Governing Bodies
TOKYO 2020 TORCH RELAY “IN DISARRAY”
The Tokyo 2020 Torch Relay has suffered its most serious disruption so far on the first day of its scheduled visit to the islands of Okinawa as organisers revealed six further positive COVID-19 tests connected to the event.
The cases had been reported after the stage in Kagoshima which took place earlier in the week before a two day break whilst the Flame was taken to Okinawa.
The Mainichi Shimbun has reported that “the Torch Relay was in disarray.”
The newspaper said: “From the very beginning, the months-long event was faced with a dilemma between fostering momentum for the games and maintaining coronavirus preventive measures. And now, the virus resurgence is hitting the Relay head-on.”
Earlier today, runners did carry the Flame in a restricted Relay in Nago, a city on the Northern part of the Okinawa, but although nine stages were originally scheduled in the organisers official “day book”, almost all were held without spectators.
Japanese comedian Toshiyuki Teruya, a member of the “Garage Sale” duo better known by his stage name “Gori” received the Torch from Okinawa governor Tamaki Denny.
Former WBA light-flyweight champion Yoko Gushiken was amongst those who did get to carry the Flame along with local rock band HY.
Organisers had originally hoped that the Relay could proceed in the outlying islands tomorrow, but organisers confirmed that no events will be held in Miyakojima City because of “priority measures for containment of the spread of infection,” in what is being seen locally as the most drastic change to the schedule so far.
Hayako Shimizu, a teacher in Miyakojima, told the Associated Press News Agency “we don’t want people from outside the island coming in. Human life is at stake.”
The Flame had originally been scheduled to arrive in Miyakojima tomorrow at 3.10pm local time and a celebratory Cauldron was to have been lit at the conclusion of the stage.
The lack of spectators is in marked contrast to 1964 when Okinawa was the first staging point as the Flame arrived after an air journey from Athens which had taken it to many Asian cities en route.
The prefecture was then still under American administration but an estimated 40,000 turned out to witness its arrival.
Tokyo 2020 have announced further alterations to the Relay when it returns to the Japanese mainland next week. The Government has implemented a state of emergency for the traditional “Golden Week” holiday which runs until May 5.
The final section in Kumamoto City which was to have taken place on public roads on the evening of May 6 will now be held in the grounds of Kumamoto Castle.
There have already been truncated relays in Osaka, and Matsuyama in Ehime, where prefectural governor Tokihiro Nakamura was reported to have made a tearful apology to Torchbearers after the Relay was curtailed.
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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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