The Jamaica Badminton Academy is set to host the much-anticipated Shuttle Showdown Tournament 2024, which is set to take place over two exciting weekends, September 14-15 and September 21-22, at the YMCA. This event promises to be a major highlight for badminton enthusiasts, athletes, and the local community, offering a dynamic blend of competition, entertainment, and community engagement.
A key feature of this year’s tournament is the introduction of the “Beginner Category,” a new addition designed to welcome those who play badminton casually or are just beginning their journey in the sport. This inclusive category ensures that everyone, regardless of experience level, can participate, compete, and enjoy the game among peers of similar skill levels.
Spectators can expect a vibrant atmosphere with a modest entrance fee of just $500. Attendees are encouraged to bring their coolers to enjoy a lively and energetic environment. Traditional games such as cards, dominos, and loodi boards will be welcome, creating a festive setting that fosters community spirit and support for the players.
Sponsors will be on-site, providing an additional layer of excitement with opportunities for participants and spectators to win prizes. The tournament aims to bring together around 100 participants, ranging from ages 4 to 35, across various categories tailored to different skill levels and age groups. These include the Beginner category for new players, age groups from U9 to U15 focusing on junior players, and divisional categories for national and competitive local players.
The event will span two weekends, each packed with thrilling badminton action. The first weekend, September 14-15, will feature matches from the Beginners and B and D divisions, while the second weekend, September 21-22, will showcase the Juniors and A/Open and C divisions. Each day’s matches will kick off at 9:00 AM and wrap up around 7:30 PM. The tournament will conclude with a closing ceremony on Sunday, September 22, 2024, inviting all attendees to celebrate the event’s success and the achievements of the participants.
In recognizing the shortage of badminton tournaments in Jamaica, the Jamaica Badminton Academy aims to fill this gap by providing a platform for players to compete and improve their skills. The Shuttle Showdown also offers young and emerging athletes a chance to observe and learn from more experienced competitors, contributing to their development both on and off the court.
The Academy hopes this tournament will attract media attention and promote the sport to a broader audience, ultimately inspiring more people to take up badminton and strengthening the connections within the badminton community. The Academy envisions making the Shuttle Showdown an annual flagship event and has plans to introduce additional tournaments throughout the year, including a prep/primary school tournament. This initiative aligns with ongoing efforts to establish badminton programs in schools across Jamaica, furthering the sport’s reach and impact.
Hosting the Shuttle Showdown aligns with the Jamaica Badminton Academy’s long-term vision of promoting badminton in Jamaica and nurturing young talent. This event represents a significant opportunity to inspire the next generation of badminton players, offering them exposure, skill development, and potential scholarship opportunities. As Dr. Mathew Lee, Director of the Jamaica Badminton Academy, noted, "The exposure I gained through badminton allowed me to secure a $17.3 million JMD scholarship for my MBBS program at the University of the West Indies Mona."
Current sponsors of the event include Premier Optical, Lifespan Spring Water, Dr. Man-Gue Chin, Chas E. Ramson, N D Communications, and Shop Tech Goods. The support from these sponsors highlights the sport’s growing appeal and potential for attracting further sponsorship and investment, ultimately contributing to the growth and development of badminton in Jamaica.
David Raya believes Arsenal were "nearly perfect" in the Premier League last season but acknowledges that is not enough to beat Manchester City to the title.
Having finished second the previous year, Mikel Arteta's men improved their points return in 2023-24 but were again runners up to City.
That was a fourth consecutive title for City, an unprecedented feat in English top-flight history.
Arsenal are once more targeting top spot in the coming campaign, though, and goalkeeper Raya knows the level they must reach right from the start of the season.
The Gunners lost four times before the turn of the year last time out, meaning they could not compete with City even while dropping points in only two of the remaining 18 matches.
"Our second half of last season was nearly perfect," Raya told Sky Sports. "But you have to be perfect to win the league, especially against Man City.
"They are so good, and they are so experienced in this environment.
