Category: Sport

Ronaldo double prevents huge shock in Istanbul

Gollerin Animasyon Videosu

Champions League quarter-final second leg, Turk Telekom Arena – Galatasaray 3 (Eboue 57, Sneijder 70, Drogba 72) Real Madrid 2 (Ronaldo 8, 90+3); Real Madrid go through 5-3 on aggregate

Real Madrid resisted a stunning second-half onslaught from Galatasaray to lose 3-2 on the night in Turkey but progress to the semi-finals of the Champions League courtesy of a 5-3 aggregate win.

Madrid looked to be cruising to the 24th European Cup semi-final in the club’s glorious history when Cristiano Ronaldo’s accomplished close-range finish after eight minutes left Galatasaray needing five goals in front of their home fans in Istanbul.

But for 15 crazy minutes in the second half it appeared as though one of European football’s most unlikely comebacks could be on as Fatih Terim’s side left the men from Madrid rocking, Emmanuel Eboue sparking the hosts into life with a scorching effort on 57 minutes.

When Wesley Sneijder nutmegged Raphael Varane and slotted the ball home on 70 minutes andDidier Drogba converted with a beautiful backheeled flick just two minutes later, Madrid appeared to be in danger of succumbing to the impossible.

But after losing Alvaro Arbeloa to a late red card, Ronaldo slotted home a second in injury time to finally end Galatasaray’s resistance.

Jose Mourinho was aiming to protect a proud record of having never lost a Champions League quarter-final in six previous attempts and while he was deprived of Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos by suspensions, Galatasaray’s loss of eight-goal striker Burak Yilmaz was more significant in the context of the tie, even if Drogba and Sneijder both started.

Madrid were packed with forward talent and after only three minutes demonstrated why they are Europe’s most potent counter-attacking force by moving the ball the length of the pitch in seconds thanks to some quick passing from Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria. Gonzalo Higuain was prevented from getting a shot away when Fernando Muslera ran off his line and Di Maria put the loose ball wide of the post via a deflection.

Galatasaray had to contain the Spanish champions to have any real chance of progressing but with Madrid only failing to score in one of their past 34 games in Europe, that looked a distinctly unlikely prospect. As it transpired, Ronaldo needed only eight minutes to claim his 10th Champions League goal of the season.

The Portuguese forward muscled aside Eboue to get on the end of a neat cut-back from Sami Khedira and caress the ball home on the volley from close range to give Madrid a 4-0 advantage on aggregate, and leave Galatasaray needing five.

Gala remained game though, with former Madrid playmaker Sneijder lively enough as he operated in the pocket behind Drogba and Umut Bulut. The Dutchman – also a former favourite of Mourinho at Inter – tried to prise open the visiting defence with some diagonal passing and also went close with a chance of his own that bounced into the arms of Diego Lopez.

But Madrid’s superior use of the ball ensured they had the better of the first half, with only a fine reaction stop from Muslera preventing Di Maria from firing home a second after a gorgeous backheel from Ronaldo.

But after the Portuguese forward had wasted a fine chance in the early stages of the second half when getting his legs in a tangle and shooting against his standing leg, Gala pulled a ball back through a most unlikely source to set off a most unlikely resurgence. The ball, arriving low from Sneijder from the left, ran free on the edge of the box and Eboue executed a sensational drive with the outside of his boot from 20 yards that arrowed right into the top corner.

Suddenly the Turkish side were full of confidence and they should have claimed a second goal just four minutes later. Madrid’s defence looked horribly static when a loose pass found Sneijder completely unmarked in the box but the Dutchman was guilty of a horrid effort, side-footing the ball well wide with Lopez at his mercy.

Madrid were crumbling in front of Mourinho’s eyes and two goals in the space of two minutes allowed the home fans to dream of a truly unbelievable comeback.

On 70 minutes, Sneijder claimed his first Champions League goal of the season when nutmegging Varane with a glorious first touch and then running around the defender to slot the ball past Lopez and into the bottom corner with his second.

Drogba, though, surpassed even that effort two minutes later. Galatasaray’s second marquee signing of the season executed a quite stunning backheel as he span to meet a from a cross from the right and directed the ball inside the far corner.

