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JAPAN MAY USE MILITARY AIRBASE FOR TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS PASSENGERS

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BY MICHAEL PAVITT

Japan considering using a United States military airbase for commercial flights during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it has been claimed. 

The Yokota airbase serves as the host base for the headquarters of the United States Forces Japan (USFJ).

The base is located in the northwest of Tokyo.

According to Stars and Stripes,, an American military magazine, Japan are considering requesting the use of the base to aid the arrival of foreign visitors for the Games.

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“Any future commitments of specific US military support to the Olympics and Paralympics will be balanced against operational readiness concerns and Alliance obligations,” John Hutcheson, a United States Air Force colonel told Stars and Stripes.

“USFJ is excited about working with the Government of Japan to ensure a successful 2020 Olympics and Paralympics.

“When we’ve had the appropriate time to analyse these detailed requests, we will be better postured to determine how we might be able to support them.”

Japan are expected to be inundated with arrivals into the country during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The airbase has previously been used for commercial aircraft.

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This occurred back in 2011, when flights were diverted from Narita airport to the base following the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami.

Flights are largely set to arrive at Tokyo’s two main airports during the Games.

Both the Narita International Airport Corporation and Japan Airport Terminal (JAT) were confirmed as Tokyo 2020 official partners back in February.

They were granted sponsorship under the airport services category.

Tokyo 2020 has announced the deals with both organisations with JAT the operator of Haneda Airport.

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Narita Airport opened in 1978 and serves as an important transport hub for Tokyo.

Haneda also serves the Japanese capital and wider area with both airports set to welcome thousands of people for Tokyo 2020.

INSIDE THE GAMES

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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