"We have to learn from everything, from every mistake and from the good things that we have done as well, to carry on and improve them. That is what we need to do.
"It has been a fantastic year, but we have to – and I have to – make the next one better."
Even with the slightly below bar start to the last campaign, the margins were so fine, with the title race going down to the final day as City pipped Arsenal by two points.
It is natural then that Raya and his team-mates might reflect on the games in which they slipped up, notably taking only one point from two games against midtable Fulham despite leading in both matches.
"I think we had a really good campaign, but at some stages we didn't manage the games where we dropped a few points well," the Spain international said.
"It's that balance of knowing when you have to manage games. Also, you have to go all in, especially at the start of the season."
Arsenal begin the new season at home to Wolves on Saturday.
Marc Guehi insists he is able to block the outside noise about his Crystal Palace future amid interest from Newcastle United.
The Magpies have already had two bids for the defender rejected, but have reportedly made a third, with Palace valuing Guehi at around £65million.
Guehi caught the eye as he made his tournament debut for England at Euro 2024, playing in all but one of the Three Lions' games as they reached the final, only to eventually lose out to Spain.
But the 24-year-old has said he finds it easy to ignore the attention, and that it will not affect his approach to the season.
"I can, I've been doing it my whole life really," Guehi told Sky Sports. "I've never really been one to be looking too much into myself if that makes sense.
"But I think it's always important to focus on what truly is important, and that's the game at the weekend, making sure that for the rest of the season as a team we're at it."
Earlier this week, Palace chairman Steve Parish said he would only be willing to let Guehi leave for "superstar money" as the club believes he is a "generational talent".
The Eagles are keen to keep hold of Guehi, who has made 111 appearances since joining the club from Chelsea in 2021.
Asked how he felt after hearing of Parish's comments: "Humbled, humbled by that. For someone that is such a big part of this football club, for him to say something like that is amazing, for someone like me.
"I'm not sure I'm a superstar, but some really kind words from the chairman, so it's really nice to hear that."
Palace will kick off their Premier League campaign against Brentford on Sunday.
Wojciech Szczesny has left Juventus after reaching a mutual agreement to terminate his contract, the Serie A club said on Wednesday.
The 34-year-old, who spent seven seasons at Juventus, had one year left on his contract but is now available as a free agent.
He made 252 appearances for Juve after joining in July 2017, keeping 103 clean sheets in all competitions. He won three Serie A titles and the Coppa Italia three times during his stay.
"In an instant, Tek conquered the Juventus fans of the world and we are sure that we will all always carry in our hearts the man and the professional who wore our jersey with pride and commitment," Juventus said in a statement.
"Thank you for everything Tek and good luck for the future."
Szczesny began his career at Arsenal, joining the club at age 15 in 2006, before signing for Juventus having had loan spells at Brentford and Roma.
Juventus signed Michele Di Gregorio from Monza in July, while Italian media have linked Szczesny with a move in the other direction or to Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.
Mikel Arteta is hoping for a fast start as Arsenal begin their quest for the Premier League title when they welcome Wolves to the Emirates on Saturday.
Arteta's side concluded their pre-season preparations with a comfortable 2-0 win over Lyon last week, with William Saliba and Gabriel on target in the first half.
And the Gunners head coach explained that his side must set the tone in the opening exchanges against Gary O'Neil's side in North London.
"Look at today with the way we started, for sure. It’s about maintaining that for 95 minutes and that’s the target and objectives that we need to have," Arteta said after the win over the French side.
"There’s a lot of positives to take from today’s performance again.
"I think overall it's been a really positive pre-season with the tour and the club and a lot of people put a lot of effort into making it work. I think it was a success again."
Wolves, meanwhile, will be hoping to improve on a dismal end to the 2023-24 season, but face a side they have failed to beat in the Premier League since February 2021.
O'Neil's side lost five of their last six league games (W1), including the last three in a row, concluding their pre-season fixtures with a 1-0 defeat to Rayo Vallecano at Molineux last Saturday.
