Latest news with #OlympicPark
Russia Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Russia Today
Top Russian orchestra hits high note in new Sochi venue
The Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra, led by acclaimed Russian conductor Valery Gergiev, has held rehearsals in the main and chamber halls of the newly built Sirius Concert Hall, located in Sochi, southern Russia. It marked the venue's first full-scale acoustic test with a professional ensemble. On Saturday, the orchestra performed selections from its evening program, which was later presented in the Medal Plaza at Olympic Park. The concert formed part of the ongoing Sirius Summer Music Festival, which runs from July 15 to August 24. The rehearsal offered musicians and acousticians a valuable opportunity to assess the hall's performance qualities ahead of its official opening in October 2025. 'The acoustic properties of this still-under-construction concert complex didn't just please us – they truly amazed us,' said Gergiev, speaking to journalists after the rehearsal. He added that the venue offers new possibilities for staging productions with a full orchestra pit or adapting the space to accommodate more audience seating. Gergiev also highlighted the exceptional potential of the Chamber Hall, which is already fully operational. 'Accommodating up to 75 musicians is rare for a chamber hall – even among the world's best. I believe this space could easily stage works like Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro.' According to the maestro, the hall is poised to become a cultural destination for lovers of theater, classical, and chamber music, especially during the velvet seasons of summer and autumn. Construction of the Sirius Concert Hall began in 2020. The venue features two world-class performance spaces, along with state-of-the-art acoustics designed by Yasuhisa Toyota, the renowned sound engineer behind over 100 iconic concert halls worldwide. 'This first rehearsal at the Sirius Concert Hall signals the beginning of a new era for the arts in Russia,' said Elena Shmeleva, chair of the Council of the Sirius Federal Territory and Director of the Talent and Success Foundation. 'We are building not just a venue, but a full ecosystem for artistic excellence and international collaboration.'
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Leading Indian conglomerate, Godrej, showcases advanced warehousing technologies at CeMAT Australia 2025
SYDNEY, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Storage Solutions, a business of Godrej Enterprises Group, India, and one of the global leaders in industrial storage, warehousing & intralogistics solutions, is set to participate in CeMAT Australia 2025, taking place from 22–24 July at The Dome, Sydney Olympic Park. The company will exhibit at Booth I39, spotlighting its latest innovations engineered to meet the evolving needs of Australia's logistics and warehousing sector. With a strong focus on safety and compliance, the leading Indian conglomerate will showcase its AS 4084-certified Racking and Shelving solutions designed to deliver superior performance, structural integrity, and operational efficiency. Vikas Choudaha, Business Head, Storage Solutions, Godrej Enterprises Group, said, "As Australia's logistics landscape undergoes rapid transformation, we see a significant opportunity to contribute with globally trusted, locally compliant solutions. Our participation at CeMAT Australia 2025 marks a strategic step in expanding our presence in high-growth international markets. As certified EN & AS 4084 racking manufacturers ensuring alignment with international regulations, we are committed to supporting Australian businesses with safe, scalable, and future-ready warehousing systems. With proven capabilities to execute large-scale, complex projects, we will continue to deliver scalable solutions across sectors." As a trusted racking manufacturer and a market leader in India and several global markets, with over 70 years of industry experience and a presence in more than 40+ countries, the Storage Solutions business has delivered large-scale projects for global giants including DHL, DB Schenker, Toll, Amazon, Coca-Cola, and Iron Mountain. These projects span diverse sectors such as logistics, e-commerce, engineering, food & beverage, and pharmaceuticals, demonstrating the company's ability to deliver tailored solutions for complex operational environments. Currently, over 20% of the business's revenue is generated from international markets, with a goal to increase this to double within the next 2–3 years. Australia is a key focus in this expansion strategy, alongside the US, Europe, Middle East and South-East Asia. The business leverages high-quality steel available in India to offer durable, high-performance storage systems for global markets, including Australia. The business is also actively partnering with automation companies to supply integrated racking solutions for modern, automated warehouses. All products are made using RoHS-compliant materials, reflecting a strong commitment to health, safety, and environmental standards. As global supply chains become more agile and data-driven, the Storage Solutions business, a part of Godrej Enterprises Group, is well-positioned to deliver high-efficiency systems that align with the operational demands of modern enterprises. View original content: SOURCE Godrej Enterprises Group Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
RNZ News
15-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Boxing: Paul Gallen and Sonny Bill Williams meet in the ring, but does it matter if it doesn't mean anything?
