RRALLYINGALLYING | Page 2 NNBABA | Page 5 Al-Attiyah eyes Leonard record-tying guides Raptors 14th MERC title to thumping in Kuwait win over Sixers Thursday, November 1, 2018 TENNIS Safar 23, 1440 AH Djokovic new GULF TIMES number one as Nadal withdraws SPORT Page 4 FOCUS BBC, Sky demand action against pirating Saudi broadcaster By Anthony Harwood across Europe and the BBC also li- When it was launched last year the Arabsat satellite, which is based in atively aff ects many European compa- rated channels that beoutQ operates, Gulf Times Correspondent, London censes its channels across the con- beoutQ was geo-locked to Saudi Ara- Riyadh and which has the Kingdom of nies and creators.” it steals whatever content it can get tinent. bia as a rival to beIN Sports, the Qa- Saudi Arabia as its largest shareholder. A BBC spokesman said: “The BBC away with, including the NFL Super But a treasure trove of their content tari-based sports channel. Its feed, which is no longer restrict- group is committed to combating Bowl, Formula 1 Grand Prix, Olympic he BBC and Sky have joined is being made available for free via a It was set up after Saudi Arabia ed to sport but also Hollywood movies, piracy of its channels and content Games coverage, world tennis grand forces to demand the Euro- sophisticated piracy service, known as launched a diplomatic, transport and is now being pirated by other opera- worldwide and actively work with our slams, UFC fi ghts and even Hollywood pean Commission takes action beoutQ. trade boycott of Qatar and stopped tions. media partners in fi ghting against pi- movies. against Saudi Arabia over a pi- In its letter to Anna Malmstrom, the its citizens from viewing top sports Sky’s letter to the EU talks about the racy operating in the terrain which our “While for political reasons beIN Trate TV station supplying viewers with European Commission for Trade, the events which beIN Sports had exclu- “very real threats posed to European partners hold exclusive licenses.” was clearly the primary target of this the Premier League, The Bodyguard BBC said: “The availability of the BBC sive rights to across the Middle East. broadcasters and rights owners by a beIN Sports, which has 55 million commercial theft by the KSA, beoutQ and Game of Thrones. channels and content via beoutQ’s pi- The Saudis provoked an outcry relatively new, but rapidly growing, pay-TV customers worldwide, re- and Arabsat have opened a Pandora’s The broadcasters are demanding a rate activity will adversely impact BBC when they tapped into the beIN feed source of audio-visual piracy, namely cently launched a $1bn lawsuit against box – if it’s possible to steal from us, formal protest is made to the govern- studios ability to license these chan- and began illegally pirating the Cham- the beoutQ service”. Saudi Arabia. it’s possible to steal from any broad- ment in Riyadh over the illegal stream- nels to partners throughout Europe pions League, World Cup, Premier It continues: “The UK is just one of Yousef al-Obaidly, deputy CEO of caster or rights holder in the world; ing of shows not only to thousands of and also the ability of our European League and Formula One. seven European countries into which beIN Media Group said: “It is not just and that genuinely puts the entire eco- viewers in the UK, but also in Europe. partners to sell subscriptions to their Now the beoutQ service is transmit- Sky supplies services or jobs, and the football content that is being stolen nomic model of sports and entertain- Sky operates in seven countries television services.” ted internationally on 10 channels via piracy being displayed by beoutQ neg- by Saudi Arabia – across the 10 pi- ment at risk.” 48TH ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS DOHA 2018 FOOTBALL Decision on 48-team World Dalaloyan fi nds Cup for Qatar redemption in world next year We are still looking at the feasibility studies and we will be in a ‘better position to provide a feedback All-around victory in the future. But it will be decided before the After an error cost Russia the team title on Monday, 22-year-old edges out Ruoteng for gold qualifi cations... giving Ruoteng hope of retaining sometime in the By Sahan Bidappa fi rst quarter of next Doha his title. However, the Chinese star failed to beat the required total by year. the narrowest of margins, leading to — Hassan al-Thawadi, t’s been a drama-fi lled 48 hours a short period of confusion before SC secretary-general for Artur Dalaloyan at the World Dalaloyan’s