SPORTS
UK not Banning Politicians from Attending
The British government has confirmed that members of the country’s parliament (MPs) are not banned from attending the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
It however said on Sunday that there were no plans for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to fly to Qatar in support of England and Wales.
The number of fans, organisations and cities choosing to snub this year’s competition has continued to rise due to concerns over the Gulf state’s human rights record.
The prime minister’s official spokesman told reporters: “No plans for the PM to attend, but we confirm travel nearer the time.
”Asked if there was a ban on attendance, he replied: “Not that I’m aware of.”
Shadow Culture Secretary Lucy Powell announced last month that Labour would not be sending a delegation to the Middle East nation.
She said this was in a stand against Qatar’s criminalisation of same-sex relationships and its treatment of migrant workers.
Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford, however, said he would be making the trip with two of his Cabinet members for the group stages.
He claimed he would use the platform “to promote Wales and engage in diplomacy.”
Last week the Welsh government said it would now not be attending Wales’ match against Iran.
This was in response to the events which have unfolded since 22-year-old woman Mahsa Amini died in the custody of the country’s morality police.
The decision was not related to the wider debate about whether the entire visit to Qatar was appropriate, the government said.
Politicians and political parties are not alone in having to grapple with the controversy surrounding the tournament.
National teams as well as celebrities, commentators and members of the royal family have had to make their decisions on the matter public.
The England and Wales teams decided against removing themselves from the running for the world’s biggest sporting event, with their games expected to go ahead as planned.
Both squads have instead opted for wearing the “One Love” armbands in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community.
The Football Association of Wales said its players have been told they have the freedom to speak out on any issues that concern them during the 28-day-long World Cup.
None of the 32 sides taking part have pulled out in spite of calls by a number of local teams for a boycott.
Australian team the Socceroos became the first team to come out with a collective statement criticising host Qatar’s human rights violations.
In the impassioned video, team members said the “decision to host the World Cup in Qatar has resulted in the suffering and harm.”
They called for better labour rights and the decriminalisation of same-sex relationships.
A growing number of French cities, including Paris, have joined a boycott and will not show World Cup matches in public places or set up fan zones.
The mayor of Marseille claimed the competition had “gradually turned into a human and environmental disaster.”
Football pundit and former England striker Gary Lineker, who is commentating at the World Cup for the BBC, said there was a responsibility with reporting the tournament.
Fellow footballing legend David Beckham has been heavily criticised for accepting 10 million pounds (11.3 million dollars) to be an ambassador for Qatar.
A televised campaign he starred in, which claimed the World Cup will be carbon neutral, has been reported to British and European watchdogs.
Prince William, who is president of the Football Association, has said he has “no plans” to attend the World Cup due to a busy winter schedule.
He however added that he may look at going if England reaches the final.
But as the tournament nears, pressure to boycott the World Cup grows.
Campaigners have began to ask celebrities, such as Robbie Williams, who will be performing in Doha, not to support the World Cup.
Already, world football governing body FIFA has written to all teams competing, telling them to “now focus on the football” following a controversial build-up.
Qatar’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said, while responding to the development, that the reasoning behind the boycotts does not “add up.”
“There is a lot of hypocrisy in these attacks, which ignore all that we have achieved,” Sheikh Mohammed added.
Paris St Germain’s Kylian Mbappe has said that helping his hometown club to finally win their first Champions League title is a matter of pride for him.
This was after he scored twice to help guide his side to a 4-1 comeback win at FC Barcelona and into the semi-finals with a 6-4 aggregate victory on Tuesday.
Mbappe, who is set to leave PSG in the summer with Real Madrid as the biggest favourite to sign him, told reporters that his future is not in his mind and that his focus is totally on bringing glory to the French capital.
“I have the dream of winning the Champions League for Paris,” Mbappe told reporters at Barcelona Olympic stadium on Tuesday.
“I’m proud to be at PSG since the first day.