“Next week is a big one for me to make sure the lads are ready for the Premier League and next week is a big one for us in the transfer market," O'Neil said.
"We’ve made another £100m this summer, we made £100m last summer, and that does provide its challenges to keep the team staying competitive and keep the team as strong as it once was four or five years ago.
“We’re trying to get it back to that, but with a very different make-up behind the scenes that we’re working to. But I enjoy those challenges a lot.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Arsenal - Martin Odegaard
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard enjoyed his joint-most prolific season for the Gunners last year, netting 11 goals and adding 11 assists across 48 appearances in all competitions.
Odegaard has scored more Premier League goals against Wolves (four) than he has against any other opponent, but three of those have come away from the Emirates.
The Norwegian will hope to have an effect at the top end of the pitch, with his 102 chances that he created for the Gunners last year a total only bettered by Pascal Gross (103) and Bruno Fernandes (114).
Wolves - Matheus Cunha
With Pedro Neto's transfer to Chelsea confirmed last week, last year's top scorer in all competitions, Matheus Cunha will pose a significant threat to Arsenal's defence.
Cunha contributed 22 goal involvements (14 goals and eight assists) in 36 appearances last year, registering the highest expected goals (xG) total in the Wolves squad in the Premier League (9.49).
The Brazilian scored in his last visit to North London in a 2-1 defeat to Arsenal and will be hoping to continue his scoring streak at the Emirates this weekend.
MATCH PREDICTION: ARSENAL WIN
Arsenal are the clear favourites to start their campaign with three points, winning 76.4% of Opta's data-led simulations, with Wolves emerging victorious in 9.5% of those.
The Gunners have won each of their last six Premier League encounters with Wolves, their joint-longest winning run against them (also six in a row from 2003 to 2011).
Arteta has won his opening Premier League fixture in each of the last two seasons, with another victory securing three consecutive opening day triumphs for the first time since between 2007-08 and 2009-10.
Arsenal have scored in each of their last 33 meetings with Wolves in all competitions, last failing to do so since a 1-0 home defeat in February 1979.
It’s both the Gunners’ longest scoring streak against an opponent, and Wolves’ longest run without a clean sheet against a side in their respective histories.
But O'Neil will be hopeful of changing his side's opening day fortunes. Wolves have lost their opening Premier League game in each of the last three seasons and have never started a league season with defeat in four seasons in a row in their history.
Wolves have also won just one of their last 13 away top-flight visits to Arsenal (D4 L8), winning 2-1 at the Emirates in November 2020 under Nuno Espirito Santo.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Arsenal - 76.4%
Draw - 14%
Wolves - 9.5%
Michel is optimistic about Girona's chances of extending last season's remarkable LaLiga run into their 2024-25 campaign, which begins at Real Betis on Thursday.
After a third-place finish in the standings, their best ever, Girona secured a place in the Champions League for their first taste of European competition.
Though Girona may have lost the element of surprise, Michel is confident the club will continue their upward trajectory.
"I don't have a crystal ball to know where we will sit in the end [of the season], but I'm convinced that, with collective thinking in defence and attack, we will have a great season," Michel told a press conference on Wednesday.
"The objective is the club's growth and to always honour their colours. All the players who are here must be players who have that feeling and understanding, that playing here is a source of pride and that they are doing it for our people. That is the objective we have as a club: growth, growth and growth."
The Spaniard added that he still expects new signings to arrive before the summer transfer window closes at the end of August.
Michel, whose project was constructed around a youthful squad with an attacking style, has lost several of his key players in the transfer window so far, including winger Savinho, who moved to Manchester City.
Meanwhile, striker Artem Dovbyk, who scored 24 league goals last season, left for Serie A side Roma and versatile midfielder Aleix Garcia was signed by Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.
To make things worse ahead of a difficult clash at Manuel Pellegrini's Betis, he will be missing at least three players due to illness.
"The sports management and I have the same way of seeing things," Michel added.
