黑料社区 pays for naming rights to Atletico Madrid鈥檚 stadium for 9 years
黑料社区 pays for naming rights to Atletico Madrid鈥檚 stadium for 9 years/node/2574553/sport
黑料社区 pays for naming rights to Atletico Madrid鈥檚 stadium for 9 years
Atl茅tico did not say how much it was receiving for the new agreement 鈥渨hich makes the 黑料社区n company the most important sponsor in the club鈥檚 history.鈥 (AFP)
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Updated 09 October 2024
AFP
黑料社区 pays for naming rights to Atletico Madrid鈥檚 stadium for 9 years
Updated 09 October 2024
AFP
MADRID: 黑料社区 has consolidated its branding push with Atletico Madrid by paying for naming rights to the Spanish club鈥檚 stadium for the next nine years.
Atletico, which has been sponsored by Riyadh Air since last season, said Wednesday that its Metropolitano stadium will be known as the Riyadh Air Metropolitano henceforth until 2033.
Atletico did not say how much it was receiving for the new agreement 鈥渨hich makes the 黑料社区n company the most important sponsor in the club鈥檚 history.鈥
The deal for shirt sponsorship from 2023-27 was already worth a reported 40 million euros a season to the club.
鈥淭he final installation of the new name of the stadium on the main, northeast and southeast facades will take place in the next few weeks,鈥 Atletico said.
The establishment of Riyadh Air was announced by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in March 2023. It is yet to begin commercial operations.
LONDON: Last week鈥檚 column suggested that Pakistan were the favorites to beat Bangladesh for a place in the Asia Cup 2025 final. It also suggested that the contest would be close. Prior to the match I asked a respected match commentator for his prediction. His view was that Pakistan ought to win but this 鈥渄epended on how they turned up on the day.鈥 Pakistan have a reputation for mercurial performances. The match that unfolded was gripping and flawed. The body language and mannerisms of the players conveyed the tensions involved.
Pakistan were asked to bat first. The openers were in a frenetic mood, racing down the pitch to attack the bowling. It did them no good, three batters out for only 27 in the powerplay, a situation that worsened in the 11th over, Pakistan subsiding to 49 for five. The first six of the innings came in the 13th over from the bat of Shaheen Afridi, who was dropped twice before being finally caught for 19. Nawaz should have been caught for nought, but went on to make 25.
In the last eight overs Pakistan scored 80 to post a score of 135, a reachable target and better than had seemed likely just past the halfway stage. Afridi claimed two early wickets for Pakistan. Bangladesh attacked at the other end, but could not sustain their momentum, too many batters holing out to boundary fielders, and they ended 11 runs short.
Both teams were guilty of sloppy performances, perhaps to be expected given the status of the match. Additionally, Bangladesh may have felt harshly treated. The team played India and Pakistan on consecutive days, leaving players with almost no recovery time before what was effectively a semifinal clash.
So, the scene was set for an India v Pakistan final, something that had seemed, if not an inevitability, a more than likely outcome of a tournament riddled with perversity. Pakistan were asked to bat and made a much more circumspect and mature start than against Bangladesh, scoring 37 without loss in five overs, accelerating to 77 off nine overs, propelled by Sahibzada Farhan. In the 10th over he became over-ambitious and was caught on the midwicket boundary, two deliveries away from the halfway stage, for 57.
The break gave a rattled, and under pressure, Indian team the chance to regroup and exchange what looked to be some harsh words. They worked, as the Pakistan innings subsequently lost its way, falling from 113 for one to 131 for five off 15.3 overs and then 146 all out.
It was the Indian spinners who turned the tide, Kuldeep claiming four for seven in two overs. An innings that had promised to generate a potentially tense final had imploded.
Blithe assumptions that India would cruise to victory were shattered as three wickets fell for 20 runs in the first four overs. Reconstruction of the innings was crafted by Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma, who went on to be India鈥檚 hero. Impossibly strong on the leg side with sweeps and clean hitting, his undefeated 69 guided India to victory with two deliveries to spare.
