Women's International Championship: Bhutan and Lebanon Reach Final

The Saudi Women's National Team during the match against Bhutan (Saudi Football Federation)
The Saudi Women's National Team during the match against Bhutan (Saudi Football Federation)
TT

Women's International Championship: Bhutan and Lebanon Reach Final

The Saudi Women's National Team during the match against Bhutan (Saudi Football Federation)
The Saudi Women's National Team during the match against Bhutan (Saudi Football Federation)

The Saudi Women's National Team missed a the chance to reach the final of the International Friendly Tournament taking place in Taif, after losing to the Bhutanese national team, who scored a late goal in the second half of extra time.

The Bhutanese team has secured their spot in the tournament final and will face off against Lebanon. Lebanon triumphed over Malaysia with a score of 4-3. Meanwhile, the Saudi team will compete against Malaysia to determine the third-place finisher on Saturday.

It's worth noting that this tournament featured the participation of national teams from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Bhutan, Laos, and Lebanon.



South Korea Expresses Regret after Its Athletes Introduced as North Korea at Opening Ceremony

 Athletes of South Korea travel by boat along the Seine river during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP)
Athletes of South Korea travel by boat along the Seine river during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP)
TT

South Korea Expresses Regret after Its Athletes Introduced as North Korea at Opening Ceremony

 Athletes of South Korea travel by boat along the Seine river during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP)
Athletes of South Korea travel by boat along the Seine river during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP)

South Korea expressed regret that its delegation of athletes at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony on Friday was introduced as from rival North Korea and has demanded assurances from organizers the mistake will not happen again.

As the boat carrying South Korean athletes passed on the Seine, the announcer introduced them as the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea" - the official name of North Korea - in French and English.

The announcer used the same introduction when the North Korean delegation passed.

South Korea's vice minister for sports and culture, Jang Mi-ran, who was in Paris, had requested a meeting with International Olympics Committee President Thomas Bach, the ministry said in a statement.

"We express regret that the country was introduced as North Korea at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games when the athletes of the Republic of Korea were entering," it said.

South Korea's National Olympic Committee immediately referred the incident to the Games' organizers and requested that the error will not be repeated.

South Korea's delegation includes 143 athletes competing in 21 events. North Korea, which is returning to the Games for the first time since Rio 2016, has sent 16 athletes.