Olympics
GHANA’S SPORTS MINISTER CALLS ON HELP OF AIPS TO SALVAGE INTEGRITY OF SPORT
LAWRENCIA ADJEI, AIPS Young Reporter, Ghana
Ghana’s Minister of
Youth and Sports, Hon. Isaac Kwame Asiamah has called on the International
Sports Press Association (AIPS) to help salvage the integrity of sports by
promoting a discourse on projecting sports as an effective tool for the
development of individuals and nations, instead of the ‘win at all cost’
mentality that currently dominates the system.
Important role of the media According to the Minister, the current
situation has resulted in sports being undermined by negative activities such
as doping, corruption scandals, age cheating and match-fixing. Asiamah, however
acknowledged the important role of the sporting media in any nation. He
admonished the media to play their role as agenda setters, to be circumspect in
their reportage, and not use their platform to unnecessarily ignite emotions
and passion which in some cases, can lead to conflict.
Hope for the future While addressing delegates at the sixth AIPS
Africa Congress, in Accra, Ghana, Asiamah recognized the power of sports in
forging unity, adding that sports is the continent’s hope for the future in a
world that is being threatened by conflict.
Contrary to the popular notion that sports and politics should not be
bedfellows, Asiamah said, modern day politics and governments see sports as a
powerful tool in national development as well as a huge contributor to a
nation’s socio-economic prospects.
“As governments, we do not see sports as a luxury but an important national
investment in the present and the future and a tool to globalize the world into
one united, peaceful nation,” the Minister stressed.
Develop strategies He thus charged delegates at the congress and
the entire membership of the association to develop strategies to create public
awareness of the enormous benefits of sports as a tool, not only to enhance our
national image, but also to promote national unity, peace, understanding and
friendship among people.
“Indeed, where politics and diplomacy have failed to resolve strained relations
between nations and individuals, it is sports that came to the rescue,” the
Minister emphasized, citing examples of how sports is the reason why North and
South Korea paraded under one flag of the Korea Pennisula during the 2002
Sydney Olympic Games, as well as how the people of Rwanda used sports to
reconcile after the 1994 genocide.
Olympics
Olympic rings removed from Eiffel Tower
The Olympic rings installed on the Eiffel Tower since June to celebrate the upcoming Olympic Games were removed from the Parisian monument early on Friday morning, as confirmed by an AFP photographer. But the Paris City Hall intends to replace them with a more permanent structure until 2028.
The five-coloured rings, measuring 29 metres in length and 15 metres in height, were placed between the first and second levels of the iconic iron structure on 7 June.
According to Inside the Games publication, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo wants the Olympic symbol to continue decorating the monument until the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
But the descendants of the tower’s creator, Gustave Eiffel are opposing the move. They are insisting that the Olympic rings are aesthetically in conflict with the concept and design of the Tower.
The 30-tonne rings initially installed on the Eiffel Tower were also not designed to withstand winter weather conditions.
Olympics
Despite Egypt winning 3 medals at Paris Olympics, President Al-Sisi orders sports system overhaul
Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi ordered a comprehensive evaluation of sports federations that participatedat the Paris Olympic Games, following a mission report submitted by the country’s sports minister.
The mandate includes a thorough expenditure check and a performance review to better highlight areas of improvement and fund allocation in future Games.
Additionally, the president plans to take necessary measures against federations —such as limiting funds— that had negative results in the Paris Games.
Egypt’s participation in sports where it lacks a competitive advantage will also be limited, as the president aims to direct resources to promising athletes to ensure optimal results. The president also aims to reduce administrative and technical staff within Olympic delegations and task relevant ministries with preparing future Olympic athletes.
Al-Sisi’s Olympic overhaul is to be presented to the cabinet for approval and urged the government to prioritise amending the sports law for the House of Representatives for review.
Egypt took home a total of three medals in the Summer Games. Ahmed El-Gendy triumphed in modern pentathlon, Sara Samir claimed the silver in weightlifting, and 21-year-old fencer Mohamed El-Sayed earned the bronze.
-Insidethegames
Olympics
Paris 2024 Games break record ticket sales
Paris 2024 sold a record 12 million tickets for the Olympics and Paralympics, beating the Games record previously set by London 2012, organisers said on Sunday.
Some 9.5 million tickets were sold for the Olympics and 2.5 million for the Paralympics, which end on Sunday.
In 2012, London organisers set the record for the Paralympics with 2.7 million tickets sold but only 8.2 million were sold for the Olympics.
-Reuters
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