name came up at the top Artistic Gymnastics Cham- of the scoreboard. pionships. On Monday in the “I feel pity about that (losing a Iteam fi nal, the gymnast fell off the close fi nal), but I respect the judges Parallel Bars, which cost Russia a and my rival. I basically want to be gold medal to China. number one but anyway. I am still AFP Post the fi nal, Dalaloyan was gut- happy with the result,” Ruoteng Kuala Lumpur wrenched, crying in a corner as he said. “There was a little pressure, trudged off the Aspire Dome main but not so much, because I know hall. But yesterday, Dalaloyan had how to adjust myself and give my upreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy his redemption after he became the best. I am satisfi ed with my per- (SC) secretary-general Hassan al-Thawadi fi rst Russian man to win a world formance,” he added. has said that a decision on expanding the championships All-around title When asked if he knew the score 2022 World Cup to 48 teams will most likely since 1999. But it was not before he he needed to win going in as the last Sbe taken next year, even as FIFA president Gianni went through some anxious mo- gymnast in the competition, Ruo- Infantino yesterday said the idea was “feasible”. ments. teng said, “I don’t pay so much at- Al-Thawadi told AFP that Qatar was studying the tention to that. I just be myself and 48 teams proposal and would make a decision be- try to do my best to perform my fore qualifying gets under way. routine. When I return to training, “We are still looking at the feasibility studies and I will try my best to improve and be we will be in a better position to provide a feedback stronger to perform better in future in the future,” he said. “But it will be decided before competitions.” the qualifi cations... sometime in the fi rst quarter of Meanwhile, United States’ Sam- next year.” uel Mikulak, who was third heading He added that preparations remained on track. into the fi nal apparatus, had to settle “We are very happy and excited with the progress. for fi fth position after making two It is on track. By 2020-2021 all our (eight) stadiums signifi cant errors in the High Bar. will be ready,” al-Thawadi said. “This is the fi rst The American’s mistake helped World Cup in the Middle East and is a perfect op- Nagornyy to bronze, while China’s portunity to bring people together and contribute Sun Wei was fourth. to the process of healing,” he added. Today, Simone Biles will be eyeing Meanwhile, talking at the Asian Football Confed- a record-breaking fourth women’s eration’s (AFC) annual congress in Kuala Lumpur, world All-around title, which would Infantino said, “We have decided... to increase the take her beyond Russia’s Svetlana number of teams participating in the World Cup fi - Khorkina. nal tournaments from 32 to 48. Russia’s Artur Dalaloyan (also inset, with compatriot Nikita Nagornyy) competes in the men’s All-around final in the On Tuesday, she led the US to team “It will happen in 2026. Will it happen in 2022? Artistic Gymnastics World Championships Doha 2018 at the Aspire Dome yesterday. PICTURES: Thajudheen/AFP gold, tying Gabby Douglas and Aly You know me. It is possible. It is possible. Why Raisman for her country’s record of not?” he added. threw out each gymnast’s lowest was to perform my job from begin- best not to think about it. I didn’t four Olympic/world team titles. Infantino said an expanded tournament would score from the six routines. ning to end without mistakes. I was train yesterday, and tried to focus on The 21-year-old, if she was to see Asia’s allocation rise from 4.5 places to 8.5, rais- There was a moment of confu- surprised and can’t say anything the (All-around) fi nal,” he added. claim two more wins in the indi- ing cheers from the delegates assembled at a luxury sion on Dalaloyan’s face, but after more. I’m just so happy. I feel good, While the battle for gold was ex- vidual apparatus this weekend, will hotel in the Malaysian capital. the Russian was announced as the excellent. I simply tried to put in my pected to be between Ruoteng and overtake Vitaly Scherbo’s mark of 12 “You will have (a bigger) chance. It is possible. winner, he heaved a huge sigh of best. I can’t believe it yet. I need to Nagornyy, who had fi nished 1-2 in for the most golds in Worlds history. It is feasible. We are discussing with our Qatari Defending champion Xiao Ruo- relief and hugged his teammate Ni- probably go to my hotel, take a deep qualifi cations, Dalaloyan was con- friends.