From politics, to governing bodies, to athletes' commissions and player associations, the face of sport is changing. Six of The Ticket's Top 10 women of influence talk challenges, changes and the future.

Sport can both save and destroy lives, today we hear from two athletes with experience of those extremes. Plus, can India's WPL cricket tournament impact gender norms in one of the world's most populous nations? And Paralympics Australia sets out its strategic plan for 2032 and beyond.

The politicians are doing what politicians do, playing politics with sport. That's the view of one of our athletes today as we focus on the one year mark of the war on Ukraine and how the Olympics is being thrown into the spotlight. Plus, after commissioning a Human Rights analysis for the upcoming women's football world cup, what has FIFA actually done with it? Not enough, is the answer.

From anti-doping, to war and boycotts, and a lucrative new cricket competition giving some women their biggest pay day ever, sports are having to put athletes first; plus the World Athletics heritage project bringing the legend of Percy Cerutty to life.

* The UN Special Rapporteur whose reasoning saw the ban on athletes from Russia & Belarus overturned by the IOC * The secret vote that might have changed nationalism at the Olympics forever * The PFAs concerns over Saudi sponsorship of the FIFA Women's World Cup * Two Australian businesswomen who were 'blown away' by their visit to Saudi Arabia. *

India hits women's cricket into the stratosphere with a WPL franchise auction; a young cricketer in Afghanistan appeals for help; the Hungarian water polo team's 1956 Olympic defection is remembered; Socceroo Awer Mabil on the ups and downs of life; and the politics of war plays out on the sidelines of the Australian Open.

Having fled their homeland, the Afghanistan Women's Cricket team is now in Australia trying to revive their dreams. They have been emboldened by support from Cricket Australia, now they are calling on the world governing body, the ICC, to back them also.

The headlines continue to scream but whether you like it or not Qatar is here...the FIFA Men's World Cup is about to begin. Guests include head of International Trade Union Confederation, head of Football Australia, Socceroo Thomas Deng and more.

Described as a sports zeitgeist, modern pentathlon is the latest sport facing an uprising from some of its athletes; the AFL investigation into racism gets a mixed response: FIFA wants ideology and politics put aside on the eve of Qatar; and some of cricket's old timers are struggling to deal with a modern landscape.

The countdown to Qatar is on with daily headlines about human rights, LGBTQI+ rights and more. The Emir of Qatar says no other FIFA World Cup host nation has been subjected to such criticism. We hear from players, advocates, and the ILO. Plus, is ping pong diplomacy 2 being played out in China?