CELEBRITY
IOC SCAMMED OVER MUHAMMAD ALI’S OLYMPIC TORCH
BY NEIL SHEFFERD
A Torch donated to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said to be used by Muhammad Ali to light the Olympic Cauldron at Atlanta 1996, may not be the original version.
The Torch was donated to the IOC by former Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone after he acquired it at an auction believing it was the original, as reported by NYSportsJournalism.
Its authenticity is being disputed as the Muhammad Ali Museum, based in Kentucky in the United States, claims that it houses the original as part of its collection.
“The Ali Center still has on display the torch that Muhammad carried at the Atlanta Olympic Games,” said its senior director of public relations and external affairs Jeanie Kahnke.
“It was donated to the centre by the Muhammad Ali family.
“We have the assurance from the family that this Torch is the original.”
Ecclestone claimed that when he bid for the Torch at auction he believed it was the original version, and that he donated it to the IOC in good faith.
“I understood that this was the final Torch of the Relay for the Atlanta Games, which was used by Muhammad Ali to light the cauldron,” said Ecclestone.
“There was even some media coverage around the auctioning of the final Atlanta 1996 Torch.
“I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful if this torch could be displayed in The Olympic Museum?’ and I decided to enter the auction.
“Eventually, I won the bid and donated the Torch to the IOC in good faith.”
An IOC spokesperson said: “Mr Ecclestone clearly acted in good faith to make a very generous donation to the IOC.
“All of us thought this was the final Torch signed by Muhammad Ali.”
Three-time world heavyweight boxing champion Ali, who died aged 74 in 2016, had a strong connection with the Olympic Games, claiming the gold medal in the lightweight division at Rome 1960.
Ali suffered from Parkinson’s disease since 1984, three years after his retirement from boxing.
He continued to make public appearances, despite his illness, and lit the Olympic Cauldron at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, in what proved to be one of the Games’ most iconic moments.
-insidethegames
Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo crossed one billion followers across his social media accounts, aided by his newly-launched YouTube channel that has attracted more than 60 million subscribers in just over three weeks.
Ronaldo, who scored his 900th career goal last week to help Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in the Nations League, is the first human being to reach a billion followers on social media, global media reports said.
“We’ve made history, one billion followers! This is more than just a number, it’s a testament to our shared passion, drive, and love for the game and beyond,” Ronaldo posted on X.
“You’ve been with me every step of the way, through all the highs and the lows. This journey is our journey… thank you for believing in me, for your support, and for being part of my life.”
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid player reached the milestone with over 639 million followers on Instagram, 170 million on Facebook and 113 million on X.
The 39-year-old topped Forbes’ list of highest-paid athletes this year, with off-field earnings of $60 million, boosted by his large social media following.
Ronaldo’s club Al-Nassr will host Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League on Friday.
-Reuters
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo launched his YouTube channel on Wednesday and hundreds of thousands of subscribers signed up within a couple of hours.
The 39-year-old five-times Ballon D’Or winner plays for Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr.
“The wait is over. My @YouTube channel is finally here! SIUUUbscribe and join me on this new journey,” Ronaldo posted on his social media accounts.
A couple of hours after posting his first video, 1.69M subscribers had joined he channel.
Ronaldo has 112.5 million followers on the X platform, 170 million on Facebook and 636 million on Instagram.
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United player is preparing for his team’s Saudi Pro League opener against Al-Raed on Thursday.
-Reuters
Inter Miami will be the last club Argentina captain Lionel Messi plays for, the 36-year-old forward said on Wednesday, adding he feels “a little bit scared” at the thought of the day he decides to retire.
Messi, a World Cup winner with Argentina in 2022, has a contract with the Major League Soccer side until 2025 following his arrival last summer after a spell with French champions Paris St Germain.
“Inter Miami will be my last club. I love playing football. I enjoy everything even more because I am aware that there is less and less left,” Messi told ESPN.
“I’m not ready to leave football. I’ve done this all my life, I love playing football, I enjoy training, the day-to-day, the matches… And yes, there’s always a little bit of fear that it’s all over.”
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi is preparing with his national team to defend their Copa America title, with the tournament kicking off on June 20 in the United States.
Argentina will take on Canada in the opening match before facing Group A rivals Chile on June 25 and Peru four days later.
-Reuters
NFF Communication director unfolds 20 Points of a 20-hour ordeal on Libyan soil
African football legends, Adebayor and Aubameyang condemn Libya’s treatment of Super Eagles
BREAKING! CAF wades into the Libya-Nigeria Airport episode
Breaking! Uzoho suspended from Super Eagles’ next match with Sierra Leone
No longer Super League as CAF changes name of its new clubs competition
AIU releases its report on Tobi Amusan
-
Uncategorized1 week ago
Players boycott Libyan national team
-
AFCON4 days ago
Billiat’s penalty seals Zimbabwe’s 1-0 win over Namibia
-
AFCON1 week ago
Eguavoen unfolds Super Eagles’ squad for back-to-back duel with Libya
-
AFCON6 days ago
Facts & Figures as AFCON 2025 qualifiers enter Matchday 3
-
AFCON6 days ago
AFCON 2025 in Morocco: Everything you need to know
-
AFCON5 days ago
Libya’s captain, Faisal Al-Badri alleges poor treatment in Nigeria
-
Uncategorized7 days ago
CAF compels Kwasi Appiah to step down from Ghana FA
-
Uncategorized1 week ago
Fastest World Cup final scorer is dead!