Tag: Olympics

Richardson leads USA to 4x100m gold in Paris 2024 Olympics

Sha’Carri Richardson delivered a sensational anchor leg to propel the United States to gold with a time of 41.78 seconds in a thrilling women’s 4x100m relay at the Paris Olympics on Friday, August 9.

The US team was in fourth place when Richardson received the baton, but her blistering speed secured the victory in dramatic fashion.

Gabby Thomas, the US third leg and 200m champion, praised Richardson’s performance, saying, “She is so fast. We know we’re in good hands as soon as she gets her hands on the baton.”

The race, which took place under rainy conditions that began just before the start, saw Great Britain, featuring Dina Asher-Smith, Imani Lansiquot, Amy Hunt, and Daryll Neita, finish in 41.85 seconds to claim silver—Great Britain’s best result in this event since 1956. Germany took bronze with a time of 41.97, marking the first time a unified German team medaled in this event since 1960. Defending champions Jamaica finished a surprising fifth, clocking 42.29 seconds.

Initially, there was some confusion as the scoreboard at Stade de France incorrectly showed Great Britain as the winners. Richardson, appearing perplexed by the order of finish, watched as the result was quickly corrected, confirming the US victory.

The American team had to battle through the race, with Melissa Jefferson handing off the baton in third, Twanisha Terry moving them up to second, and Richardson starting her anchor leg in fourth after receiving the baton from Thomas.

Despite a challenging final handoff that caused Richardson to momentarily lose momentum, she delivered a stunning 10.09-second leg to overtake the competition. Neita, running the final leg for Great Britain, clocked 10.33 seconds, while Germany’s Rebekka Haase finished her anchor leg in 10.46 seconds.

Reflecting on her race, Richardson said, “I just remember trusting my third leg, trusting Gabby, and knowing that she’s gonna put that stick in my hand no matter what, and to leave my best on the track.”

Great Britain, although slowed by a handoff between their second and third runners, celebrated their achievement of winning a third consecutive Olympic medal in the event.

Lansiquot, who ran Great Britain’s fastest leg in 10.13 seconds, expressed her pride, saying, “It’s been not just one year in the making, it’s been eight years in the making and it’s been bronze, bronze and we finally upgraded to silver. I can’t express how proud I am of these women. We came together. We got the job done. And when the heavens opened up, we still kept our heads and did it.”

The United States had shown strong form in the preliminaries, recording the fastest time of 41.94 seconds despite a challenging second handoff.

Great Britain also impressed in the heats, with a time of 42.03 seconds, the second-fastest in qualifying, bolstered by the same sprinters who had previously set the world-leading time of 41.55 in July.

August 10, 2024
Spain wins Olympic men’s gold at Paris 2024

Spain‘s remarkable run in international football continued as they narrowly defeated France in a dramatic Olympic men’s final at Paris 2024, securing the gold medal.

Despite France’s valiant comeback from a 3-1 deficit to force extra time, Spain ultimately emerged victorious.

The hosts initially took an early lead, but Spain quickly turned the tide, scoring twice before the break. France, led by Thierry Henry, staged an impressive second-half rally to draw level and push the match into extra time. However, it was Spain’s substitute, Sergio Camello, who held his nerve during the tense moments, scoring twice in extra time to seal the victory.

Camello’s goals set off wild celebrations among the Spanish team, who surrounded the Rayo Vallecano forward as they clinched their first Olympic gold since 1992. This victory adds to Spain’s growing list of achievements, coming just over a month after their men’s team triumphed in the European Championship against England.

In addition to their Olympic success, Spain’s dominance extends to youth and women’s football, with the men’s under-19 team winning the European Championship last month and the women’s team claiming the World Cup title last year.

For France, the loss was bittersweet. Although they initially felt the sting of defeat, the mood shifted to one of celebration as the squad received their silver medals. Reflecting on the journey, Henry expressed pride in his team’s efforts, saying, “It wasn’t easy to build this team up, but I’m proud of the work we did.”