"It is true that the process has been complicated and difficult because important players have left. We had problems during the offseason and now with this virus, but I am convinced that we will make the best possible squad."
West Indies captain Hayley Matthews produced another all-round masterclass to fire Welsh Fire into the knockout stages of The Hundred women’s tournament following a comprehensive nine-wicket win over cellar dwellers Southern Brave at the Utilita Bowl on Wednesday.
Matthews, who has been enjoying superb form for the Welsh Fire, was again on song, as she captured 4-14 in 20 balls to restrict Southern Brave to 103 before hammering an unbeaten 26-ball 35 to get her franchise across the line at 106-1 with 26 balls to spare. Captain Tammy Beaumont was also left unbeaten as she topscored with 59 off 40 deliveries.
With the win, Welsh Fire are now in a strong position, due to their superior net run rate, to finish in top spot and qualify automatically for the Hundred final at Lord's on Sunday. Oval Invincibles require a convincing win over Trent Rockets on Wednesday afternoon to leapfrog them.
Scores: Southern Brave 103 all out (100 balls); Welsh Fire 106-1 (74 balls)
“I think we've been really good. When you look at our line-up, we've got a lot of experience, and we've played on that really well,” Matthews said in a post-game interview.
“The bowlers have done a really good job at making sure we don't have to chase too big of a total. I think it's been a complete team performance, and that's where we've performed really well; everyone's been chipping in and playing their role,” she added.
After Beaumont inserted Southern Brave at the toss, Matthews dismissed the in-form Danni Wyatt (two), caught at deep midwicket, before Smriti Mandhana (one) departed four balls later to the pace of Shabnim Ismail to leave the Brave 15 for 2 at the end of the PowerPlay.
Whatever hopes Southern Brave had of repairing the damage were dashed when Jess Jonassen had Georgia Adams (six) stumped. Maia Bouchier (10) was Matthews’ second scalp, brilliantly caught by Phoebe Franklin in the deep, before Freya Kemp (two) knicked one behind to give Jonassen her second wicket.
Matthews got her third when she bowled Naomi Dattani (two) and then completed her allotment with the scalp of Kalea Moore (zero), as Southern Brave were in totters at 47 for 7.
Chloe Tyron was the only bright spark of the innings, as she posted an aggressive 38-ball 55, including seven fours and a solitary six at the backend, as she dominated a 52-run eight-wicket stand with wicketkeeper Rhianna Southby (15).
Matthews’ haul was supported by Jess Jonassen (3-21) and Freya Davies (2-14).
Despite losing Sophia Dunkley (seven) to Lauren Bell early, the result was never in doubt for Welsh Fire, as Beaumont was especially strong on anything loose, working the field with sweeps and cuts, while Matthews picked the gaps behind square in a 72-run stand off a mere 54 balls.
Beaumont raised her half-century in just 31 balls in a knock that had 10 boundaries, while the Barbadian, Matthews, struck five boundaries in her knock as Welsh Fire continue to blaze heading into the business end of the tournament.
Erik ten Hag wants his Manchester United squad to use their Community Shield loss to Manchester City as motivation against Fulham in Friday's Premier League opener.
Ten Hag's team almost started the season with another trophy, but fell to defeat in a penalty shootout at Wembley after Alejandro Garnacho's strike had given them the lead.
Bernardo Silva levelled late on for Pep Guardiola's City side, with Manuel Akanji scoring the decisive spot-kick after Jonny Evans' miss from 12 yards.
“We are disappointed," Ten Hag said. "We have to feel the pain and everyone feels the pain. That's a good signal, but I also see some positives.
“We performed well, we could've won that game, we were twice leading in the game and in the penalties, but we lost, and we're disappointed. But we take the positives.”
The Red Devils have since bolstered their defensive ranks, with Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui joining from Bayern Munich, but they will be without the injured Luke Shaw.
It was confirmed on Tuesday that the full-back will miss the start of the season after sustaining a calf injury in pre-season training.
