Villarreal secure Champions League spot, rotated Atletico win

Barcelona: Villarreal guaranteed themselves a Champions League qualification spot with a 5-1 romp over Levante in La Liga on Saturday.

Diego Simeone rotated his whole team with the Champions League in mind as Atletico Madrid defeated Valencia 2-0 at Mestalla.

Marcelino's Villarreal, third, moved 18 points clear of fifth-place Real Betis, who have five games left to play. newsindata.com

Georges Mikautadze struck twice in the Yellow Submarine's derby victory, with Alberto Moleiro, Tajon Buchanan and Nicolas Pepe also on target.

Carlos Espi netted for Levante, 19th, provisionally three points from safety and in severe danger of relegation, with Sevilla and Alaves above them still to play this weekend.

"Congratulations to each and every one of the players. Let's continue enjoying this moment," said Marcelino, poised to leave Villarreal at the end of the season according to Spanish reports.

"Let's keep competing because we want to finish third."

Villarreal are five points clear of fourth-place Atletico, who won at Valencia despite Simeone rotating all 11 players from the Champions League semi-final first leg 1-1 draw against Arsenal.

This was match number 1000 for Simeone in his coaching career, but he was thinking more about 1001, in London on Tuesday against Mikel Arteta's Premier League leaders.

Youngsters Iker Luque and Miguel Cubo struck second half goals for Atletico, with defeated Valencia, 13th, only five points clear of the relegation zone.

Atletico took the lead after 74 minutes when Obed Vargas shuffled the ball out to Luque on the edge of the area and he produced a lethal low finish in at the near post.

The visitors doubled their advantage in the 83rd minute when substitute Antoine Griezmann teed up Cubo to thump home.

The goal was initially ruled out for offside but a VAR review showed MLS-bound striker Griezmann had timed his run in behind to perfection.

Later Saturday Liga leaders Barcelona can move to the brink of retaining the Spanish title if they win at Osasuna.

في مشهد يعكس أقصى درجات الجدية والتركيز، فرض نادي السد سرية تامة على تدريباته استعدادًا للمواجهة المرتقبة في نصف نهائي كأس الأمير. لافتة “ممنوع الاقتراب والتصوير” لم تكن مجرد إجراء روتيني، بل رسالة واضحة: لا صوت يعلو فوق صوت المعركة القادمة. الجهاز الفني للسد بقيادة الإيطالي روبيرتو مانشيني اختار إغلاق التدريبات بالكامل أمام وسائل الإعلام والجماهير، في خطوة تهدف إلى حماية الخطط التكتيكية وإبعاد اللاعبين عن أي ضغوط خارجية.
التحضيرات تسير في أجواء مصحوبة بالتركيز والانضباط، حيث يعمل الفريق على تصحيح الأخطاء وتعزيز نقاط القوة قبل المواجهة الحاسمة. يدخل السد اللقاء بمعنويات مرتفعة بعد تتويجه بلقب الدوري، لكنه يدرك أن مباريات الكؤوس تختلف تمامًا، ولا تعترف بالإنجازات السابقة. الفريق يرفع شعار “التركيز حتى النهاية”، واضعًا نصب عينيه هدفًا واضحًا: مواصلة المشوار نحو لقب جديد.

Doha: The Organising Committee of the 4th GCC Games – Doha 2026 has announced the completion of all preparations for hosting the highly anticipated regional event, scheduled to take place from May 11 to 22.

Speaking at a press conference held at Al Wajba Hall at the headquarters of the Qatar Olympic Committee, in the presence of officials from the organising committee and media representatives, Sheikh Abdullah bin Saud Al Thani, Head of the Marketing and Communications Committee, affirmed that Qatar’s hosting of the Games represents a natural extension of the journey of sports cooperation among GCC countries, reflecting the deep-rooted fraternal ties and shared values that unite the peoples of the region.

He said: “This edition of the Games serves as an important platform to strengthen ties among the youth of the GCC countries and to promote noble sporting values, supporting the continued development of joint Gulf sports cooperation and reinforcing the role of sport as a bridge for communication and connection among nations.”

He added that the Marketing and Communications Committee has worked on developing a comprehensive identity for the Games, inspired by the region’s culture and heritage, reflecting shared Gulf values while keeping pace with the expectations of diverse sports audiences, with the aim of delivering a distinctive organisational and marketing experience.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Saud Al Thani noted that a number of official sponsors and strategic partners have been announced, forming a key pillar in supporting the event through partnerships that enhance its public engagement and elevate its marketing and organisational value.

He also revealed the official mascot of the Games, “Washeq,” which has been carefully designed as an interactive element reflecting the spirit of the event and strengthening audience engagement, particularly among youth.

The Head of the Marketing and Communications Committee invited the public to attend the official opening ceremony, which will take place on May 11 at Al Shaqab, noting that the ceremony will mark a distinctive launch for the Games and reflect the level of preparations achieved.

