Riyadh Wins Vote to Host 2034 Asian Games

The Saudi delegation promoting Riyadh's hosting of the Asian Games poses for a photo upon its arrival in Muscat earlier this week. (SPA)
The Saudi delegation promoting Riyadh's hosting of the Asian Games poses for a photo upon its arrival in Muscat earlier this week. (SPA)
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Riyadh Wins Vote to Host 2034 Asian Games

The Saudi delegation promoting Riyadh's hosting of the Asian Games poses for a photo upon its arrival in Muscat earlier this week. (SPA)
The Saudi delegation promoting Riyadh's hosting of the Asian Games poses for a photo upon its arrival in Muscat earlier this week. (SPA)

Riyadh won the rights to host the 2034 Asian Games at the general assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia on Wednesday in Muscat, the regional governing body announced.

President of Saudi's Olympic Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal Al-Saud said "when we say the games are a national priority, we mean it".

"It has unwavering political and public support," he said

"Sport has changed social life in the Kingdom -- especially for women."

Prince Abdulaziz pointed to Saudi's hosting of major boxing clashes and planning for next year's Formula 1 as proof of the Kingdom's readiness for the Asian games.

Doha will host the 2030 Games.

Neighbors Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which are locked in a long-running political dispute, had bid for the hosting rights to the second-biggest multi-sport event after the Olympics.

In an attempt to prevent a diplomatic dispute, OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah said on Tuesday he was looking to avoid a vote by persuading one city to hold the 2030 Games while the other staged the following edition in 2034.

Ng Ser Miang, the chairman of the OCA advisory committee and vice president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said the proposed hosting solution was akin to the IOC decision to award the Olympics to Paris in 2024 and Los Angeles in 2028.

Voting was delayed by hours after technical problems with the online system, in place to allow some national Olympic committees to participate remotely because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"I apologize for the technical problem we are facing during our voting," said Sheikh Ahmad.

"Today the difficult things have been solved and the easy things have been problems."

"I will be glad to have two games in west Asia, to be honest," added Sheikh Ahmad.

Ahead of the vote, the OCA's president said he was seeking a "win-win" situation for Doha and Riyadh.



Antonelli Stays Cool to Win Chaotic Monaco Grand Prix

 Formula One F1 - Monaco Grand Prix - Circuit de Monaco, Monaco - June 7, 2026 Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli celebrates on the podium after winning the Monaco Grand Prix. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - Monaco Grand Prix - Circuit de Monaco, Monaco - June 7, 2026 Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli celebrates on the podium after winning the Monaco Grand Prix. (Reuters)
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Antonelli Stays Cool to Win Chaotic Monaco Grand Prix

 Formula One F1 - Monaco Grand Prix - Circuit de Monaco, Monaco - June 7, 2026 Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli celebrates on the podium after winning the Monaco Grand Prix. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - Monaco Grand Prix - Circuit de Monaco, Monaco - June 7, 2026 Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli celebrates on the podium after winning the Monaco Grand Prix. (Reuters)

Formula One championship leader Kimi Antonelli stayed ice-cool to win a chaotic Monaco Grand Prix and extend his run of victories this season to five on Sunday.

The 19-year-old Italian built a commanding lead after starting from pole in his Mercedes but that evaporated after a late red flag to inspect a crumbling surface at the final corner following a crash that took out Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.

After a ‌delay of ‌around 40 minutes while repairs were ‌carried ⁠out, the race ⁠resumed with a standing start, but Antonelli remained unfazed as he became the youngest ever winner of the iconic race.

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton was runner-up for the second successive Grand Prix with Red Bull's Isack Hadjar provisionally third, although he was one ⁠of a number of drivers under investigation ‌for a variety of ‌infringements.

Hamilton, who equaled the late Ayrton Senna's eight Monaco ‌podiums, moved above Antonelli's team mate George Russell ‌into second place in the standings, 66 points behind Antonelli.

