ncerns. Last month, Rome withdrew from the 2024 race because of opposition from the citys new mayor. That decision leaves Los Angeles, Paris and Budapest, Hungary, as candidate

As the sun sets on another dramatic La Liga campaign, Sky Sports Spanish expert Guillem Balague hands out his season awards. Paul George Shoes Buy . Barcelona claimed their 24th title with a 3-0 win at Granada on Saturday, pipping Real Madrid by one point, while Atletico Madrid and Villarreal made up the top four.But in Balagues eyes, who was the best player in the league, who is most-improved, and which team has flopped? Best player - Luis SuarezNot only for the 40 goals this season, but for the fact he turned up during Barcelonas worst time. There were doubts around the club in late March, early April; physically they were not at their sharpest, the football they created was not causing much danger, and they actually lost three out of four La Liga games. In the last five games he scored 14 goals, and has also provided four assists. Luis Suarez scored a hat-trick at Granada as Barcelona won the La Liga title for the second successive season While Barcelona have been struggling to create the football the club is used to, Suarez has helped them get the points needed.This is a season where weve seen a different Lionel Messi, one that has dropped deeper and obviously helped Luis Suarez. He definitely was another big reason, along with Suarez, as to why Barcas season got back on track.Most-improved player - Antoine GriezmannThis was a year that consolidated what he had been building up to. Last season he didnt have a guaranteed place in the line-up, but hes the first name on the team sheet now. Antoine Griezmann has been on fine form for Atletico Madrid this season He has done it in a way that keeps in line with Diego Simeones philosophy; he works hard without the ball, and with it he has been key in breaking up defences. He is on the verge of being in the top five players in the world.Hes negotiating a new contract with Atletico Madrid, and although he has left the door open to other offers, I think his intention is to stay.Most-improved team - Celta Vigo and EibarThere are two; Eibar, who finished 14th with the help of Borja Baston, the striker on loan from Atletico Madrid, who scored 18 goals. Suarez is Barcas MVP Luis Suarez was Barcelonas most valuable player in their title-winning campaign, says David Moyes. But I would also give it to Celta, who managed to jump up the table by nine points, still with wonderful football. Eduardo Berizzo has been able to keep the team competitive despite losing Michael Krohn-Dehli in the summer to Sevilla and Augusto Fernandez to Atletico Madrid in January, as well as the injury to Nolito.Best game - Real Madrid 0-4 Barcelona, November 21It has to be the Clasico at the Bernabeu. It was the return of Messi after two months injured, while Neymar and Suarez had been scoring the goals for Barcelona in that period. Suarez scored two, Andres Iniesta was probably the best player on the park, and Barca played so well that Real managed only one shot on goal in the first half, as well as keeping Cristiano Ronaldo quiet. Barcelona players celebrate after beating Real Madrid 4-0 in El Clasico I said after the game that these kinds of defeats have consequences, and as we saw, Rafa Benitez never recovered, and it was only a matter of time before Florentino Perez looked elsewhere.Best goal - Alvaro Cejudo, Real Betis 1-1 Real Madrid, January 24It has to be Cejudo. Its a nice build-up, and as the ball arrives to him, he manages to shoot in an awkward way and beat Keylor Navas, one of the best goalkeepers in the world with a wonderful strike. Our pick of the best goals of the season from La Liga. Which one gets your vote? Moment of the season - Deportivo 0-8 Barcelona, April 20Barcelona had just lost three of their last four games in the league, before going to Deportivo and winning 8-0. Luis Enrique has not rotated very well this season, the defeats came around the international break and he never trusted his bench.They would play the same 12, 13 players, but with Real Madrid and Atletico making life difficult for them, Luis Enrique trusted his favourite players and Barcelona came out and managed to get a superb result when they needed it. It was a message for La Liga. But I feel that next year, to avoid the same drop at the end of the season, Luis Enrique will have to return to more rotation and a few signings that will make the bench stronger.Flops of the season - Valencia and James RodriguezAs a team, Valencia. They have come from having 77 points, their joint-highest tally ever, to 44 points, the worst in 30 years. James Rodriguez has had to settle for the bench on occasions this term As a player, James Rodriguez. He has not accepted the fact he has to fight from the bench, his physical condition has not been perfect, and he is not strong enough mentally for Real Madrid. The club want to get rid of him now.Best XI of the season(4-3-3): Jan Oblak; Mario Gaspar, Diego Godin, Pepe, Marcelo; Andres Iniesta, Bruno Soriano, Antoine Griezmann; Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Cristiano Ronaldo Six Real Madrid and Barcelona players make Balagues team of the season Manager of the season - MarcelinoFor a man who started his career as manager at Villarreal with a 5-0 thumping away to Real Madrid reserves in a second division match in January 2013, his progress since then has been nothing short of remarkable.Just five months later, the Submarine were back in the top flight, and in their first season back they finished high enough to gain a place in the Europa League. Villarreal manager Marcelino has improved the side this season, qualifying for the Champions League Despite falling just short of a Europa League final place after a defeat by Liverpool this