By Simon Smale , ABC News Paul Gallen and Sonny Bill Williams. Photo: Photosport Opinion: Instances of two former footy players in their 40s punching on is rarely cause for celebration. Even if the fight in question is covered by the thin veneer of respectability provided by a boxing ring and gloves, there is still little to be pleased about. Footballers-turned-boxers Paul Gallen and Sonny Bill Williams will lace up the gloves and meet in a heavyweight bout in Sydney's Olympic Park on Wednesday. The two ex-NRL forwards will fight over eight two-minute rounds and - hopefully - put an end to one of the least dignified feuds in Australian sport. Aside from settling their post-football career rivalry, it's hard to know what is at stake in this bout. Perhaps pride? Most certainly ego. Financial incentives? That goes without saying. Perhaps it doesn't need to be anything more than that. As boxing continues to evolve and find its way in an era where the long-term impacts of repeated head knocks are becoming all the more apparent and audience tastes are changing from the sport's mid-century heyday, non-title fights are becoming more and more prevalent. Whether it's Jake Paul selling out massive arenas stateside, or Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr meeting at a catchweight despite their vast size differential to satisfy Britain's lust for another instalment of the legendary battles between their respective fathers, boxing is changing. And to those publicising the fights, that doesn't matter. If you've watched any sporting event covered by Channel Nine over the last couple of weeks, you'd know this fight is taking place. Particularly jarring was the interview that took place in the aftermath of Queensland's State of Origin Game III victory over New South Wales a week ago , when viewers were subject to the insalubrious exhibition of a pitch-side Gallen and Williams via video link bellowing insults over each other. Of course, Nine has to promote its own content and doing so to its target audience of football fans is entirely sensible. It's not the act of promotion that's the issue here. It's what's being sold. The juxtaposition between analysis of a genuine sporting triumph and promoting this contest between two aged warriors felt very off. But this fight is grabbing attention across the networks - Fox Sport mentions it when publicising Sunday's rematch between Sebastian Fundora and Tim Tszyu. "Forget the sideshow," Matt Nable, another footy player who has embraced a new performative career now his playing days are done, drawls. "This ain't two old footy players cashing cheques long after their careers ended," he continues - a puzzling and somewhat hypocritical dig given the success the network enjoyed when Gallen was beating up his fellow NRL retirees on its own pay-per-view channel over the years. This is not to criticise the two men for their willingness to get into the ring. Anyone with the courage to step inside the squared circle, arguably the least forgiving arena in all of sport, deserves admiration and respect - to a point. Neither Gallen nor Williams come into this as desperate wannabes, misguidedly believing themselves capable of dancing on the canvas having shadow-boxed in front of the bathroom mirror and watched the Rocky movies a couple of times. Gallen has fought 18 times in his ring career for a record of 15-2-1 (8KOs). Admittedly, there has been a heady whiff of farce about some of those opponents, but Gallen has never once taken anyone lightly, bringing the same determination and professionalism to the ring that characterised his professional football career. Paul Gallen in his rugby league days. Photo: PHOTOSPORT And in amongst the Darcy Lussicks, Ben Hannants and Justin Hodges - who he inexplicably fought twice - on his resume, he has also stood up against some of Australia's best. Justis Huni and Kris Terzievski both may have beaten Gallen in their Australian heavyweight title bouts, but Gallen did better than most have against genuine prospects. And even while Gallen was fighting other ex-footballers, he used the interest generated by him fighting to help promote other Australian fighters and give them sizeable paydays. Boxers like Tim and Nikita Tszyu, Harry Garside and Huni all benefited from Gallen's profile with inflated purses and prize money on pay-per-views across the country. This fight card sees recognised fighters David Nyika and Terzievski fight, as well as young prospects Alex Leapai Jnr and Rahim Mundine, who will all doubtless benefit from the exposure a Gallen fight will bring. For that alone, Gallen deserves an awful lot of credit - although his ring career has earned him AU$25 million to date, according to the man himself, so he has been well rewarded. Sonny Bill Williams. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi Williams too has pedigree of sorts in the ring. His grandfather, Bill Woolsey, was a New Zealand heavyweight champion and Williams emulated him by claiming that same title in a knockout victory over Clarence Tillman in 2012. That was Williams's fifth pro fight and he followed that up with wins against veterans Frans Botha and Chauncy Welliver before stepping away from the ring between 2015 and 2021. When Williams returned to boxing, he fought Waikato Falefehi and Barry Hall for wins, before a knockout defeat against Mark Hunt, his first in the ring, to leave the New Zealand dual-code international with a pro record of 9-1 (4KOs). So, if these are two professional boxers getting in the ring, having talked about the fight taking place desperately for years, what's the problem? Their age doesn't help. Paul Gallen will be 44 years old in under a month. Sonny Bill Williams is 40. Both men have been out of the ring for two-and-a-half-years. Is that even an obstacle? Co-headliner in Tszyu's fight on the weekend, Manny Pacquiao, is 46, hasn't fought anyone since 2021 and hasn't won a fight since 2019 - he is meeting Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title on Sunday in Las Vegas. If that makes you feel uneasy, it probably should. Studies show that the impacts of concussions linger for longer and are more severe as people age. Other impacts of aging - reduced reaction time, increasing fatigue and muscle weakness - all combine to make the ring even more dangerous as you get older than it is for younger fighters. Mike Tyson's hideous parody of a return to the ring aged 58 against Jake Paul should be a lesson to us all of the dangers of going on too long. OK, so if the age thing isn't an issue, is it because these two are not "the best" boxers in the traditional sense - Williams admitted as much at the press conference on Monday - but celebrities risking their health for a suggested AU$1 million payday? That might be it, just as people have issues with YouTuber Paul and his improbable quest for a world title shot . Boxing fans can hardly clutch at their pearls if that is the issue. Both Gallen and Paul, love or loathe them, have contributed and continue to contribute to the development of the sport by adding casual eyeballs to their events - Paul promotes Amanda Serrano through his promotion company and allows the seven-weight world champion from Puerto Rico to actually earn something approaching a decent wage from the sport. Perhaps it is the nauseating back and forth that has been seemingly going on for years - all around them maybe or maybe not meeting in a ring. Maybe, with no clear villain or outright good guy to root for or against, fans are simply conflicted. Let's not forget that, despite being rival players on the pitch several times over the years in the NRL and in international rugby league, there was never any genuine beef between them as players. Perhaps if there had been, we'd have been spared this unedifying spectacle. Sonny Bill Williams and Clarence Tillman III in action during their fight for the New Zealand Heavyweight Belt title in Hamilton, 2012. Photo: Dion Mellow So, why are they fighting in the first place? Tickets at the Arena in Homebush range from AU$1495 to AU$49. The pay-per-view on Stan Sport is AU$70. As of Tuesday, the tickets are not sold out but they have been selling. For contrast, the Tszyu vs Fundora world title rematch on Sunday (AEDT) will set fight fans back AU$69.95 on Main Event - a fight that, from a sporting context, means something. By that, fight fans will tell you it means a world title, a career-defining moment for Tszyu and Fundora both. A chance for them to add their names to the list of legends in their sport. What, then, does the Gallen-Williams fight mean? Perhaps a bigger question is, does it need to mean anything? "I've never been concerned about legacy," Gallen said. "I'm trained to fight. I've been here for one reason. To have a go." The proof will be in how many people tune in to watch it. But whether people do or don't, perhaps the only error is trying to read anything more into this bout than it being a chance for two middle-aged men to publicly air their grievances and make a sack full of cash at the same time. -ABC
ABC News
15-07-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Paul Gallen and Sonny Bill Williams meet in the boxing ring, but does it matter if it doesn't mean anything?
