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Extra! Olympic Torch In Brazilian Hands

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Kathimerini, April 28, 2016

"Greece hands the Olympic torch to Rio," writes Athens-based daily Kathimerini on its front page Thursday, featuring a picture of Wednesday's handover ceremony in Athens.

To mark 100 days before the start of the 2016 Olympic Games due to take place in Rio de Janeiro from Aug. 5 to 21, thousands of spectators gathered in Athens' Panathenaic Stadium to witness the passing of the torch to the Brazilian delegation.

The torch is scheduled to arrive in Brazil on May 3 and be carried around the country before the opening ceremony.

Answering concerns about the state of preparedness of the Brazilian city, Rio mayor Eduardo Paes told the BBC that the Olympic park is almost ready, though some other projects are indeed behind schedule.

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Economy

Soft Power Or Sportwashing? What's Driving The Mega Saudi Image Makeover Play

Saudi Arabia suddenly now leads the world in golf, continues to attract top European soccer stars, and invests in culture and entertainment... Its "soft power" strategy is changing the kingdom's image through what critics bash as blatant "sportwashing."

Footballer Karim Benzema, in his Real Madrid kit

Karim Benzema during a football match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium on June 04, 2023, in Madrid, Spain.

Pierre Haski

-Analysis-

PARIS — A major announcement this week caused quite a stir in the world of professional golf. It wouldn't belong in the politics section were it not for the role played by Saudi Arabia. The three competing world circuits have announced their merger, putting an end to the "civil war" in the world of pro golf.

The Chairman of the new entity is Yassir Al-Rumayan, head of the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund. Add to this the fact that one of the major players in the world of golf is Donald Trump – three of the biggest tournaments are held on golf courses he owns – and it's easy to see what's at stake.

In the same week, we learned that two leading French footballers, Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kanté, were to join Saudi club Al-Ittihad, also owned by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund. The amount of the transfer is not known, but it is sure to be substantial. There, they will join other soccer stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo.

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