For Fulham, they will be hopeful of maintaining their impressive opening day form, having lost their first Premier League match in just two of their last nine seasons (four wins, three draws).
Marco Silva's tenure has featured a promotion and two comfortable campaigns in the top flight, and they have regenerated their squad in the transfer window after losing star midfielder Joao Palhinha to Bayern Munich.
Emile Smith Rowe and Ryan Sessegnon's arrivals have improved their forward line, and they will be confident of starting the season strongly at Old Trafford.
The Cottagers prevailed on their last visit to M16, winning 2-1 back in February, but captain Tom Cairney acknowledged a stern challenge awaits them.
“For the quality of their squad, you could argue they’ve been a little bit hit and miss,” Cairney said. “It was amazing for them to win the trophy at the end of last season.
“If they’re on, if they’re firing on all cylinders, it’s a tough night for us.
"They’ve got quality throughout the squad, Champions League winners, but Marco will definitely gear us up to go there and try and win."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Manchester United - Bruno Fernandes
In the absence of Rasmus Hojlund, United will look towards the attacking talents of captain Bruno Fernandes to provide that creative spark in the final third.
Fernandes finished as the Red Devils' joint-top scorer in the Premier League last season with 10 goals in 35 appearances, while also creating more chances in the division than any other player (114).
The United captain has scored four times against Fulham in his seven games against them in all competitions, only scoring more against Everton (five), Leeds (six) and Aston Villa (seven) of the English sides he has faced.
Fulham - Emile Smith Rowe
All eyes will be on Fulham new boy Smith Rowe following his £34million switch from Arsenal, with the possibility of joining a select few players should he find the target.
Smith Rowe scored on his only Premier League start against United at Old Trafford in a 3-2 defeat during his time with Arsenal in December 2021.
Only Darren Bent (Fulham and Tottenham), Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal and Tottenham) and Frank Lampard (Chelsea and West Ham) have scored away against the Red Devils with two different London clubs in the Premier League.
MATCH PREDICTION: MANCHESTER UNITED WIN
United have lost just four of their 34 Premier League meetings with Fulham (24 wins, six draws), but one of those came in their most recent encounter back in February.
Ten Hag's side have struggled versus sides from the capital, losing their last three home games against teams from London. Should Fulham emerge victorious, it will be the first time since a run of five between December 1985 and September 1986 that United have lost four consecutive games against London clubs.
But the Red Devils start their campaign in front of their home supporters for the eighth season in a row, becoming the first in Premier League history to start a season with a home game in eight seasons consecutively.
Fulham, however, will be out to cause an upset. They won two of their final three Premier League away games last season (one draw), as many as they managed in their first 16 on the road in 2023-24 (five draws, nine defeats).
Following their victory in Manchester in February, Fulham are looking to win on consecutive league visits to United for the first time. They’ve faced them at Old Trafford in their opening league match three times previously, losing all three (0-1 in 1950-51, 2-3 in 2001-02 and 1-5 in 2006-07).
And there is no better man to lead them out than Silva, who is unbeaten in his last nine opening day matches (three wins, six draws), with his last such defeat coming in the Primeira Liga with Estoril in 2012-13 (1-2 v Olhanense).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Manchester United - 58.5%
Draw - 20.9%
Fulham - 20.6%
AC Milan head coach Paulo Fonseca has confirmed that Youssouf Fofana is the club's primary target this transfer window.
Since taking over the Rossoneri last month, the 51-year-old has made three signings, welcoming Alvaro Morata, Strahinja Pavlovic and Emerson Royal to the club. However, they have yet to bring in a midfielder.
Milan have reportedly been in talks with Monaco as they aim to come to an agreement for the Frenchman, who has impressed since joining them in 2020.
He played 32 games in Ligue 1 last season, creating the second-most chances (40) among midfielders while also completing the most passes (1444).
And when asked about Milan's transfer plans in midfield, Fonseca gave a very succinct answer: "It's Fofana, we all know that."
Fonseca is also keen to keep hold of returning talent, with Alexis Saelemaekers back after a successful loan spell at Bologna last season as he helped them secure Champions League football.