Instances of two former footy players in their 40s punching on is rarely cause for celebration. Even if the fight in question is covered by the thin veneer of respectability provided by a boxing ring and gloves, there is still little to be pleased about. Footballers-turned-boxers Paul Gallen and Sonny Bill Williams will lace up the gloves and meet in a heavyweight bout in Sydney's Olympic Park on Wednesday. The two ex-NRL forwards will fight over eight, 2-minute rounds and — hopefully — put an end to one of the least dignified feuds in Australian sport. Aside from settling their post-football career rivalry, it's hard to know what is at stake in this bout. Perhaps pride? Most certainly ego. Financial incentives? That goes without saying. Perhaps it doesn't need to be anything more than that. As boxing continues to evolve and find its way in an era where the long-term impacts of repeated head knocks are becoming all the more apparent and audience tastes are changing from the sport's mid-century heyday, non-title fights are becoming more and more prevalent. Whether it's Jake Paul selling out massive arenas stateside, or Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr meeting at a catchweight despite their vast size differential to satisfy Britain's lust for another instalment of the legendary battles between their respective fathers, boxing is changing. And to those publicising the fights, that doesn't matter. If you've watched any sporting event covered by Channel Nine over the last couple of weeks, you'd know this fight is taking place. Particularly jarring was the interview that took place in the aftermath of Queensland's State of Origin Game III victory over New South Wales a week ago, when viewers were subject to the insalubrious exhibition of a pitch-side Gallen and Williams via video link bellowing insults over each other. Of course, Nine has to promote its own content and doing so to its target audience of football fans is entirely sensible. It's not the act of promotion that's the issue here. It's what's being sold. The juxtaposition between analysis of a genuine sporting triumph and promoting this contest between two aged warriors felt very off. But this fight is grabbing attention across the networks — Fox Sport mentions it when publicising Sunday's rematch between Sebastian Fundora and Tim Tszyu. "Forget the sideshow," Matt Nable, another footy player who has embraced a new performative career now his playing days are done, drawls. "This ain't two old footy players cashing cheques long after their careers ended," he continues — a puzzling and somewhat hypocritical dig given the success the network enjoyed when Gallen was beating up his fellow NRL retirees on its own pay-per-view channel over the years. This is not to criticise the two men for their willingness to get into the ring. Anyone with the courage to step inside the squared circle, arguably the least forgiving arena in all ot sport, deserves admiration and respect — to a point. Neither Gallen nor Williams comes into this as desperate wannabes, misguidedly believing themselves capable of dancing on the canvas having shadow-boxed in front of the bathroom mirror and watched the Rocky movies a couple of times. Gallen has fought 18 times in his ring career for a record of 15-2-1 (8KOs). Admittedly, there has been a heady whiff of farce about some of those opponents, but Gallen has never once taken anyone lightly, bringing the same determination and professionalism to the ring that characterised his professional football career. And in amongst the Darcy Lussick's, Ben Hannant's and Justin Hodges's — who he inexplicably fought twice — on his resume, he has also stood up against some of Australia's best. Justis Huni and Kris Terzievski both may have beaten Gallen in their Australian heavyweight title bouts, but Gallen did better than most have against genuine prospects. And even while Gallen was fighting other ex-footballers, he used the interest generated by him fighting to help promote other Australian fighters and give them sizeable paydays. Boxers like Tim and Nikita Tszyu, Harry Garside and Huni all benefited from Gallen's profile with inflated purses and prize money on pay-per-views across the country. This fight card sees recognised fighters David Nyika and Terzievski fight, as well as young prospects Alex Leapai