Immediately after the winning runs were scored, the batters leapt into the air in joint celebration and then ran off in the direction of their teammates, who engulfed them. There was, of course, no consideration of their opponents. This is often the case in the first glow of victory, after which there is recognition of the defeated. In this case, it was as if a wall had been built to separate them. If so, it worked. At the post-match awards ceremony, Mohsin Naqvi, the chair of the Pakistan Cricket Board and president of the Asian Cricket Council, was due to present the trophy and medals. The Indian team refused because he is also Pakistan鈥檚 interior minister. Whether they would have accepted from a Pakistani who does not hold a political position is unknown but, given that they refused to shake hands with the players, it seems unlikely. Naqvi stood his ground and a stand-off ensued. The crowd and assembled media were confused, probably no more so than the MC, Simon Doull, who, unfairly, was left in limbo on stage.
Eventually, the trophy was taken away and the presentations began. India鈥檚 captain remarked that 鈥渟ince he had been playing cricket 鈥 he had never seen a champion team be denied receiving the trophy.鈥 This was a disingenuous comment, failing to recognize that there are two sides to every story and that this one was no exception. The view of Pakistan鈥檚 captain, that India had disrespected cricket, is more likely to have struck a chord with neutrals, and even some who were not.
It appears that India have reached the point where their control of cricket, both politically and financially, has instilled an attitude that their actions and view are always right and should brook no opposition.
In the aftermath of the Asia Cup, cricket elsewhere is trying to continue as normal. The Women鈥檚 ODI World Cup has opened in India and Sri Lanka, with India due to play Pakistan on Oct. 5 in Colombo, where no handshakes are expected.
Just along the way from the Dubai International Stadium, in Sharjah, the Nepal men鈥檚 team twice defeated the once-mighty West Indies to claim a T20 series and their first victory over a full ICC member. This was a momentous achievement and should have had its place in the sun uncluttered by the India-Pakistan fracas.
Sadly, it is the fracas that will be remembered in cricket鈥檚 history; one in which the game was openly weaponized for political purposes, perhaps permanently. If it were any other ICC member, sanction would be quickly applied, as it has been with Sri Lanka for political involvement in governance matters and US cricket for governance malfeasance.
India appear to be immune and unchallenged for any such accusation. If the ICC acted as a proper governing body, it should be considering whether India v Pakistan matches should be suspended for the foreseeable future, since they clearly damage the game鈥檚 reputation. Other considerations outweigh such thoughts, to the game鈥檚 detriment.
Jameel Motorsport launches first Saudi team in Extreme E and FIA Extreme H World Cup
Team will be represented by one of Extreme E鈥檚 most successful driver pairings 鈥 Kevin Hansen and Molly Taylor
Updated 46 min 3 sec ago
Arab News
JEDDAH: Jameel Motorsport has announced its entry in Extreme E and the FIA Extreme H World Cup. Behind the wheel will be one of the most successful driver pairings in Extreme E history, Kevin Hansen and Molly Taylor.
The championship鈥檚 first and only 黑料社区n team, Team Jameel Motorsport, will be competing in both Extreme competitions, beginning with Extreme E鈥檚 Final Lap (Oct. 4-5) before the FIA Extreme H World Cup presented by PIF launches in Qiddiya City the following week (Oct. 9-11).
Officially launched in December 2023, Jameel Motorsport has steadily built a name for itself ever since, establishing Rally Jameel, the first off-road navigation rally for women in the Middle East; supporting the Saudi Toyota Championship, the biggest motorsport championship in the region; and other grassroots racing programs such as the GR Saudi Driving School.
Jameel Motorsport sponsors Yazeed Al-Rajhi, part of the Overdrive Racing team, who won the 2025 Dakar Rally 鈥 the first time a 黑料社区n team has won the famous event. Its entry into Extreme E and Extreme H with Hansen and Taylor reflects Jameel Motorsport鈥檚 commitment to innovation and competition and provides a strong addition to its long list of achievements so far.
In addition to this, Jameel Motorsport is advancing sustainable motorsport through a sponsorship with ROOKIE Racing, which fosters Saudi talent and inclusivity, while winning international marketing and digital innovation awards in the process.
Munir Khoja, managing director of Jameel Motorsport, said: 鈥淛oining Extreme E and the FIA Extreme H World Cup marks a bold move for Jameel Motorsport, demonstrating our dedication to innovation, sustainability, and the thrill of competition. This collaboration aligns perfectly with 黑料社区鈥檚 Vision 2030, advancing a vibrant society and a thriving economy through cutting-edge motorsport.