He scored in their final pre-season game against Monza on Tuesday, and his head coach was pleased with his performance.
"He can play well in different roles. He works hard defensively, and he can do important things up front," Fonseca said. "I really like him, and I hope he stays."
Meanwhile, Rafael Leao had a mixed season for Milan last year as he only scored nine goals, his lowest tally for three years, but provided nine assists.
Often pulled up for not being willing to track back for his defensive duties, Leao has been backed by his new boss to show a different side when the new season gets underway.
"He seems more open to playing for the team. We work well together and always chat," Fonseca added. "I don't know if he will be better or worse than last season, but surely he'll be a different player."
Arne Slot is hoping to strike the right balance between "chaos and possession" ahead of his first Premier League encounter against Ipswich Town on Saturday.
Slot arrived as Jurgen Klopp's successor in June, and a seemingly improbable task has proved to be a seamless transition given their pre-season results.
The Reds won four of their five fixtures ahead of the new campaign, but Slot is still aiming to find the perfect blend just two months into his Anfield tenure.
"Style of play has been with my teams where I worked, I think, always the same," Slot said. "There are a lot of similarities with Jurgen Klopp, with the way they played in the past, and I'm hoping we will see these similarities in the upcoming weeks and months.
"We like to have the ball, we don't like the other team to have the ball, but the Premier League is a league where many good clubs are and many clubs want to have the ball.
"And if we have it, we want to score, we want to be intense in everything we do. If we have the ball, we want to score – that's quite simple, of course!
"But it sometimes also depends on the players you have. I think we're trying to find the balance between trying to create chaos at certain moments and trying to keep possession of the ball."
Meanwhile, Ipswich arrive back in the Premier League 22 years after their relegation was confirmed against the same opponents they will face upon their return.
The Tractor Boys confirmed back-to-back promotions last season, pipped to the Championship title by Leicester City in Kieran McKenna's second season at the helm.
Ipswich scored 19 goals from set-pieces last campaign, a total only bettered by Cardiff (21), something McKenna believes will be crucial in remaining in the division.
"I've spoken lots about how we're going to have to try and keep our identity but adapt, and we're not going to be able to open up the game as much every minute of every game pretty much like we did last season," McKenna said.
"We're going to have to find times to do that and find time to keep the game a little bit more closed, and also we're going to get fewer set pieces.
“So it's going to be of the utmost importance to be even more efficient with them, and we're going to defend more, so we're going to have to be even more resilient against our set plays."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ipswich - Omari Hutchinson
After starring on loan for Ipswich last season, Omari Hutchinson secured a permanent move to Portman Road from Chelsea at the beginning of the transfer window.
Hutchinson registered 16 goal involvements in 44 Championship appearances last season (10 goals and six assists), a total only bettered by Leif Davies (20) and Conor Chaplin (21) in the Ipswich squad.
He has previously played three times against Liverpool's Under-21 side and remains winless against them (D1 L2), but has the opportunity to upset the odds this time around.
Liverpool - Mohamed Salah
As Mohamed Salah embarks on his eighth season with the Reds, he will be hopeful of adding the Tractor Boys to the list of Premier League outfits he has scored against.
No player in Premier League history has scored more goals on matchday one than Salah (eight, level with Alan Shearer, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney).
Only Rooney's total of 13 goal involvements (eight goals and five assists) is more than the Egyptian's tally on the opening day of the season (eight goals and four assists).
MATCH PREDICTION: LIVERPOOL WIN
Slot will be hoping for a winning start in Suffolk, with the omens in his favour as Liverpool have never lost at Portman Road (P5 W3 D2), playing more games there without losing than any other ground in the Premier League.
Ipswich will also be the fifth newly promoted side the Reds have faced in the last six seasons (W3 D1), with the last time Liverpool lost on the opening day coming in a 3-0 defeat to West Brom in 2012-13 in Brendan Rodgers' first game in charge.