Jnr and Rahim Mundine, who will all doubtless benefit from the exposure a Gallen fight will bring. For that alone, Gallen deserves an awful lot of credit — although his ring career has earned him $25 million to date, according to the man himself, so he has been well rewarded. Williams too has pedigree of sorts in the ring. His grandfather, Bill Woolsey, was a New Zealand heavyweight champion and Williams emulated him by claiming that same title in a knockout victory over Clarence Tillman in 2012. That was Williams's fifth pro fight and he followed that up with wins against veterans Frans Botha and Chauncy Welliver before stepping away from the ring between 2015 and 2021. When Williams returned to boxing, he fought Waikato Falefehi and Barry Hall for wins, before a knockout defeat against Mark Hunt, his first in the ring, to leave the New Zealand dual-code international with a pro record of 9-1 (4KOs). So, if these are two professional boxers getting in the ring, having talked about the fight taking place desperately for years, what's the problem? Their age doesn't help. Paul Gallen will be 44 years old in under a month. Sonny Bill Williams is 40. Both men have been out of the ring for two-and-a-half years. Is that even an obstacle? Co-headliner in Tszyu's fight on the weekend, Manny Pacquiao, is 46, hasn't fought anyone since 2021 and hasn't won a fight since 2019 — he is meeting Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title on Sunday in Las Vegas. If that makes you feel uneasy, it probably should. Studies show that the impacts of concussions linger for longer and are more severe as people age. Other impacts of aging — reduced reaction time, increasing fatigue and muscle weakness — all combine to make the ring even more dangerous as you get older than it is for younger fighters. Mike Tyson's hideous parody of a return to the ring aged 58 against Jake Paul should be a lesson to us all of the dangers of going on too long. OK, so if the age thing isn't an issue, is it because these two are not "the best" boxers in the traditional sense — Williams admitted as much at the press conference on Monday — but celebrities risking their health for a suggested $1 million payday? That might be it, just as people have issues with YouTuber Paul and his improbable quest for a world title shot. Boxing fans can hardly clutch at their pearls if that is the issue. Both Gallen and Paul, love or loathe them, have contributed and continue to contribute to the development of the sport by adding casual eyeballs to their events — Paul promotes Amanda Serrano through his promotion company and allows the seven-weight world champion from Puerto Rico to actually earn something approaching a decent wage from the sport. Perhaps it is the nauseating back and forth that has been seemingly going on for years — all around them maybe or maybe not meeting in a ring. Maybe, with no clear villain or outright good guy to root for or against, fans are simply conflicted. Let's not forget that, despite being rival players on the pitch several times over the years in the NRL and in international rugby league, there was never any genuine beef between them as players. Perhaps if there had been, we'd have been spared this unedifying spectacle. So, why are they fighting in the first place? Tickets at the Arena in Homebush range from $1,495 to $49. The pay-per-view on Stan Sport is $70. As of Tuesday, the tickets are not sold out but they have been selling. For contrast, the Tszyu vs Fundora world title rematch on Sunday (AEDT) will set fight fans back $69.95 on Main Event — a fight that, from a sporting context, means something. By that, fight fans will tell you it means a world title, a career-defining moment for Tszyu and Fundora both. A chance for them to add their names to the list of legends in their sport. What, then, does the Gallen-Williams fight mean? Perhaps a bigger question is, does it need to mean anything? "I've never been concerned about legacy," Gallen said. "I'm trained to fight. I've been here for one reason. To have a go." The proof will be in how many people tune in to watch it. But whether people do or don't, perhaps the only error is trying to read anything more into this bout than it being a chance for two middle-aged men to publicly air their grievances and make a sack full of cash at the same time.
