SSWIMMINGWIMMING | Page 4 NNBABA | Page 5 Sun’s doping Tatum hits ban referred game-winner back to CAS as Celtics aft er appeal edge Bucks Friday, December 25, 2020 FOOTBALL Jumada I 10, 1442 AH Salah is happy at GULF TIMES Liverpool, says manager Klopp SPORT Page 3 SPOTLIGHT Organisations, individuals honoured for 2030 bid success Ceremony was held under the patronage of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, Qatar Olympic Committee President By Sports Reporter Doha he Qatar Olympic Committee held a celebration last evening in honour of organisations and individuals who played a role in Doha winning the bid Tto host the 2030 Asian Games. The ceremony was held under the patronage of His Excellen- cy Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, Presi- dent of the Qatar Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Doha 2030 Bid Committee. HE Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al- Subaie, Minister of Municipality and Envi- ronment and Managing Director and CEO of Qatar Rail, HE Sheikh Saud bin Ali al-Thani, First Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, HE Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani, President of the Qatar Foot- ball Association, HE Hassan al-Thawadi, Sec- retary-General of the Supreme Committee, HE Saad bin Ahmed al-Mohannadi, Chairman of The Public Works Authority (Ashghal), sports leaders, heads of federations and the media were among the dignitaries felicitated by HE Sheikh Joaan on the occasion. At the beginning of the ceremony, Sheikh Joaan praised those who worked hard to make the bid a success, saying he was proud of each HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Doha 2030 Bid one of them. Committee, presents a memento to HE Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani, President of the Qatar Football HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani with Hassan al-Thawadi, Secretary-General “More than two months ago we submitted Association during a celebration for winning the bid to host the 2030 Asian Games. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy. to the Olympic Council of Asia the Doha bid document in order for Qatar to host the Asian Games for the second time after hosting the “Games of your life” in 2006,” Sheikh Joaan said. “And we meet tonight in celebration of this achievement where you proved your compe- tence and lived up to the confi dence that was placed in you to take on this national mission.” Sheikh Joaan added: “This victory in real- ity is a promise that we made in the name of our beloved country for the sports community in Asia and even of the world, and it is no se- cret to all of us that this is only the beginning. We have a lot to accomplish in the coming days and years in order to fulfi l our promises with our deep appreciation for everyone who stayed up and continued to work creatively and sincerely.” He concluded by saying: “Brothers and sis- ters, we will embark on a new phase of contin- HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani honours Asian Athletics Association uous, serious and professional work starting President Dahlan al-Hamad. from now. Our ambition has no limits espe- cially as we work according to the strategy of achieving and building the national and con- tinental heritage.” Abdul Hadi al-Sahli from the Marketing and Communications Department of the Qa- tar Olympic Committee said the 2030 Asian Games will be an epochal event in the history of the continent. “Doha is the choice of Asia, We say hello to the people of Asia, hello to the future! Wel- come to the Games that will change the face of the continent. We will write the most beauti- ful pages of the present and the future when Off icials attend the Qatar Olympic Committee’s celebration yesterday in Msheireb Downtown in honour of organisations and we host the Asian Games,” said al-Sahli. individuals who played a role in Doha winning the bid to host the 2030 Asian Games. FOCUS Diffi cult for any country to compete with Qatar in infrastructure: UEFA chief By Sports Reporter cessful tournament. “It is very impor- that the fans should look forward to the for their home World Cup by virtue of Doha tant to get to know the country that will World Cup. I am sure everything will be being the hosts, have been included host the next World Cup in 2022. I have organised in a fantastic way,” the Slov- in Group A of the European qualifi ers heard a lot about Qatar, and I have some enian added. along with Portugal, Serbia, Azerbai- EFA