Latest news with #MinistryofSport
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Three-time world champion Mike McCallum dies aged 68
Former three-weight world champion Mike McCallum has died at the age of 68. The Jamaican, who held versions of super welterweight, middleweight and light heavyweight titles between 1984 and 1995, died after being taken ill near his Las Vegas home. Jamaica's sport minister Olivia Grange wrote on Instagram: "It is with utter and complete sadness that I learned of the death of Jamaica's three-time World Boxing Champion Michael McKenzie McCallum. "I express my personal condolences to his mother, siblings and his children. On behalf of the Ministry of Sport, I take this opportunity to extend our sympathies to the family and friends of this legendary Jamaican. "We hope they find strength in this time of bereavement." As a distinguished amateur, McCallum - who was known as 'The Bodysnatcher' due to his vicious punching ability to the body - won welterweight gold for Jamaica at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton. He switched to the paid ranks in 1981 and won his first 32 professional fights, with stand-out victories over Milton McCrory and Don Curry. McCallum beat Herol Graham and Michael Watson in world middleweight title fights in London, as well as outpointing Ireland's Steve Collins in Boston. He retired in 1997 with 49 wins and one draw from 55 fights, and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003.
Sport360
27-05-2025
- Business
- Sport360
SPIA enjoys grand Abu Dhabi debut for 12th edition as Middle East's sports industry stars are celebrated
Prize winners included DP World, TikTok, ADSC, ADNOC, Ethara and Saudi Arabian Football Federation [SAFF]. Victors in the 19 categories had been picked by an independent panel of judges, comprising industry stalwarts chosen for their expertise in the Middle East sports ecosphere. Sport360X Managing Director Bassam Nawfal was thrilled by the strong response to this year's awards. He said: 'We are incredibly proud to have brought the 12th edition of the Sports Industry Awards to Abu Dhabi. 'This event has always been about celebrating the visionaries, organisations and initiatives driving the growth of sport across the region – and 2025 was no exception. Welcoming so many illustrious guests to Space42 Arena was a testament to the passion and momentum behind the Middle East's sports industry. 'From outstanding campaigns to world-class facilities, the calibre of this year's winners was truly inspiring. We're also grateful to all our partners and sponsors whose support made this latest celebration possible. 'Since being established in 2012, the Sports Industry Awards has stood as a beacon of excellence, and we're thrilled with the overwhelming response to this milestone edition.' Each submission was thoroughly evaluated against set criteria by a panel of seasoned experts from across the sports sector, ensuring a process rooted in integrity and fairness. With transparency as a priority, 16 judges applied a structured, impartial approach to provide every entrant an equal opportunity. These included: H.H. Princess Nouf AlSaud (General Manager – Marketing, Ministry of Sport Saudi Arabia), Richard Scudamore (Former Executive Chairman & CEO, Premier League), Marina Storti (CEO, WTA Ventures), H.E. Ali Al Ali (CEO & Board Member, Dubai Racing Club), Melissa Moncada (CEO & Founder, Aurora Group), Danny Townsend (CEO, SURJ Sports Investment), Tom Foley (CEO, Go Sport), Shaima Alhusseini (Saudi Sports for all Federation, Managing Director), Jan Paterson (Managing Director – Sport, NEOM), Andrea De Vincentiis (HSBC, Global Head of Brand Partnerships), Alex Brown (Senior Vice President, Brand & Marketing, ADNOC), Jamie Dean (Executive Director – Sports, MODON), Simon Morris (Vice President, Marketing, International, Adobe), Karim Younes (Islamic Solidarity Games Riyadh 2025, Head of Marketing & Commercial), Warwick Gird (General Manager – Marketing, Spinneys). Abu Dhabi Sports Council came away with 'Best Youth Sports Program' for Active Hub, 'Best Corporate Wellness' with Abu Dhabi Government Games 2024 and 'Best Mass Participation Event' for ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon. Their General Secretary, His Excellency Aref Al Awani, was also honoured with 'Strategic Leadership in Middle East Sport'. Saudi Arabia's Adwa AlArifi, Assistant Minister for Sport Affairs at Ministry of Sport, received the night's second recognition prize, for 'Transformational Leadership in Middle East Sport'. An evening of success for DP World included 'Best Sports Campaign' (Beyond Borders with 160over90), 'Excellence in Sustainability' with Green Drive and 'Best Sport Event' for DP World Tour Championship. Ethara won 'Best Sports Agency' and 'Outstanding Contribution to Sport in the Middle East', while their work with Train Yas was awarded with 'Best Community Sports Initiative'. Other highlights included TikTok Zone (For UAE Pro League) being honoured with gold in 'Best Fan Engagement in Sport' and (Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup 2034™ Bid) getting silver in 'Best Sports Campaign'. For more information, please visit . ABOUT THE ORGANISERS Sport360X Sport360X has been telling the Middle East's very best sports stories for more than a decade across video, social, gaming and events. It boasts the narrative and creative skills, in Arabic and English, to produce market-leading content that builds affinity with fans and commercial partners alike. Access is provided to more than 15m followers on Sport360X's native social media platforms, plus websites that generate more than 12m monthly page views. Interact Interact was founded in 2014 from a bold vision to inspire a healthier, more active generation. As the owners of the Sports Industry Series, Interact partners with leading brands and government bodies to embed healthy behaviours deep within communities. Their work spans the design, delivery and promotion of impactful, large-scale initiatives and events that boost physical activity, support healthier eating, and improve mental well-being across diverse population. Sport Industry Series October 2024's game-changing partnership saw Interact's Sport Industry Forum and Sport360X's SPIA come together under Sport Industry Series.
