Other Sports
No More Funds to Olympic Organisers, Says IOC
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has refused to commit further funds to covering debts racked up by organisers of the 2016 summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
The IOC said that it had “closed all its obligations with the organising committee” after the executive board held a meeting with Brazilian Olympic Committee president Carlos Nuzman, who had asked for assistance in satisfying creditors who are still owed about R130m (€35m/$40m) following the 2016 Games.
The executive board said that it had already contributed a “record” $1.53bn towards the Games and said that “more detailed information” was required. The IOC added that it “deferred any further consideration at this stage.”
The IOC added that there had been “an exceptional effort to significant cost savings and additional financial undertakings by all the Olympic stakeholders, which amounted to hundreds of millions of dollars.”
In other news, an independent drug-testing authority (ITA) will be installed by the IOC for the 2018 winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.
The IOC’s medical chief, Richard Budgett, told reporters yesterday (Sunday) following an executive board meeting in Lausanne: “We will assist it but (testing) in Pyeongchang will be under the authority of the ITA. It will be there in Pyeongchang, even if in a preliminary form. Responsibility will be passed to the ITA. The resources of the IOC will be there at their disposal.”
Separately, the IOC confirmed that it expects to complete retesting of more than 1,000 doping samples from the 2010 winter Olympics in Vancouver next month.
Additionally, the IOC executive board also confirmed that discussions are taking place regarding the possibility of establishing a refugee team for the Tokyo 2020 summer Olympics after such a team was represented in Rio for the first time.
Other Sports
Stolen Ferrari Recovered Almost 30 Years Later –
![Stolen Ferrari Recovered Almost 30 Years Later -](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Stolen-Ferrari-Recovered-Almost-30-Years-Later.jpg)
A Ferrari Testarossa sports car stolen from Austrian Formula One driver Gerhard Berger during the 1995 San Marino Grand Prix weekend has been recovered by London police almost 29 years later.
The Metropolitan Police said on Monday the red F512M, worth some 350,000 pounds ($444,325.00), was tracked down in four days after Ferrari reported it was the one being sold through a British broker to a U.S. buyer.
Police enquiries found it was shipped to Japan shortly after being stolen from the Italian city of Imola and then arrived in Britain in late 2023.
The Organised Vehicle Crime Unit said enquiries were ongoing and no arrests had been made.
A second silver Ferrari F355 that belonged to Berger’s French former team mate Jean Alesi, which was stolen on the same weekend in the Italian city, remains missing.
Alesi finished second in the race won by Williams’ Damon Hill with Berger third, in the Ferrari drivers’ final season at the Italian team before the arrival of Michael Schumacher and Eddie Irvine.
Berger had caught the thief in the act of stealing his car but after jumping clear and then giving chase in a friend’s Volkswagen Golf, according to a news report at the time, was unable to prevent it from getting away.
-Reuters
Other Sports
Bayelsa State are National Para Games champions
The resounding success of the 2nd edition of the National Para Games culminated in an exhilarating and grand closing ceremony at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
The week-long celebration of talent, resilience, and sportsmanship concluded on December 14th, leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of para sports in Nigeria.
The Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, lauded the remarkable display of talent and dexterity exhibited by the para athletes throughout the Games. Expressing his delight, he commended the spirit of competition and the dedication of all participants.
“The National Para Games have once again showcased the incredible abilities and unwavering spirit of our para athletes,” Senator Enoh said. “The level of talent and determination displayed by these athletes is truly inspiring. They embody the essence of sportsmanship and perseverance.”
“Through sports, we celebrate unity, resilience, and determination. The National Para Games have proven to be a platform that not only showcases exceptional talent but also fosters inclusivity and breaks barriers.”
From December 8th to 14th, the stadium played host to representatives from all 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The atmosphere was charged with excitement as athletes showcased their skills, determination, and unwavering spirit, captivating audiences and leaving spectators in awe.
Bayelsa State emerged as the champions of the Games, winning 30 gold, 24 silver and 20 bronze medals. Abia, Kano Lagos, and Oyo states completed the top five in that order. Their athletes’ dedication and outstanding performances solidified their position at the pinnacle of para sports excellence.
The closing ceremony was a spectacle of pomp and pageantry, featuring captivating performances, cultural displays, and heartfelt tributes to the athletes who epitomized perseverance and triumph over adversity.
As the curtains drew to a close on this momentous occasion, the legacy of the National Para Games continues to inspire a new era of inclusivity, empowerment, and recognition for para athletes across Nigeria.
Other Sports
A football club gets record! Sixteen yellow cards in a game
A Czech football club playing in the lowest division has made the sports pages across the country after 16 of its players were booked at the same time last weekend.
TJ Sokol Upohlavy’s players decided to make a splash as they were trailing TJ Sokol Libochovany 6-0 in their game in the lowest district tier last Saturday.
When Martin Blizil scored to make it 6-1 in the 82nd minute, all 11 of the team’s players on the pitch took off their shirts in celebration – a deed punishable by a yellow card.
Five substitutes came off the bench to celebrate with them, also taking off their shirts and earning a booking.
“The last game didn’t really go our way, but our players maybe set a world record,” the team said on Facebook after losing the game 6-2 in the end.
“When you underperform, what’s left is a sense of humour.”
The referee did not book each player individually – also because with the players’ shirts off, he could not see the numbers.
But he did enter the bookings in the match report. The transcript, with a yellow rectangle next to each Upohlavy player’s name, has since gone viral on local social media.
The village of Upohlavy, where the club is based, has a population of 276 people and lies about 50 kilometres northwest of the Czech capital Prague.
–AFP
-
Nigerian Football1 week ago
I prefer a foreign coach for the Super Eagles, says Amaju
-
Olympics5 days ago
Brazilian women train in Zidane’s birthplace ahead of Nigeria Super Falcons clash
-
Premier League1 week ago
Nigerian-born Man United’s new striker promises creativity and unpredictability to fans
-
Olympics11 hours ago
This is my story: Odegbami on how he is stranded in London
-
Nigerian Football1 week ago
Osimhen’s outburst was a moment of madness, says Amaju
-
Olympics6 days ago
Teams plan for lack of toilets on Paris opening ceremony barges
-
OBITUARY1 day ago
BREAKING! Former Heartland FC owner, Iwuanyanwu, dies at 81
-
Olympics4 days ago
Super Falcons’ opponent, Brazil’s Marta and 3 Africans listed among 10 footballers to watch at Paris 2024