Francesco Calzona is expected to bring Napoli back to a 4-3-3 formation with Victor Osimhen, Matteo Politano, and Kvicha Kvaratskhelia. Still, he has a significant doubt in midfield against Barcelona, Susy Campanale reports for Football Italia.
It starts at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Wednesday at 20.00 GMT.
The second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 is at Camp Nou on March 12.
Walter Mazzarri was fired yesterday, himself having replaced Rudi Garcia in October, so Calzona becomes their third coach of the season.
A former assistant manager to Maurizio Sarri and Luciano Spalletti here, he is expected to permanently shelve the three-person defense and return to the 4-3-3 formation.
He also has Osimhen back for the first time since leaving in late December for the Africa Cup of Nations, where Nigeria lost the Final to the Ivory Coast.
However, Piotr Zielinski was cut from the Champions League squad list in January after refusing to sign a new contract so that it will be either Jens Cajuste or Hamed Junior Traore in midfield.
Mario Rui is expected to return as left-back, with Amir Rrahmani and Juan Jesus the favorites in the center of defense.
Barcelona had a few worries about Joao Felix, but he took part in the entire training session at the Stadio Maradona tonight and should be available.
He might not necessarily start, though, while Inigo Martinez is the favorite to play in defense rather than 17-year-old Cubarsi.
The attack is worrying for opponents, including Robert Lewandowski, Pedri, and Lamine Yamal.
Marcos Alonso, Ferran Torres, Gavi, and Alejandro Balde are long-term absentees.
Napoli (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Juan Jesus, Mario Rui; Anguissa, Lobotka, Traorè; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia
Barcelona (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Koundé, Araújo, Íñigo Martínez, Joao Cancelo; Gündogan, Christensen, de Jong; Lamine Yamal, Lewandowski, Pedri
Barcelona has been looking much better since Xavi announced his decision to resign from the club once the season ends, winning three of their last four games, Udhav Arora reports for Barça Universal.
While the defensive problems persist, the Catalans seem to be playing without much pressure, with Robert Lewandowski in much better form now.
However, they will have a mountain to climb tomorrow as they visit Southern Italy to take on Napoli in the Champions League round of 16 first leg.
Xavi spoke to the media ahead of the clash, saying, “For tomorrow, we have enthusiasm and hope. It is the ideal scenario to play a great game against a Naples team that changed the coach before the game.”
“It is not easy to prepare for a match like this. We are facing the current Serie A champion.”
“Napoli have surprisingly changed their coach 24 hours before the game. With the change of coach, we don’t know what the match will bring,” Xavi added.
On Osimhen, Kvara, Pedri, Lewandowski, and de Jong
Xavi noted Napoli’s incredible duo from last season, Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The latter has also recently been linked with Barcelona, with the club reportedly looking to sign a left-winger this summer.
“Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia are top-level players.”
“Kvaratskhelia is one of the best players in his position. We’ll need to pay attention to him.”
“It is crucial for us to defend well tomorrow. It’s difficult to stop Kvaratskhelia, Osimhen, and Politano,” he said.
As far as his team is concerned, Xavi name-checked three players for the game: Robert Lewandowski, Frenkie de Jong, and Pedri.
“For Lewandowski, Frenkie, and Pedri, it’s a perfect stage to show their talent and personality. For me, as a coach, as well. Robert is a leader; he has shown again what he is.”
Regarding de Jong, the midfielder spoke to the media before Xavi’s presser and did not hold back on the media trying to portray him as a villain. He slammed down rumors of his salary and any potential departure.
“The words of Frenkie de Jong? I understand Frenkie perfectly; any footballer suffers injustice. For me he is fundamental, I think he is a player for many years to come. He is a key player,” Xavi defended him.
We don’t blame the media for the results, but sometimes you indeed feel injustice when they say things that are not true. In this sense, the footballers take it out on themselves. But we have to play better and compete better. We understand that, but other things are unfair.”
On Barcelona’s preparation
Xavi also spoke about Barcelona’s objective for tomorrow, how they are preparing for the game, and how they will treat the first-leg since it is away from home.
“Under pressure for tomorrow? I am very motivated. We have to prepare for the game so that the players play as well as possible. The pressure is the same as always; it’s the pressure of Barça.”
“We have to prepare for the game knowing that there are 90 minutes left in Montjuïc in the second leg. But that doesn’t change our DNA. We have to defend well and have the ball.”
He concluded his press conference by saying, “We will go out to win tomorrow. A draw is not a good result for Barça; that’s how I was raised. Although we must remember that we play the second leg at Montjuïc.”
