Sport

Beijing marks 100 days to Winter Olympics amid COVID, rights concerns

Published

5 years ago

October 27, 2021

With 100 days until the start of the Winter Olympics, Beijing is promising a “simple and safe” 2022 Games – although preparations are anything but simple as China readies to host thousands of athletes and personnel as it battles COVID-19 flare-ups, Reuters reported.

Beijing will be the first city to stage both the Summer and Winter Games, but the 2022 event is shadowed by the coronavirus pandemic and calls from human rights groups for a boycott over China’s treatment of Tibet, Uyghur Muslims and Hong Kong.

The Games will run Feb. 4 to 20, with all participants subject to daily COVID-19 tests and no international spectators. Unlike this year’s Tokyo Summer Games local spectators will be allowed at events in and around the Chinese capital.

According to the report athletes and other Games-related personnel will be enveloped in a “closed loop” including three clusters of venues – one in downtown Beijing, one in the outskirts near the Great Wall, and one to the northwest of the city, in Hebei province.

Also unlike the Tokyo Games, which were delayed by a year and faced speculation they would be cancelled, there has been little doubt the Beijing Winter Olympics will take place – no matter what – as an increasingly assertive China seizes the opportunity to demonstrate soft power.

Still, the countdown comes as China, with some of the world’s most stringent COVID-19 controls, battles small Delta variant outbreaks. The Beijing and Wuhan marathons were postponed this week, and curbs on travel into the capital were announced due to dozens of daily new cases, read the report.

Restrictions on gatherings and travel have contributed to a lack of the anticipatory buzz that marked Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics – an extravaganza widely seen as China’s global coming-out party.

Since then, China has risen to superpower status, locked in antagonistic competition with the United States and under the increasingly authoritarian leadership of President Xi Jinping, with tightened censorship and suppression of dissent.

During the torch-lighting ceremony in Athens earlier this month, rights activists unfurled a banner reading “No Genocide Games” and waved a Tibetan flag, although the ceremony itself was not interrupted, as had been the case for the 2008 Beijing Summer Games.

Rights groups and some U.S. lawmakers have called on the International Olympic Committee to postpone the Winter Games and relocate the event unless China ends what the United States deems ongoing genocide against Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups.

Activists and U.N. rights experts have said that at least 1 million Muslims were detained in camps in Xinjiang since 2017. Beijing denies all allegations of abuse of Uyghurs and describes the camps as vocational training facilities to combat religious extremism, Reuters reported.

After Boston Celtics centre Enes Kanter posted videos denouncing China’s human rights record last week, his name appeared to be blocked on China’s social media platform Weibo, and his team’s highlights were dropped from a domestic sports platform.

While no country has said its athletes will boycott the Games, European, British and American lawmakers have all voted for their diplomats to do so.

According to the report some facilities built for 2008, including the Bird’s Nest Stadium, will be re-used for 2022. Others have been newly built near the city of Zhangjiakou in Hebei province, connected to Beijing by high speed rail, with the region’s cold but dry winters requiring the help of artificial snow to cover slopes.

The Games are also set to feature players from North America’s National Hockey League after they skipped the 2018 edition in Pyeongchang, South Korea, with superstars like Canada’s Sidney Crosby and Russia’s Alexander Ovechkin poised to add star power.

And while Xi has positioned the Games as an opportunity to accelerate development of winter sports, China is not expected to be among the biggest medals winners.

China topped the gold medals table at the 2008 Summer Games and came second at Tokyo, but won just one in the Winter Games in Pyeongchang and finished 14th overall.

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Afghanistan face Ireland with series win in sight

Published

1 hour ago

August 12, 2026

Ariana News

Afghanistan will look to extend their dominance over Ireland when the two sides meet in the fourth ODI of their five-match series at the Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, in Belfast today.

Afghanistan lead the series 2-0 and have already secured an automatic place at the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup after their three-wicket victory over Ireland in the third ODI.

The opening match of the series was abandoned because of rain, but Afghanistan have since won two consecutive matches.

They beat Ireland by 92 runs in the second ODI before chasing down 207 in the third match, with Rashid Khan and Yamin Ahmadzai guiding the visitors home with an unbeaten partnership.

Rashid has been central to Afghanistan’s success. He produced a six-wicket haul in the second ODI and followed it with an all-round performance in the third, taking three wickets and scoring a crucial 37 not out. Rahmanullah Gurbaz also made a valuable 71 in the third match. ⁠

Ireland, meanwhile, will be determined to halt Afghanistan’s momentum.

