Saudi Swimmer Sets New Personal Record at Paris Olympics

Saudi swimmer Mashael Al Ayed. SPA
Saudi swimmer Mashael Al Ayed. SPA
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Saudi Swimmer Sets New Personal Record at Paris Olympics

Saudi swimmer Mashael Al Ayed. SPA
Saudi swimmer Mashael Al Ayed. SPA

Saudi swimmer Mashael Al Ayed set a new personal record and secured the sixth position in the 200-meter freestyle event at the Paris la Defense Arena during the 33rd Olympic Games.

The competition was attended by President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal.

Al Ayed, 17, delivered an exceptional performance in her first Olympic appearance, finishing the race in 2:19.61, breaking her previous record of 2:21.04.

Al Ayed is one of the first female swimmers in the Saudi Swimming Federation. She is also the first Saudi female swimmer to win a regional medal and is registered with the International Swimming Federation.



FIFA to Consider One-off Expansion to 64 Teams for 2030 World Cup

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Final - Argentina v France - Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar - December 18, 2022 General view of the World Cup trophy during the closing ceremony before the match REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Final - Argentina v France - Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar - December 18, 2022 General view of the World Cup trophy during the closing ceremony before the match REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo
TT

FIFA to Consider One-off Expansion to 64 Teams for 2030 World Cup

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Final - Argentina v France - Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar - December 18, 2022 General view of the World Cup trophy during the closing ceremony before the match REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Final - Argentina v France - Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar - December 18, 2022 General view of the World Cup trophy during the closing ceremony before the match REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo

Soccer's governing body FIFA is to consider expanding the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams to mark the centenary of the sport's marquee event, the New York Times reported on Thursday.

The 2030 World Cup will be held in Morocco, Spain and Portugal, with Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, where the inaugural edition was staged, set to host three games.

The World Cup has already been expanded from 32 to 48 teams for next year's edition in the US, Mexico and Canada, Reuters reported.

The New York Times said the latest proposal from Ignacio Alonso, a delegate from Uruguay, suggesting expanding the 2030 edition to 64 nations was made at the end of a meeting.

The newspaper, which did not name its sources, said the proposal was met with 'stunned silence' by the participants.

"(FIFA president) Mr Infantino ... described the proposal as an interesting one that should be analyzed more closely," the New York Times added, according to "four people with direct knowledge of the discussions."