The U.K. has become the first country to officially recognize parkour as a sport. The practice, "also known as freerunning," has had its application to be recognized approved by the home country sports councils. U.K. Sports Minister Tracey Crouch described it as a "fun, creative and innovative option." According to Parkour UK, the discipline was founded in France in the '80s by a group of nine men and named "l'art du deplacement" (BBC, 1/10).
A team game "once considered the preserve of a handful of private schools is becoming Scotland’s fastest growing sport." The modern version of lacrosse was first played in the U.K. by the girls of St. Leonards School, St. Andrews, in 1890. Now it has "discarded its elitist image to become a boom sport in Scotland with the number of registered players doubling to more than 1,000 in the past six years." Lacrosse Scotland National Development Officer Adam Szymoszowskyj said that "efforts to broaden the sport’s appeal were now coming to fruition." He added, "My background is in athletics and when I first took on my role here I very much had the impression that lacrosse was very much a private school sport. We are now breaking those barriers and making lacrosse accessible to teachers and students in state schools for the first time" (LONDON TIMES, 1/10).
Former referee Dave Pearson defended World Rugby's enhanced high tackle sanctions, saying players are in "increasing need of protection" from the rigors of the professional game. The directive aims to "lower the acceptable tackle height" to help reduce the number of concussions. Pearson: "Players get bigger over the years, creating bigger impacts" (BBC, 1/10).
The Pakistan Cricket Board on Tuesday "strongly condemned" the Federation of Int'l Cricket Associations for its "negative advisory on playing cricket in Pakistan." The PCB said in a statement, "FICA has done great disservice to the cause of cricket in general and Pakistan cricket in particular by advising players not to play in the PSL Final in Lahore next March because of 'security reasons'" (DAWN, 1/10).