Mbappe’s move to the Spanish capital is edging closer (Image: PSG via Getty Images)
The French superstar is set to end his seven-year stay at PSG by joining Los Blancos when his contract expires next summer, Anthony Evans reports for The Daily Record.
The transfer saga has dominated world football in the last four years, but Kylian Mbappe looks set to be finally on his way to Real Madrid.
The La Liga giants moved for the World Cup winner in 2022, only for the French star to change his mind at the last minute and pen a new deal at Paris Saint-Germain. But the 25-year-old has now openly declared his desire to leave the club when his contract runs out at the end of the season and goes out of his side’s 2-0 away win against Nantes last weekend, coming off the bench to net a late penalty.
And according to Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, Madrid chairman Florentino Perez has now got his man. Balague claims that the forward, who has netted a staggering 321 goals in 438 matches for club and country so far, will pen a five-year deal at the Santiago Bernabeu that will see him earn €13million (£12.8million) a season.
Mbappe is also set to bank a blockbuster € 150 million (£ 128 million) signing-on fee across the duration of his contract and negotiate an unprecedented detail to retain a significant percentage of his image rights.
However, the player does have a one-year extension clause at PSG, so his exit is likely to involve either a sale with a transfer fee or financial sacrifices on Mbappe’s part. As well as the European Championships in Germany next summer, the pacey striker is also believed to be keen on representing France in the upcoming Olympic Games in his home city of Paris, which could delay his official debut in Madrid colors.
Mbappe’s arrival in Madrid next season will further bolster boss Carlo Ancelotti’s exceptional forward line, consisting of star Brazilian duo Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr and England’s Jude Bellingham. Should legendary playmaker Luka Modric opt to depart Los Blancos at the end of his contract in the summer, then Mbappe will inherit the iconic number 10 shirt that has previously been worn by the likes of Mesut Ozil, Luis Figo, Clarence Seedorf and Gheorghe Hagi.
The superstar hopes to end his spell in Paris by helping the Ligue 1 champions finally end their hoodoo by lifting the Champions League. Luis Enrique’s side has flattered to deceive in the competition in recent seasons despite having boasted the talents of Lionel Messi and Neymar alongside Mbappe. Still, the Spaniard’s new-look team is now on the verge of claiming their place in the quarter-finals, having secured a 1-0 win against Real Sociedad in the first leg of their last 16 clashes.
With the first of four competitions in the 2024 FIG Apparatus World Cup series done and dusted, the second, taking place in Germany from 22-25 February, will be equally as dramatic as the tussle for Paris 2024 places hots up.
Well, bam, and we’re off!
With barely enough time to let all the storylines and drama settle from the first artistic gymnasticsFIG Apparatus World Cup of the 2024 series in Cairo, the second looms large.
The Cottbus edition runs from 22-25 February, with another stack of the world’s best gymnasts headed to the meet in Germany.
Not only are World Cup titles on the line in the annual four-competition series, but vital Paris 2024 qualification points are on offer for those nervous souls still looking to obtain a quota for the Games in France starting in just over five months.
A gymnast’s best three results across four competitions secure points for where they finish, so 30 points for gold, 25 for silver, 20 for bronze, and so on, down to one point for 16th place.
Two gymnasts per apparatus – eight women’s artistic gymnasts and 12 men’s – can earn berths for their nation through the series, which concludes on 20 April.
Only one country can secure a spot per apparatus, with a maximum of three overall per National Olympic Committee.
Gymnasts are not eligible if their team has already secured a quota via the 2023 or 2024 World Championships or if they have already obtained a quota spot for their nation as an individual.
So, let’s check out five storylines ahead of the second edition of the FIG Apparatus World Cup in Cottbus after the drama-filled event amongst the pyramids of Egypt.
As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes’ participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.
Click here to see the official qualification system for each sport.
Chusovitina has it all to do to qualify for a ninth Olympics… but it is still possible
An Chang Ok of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea scored the highest average mark (14.233) in the final to secure the maximum 30-point tally in the nation’s first World Cup since the COVID-19 pandemic. A repeat performance in Germany would put her in the driving seat for a quota place for her nation.
Camille Rasmussen will want to put her 0.00 score on vault behind her after crashing her opening salvo in Cairo. Thankfully uninjured, the judges determined the Dane’s feet did not land first, a prerequisite in completing a vault. The 19-year-old currently ranks seventh, courtesy of making the vault final.
Uneven bars showdown hots up as Kaylia Nemour set to rock up in Germany
Hang on to your hats, Kaylia Nemour – one of the favourites for the uneven bars title in Paris – will again be showcasing her hugely difficult routine and blowing everyone away like she did at the 2023 World Championships in Antwerp in October.
