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GHANA’S SPORTS MINISTER CALLS ON HELP OF AIPS TO SALVAGE INTEGRITY OF SPORT

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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.

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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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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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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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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