Governing Bodies
IOC MAY BAN ITALIAN FLAG & ANTHEM AT TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will reportedly ban the Italian flag and anthem from Tokyo 2020 if a dispute over Government interference in the country’s National Olympic Committee is not resolved by Wednesday (January 27).
According to Italian newspaper la Repubblica, the IOC Executive Board is set to impose a series of measures on the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) when it holds its next meeting.
CONI President Giovanni Malagò appeared to confirm the country could face IOC sanctions when speaking in front of the Italian Senate today, warning an intervention by the Government “is needed to stop any decision of the IOC”.
Malagò, an IOC member, has urged Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte to issue an emergency decree to prevent CONI from being sanctioned.
A ban on the Italian flag and anthem at Tokyo 2020, effectively consigning the country to the same status at the Games as Russia, is among the punishments the IOC could impose on CONI.
A spokesperson for the IOC told insidethegames they were confident the issue would be resolved before the Executive Board meets on Wednesday.
The dispute between CONI and the IOC comes after the Italian Parliament approved a draft sports law which created a Government-controlled organisation to distribute funds to the country’s national governing bodies – a role previously held by CONI.
The IOC has repeatedly raised concerns over the formation by the Italian Government of the body – “Sport e Salute”, or Sport and Health – as it claims it represents interference in an NOC, strictly prohibited under the Olympic Charter
Term limits could also be forced on CONI as part of the new regulations, which effectively reduce the body’s role to handling preparations for the Olympic Games.
In September, IOC President Thomas Bach warned the organisation was “very concerned about the situation and the functioning of the CONI”.
Bach has also suggested the interference could lead to Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo being stripped of the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games – although this is extremely unlikely.
Typically the IOC issues such warnings to pressure the Government in question to back down, but hopes appear slim that a solution will come before the IOC Executive Board meeting.
The IOC and Italian Government officials have been in regular correspondence in recent months because of the law.
Italian Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora wrote to the IOC in November, insisting CONI would still have “autonomy” should the law be passed.
“The IOC position on the current situation of CONI has been clearly expressed to the Italian Government on many occasions,” the IOC spokesperson said.
“It is now expected that the solution already submitted several months ago by CONI to the relevant Government authorities will be considered favourably and implemented without any further delay so as to definitively resolve the current issues and allow CONI to fully perform its role and operations as an NOC, in accordance with the Olympic Charter.
“The Government authorities have been urged to take immediate action, in the interest of the Italian Olympic Movement and the athletes, as this situation has been ongoing for almost two years and is seriously affecting the preparations of the Italian team for the forthcoming Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Olympic Games.
“As in every meeting, the IOC Executive Board will be updated on the situation of NOCs in the forthcoming meeting.”
The Russian flag and anthem will also absent from Tokyo 2020 under a series of sanctions imposed on the country because of the state-sponsored doping scandal.
The re-arranged Olympics in the Japanese capital are scheduled to run from July 23 to August 8 after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the postponement of the Games to 2021.
Tokyo 2020, should it take place, will be Italy’s 28th appearance at the Summer Olympics having appeared at every Games since Athens 1896 with the exception of St Louis 1904.
The country earned eight gold, 12 silver and eight bronze at Rio 2016 to rank ninth overall on the final medals table.
-insidethegames
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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