Seoul (VNA) – The world’s first robot ski tournament was held onthe sidelines of this year’s Winter Olympics, currently under way inPyeongChang, the Republic of Korea, Yonhap news agency reported.Earlier in the day, eight humanoid robots participated in the competition,which took place at Welli Hilli Park in Gangwon province, the news agencyquoted the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy as saying.According to the ministry the tournament, co-hosted by the Korea Institute forRobot Industry Advancement, aimed to promote the country’s advanced robotictechnology to the world. Eight teams participated in the event, including researchers from majoruniversities such as the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology(KAIST) and Seoul National University of Science and Technology.The robots were rated for their speed and maneuverability and, depending on thecompetition, their ability to come down the slopes without human intervention,the ministry said. Robots could only be manipulated by their operators at theoutset. The ministry, meanwhile, said the various help robots placed at venues,athletes’ villages and the press centre are playing a role in the successful hostingof the Winter Olympics, which will run through February 25.- VNA
Heads of Australia's local governments said Friday they would support a bid to host the 2018 World Cup. The possibility of bidding for the right to host the tournament was discussed at an annual meeting between the national government and the heads of the eight state and territory governments. "All governments agree enthusiastically that if the national body, the Football Federation of Australia, put in a bid for the 2018 World Cup then all governments would support that bid very enthusiastically," Prime Minister John Howard told reporters in Canberra. Australia reached the World Cup finals in Germany for the first…... [read more]
BURTON-ON-TRENT, United Kingdom:England captain Wayne Rooney announced on Tuesday (Aug 30) that the 2018 World Cup in Russia will be his final tournament as an international footballer. "Realistically, I know myself that Russia will be my last opportunity to do anything with England," Rooney told a press conference at St George's Park in Burton, central England. "My mind is made up. Russia will be my last tournament." New England manager Sam Allardyce announced on Monday that Rooney, 30, will be kept on as captain for the World Cup qualifying campaign, which begins in Slovakia on Sunday. The Manchester United striker…... [read more]
MADRID, July 20, 2010 (AFP) - Buoyed by their win in the World Cup this summer, Spain are set to push for co-hosting the 2018 tournament with neighbouring Portugal, Secretary of State for Sports Jaime Lissavetsky said Tuesday. "Spain's next challenge is to organise the 2018 World Cup," Lissavetsky said in an address to the Spanish Football Federation's (RFEF) general assembly meeting. Spain and Portugal hope to pool their resources - as Japan and South Korea did in 2002 - for 2018 after Brazil hosts the next edition in 2014. Belgium and the Netherlands are also preparing a joint 2018…... [read more]
LONDON, July 27 - Russia should forfeit the right to stage the 2018 World Cup finals following the destruction of the Malaysian Airlines jet in Ukraine, according to Britain's deputy prime minister Nick Clegg. The Liberal Democrat leader told the Sunday Times that Russia should not host the event after pro-Russian separatists were implicated by western nations in the shooting down of the jet over eastern Ukraine on July 17 with the loss of 298 lives. Earlier this week, some German politicians said the World Cup should be moved from Russia, while FIFA rejected those sentiments by saying hosting the…... [read more]
Vietnam will take on host Thailand on May 24 in a match to start competition in Group F of the 2018 World Cup Asian qualifiers. Tuoi Tre that his players will stage an attacking formation on the Thai national stadium Rajamangala in Bangkok tomorrow to beat Vietnam to pocket all three points. However, he admitted that it is a difficult job because Vietnam are a tough rival, especially when the team are led by Japanese coach Toshiya Miura. Vietnam are strong in building solid defence for sharp counterattacks that can assault even stronger rivals, Kiatisak added. To prepare for the…... [read more]