With Safety at its Core, OMODA C5 forges a Shield of Quality    Hans Zimmer to reimagine Saudi national anthem and collaborate on future projects    Maximum fine of SR900 for using mobile phone while driving    Al-Jadaan at WEF: Saudi Arabia achieves $200 in investment returns for every dollar it spends    Saudi House pavilion at WEF showcases Kingdom's key achievements and promising investment opportunities    Convicted US Capitol rioter turns down Trump pardon    "Theeb Rent a Car" receives two awards for Best New Sustainability Practices and Most Distinguished Company in Social Responsibility from The Global Economics    US tech giants announce AI plan worth up to $500bn    Israel's military chief resigns over 7 October 2023 failures    Dangerous drug-resistant bacteria are spreading in Ukraine    France issues health warning as tons 'aphrodisiac honey' seized    Tariffs on imports only way to get fairness, says Trump    24 Democratic states and cities sue over Trump's bid to end birthright citizenship    Al Nassr secures hard-fought 3-1 victory over Al Khaleej in Saudi Pro League    Al Hilal signs young Brazilian talent Kaio César from Vitória Guimarães    Roberto Firmino's volley secures Al Ahli's 2-1 win over Al Ettifaq    Saudi Arabia introduces national policy to eliminate forced labor    Al Hilal solidifies Saudi Pro League lead with a 4-1 victory over Al Wahda    Princess Hessa bint Salman attends launch of fashion design exhibition in Riyadh Princess Noura Al-Faisal: Art of Heritage showcases Saudi identity with a modern vision    Weight-loss drugs may boost health in many ways    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Midday match not good for Olympic football
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 26 - 08 - 2008

Football and the Olympics have been together for more than 100 years, but they still aren't really talking to each other.
Due to the huge holes in the player selection process, Argentina forward Lionel Messi was almost sent home the day before his debut because his club, FC Barcelona, wanted him back.
Thankfully, for the record 2.14 million Olympic football fans, Barcelona allowed Messi to stay. He dazzled fans with his footwork, goals and passes, justifying his appearance by setting up Argentina's only goal in a 1-0 victory over Nigeria in Saturday's final.
But he had to sweat to get it.
The two teams sweltered in midday temperatures of 42 degrees Celsius (107 Fahrenheit), and match officials took the rare step of stopping play twice to allow players to drink water and cool down.
Now there were two ways of fixing both those problems.
Had FIFA made the sensible move of putting the Olympic competition on its schedule of official international competitions – like it will for the 2012 London Games – there would have been no conflict between club vs. country.
And had organizers scheduled the final in the comparative cool of the evening in another stadium – rather than forcing the finalists to play in potentially dangerous midday conditions at the Bird's Nest – no one would have complained.
When the game kicked off, it was 6 A.M. in Europe and midnight in most parts of North and South America, hardly prime time. But it was the only time available at the spectacular Bird's Nest stadium, which had to be reconfigured for that evening's track and field competition. At the 2004 Athens Games, the men's final kicked off even earlier.
“No team has actually played at noon since we started this tournament,” Nigeria coach Samson Siasia said. “It affected both countries, and most players didn't perform to their level because of the heat. But we didn't make the rules. They said play the game at 12 O'clock, which I don't think was a good idea.”
The embarrassing start and finish to the competition overshadowed what was a well-played tournament in which the young stars of the 16 teams gave a glimpse of World Cups to come. Although many of the women's games were played in front of half-empty stadiums, the record crowds underlined how popular football is in China.
But there is so much missing with football at the Games that it never will achieve the same impact as athletics, swimming or gymnastics, which all consider the Olympics far more important than their own world championships.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter announced toward the end of the competition there would be no moves to sharpen up the image of Olympic football by allowing full-strength lineups. He saw the competition as a sort of “university” where the top graduates would move on to the World Cup. – AP __


Clic here to read the story from its source.