Follow the latest news on the 2024 Paris Olympics
Old wasn't quite gold for the Qatari high jump legend Mutaz Barshim but he ensured his Olympic career still ended in its rightful place – on the podium – with a bronze medal in Paris on Saturday night.
Barshim, 33, the elder statesman of the showpiece and an all-time great of track and field, began the final troubled by a calf injury sustained in qualifying yet was still able to conjure some magic as it looked for a time like he might defend the gold medal he won in Tokyo.
As it transpired, he was out-jumped by eventual winner Hamish Kerr of New Zealand and runner-up Shelby McEwen of the USA - both six years his junior - but the reverence he commands was underlined as his competitors stopped to applaud as he bowed out of the title hunt after failing to clear 2.38 metres at the Stade de France.
Barshim, who became the first high jumper to medal at four Olympics, had cruised through the opening jumps as the bar edged ever higher. His first failure came at 2.36m, quickly followed by a second.
With Kerr and McEwen both going clear, he passed at a third attempt, instead opting for one final crack at glory.
With the bar at 2.38m - one centimetre higher than his winning mark from Tokyo but well below his personal best of 2.43m - he roused the Paris crowd, but it wasn't to be as he clipped the bar before bouncing back up in typically positive manner.
A silver medallist in London and Rio, a champion in Tokyo, and now a bronze winner in Paris, Barshim is an Olympic great, a fact evidenced by the respect shown to him by his rivals. The Qatari, also a triple world champion, has already said he will not compete in Los Angeles in 2028, and a podium finish was a farewell befitting of an athlete whose legacy is already secured.
With the legend out of the running, Kerr clinched gold after a dramatic jump-off with McEwen.
Whereas Barshim and his friend and rival Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy agreed to share gold in Tokyo, Kerr and McEwen chose to battle it out for supremacy.
They had both managed bests of 2.36m in regular competition, but could not be separated on countback of missed jumps. With the pressure mounting the bar was lowered to 2.34m. When McEwen missed his attempt, world indoor champion Kerr had his chance and took it with aplomb.
"I was just in shock. Both me and Shelby were getting a little bit tired after all the jumps we took," said Kerr.
"I knew I had a good one in me, and I knew that if I could get it up sooner rather than later, then I could just finish the comp and start recovering."
On the decision to proceed with the jump-off rather than follow the precedent set by Barshim and Tamberi, Kerr added: "That has such a special place in history for high jumps. To have an exact same scenario this time around, but to choose to do the jump-off, was putting at peace some of those people who wanted to jump-off, so we're both really happy to add to that history."
The discussion Kerr and McEwen shared with officials was short and to the point: both athletes wanted to continue, there was to be no shared gold.
"High jump is always a rollercoaster, there's always guys who will miss and then clear, and then miss," Kerr said.
"The big thing that we've been working on personally, and me and my team, is it's not over until it's over.
"In the past, I probably got into the habit of watching those guys a little bit, whereas now I wouldn't even know what's going on, I just focus on myself."
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The five pillars of Islam
Points to remember
- Debate the issue, don't attack the person
- Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
- Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
- Listen actively without interrupting
- Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
The specs: 2018 Maxus T60
Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder
Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm
Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km
The biog
Favourite book: You Are the Placebo – Making your mind matter, by Dr Joe Dispenza
Hobby: Running and watching Welsh rugby
Travel destination: Cyprus in the summer
Life goals: To be an aspirational and passionate University educator, enjoy life, be healthy and be the best dad possible.
SERIES INFO
Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, Abu Dhabi Sunshine Series
All matches at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Test series
1st Test: Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 10 wickets
2nd Test: Wednesday, 10 March – Sunday, 14 March
Play starts at 9.30am
T20 series
1st T20I: Wednesday, 17 March
2nd T20I: Friday, 19 March
3rd T20I: Saturday, 20 March
TV
Supporters in the UAE can watch the matches on the Rabbithole channel on YouTube
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
Honeymoonish
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
Revival
Eminem
Interscope
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.
Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.
For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
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EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
