PARIS: There were Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes, trying to wrap their heads around the moment.
These are not some starry-eyed young athletes on a world stage for the first time. Hughes is 29. Cheng is 28. They’re the defending FIVB world champions and one of the greatest duos in college volleyball history. They once rattled off 103 straight wins at the University of Southern California and finished their NCAA career with a 147-4 record and two national titles. They’ve seen some things.
But this was Sunday night in Paris. Cheng and Hughes walked onto the sand for their first match of the 2024 Olympics, waving to a packed house of 12,000 fans, and went through some quick prematch warmups. They tried to treat it like any other night. Then they sat and waited.
The sun had set about an hour earlier in Paris, leaving behind an orange glow blending with a blue-black sky. And in that sky, directly above this beach volleyball stadium, loomed the Eiffel Tower. Right there. Perhaps the single-most known structure in the world — 1,083 feet of iron and trusses and rivets and pillars — staring down at them.
The lights snapped off in the stadium. Out came the phones. All of them. All 12,000. The crowd vibrated with anticipation. Over the speakers, the tick-tock of a clock counted down faster and faster as low lights turned the stadium pink, then purple, then red. The clock struck 10 p.m. Then the Eiffel Tower, as it does every night at the same time, lit up in a glimmer of sparkling lights as fans clapped along.
If there’s a stadium anywhere that can match that view, we’ve yet to see it.
"That was iconic," Cheng said later.
In what rapidly evolved into a Summer Olympic arms race of beach volleyball venues being placed in the boldest locations possible, Paris 2024 organizers walked in and flipped the table over. They decided to place their sandpit directly in the middle of the Champ de Mars, the public green space at the foot of the tower. This prime real estate is typically filled with families, groups of friends, street artists, and young lovers. Of all 32 sports being played in these Olympics, none has a location that rivals beach volleyball. Tickets are hard to come by and will only get harder as the matches advance and fans’ pictures land on Instagram.
You have to feel sorry for Los Angeles organizers. The plan is for 2028 to be played on the beach in Santa Monica. That sounds great, except when you see what Paris has done. Perhaps atop an O on the Hollywood sign might have been better.
Beach volleyball’s Olympic history dates back to 1996 and a simple artificial beach stadium in Clayton County Park outside Atlanta. Things stepped up around 2012, when London placed a 15,000-seat beach volleyball court in the Horse Guards Parade, the ceremonial parade ground in St. Jamess Park in central London. In 2016, Rio organizers went further, building a stadium directly on Copacabana beach, marrying nature and competition, as L.A. will do. Tokyo placed its stadium in Shiokaze Park.
Then came Paris.
“That’s a memory that will be imprinted on my brain forever,” said Kristen Nuss, a member of the other American women duo in the field, winner of a Saturday night match over Canada. “This will be a hard one to top. I am not sure how anyone else would do it.”
Cheng is the lone US beach volleyball player, male or female, competing in these Games to compete in a previous Olympics. She saw clips of the pre-match show before Nuss and teammate Taryn Kloth’s match on Saturday. She knew what was coming on Sunday. Still, when stadium lights went down and the Eiffel Tower lit up, the moment took over.
“So surreal, so special,” she said.
“The best feeling in the world,” Hughes said. “I’ve never experienced anything like that.”
Cheng and Hughes got over the jitters, knocking off the Czech Republic in two sets.
Those jitters, though, are very real. As if competing in the Olympics isn’t enough. The enormity of it all can be overwhelming. It’s easy to feel impossibly small in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. As you know you look like an ant from the top.
“It is mixed feelings because we are so focused on not getting influenced by that, not having a lot of emotions, doing our job,” said Brazilian Andr Loyola Stien.
No one feels that more than the French. On Sunday, Aline Chamereau and Clmence Vieira were hit by waves of emotion when the crowd broke out singing the French national anthem.
“(The fans) are far from us, but we are so warm, so close to each other,” Chamereau said after a loss to Germany.
The feeling will only grow. There are seven more sunsets over the Eiffel Tower Stadium for beach volleyball. Then the venue will host blind football in the Paralympic Games.
Then it will be gone.
Back to Champ de Mars.