鈥淲e remain committed to supporting the growth of motorsport locally and globally as well as positioning 黑料社区 as a leader in sustainable motorsport.鈥
Hansen is one of rallycross鈥檚 biggest stars. The young Swede won the 2016 European Rallycross title and has finished in the top three in the FIA World Rallycross Championship three times 鈥 he was third in 2019 and runner-up in 2023 and 2024, with four event victories to his name in the series too. Hansen also won the second Nitro Rallycross competition at the 2019 Nitro World Games, and with five Extreme E victories to date, is the series鈥 second-most-successful male driver.
鈥淭o be part of Jameel Motorsport鈥檚 debut in Extreme E and Extreme H is a huge honor,鈥 Hansen said. 鈥淢olly and I have shared so many battles and victories together, and now we get the chance to represent the first 黑料社区n team in this new chapter of sustainable motorsport. Competing in 黑料社区, with its deep commitment to innovation with Vision 2030, makes this even more special. I can鈥檛 wait to get behind the wheel and help write the next page in Extreme history.鈥
Taylor made her name in rallying. The Australian was the 2009 and 2010 ladies champion in the British Rally Championship, and has three titles in her native country, taking the T16 crown in the Australian Rally Championship in 2007 and 2008, and the overall crown in 2016. Taylor is also an Extreme E champion, having won Season 1 with Johan Kristoffersson for Rosberg X Racing, and with eight X Prix wins under her belt, she is the series鈥 most successful female driver.
鈥淭his is such an exciting step, both to be back racing with Kevin and to join Jameel Motorsport as they enter Extreme E and Extreme H,鈥 Taylor said. 鈥淔rom Day 1, Extreme racing has been about proving what鈥檚 possible in sport, technology, and sustainability, and to now be part of the first Saudi team on the grid is a privilege. Racing in Qiddiya City, against the backdrop of the Tuwaiq Mountains, will be an unforgettable way to launch this next era.鈥
Alejandro Agag, founder and CEO of Extreme E and Extreme H, said he was 鈥渄elighted鈥 to welcome Jameel Motorsport to Extreme E and Extreme H as the first ever 黑料社区n team.
鈥淛ameel Motorsport鈥檚 proven record in developing motorsport at every level, from grassroots initiatives to world-class competitions like Dakar Rally and Rally Raid, along with their leadership in advancing female talent through drivers such as Dania Akeel, reflects our own mission to push boundaries and inspire change,鈥 he said. 鈥淲ith Kevin Hansen and Molly Taylor, two of the most successful drivers in Extreme E history, this team is perfectly placed to make an immediate impact.鈥
Qiddiya City is the world鈥檚 first city built entirely for play, where entertainment, sport, and culture converge. The race will take place with the dramatic backdrop of the Tuwaiq Mountains, close to the site currently being transformed to become a world-leading motorsport venue.
The FIA Extreme H World Cup presented by PIF will be the first international race event to use hydrogen-powered vehicles; marking a new future for motorsport, defined by cutting-edge technology and bold ambition.
Football cannot solve conflicts like Gaza but carries message of peace, says FIFA鈥檚 Infantino
FIFA promotes peace amid global conflicts, says Infantino
FIFA faces calls to suspend Israel from international football
Updated 02 October 2025
Reuters
ZURICH: FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday that football could not solve conflicts, but it must carry a message of peace and unity as Israel鈥檚 military operation in Gaza and other global tensions fuel calls for the sport to take a stand.
鈥淎t FIFA, we are committed to using the power of football to bring people together in a divided world,鈥 Infantino told a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich.
鈥淥ur thoughts are with those who are suffering in the many conflicts that exist around the world today, and the most important message that football can convey right now is one of peace and unity.鈥
Infantino said world football鈥檚 governing body could not solve geopolitical crises, but 鈥渋t can and must promote football around the world by harnessing its unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values.鈥
FIFA has faced repeated calls to act over the war in Gaza, with Palestinian officials pressing for Israel to be suspended from international football.
The issue has been under review by FIFA for months, but no decision has been taken. Infantino has consistently said such matters require consensus with the confederations and must be handled with caution.
The comments came a day after FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani noted that any decision over Israel鈥檚 participation in European competitions, including World Cup qualifiers, was a matter for UEFA to decide, effectively putting the onus on the European body.