Madrid tried to muster a response as Ronaldo fired just over following a lofted pass from Modric but far more effective was Mourinho’s decision to bring on Raul Albiol for Mesut Ozil in an effort to deny Gala space in the final third.

Though Arbeloa saw red for a second yellow card in the closing minutes, Madrid secured their place in the last four once again with a second of the night from Ronaldo, who latched onto a low cross from substitute Karim Benzema to slot a first-time effort past Muslera.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Didier Drogba (Galatasaray) – Ronaldo scored twice but Drogba helped spearhead Galatasaray’s spirited second-half performance with some typically industrious forward play and capped it off with a brilliant goal.

PLAYER RATINGS

GALATASARAY: Muslera 7, Eboue 7, Zan 7, Kaya 6, Riera 6, Melo 7, Altintop 6, Inan 8, Sneijder 8, Bulut 7, Drogba 8. Subs: Amrabat 7, Sarioglu 8, Elmander 7.

REAL MADRID: Lopez 5, Essien 5, Varane 6, Pepe 6, Coentrao 5, Khedira 6, Modric 6, Di Maria 7, Ozil 7, Ronaldo 8, Higuain 5. Subs: Arbeloa 5, Benzema 6, Albiol 6.

April 10, 2013
Istanbul to name third bridge “Olympiat” should 2020 bid be successful

By James Crook

April 8 – Istanbul will name its planned third Bosphorus bridge “Olympiat” should the Turkish city be announced as the host city for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Construction on the 1,875-metre bridge is due to begin on May 29 – the 550th anniversary of the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in 1995 – during his four-year term as Mayor of Istanbu l- that the construction of a third bridge “would mean the murder of the city”, but performed a dramatic U-turn, claiming that the 4.5bn Turkish lira (£1.6 billion/€1.9 billion/$2.5 billion) project would go ahead, regardless of whether investment was acquired.

“There is demand for a third bridge, and nobody will be left on the road.” claimed Erdogan in 2012.

“In the worst case, we will build the bridge using the national budget.

“We can afford it.”

The planned third bridge crossing the Bosphorus will be dubbed “Olympiad” should Istanbul’s bid to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics be successful

Designed by Frenchman Michel Virlogeux, the bridge will become the world’s longest combined rail and road bridge, as well as being among the top 10 longest suspension bridges in the world.

It will connect the village of Garipçe in the Sarıyer district on the European side with the Poyrazköy neighborhood in Beykoz on the Asian side, and be a part of the projected 260 kilometre (160 mile) long “Northern Marmara Motorway” project.

The fate of Istanbul’s bid to host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games – which appropriately operates under the slogan “Bridge Together”- will be revealed in Buenos Aires on September 7 this year, where they will face rivals Madrid and Tokyo.

The bridge is due to be completed in 2015.

via Istanbul to name third bridge “Olympiat” should 2020 bid be successful – insidethegames.biz – Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games News.

April 9, 2013
Hockey Night in Turkey? Canadians promoting sport in unusual places

Benjamin Shingler, The Canadian Press

Published Saturday, March 30, 2013 10:02AM EDT

Last Updated Saturday, March 30, 2013 5:52PM EDT

MONTREAL — Slapping a Canadian Maple Leaf on your backpack when travelling abroad may have its perks, but Craig Klinkhoff has found an even better way to make friends in foreign lands.

He’s one of the young Montrealers behind Hockey Without Borders, a Canadian non-profit organization that aims to support fledgling ice-hockey programs in the unlikeliest of places.

“No matter where I went with my hockey equipment, when I’m meeting people from a local hockey community, they embrace you immediately,” Klinkhoff, 23, said in an interview.

Craig Klinkhoff, left, and Matthew Robins, ambassadors for hockey without borders, fool around at a hockey rink in Montreal, Tuesday, March 12, 2013. (Graham Hughes / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/hockey-night-in-turkey-canadians-promoting-sport-in-unusual-places-1.1217219#ixzz2P9NtvqWQ

Hockey Without Borders, a Canadian non-profit organization, aims to support fledgling ice-hockey programs and now has programs in Serbia, Turkey, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“You meet people that are so different from you culturally, even in some cases they don’t speak any English, but they treat you like you’re best friends.”

