Iran Girls Beat Turkey in YOG Opener
Two days before opening ceremony of the first Youth Olympic Games, two girl’s football matches mark the start of actual competition in Singapore.
Turkey slipped by Iran 4-2 in the first of two Thursday night matches at Jalan Besar Stadium. In the second match, Chile beat Trinidad Tobago 1-0.
A crowd about half the 6,000 seat capacity came to watch on a muggy evening, including FIFA President Sepp Blatter and FIFA vice president Moon Joon Chung of Korea.
The participation of the Iran team was in doubt some months ago as FIFA rejected requests from Iran for the players to wear headscarves. After some to-and-fro, FIFA and Iran agreed on a kit that includes a cap, below the knee pants, long stockings and long-sleeved shirts.
"I think the Iranian girls, with their equipment, they suffered from the heat," said Blatter about the Iranian team.
But the FIFA chief says he was glad to see the Iran girls in action.
"Sure, I am glad. They have fulfilled the requirements we asked, not to play with the hijab and with a cap.
"For me its important that football is open to all cultures. For the girls everywhere it’s a goal. This is also an opening for football. The future is feminine in every way.
"They played well," said Blatter.
The rest of the six-team girl’sfield includes Equatorial Guinea and Papua New Guinea.
The boy’s tournament launches Friday with Vanuatu and Bolivia followed by Singapore and Zimbabwe. Haiti and Montenegro are the other two boys teams.
The entire football tournament is being played at Jalan Besar, built 70 years ago (and since renovated), considered the home of football in Singapore.
A total of 216 young athletes are competing, all born in 1995. The girl’s final is Aug. 24, the boys play for goldAug. 25.
IOC President to Meet with Singapore PM
An Olympic flag is to be handed over to Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong Friday morning by IOC President Jacques Rogge, who arrives in Singaporeon Thursday.
IOC, Athlete Torchbearers for Final Day
IOC members Sergei Bubka and Alexander Popov will carry the Youth Olympic Flame Friday for the final day of the YOG relay. Pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, an IOC ambassador for the Games will also carry the torch Friday.
So will 12-year-old Low Wei Jie, who achieved celebrity Tuesday when he ran behind the torch relay for almost 15 km, sometimes in the rain, shod only in flip flops.
News of his run produced an invitation for him to carry the flame Friday, along with four tickets to the Aug. 14 opening ceremony.
ATR coverage of the Youth Olympic Games
is Proudly Presented by Annecy 2018
Written by Ed Hula.
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