However, only one of the eight managers to take charge of the Reds in the Premier League has won their first such game (D4 L3), with Gerard Houllier the last to do so against Southampton while jointly in charge with Roy Evans in August 1998.
The Tractor Boys boast an impressive matchday one record of their own, going unbeaten in their last 10 (W6 D4) since a 2-1 defeat to Reading in 2013-14.
Last season, only Stockport County (96) and Manchester City (96) scored more league goals than Ipswich in England's top four tiers last year, and since McKenna's arrival at Portman Road in December 2021, only City (239) have scored more league goals than the Tractor Boys (222).
And while Ipswich finally ended their 22-year wait for a return to the Premier League, they will want to get one over their opponents. Their most recent top-flight fixture was against Liverpool in May 2002, losing 5-0 to confirm their relegation to the second tier.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Ipswich - 15%
Draw - 17.9%
Liverpool - 67.1%
Eduardo Camavinga will miss the start of Real Madrid's season after suffering a knee injury during training for the UEFA Super Cup, the LaLiga club said on Wednesday.
The 21-year-old's injury happened during a training session on Tuesday ahead of their Super Cup clash with Europa League winners Atalanta.
"After the tests carried out today, our player Eduardo Camavinga has been diagnosed with a sprain of the internal collateral ligament in his left knee," a club statement said.
Camavinga, who made 46 appearances for Madrid in all competitions last season, is reportedly expected to miss up to seven weeks of the campaign.
He will miss the Super Cup on Wednesday and could be out of action for as many as seven LaLiga games as well as the beginning of their Champions League defence.
Madrid's title defence will begin at Real Mallorca on Sunday.
Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons is confident CeeDee Lamb will be back for the opening game of the NFL season.
Lamb is currently in the middle of a contract dispute and, as such, a three-week holdout as he waits to negotiate an extension to his current deal.
The wide receiver missed their opening pre-season game against the Los Angeles Rams last Sunday, and after skipping the Cowboys' mandatory minicamp in June along with training camp, he has totalled more than $1million in fines.
And despite negotiations over a new deal still going on, Parsons is confident Lamb will be back on the field for their opener against the Cleveland Browns on September 8.
"We have our talks, but at the end of the day, me and CeeDee and all of us, we kind of know what it is," Parsons said.
"CeeDee is a part of the brotherhood whether he likes it or not. He knows he's not going nowhere.
"The business side, they going to take care of him. But obviously, we miss him. I mean, he's one of the best people you can have in a locker room, and I'm pretty sure he'll be here soon, because no doubt about it, Week 1, he will be suited up for the Dallas Cowboys."
Last week, owner and general manager Jerry Jones said there was no urgency to get Lamb's deal done, though he backtracked slightly on Sunday, saying "CeeDee is missed".
The 25-year-old was unlikely to play in the pre-season games anyway, but he has missed valuable practice time as the team gears up for the start of the new season.
However, coach Mike McCarthy says he will be smart about reintegrating Lamb into the side whenever he returns.
"You just make time to get done what you need to get done, that's how I look at CeeDee when he gets here," McCarthy said.
"We know CeeDee is always going to be in great shape and so forth. Yeah, we'll make the time, and we'll be smart about it, too, because we got to make sure we have a sound plan and once he does get back here."
The 2024 Paris Olympics marked a historic moment for the English-speaking Caribbean, with athletes from the region delivering extraordinary performances that etched their names into Olympic history. This edition of the Games was particularly significant for several Caribbean nations, as they celebrated groundbreaking victories and shattered longstanding records, further solidifying the region's presence on the global stage.
St Lucia experienced a moment of immense national pride, as the island nation secured its first-ever Olympic medals in spectacular fashion. Julien Alfred became a household name after she clinched gold in the women’s 100m, blazing across the finish line in a remarkable 10.72 seconds, breaking her own national record and earning St Lucia its first Olympic gold. Alfred’s incredible speed nearly led her to a double triumph, but she settled for silver in the women’s 200m, clocking a commendable 22.08 seconds. These achievements not only catapulted Alfred into the spotlight but also marked a historic milestone for St Lucia, a small island nation now basking in the glory of its Olympic success.