Their batting has struggled against Afghanistan’s bowling attack, particularly the spin threat posed by Rashid and Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar. The hosts will need a stronger start from their top order and more substantial partnerships if they are to challenge the visitors.

With Afghanistan already assured of the series, the fourth ODI gives Ireland an opportunity to restore some pride and keep their hopes of finishing the series strongly alive. Afghanistan, however, will be aiming for another convincing performance and a 3-0 series advantage.

The match begins at 10:45am local time in Belfast, which is 2:15pm Kabul time. It will be played over 50 overs at Stormont. ⁠

Afghanistan will enter the contest with confidence after a run of strong results, while Ireland face the challenge of finding a way through an attack that has repeatedly exposed their batting weaknesses.

Sport

Afghanistan to host India for three-match T20I series in Delhi

Afghanistan most recently toured India for a Test and three-match ODI series in June, while the two teams also played a three-match T20I series in January 2024.

Published

3 hours ago

August 12, 2026

Ariana News

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has confirmed that Afghanistan will host India for a three-match T20 International series in Delhi from September 13 to 17.

The matches will be played at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium, with the first T20I scheduled for September 13, followed by the second on September 15 and the third on September 17.

The series is part of Afghanistan’s Future Tours Program and will be played in India, where the ACB has hosted its home fixtures in recent years.

Afghanistan most recently toured India for a Test and three-match ODI series in June, while the two teams also played a three-match T20I series in January 2024.

The upcoming series marks the first bilateral event to be hosted by the ACB in India.

ACB Chairman Mirwais Ashraf described the series as a significant milestone for Afghanistan cricket and praised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for its cooperation and support.

“Hosting India for a bilateral series in India is a significant milestone for us,” Ashraf said. He added that the series would create opportunities in commercial, technical and cricketing areas while further strengthening the relationship between the two boards.

BCCI President Mithun Manhas said the BCCI remained committed to supporting the growth of cricket in Afghanistan and providing its players with opportunities to compete against quality opposition.

BCCI Honorary Secretary Devajit Saikia said the series would complete the two teams’ bilateral competition across all three formats following their recent Test and ODI series.

“India hosting Afghanistan for their historic first Test in 2018 was another significant milestone in this journey,” Saikia said.

Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) President Rohan Jaitley said the Arun Jaitley Stadium was ready to welcome both teams and provide fans with an exciting international cricket series.

The series will be titled the “E& Afghanistan vs India T20I Series 2026, powered by Super Cola”.

Series schedule:

September 13 — 1st T20I, Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium, Delhi

September 15 — 2nd T20I, Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium, Delhi

September 17 — 3rd T20I, Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium, Delhi

Sport

Abasin Defenders beat Shamshad Eagles by four wickets in Kabul Premier League

Published

1 day ago

August 11, 2026

Ariana News

Abasin Defenders chased down a target of 155 to beat Shamshad Eagles by four wickets in the fourth match of the Kabul Premier League at Ayoubi Cricket Ground in Kabul on Sunday night.

Shamshad Eagles, who won the toss and elected to bat first, were bowled out for 154 in 15.5 overs.

Mohammad Shahzad top-scored for the Eagles with 57 from 39 balls, while Muslim Musa provided a powerful late contribution with 50 off just 22 deliveries.

Abdollah Ahmadzai was the standout bowler for the Defenders, claiming five wickets for 19 runs from three overs. His spell earned him Player of the Match honours.

Rohed Janzai also took three wickets for 53 runs as the Defenders dismissed the Eagles with 25 balls still remaining in their innings.

The Defenders made a confident start to the chase but lost wickets at regular intervals. Waleed Miakhil anchored the innings, remaining unbeaten on 37 from 29 balls, including two fours and two sixes.

Mohammad Akram added a crucial 25 from just nine balls to keep the chase on track, while Mohammad Amin finished the match in style, hitting an unbeaten seven from three deliveries, including a six.

The Defenders reached 158 for six in 18.1 overs, sealing victory with 11 balls to spare.

Mohammad Gul Alizai was the Eagles’ most successful bowler, taking three wickets for 38 runs from four overs.

The victory gave Abasin Defenders two points, while Shamshad Eagles finished the match without a point.

The result marked the Defenders’ first victory of the Kabul Premier League season.