Norway Coach Quits After Dismal Group-Stage Exit
Martin Sjogren has agreed his departure as head coach of Norway Women following their woeful Women's Euro 2022 campaign.
Much was expected of twotime European champions Norway after Ada Hegerberg ended her international exile to join an exciting attacking line-up.
But after a 4-1 opening win over Northern Ireland, they suffered a remarkable, record-breaking 8-0 reverse at the hands of hosts England.
Norway could still have qualified for the quarter-finals but instead lost 1-0 to Austria and exited the tournament.
The Norwegian Football Federation confirmed on Tuesday that Sjogren, who had been in charge since 2016, and assistant Anders Jacobson were leaving their roles.
"Having the opportunity to lead Norway's national team for five and a half years, including three tournaments, has been a special time in my coaching career," Sjogren said, "and I take with me many good and developing experiences from my time in Norway.
"The conditions before this championship were clear, and we had high ambitions. When the results did not match expectations, it was a natural solution that we now go our separate ways."
More than 30 para-athletes benefitting from the GAPS programme saw their preparations for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games given a boost today following a special visit at the University of Birmingham.
As part of the GAPS programme - the sport for social purpose initiative developed by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and Griffith University – 33 para-athletes from around the world are currently enjoying a specially-arranged sixday staging camp.
With just over a week to go until the Commonwealth Games begin, the athletes – and many of their coaches – were treated to a visit by CGF President, Dame Louise Martin and UK Sport Chair, Dame Katherine Grainger as they enjoy the opportunity to add the final touches to their preparations thanks to the GAPS programme.
Dame Louise and Dame Katherine were offered the chance to watch and speak to the 33 athletes, who will compete in athletics, table tennis and powerlifting and are from 15 nations: Cameroon, Cyprus, Fiji, Jamaica, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, South Africa,
Sri Lanka, The Gambia, Uganda, Vanuatu and Zambia.
GAPS is a unique programme focused on supporting the development of emerging para-athletes and coaches from the Commonwealth, and it forms part of the international legacy of Birmingham's hosting of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The programme has benefitted from British expertise in Paralympic and para sport, with support from British Para Table Tennis, British Weightlifting and UK Athletics alongside experts from the University of Birmingham.
The six-day staging camp – and today's visit – has been made possible through the support of the University of Birmingham and its volunteers and is an example of the opportunities it provides to support athletes, coaches and the development of sport pathways across the Commonwealth.
Ultimately, the long-term aim for this programme is to support participating athletes to use their platform as athletes to promote equal rights for disabled people in their countries, with Birmingham 2022 serving as a catalyst for progress toward disability equality around the world.