Governing Bodies
TOKYO 2020 VOLUNTEER TRAINING POSTPONED OVER CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK
BY MICHAEL PAVITT.
Tokyo 2020 has postponed the training of Olympic and Paralympic Games volunteers due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The first training sessions for volunteers, known as the “Field Cast”, began back in October.
Organisers said at the time that around 300 general training events would take place at 13 venues in 11 prefectures in the host nation by the end of February.
The general training sessions have briefly been halted due to the coronavirus outbreak, with Tokyo 2020 saying these will be rescheduled for a later date.
“As part of efforts to prevent the spread of infection of the novel coronavirus, we have decided to postpone trainings,” a Tokyo 2020 statement read.
“Cast members will be informed of rescheduled dates, venues, and other details in a separate notification.
“The Organising Committee continues to work closely with all related organisations to prepare for a safe and secure Tokyo 2020 Games.
“There are no considerations of cancelling the Games nor will the postponements of these activities have an impact on the overall Games preparation.
“In accordance with the government’s policy for preventing the spread of infectious diseases, we will also evaluate the immediate need for each Games-related event on a case by case basis.
“At all Tokyo 2020 events, we ask that all participants take appropriate measures to ensure that all will be able to participate in safety and with peace of mind.”
The training sessions are aimed at providing volunteers with the essential knowledge needed for the Games.
Sessions include an introduction from the participants and a lecture on what they should expect as a member of the Field Cast.
They will be provided with an overview of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as receiving a history lesson.
Training on diversity and inclusion will also be included, along with the rules and rewards of volunteering.
In total, 80,000 volunteers will support the Games, after being selected from 204,680 applicants.
Volunteers will provide support in guiding spectators, competition and media operations.
They will also be deployed in various locations, including competition venues and the Athletes’ Village.
The Field Cast volunteers will be given their Games-time roles next month, with specific training for the positions beginning in April.
Tokyo 2020 and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have insisted the Games will not be postponed or cancelled because of the virus, given the official title of COVID-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The coronavirus has reportedly infected around 78,000 people worldwide, with 2,362 deaths caused.
While China has had the largest amount of cases with more than 76,000 reported, at least 100 have been detected in Japan.
John Coates, chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for Tokyo 2020, claimed this week the organisation was “satisfied” the event will be safe to attend.
During a project review of Tokyo 2020 last week, Coates claimed the WHO had told the IOC there was no case for cancelling or postponing the Games.
Tokyo 2020 President Yoshirō Mori has also remained defiant and blasted what he claimed were “irresponsible” rumours surrounding whether the Games would take place as planned.
–insidethegames
By Kunle Solaja.
Nigeria is set to host the 48th Ordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), marking the third time the country will stage the continent’s top football gathering.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), which disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on the sidelines of the ongoing Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, approved Nigeria’s proposal to host the event.
The approval followed a meeting between President Tinubu and CAF President Patrice Motsepe, attended by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, former NFF President and Special Adviser to the CAF President Amaju Melvin Pinnick, as well as CAF Acting General Secretary Samson Adamu.
Sports Villages Square affirms that Nigeria previously hosted the CAF Congress at the National Theatre in Lagos in March 1980 and again in February 2009, when the late CAF President Issa Hayatou secured another four-year term in office.
In addition to this year’s 48th Ordinary General Assembly, scheduled for October, Nigeria also secured the hosting rights of the CAF Awards ceremony. The annual awards gala, which celebrates Africa’s top football performers, has been staged in Morocco over the past three years.
Nigeria had earlier hosted the CAF Awards when telecom firm, Globacom, was the headline sponsor. This year’s event will be the seventh to be held in Nigeria after those of 2005, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2016.
The CAF Ordinary General Assembly traditionally attracts key football stakeholders from across the continent, including presidents of CAF’s 54 member associations, representatives of the six zonal unions and senior football administrators.
The CAF Awards ceremony is regarded as one of African football’s flagship events, honouring outstanding players, coaches, clubs and officials in a glamorous setting that showcases the continent’s football excellence.
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FIFA’s independent Ethics Committee has banned former Guyana Football Federation (GFF) General Secretary Ian Alves from all football-related activities for five years after finding he sexually harassed female staff members.
FIFA also fined Alves 20,000 Swiss francs ($22,000) after determining that he had breached provisions of the FIFA Code of Ethics relating to the protection of physical and mental integrity, abuse of position and general duties.
“FIFA has a strict stance against all forms of abuse in football,” the organisation said on Monday.
The decision followed a review of written statements from the victims, documents provided by the GFF, submissions from Alves, and other evidence gathered during the investigation.
Alves stepped down from his position in 2024.
The ban came into force on Monday, when the terms of the decision were notified to Alves, and the full grounds for the ruling will be communicated within 60 days in accordance with the Code of Ethics, FIFA added.
The GFF did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Alves could not immediately be reached for comment.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday that he planned to seek re-election for a fourth term in a bid to continue to lead the governing body of world soccer.
Infantino confirmed he would run for the 2027–2031 term in the closing moments of the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, which comes less than two months before the start of the World Cup.
The election will be held on March 18 in Morocco, which is set to co-host the 2030 World Cup.
Infantino said he was “honoured and humbled” to have the chance to run for a fourth term.
The Italian-Swiss took office in 2016, replacing Sepp Blatter, and was re-elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023.
Infantino has pushed for the expansion of FIFA competitions during his tenure, with this year’s World Cup in North America the first to feature 48 teams, while the women’s tournament in 2023 has been expanded to 32 teams.
Infantino’s tenure has also drawn some criticism over issues such as high World Cup ticket prices and the decision to award the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to U.S. President Donald Trump at the World Cup draw in December.
Earlier this month, the council of South American football’s governing body (CONMEBOL) said in a statement it would unanimously support the 56-year-old if he decided to seek another term.
-Reuters
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