President Aleksander Qatari colleagues and friends from the Ceferin also said he was impressed by jan, Luxembourg and Ireland. Ceferin has lauded Qatar’s football fi eld, and I spoke to the author- Qatar’s leaders passion towards foot- Matches played by Qatar will be preparations for the FIFA ities who confi rmed Qatar’s readiness ball. “I have seen the leaders of Qatar treated as friendlies and their results World Cup in 2022, describing to host the event. But when you see it are fond of football. Therefore, it would won’t be taken into account while de- UQatar as ‘the Switzerland of the Middle with your own eyes, you will be more be great to attend and play football in ciding the qualifying spots from the East.’ The European football’s govern- impressed and your admiration for the a country like this. And also the World group when action gets underway in ing body chief attended the Amir Cup infrastructure will go beyond. It is very Cup in 2022 will be held in November March next year. “This is the fi rst time fi nal last Friday, when Qatar inaugu- diffi cult for any other country to com- and December, when the atmosphere in that a team from outside the conti- rated the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, its pete with Qatar when it comes to infra- Qatar is wonderful. It is the ideal time nent will participate in the European fourth FIFA World Cup venue. structure,” Ceferin told Bein Sport. for players to play football,” he said. qualifi ers. It will do Qatar players a lot Ceferin is the latest prominent fi g- “I have said many times that Qatar The UEFA President said Qatar team of good, as they prepare for the World ure to express admiration of Qatar’s is the Switzerland of the Middle East, will gain a lot by playing as a guest team Cup. They need to play against best progress as he spoke of his confi dence there is a lot of regulation and there is in the European qualifi ers for the World teams and European qualifi ers will help that the country will host a hugely suc- a lot of attention to hygiene, and I think Cup. Qatar, who have already qualifi ed them do that,” Ceferin said. Gulf Times 2 Friday, December 25, 2020 FOOTBALL SERIE A LIGUE 1 Lyon end year top of Ligue 1 as Lille, PSG Hernandez strikes stay within a point AFP Rafi nha had an eff ort well saved Paris by Strasbourg goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima. Mbappe wasted a golden chance to double the ad- late to keep Milan yon cruised past Nantes vantage just after the hour mark, 3-0 on Wednesday night but blazed over the crossbar. to take top spot in Ligue The World Cup winner did get 1 heading into the winter his 14th goal of the campaign in Lbreak from Lille, despite Burak the 80th minute, though, scoring Yilmaz’s late strike earning from Di Maria’s assist to fi nally the previous leaders victory at secure the three points. Paris ahead of Inter Montpellier. added two more late on, with Id- Rudi Garcia’s Lyon lead Lille rissa Gueye scoring in the 89th Milan shook off the continued absence of Ibrahimovic to extend their unbeaten run on goal diff erence, by just one minute and Moise Kean, on as a goal, with reigning champions substitute for Mbappe, netting in AFP Paris Saint-Germain one point injury time. Milan further adrift after thrashing Lille had looked set to drop to Strasbourg 4-0 at the Parc des third before Yilmaz rescued two Princes. It is the fi rst time Lyon points. Timothy Weah, the son heo Hernandez nodded in a late have been top at Christmas since of former Ballon d’Or winner winner to keep AC Milan top of the 2008/09 season, when their George Weah, gave Lille a fi rst- Serie A heading into the win- run of seven straight titles was half lead with his third goal in ter break with a 3-2 victory over ultimately ended by Bordeaux. fi ve games, but Montpellier lev- TLazio on Wednesday night. Milan are one “This rewards a fairly excep- elled through Gaetan Laborde in point ahead of city rivals Inter who ear- tional 2020 even with the league the 57th minute. lier extended their winning run to seven cut short in the spring,” said Jonathan Ikone’s penalty put games with a 2-1 success over Hellas Garcia, whose side missed out on the visitors back in front, but Verona. Lazio had come from two goals European qualifi cation after last Montpellier hit back again as down thanks to Luis Alberto and Ciro Im- season’s Ligue 1 campaign was Andy Delort struck 20 minutes mobile but French defender Hernandez ended early due to the coronavi- from time.