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LIMA: International Olympic Committee (IOC) President (C) poses for pictures with Mayor Anne Hidalgo (L) and Mayor Eric Garcetti during the 131st IOC session in yesterday. The ICO meet- ing in Lima confirmed Paris and Los Angeles as hosts for the 2024 and 2028 Olympics, crowning two cities at the same time in a istorich first for the embattled sports body. — AFP IOC says yes to Paris in 24 and LA for 28

LIMA: This was one of those rare Olympic moments the two bidders left for the original prize, 2024, and Doing away with the dramatic flair that has accompa- “You can’t imagine what this means to us. To all of us. It’s where everyone walked away a winner. Paris for 2024. couldn’t bear to see either lose. nied these events in years past, there were no secret bal- so strong,” he said. Later, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo stood Los Angeles for 2028. And the International Olympic Both cities will host their third Olympics. The Paris lots and no dramatic reveals to close out the voting. Bach by Bach’s side and dabbed away tears as the vote was Committee for transforming an unruly bidding process to Games will come on the 100th anniversary of its last turn simply asked for a show of hands from the audience, and announced and the IOC president handed the traditional - lock down its future by choosing not one, but two - a milestone that would have made the French capital when dozens shot up from the audience, and nobody but now unneeded - to she and LA mayor Eric Garcetti. Summer Olympics hosts at the same time. the sentimental favorite had only 2024 been up for grabs. raised their hand when he asked for objections, this was One read “Paris 2024,’ and the other “Los Angeles 2028.” The IOC put the rubber stamp on a pre-determined Los Angeles moved to 2028, and those Olympics will deemed a unanimous decision. But there was no real drama. As if to accentuate that, conclusion yesterday, giving Paris the 2024 Games and halt a stretch of 32 years without a Summer Games in the A ceremony that has long sparked parties in the plazas the LA delegation wore sneakers to the presentation. LA the 2028 Games in a history-making vote. The deci- United States. In exchange for the compromise, LA will of winning cities - and crying in those of the losers - pro- (Were going to skip neckties, too, but changed their minds sion marks the first time the IOC has granted two grab an extra $300 million or more that could help offset duced more muted, but still visible, shows of emotion. late.) Bid chairman said the footwear Summer Olympics at once. It came after a year’s worth of the uncertainties that lie ahead over an 11-year wait Paris bid organizer Tony Estaguent choked up during the “reflects who we are, and the unique brand of California- scrambling by IOC president Thomas Bach, who had only instead of seven. presentation before the vote. cool that we will bring to the 2028 Games.” — AP

Messi, Iniesta turn Barca Amla, Perera lead World XI gloom into party mood T20 win over Pakistan LAHORE: Sri Lanka all-rounder Thisara come true for me playing in this World Perera hit a towering six off the penul- XI. Thanks to Pakistan’s fans for coming BARCELONA: When Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta was the most eagerly anticipated fixtures in Europe this He also had a shot cleared off the line which timate ball to steer the World XI to a out in good numbers.” serenaded off the pitch on Tuesday following a vin- week. But the match began in a subdued atmos- was turned in by Ivan Rakitic for the second goal thrilling seven-wicket win over Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed tage display in a 3-0 win over Juventus that was phere, while outside the Nou Camp opponents of and hammered the post in the second half. He Pakistan in the second Twenty20 yes- gave credit to the visitors. “World XI only rivalled by Lionel Messi, it was easy to forget the board campaigned for a motion of no confidence was a constant threat and at times freely danced terday. Perera made a whirlwind 19- deserves the credit,” said Ahmed. the gloom that had gripped the Nou Camp two in president Josep Maria Bartomeu. past the visiting defence, torturing a helpless Juve ball 47 not out with five sixes, while “Amla and Perera kept it till late and weeks ago. Once Iniesta and Messi had finished outclassing rearguard. Hashim Amla finished not out 72 off did it. Our bowlers are young and this The club had been left