Asharq Al-Awsat
19-04-2025
- Automotive
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Jeddah Corniche Circuit to Host Main Race of Formula 1 stc Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Sunday
The Jeddah Corniche Circuit will host on Sunday the main race of the Formula 1 stc Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, marking the fifth round of the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship and the event's fifth consecutive time in the Kingdom, under the oversight of the Ministry of Sport. On this occasion, Minister of Sport Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, Chairman of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, expressed gratitude to the wise leadership for its generous support and ongoing attention given to the sports sector in the Kingdom, which has played a significant role in attaining successive achievements aligned with national visions and goals, SPA reported. He emphasized that this international event, set to take place at the world's fastest street circuit, demonstrates the Kingdom's dedication to advancing motorsports and its enthusiasm for delivering an exceptional sports and entertainment experience for fans and visitors from across the globe. The Jeddah Corniche Circuit is a technical masterpiece, featuring 27 corners — more than any other track in the championship. Spanning 6.174 km, the track challenges drivers to navigate 16 left-hand turns and 11 right-hand turns, while racing at breathtaking speeds that can reach up to 322 km/h.
Asharq Al-Awsat
19-04-2025
- Automotive
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Formula 1 stc Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Starts in Jeddah
The practice sessions for the Formula 1 stc Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the fifth round of the Formula 1 World Championship, kicked off Saturday at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, under the supervision of the Ministry of Sport. According to SPA, day one featured two practice sessions for the drivers. French driver Pierre Gasly of the Alpine team topped the first session with the fastest lap time of 1 minute, 29.239 seconds. British driver Lando Norris of McLaren came in second, just 0.007 seconds behind, while Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc of Ferrari placed third, trailing by 0.070 seconds. In the second practice session, Lando Norris secured the top spot with a lap time of 1 minute, 28.267 seconds. His teammate, Australian driver Oscar Piastri, followed in second place, 0.163 seconds behind, while reigning world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull finished third, 0.280 seconds behind. The Formula 1 stc Saudi Arabian Grand Prix continues tomorrow with the third and final free practice session at 4:30 pm, lasting for one hour. It will be followed by the qualifying round at 8:00 pm, which will determine the starting grid for the main race on Sunday. The event at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit also includes a wide range of accompanying activities enjoyed by the large crowds in attendance, especially in the Fan Zone, which features numerous entertainment and informational booths. The official Formula 1 store is also present, offering a variety of team merchandise and accessories. Lando Norris currently leads the overall standings in the Formula 1 World Championship with 77 points, followed by his teammate Oscar Piastri with 74 points, while Dutch driver Max Verstappen holds third place with 69 points.
Asharq Al-Awsat
17-04-2025
- Sport
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Al-Baha to Host Fourth Saudi Cycling Championship on Friday
The fourth edition of the Saudi Arabia Cycling Championship for men and women will start Friday in Al-Baha Region. The two-day event is organized by the Saudi Cycling Federation under the supervision of the Ministry of Sport's regional branch. Director of the Ministry's Al-Baha branch Bandar bin Saad Al-Ghamdi stated that 16 clubs will participate in the championship, with a total of 115 male and female athletes competing, SPA reported. The first day of the competition will take place on the Al-Aqiq Governorate Road, with the men's race covering 70 km and the women's race spanning 30 km. On the second day, races will be held on the Sakhwan Road, where men will race over 130 km and women over 45 km.