Just losing out to People’s Republic of China’s Qiu Qiyuan in the final, the French-born Algeria-representing 17-year-old still made history by winning the first world championship medal by an African gymnast.
With a quota secured, honing the routine in Cottbus is key to her progression toward Paris.
Helen Kevric, the world junior silver medallist on uneven bars, will be making her senior debut in front of a home crowd. Scheduled to compete on bars, beam, and floor, the two-time European Youth Olympic Festival all-around champion is quite the hot prospect and turns senior just in time to secure a Paris spot potentially.
Defending bars champion on track for alternative route to Paris 2024
The reigning Olympic champion on bars, Nina Derwael, will be eyeing Nemour from across the arena as she takes to the World Cup for the second time in a week.
Not yet ready to compete on the apparatus in which she became the first Belgian female gymnast to win an Olympic medal after being out with a shoulder injury, Derwael instead was the top scorer on beam in Cairo, securing 30 points in the race to Paris, and ranks first.
If she successfully secures a quota through the World Cup series on beam, she would be available to compete in all four events in Paris if picked by her NOC and, therefore, have the opportunity to defend her Olympic title.
Illia Kovtun continues World Cup dominance on parallel bars with the meet’s biggest score
We don’t know about the Ukrainian gymnast and World Cups, but Illia Kovtun blew everyone away in Cairo, scoring 15.600 on his favored apparatus. That was the highest mark across men’s and women’s competitions for the 2023 World all-around silver medallist.
Despite troubling uncertainty in his homeland, Kovtun has won eight of the last nine World Cup parallel bars competitions and will look to do the same again in Cottbus.
Another perennial World Cup winner honing his routines is Artur Davtyan, who won a seventh vault title in the World Cup series. The Armenian will be looking to match or improve on his Tokyo 2020 bronze medal in the event come the Games in France should he be selected by his NOC.
The gold medallist from Tokyo, Shin Jeahwan of the Republic of Korea, will look to the competition in Germany to clean up his first vault after a mistake in Cairo left him out of the finals. His nation has secured a team spot for Paris, and now it’s all about who gets picked, so now’s the time to shine.
Having not qualified a five-person team for their home Games, the French men have everything to do in Cottbus. The best results in Cairo came from Benjamin Osberger on pommel horse (4th) and floor (5th), with Samir Aït Saïd and Cameron-Lie Bernard securing fifth places on rings and parallel bars, respectively.
Aït Saïd, famed for returning to the sport despite a severe leg injury suffered on vault at Rio 2016, sits fourth in the rings rankings after an ineligible gymnast was removed from the list, with Bernard sitting a much more favorable second in the parallel bars rankings.
Croatia’s Filip Ude, the Olympic silver medallist on the pommel horse at Beijing 2008, fell on the apparatus in the final, so he must at least go clean in Cottbus to stand a chance of punching his ticket to Paris.
After securing a medal in his debut senior event, Angel Barajas will look for more success in Cottbus. The Colombian won bronze on the high bar and made good on his promise of last year when he won the all-around silver at the 2023 Junior World Championships.
In the throes of the hotbed of Olympic qualification, every gymnast must remember to take even the slightest opportunity available to them.
Take Bulgaria’s Eddie Penev. The former US gymnast initially did not make the men’s floor final, qualifying in ninth place, but claimed bronze and valuable qualification points after being subbed into the final at the last minute.
There’s still so much to play for.
The FIG Individual Apparatus World Cup Cottbus takes place February 22-25 in Germany. The Baku edition runs from 7-10 March, while the culmination of the series concludes in Doha from 17-20 April.
