Category: Sports

Preparations are in full swing to hold the third Bahrain Baby Games, organised by the Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) at the Isa Town Sports City’s Isa bin Rashid halls from June 1 to 4.

First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS), General Sports Authority Chairman (GSA) and BOC President, His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, will patronise the mini Olympiad, in which more than 600 children, aged between three and five, will participate.

On the occasion, HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad stated the third Bahrain Baby Games is part of BOC’s keenness to create a healthy and active generation, as the event aims to develop children’s motor and cognitive abilities at an early age.

HH added that the event aims to attract children at an early age to develop their physical and motor skills, create early focus in their minds about the importance of exercise, instill the values and principles in early childhood and enhance the importance of physical and sports education by raising awareness among parents.

HH Shaikh Khalid indicated that the mini Olympiad will reflect positively on the sports movement in the kingdom, as its noble goals include instilling the Olympic and cultural values in the minds of children, as well as encouraging them to practise sports, stressing the importance of preparing well for the tournament.

The third Bahrain Baby Games features many games, namely crawling, race with walkers, football with free kicks competitions, basketball through free throws into the basket, athletics with a sprint run, hurdles and kids relay, gymnastics with free body expression, freestyle swimming, and weightlifting with the emphasis on technique.

BOC will organise the four-day mini Olympiad in cooperation with the Bahrain Athletics Association, the Bahrain Football Association, the Bahrain Gymnastics Association and the Bahrain Basketball Association.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Design Lead for the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy’s (SC) Mobility Operations Team, Rana Jubara, said that FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will be remembered for exceeding expectations, expressing pride in participating in the journey of hosting the World Cup’s first edition in the Arab world, in Qatar, which she considers as a second home.

Rana used her artistic skills to help more than 1.4 million visitors seamlessly travel between stadiums, accommodation and tourist attractions during the FIFA World Cup.

Speaking to Qatar2022.qa, Rana, said, “I designed stadium maps, cross-country public transport schedules and infographics about transport options and parking locations – all to ensure the safe, efficient and enjoyable movement of visitors during the tournament. We worked closely with other teams and people involved in mobility operations, such as engineers and transport planners, to create guides which people would find useful.” “I always seek new and exciting design projects that challenge and push me creatively. I was drawn to the SC because of the projects ambitious goals, but more so, for the chance to join the team that is organising the first World Cup in the region, which was a historic moment for the country I call my second home. I really wanted to be a part of that.

“By ensuring that the visual communication materials, like the maps, are effectively integrated within the overall operations plan and meet the needs of fans and stakeholders. We worked tirelessly to make sure that the content is clear, concise and, most importantly, user-friendly for people from various cultural backgrounds.

She added, “Witnessing first-hand the impact of our work on the metro and in other locations across Qatar. We helped to improve the fan experience and ultimately contributed to the events overall success.

“I am filled with a mix of emotions – relief that Qatar 2022 will be remembered for exceeding peoples expectations, gratitude for being part of such an historic event and pride in what we accomplished as a team.

“Seeing the joy and excitement of fans from around the world as they gathered to celebrate their shared love for football. It was heartwarming to see how much they appreciated and enjoyed people’s hospitality, our rich culture and beautiful infrastructure.

Rana said, “The importance of effective communication and collaboration, both within a team and with external stakeholders. I also learned the significance of remaining adaptable and flexible in the face of countless unexpected daily challenges and changes.

“During events, it is inevitable that things will change, so its crucial to be adaptable. You should also embrace the experience. Working on a World Cup is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so make the most of it. Learn all you can, take on new challenges and relish the opportunity to be part of something truly special. You should also celebrate your successes along the way.” (QNA)

Source: Qatar News Agency

Juventus was hit with a fresh 10-point penalty on Monday, hampering its chances of qualifying for next year’s Champions League.

The latest punishment for false accounting dropped Juventus from second spot in Serie A to seventh.

It left the Bianconeri five points behind AC Milan, which moved into fourth place in Serie A and the final qualifying spot for the Champions League.

Juventus was playing at lowly Empoli late Monday. There are then two rounds remaining, including what will be a crucial match against AC Milan.

Juventus was handed a a 15-point penalty in January while several members of its former board were also given bans from soccer activities, including former president Andrea Agnelli.

The points deduction was suspended last month on an appeal to the country’s highest sports court within the Italian Olympic Committee and referred back to the soccer federation’s appeals court for a new trial.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

The Saudi wrestling team (55 kg) won three medals (gold, silver and bronze) in the Albania International Tournament for seniors, which was held on May,13-14, in Albania.

Wrestler Hassan Al-Harthy won the gold medal in Roman wrestling, while Munther Jindo won the silver medal in the same category. Hassan Al-Harthy won the bronze medal in freestyle wrestling.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Caretaker Minister of Youth and Sports, George Kallas, contacted today the President of the Lebanese Ice Hockey Federation, Charles El Meer, to congratulate the Lebanese national team on winning the Arab Championship hosted by Kuwait. Kallas praised “the professional atmosphere that the team reflected in terms of form and performance, and the successive victories it achieved over the teams of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Oman, Bahrain, and finally Kuwait in the finals.” He also hailed “the Lebanese public who made the players feel that they are on their land, and the commendable efforts made by the federation.” Kallas congratulated sisterly Kuwait for the prestigious organization and hosting of the Championship.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Lonnie Walker began the season as a starter for the Los Angeles Lakers, though got injured and slipped all the way out of their rotation after they transformed their roster at the trade deadline.

