Former England striker Trevor Francis dies at age of 69

Saudi Arabia to host 2034 mens World Cup

The Middle East nation were the sole bidders Saudi Arabia have been confirmed as hosts of the 2034 men’s World Cup. The Middle East nation were the sole bidders for the finals in 10 years’ time, with an online FIFA Congress voting by acclamation in favour of their staging despite the huge controversy surrounding the bid. The hosting rights for the centenary tournament in 2030 were rubberstamped at the same time, with Morocco, Portugal and Spain named as the principal co-hosts. The opening match of that competition will be played in Uruguay, which hosted the inaugural 1930 finals, with the next two games to be staged in Argentina and Paraguay respectively before the rest of the tournament is played in the three main co-host countries. The agreement for South America to stage the opening games in 2030 – reached in October last year – paved the way for Saudi Arabia to be sole hosts in 2034. Saudi Arabia confirmed their interest in hosting on the same day the 2030 agreement was made public, with FIFA limiting further expressions of interest to nations from the Asian and Oceania confederations and setting a deadline of less than a month to declare that interest. Australia, considered the only realistic challengers to Saudi Arabia, confirmed on October 31 last year that they would not be bidding. The Football Association supported the 2030 and 2034 bids, and is expected to issue a statement later explaining its decision. The Football Association of Wales is also understood to have given its support. The Norwegian football federation announced on Tuesday it would abstain from any vote by acclamation, and said the process FIFA had followed to determine the 2030 and 2034 hosts was “flawed”. Human rights campaigners Amnesty International said last week there had been a “deafening silence” from national governing bodies over Saudi’s hosting, compared to how many spoke out regarding Qatar’s staging of the 2022 finals. Amnesty has warned many migrant workers will die in getting Saudi Arabia ready to host without major reform to labour laws. Any efforts to stage the 2034 finals in winter – as surely must happen to avoid searing daytime temperatures in the Saudi summer – are set to be opposed by Europe’s domestic leagues, who are already involved in a legal action against FIFA. The European Leagues umbrella organisation – which includes the Premier League as a member – is holding a board meeting on Friday and, while this topic is not on the agenda, it may well be raised. Published: 11/12/2024 by Radio NewsHub

The talented Scunthorpe artist on a mission to promote mental wellbeing through his incredible artwork

A talented Scunthorpe artist who moved back to his hometown after experiencing mental health issues is on a mission to promote mental wellbeing through his incredible artwork. Yen Ip opened his art studio within Fountain Arts CIC on Jubilee Way in July this year, and hosts a series of fun children’s drawing workshops, as well as live caricature events at weddings, functions and community events. As well as volunteering in local community projects within Fountain Arts, Yen’s workshops have been well-received at local libraries, where he teaches young children the basics of drawing while encouraging conversations around mental health. Yen’s ultimate goal is to publish his children’s picture book series, starting with ‘Billie Stormer Wears Too Many Hats’, which introduces mental health themes to young audiences and encourages families to engage in open conversations about mental wellbeing. It was Yen’s own experiences with mental health issues that inspired him to promote mental wellbeing through doing what he loves. After studying Illustration at the University of Lincoln and working in the arts and production field for nearly 20 years, Yen faced severe mental health challenges and moved back to his hometown of Scunthorpe. Yen Ip runs his own art studio in Scunthorpe (Image: Yen Ip) He also volunteers as a trustee for Rubiks Inclusive Counselling Interventions CIC, the organisation that supported him during his recovery, and hopes to integrate art therapy into future community initiatives. Earlier this year, he won an award as part of Rubiks’ ‘Mental Health Shines’ scheme, which recognised his mental health recovery and his advocating for people to get involved in the arts. Yen said: “Rediscovering my passion for art was a transformative experience, and after doing so, I wanted to combine my love of art with my commitment to mental health, creating a business that advocates for both. “My journey has taught me resilience, and I hope to share that with others through my work.” To support his business, Yen applied for the UKSE Kickstart grant – a local investment company that provides finance of up to £1.5 million to growing companies and support for start-ups – which allowed him to pay for essential equipment and promotional materials. “The UKSE Kickstart Grant has been a tremendous help. It allowed me to get started with high-quality business materials, from PVC-free banners and business cards to professional software,” he said. Keep up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from Grimsby and Scunthorpe with our free newsletter Pete Newton, Regional Executive at UKSE, said: “Yen’s initiative is truly inspiring. Having experienced first-hand the benefits that community and collaboration through art can have on mental health, he is now helping others do the same. “His commitment to helping people and enriching the community through his creative talents aligns perfectly with the values we support at UKSE. “We’re proud to have helped him take these first steps and look forward to seeing the positive impact he’ll continue to make.” You can like Yen’s page on Facebook by clicking here. Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe

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Former England striker Trevor Francis dies at age of 69

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