Girona Misses Chance to Go Top in Spain After Draw with Athletic Bilbao  

Girona's Brazilian midfielder #16 Savio Moreira reacts during the Spanish league football match between Girona FC and Athletic Club Bilbao at the Montilivi stadium in Girona on November 27, 2023. (AFP)
Girona's Brazilian midfielder #16 Savio Moreira reacts during the Spanish league football match between Girona FC and Athletic Club Bilbao at the Montilivi stadium in Girona on November 27, 2023. (AFP)
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Girona Misses Chance to Go Top in Spain After Draw with Athletic Bilbao  

Girona's Brazilian midfielder #16 Savio Moreira reacts during the Spanish league football match between Girona FC and Athletic Club Bilbao at the Montilivi stadium in Girona on November 27, 2023. (AFP)
Girona's Brazilian midfielder #16 Savio Moreira reacts during the Spanish league football match between Girona FC and Athletic Club Bilbao at the Montilivi stadium in Girona on November 27, 2023. (AFP)

Girona missed a chance to return to the top of the Spanish league on Monday when it was held at home by Athletic Bilbao to 1-1.

Girona is the surprise team in La Liga and won 11 of its previous 12 games.

The Catalan side was the more spritely early on and had a first-half goal ruled out after a video review.

It took the lead 11 minutes into the second half when Ukrainian winger Viktor Tsygankov charged into a crowded penalty box and swept home a low cross from the left.

Girona’s 19-year-old Brazilian Savinho was once again one of the best players on show and it was his pass that led to Tsygankov’s goal.

However, the home side could not retain the lead. Twelve minutes after the opening score Girona defenders failed to halt a run from Iñaki Williams and he got off a side-footed shot that sneaked inside the goalkeeper’s left-hand post.

The result means Girona remained in second place, tied on points with leader Real Madrid, but four points ahead of Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, who were tied for third.

Bilbao moved to fifth, equal on points with Real Sociedad.



Saudi Arabia’s Participation in Paris Olympics Part of Quality of Life Program, Al-Bakr Says

The efforts of the sports system have combined to achieve the strategic goal assigned by Vision 2030 to the Quality of Life Program. (SPA)
The efforts of the sports system have combined to achieve the strategic goal assigned by Vision 2030 to the Quality of Life Program. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia’s Participation in Paris Olympics Part of Quality of Life Program, Al-Bakr Says

The efforts of the sports system have combined to achieve the strategic goal assigned by Vision 2030 to the Quality of Life Program. (SPA)
The efforts of the sports system have combined to achieve the strategic goal assigned by Vision 2030 to the Quality of Life Program. (SPA)

CEO of Saudi Arabia’s Quality of Life Program Khalid bin Abdullah Al-Bakr said on Friday the Kingdom’s participation in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is part of integrated and comprehensive efforts to build a distinguished future for the sports sector in the Kingdom.

This will help reach the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 in achieving sports excellence and building a vital and stimulating sports sector for young Saudi men and women.

Al-Bakr said the participation reflects the support of the country’s wise leadership for the sports sector, as well as the efforts made by the Ministry of Sports and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee to develop the sector under the supervision of Sports Minister and Chairman of the Olympic and Paralympic Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal.

The efforts of the sports system have combined to achieve the strategic goal assigned by Vision 2030 to the Quality of Life Program, which is “achieving excellence in several sports regionally and globally” by launching several initiatives on supporting and empowering Saudi athletes and contributing to increasing the number of athletes participating in the Olympic Games.

Since its launch in 2018, the program has offered many initiatives to develop the sports sector, Al-Bakr said. He cited the Elite Athletes Development Program, which trained and empowered Saudi players participating in the Paris Olympics, in addition to initiatives concerned with supporting and empowering women to contribute to the sports system, the Saudi Games, and building sports academies, including the establishment of Mahd Academy.

The program seeks to discover, develop, and support sports talents with the aim of creating a sports generation capable of competing in and representing the Kingdom in various regional and international events, he added.