"It's been an incredible weekend and an incredible race," said Antonelli, who was not even born the last time ‌an Italian won the Monaco Grand Prix - Jarno Trulli in 2004.

"We had ⁠incredible pace ⁠and it all came so natural and that gave me the confidence to push."

A year after finishing last on his F1 debut at Monaco, Antonelli showed incredible poise to shrug off the red flag drama that meant he effectively had to win two races.

"I wasn't super keen on re-starting but once the notification came out, I just gathered my emotions and re-focused again. Once I got away and was P1 into the first corner I could enjoy the last few laps."


Algeria Extend Coach Petkovic’s Contract

Football - Euro 2020 - Quarter Final - Switzerland v Spain - Saint Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia - July 2, 2021 Then Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic applauds fans after the match. (Pool via Reuters)
Football - Euro 2020 - Quarter Final - Switzerland v Spain - Saint Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia - July 2, 2021 Then Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic applauds fans after the match. (Pool via Reuters)
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Algeria Extend Coach Petkovic’s Contract

Football - Euro 2020 - Quarter Final - Switzerland v Spain - Saint Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia - July 2, 2021 Then Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic applauds fans after the match. (Pool via Reuters)
Football - Euro 2020 - Quarter Final - Switzerland v Spain - Saint Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia - July 2, 2021 Then Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic applauds fans after the match. (Pool via Reuters)

Algeria have extended Swiss coach Vladimir Petkovic's contract until 2028, just days before the start of the World Cup.

Petkovic, 62, had been in charge of the Desert Foxes since 2024, taking over following Algeria's first round exit at the African Cup of Nations.

"The Swiss coach has managed some remarkable results since he took over," the Algerian federation said in a statement on Sunday.

Under Petkovic, Algeria have "won 21 matches, had four draws and lost only three matches", the federation added.

Algeria will line up in Group J at the World Cup alongside reigning champions Argentina, Austria and Jordan.

Petkovic was Switzerland coach from 2014 to 2021 and before that won the Italian Cup with Roma in 2013.


Makenzie Replaces Injured Yahya in Iraq’s World Cup Squad

Football - International Friendly - Spain v Iraq - Riazor stadium, A Coruna, Spain - June 4, 2026 Iraq's Ahmed Yahya Mhmood Al Hajjaj in action with Spain's Pedro Porro. (Reuters)
Football - International Friendly - Spain v Iraq - Riazor stadium, A Coruna, Spain - June 4, 2026 Iraq's Ahmed Yahya Mhmood Al Hajjaj in action with Spain's Pedro Porro. (Reuters)
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Makenzie Replaces Injured Yahya in Iraq’s World Cup Squad

Football - International Friendly - Spain v Iraq - Riazor stadium, A Coruna, Spain - June 4, 2026 Iraq's Ahmed Yahya Mhmood Al Hajjaj in action with Spain's Pedro Porro. (Reuters)
Football - International Friendly - Spain v Iraq - Riazor stadium, A Coruna, Spain - June 4, 2026 Iraq's Ahmed Yahya Mhmood Al Hajjaj in action with Spain's Pedro Porro. (Reuters)

Iraq ‌have called up Ahmed Hassan Makenzie to their 2026 World Cup squad to replace Ahmed Yahya, who has been ruled out of the tournament with a hamstring injury, the national ‌team announced ‌on Saturday.

"Based on ‌the ⁠medical report, head ⁠coach Graham Arnold has decided to call up Ahmed Makenzie and register him in the final squad for ⁠the 2026 World Cup ‌finals ‌in place of Ahmed Yahya," ‌the national team said ‌in a statement on X.

The decision came as the Iraqi delegation arrived in ‌Chicago in the early hours of the ⁠morning ⁠to prepare for the tournament.

The tournament marks Iraq's first appearance at the World Cup since their sole participation 40 years ago. They are set to compete in Group I alongside France, Senegal and Norway.