Winter Olympics target of three to seven medals in 2022 did not go as planned. The team won nothing until the final weekend, picking up a gold and silver in curling, falling short of expectations. The most gender-equal Winter Games yet The Winter Olympics have come a long way since 1924, when just 11 women competed. For Milan-Cortina, roughly 1,300 female athletes will participate, with women competing in a record 53.4% of medal events. Of the 116 events, 50 are for women and 12 are mixed. Twelve of the 16 disciplines will have fully balanced athlete numbers. New women’s events include luge doubles and ski jumping individual large hill, alongside a mixed skeleton relay. This is also the first Winter Olympics overseen by IOC president Kirsty Coventry, the first woman in the organisation’s top post. Yet some gaps remain: Nordic combined is still the only Winter Olympic sport without a women’s event, as the IOC decided against including one for 2026 despite lobbying from leading athletes. NHL stars return to ice hockey Ice hockey is one of the Winter Games’ biggest draws, and NHL players are back after a 12-year absence. They missed the 2018 Games, while Covid disrupted 2022 participation. Even for 2026, the inclusion of NHL players was uncertain due to rink readiness issues. Their return boosts the USA’s hopes of winning its first men’s Olympic ice hockey title since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice,” especially with Russia banned from competing. While most NHL teams are US- or Canada-based, almost every Olympic team will feature NHL players, including 2022 champions Finland and semi-finalists Slovakia and Sweden. US olympic committee bars transgender women from Women’s Sports in line with Trump order Milan-Cortina 2026 vs. Cortina 1956 Cortina d’Ampezzo will host the Winter Olympics for the second time, joining St Moritz, Innsbruck, and Lake Placid. The Games have grown dramatically since 1956 – with five times as many events and almost four times as many athletes – making it impossible for a single ski resort to host alone. Events will take place across multiple cities, including Milan. The IOC emphasizes sustainability, and spreading events reduces the need for new infrastructure. Cortina’s Olympic Ice Stadium, which hosted opening ceremonies, ice hockey, and figure skating outdoors in 1956, will now host curling under a roof in 2026. A golden era of record-breaking athletes The 2026 Games could see new names join the list of Winter Olympic gold medal leaders. German lugers Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt aim for their seventh and eighth golds, equalling Norwegian legends Ole Einar Bjorndalen, Bjorn Daehlie, and Marit Bjorgen. Their 100% gold rate could surpass the Norwegians, who won gold in 53%, 33%, and 30% of their events respectively. Norwegian cross-country skier Johannes Hosflot Klaebo, a five-time Olympic champion, could also rise to the top, having won all six events at last season’s World Championships. Bangladesh T20 exclusion may jeopardise India’s 2036 Olympic hosting, Guardian reports How will hosts Italy perform? Hosts often get a medal boost, though not always. Italy won 13 medals in 2002 but only 11 in Turin 2006, despite five golds. For 2026, the Italian Olympic Committee has set a minimum target of 19 medals, one short of their 1994 record of 20. Italy’s medal hopes have faced setbacks, with flagbearer Federica Brignone and freestyle skier Flora Tabanelli struggling with fitness, while alpine skier Marta Bassino is already ruled out. Others, like speed skater Davide Ghiotto, snowboarder Maurizio Bormolini, and curling pair Amos Mosaner and Stefania Constantini, remain strong contenders. Short track legend Arianna Fontana, who won bronze at 15 in Turin 2006, aims to win a medal at a sixth consecutive Winter Olympics, cementing her place as Italy’s most successful Winter Olympian. With inputs from BBC