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Fifa’s online site to offer WC coverage in nine languages
MUMBAI: With the football World Cup kicking off tonight in Germany, football’s govening body Fifa has announced that its site FIFAworldcup.com is available in nine languages
All 32 teams and 736 players in football’s showpiece event are highlighted in depth with the very latest news and profiles. The site is also offering an unprecedented experience with many new and interactive features.
Free video highlights: Two minutes of the finest action from each of the 64 matches will be available within minutes after the final whistle. No registration or payment is required, simply click, watch and enjoy!
The Emirates Matchcast includes play-by-play commentaries, the official Fifa Data Feed, users Fanchat, photographs of the action published in real time, trivia, polls and much more.
There will be editorial coverage in nine languages. 50 journalists from 20 countries will be reporting around the clock. There will be previews and reports for each game as well as technical analysis, exclusive interviews, features and stats.
VIPs Love Football: This is a new section where pop stars, actors, politicians and sporting greats reveal their passion for the game exclusively on FIFAworldcup.com. Amongst those included are Mikhail Gorbachev, Joss Stone, Placido Domingo, Ilie Nastase, Ato Boldon, Alpha Blondy and Mark Webber.
Official Fantasy Football: Here visitors can choose a squad of 23 players before 9 June and compete against football fans around the globe. More than 250,000 visitors to the site have already registered their team in the hope of being crowned the world’s greatest virtual manager.
Multi-player Trivia: Know your Fifa World Cup history? Try to answer the 2,000 questions which FIFAworldcup.com has compiled. See how you fare against fellow fans from across the globe!
Destination Germany: Here one can learn about the 12 host cities and organise their stay in Germany thanks to the entertaining and informative interactive content. It includes city guides, practical tips and a crash course in German to make one’s stay more enjoyable.
Make your voice heard: This is an interactive section. The site gives users the opportunity to express themselves by voting for the Gillette Best Young Player, commenting on the matches in the Emirates MatchCast, uploading their own pictures and blogging in the 12th Man section.
Predictor: Everyone has an opinion on who will lift the trophy on 9 July. Will Brazil successfully defend their title? Will England end a 40 year long drought? Will Germany triumph at home? Visitors can guess the scores and share your results with friends on FIFAworldcup.com’s Predictor.
Mobile: Thanks to the mobile site, you can take FIFAworldcup.com with you wherever you go. In addition to news, player profiles, statistics and downloads, you can also get free SMS alerts to help you follow your favourite team. Better still, the Fifa MatchCast application allows fans to receive all match information live and direct from the stadiums.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