What’s it like to play beach volleyball in the Eiffel Tower’s shadow? ‘Iconic’
https://arab.news/9b54n
What’s it like to play beach volleyball in the Eiffel Tower’s shadow? ‘Iconic’
- Beach volleyball’s Olympic history dates back to 1996 and a simple artificial beach stadium in Clayton County Park outside Atlanta
Al-Ittihad back on top as club mark 97 years of glory
- Saudi Arabia’s oldest club head the Saudi Pro League table as they celebrate 97th birthday
DUBAI/LONDON: It is fitting that as Al-Ittihad celebrate their 97th anniversary this month, the Jeddah giants are sitting on top of the Saudi Pro League.
The past is impressive. The club was founded on Jan. 4, 1927, and is one of the oldest in Asia. Not only that, but Al-Ittihad are set to join the Club of Pioneers, a global network of historic teams headed by Sheffield FC, the oldest football club in the world that was set up in 1857.
“We are very proud to be the first Arabic country to join the Club of Pioneers on our 97th year anniversary and celebrating our great achievements as the first Saudi Football club. And we look forward to our 100 years and beyond,” Dania Al-Maeena, CEO of Al-Ittihad’s nonprofit organization, told Arab News.
Now they join the likes of Wrexham of Wales, Genoa of Italy and Royal Antwerp of Belgium to become the 32nd member.
The first silverware came all the way back in 1958 with the King’s Cup and Crown Prince’s Cup, starting to fill a trophy cabinet that has become much more packed over the decades.
Fans had to wait until 1982 to celebrate a league championship. Eight more have followed. The most recent came in 2023 when Al-Ittihad were very impressive on their way to lift the title once more and for the first time since 2009.
Any club with such domestic success want to challenge internationally, and the team in yellow and black have done just that. In 1999, fans celebrated the Asian Cup Winners Cup. The big prize, however, was always the AFC Champions League and in that competition, Ittihad have made history.
In 2004, the Red Sea club lost the first leg of the final at home, 3-1 to South Korea’s Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma. Heading into the return game, nobody gave the Saudi Arabians a chance. Yet, in perhaps the most stunning result in the history of Asian club football, Al-Ittihad shocked an expectant home crowd and the continent, by winning 5-0 to take the trophy.
If that was impressive, then so was the following year, as the club were head and shoulders above the rest. In those days, the defending champions joined the competition at the quarterfinal stage.
There was an 8-3 aggregate win over China’s Shandong Luneng and then a 7-0 thrashing of South Korea’s Busan I’Park in the semifinal. The final against 2003 champions Al-Ain of the UAE was a tougher task, but it ended in a 5-3 win over two legs. No team had previously successfully defended the Asian Champions League title.
At the time, the rest of the continent feared a dynasty being established. That did not happen but Al-Ittihad are one of Asia’s biggest and most popular clubs. Joining 50,000 fans at the King Abdullah Sports City is an unforgettable football experience.
None of this is to say that the best days are in the past. As the club enter their 97th year in existence, they are in a very healthy state indeed.
In 2023, the club ended a 14-year wait for a Saudi Pro League title, and though last season did not see a repeat performance, French coach Laurent Blanc has settled extremely well since joining in July.
He has stars including Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Fabinho and Moussa Diaby at his disposal. There is also impressive domestic talent in the form of Saleh Al-Shehri, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Hassan Kadesh and many others.
The future is looking bright. After ending 2024 with nine successive league wins, they are two points clear at the top of the Saudi Pro League. There is still a long way to go but Al-Ittihad are fit for the journey.
Al-Ittihad celebrates induction into Club of Pioneers
JEDDAH: Jeddah’s Al-Ittihad Football Club has been inducted into an illustrious network of the oldest football clubs in the world.
It comes as the club celebrates 97 years since its founding with a special ceremony on Jan. 2, held at the Abadi theater in Jeddah.
The event is hosted under the auspices of the National Calendar of Events of Jeddah Governorate, and will include a special tribute to Al-Ittihad’s late honorary president, Prince Talal bin Mansour.
As part of the evening, Al-Ittihad fans will learn more about their club’s proud history in an exhibition. There will also be musical performances by renowned Gulf artists Hussain Al-Jassmi from UAE and Fahad Al-Kubaisi from Qatar.
Al-Ittihad, the first and oldest football club in Saudi Arabia, will receive membership to the Club of Pioneers during the event.
It is the first Saudi, Arab and Gulf club to obtain membership in the network that brings together the oldest football clubs in the world.