season, Marcelino can console himself with the thought that his side have done enough to secure fourth place and a spot in the Champions league play-off round. It is also worth noting that Villarreal have never finished lower than sixth in the table since gaining promotion under the guidance of the canny Asturian tactician.It was disappointing how they performed at Anfield, but Marcelino has maintained a good level of performance throughout the season, and has improved on last season. Also See: Suarez fires Barca to title Suarez is Barcas MVP Fifty up for Ronaldo Getafe and Rayo relegated Wholesale Air Max 720 . -- James Young couldnt wait to apply those tweaks to his jump shot, and the first one he made against UT Arlington told him it could be a good night. Cheapest Kobe Shoes . Siddikur, whose previous win on the circuit came in Brunei three years ago, finished his bogey-free round with a birdie on the 18th for a total of 17-under 199. Indias Shiv Chowrasia, who has finished runner-up in this tournament twice, was in second place after a 66. http://www.wholesalenikeshoesclearance.c...rmax-shoes.html . The giant slalom world champion slipped during her first run in the morning, landing on her back and then twisting forward before getting her leg caught in the protective material on the side of the slope. DOHA, Qatar -- IOC President Thomas Bach defended his handling of the Russian doping scandal, attacked critics of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics and claimed no cities would have bid for the 2024 Games without his Agenda 2020 reform program.In a speech to the general assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees on Tuesday, Bach appeared determined to counter the negative public perception surrounding the Olympic movement following a turbulent year of doping crises, the troubled buildup to Rio and continuing concerns over the costs of hosting the games.Bach cited media headlines in the months ahead of the Rio Games about security, water quality, the Zika virus and allegations of state-sponsored doping in Russia. Citing Donald Trumps victory in the U.S. presidential election last week, Bach said the Rio Games were a case study in the difference between published opinion and public opinion and between perception and reality.Bach said the Rio Games were a great success, citing record global television viewership and social media interest, though he made no mention of the empty seats and organizational glitches that also affected the event. Bach said the success of the games was a miracle in light of the severe recession and political turmoil that Brazil has been going through.He also went to great lengths to defend the International Olympic Committees decision not to impose a total ban on Russia from the games, saying he has received support from dozens of world leaders on the issue.The World Anti-Doping Agency had called for the complete ban following a report by investigator Richard McLaren that detailed systematic, state-assisted doping in Russia. The IOC instead allowed international sports federations to decide which Russian athletes could compete.Bach said he has met with many heads of state and government since the games and all backed the IOCs position.They appreciated and acknowledged we did not take a political decision but we took a decision that took in the interest of sport and respected justice for clean athletes and protecting the clean athletes worldwide, he said. To see this acknowledgement and this appreciation by so many political leaders was a confirmation of our decision and is a great encouragement for all of us.McLarens finall report is due out next month and will focus on allegations of Russian doping and manipulation of samples at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi. Air Max 97 Clearance Cheap. Two IOC commissions are also looking into the allegations, which could lead to calls for sanctions on Russia for the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.Bach said once the investigations and hearings are completed, the IOC will take the necessary measures and all the sanctions because if only part of this would be true, it would be an unprecedented attack on the integrity on the Olympic Games and on the Olympic competitions.On a separate issue, Bach said no cities would have come forward as candidates to host the 2024 Summer Games had the IOC not passed his Olympic Agenda 2020 project, which aims to reduce the cost of hosting the games and insists on maximum use of existing and temporary facilities.Several cities pulled out of bidding for the 2022 Winter Games over financial and political concerns. Last month, Rome withdrew from the 2024 race because of opposition from the citys new mayor. That decision leaves Los Angeles, Paris and Budapest, Hungary, as candidates.Without `Olympic Agenda 2020, we would have had zero candidates, Bach said. There would have been none. All of the candidates who you will see now and the others who were in the race or considering in the race, they can confirm this to you. They told us this.Bach also said that high-ranking Olympic official Patrick Hickey, who was arrested during the Rio Games on ticket scalping charges, deserves the presumption of innocence pending the resolution of his case. Hickey, who is not permitted to leave Brazil, has temporarily stepped down as a member of the IOC executive board and president of the European Olympic Committees.Bach said Hickeys arrest shows Olympic officials are not immune and must obey the laws and rules in other countries.What was in the past something that just concerned us in an organization is now concerning the rules and the laws of a country, Bach said. These laws of the country we have to respect, and each and every one of you has to take them into consideration when acting accordingly. ' ' '