Walker didn’t sulk or complain. He cheered from the bench. Worked even harder in practice. Waited for his chance to shine, AP reported.

And when it arrived, the unsung pro with inextinguishable confidence outshot Stephen Curry in the fourth quarter of a playoff win that put his Lakers on the brink of an unlikely trip to the Western Conference finals.

“(It’s) the greatest feeling you could ever imagine,” Walker said with a smile. “As a kid, this is something I’ve been dreaming of.”

Walker scored all of his 15 points in a phenomenal fourth quarter, and the Lakers rallied late to take a 3-1 second-round series lead with a 104-101 victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game 4 on Monday night.

LeBron James scored 27 points and Anthony Davis had 23 points and 15 rebounds for the seventh-seeded Lakers, who moved one win away from knocking off the champions with their eighth consecutive home victory since March.

Los Angeles overcame Curry’s third career postseason triple-double down the stretch largely because of Walker, who has made a seismic impact in returning to the Lakers’ rotation in this series. He went 6 for 9 in the fourth quarter, starting with a 3-pointer on the opening possession of the period to cut Golden State’s lead to four points.

After sitting out Game 1, Walker contributed nine points in Game 2 and 12 more in Game 3. His emergence in this series is a shocker to most, but not to Walker or his teammates.

“I’m a scorer mentality first,” Walker said. “I’ve got a lot of confidence in myself. I know what I’m capable of, and after a lot of sacrifice and a lot of time in the gym, the fruition finally came today.”

Walker eventually hit the go-ahead jumper with 1:53 to play. Curry’s layup with 1:05 left trimmed the Lakers’ lead to one point, but Curry missed a long jumper and a 3-point attempt on Golden State’s next possession before Walker made two free throws with 15 seconds left, and Los Angeles got one last defensive stop to seal it.

“We don’t win this game tonight without Lonnie Walker, that’s for sure,” James said. “As hard as this game was, it’s going to be even harder. We understand that. We know that.”

Game 5 is Wednesday night in San Francisco.

Curry had 31 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists in his 13th career triple-double for the sixth-seeded Warriors, who will have to overcome a 3-1 series deficit for only the second time in franchise history to continue their NBA title defense. Golden State also did it in the 2016 Western Conference finals.

The Warriors led by 12 late in the third quarter, but the Lakers chased down the champs and finished them with Walker leading the way in front of even James and Davis, who joined the chorus of congratulations after the buzzer.

“The kid is a beautiful kid,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “He fell out of the rotation through no fault of his own, but he remained professional. He remained high-spirited, positive, and really kept working on his game every day, especially in these playoffs. When your mind is in the right place, your body follows.”

Gary Payton II scored a season-high 15 points in his first start of the season for Golden State, but Klay Thompson had his second straight quiet game in Los Angeles, scoring nine points in 41 minutes. Andrew Wiggins added 17 points for the Warriors, who made just 25 combined 3-pointers in their two games in Los Angeles after making 21 apiece in the first two games in San Francisco.

Golden State coach Steve Kerr switched to a three-guard starting lineup to affect the Los Angeles defense that held the Warriors to 97 points in Game 3, and the changes largely worked: Davis, who blocked 11 shots in the first three games, wasn’t able to protect the rim with the same ferocity when his defensive matchups required him to go out to the perimeter, and the Warriors capitalized with 52 points in the paint.

The Lakers compensated: They made all 20 of their free throws, and Austin Reaves added 21 points.

But they won with a gritty, timely effort by Walker, who picked up the Lakers’ slack when D’Angelo Russell scored just four points on 1-for-10 shooting after a strong performance in Game 3.

Curry secured the 13th triple-double of his career early in the fourth quarter, but he missed nine of 10 3-point attempts spanning three quarters. The most prolific 3-point shooter in NBA history finished 3 for 14 from distance.

TIP-INS

Warriors: Payton’s only previous NBA start this season was for Portland on Feb. 8. He started two playoff games for Golden State last year before signing a three-year deal in the summer with the Trail Blazers, who traded him back to the Warriors in February. … Kevon Looney started Game 1 against Los Angeles, while JaMychal Green started Game 2 and Game 3.

Lakers: After blocking 19 shots in the series’ first three games, LA’s only block in Game 4 was James’ swooping swat of Curry’s layup attempt in the fourth quarter. … Jack Nicholson returned to his courtside seats for the second time in their last three home games. The Lakers’ 86-year-old superfan headlined another celebrity-studded crowd including Chris Pratt, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, Dave Chappelle, Dustin Hoffman, Kim Kardashian, Colin Jost and Flea.

Source: Bahrain News Agency