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NIGERIA’S SPORTS MINISTER, DARE EXPECTS MEDAL HAUL IN WRESTLING AT TOKYO 2020

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An unprecedented harvest of medals in wrestling is anticipated by Nigeria at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare based his expectation on the impressive performance of Nigerian wrestlers in recent outings.

The minister made his projection during an inspection tour of the wrestling gym in Bayelsa State. He remarked that he was excited to be in Bayelsa State to identify with wrestling as one of the country’s most successful sports discipline.

He congratulated the team that competed in Algiers for an incredible performance. “Odunayo Adekuoroye is now number one.  We also have Blessing Oborududu doing well.

“The wrestling team outings has been fantastic from Italy a couple of weeks ago to Algiers, excellent performance. They have brightened our hope for medals at the Olympics and we celebrate these young agile wrestlers.

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“We are at the theatre of wrestling; the home of the Nigerian Wrestling Federation where Nigerian athletes really camp. I am impressed with what I have seen and also impressed with the efforts being made to complete the outstanding project here”.


The Minister commended the Daniel Igali, the president and the board members of the Nigerian Wrestling Federation for their foresight and commitment to the project, even as he thanked the Bayelsa Government for providing the grant to complete the Gym.


He promised that the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development would partner the state government to make the Gym a befitting theatre of wrestling for Nigerian.

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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Olympics

Olympic rings removed from Eiffel Tower

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The Eiffel Tower and the Olympic Rings

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.

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Olympics

Despite Egypt winning 3 medals at Paris Olympics, President Al-Sisi orders sports system overhaul

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Ahmed El-Gendy won Egypt's only gold at the Paris Olympics

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. 

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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

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Olympics

Paris 2024 Games break record ticket sales

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Beach Volleyball - Men's Gold Medal Match - Sweden vs Germany (Ahman/Hellvig vs Ehlers/Wickler) - Eiffel Tower Stadium, Paris, France - August 10, 2024. REUTERS/Esa Alexander/File Photo

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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