The Olympic flame on Saturday (April 27) began its journey to France on board the Belem leaving Greece. The 19th-century three-masted barque is set to reach Marseille on May 8. Along its route in France, the flame will be carried by some 10,000 torchbearers, making stops at such iconic sites as the Lascaux caves, Mont Saint-Michel and the Loire castles.
"The feelings are so exceptional. It's such an emotion for me", Tony Estanguet, Paris Olympics chief organiser, told reporters before the departure of the ship. He hailed the "great coincidence" how the Belem was launched just weeks after the first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896. The 19th-century three-masted boat was accompanied off the port of Piraeus by the trireme Olympias of the Greek Navy and 25 sailing boats while dozens of people watched behind railings for security reasons. Читать дальше...
The American nailed nine birdies to one bogey in an eight-under-par 64 at the Grange Golf Club to edge clear of New Zealander Danny Lee, who carded a 67. Mexico's Carlos Ortiz and Chile's Mito Pereira were a shot further back. "I was hitting it really well today," said Steele, who is 14-under after 36 holes and looking to better his best result on the Saudi-backed tour -- third place in Tuscon last year. "There's a lot of birdies out there and it's kind of going to be a race to 20-under I think," he added of the potential winning total. Читать дальше...
World Athletics president Sebastian Coe's announcement earlier this month that track and field winners at the Paris Games will receive $50,000 (47,000 euros) has sparked mixed reactions. No other sports federation pays prize money at the Olympics. During an exclusive interview with AFP, IOC boss Thomas Bach made it clear that he thought international sports federations like World Athletics should be focused on reducing inequalities between countries. "The international federations have to treat... Читать дальше...
Hamas said it was studying on Saturday the latest Israeli counterproposal regarding a potential ceasefire in Gaza, a day after a delegation from mediator Egypt reportedly arrived in Israel in a bid to jump-start stalled negotiations. This comes as witnesses in besieged Gaza reported fresh Israeli strikes overnight into Saturday around Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians are sheltering. Read our live blog for all the latest developments.
"We have full confidence in WADA and the regulations and that WADA have followed their regulations," Bach said in an interview at the committee's headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Friday. WADA has faced criticism since media reports last weekend that the swimmers tested positive for heart drug trimetazidine (TMZ) -- which can enhance performance -- ahead of the Tokyo Olympics that were held in 2021. The swimmers were not suspended or sanctioned after WADA accepted the conclusion of Chinese... Читать дальше...
The unusual event on the airport's third runway -- which is still under construction -- saw the workout paired with beverages as participants were offered coconuts, iced teas and water to incorporate into their routines. Some 500 yoga-goers and camera-ready influencers began arriving at 5:00 am, making their way in the dark to their mats on the runaway. As the sun rose, yoga instructors guided the group through two workouts, cheerily enthusiastic despite the pollution, industrial setting, and occasional flight roar. Читать дальше...
"The very meticulous, very professional approach (from French authorities) gives us all the confidence that we can have this opening ceremony on the river Seine and that this opening ceremony will be iconic, will be unforgettable for the athletes, and everybody will be safe and secure," Bach said in an exclusive interview with AFP at the IOC's headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Friday. The hugely ambitious ceremony on July 26 remains one of the biggest doubts about the Paris Olympics. Instead... Читать дальше...
The mission of transporting the Olympic flame on the first leg of its journey to the opening ceremony in Paris was given to one of the France’s most venerable sailing ships, the Belem, built in 1896.
A wave of exceptionally hot weather has blasted Southeast Asia this week, sending the mercury to 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) and prompting thousands of schools to suspend in-person classes. Even before the chaos and conflict unleashed by the military's 2021 coup, Myanmar's creaky and outdated electricity grid struggled to keep fans whirling and air conditioners humming during the hot season. Now, infrastructure attacks and dwindling offshore gas reserves mean those who cannot afford... Читать дальше...
Two major ratings agencies left their assessment of France's huge debt pile unchanged Friday, but cast doubt on the government's debt reduction target.