2024 Apparatus World Cup – reallocated points for women toward rankings for Paris 2024
Women’s Vault Rankings (after 1/4 World Cup events)
Rank
Gymnast
Nation
EGY
GER
AZE
QAT
Total
1
An Chang Ok
DRK
30
30
2
Valentina Georgieva
BUL
25
25
3
Pranati Nayak
IND
20
20
4
Alice Vlkova
CZE
18
18
5
Dipa Karmakar
IND
16
16
Women’s Uneven Bars Rankings (after 1/4 World Cups)
Rank
Gymnast
Nation
EGY
GER
AZE
QAT
Total
1
Georgia-Rose Brown
NZL
30
30
2
Nathalie Westlund
SWE
25
25
3
An Chang Ok
DPR
20
20
4
Jennifer Williams
SWE
18
18
5
Laura Casabuena
ESP
16
16
Women’s Balance Beam Rankings (after 1/4 World Cups)
Rank
Gymnast
Nation
EGY
GER
AZE
QAT
Total
1
Nina Derwael
BEL
30
30
2
Erika Pinxten
BEL
25
25
3
Lai Pin-Ju
TPE
20
20
4
Yelizaveta Hubareva
UKR
18
18
5
Jennifer Williams
SWE
16
16
Women’s Floor Rankings (after 1/4 World Cups)
Rank
Gymnast
Nation
EGY
GER
AZE
QAT
Total
1
Emma Malabuyo
PHI
30
30
2
Laura Casabuena
ESP
25
25
3
Charlize Mörz
AUT
20
20
4
Erika Pinxten
BEL
18
18
5
Jana Mahmoud
EGY
16
16
2024 Apparatus World Cup – reallocated points for men toward rankings for Paris 2024
Men’s Floor Rankings (after 1/4 World Cups)
Rank
Gymnast
Nation
EGY
GER
AZE
QAT
Total
1
Ryu Sunghyun
KOR
30
30
2
Diorges Escobar
CUB
25
25
3
Eddie Penev
BUL
20
20
4
Dmitry Patanin
KAZ
18
18
5
Benjamin Osberger
FRA
16
16
Men’s Pommel Horse Rankings (after 1/4 World Cups)
Rank
Gymnast
Nation
EGY
GER
AZE
QAT
Total
1
Ahmad Abu Al Soud
JOR
30
30
2
Hur Woong
KOR
25
25
3
Zeinolla Idrissov
KAZ
20
20
4
Benjamin Osberger
FRA
18
18
5
Nariman Kurbanov
KAZ
16
16
Men’s Still Rings Rankings (after 1/4 World Cups)
Rank
Athlete
Nation
EGY
GER
AZE
QAT
Total
1
Jong Ryong Il
DPR
30
30
2
Vahagn Davtyan
ARM
25
25
3
Artur Avetisyan
ARM
20
20
4
Samir Aït Saïd
FRA
18
18
5
Nikita Simonov
AZE
16
16
Men’s Vault Rankings (after 1/4 World Cups)
Rank
Gymnast
Nation
EGY
GER
AZE
QAT
Total
1
Shek Wai Hung
HKG
30
30
2
Jacob Karlsen
NOR
25
25
3
Mahdi Olfati
IRI
20
20
4
Trinh Hai Khang
VIE
18
18
5
James Bacueti
AUS
16
16
Men’s Parallel Bars Rankings (after 1/4 World Cups)
Bukayo Saka dazzles with England. Credit GettyImages
The BBC reports that the arsenal travel to Porto for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday as they bid to make the quarter-finals for the first time since 2009-10.
The Gunners topped their group on their return to the competition after a six-year absence and face the 30-time Portuguese champions for a place in the last eight.
While Mikel Arteta’s side are also fighting for the Premier League title, Porto are third in Portugal’s Primera Liga, seven points off the top.
Sergio Conceicao’s team qualified second in Group H, losing to Barcelona for the top spot on head-to-head results.
TEAM NEWS
Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has returned to training after four months out with a thigh injury, while Fabio Vieira is nearing a comeback after having groin surgery in November.
Gabriel Jesus (knee), Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (niggle) remain doubtful after missing Saturday’s 5-0 win at Burnley.
Porto could be without Mehdi Taremi after the club confirmed the Iran striker was struggling with a thigh injury sustained in training on Sunday.
The Portuguese side is already missing Nigeria full-back Zaidu Sanusi, who is out for the season with a knee injury, with center-back Ivan Marcano, another long-term absentee.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Arsenal have won all three of their home Champions League games against Porto by an aggregate score of 11-0, but are winless in all three away games (D1 L2).
The last time Arsenal got past the last 16 in the Champions League, they did so by beating Porto 6-2 on aggregate in the 2009-10 campaign, Nicklas Bendtner scoring a hat-trick at Emirates Stadium.
Porto
Porto have been eliminated from seven of their eight Champions League knockout ties against English opposition, except for a last-16 victory over Manchester United en route to winning the trophy in 2003-04.
Each of the past five teams to eliminate Porto from the Champions League in the knockout rounds of the competition has gone on to reach the final that season – Juventus in 2016-17 (last 16), Liverpool in 2017-18 (later 16) and 2018-19 (quarter-final), Chelsea in 2020-21 (quarter-final) and Inter Milan last season (last 16).
Porto scored seven goals in their past two Champions League home games, as many as they had in their previous nine home matches combined.
