Governing Bodies
TOKYO 2020 OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY BEGINS
A year after it was originally scheduled to do so, the Olympic Flame has finally started its 121-day journey around Japan.
Footballer Azusa Iwashimizu led her fellow squad members known as “Nadeshiko Japan” as they carried the Flame through the precincts of the J-Village national football training centre in Fukushima in bright sunlight.
Although skipper Homare Sawa had been prevented from taking part by illness and travel restrictions meant team mates Saki Kumagai and Nahomi Kawasumi were also unable to participate, some 15 members of the victorious 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup squad were joined by coach Norio Sasaki for a moment that was highly symbolic for the Tokyo Olympics.
The team passed the Torch to 16-year-old-goalkeeper Asato Owada, a local high school pupil.
Earlier, Paralympic shooter Aki Taguchi and actress Satomi Ishihara, both Torch Relay ambassadors, had worn face masks as they ignited a ceremonial cauldron with a taper lit from a Flame kept alight since March 2020.
Children from local primary and junior high schools had combined to sing Hana Wa Saku (Flowers Will Bloom) and there was a dance performance from the “Hula Girls”, a local troupe which had toured Japan after the 2011 earthquake.
There was also a display of traditional drumming in a short but emotional ceremony on a stage decorated with cherry blossoms.
Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto said: “The torch of Tokyo 2020 will become a bright light for hope for Japanese citizens and citizens in the world and a light at the end of the tunnel.”
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach offered congratulations to Tokyo 2020 and said he would “follow the Olympic Torch Relay with great excitement over the coming weeks”.
“Inspired by the Olympic values of peace and solidarity, the Olympic Torch Relay will carry Tokyo 2020’s message, ‘hope lights our way’, across Japan and the world,” Bach said.
“It will also acknowledge the challenges faced by society since last year, highlighting the importance of unity and solidarity within humankind, showing that we can only become stronger – together.”
Fukushima, where the Torch Relay began, was one of the prefectures hit hard by 2011’s earthquake and tsunami which left more than 15,000 people dead.
Governor Masao Uchibori said: “Here in Fukushima we have been facing serious problems and are still recovering from 2011 so the Torch Relay and the Games are very precious for us.”
The ceremonies within the training centre had been closed to the public but as the Flame made its way onto the public roads, Torchbearers were joined by security escort runners who ran wearing masks.
pectators also appeared to have heeded advice to wear protective face coverings and applaud but not cheer the runners.
It had been the first time a Tokyo Torch had burned since Rio 2016 pole vault champion Katerina Stefanidi carried it into the Panathinaiko Stadium for the official handover ceremony more than a year ago.
The journey around Greece had been suspended after unexpectedly large crowds came out to see film star Gerard Butler carry the Flame in Sparta.
Tokyo organisers have warned that if crowds are deemed to be too dense, the Relay around Japan could also be suspended.
It is scheduled to visit 47 prefectures in 121 days.
Each night the Tokyo Skytree will be illuminated to reflect its progress.
Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga did not attend the start of the Torch Relay, but speaking in Tokyo underlined the Government’s commitment to holding “safe and secure” Games.
Tokyo 2020 chief executive Toshirō Mutō also monitored the Torch Relay from Tokyo.
“There were no significant problems,” Mutō said.
“The dense crowd situation that we have defined did not happen today and this was due to cooperation of the local residents.
“We were able to operate with no chaos.
“Today the Torch Relay has kicked a grand start.
“I feel truly happy that time has started to move.
“As long as the same operation can be conducted as today, we will have no problems even with celebrity runners.”
Mutō reported that two runners scheduled to take part had not and that the Flame had gone out twice during the course of the day.
Each time it was relit from the safety lamp.
The final runner of the first day was aerobatics pilot Yoshihide Muroya.
He ran through an avenue lined by riders from the Sōma Nomaoi, a traditional festival of mounted Samurai held in the area.
The Relay will resume its journey tomorrow in Sōma, with triple Olympian volleyball player Motoko Obayashi set to be amongst the participants.
Ninety-seven Torchbearers will relay the Flame to Aizuwakamatsu on the second day of three in Fukushima.
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Governing Bodies
Sanusi set for record-extending tenure as Nigeria’s football politicians assemble in Asaba
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Speculations gathered ahead of the 2024 Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Football Federation holding in Asaba on Friday have it that tenure elongation for the General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, is a major item on the agenda.