He concluded by emphasizing that work will continue in the coming phase to implement the marketing campaign across all its stages, ensuring strong attendance and engagement, and delivering a successful edition that reflects the stature of GCC countries and the aspirations of their peoples.

The Mascot… A Reflection of Gulf Identity

For her part, Maryam Al Mansoori, Head of Marketing and Sponsorship at the Organising Committee, stated that the selection of the official mascot “Washeq,” inspired by the desert caracal—one of the most prominent symbols of the Arabian Peninsula’s natural environment—was intended to embody the core values upon which the Games are built, most notably fair competition, discipline, and the spirit of Gulf participation, reflecting the slogan: “One Gulf, One Heart.”

She explained that “Washeq” is closely linked to Gulf identity, representing an integral part of the region’s wildlife heritage, historically found across its vast deserts, valleys, and diverse landscapes. This choice reflects the deep cultural and natural ties among GCC countries and reinforces unity and a shared vision for the future.

Al Mansoori added that the mascot symbolizes agility, precision, and adaptability, drawing inspiration from the desert environment known for its resilience and flexibility. Its composed appearance and calm nature reflect the professionalism and balance that the Games seek to promote.

She noted that the mascot serves as a central element in the Games’ visual identity, contributing to a unified presence across various media platforms, official activities, and on-ground activations, while also fostering a strong emotional connection with audiences across the Gulf region.

Qatar Delegation Completes Preparations for Participation in the Games

Meanwhile, Najla Al Khayareen, Head of the Qatari Administrative Delegation, confirmed that the national delegation has reached the highest level of readiness to participate in this major sporting event. She noted that all administrative and organisational preparations have been completed, alongside the provision of accommodation, transport, and logistical and technical support, ensuring optimal conditions for athletes to focus on their competitions.

She added that Qatar will participate in 19 sports, noting that this group of athletes has been carefully selected to represent the country in the best possible way at this event, which represents an important milestone in preparation for upcoming competitions.

Al Khayareen called on Team Qatar supporters to back the athletes and stand by them, emphasizing that fan support is a key factor in achieving the desired results. She expressed her wishes for success to Qatar’s athletes in delivering strong performances and presenting a distinguished edition that reflects the Gulf spirit.

Official Sponsors and Strategic Partners Announced

The Organising Committee announced the list of official sponsors and strategic partners of the Games, which includes Hamad International Airport, Msheireb Properties, Al Kass Channel, Suhail Industrial Holding Group, Kotinos, Bornan, Al Rayyan Water, Dynamic Sports, Al Jazeera Perfumes and The Look Company, as part of partnerships that support the delivery of the Games and enhance its public engagement and overall marketing value.

The fourth edition of the GCC Games will feature competitions across 19 sports, including handball, table tennis, athletics, squash, padel, fencing, boxing, taekwondo, karate, swimming, billiards, snooker, basketball (5x5 and 3x3), shooting, archery, volleyball, equestrian, and bowling.

Competitions will be held across 11 state-of-the-art venues, including Aspire Dome, the Women’s Sports Hall, Hamad Aquatic Centre, Qatar Sports Club, Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation Hall, Al Gharafa Sports Club, Lusail Shooting Range, Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, Qatar Bowling Federation Hall, and Al Duhail Sports Hall.

The inaugural edition of the GCC Games was held in Manama from October 11 to 22, 2011, with the participation of six GCC countries and approximately 1,500 athletes competing in 11 sports. Qatar finished third with 20 medals (7 gold, 11 silver, and 2 bronze).

The second edition took place in Dammam from October 12 to 26, 2015, with five participating nations following Kuwait’s withdrawal, and around 1,500 athletes competing in approximately 15 sports. Qatar again finished third, winning 59 medals (21 gold, 22 silver, and 16 bronze).

The third edition was held in Kuwait in 2022 from May 16 to 31, with six GCC countries and more than 1,500 athletes competing in 16 sports. Qatar placed fifth in the medal standings with a total of 52 medals (16 gold, 21 silver, and 15 bronze).

التقى أمس عشاق نادي السد مع عدد من نجوم الفريق الاول لكرة القدم خلال فعالية مميزة تُقام في متجر “New Balance” الرمادي، مجمع نيو بلاس فاندوم.
وتأتي هذه الفعالية ضمن الاحتفالات التي تنظمها العلامة الرياضية، حيث تتيح للجماهير فرصة مميزة للتواصل المباشر مع نجومهم المفضلين، والتقاط الصور التذكارية والحصول على توقيعات خاصة في أجواء تفاعلية مميزة.
ودعت الجهة المنظمة جميع محبي السد إلى الحضور والمشاركة في هذا الحدث، الذي يعكس الشعبية الكبيرة للنادي ويعزز من تواصل اللاعبين مع الجماهير.