The Club of Pioneers was founded in 2013 by Sheffield FC, the first and oldest association football club in the world. It has 32 members from countries including India, Chile, Japan, South Africa and now Saudi Arabia.
Speaking to Arab News, Loay Mashabi, chairman of the Al-Ittihad board, expressed his pride at the induction: “Today, as we celebrate our 97th anniversary, we take immense pride in being the oldest sports club in Saudi Arabia, standing alongside pioneers like Sheffield FC. Our legacy reflects the spirit of Jeddah — vibrant, resilient and deeply rooted in history.”
He added: “This milestone inspires us to honor our past while shaping the future of football in the Kingdom and the region. As we look toward our centennial, we reaffirm our commitment to excellence, aligning with Vision 2030 and showcasing Saudi Arabia as a global leader in sports.”
Al-Ittihad’s former captain, Mohammed Noor, said: “Al-Ittihad fans should be proud of their club and our heritage is important for our path forward. Our team has accomplished many achievements and titles, and I am proud to be part of it.”
On X, Sheffield FC, founder of the Club of Pioneers, welcomed Al-Ittihad into the network.
There are more than 172 football clubs in Saudi Arabia, with Al-Ittihad, the first, founded in 1927.
The club has won nine Saudi League titles, nine King’s Cups and eight Crown Prince Cups to date. It holds 48 official championship wins.
As well as domestic success, the club has a storied regional and Asian record, including back-to-back AFC Champions League titles, and Asian Cup Winners’ Cup, GCC Champions League and Arab Champions League titles.
Djokovic cruises past Monfils as rising stars impress in Brisbane
- Novak Djokovic was in imperious form as he demolished Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals of the Brisbane International on Thursday, with the Australian Open just over a week away
BRISBANE: Novak Djokovic was in imperious form as he demolished Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals of the Brisbane International on Thursday, with the Australian Open just over a week away.
On a day when rising stars Mirra Andreeva and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard underlined their potential, Djokovic cruised past fellow veteran Monfils in 72 minutes.
Djokovic and Monfils played an entertaining match, but the 37-year-old Serb was always in control as he notched his 20th straight win over the Frenchman.
Former world number one Djokovic next plays giant American Reilly Opelka.
“We’ve been playing a long time, I’ve known Gael since I was 15 and he was 16,” said Djokovic, who is pursuing a record 25th Grand Slam singles title when the Australian Open begins on January 12.
“I’ve had a good score against him over the years but we’ve had some incredible battles on different surfaces.
“Hopefully we can play some more before we both retire.”
The 17-year-old Russian Andreeva demolished Linda Noskova 6-3, 6-0 in the women’s draw while Mpetshi Perricard downed fourth-seeded American Frances Tiafoe 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) to reach the men’s quarter-finals.
A year after losing to the same player at the season-opening event, Andreeva displayed her improvement over 2024 with a 63-minute romp over the Czech Republic’s Noskova.
The teenager faces Ons Jabeur of Tunisia in the last eight.
“Last year she (Noskova) almost killed me in the quarter-finals so I was thinking it’s time to take my revenge,” Andreeva said.
The Russian started the year ranked 16th in the world and is tipped by many to challenge for a Grand Slam in 2025.
“My number one goal for the 2025 season is to crack the top 10,” said Andreeva, who is coached by former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez.
The towering Mpetshi Perricard, 21, who beat Australian Nick Kyrgios in an entertaining round-one clash, again served superbly to defeat US Open semifinalist Tiafoe.
After serving 36 aces in his three-set win over Kyrgios, the Frenchman sent down another 20 against the more experienced Tiafoe.
Mpetshi Perricard faces the 19-year-old Czech Jakub Mensik next.
“It was a good match, not very easy to play against Francis,” Mpetshi Perricard said.
“The first set was very tight on serve but I managed to put some pressure on his second serve and it worked.”
5 talking points from Saudi Arabia’s Gulf Cup exit
- Herve Renard’s team departed the regional tournament in Kuwait after a 2-1 loss to Oman in the semifinal
LONDON: Saudi Arabia’s quest to win the Gulf Cup for the first time since 2004 ended at the semifinal stage on Tuesday as they lost 2-1 to Oman. Here are five things we learned from the eight-team tournament.
Disappointing exit dampens New Year cheer
Booking a place in the final would have been a perfect way to end the year but it was not to be. Herve Renard returned in October to take over from Roberto Mancini after the Italian’s troubled 18 months in charge.