Neither formal confirmation nor denial has been issued since one of the leading newspapers in Nigeria, ThisDay dropped the hint.
The agenda of the meeting is also not made public. Dr, Sanusi is the longest-serving General Secretary in history having been in office from 30 March 2015 making 3,476 days or nine years six months and four days.
It easily drowned that of his closest rival in tenure – Sani Toro whose tenure from 21 December 1993 to 3 May 1999 is merely 2020 days or five years, six months and 12 days.
Thus, no one had enjoyed a longer period in office than the incumbent, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi. It is speculated that the tenure will be extended as NFF has reported that all delegates have arrived in the Delta State capital by Thursday evening.
The NFF Annual General Assembly, the first of which took place 90 years ago in Lagos on 19 February 1934, is the biggest assemblage of football administrators and stakeholders in the country.
In one such meeting on 24 July 2008 in Makurdi, the football body changed its name from NFA to NFF.
This year, according to a press release by the NFF, the plenary will have in attendance, the chairmen and secretaries of football associations in the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory, chairmen and secretaries of the Nigeria Premier Football League, Nigeria National League, Nigeria Women Football League and the Nationwide League One, as well as chairmen and secretaries of the referees’ association, players’ union and coaches’ association. This group of 88 makes up the Congress.
They are joined by the members of the NFF Executive Committee and the management team as well as former NFF Presidents and General Secretaries.
The Minister of Sports Development, John Owan Enoh, is announced as the special guest. Nigeria’s Member of the FIFA Council, Amaju Melvin Pinnick is also expected as well as a representative of the West African Football Union (WAFU B).
The Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Francis Oborevwori will declare the General Assembly open.
Venue is the Unity Hall of the Delta State Government House.
Governing Bodies
Like in Egypt, former Nigerian Olympian, Sadiq Abdulahi wants Tinubu to declare ‘State of Emergency’ in Sports
Former Nigerian tennis player and Olympian, Prof. Sadiq Abdulahi has called for drastic action to arrest the decline of Nigeria in global sporting events.
The former tennis player who is now a professor in the United States declared that the “failure to win a medal at the regular 2024 Paris Olympics, the few medals at the Paris Paralympic and the fallout at the National Youth Sports Festival has exposed the deep problems facing the sport’s sector.”
He wants Nigeria to have the same approach that the Egyptian president has taken while reacting to the country’s performance at the Paris 2024 Olypics.
Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi ordered a comprehensive evaluation of sports federations that participated at the Paris Olympic Games, following a mission report submitted by the country’s sports minister.
According to Prof. Abdulahi, the National Sports Federations charged with the preparation of elite athletes have failed to do their job despite the cry for funding from the government.
“Federal Government cannot adequately fund all the Olympics sports. It is impossible.
“By declaring a state of emergency, new people, new approaches and new funding models will be identified. More importantly, the Federal Government will redefine grassroots sports development.
“We will lay sustainable foundation for sports development.”
Continuing, he called for the return of the National Sports Commission (NSC) which enabling decree was abolished through Decree No. 7 of 1991, but came back through presidential proclamation under Sani Abacha before it was abolished again.
The original NSC was established in 1964 as National Sports Council before the promulgation of Decree 34 of 1971 which legalised it as the apex Federal Government agency to control, regulate and organize sports.
“The FG may now bring back the National Sports Commission or the National Sports Authority. Our emerging national economy with the full participation of the private sector can support this new beginning. I hope this helps.”
RELATED STORY: President Al-Sisi orders sports system overhaul
Governing Bodies
CAF gives Yoruba and Arabic interpretations of ‘OLA’ the Super Cup 2024 Official Match Ball
The Confédération African of Football, CAF, has given the linguistics interpretation of OLA, the confederation’s official match balls produced by Puma which has also unveiled a special edition for the Super Cup duel holding on Friday in Saudi Arabia.
According to CAF, OLA, symbolizing the dynamic and energetic nature of African football, means “wealth,” “honour,” and “respect” in Yoruba and “rise” and “success” in Arabic.
The OLA ball stands out with its vibrant design and cultural significance. “OLA”
The ball is a mix of black and gold, representing power and sophistication. The ball will be the centrepiece of the eagerly-awaited match between the two giants of African football.
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