Founded in 2011, the organization now has programs in Serbia, Turkey, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

While those are hardly hockey hot spots, Klinkhoff says the sport has a small but devoted following in each country. The idea is to send over young Canadian coaches to help the locals improve their existing program.

It’s not, Klinkhoff emphasized, to push hockey on communities with no interest in the game.

“We don’t go somewhere and say, ‘You’re going to play hockey now,”‘ he said. “We go because a local organization or club has asked us to help a hockey program.”

The project was started on an informal basis a few years earlier by another young Canadian, Fred Perowne.

The native of Sherbrooke, Que., and former U.S. college player developed strong ties while playing in Serbia’s professional league in the early 2000s.

Perowne ended up playing for the country in international competition and worked as an assistant coach for its junior teams, bringing over several other Canadians to help out.

The idea for Hockey Without Borders grew from there.

The organization now has three coaches in Serbia, working with roughly 100 young players, another two in Sarajevo working with 60, while 20 youngsters took part in a recent program in Turkey.

Organizers for Hockey Without Borders say the program isn’t just about sport — and that it offers valuable life lessons for everyone involved.

“We’re elevating people’s games abroad, but we’re also helping to grow individuals,” said Matthew Robbins, 24, a longtime friend of Klinkhoff.

“We see hockey as this incredible tool to teach other things in life, like leadership.”

As an example, Robbins pointed to the experience of a young man in Turkey who credits hockey with changing his life.

It’s far from common to spot a hockey stick or skates in Ankara, a bustling city of 4.3 million people, but a small segment of the city’s youth has gotten the bug, Robbins said.

Can Acar, 23, said hockey helped turn his life around.

“I used to be so lazy that I didn’t even leave my house for one month or more,” Acar said in a video produced by Hockey Without Borders.

“After I started hockey… it makes my life better.”

The program in Ankara is run with the help of the local Police Academy hockey club, which has a team in the Turkish hockey league. It’s designed to expose the players to English and offer a glimpse into a world beyond their own.

“This is a social program that allows people to get out and learn life skills from playing,” Klinkhoff said.

“The hockey community is where they form their friendships.”

The calibre, meanwhile, ranges widely.

Most of the players in Turkey only have a few years’ experience on the ice. While many draw from the experience of playing roller-hockey, Klinkhoff said they would struggle against a decent rec-league team in Canada.

In Serbia, the skill level is rapidly improving and the country recently won the Division II under-18 World Championships, he said.

The facilities also vary.

In Sarajevo, the locker rooms are in the complex from the 1984 Olympics but the ice surface was moved to a dome in the adjacent parking lot. Players have to put skate guards on and walk about 100 metres to get on the ice.

Hockey Without Borders is hoping to set up more programs in future — but for now, it’s concentrating on keeping things running with those already underway.

At the moment, the funding comes almost entirely from the volunteer coaches themselves, who must pay for their own flight abroad.

The organization has agreements in place with host clubs to provide an apartment and food, along with coaching-related expenses. It is trying to line up private and corporate sponsors to subsidize the cost of air fares for the coaches.

“Hockey Without Borders is only about a year and a half old,” Klinkhoff said.

“We think it’ll be an attractive program to donate to if one believes in the many benefits of hockey.”

via Hockey Night in Turkey? Canadians promoting sport in unusual places | CTV News.

March 31, 2013
Istanbul 2020 bid leaves ‘excellent impression’

Istanbul 2020 bid leaves ‘excellent impression’

ISTANBUL: Istanbul’s presentation of its bid to host the 2020 Olympic Games left an “excellent impression” the head of the evaluation commission said on Wednesday. Turkey’s largest city, which is competing with Tokyo and Madrid for the 2020 Games, presented its candidacy to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) commission, headed by IOC vice president Craig Reedie, this week.

Turkish officials highlight the bid as offering the first opportunity for a secular Muslim democracy to host the Games, which would also be the first staged on two continents – Europe and Asia. “These (visits) have been extremely well organised and we have an excellent impression of the skills and enthusiasm of the bid committee,” Reedie told a news conference. Keen to avoid indicating a preference for any of the three candidate cities, he added: “Excellent impression in my world is exactly the same as ‘hugely impressed’ or ‘greatly impressed’,” referring to his comments about Tokyo and Madrid.