Arsenal
Since the last 16 was introduced in the Champions League in 2003-04, Arsenal have gone out at this stage more than any other side (9), including in each of their past seven appearances in the competition between 2010-11 and 2016-17. With eight last-16 eliminations, Porto is joint second in this regard.
Arsenal have scored more first-half goals than any other side in the Champions League this season, with 12 of their 16 strikes coming before half-time. The Gunners have scored in the opening 45 minutes in their past 13 Champions League games, the longest such run in European Cup history.
In this year’s Champions League group stage, only Manchester City (91%) and Real Madrid (89%) had a higher pass completion rate under pressure than Arsenal (86%).
In a run stretching back to November 2018 with Manchester City, Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus has been involved in 20 goals in his past 18 Champions League starts (15 goals, five assists). He has been implicated in six goals in four starts for the Gunners so far this term (4 goals, two assists).
No player has been involved in more Champions League goals this season than Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka (3 goals, four assists), with the young Englishman averaging a goal involvement every 48 minutes in the competition.
Our coverage of the Gunners is bigger and better than ever before – here’s everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment
Preview, schedule, and how to watch the action live
Alex Morean Photo credit: olympics.com
Discover what you need to know about the World Skateboarding Tour Paris 2024 qualifier at the Dubai Harbour from 25 February to 3 March. Livestream coverage of WST: Dubai Park 2024 will be available on the Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Olympics app for mobile devices, Chloe Merrell reports for Olympics.com.
Park skateboarders worldwide are descending on the picturesque Dubai Habour to compete in the World Skateboarding Tour’s Dubai Park 2024 event from 25 February to 3 March.
The World Skateboarding Tour (WST) forms a vital part of the ‘Road to Paris’ for park and street skateboarders looking to compete at the Olympic Games, and the WST Dubai Park 2024 stop will mark a critical stage on that journey.
The event will be the last chance for skaters to accrue points towards their Olympic World Skate Ranking (OWSR) before a cut is made – using those rankings – ahead of the second phase of qualification, the Olympic Qualifying Series (OQS).
The OQS is a two-part competition series in Shanghai (16-19 May) and Budapest (20-23 June) and will be the settings to determine the final fields for Paris 2024.
The 44 highest-placed eligible athletes per gender in the OWSR after Dubai will be invited to the OQS respecting the following principles:
No more than six athletes per country per gender per event (respecting the order of the OWSR)
At least one highest-placed athlete from each continent for the representation of all continents
At least one highest-placed athlete who is a national of the Olympic Games 2024 host country, France
At least one highest-placed eligible athlete who is a national of the OQS host country (People’s Republic of China and Hungary)
At least one Universality places eligible athletes
Therefore, the stakes for entering Dubai are high, with spots in the next qualification stage.
Read on to learn more about the schedule, which skaters to watch, and how you can see all the action live.
Women’s Open Qualifier Pre-seeded women’s and men’s practices.
Thursday 29th February
Men’s Open Qualifier Heats 1, 2, 3, 4
Pre-seeded women’s and men’s practices
Men’s Open Qualifier Heats 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10
Friday 1 March
Women’s Quarter-final practices
Women’s Quarter-final
Men’s Quarter-final practices
Men’s Quarter-final
Saturday 2 March
Women’s Semi-final practices
Men’s Semi-final practices
Women’s Semi-final
Men’s Semi-final
Sunday 3 March
Women’s Final practice
Men’s Final practice
Women’s Fina
World silver medallist Luigi Cini in action at WST San Juan 2023 (Julio Detefon/CBSk)
WST Dubai Park: Newly minted world champions Gavin Bottger and Hiraki Kokona lead the way; no Sky Brown
With OQS spots on the line and Paris 2024 in the wings, Dubai will be a crucial junction for all hungry park skateboarders looking to make a statement and gain valuable OWSR points.
Among those set to lead the charge at Dubai Harbour will be the newly crowned champions HirakiCocona and Gavin Bottger.
Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Cocona has been a sure but steady force in the women’s park event ever since the road to Paris began. The Japanese will be the favorite to top the podium again in the UAE, not least with Sky Brown opting out of the contest to pursue a quota spot for Great Britain at the ISA World Surfing Games 2024 in Puerto Rico.
The 15-year-old, though dominant, won’t be the only skater looking for the top prize. Fellow teen and world runner-up HinanoKusaki will also be in the hunt with United States’ MinnaStess, Brazil’s RaiccaVentura, and Australian young gun Ruby Trew.
If the World Championships in Rome were anything to go by, the men’s competition in Dubai would deliver something equally as unique.
