Paris Olympic Organizing Head Says Budget ‘Under Control’ a Year Ahead of 2024 Games 

Paris 2024 Olympics Organizing Committee President Tony Estanguet speaks during a press conference at the headquarters of Paris 2024 in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, Tuesday, July 18, 2023. (AP)
Paris 2024 Olympics Organizing Committee President Tony Estanguet speaks during a press conference at the headquarters of Paris 2024 in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, Tuesday, July 18, 2023. (AP)
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Paris Olympic Organizing Head Says Budget ‘Under Control’ a Year Ahead of 2024 Games 

Paris 2024 Olympics Organizing Committee President Tony Estanguet speaks during a press conference at the headquarters of Paris 2024 in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, Tuesday, July 18, 2023. (AP)
Paris 2024 Olympics Organizing Committee President Tony Estanguet speaks during a press conference at the headquarters of Paris 2024 in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, Tuesday, July 18, 2023. (AP)

The operating budget for the Paris Olympics is “under control,” the president of the organizing committee said Tuesday.

With one year to go before the opening ceremony, organizing committee president Tony Estanguet said partnership deals are on track, with 22 new sponsors joining since the start of the year.

“Just recently, we passed the 1 billion euro ($1.1 billion) mark in secured revenue from our partners,” Estanguet said. “This is unprecedented. It’s obviously the first time that a sporting event in France has raised so much money from companies and partnerships.”

Estanguet said the money in investment does not include “a new premium partner with whom we’re in talks.”

Paris organizers are still negotiating a partnership contract for the 2024 Games with luxury group LVMH.

The organizing committee, known as COJO, has an operating budget of about 4.4 billion euros ($4.5 billion).

Estanguet insisted that 96% of the budget is funded by the private sector, including the IOC, partner companies, as well as the ticketing office and licensing. He added that organizers aim to secure 92% of the budget by the end of the year.

“We continue with enthusiasm and serenity in a bid to achieve this goal,” Estanguet said, adding that ticket sales have also been successful, with 6.8 million tickets already sold.

The overall budget for the Paris Olympics, including the cost of building and renovating venues, is about 8 billion euros ($8.2 billion).



Fernandes Takes Aim at Carrick as Man Utd Lurch into Fresh Crisis

Manchester United's Portuguese midfielder #08 Bruno Fernandes reacts during the UEFA Champions League, league phase matchday 3, football match between Como 1907 and Manchester United at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia in Como, northen Italy on October 21, 2026. (Photo by PIERO CRUCIATTI / AFP)
Manchester United's Portuguese midfielder #08 Bruno Fernandes reacts during the UEFA Champions League, league phase matchday 3, football match between Como 1907 and Manchester United at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia in Como, northen Italy on October 21, 2026. (Photo by PIERO CRUCIATTI / AFP)
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Fernandes Takes Aim at Carrick as Man Utd Lurch into Fresh Crisis

Manchester United's Portuguese midfielder #08 Bruno Fernandes reacts during the UEFA Champions League, league phase matchday 3, football match between Como 1907 and Manchester United at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia in Como, northen Italy on October 21, 2026. (Photo by PIERO CRUCIATTI / AFP)
Manchester United's Portuguese midfielder #08 Bruno Fernandes reacts during the UEFA Champions League, league phase matchday 3, football match between Como 1907 and Manchester United at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia in Como, northen Italy on October 21, 2026. (Photo by PIERO CRUCIATTI / AFP)

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes criticized manager Michael Carrick's tactics following the humiliating 4-1 Champions League defeat at Como.

United fell behind to a second-minute goal and never recovered as the club's winless run reached seven games after another lackluster performance.

"We started on the wrong foot and they scored very early," Fernandes told TNT Sports. "Not much pressure on the ball, not many good movements with the ball, not many things going our way."

The Portugal midfielder suggested Nico Paz's early strike for Como on Wednesday night had a damaging effect on the visitors, leaving them struggling to impose themselves. Paz scored again after Tasos Douvikas had doubled the lead, with Jacobo Ramon adding a fourth.

Only a stoppage-time goal from Joshua Zirkzee stopped United from succumbing to their joint-heaviest Champions League loss.

"Conceding early makes us go into the game with a mood of defeat," AFP quoted Fernandes as saying. "It's difficult to get out of that, trying to be brave, to have the ball and make something happen.

"If we are not able to do that, it is going to be very difficult to get out of this situation."

Fernandes also highlighted United's passive approach out of possession, saying Como were allowed too much time and space to dictate play.