Dominica also had its first taste of Olympic victory, thanks to the outstanding performance of Thea LaFond. Competing in the women’s triple jump, LaFond delivered a stunning leap of 15.02m, breaking the national record and securing Dominica’s first-ever Olympic gold medal. LaFond’s triumph in Paris resonated deeply within the nation, bringing joy and pride to Dominicans worldwide.
Grenada, a nation with a rich Olympic history, added to its growing medal tally with two more bronze medals. Anderson Peters, a seasoned javelin thrower, once again demonstrated his prowess by securing bronze in the men’s javelin throw with an impressive distance of 88.54m. Lindon Victor further bolstered Grenada’s standing with a hard-fought bronze in the men’s decathlon, excelling across 10 grueling events to earn his place on the podium.
It was the first time that the Spice Island had won multiple medals at the same Olympic Games. These achievements continued Grenada’s tradition of Olympic success, adding new chapters to the island’s storied athletic history.
Jamaica, a nation synonymous with sprinting dominance, experienced a shift in its Olympic narrative at the 2024 Games, with the majority of its six medals coming from field events. Roje Stona led the charge, breaking the Olympic record in the men’s discus throw with a colossal throw of 70.00m, securing Jamaica’s first and only gold medal of the Games. Wayne Pinnock contributed to the island’s medal haul with a silver in the men’s long jump, leaping an impressive 8.36m. Rajindra Campbell added to the field event success with a bronze in the men’s shot put, delivering a powerful throw of 22.15m.
Shanieka Ricketts also created history when she won the silver medal in the triple jump, securing Jamaica’s first ever medal in the field at an Olympic Games.
In addition to their field event successes, Jamaica’s sprinters also made their mark. Kishane Thompson, a rising star in the sprinting world, claimed silver in the men’s 100m with a blistering time of 9.79 seconds, a result determined by a photo finish that showcased the razor-thin margins of victory at the highest level.
Rasheed Broadbell added to Jamaica’s sprinting legacy by earning a bronze in the 110m hurdles, clocking a season-best 13.09 seconds in another photo finish that highlighted the intense competition in Paris.
The 2024 Paris Olympics will be remembered as a landmark event for the Caribbean, where athletes from St Lucia, Dominica, Grenada, and Jamaica not only created history but also underscored the region’s growing influence in global athletics. These remarkable performances brought immense pride to their nations and showcased the Caribbean’s burgeoning talent and determination on the world stage. As the athletes returned home, they carried with them not just medals, but also the hopes and dreams of their countries, inspiring future generations to strive for greatness.
Jose Mourinho recited his famous "if I speak" one-liner following Fenerbahce's late exit from the Champions League to Lille on Tuesday.
Mourinho's side looked on course to take the tie to penalties after Bafode Diakite's late own-goal levelled the aggregate scores in Istanbul.
But there was to be more drama as Jonathan David's long-range shot struck Jayden Oosterwolde's outstretched arm, with a penalty given after a VAR review.
David would step up to score from 12 yards in the 118th-minute, meaning the Turkish side will play in the Europa League next season as Mourinho faces a possible reunion with Manchester United or Tottenham.
In his post-match assessment, Mourinho repeated his iconic remark that was first said during his time in charge of Chelsea.
The comments came after Chelsea's 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa in the 2013-14 season, an encounter that saw Ramires, Willian and Mourinho himself sent off by Chris Foy.
He then re-used the line as he seemed to disagree with the penalty that was awarded to Lille in the closing stages of the encounter at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.
"We can do very well in the Europa League, but if... I prefer not to continue with this sentence," Mourinho said.
"Because if I say it, I will get into trouble. It's better not to talk about the penalty. When I look at other incidents that have happened to me recently.
"Only the referee knows why it was a penalty, only the VAR knows. I'm proud of my team."
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