The first summer Olympic Games to be held in 100 years in the French capital are finally under way.
In Paris, the weeks leading up to the grand event were filled with one too many hurdles that prevented momentum from building fully: from anti-Olympics protests by locals to arsonists attacking France's train network and the major political shake-up in the country earlier this month, in which a left-wing coalition defeated the far right in a surprise parliamentary election that resulted in a stalemate. But with the grand opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics completed smoothly, despite the rain and concerns about some of the elements portrayed in it, distractions have subsided. The focus, as it should be, until August 11, is now on the athletes, the spirit of the games and the actual sporting competition.
These are the first Olympics since the Covid-19 pandemic. The previous Olympics, held in Tokyo in 2021 after being postponed by a year, took place when the world was still in the midst of lockdowns and social distancing. Participants had to compete in unfamiliar, isolated ways with stringent rules, mask mandates and constant, routine nasal swab tests.
For Olympians this year to be able to return to more "normal" times, in which they can move freely and have an audience, a crowd of spectators cheering them on, is a vast improvement, a dream experience for which athletes train hard their entire lives, and one that is truly unrivalled.
From the UAE, 14 athletes representing the Emirates in equestrian, swimming, cycling, judo and athletics, carry the dreams of a nation and represent excellence in sports. Other nations, like Saudi Arabia, have a number of firsts in this tournament.
And yet, despite a pandemic-free reality, this is a period of a different kind of darkness. The unspeakable horrors taking place in the region are the backdrop of games this time around. A much-needed ceasefire in Gaza is still a long way off, despite French calls for a ceasefire and a time of peace during the Olympics.
There are several Arab athletes competing despite strife and conflict in their home countries
And for several participating Olympians, war is a reality that they cannot simply shake off. Their determination to compete and excel – and thus their mere presence on an arena as prestigious as the Olympics – is a testament to their mental strength and courage. The eight athletes in the Palestinian contingent should be lauded. Many of them have spoken about raising awareness of the devastating effect of the war.
Palestinian swimmer Yazan Al Bawwab told The National: “For me it’s not about the medals, it’s about reaching the most people about the Palestinian cause – I don’t care about medals. If a medal gets me more awareness, that’s what I care about. But for me, sport is a tool for peace."
There are several other Arab athletes from the region competing in the Olympics, many in the face of strife and conflict in their home countries. Hady Habib, despite a 6-3, 6-1 loss to Wimbledon men's champion Carlos Alcaraz in the first round, deserves applause for boosting Lebanese tennis and inspiring youngsters in a country that has been at the brink of war with neighbouring Israel. Habib is one of 10 Lebanese athletes competing at the Olympics.
There are many more Arab athletes waiting in the wings to compete and possibly take their place in the history books. Whether it is Egypt's volleyball star Doaa Elghobashy, or Tunisia's Fares Ferjani who has already claimed the distinction of a silver medal – the first for the Arab world at this games – the next two weeks promise a triumph of the human spirit. As much as that enthrals sports fans and spectators, for millions of people in troubled nations rooting for their athletes to show the world what they can achieve, the Olympic Games are an especially significant beacon of hope.
Springtime in a Broken Mirror,
Mario Benedetti, Penguin Modern Classics
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday Athletic Bilbao v Celta Vigo (Kick-off midnight UAE)
Saturday Levante v Getafe (5pm), Sevilla v Real Madrid (7.15pm), Atletico Madrid v Real Valladolid (9.30pm), Cadiz v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday Granada v Huesca (5pm), Osasuna v Real Betis (7.15pm), Villarreal v Elche (9.30pm), Alaves v Real Sociedad (midnight)
Monday Eibar v Valencia (midnight)
Dubai World Cup nominations
UAE: Thunder Snow/Saeed bin Suroor (trainer), North America/Satish Seemar, Drafted/Doug Watson, New Trails/Ahmad bin Harmash, Capezzano, Gronkowski, Axelrod, all trained by Salem bin Ghadayer
USA: Seeking The Soul/Dallas Stewart, Imperial Hunt/Luis Carvajal Jr, Audible/Todd Pletcher, Roy H/Peter Miller, Yoshida/William Mott, Promises Fulfilled/Dale Romans, Gunnevera/Antonio Sano, XY Jet/Jorge Navarro, Pavel/Doug O’Neill, Switzerland/Steve Asmussen.
Japan: Matera Sky/Hideyuki Mori, KT Brace/Haruki Sugiyama. Bahrain: Nine Below Zero/Fawzi Nass. Ireland: Tato Key/David Marnane. Hong Kong: Fight Hero/Me Tsui. South Korea: Dolkong/Simon Foster.
The specs
Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Power: 300hp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: Dh189,900
On sale: now
OTHER IPL BOWLING RECORDS
Best bowling figures: 6-14 – Sohail Tanvir (for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings in 2008)
Best average: 16.36 – Andrew Tye
Best economy rate: 6.53 – Sunil Narine
Best strike-rate: 12.83 – Andrew Tye
Best strike-rate in an innings: 1.50 – Suresh Raina (for Chennai Super Kings against Rajasthan Royals in 2011)
Most runs conceded in an innings: 70 – Basil Thampi (for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2018)
Most hat-tricks: 3 – Amit Mishra
Most dot-balls: 1,128 – Harbhajan Singh
Most maiden overs bowled: 14 – Praveen Kumar
Most four-wicket hauls: 6 – Sunil Narine
UAE Premiership
Results
Dubai Exiles 24-28 Jebel Ali Dragons
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 43-27 Dubai Hurricanes
Final
Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Jebel Ali Dragons, Friday, March 29, 5pm at The Sevens, Dubai
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
One in nine do not have enough to eat
Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.
One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.
The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.
Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.
It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.
On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.
Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.
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What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
List of alleged parties
May 12, 2020: PM and his wife Carrie attend 'work meeting' with at least 17 staff
May 20, 2020: They attend 'bring your own booze party'
Nov 27, 2020: PM gives speech at leaving party for his staff
Dec 10, 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary Gavin Williamson
Dec 13, 2020: PM and his wife throw a party
Dec 14, 2020: London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey holds staff event at Conservative Party headquarters
Dec 15, 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz
Dec 18, 2020: Downing Street Christmas party
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn (4.30pm)
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)
Sunday, May 17
Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)
Monday, May 18
Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)
ALL THE RESULTS
Bantamweight
Siyovush Gulmomdov (TJK) bt Rey Nacionales (PHI) by decision.
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) bt Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR) by submission.
Catch 74kg
Omar Hussein (JOR) bt Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) by decision.
Strawweight (Female)
Seo Ye-dam (KOR) bt Weronika Zygmunt (POL) by decision.
Featherweight
Kaan Ofli (TUR) bt Walid Laidi (ALG) by TKO.
Lightweight
Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW) bt Leandro Martins (BRA) by TKO.
Welterweight
Ahmad Labban (LEB) bt Sofiane Benchohra (ALG) by TKO.
Bantamweight
Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR) no contest.
Lightweight
Mohammed Yahya (UAE) bt Glen Ranillo (PHI) by TKO round 1.
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) bt Aidan Aguilera (AUS) by TKO round 1.
Welterweight
Mounir Lazzez (TUN) bt Sasha Palatkinov (HKG) by TKO round 1.
Featherweight title bout
Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) by KO round 1.
Remaining fixtures
- August 29 – UAE v Saudi Arabia, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
- September 5 – Iraq v UAE, Amman, Jordan (venue TBC)
