Your weekly physical activity bulletin

21 July 2026

We are working towards improving the health and wellbeing of the nation through sport, exercise and physical activity. For more information on our work visit our website or follow us on X @NCSEM_PAnews

Fifa president Gianni Infantino set for fourth term – despite World Cup controversies

An opinion piece authored by Dr Mathew Dowling, Dr Borja Garcia, and Haojin Zhou (all School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences) for The Conversation platform.

As President Donald Trump presented the World Cup trophy to Spain at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the man in charge of world football’s governing body, Fifa, seemed untouched by the competition’s controversies.

How elite athletes fuel their final week before the Commonwealth Games

With just under a week to go until the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, training is largely done and the focus will have turned to ensuring athletes arrive at the competition feeling fresh, recovered and ready to perform.

Loughborough University's Performance Nutrition Lead, Andy Shepherd, speaks about what athletes are likely to be doing in the final days before stepping onto the world stage.

adidas cooling overshoe worn by 2026 FIFA World Cup footballers tested at Loughborough University

Researchers at Loughborough University collaborated with adidas to define the benefits of a cooling overshoe worn by footballers during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

adidas’ CLIMACOOL SYSTEM – which includes a cooling vest, jacket and overshoe – looked to combat the impact of the high temperatures experienced during the tournament on athlete performance.

Ahead of the World Cup, the Environmental Ergonomics Research Centre in Loughborough University’s School of Design and Creative Arts helped define the benefits of the overshoe – which is placed directly over a player’s boot and contains a cooling gel.

UK Chief Medical Officers' physical activity guidelines

This report presents an update to the 2019 physical activity guidelines issued by the 4 Chief Medical Officers of Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and England. The UK Chief Medical Officers draw upon global evidence to present guidelines for different age groups, covering the volume, duration, frequency and type of physical activity required across the life course to achieve health benefits.

The weekly physical activity bulletin in a summary of news stories that appear across the physical activity sector. The National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine is not responsible for the content of external sites.

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