RRUGBYUGBY | Page 4 FOOTBALL | Page 7 Ford back Argentina, the at fl yhalf football world for England mourn genius against Wales Maradona Friday, November 27, 2020 CRICKET Rabia II 12, 1442 AH Pakistan cricketers GULF TIMES positive for Covid-19 in New Zealand SPORT Page 3 FOCUS Qatar 2022 World Cup will transform attitude towards sustainability: al-Thawadi ‘Our focus was on building modern, versatile facilities that serve all members of society long after the tournament ends’ E Hassan al-Thawadi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Com- mittee for Delivery & HLegacy (SC), believes the FIFA World Cup has the potential to transform people’s attitudes to sustainability in Qatar. Speaking during the Doha Smart Cities Summit, al-Tha- wadi outlined the diff erent ways Qatar 2022 will help people lev- erage new technology and change their lives for the better. Organised by Msheireb Properties, the virtual sum- mit brought together experts to discuss the future of smart cit- ies through a series of keynote speeches and panel discussions. Discussions focused on how to leverage smart technology to Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) Secretary-General HE tackle Covid-19, responses to Hassan al-Thawadi. climate change, the importance of cybersecurity and the poten- Another example of sustain- Al-Thawadi also spoke about tial of autonomous vehicles. ability can be found at Ras Abu how the stadiums built for the During his keynote address, Aboud Stadium, which is being tournament were designed in a al-Thawadi highlighted the im- constructed using shipping con- manner that would eliminate the portance of sustainability – one tainers and will be completely creation of so-called ‘white el- of the core pillars of Qatar 2022. dismantled after the tourna- ephants’. “There is a close connec- ment, with its parts used to cre- He said: “Our goal behind de- tion between sustainability and ate sporting facilities across Qa- signing the stadiums and their legacy, and we have affi rmed our tar and overseas. It will be the surrounding areas is not lim- commitment to both since the fi rst fully demountable stadium ited to hosting matches over a fi rst moments of preparing Qa- in FIFA World Cup history. 28-day period only. Rather, our tar’s bid to host the FIFA World “Thousands of seats will be focus was on building modern, Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, being constructed using shipping containers, will be the first fully demountable stadium in FIFA World Cup history. Cup,” said al-Thawadi. donated for the purpose of build- versatile facilities that serve all Qatar and FIFA have made ing sports facilities in a number members of society and enhance taurants, sporting facilities and Msheireb, Qatar Foundation and ing to a 5G network, commuting In particular, al-Thawadi several commitments around of countries in co-ordination community bonds long after the more. other Qatar 2022 stakeholders. aboard the Doha Metro, staying stressed the importance of work- sustainability, all of which are with FIFA, and, in doing so, pro- tournament ends.” Al-Thawadi also spoke about “Work continues tirelessly to at Msheireb or other locations, ing with a variety of diff erent outlined in the Qatar 2022 Sus- viding a unique mode of legacy Between them, all eight Qa- how organisers are committed to ensure the provision of a smart and transporting between diff er- partners to create what he re- tainability Strategy, most notably that organisers of future major tar 2022 stadiums feature a vast creating a fan experience that is experience for visitors in 2022, ent tournament stadiums and all ferred to as, “an exceptional, un- a plan to deliver the fi rst carbon tournaments can benefi t from,” range of legacy facilities, includ- centred on smart technologies, from the moment they board tourist attractions in the coun- paralleled experience in 2022”. neutral World Cup in history. said al-Thawadi. ing public parks, shops, res- leveraging other initiatives by a plane to Qatar, to connect- try,” said al-Thawadi. (Qatar2022.qa) AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QFA President receives Iraqi sports minister Coach Choi calls for focus as Shanghai Shenhua eye repeat win over Tokyo AFC tively to secure the points. Doha “Every single game is very important. You have to show that you leave everything on the hanghai Shenhua head pitch,” said Kim. coach Choi Kang-hee Perth Glory have a very slim has called for focus as his shot at progression to the next side face FC Tokyo for stage. “We are here on a dual Sthe second time in three days in mission to win every game and Group F of the 2020 AFC Cham- to build a new squad with a rela- pions League. tively young squad with new The Chinese side managed faces ahead of the new A-League a narrow win courtesy of a season,” said head coach Chris- 72nd minute penalty scored by tian Ola. Yu Hanchao, giving Shanghai Action from the AFC Champions League Group F match between The matches will be preceded Shenhua their second win of the Shanghai Shenhua (in white) and FC Tokyo (in blue) at Education by a moment of silence for Ar- campaign and placing them in City Stadium on Tuesday. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil gentina legend Diego Maradona, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani (second from right), President of the Qatar Football second place in the group. who passed away aged 60 from a Association, with Adnan Dirjal, the Iraqi Minister of Youth and Sports. “I felt that we were lucky to win Round of 16. comeback victory against Perth heart attack on Wednesday. the fi rst game,” said Choi. “We “We played the fi rst game and Glory as the two sides lock horns By Sports Reporter who is on a visit to the State of The two off icials discussed mat- have to treat our opponents seri- now we know the atmosphere in again in Group F of the 2020 AFC TODAY’S FIXTURES Doha Qatar. ters of mutual interest, seeking ously. We are still facing diffi cul- Doha, the stadiums and our op- Champions League today. GROUP E This visit comes within the ways and means to develop ties and we need to stay focused. ponents too so now we can play Two days ago, the J1-League 1pm: Melbourne Victory (AUS) framework of the distinguished fruitful years of co-operation be- I trust the players to accomplish an aggressive Tokyo FC style,” side needed a very late rally to vs Beijing FC (CHN) heikh Hamad bin Khalifa relations between QFA and the tween Qatar and Iraq in sports. our target and play well.” said Hasegawa. down their Australian oppo- 4pm: Chiangrai United (THA) vs bin Ahmed al-Thani, Presi- Iraqi sports family. Both off icials agreed to work With a win, a draw and a nents, having gone down to a FC Seoul (KOR) Sdent of the Qatar Football The meeting was also at- on projects that would help de- loss from the fi rst three group PERTH GLORY WIN GIVES US Daniel Stynes eff ort 20 minutes GROUP F Association (QFA), received tended by Mushtaq al-Waili, velop football in Qatar and Iraq. stage games, head coach Kenta CONFIDENCE: ULSAN’S KIM from time before Kim In-sung 1pm: Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) vs in his off ice on Wednesday Executive Director of the Later both off icials posed for Hasegawa’s FC Tokyo side need Head coach Kim Do-hoon be- and Junior Negrao scored in the Perth Glory (AUS) afternoon Adnan Dirjal, the Iraqi Strategic and Institutional photographs and exchanged a result today if they are to stand lieves his Ulsan Hyundai side will fi nal minute of normal time and 4pm: Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) Minister of Youth and Sports, Planning Office QFA. mementoes. any chance of progression to the take confi dence from their 2-1 late in stoppage time respec- vs FC Tokyo (JPN) Gulf Times 2 Friday, November 27, 2020 CRICKET SPOTLIGHT ODI SERIES Australia’s Finch says Indian captain Kohli fi xed IPL glitches ahead of India series Reuters and being really committed in Sydney that regard.” The plans for India’s tour of baffl ed by Rohit’s Australia have been ripped up ustralia’s limited-overs and redrawn dozens of times over captain Aaron Finch the last eight months but the ac- said he has ironed out tion fi nally gets underway with the kinks in his batting the fi rst one-day international at Aahead of the series against India the Sydney Cricket Ground. after a lean run in the recent In- It was at the same venerable absence in Australia dian Premier League (IPL). ground on March 13 that Austral- Finch managed just 268 runs, ia last hosted international men’s including one fi fty, in 12 matches cricket, with the hosts beating ‘It’s been very confusing and there’s been a lot of uncertainty... around the situation’ for Royal Challengers Bangalore, New Zealand by 71 runs to snap a who are captained by India skip- fi ve-match losing streak in one- Reuters per Virat Kohli, and was dropped dayers. The 48,000 seats were Sydney out of the starting side before empty that day as the pandemic being recalled for the playoff s. began to bite but Australia’s rela- Since returning to Australia tive success at containing the vi- ndia captain Virat Kohli said he was from the IPL, Finch has spent rus means up to half of them will kept in the dark about deputy Rohit much of the two-week quaran- be occupied on Friday. Sharma’s hamstring injury and be- tine period fi ne-tuning his game India’s squad will be raring to lieves the opener should have trav- under the watchful eye of assist- go after coming out of two weeks Ielled to Australia to boost his chances ant coach Andrew McDonald.