On an electric evening on the Roman coast, 16-year-old Bottger clinched gold ahead of Brazil’s LuigiCini and fellow friend and countryman TateCarew in the World Championship final. All three will indeed be looking for back-to-back successes in Dubai.
Among those specific to try and muscle in on the podium will be Tokyo 2020 Olympic medallists Keegan Palmer, Jagger Eaton, and Pedro Barros, who all missed out back in Rome.
It’ll be two contests not to miss.
How to watch Dubai Park 2024 live on Olympics.com
Livestream coverage of WST Dubai Park 2024 will be available to watch worldwide on the Olympic Channel via Olympics.com. It will begin with the semi-finals on Saturday, 2 March, and include the finals on Sunday, 3 October.
You can find all the latest on your favorite skateboarders, including news, interviews, and updates from Dubai on Olympics.com and the apps for mobile and connected TV devices.
At the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 2024
With just two weeks to go until the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24 gets underway, Glasgow Life is pleased to confirm that a brand-new track surface will await the world’s best athletes when they compete for world championship titles at the Glasgow Arena next month.
As part of the ongoing refurbishment programme of its sports facilities, Glasgow Life has scheduled the works to be completed ahead of this prestigious event, the first time a World Athletics Indoor Championships has been held in Scotland.
Glasgow Life has overseen the build, working with specialist suppliers DYNAMIK and Mondo, as the arena is upgraded 12 years after its original construction for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
As part of the city’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030, a new LED lighting system has also been installed at the venue, reducing energy consumption. It will provide better operational conditions for broadcast and support broader legacy uses of the space.
The Glasgow Arena is well established as a world-class athletics venue, having hosted numerous national and international events, including the 2019 European Athletics Indoor Championships and, most recently, the Muller Indoor Grand Prix in 2020. This significant upgrade will ensure that Glasgow retains its place on the international athletics scene for years.
As well as ensuring the arena is ready to host the world’s best, the refurbishment firmly demonstrates the city’s commitment to its thriving community sports program. The track is well used by many of the city’s next generation of elite competitors across various sports and hosts Scottish Athletics’ national, club, and school competitions throughout the year. Current GB & NI track stars Laura Muir and Jemma Reekie are amongst a host of top Scots who have made good use of the arena during critical stages of their careers.
With many memorable moments already having taken place at the arena, the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24 promises to deliver even more spectacular performances as over 650 athletes from 130 countries compete for gold next month (1-3 March), with just a few seats left following the final release of tickets for the event last week.
In what is sure to be a fantastic atmosphere in this intimate venue, where fans are seated up close to the action, news of the new track will undoubtedly boost both athletes and fans as the excitement builds.
Baillie Annette Christie, Chair of Glasgow Life, said: “Glasgow has a proven track record in hosting major international events and is committed to using them to encourage participation in sport and physical activity, ensuring a positive impact that benefits local communities.
“Much of our success in this area is predicated on our ongoing investment in world-class sporting venues like the Glasgow Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome. 10 years on since the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, this significant upgrade to the arena will ensure that we can offer a state-of-the-art indoor athletics venue to both our aspiring young athletes who use the facility on a day-to-day basis and world champions alike.
“With just two weeks to go to the championships, we look forward to welcoming athletes from 130 countries across the globe to Glasgow and showing why we are known as one of the world’s friendliest cities.”
World Athletics Chief Executive Officer Jon Ridgeon said: “This is a fantastic legacy for the City of Glasgow and ensures a world-class training and competition facility for Scottish athletes who are increasingly becoming fixtures on our podiums. The fact that Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Life have been able to schedule the installation of the new track and the lighting system in time for the World Indoors will not only enhance the quality of performances at the Championships but secure the future of the sport at all levels for many years to come.”
Colin Hutchison, Scottish Athletics Chief Executive Officer, said: “I am delighted the renovation work at the Glasgow Arena has been completed, and we look forward to an exciting World Indoors at the venue.
“The benefit for the athletics community in Scotland – as well as seeing global stars up close for a few days – is a ‘new’ indoor track and field facility for years to come. Realistically, the arena needed improvements at some point, and we’re pleased to be through the other end of that now.
“Athletes and coaches have been very patient this winter, and we are grateful for that. We are excited about returning in the winter of 2024-25 for our indoor season and the return of Scottish Championship events.
“The venue looks great now, and I am certain the atmosphere for the World Indoors will be extraordinary.”
Discover how to follow the US Women’s National Team (USWNT) live in action at the CONCACAF W Gold Cup 2024 in the United States using our entire broadcast and streaming schedule.
Azael Rodriguez with credit olympics.com The inaugural 2024 CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup is here, with hosts USWNT, one of the nations favored, lifting the brand new footballing trophy, Eleanor Lee reports for olympics.com.