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Travel + Leisure
06-07-2025
- Travel + Leisure
Canada's Most Stunning Summer Road Trip Has a Secret Island, Walkable Glaciers, and Dizzying Adventure
Top 5 Can't Miss The drive from Calgary to Jasper passes stunning landscapes, with winter road closures making it a rare and exclusive experience during the summer months. In Calgary, visitors can explore Canada Olympic Park, where the 1988 Winter Olympics were held, and take park in outdoor activities like mountain biking. Banff offers incredible wildlife sightings and breathtaking mountain and lake views. E-biking is ideal for exploring the area's natural beauty; the Banff Gondola also provides sweeping vistas. The road from Banff to Jasper is especially beautiful, especially at Bow Lake and Waterfowl Lakes. In Jasper, the Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Glacier are must-see attractions. For even more gorgeous views, visit the Columbia Icefield Skywalk. The road that runs from Calgary in Alberta, Canada, to Jasper a few hours to the north, is breathtaking. Some stretches are open only during the summer months, and driving the winding roads, you can't help but feel like you've been granted a coveted invitation to one of the most beautiful attractions in the world. I knew this road trip would lead me to outdoor adventure, incredible wildlife, and postcard-perfect views, but I didn't know I'd be so kindly received at a time when Canada-U.S. relations are strained. Canadians live up their gracious, welcoming reputation, and their desire to make your visit special turns this road trip into a lifelong memory. Start your trip in Calgary. Flying into Calgary International Airport is a cinch. Calgary is flat—nothing like the photos you see of Banff. But that's what makes this trip so special—the ever-changing landscape that keeps you guessing at every turn. Calgary was host to the 1988 Winter Olympics, and as you make your way out of town, you'll see Canada Olympic Park, where the Jamaican bobsled team rose to fame. During the summer, you can explore the venue, go mountain biking, or play a round of miniature golf in the same spaces where the world's best athletes competed. Drive to Banff National Park. Lake Minnewanka in Banff National Park. Rebecca Deurlein/Travel + Leisure Give everyone a chance to ogle the views by taking turns driving, and don't miss any opportunity to pull over for the stunning vistas of Banff National Park. The drive is all about the unexpected, from a moose munching on leaves at the side of the road to elk meandering along the tree line to bald eagles soaring overhead. The town of Banff is adorable, an old-school ski village that's less Aspen, more Breckenridge. Mount Royal Hotel, smack dab in the center of town, is a perfect example—its simple and unpretentious rooms are steps away from restaurants, bars, and hiking and biking trails. E-biking is a must here—not just for conquering the inclines, but also for capturing the essence of slow travel. Forget about paying for parking—or finding a parking spot, for that matter—and just hop on a bike. It's a great way to get a lay of the land, and bonus, you can stop as many times as you like to snap photos. Biking to Lake Minnewanka, you'll pass beautiful blue lakes and pedal on paths that weave through dense pine forests, culminating in one of the most impressive panoramas in Banff. Take the Banff Gondola to Sky Bistro on the summit of Sulphur Mountain. Rebecca Deurlein/Travel + Leisure Back in town, quench your thirst at the upstairs atrium of 3 Bears Brewery and Restaurant, then take the Banff Gondola 7,000 feet up Sulphur Mountain, with views of six mountain ranges and the Bow Valley far below. Treat yourself to dinner at Sky Bistro. You'll feel as if you're in the Swiss Alps as you dine on fresh catch among snow-capped mountains. Drive north on Icefields Parkway to Jasper. The Columbia Icefield Skywalk in Alberta, Canada. Rebecca Deurlein/Travel + Leisure This stretch of the road is frequently closed due to weather, so visiting during the summer provides a treat. And believe it or not, the views only become more striking, more majestic, as you drive north from Banff. You'll gasp as you pull up to Bow Lake, and you won't stop taking photos of Waterfowl Lakes, two bodies of emerald-hued water reflecting stark, snowy mountains against an azure sky. If you want a day or two of hiking, pitch a tent at Waterfowl Lakes Campground. Fill up your car when you can because you've entered Jasper National Park, a somewhat remote area that surprises with unique opportunities to take in the beauty. Many who make their way this far north are in search of the road's claim to fame—the 300-foot-deep ice field that's predicted to melt away within the next 40 to 60 years. The Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Glacier are best visited on board an all-terrain Ice Explorer with naturalists who can tell you all about the ice field while you walk across it, marveling at its size and the rivulets of glacier water running through it. If you're not afraid of heights, you can enjoy an entirely different view of the area from the Columbia Icefield Skywalk, where you'll step out onto a glass platform suspended 918 feet above the Sunwapta Valley. For Canadian Rocky Mountain views, check into the Glacier View Lodge, just across from the ice field. Your trip to Jasper won't be complete without honoring the First Nations people who are a significant part of Canada's heritage. A Maligne Lake cruise is the one and only way to see Spirit Island, an Indigenous-only, centuries-old peninsula that stretches off the shore into brilliantly blue water. You won't be able to step onto this land, but you can snap photos from the shoreline where the Stoney Nakoda fished and made their life. Your guide will narrate the ride and give you time to walk along the water, sharing a Nakoda quote that will stick with you long after your trip: 'Wherever the light is hitting you, that is home.'