鈥淔irst and foremost, it (Israel) is a member of UEFA, no different than I have to deal with a member of my region for whatever reason... They have to deal with that,鈥 Montagliani told reporters at the Leaders sports business conference on Wednesday.
Israel are third in Europe鈥檚 Group I of the qualifying stage for next year鈥檚 World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico. Amnesty International on Wednesday sent a letter to FIFA and UEFA calling on them to suspend the Israel Football Association.
鈥楤igger and bigger鈥: Baseball United inaugural season edges closer
All games will be played at Baseball United Ballpark in Dubai, starting Nov.14
Updated 02 October 2025
Arab News
DUBAI: The inaugural season of Baseball United, the first professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and South Asia, edged closer with the announcement that tickets are now on sale. The competition will feature Baseball United鈥檚 four founding franchises 鈥 Mumbai Cobras, Karachi Monarchs, Arabia Wolves, and Mid East Falcons 鈥 playing a total of 21 games in 30 days at Baseball United Ballpark at The Sevens in Dubai.
The season will begin with a three-game series between Mumbai and Karachi on Nov. 14, 15 and 16, and conclude with a best-of-three championship series on Dec. 12, 13 and 14 (if necessary). Dubai鈥檚 home team, the Wolves, play their first game on Nov. 18 against the Cobras.
The teams feature top professional players from 25 countries, including Japan, Philippines, Canada, Mexico, India, Pakistan, Germany, and the United States. Players have competed in top leagues such as Major League Baseball and the Nippon Professional Baseball League, and several were part of Baseball United鈥檚 previous events in Dubai over the past two years.
鈥淎fter more than three years of building and so much work from so many people, we are finally ready for Season One,鈥 said Kash Shaikh, chairman, CEO, and co-founder, Baseball United. 鈥淓ach event we鈥檝e hosted here in Dubai has gotten bigger and bigger, as more and more fans continue to fall in love with the ballpark experience. The grandstands at our games are full of families from all over the world, with a mix of new fans and longtime baseball lovers.
鈥淲e are grateful for the support from the community here in Dubai and across the GCC, and hope to host even more people at Baseball United Ballpark.鈥
Ticket prices range from 49 UAE dirhams ($13) for general admission seating, to 119 dirhams ($32) for reserved diamond club seating behind home plate. The games include a full food and beverage experience, with several local and international food vendors, and numerous bars.
Games will be played every day except Monday, with reduced pricing on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Following last month鈥檚 pre-sale, limited tickets remain for the opening weekend series between Mumbai and Karachi.
The league will also take a short break during the National Day holiday, with promotional activities scheduled in partnership with Emirates Dubai 7s. The season鈥檚 full schedule is available on baseballunited.com.
Baseball United was co-founded by Shaikh and several MLB legends, including Hall of Famers Barry Larkin, Mariano Rivera, and Adrian Beltre. The league鈥檚 February event averaged nearly four million viewers per game. Season One will be broadcast internationally, with official partners announced later this month.
Tickets for Baseball United Season One are on sale now exclusively on the District by Zomato app
Hall-of-Famer Oscar Robertson recalls 60s international showcase ahead of NBA Abu Dhabi Games
NBA great 鈥楤ig O鈥 spoke to Arab News, about triple-doubles, overseas tours, and weighed in on Knicks, Bucks and Sixers ahead of the Abu Dhabi Games
Updated 02 October 2025
Mohammad Akkawi
ABU DHABI: Few basketball players have shaped the game the way Oscar Robertson has. The Hall of Famer, known as The Big O, was the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double over an entire season 鈥 a feat not repeated until Russell Westbrook managed it more than 50 years later. He was also the league鈥檚 inaugural Rookie of the Year in 1961 and later captured an NBA championship with Milwaukee.
Now Robertson is making his Abu Dhabi debut, attending The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025 where the New York Knicks face the Philadelphia 76ers at Etihad Arena on Oct. 2 and 4.
Robertson told Arab News in an exclusive interview that his first taste of basketball outside the US came not through the NBA but on a goodwill tour in 1964 鈥 one of the earliest efforts to take the game to an international audience.