It’s not because there are good times and bad times that my pride takes a hit.“The pride of playing for this club, of representing the club of the capital of my country, it’s something special for me who grew up there.
“To experience an evening like this one as a Parisian, it’s great. We have one more step to go before we reach the final in Wembley, so we need to stay calm.”
After loosing 3-2 in the first leg in Paris, PSG fought-back down 1-0 at FC Barcelona after the locals went down to 10 men just before the half-hour.
This was when last man Ronald Araujo was red-carded for fouling Bradley Barcola.
Former FC Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele equalised for the visitors just before the break while Vitinha and Mbappe finished the job in the second half.
The result meant PSG would face Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals after the Germans beat Atletico Madrid also on Tuesday.
PSG achieved success having failed to get past the round of 16 in the last two seasons and being pinned against the ropes by a FC Barcelona side who were in the ascendancy.
The Parisian put on a gritty performance to make the most of the home side’s mistakes and turn the tie around.
“We beat a great team this evening, but even if we had lost, I would be proud to be Parisian. Now it’s certain that during evenings like this, the pride is even greater,” Mbappe said.
“We are very happy, we beat a team that we wanted to beat and to be closer to the final.
“This one is for the fans that came here to support us and those back home. It’s a night to be proud.”(Reuters/NAN)
The Minister of Sports Development, Sen. John Enoh, has said that the ministry would ensure the timely release of funds to prepare Nigerian athletes for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The games will take place from July 26 to Aug. 11 in Paris .
The minister gave the assurance on Thursday in Abuja in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Diana-Mary Nsan.
Enoh stressed the importance of securing funding in a timely manner to facilitate comprehensive preparations for the Olympic Games.
He added that the ministry will actively pursue partnerships with private individuals and the corporate sector to bolster financial support and ensure that athletes are set up for success.
Drawing from the successful model implemented during the African Games in Ghana, where all athletes were insured, the minister pledge to build on that success.
“Plans are underway to provide insurance coverage for Team Nigeria athletes to mitigate risks associated with injuries and unforeseen circumstances, reflecting a proactive approach to athlete welfare,” he said.
Enoh also announced plans to implement salaries for grade A athletes, noting that the initiative aims to provide ongoing support and motivation to athletes as they prepare for the Games, enabling them to focus on their training and performance without financial constraints.
The minister expressed confidence in Nigeria’s athletes and their potential to achieve success at the Paris Olympic Games.
Reports says that the Paris 2024 will feature the debut of breaking (also known as breakdancing) as an Olympic event.
The Games will be the first to feature identical number of athletes between men and women. (NAN
Paris St Germain Manager, Luis Enrique, said he is still confident his team can overcome a 2-3 home loss to FC Barcelona in their Champions League quarter-final.
Enrique hopes PSG can shine against the Spanish side next week to progress.
Still looking for a first Champions League crown, PSG gave up a 2-1 lead late in the second half on Wednesday against an FC Barcelona side who made the most of the chances they had.
The result meant FC Barcelona earned a narrow advantage for the return leg in Spain.
“It is clear that all defeats hurt and annoy, but I believe we played a good game against a very strong team,” Luis Enrique told a press conference.
“We are only going to change the things that didn’t work, we always have to appreciate what a match of this magnitude means.
“We’re going to Barcelona with a lot of desire. It’s a positive point of view to think that we can win there. It’s going to be a final for us. I’m confident in my team.”
Luis Enrique refused to comment on Kylian Mbappe’s performance, as the France captain was shackled by Barcelona’s defence and had little impact on the game.
The Spanish manager, who won the treble with Barcelona in 2015, said his side deserved to win and that Barca were not necessarily favourites even with a win in hand and the home field advantage.
“We are going to go to Barcelona to fight a war,” he said.
“I never see the opposition as favourites, whoever they are. In top-level competition, that’s how I see it. And I will continue to believe that we will go to Barcelona to win the game.
“I repeat. We could have won this game. (Football) is about small details and let’s hope that the small details go our way in the second leg.” (Reuters/NAN)
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