Paris, LA ecstatic after Games award
LIMA: Paris and Los Angeles celebrated their coronation as host cities for the 2024 and 2028 Olympics here Wednesday, delivering a jolt of good news for the International Olympic Committee. In a drama-free conclusion to a three-year bidding race, IOC members voted unanimously to rubber-stamp a deal hashed out in July for Paris to be given 2024 and Los Angeles 2028.
IOC president Thomas Bach hailed the joint award as a “winwin-win.”
“It’s a magical, unique victory,” said Paris 2024 bid co-leader Tony Estanguet as French President Emmanuel Macron saluted a “victory for France.” Los Angeles 2028 leaders were equally ecstatic. “It was about friendship, it was about finding a win-win,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said.
In Paris, giant Olympic rings were unveiled in front of the Eiffel Tower just after the announcement was made.
GERMANY ARE NO. 1
ZURICH: World champs Germany pushed Brazil back into second place to return to the top of Fifa rankings, which was published on Thursday.
Germany’s 2-1 win away to the Czech Republic and their 6-0 drubbing of Norway in the World Cup qualifiers lifted them over the already-qualified Brazil, who dropped points in a draw away to Colombia.
INDIA DROP 10 PLACES
NEW DELHI: The Indian football team has dropped 10 places to be placed 107 in the latest Fifa ranking. The Sunil Chhetri-led side notched up two wins and a draw in three matches after they were placed 97th last month. India have dropped below the 100th spot for the first time since May.
PLAYOFF IN MALAYSIA
SYDNEY: Syria will play Australia in the first leg of their crucial World Cup Asian playoff in Malaysia next month. Football Federation Australia said it had received confirmation that the Socceroos would face the war-divided nation at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Melaka on October 5. They will host the return leg in Sydney five days later.
Syria, who have never qualified for the World Cup finals, have been forced to play all their home qualifiers in Malaysia because of the civil war back home.
GILBERT ENTHRALLS
NEW DELHI : Anthony McGill of Scotland defeated Rory McLeod of England 4-1 in Round 2 of the Indian Open Snooker 4-1 in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.
In another second-round match David B Gilbert of England came up with a century break (135) in the third frame on way to overcoming the dogged resistance of Denmark’s Kurt Malfin 4-3 in the most keenly contested tie of the day. Another English player Michael Holt defeated compatriot Gary Wilson 4-2.
CROSS-COUNTRY RUN
NEWDELHI: Deepanjali, BA (Hons) English 3rd year, won the annual cross-country run organised by Lady Shri Ram College for Women and its Department of Physical Education. The second place was bagged by Charu, a second-year psychology student.