Asked whether those comments amounted to criticism of Carrick's tactics, Fernandes said: "That's on the manager and staff to see, not me.

"Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable."

Fernandes is the latest United player to publicly break ranks.

Defender Lisandro Martinez took aim at the club's hierarchy following a 2-0 Champions League loss to Atletico Madrid last week.

Martinez said Carrick had been left with an understrength squad. He later apologized.

Youri Tielemans, who started alongside Fernandes in the United midfield in Italy, admitted the display was simply not good enough.

"We got outplayed for most of the game so it was a very disappointing night," said Tielemans.

"You can be good tactically but if the effort is not good (then it will not work) and vice versa. You need to be good at everything and tonight we were poor."


Wrong Anthems Played at Asian Para Games after Mishap-marred Asian Games

The Asian Games closed on October 4. MOHD RASFAN / AFP
The Asian Games closed on October 4. MOHD RASFAN / AFP
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Wrong Anthems Played at Asian Para Games after Mishap-marred Asian Games

The Asian Games closed on October 4. MOHD RASFAN / AFP
The Asian Games closed on October 4. MOHD RASFAN / AFP

Wrong national anthems were played three times at the Asian Para Games in Japan's Nagoya this week, prompting the mayor to apologize just days after the city hosted the mishap-plagued Asian Games.

The Asian Para Games is taking place in the central Japanese hub city through Saturday, featuring around 4,000 athletes and officials in 18 sports.

Nagoya Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa apologized on Wednesday for the latest error, which occurred despite officials' pledges to implement steps to prevent mistakes, including playing the correct national anthems.

"These things happened during the Asian Games, so of course the operations were reviewed and examined based on the lessons learned. The fact that it happened again is really just unacceptable," the mayor told a press conference.

On Monday, a Taiwanese athlete won a men's para taekwondo competition, but the Iranian anthem was played in its entirety, according to Nagoya officials at the mayor's press conference.

Officials realized their mistake after the ceremony, they said.

On the same day, the Iranian anthem was played again during a women's para taekwondo ceremony, where a Mongolian competitor was receiving the gold medal, according to the city.

The incorrect music was stopped after the Mongolian delegation pointed out the error.

Organizers then played the Mongolian anthem after the music was provided by the delegation, Nagoya officials said.

Separately on Monday, officials broadcast the South Korean anthem for about five seconds, instead of the Chinese one, before a sitting volleyball match between China and Iran.

"It is unacceptable, or rather, it's painful. I am very sorry about it," the mayor said, adding that he felt the tournament was otherwise progressing smoothly.

The Asian Games, which concluded in early October, faced heavy criticism for shortcomings ranging from inadequate accommodations for athletes to the playing of wrong national anthems.

On September 18, organizers played North Korea's national anthem for the South Korean hockey team.


Costa Rica Appoint Former Captain Ruiz as Head Coach

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Costa Rica Press Conference - Main Media Center, Doha, Qatar - November 22, 2022 Costa Rica's Bryan Ruiz during a press conference REUTERS/John Sibley/File Photo
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Costa Rica Press Conference - Main Media Center, Doha, Qatar - November 22, 2022 Costa Rica's Bryan Ruiz during a press conference REUTERS/John Sibley/File Photo
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Costa Rica Appoint Former Captain Ruiz as Head Coach

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Costa Rica Press Conference - Main Media Center, Doha, Qatar - November 22, 2022 Costa Rica's Bryan Ruiz during a press conference REUTERS/John Sibley/File Photo
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Costa Rica Press Conference - Main Media Center, Doha, Qatar - November 22, 2022 Costa Rica's Bryan Ruiz during a press conference REUTERS/John Sibley/File Photo

Costa Rica have appointed former captain Bryan Ruiz as head coach to lead the national team's campaign to qualify for the 2030 World Cup, the Costa Rican Football Federation (FCRF) said on Wednesday.

Ruiz, 41, takes the job after two wins as ⁠interim coach, with ⁠Costa Rica beating Nicaragua 3-0 and Haiti 2-0 in the CONCACAF Nations League earlier this month, Reuters reported.

He succeeds Argentine Fernando Batista, ⁠who was dismissed in September, while Costa Rica missed out on the 2026 World Cup under former coach Miguel Herrera.

Former attacking midfielder Ruiz captained Costa Rica at three consecutive World Cups before retiring in 2022.

His ⁠coaching ⁠staff includes former Costa Rica internationals Wilmer Lopez, Christian Bolanos and Wardy Alfaro, the FCRF said.