Connect with us

Olympics

Paris 2024: Team Nigeria’s failure is Collateral damage, says gold medallist, Enefiok

blank

Published

on

blank
Enefiok endured injuries to achieve Olympic success and fame.
blank

The failure of the Team Nigeria is a result of combination of factors, says Olympic gold medallist, Enefiok Udo-Obong. He famously anchored the Nigeria 4×400 metres relay team and covered a lot of distance that initially earned Nigeria a silver medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. That was later upgraded to gold following the disqualification of the US team.

 He also won the bronze medal in the same event at the Athens 2004.  He was at Paris 2024 as the technical director of Saudi Athletic development.

His response to Team Nigeria’s flop: “The failure of our athletes to win any medal is due to a combination of lack of preparation,  bad luck and incompetence of some of the handlers.

“And enough is enough. People must be held accountable. The first thing is a sweeping change in the executives of sporting federations.

“We need new ideas and fresh actions. Good that federation elections are coming soon. A lot of board members are coming with nothing to offer..only perhaps for title in which they are ready to pay their way for.

“We also need a strategy which should be led from the Ministry and there must be a deliberate plan to arrive at fixed targets..short, medium and long.”

Advertisement

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.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Olympics

Olympic rings removed from Eiffel Tower

blank

Published

on

blank
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.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Olympics

Despite Egypt winning 3 medals at Paris Olympics, President Al-Sisi orders sports system overhaul

blank

Published

on

blank
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. 

Advertisement

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

Continue Reading

Olympics

Paris 2024 Games break record ticket sales

blank

Published

on

blank
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

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Most Viewed