Gordon Lyons commits to attending GAA match amid criticism
Northern Ireland’s Communities Minister has pledged to attend a GAA match this year.
US Sport News
Wemby fever in Paris extends to Roland Garros locker room: Tiafoe, Shelton want to see Spurs in NBA Finals
PARIS: Between Roland Garros, the Champions League final, and Game 7 of the NBA Western Conference finals all happening today, the term ‘Super Saturday’ doesn’t suffice when describing the vibes here in Paris.
World Cup transit sticker shock hits fans with tickets to matches in some US host cities
NEW YORK: Dubbed the “Sommermärchen,” or “Summer Fairy Tale,” the 2006 World Cup in Germany was a widely praised showcase for a modern, unified nation that was welcoming to fans from around the globe. Part of that success was the “KombiTicket,” which gave fans free access to local public transportation on match days. Since then, World Cup host countries have invested heavily in getting fans to and from matches, especially in Russia in 2018, where even long-distance trains between host cities were free, and Qatar in 2022, where free metro access helped turn stadium-hopping into part of the tournament experience. Then came the United States. Already reeling from astronomical ticket prices, expensive flights and exorbitant hotel costs, fans have been outraged to discover that getting to some stadiums via rail will come with another hefty bill: $98 round-trip train fares in New Jersey and $80 in Massachusetts — trips that normally cost NFL fans $12.90 and $20, respectively. Officials insist they aren’t trying to rip off fans, but are instead just trying to cover the costs of security and expanded train service without being a drain on taxpayers. Yet fans see it as just another way that tournament organizers are burdening fans who are already paying huge sums to visit the US, a huge, car-centric country where public transit has long been an afterthought in many locales. Unlike past hosts, some state and local officials have been less willing to swallow the costs, arguing they should be covered by FIFA, the international soccer body that stands to rake in billions of dollars from the event. Finding a solution from overseas “Planning for this World Cup has been a nightmare from start to finish,” said Scotland-born Rory
Kimi Antonelli wins the Miami Grand Prix for his third straight F1 victory
MIAMI GARDENS: Kimi Antonelli won the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday for his third consecutive Formula 1 victory as the 19-year-old Mercedes drivers continued to show he’s a legitimate championship contender. Antonelli started from the pole but had a slick start on a damp surface at the Miami International Autodrome. Threats of heavy rain led F1 to move up the start of the race by three hours, and there was an early morning heavy thunderstorm with lightning strikes directly over the Hard Rock Stadium, but it had cleared by the time the event began. Still, the first 25 laps were attacked by the drivers as if the rain could return at any moment, and it led to early chaos, even for Antonelli. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari had a spectacular start from third and surged to the lead when Antonelli went wide off course trying to defend.
Verstappen wins US Grand Prix and McLaren’s Norris pulls closer to teammate Piastri in F1 title hunt
AUSTIN, Texas: Red Bull’s Max Verstappen raced to his third victory in four races Sunday at the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, while McLaren’s Lando Norris took a huge chunk out of teammate Oscar Piastri’s championship lead by finishing second. Piastri was a distant fifth, allowing Norris to pull within 14 points with five grand prix and two sprint races to go. Verstappen is also closing fast with his late-season charge. Verstappen now trails Piastri by 40 points, and Norris by 26, in third place, and has put the McClarens on notice he intends to chase them all the way to the end of the season. Piastri and Norris are trying to win their first career drivers championship. Verstappen is hunting his fifth in a row, and his dominant form of late has given him a real chance to get it. He also won the sprint race Saturday after the two McLarens ran into each other on the first turn and crashed out. “It was an unbelievable weekend for us,” Verstappen said. “The chance is there. We just need to try to deliver these kind of weekends until the end.”
Aramco F4 Saudi Arabian Championship concludes Round 2 in Bahrain
MANAMA: Round 2 of the FIA-certified Aramco F4 Saudi Arabian Championship concluded on Saturday with Kit Belofsky and Adam Al-Azhari winning one race each at the Bahrain International Circuit in Manama.
Jannik Sinner crowned champion at Six Kings Slam in Riyadh after fierce battle with Alcaraz
RIYADH: Jannik Sinner claimed the title at the second staging of the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh with a commanding performance against Carlos Alcaraz in the final, solidifying his place as one of the dominant forces in men’s tennis.
Lionel Messi’s hat trick powers Inter Miami past Nashville on Decision Day
MIAMI: Lionel Messi recorded a hat trick and added an assist and Baltasar Rodriguez scored the tie-breaking goal as visiting Inter Miami used a second-half assault to defeat Nashville SC 5-2 in a Decision Day matchup on Saturday night. Telasco Segovia also scored for Inter Miami (19-7-8, 65 points), who won their third straight game. Miami will be the No.
Verstappen wins dramatic US Grand Prix sprint, McLarens crash
AUSTIN: Max Verstappen made the most of a first-corner collision between the two McLaren drivers to win Saturday’s sprint race at the United States Grand Prix and reduce Oscar Piastri’s lead over him by eight points.