Istanbul’s projected infrastructure budget of $19.2 billion is vastly higher than the figures touted for Tokyo and Madrid, but the IOC’s Olympic Games executive director Gilbert Felli said most of this sum was not tied to the Games. “Even if the Games are not coming here, most of this budget will be spent,” Felli said. “The development of the new city of Istanbul, the new constructions, is part of what they are going to do anyway.”

Each city delivered their candidature files to the IOC in January and on-site inspections by an evaluation commission were held in Tokyo and Madrid earlier this month. Technical assessments will be published at the beginning of July. Reedie said the strong government and business community support for the Istanbul bid impressed the commission.

Young population: Sports minister Suat Kilic highlighted this as well as the country’s young population and dynamic economy as assets of the bid. Prime minister Tayyip Erdogan has transformed Turkey during his decade in power into the fastest-growing economy in Europe and raised the country’s profile as a regional power in the Middle East. The country has also enhanced its sporting profile over the last decade, with increased sporting success and growing experience in hosting international events.

However, Istanbul’s growing population, currently around 14 million, has raised questions about the city’s ability to handle the transport challenges presented by the Games. Istanbul, like Turkey as a whole, is a major tourist destination, used to handling large numbers of visitors. In 2012, the total number of foreign visitors to Turkey rose 1.04 percent to 31.8 million people, according to official statistics. Istanbul was the third most visited city in Europe after London and Paris, and the fifth most visited city in the world last year, bid organisers said. With over 9 million guests in 2012, the number of visitors increased by 16 percent from the previous year.

Kilic played down concerns that Istanbul’s bid could be undermined by the problems, which have faced organising committees for previous Olympics. In December, the IOC told organisers for the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics they needed to push on with their preparations because time was an issue. Istanbul is bidding for the fifth time in the last six votes. The decision on who will host the 2020 Games will be taken by the IOC in September. reuters

via Daily Times – Leading News Resource of Pakistan – Istanbul 2020 bid leaves ‘excellent impression’.

March 29, 2013
Istanbul 2020 bid slogan: ‘Bridge Together’

Istanbul 2020 bid slogan: ‘Bridge Together’

ISTANBUL — Istanbul chose a “Bridge Together” slogan for its 2020 Olympic bid on Monday, while an IOC poll indicated strong public support for the city’s fifth attempt to secure the games.

The survey results, announced by Turkish Youth and Sports Minister Suat Kilic, found that 83 percent of Istanbul residents and 76 percent of the national population back the Olympic effort.

The new bid slogan highlights the city’s unique geographic location straddling Europe and Asia. It’s inspired by Istanbul’s Bosporus Bridge, which connects the city’s European and Asian sides.

“Istanbul is a bridge between East and West, between Europe and Asia, and between civilizations, cultures and faiths,” Kilic said. “I hope that this slogan brings success not only to Turkey but to everyone who shares the Olympic values.”

The slogan and survey results were made public on the second day of the International Olympic Committee evaluation commission’s four-day assessment of Istanbul’s bid. The team has already visited bidders Tokyo and Madrid.

The IOC will select the 2020 host city at its general assembly in Buenos Aires on Sept. 7.

The bid committee has been touting Istanbul’s ability to stage the games on two continents to set it apart from Tokyo and Madrid. It is also pitching Turkey’s growing economy and promising new and modern venues. Istanbul would bring the games to a new region and a mainly-Muslim country for the first time.

“Istanbul 2020 is delighted that Istanbul’s fifth bid to host one games on two continents, for the first time ever in Turkey, has not only captured the world’s attention, but has drawn upon the passion of our sports-loving nation,” bid chairman Hasan Arat said.

Istanbul is bidding for the Olympics after unsuccessful attempts for the games of 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012.

Earlier, a leading Turkish businessman assured the IOC of the private sector’s support Istanbul’s bid.

Ali Koc, board member of Turkey’s Koc Holding, said the country’s business community is ready “to help one of the most important projects in Turkey’s history.”