The USWNT heads into the maiden edition of the tournament off the back of a disappointing 2023, having failed to make it past the Round of 16 at last summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The past twelve months have been a transitional period for the four-time world champions following their poor World Cup performance and Megan Rapinoe’s retirement announcement.
However, things began looking up for the nation once it was announced that current Chelsea boss Emma Hayes would take charge of the USWNT following the culmination of this year’s Women’s Super League season.
In what will now be interim manager **Twila Kilgore’s final tournament, the USWNT will find themselves in Group A and begin their Gold Cup campaign against Argentina, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico.
Please find out how you can watch every single one of their games at the CONCACAF W Gold Cup below.
How to watch USWNT at CONCACAF W Gold Cup: Full schedule and live match times
All 25 matches of the CONCACAF W Gold Cup 2024 will be available to watch in English across CBS and Paramount+ networks for US viewers, including all USWNT fixtures.
ESPN will show every competition fixture for Spanish speakers in the US and Mexico.
Fans can also stream matches live on CONCACAF GO and CONCACAF’s YouTube channel.
USWNT fixtures at CONCACAF W Gold Cup 2024: Watch live
Tuesday, February 20
Game: USA v Dominican Republic
Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park
Kick-off: 09:15 pm Central Time
Network: CBS
Friday, February 23
Game: Argentina v USA
Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park
Kick-off: 09:15 pm Central Time
Network: CBS
Monday, February 26
Game: USA v Mexico
Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park
Kick-off: 09:15 pm CT
Network: CBS
If the USWNT scores the most amount of points across all groups**, their route to the final will be as follows:
Quarter-finals: Saturday March 02
Game: USA v TBC
Venue: BMO Stadium
Kick-off: 18:00 CT
Network: CBS
Semi-finals: Wednesday, March 06
Game: USA v TBC
Venue: BMO Stadium
Kick-off: 18:00 CT
Network: CBS
Final: Sunday, March 11
Game: USA v TBC
Venue: Snapdragon Stadium
Kick-off: 19:15 CT
Network: CBS
The package Noah Lyles had awaited for weeks was delivered on 3 February at the Boston office of his agency, Global Athletics & Marketing.
Inside was a ring made by a New York jeweler, designed by Lyles and as unapologetically statement-making as its new owner.
As wide as two fingers and covered in diamonds, it is topped by an oval, hand-painted to look like a red, five-lane track that surrounds two letters. If there was any confusion behind the meaning of ‘WC,” the golden lettering jutting out of one side reads ‘World Champion 2023’, and the other ‘three times.”
Accustomed to the tradition of US leagues commemorating titles with championship rings, Lyles ordered the piece to remember his own last year, when he claimed not only the 100m and 200m titles but ran a leg on the victorious US 4x100m team at the World Athletics Championship in Budapest. At only 26, he has become the self-styled greatest showman of his sport behind his knack for timing – his quickness to the line and his instinct to create a scene. It was why, after Lyles had shown off his new jewels the day of its arrival, he returned the ring to his agent for safekeeping with one instruction.
“Give me the ring,” Lyles said, “after I win.”
The next day, when Lyles crossed the finish line to win the 60m at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in 6.44, he retrieved the ring and began flashing it to every camera he passed as a global television audience watched. The World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting performance, a PB by 0.07 that broke Maurice Greene’s 25-year-old meeting record and edged a field including 2022 world 100m champion Fred Kerley, surprised Lyles.
It also reinforced his goals for 2024, when he expects to add even more jewelry to his collection.
“My confidence has now skyrocketed,” Lyles said. “Let’s go get a world indoor medal.”
Lyles ensured that he would be in contention for gold at his first World Athletics Indoor Championships next month in Glasgow after following his victory in Boston with another personal best at the US Indoor Championships in New Mexico on Saturday to win in a world-leading 6.43 and edge a field that included world record-holder Christian Coleman.
“This is the only team I’ve yet to make, and I just made it, and I came in first, and I’m a world leader,” Lyles said after his US title victory. “I mean, all things that I didn’t expect to be, honest. I was ready to make the team and be like, I’m going to do like I did Worlds in 2023 in the 100. But no, it’s a different ballgame. This is my weakest event, so come outdoor, whew, fireworks.”
Lyles edged Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake by 0.01 in Boston and Coleman by the same margin two weeks later, behind race plans that acknowledged that his indoor and outdoor starts can be “sluggish.” As recently as the day before his New Balance victory, he’d been beaten out of his blocks during his final tune-up practice. Lyles focused instead on taking control between 10m and 20m. In Boston, it helped him beat Kerley in Kerley’s indoor debut at 60m. At the US Indoor Championships, he beat Coleman, a 60m veteran and one of sprinting’s elite starters.
