Do not take my word for it; ask any athlete/coach/official/journalist/commentator to name the most wretched Olympics they have attended and I can guarantee their answer will be "Atlanta". Should you be tempted to ask "And, why was that....?" steel yourself to be on the receiving end of a diatribe that could last many a long hour.
Briefly, the transport arrangements were a mess; when advertising for volunteer drivers, the Games organisers decided that the two credentials required were: 1) they come from Nebraska or Alaska, anywhere in fact beyond a 1,000-mile radius of Atlanta and have no knowledge whatsoever of how to get from A to B; 2) they be totally unable to read a map or a timetable.
Chaos duly ensued. When a bus did arrive at the various ports of call - invariably to a round of ironic cheers - it would promptly drive off into the twilight zone never to be seen again. Steve Redgrave and his British rowing crew were delivered to the archery arena instead of the rowing venue, while the Kenyan track team found themselves wandering a freeway after their frazzled driver abandoned them and vehicle at the side of the road. Such slapstick tales became part of daily life in the Olympic Village.
All - well, most of it at any rate - could have been forgiven if Atlanta had offered its guests a warm welcome. But while Sydney was the land of smiles in 2000, most Georgians appeared to resent the influx of visitors. The atmosphere on the streets was decidedly un-Olympic, thick as it was with the stink of rampant commercialism and smell of burgers and hot dogs rising from the monstrous miles of fast food stalls. Actually, Atlanta '96 was 10 times worse than I have managed to convey but, hopefully, you will get an idea of the gruesome picture.
But even amid such depressing surroundings, there were moments to treasure, occasions when the heart soared and the Olympic flame burned as brightly as ever over the Centennial Stadium (now known as Turner Field and home to the Atlanta Braves baseball club). July 29 was such an evening; when the eight finalists for the men's 400m arrived on the floodlit track, the eyes of mankind were on "The Man With The Golden Shoes".
Unbeaten over the distance for seven years encompassing 54 finals and including the 1993 and 1995 World Championships, Michael Johnson's superstar status had persuaded Games organisers to alter the track and field schedule to allow him to mount an unprecedented attempt to complete the 200 and 400m double. He did not disappoint.
As the other seven finalists bickered over silver and bronze - which would go to Britain's Roger Black and Davis Kamoga of Uganda - Johnson ran in a world of his own, the most elegant of runners. As thousands of flashbulbs popped, Johnson crossed the line 10m In front of Black, the longest winning margin in more than a century. Three nights later, he made history by adding the 200m title to his collection.
By the time of the first Games of the third millennium in Sydney, Johnson ("The only one who can beat me is me...") had extended his unbeaten record over 400m to 11 years. Although he had been denied the opportunity of achieving a double double when he pulled up injured in the 200m final at the US trials, Johnson's win in the one-lap final again captured the world's attention.
Johnson showed himself to be a great sportsman when he returned his fifth Olympic gold (achieved in the 4 x 100 relay) when the other members of the US squad were revealed as drug cheats. "That medal is dirty, it doesn't belong to me," he said.
@Email:rphilip@thenational.ae
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Abu Dhabi GP weekend schedule
Friday
First practice, 1pm
Second practice, 5pm
Saturday
Final practice, 2pm
Qualifying, 5pm
Sunday
Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps), 5.10pm
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TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
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