In January, the Istanbul bid secured $20 million in sponsorship from seven leading Turkish companies, including Koc Holding.

via Istanbul 2020 bid slogan: ‘Bridge Together’.

March 27, 2013
Istanbul hopes to impress IOC panel with 2020 bid

By SUZAN FRASER, Associated Press

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — After four unsuccessful attempts, Istanbul is ready to pitch its bid for the 2020 Olympics by stressing Turkey’s robust economy, plans for modern venues and a two-continent backdrop.

The city of nearly 15 million, which straddles Europe and Asia, is touting its unique geographical location to set it apart from rival bidders Tokyo and Madrid.

The IOC’s evaluation commission arrives in Istanbul this weekend for a four-day tour to assess Istanbul’s plans, finances and existing venues.

The panel, headed by IOC Vice President Craig Reedie, has already visited Tokyo and Madrid. The full IOC will select the 2020 host city in Buenos Aires on Sept. 7.

Many of Istanbul’s venues will need to be constructed from scratch but Turkey sees this as an advantage, not a setback. Tokyo hosted the 1964 Olympics and Spain held the games in Barcelona in 1992.

“The Istanbul Olympics would be presenting a totally modern, brand new, and specially designed facilities that would 100 percent meet the requirements of each of the sports branches,” Turkey’s Youth and Sports Minister Suat Kilic told the Associated Press in an interview before the IOC visit.

Istanbul would bring the games to a new region that sits on two continents and to a predominantly Muslim nation for the first time.

“Istanbul is the only place which promises Olympic Games held on two continents, at the same time,” Kilic said. “The opening ceremony will be held in Asia with the Bosporus and the continent of Europe as the backdrop, while the water sports competitions will be held on the Golden Horn, with the Bosporus Bridge and Asia in the background.”

The Golden Horn is a waterway on the European side, separating the old and new parts of the city.

Addressing the city’s notorious congestion, Turkey is undertaking a series of massive projects, including the construction of a six-runway third airport for the city to be built by 2016, a third bridge crossing the Bosporus, an underwater rail link also uniting the European and Asian sides of the city as well as expanded metro and light rail lines.

Istanbul’s projected infrastructure budget for the Olympics is $19.2 billion — 10 times that of Madrid ($1.9 billion) and much higher than that of Tokyo ($4.9 billion).

Madrid, which is mired in recession, contends its spendthrift approach is better suited for the games, but Turkey is dismissing any notion of excess and insisting all projects are among Turkey’s development plans for the next five years and will proceed independently from the Olympic bid.

“We don’t have a penny to squander. Each penny that we are spending is intended to serve Istanbul’s needs for the years to come,” Kilic said.

“This is what the Olympic legacy is all about,” he added. “Perhaps this will be the first games in history where so much Olympic legacy will be left behind for the use of the people. All of the facilities, the infrastructure, the metro, the health facilities, the sports facilities — all of it, will serve future needs of the city of 15 million.”

Turkey boasts a young population, a stable democracy and strong economic growth.

“Everybody is aware of Turkey’s economic stability,” Kilic said. “We are the No.1 fastest growing economy in Europe. Among the (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries, we have the No. 2 fastest growing economy.”

Turkey had expressed an interest in hosting the 2020 European soccer championship, which would weaken its Olympic bid, but Kilic said Turkey was putting its full weight behind hosting the games.

“Our position is very clear,” Kilic said. “Between the two options Turkey has given its preference — and all its weight — to the Olympic Games. Our application to host the games has Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s signature. We have clearly made our choice in favor of the Olympics.”

Kilic said the fact that this is Istanbul’s fifth attempt at hosting the games was proof of its enthusiasm. Istanbul tried previously for the 2000, 2004, 2008 and 20012 Olympics.

“Persistently and with an undying buzz, we have displayed our willingness to host these games,” Kilic said. “No one can remain indifferent to this enthusiasm.”

via Istanbul hopes to impress IOC panel with 2020 bid – US News and World Report.

more : http://www.usnews.com/news/sports/articles/2013/03/22/istanbul-hopes-to-impress-ioc-panel-with-2020-bid

March 24, 2013