Olympics
Plumptre rues missing from Super Falcons’ squad to Paris 2024
Super Falcons defender Ashleigh Plumptre has shared her disappointment at not making Nigeria’s squad for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris due to an injury.
Plumptre, who was instrumental in Nigeria’s qualification for the Olympics by defeating teams like Cape Verde and Cameroon but was unavailable in the final playoff against South Africa, was left out of the 18-player squad selected by coach Randy Waldrum.
Her absence is due to fitness concerns following an injury she sustained while playing for her club, Al Ittihad, in March.
Despite undergoing surgery in April and working hard on her recovery, Plumptre has not regained full fitness in time for the Olympics.
Expressing her feelings on X, she said, “Timings haven’t aligned to be in contention for the Olympic roster – a dream I’ve held since I can remember.”
She added, “Since having my surgery, I’ve worked in every area of my life to be in the best position to recover, but one thing I’ve learnt is how to listen to my body!”
While on a personal note, it’s a shame to miss out, I cannot put into words my excitement and pride in knowing I’ll be watching my @NGSuper_Falcon girls representing this flag on the Olympic stage.
Plumptre also expressed pride and excitement for her teammates, saying: “while on a personal note, it’s a shame to miss out, I cannot put into words my excitement and pride in knowing I’ll be watching my @NGSuper_Falcon’s girls representing this flag on the Olympic stage. Go well, girls! Naija to the world!”
Meanwhile, the Super Falcons have started training since they arrived in Sevilla, Spain, last Friday to prepare for the Olympics.
Among the invited players, only 36-year-old goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi has previous Olympic experience. She was part of the squad that competed in the Beijing 2008 Olympics, although she did not make any appearances as Nigeria lost to Brazil, Germany, and North Korea.
The Super Falcons are holding a two-week training camp in Seville and will head to France on July 18.
Nigeria will play in Group C, where they will compete against Spain, Japan, and Brazil.
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.
Olympics
Despite Egypt winning 3 medals at Paris Olympics, President Al-Sisi orders sports system overhaul
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.
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
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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