Saudi Ministers of Sport and Education Inaugurate 1st Sports School for Talented Athletes

The groundbreaking partnership ceremony between the ministries and the academy was held at Prince Faisal bin Fahad Olympic Complex in Riyadh. SPA
The groundbreaking partnership ceremony between the ministries and the academy was held at Prince Faisal bin Fahad Olympic Complex in Riyadh. SPA
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Saudi Ministers of Sport and Education Inaugurate 1st Sports School for Talented Athletes

The groundbreaking partnership ceremony between the ministries and the academy was held at Prince Faisal bin Fahad Olympic Complex in Riyadh. SPA
The groundbreaking partnership ceremony between the ministries and the academy was held at Prince Faisal bin Fahad Olympic Complex in Riyadh. SPA

Minister of Sport and chairman of the Mahd Sports Academy's board of directors Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal and Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan inaugurated the first Government Sports School for Talented Athletes at the middle school level.

The groundbreaking partnership ceremony between the ministries and the academy was held at the academy's headquarters in Prince Faisal bin Fahad Olympic Complex in Riyadh.

Mahd Sports Academy President Abdullah bin Faisal Hammad outlined the academy's achievements since its establishment in 2021. He noted that the Sports School for Talented Athletes will build on the academy's successes and offer talented individuals both educational and sports training in one place.

These individuals will serve as role models for the sports sector, graduating with the knowledge and ambition to achieve championships and titles in future competitions.

He also disclosed that 354 talented individuals in football, athletics, and martial arts were enrolled in the first phase, and the academy aims to identify and nurture one million talents in various sports.

The academy aims to become a global leader in discovering sports talents through its research and innovation center.

Additionally, he highlighted the collaboration with the Ministry of Education on various programs, including the Tamheed program, which involves physical and technical assessments for students in public schools, enabling them to gather information and measurements for nearly half a million students.



Hamilton Reveals Long Battle with Depression in Times Interview

British driver Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes-AMG Petronas being interviewed after coming in third in the qualifying for the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore, 21 September 2024. (EPA)
British driver Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes-AMG Petronas being interviewed after coming in third in the qualifying for the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore, 21 September 2024. (EPA)
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Hamilton Reveals Long Battle with Depression in Times Interview

British driver Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes-AMG Petronas being interviewed after coming in third in the qualifying for the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore, 21 September 2024. (EPA)
British driver Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes-AMG Petronas being interviewed after coming in third in the qualifying for the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore, 21 September 2024. (EPA)

Seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton battled with depression for years from an early age as he dealt with the pressure of pursuing a career in motor racing and faced bullying at school, the 39-year-old told The Times in an interview.

Hamilton, who has been racing competitively since he was six, said he has also battled with depression as an adult, and has found it difficult to open up about his journey.

"I think it was the pressure of the racing and struggling at school. The bullying. I had no one to talk to," Hamilton said in the interview published on Saturday.

"I’ve struggled with mental health through my life, depression from a very early age when I was, like, 13... when I was in my twenties I had some really difficult phases."

Hamilton made his Formula One debut in 2007 when he was 21, becoming the first Black driver in the series. He won the championship next year and matched Michael Schumacher's record of seven championships in 2020.

The Briton said he felt more mature today than he was earlier in his career.

"You’re learning about things that have been passed down to you from your parents, noticing those patterns, how you react to things, how you can change those," he said.

"So what might have angered me in the past doesn’t anger me today. I am so much more refined."

Hamilton said he has tried silent retreats to improve his mental health, and while talking to a therapist years ago did not help, he would like to find one in the future.

The Mercedes driver, who is set to join Ferrari next year, is sixth in the championship, with the next race set for Austin next month.