red-faced by the failure to Juventus, however, there was a party mood inside “I have the feeling that whenever Leo picks the 55 balls to help the World XI overhaul is an occasion for them to learn how to sign top targets Philippe Coutinho and Angel Di the ground, with little signs of any rebellion. ball up something is going to happen, anything can a 175-run target and level the three- bowl in such situations. Maria when the transfer window shut and the squad Iniesta’s display was only upstaged by Messi, who happen, and it’s always good for us,” said Barca match series 1-1 before a packed “We were also a little sloppy in the looked weakened following the world record depar- ended his hoodoo against Juve keeper Gianluigi coach Ernesto Valverde. “Leo scored an extraordi- ture of Neymar to Paris St Germain. Buffon with lethal strikes either side of halftime, nary goal and blew the game open. He is one of the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore. field. The score was good enough but A resounding 5-1 aggregate Spanish Super Cup scoring for the seventh time in three games. best players in the history of the game. — Reuters That left the series intriguingly if the execution was better in defend- defeat by arch rivals Real Madrid added to the sense placed with the final match on Friday, ing, we would have pulled it off.” of despondency. Tuesday’s stunning opening Group also in Lahore. Pakistan had registered Pakistan had scored 174-6 in their D display against last season’s Champions League a 20-run win in Tuesday’s first match, 20 overs. Babar Azam (45), Ahmed finalists, however, showed that Barca are still in safe which marked the return of interna- Shehzad (43) and Shoaib Malik (39) hands as long as the old guard of Messi and Iniesta tional cricket to Pakistan. had good starts but none of them remain at the club and are fit and firing. Left-hander Perera went on a ram- went on to score big, as Pakistan Barca captain Iniesta, 33, struggled for large parts page as the visitors needed 33 off the found it tough going on a slow and of last season as injuries took their toll but he rolled last two overs, smashing two sixes off low pitch after winning the toss. back the years against Juve with a seamless display the 19th over bowled by Sohail Khan Opener Fakhar Zaman fell for 21 in that recalled the days when Pep Guardiola was man- before sealing the match in the last over. the fifth over before Shehzad and ager and Barca dominated in midfield. Amla, who scored his seventh inter- Azam steadied the innings with a 59- The veteran ran the usually solid Italian champi- national Twenty20 half-century, was run stand for the second wicket. ons ragged throughout the game and capped the the steadier of the two, with two sixes Malik hit two sixes in the last over display with a pinpoint pass to Messi for the and five fours as he helped Perera add before holing out off the last delivery Argentine’s second goal, Barca’s third, earning him a 69 runs for the fourth wicket off just of the innings. warm reception when he was substituted late on. 35 balls. That partnership lifted the During his 23-ball knock Malik “It’s important to play a lot of minutes but the key World XI after they lost Tamim Iqbal became the leading run scorer for is looking after yourself properly,” said Iniesta, who is (23), Tim Paine (10) and skipper Faf du Pakistan in Twenty20 international out of contract at the end of the season. “When the team functions well we all play better. We struggled a Plessis (20). cricket, overhauling Umar Akmal’s bit at first as is normal in European games but we just “It was a very happy day,” said aggregate of 1,690 runs in 88 matches needed a bit of patience and then we began to con- Perera. “Hash (Amla) told me to stay till by two runs. trol the game.” the last moment because we can He now has 1,692 in 88 matches. catch up. I listened to him and we did Perera (2-23) and West Indian spinner The Juve clash, a repeat of last season’s quarter- CAMP NOU: Barcelona’s midfielder from Spain Andres Iniesta (L) vies with Juventus’ forward final tie won by the Italians and the 2015 Champions really well. “It’s a habit for me to be in Badree (2-31) were the main wicket from Argentina Paulo Dybala during the UEFA Champions League Group D football match FC League final in which Barca triumphed, was one of the situation like this. This is a dream takers for the visitors. — AFP Barcelona vs Juventus at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on Tuesday. — AFP