鈥淚n 1964, we took a trip overseas to Yugoslavia, Poland, Romania, and Egypt. We thought we鈥檇 play a couple of games, but we ended up playing 16,鈥 he recalled. 鈥淚t was a lot of basketball, but I enjoyed it. For the first time in my life, I went to the pyramids, saw the camps in Poland, and visited Romania 鈥 nice place, Count Dracula, Bucharest.鈥
NBA Hall-of-Famer Oscar Robertson will be at the NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025. (Supplied)
Although not officially part of the NBA calendar, the trip gave Robertson a glimpse of basketball鈥檚 global potential and left a lasting impression on his career.
Looking at how far the sport has come, Robertson praised the impact of modern visibility.
鈥淥nce it鈥檚 on social media, people can see the players no matter the time difference. That means a lot. And then you see how well international players are doing in the NBA. It鈥檚 wonderful, truly wonderful.鈥
While his triple-double record defines his legacy today, Robertson said that the stat was not even recognized in his era.
鈥淲hen I was playing, I didn鈥檛 even know about triple-doubles. No one ever mentioned them. I only heard about it in the mid-70s, when Magic Johnson came into the league and started competing with Larry Bird. That鈥檚 when people began talking about triple-doubles, and they went back into the archives and discovered mine.
鈥淭hey didn鈥檛 get them all, though,鈥 he added with a grin.
It was a reminder, he said, that 鈥渆ven the record books don鈥檛 fully capture鈥 the scale of his dominance.
Robertson is a keen follower of the global game and said that last summer鈥檚 Olympics proved once again that experience matters.
In July last year, Team USA staged its pre-Olympic training camp in Abu Dhabi, playing practice games against Australia and Serbia before heading to Paris. The camp was billed as a redemption tour after the Americans鈥 fourth-place finish at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
This time, LeBron James rallied the biggest names in basketball, assembling what was dubbed the sport鈥檚 鈥淎vengers鈥 squad 鈥 with James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis among those committing to restore US dominance.
Reflecting on their gold-medal win against France, Robertson highlighted the difference that the veterans made.
鈥淗ad it not been for Curry 鈥 even though we had some great players on the court, so did the French, whom the US faced in the final. You don鈥檛 realize how strong they are until you see them play. But when you鈥檝e got LeBron, Curry and those guys with all their experience, it makes the difference.鈥
With the Knicks and Sixers bringing their historic rivalry to Abu Dhabi this week, Robertson shared his thoughts on the teams headlining this year鈥檚 double-header, as well as his former franchise Milwaukee.
On the Knicks, who reached the Eastern Conference finals last season for the first time in 25 years, he praised their promise but warned that balance is crucial in today鈥檚 NBA.
鈥淭hey鈥檒l have a really good team and will be one of the favorites, no doubt about that. But the three-point shot only works if you鈥檙e making them 鈥 if not, it hurts you. You need another plan, to go inside and mix things up. Without an inside game, you鈥檙e not going to win.鈥
Turning to the 76ers, Robertson said all eyes will be on Embiid, the 2023 NBA MVP, as he looks to bounce back from an injury-hit campaign last season.
鈥淓very team has injuries, you have to overcome them. Embiid is a big part of Philadelphia鈥檚 basketball team. Is he going to be OK this year? I don鈥檛 know. We鈥檒l find out if he plays here tomorrow night.鈥
But he cautioned that even a dominant player like Embiid cannot do it all alone.
鈥淚f he鈥檚 healthy, Embiid will be tough to guard. He鈥檚 a big man with the size and strength to make Philadelphia much better. But the other guys have to play well, too. You can鈥檛 leave it all up to one guy.鈥
He pointed to Wilt Chamberlain鈥檚 historic 1961-1962 season as proof: 鈥淲ilt averaged 50 points a game, but the Philadelphia Warriors still fell short of a championship.鈥
Finally, on Milwaukee, where he won the championship in 1971, Robertson noted a period of transition despite Giannis Antetokounmpo鈥檚 continued presence.
鈥淭hey have some new players. Giannis has been there maybe 12 years or so, but around him it鈥檚 almost a brand new team. They let go of Damian Lillard, brought in a new forward and Myles Turner from the Pacers. They鈥檝e got to prove themselves.鈥
As Abu Dhabi prepares for two nights of NBA action, Robertson鈥檚 reflections bridge generations. From pioneering overseas tours in the 1960s to redefining the triple-double and analysing today鈥檚 stars, The Big O remains a voice of authority on what truly wins in basketball: teamwork, experience, and an inside game that never goes out of style.