There is still a slight air of gloom around the Green Falcons. World Cup qualification is going badly and the Gulf Cup was a chance for the Frenchman to get to grips with the task in 2025.
With the Saudi Pro League taking a break, he took his best team to Kuwait. Apart from a second-half spell against Iraq that brought a 3-1 win, there was not much to write home about.
The opening game loss to Bahrain was deserved; it took an injury-time goal to beat Yemen; and then came the loss to an Oman team that played two-thirds of the game with 10 men.
That defeat was hugely disappointing. There was a lack of creativity going forward and issues at the back to ensure that 2024, an underwhelming year for the national team, ended without a bang. It could have been worse but it could have been a lot better.
Renard still to rediscover his mojo
They say in football that you should never go back. While Renard’s return was largely hailed, there were some who pointed out that after the famous World Cup win against Argentina in Qatar, the team’s results until he left in March 2023 had not been great.
What is known as the “new coach bounce” that often results from a change at the helm has not materialized — and perhaps it does not apply anyway when a manager returns after just 18 months away.
There did not seem to be much in-game management from Renard or ability to make a change that would make a difference. In his first spell Renard was clearly able to get the best out of his players but that has yet to be seen this time around.
He has not been back in the hot seat for very long, but there needs to be improvements, and quickly.
Al-Hamdan and Al-Bulaihi among the positives and negatives
One thing that can be said is that at least Saudi Arabia rediscovered where the net was. With just three goals in six World Cup qualifiers from September to November and none from the strikers, concerns were growing. In four games, the team managed nine goals. What will be more encouraging for Renard is that forwards got on the score sheet.
Abdullah Al-Hamdan has not been getting much playing time for Al-Hilal but impressed and netted three times, showing some fine striking instincts along the way, and obviously had a point to prove in coming off the bench against Iraq to score twice.
At the back however, Renard will be concerned about another Al-Hilal player. Ali Al-Bulaihi has been a mainstay for Saudi Arabia for years but was out of sorts and made mistakes, especially against Oman, that proved to be costly.
It could be asked if he should have been benched for the semifinal. The center-back has shone for his club against some of the biggest attacking names in world football so Renard will be hoping that his form is just a blip.
Injuries played a part
Injuries are part and parcel of the beautiful game but Saudi Arabia had more than their fair share in Kuwait, meaning that bad luck hampered attempts to take the trophy back to Riyadh.
Renard had to deal with injuries to, among others, Saleh Al-Shehri, Firas Al-Buraikan, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Yasser Al-Shahrani, Abdullah Al-Khaibari and Abdulelah Al-Malki.
Such absences can hit hard and also meant that, at times, there were players operating out of position. And then star player Salem Al-Dawsari was recovering from an injury in the build up to the tournament. Yet, these should not be used as excuses too much, as there should be enough talent in the country to overcome Bahrain and Oman.
The ultimate result will be seen later in the year
While a first trophy for over two decades would have been welcome, the real focus is on the resumption of World Cup qualification in March. These were four competitive games for Renard to get his teeth into, as well as the training sessions and preparation that the tournament gave.
World Cup qualification rivals China and Australia would have loved to have had the same opportunities to stay sharp. Indonesia have been playing in Southeast Asia’s regional tournament but most of their strongest players were unable to appear.
It means that, apart from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia have had a great opportunity to get some real games under their belt.
The results were mixed and the performances were mostly disappointing. But the prize that everyone wants is a place at the 2026 World Cup and if the Gulf Cup helps the team get to North America then it will have been a worthwhile 10 days in Kuwait.
37th Italian Super Cup kicks off in Riyadh
- Serie A champions Inter Milan take on Atalanta and AC Milan tackle Juventus in bid to make Sunday’s final
RIYADH: The 37th edition of the Italian Super Cup kicks off here today with Serie A champions Inter Milan taking on Atalanta, the Coppa Italia runner-up.
Hosted by Saudi Arabia for the fifth time, the tournament takes place at Al-Awwal Park Stadium until Jan. 6. The Ministry of Sports is the organizer of the event.
AC Milan, second in the Serie A last year, take on Juventus, the Coppa Italia champions on Friday, with the final on Sunday.
The event aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Quality of Life program and the country’s plan to continue hosting major global sporting events.
It reflects the Ministry of Sports’ commitment to achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