“I have waited and worked for eight years to see the numbers I have produced this year in the 60m,” Lyles wrote on social media after his US Championships win. “I’m so glad it’s finally here.”
Despite Lyles’ Glasgow goals, he and his coach are not tailoring his training toward indoor results, the sprinter said, because his most significant ambitions remain fixed on the Paris Olympics and filling one of the only other holes on his otherwise glittering credentials: earning the gold that eluded him during his Olympic debut in Tokyo. To get there, Lyles re-assessed his training program, increased his lifting regimen, and said he now carries 10 pounds of muscle more than last year.
“Last year we went after three gold medals,” Lyles said when asked what defined success for him in 2024. “This year, I want to go after four. Or if I don’t get four, go after three world records.”
That means Lyles is targeting not only 100m, 200m, and 4x100m titles but is serious about running a 4x400m leg, as well, believing that if US officials who determine the relay pool “feel that I’m the man for the job, I’m here for it.” He teased the possibility of running an open 400m in April when he has a gap on his competition schedule.
“To be honest, I can run a 43 (second relay split) for certain,” Lyles said in Boston. “It’s just, don’t put me on the last leg, and don’t put me on first.
“Put me on second or third. I need something to chase. If you give the baton to me first, I will keep it there. But if I have somebody to chase, or if I’m on the second leg and going first (place), I know that if I create a huge gap and give it to the person in third, that’s what motivates me.”
Lyles is chasing times. On 4 February, he reiterated his long-stated belief that Usain Bolt’s 100m and 200m records are not untouchable. But if his improving times have been a pleasant surprise – his 60m PB entering this season was 6.55 – they are also a secondary motivation to winning.
It is why the six-time world gold medallist, coming off a year when he became the first man since Bolt in 2016 to win 100m and 200m at a world championships, is now targeting his first indoor world medal. And it explained why he prioritized winning four golds in Paris ahead of three world records. Winning four times would make Lyles the first to do that in athletics in a single Olympics since Carl Lewis in 1984.
Is he adding his name next to history’s most accomplished sprinters? To Lyles, that has a ring to it he likes.
Ahead of the highly anticipated event in Nassau, Bahamas in May
Bahamas National Stadium – WRE Bahamas 24 Photo credit: World Athletics
Ticket sales have been launched for the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24, ahead of the highly anticipated event in Nassau on May 4-5.
Bahamian officials are preparing to welcome hundreds of the world’s top sprinters from more than 50 countries to compete in the final qualifying event ahead of the Paris Olympic Games.
For the first time, the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 will introduce a “fan zone” area close to the action on the infield, offering fans unparalleled, close-up views of the athletes and a zone in the Eastern Grandstand dedicated to high-school-aged fans.
In addition, from now until May, the local organizing committee (LOC) will host a series of school and community events to boost excitement and public engagement around the event.
“Today is an exciting day for The Bahamas as we officially launch ticket sales for the World Athletics Relays,” said Drumeco Archer, LOC Chief Executive Officer. “With our stunning nature and enthusiastic people, The Bahamas is an ideal host for competitive sporting events. The Bahamas will be the last opportunity for these athletes to shine on track to the Olympics. We invite you to see these impressive athletes firsthand as they ascend from paradise to the Paris Olympics. Get your tickets now.”
The Honorable Mario K. Bowleg, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, added: “This event will have a positive impact not only on our economy but also on our position as regional leaders in sports tourism. We look forward to sitting in a full stadium and cheering on the world’s top sprinters who can inspire us to take pride in our strengths as a people.”
LOC Chairman Dr. Daniel Johnson emphasized the significance of bringing the World Relays back to The Bahamas: “We are a small country, and the fact that we were able to bring this key event back home highlights the attractiveness of The Bahamas as we elevate our ‘sports in paradise’ brand on a global scale.”
Tickets can be purchased at The Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium box office or by visiting the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 website. Each ticket will include a unique code required for attendees to scan when entering and exiting the stadium. Ticket prices start at $10 for children and $20 for adult general admission, while VIP platinum seats with the best views go for $150 each.
Archer expects the prime seats to sell out fast, and therefore, he encourages fans to purchase tickets now to “witness history in the making.”
Noah Lyles wins the 60m at the US Indoor Championships (© Getty Images)
Noah Lyles anchors USA to win the 4x100m at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 (© Getty Images)