With France unable to secure the gold, Great Britain maintained fifth place in the Paris 2024 medal standings. Both nations have won 14 gold medals, but Team GB edges ahead with a total of 57 medals, just one more than France.

August 10, 2024
Ghana disqualified in 4×100 relay at Paris 2024 Olympics

Ghana’s hopes for a medal in the Men’s 4×100 relay at the 2024 Olympics were dashed on Day 13, as the team failed to qualify for the finals.

The quartet—comprising Abdul-Saminu Rasheed, Benjamin Azamati, Ibrahim Fuseini, and Joseph-Paul Amoah—finished their heat in 38.62 seconds, placing sixth.

A critical misstep occurred during the baton exchange between Saminu and Azamati, which proved disastrous and led to the team’s disqualification.

This relay was seen as Ghana’s strongest chance to secure a medal at the Paris Games, especially after disappointing results in other events, including swimming, high jump, and individual sprints.

Presently, no Ghanaian remains in the ongoing games.

A messy baton changeover and stumbling runs means Ghana finishes 6th in Heat 2 of the men’s 4x100m relay Heats and WILL NOT make the final. #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/cANn1Tv8d6
— Fentuo Tahiru Fentuo (@Fentuo_) August 8, 2024

Team Ghana placed 6th in the men’s 4×100 relay at the Olympic Games in Paris.#Paris2024Olympic #teamGhana
#4×100 pic.twitter.com/e18sIPLC5W
— Kofi Burns3 (@kofiburns31) August 8, 2024

August 8, 2024

Day 12: Paris Olympics 2024 medal table

Today marks the 12th day of the Paris 2024 Olympics.

So far, the United States has the most gold medals, 24, followed by China, with 22. The former also has the most medals won in the tournament so far with 86. China follows with 59 medals.

Egypt, Jamaica, South Africa, and Uganda are among the African countries with medals.

Below is a medal table by BBC Sports showcasing the countries with their respective medals earned so far.

Rank	Country	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	United States	24	31	31	86
2	China	22	21	16	59
3	Australia	14	12	10	36
4	France	13	16	19	48
5	Great Britain	12	15	19	46
6	South Korea	11	8	7	26
7	Japan	11	6	12	29
8	Italy	9	10	7	26
9	Netherlands	8	5	6	19
10	Germany	8	5	4	17
11	Canada	6	4	8	18
12	Ireland	4	0	3	7
13	New Zealand	3	5	1	9
14	Hungary	3	3	2	8
14	Sweden	3	3	2	8
16	Romania	3	3	1	7
17	Brazil	2	5	6	13
18	Spain	2	3	5	10
19	Ukraine	2	2	3	7
20	Croatia	2	1	2	5
21	Belgium	2	0	3	5
22	Hong Kong	2	0	2	4
23	Philippines	2	0	1	3
24	Azerbaijan	2	0	0	2
24	Serbia	2	0	0	2
26	Israel	1	4	1	6
27	Switzerland	1	2	4	7
28	Georgia	1	2	1	4
29	Greece	1	1	5	7
30	Kazakhstan	1	1	3	5
31	Kenya	1	1	2	4
31	South Africa	1	1	2	4
33	Chile	1	1	0	2
33	Denmark	1	1	0	2
33	Ecuador	1	1	0	2
33	St Lucia	1	1	0	2
33	Uganda	1	1	0	2
38	Chinese Taipei	1	0	4	5
39	Uzbekistan	1	0	2	3
40	Cuba	1	0	1	2
40	Czech Republic	1	0	1	2
40	Guatemala	1	0	1	2
43	Algeria	1	0	0	1
43	Argentina	1	0	0	1
43	Bahrain	1	0	0	1
43	Dominica	1	0	0	1
43	Norway	1	0	0	1
43	Slovenia	1	0	0	1
49	Jamaica	0	3	1	4
50	North Korea	0	2	3	5
51	Mexico	0	2	1	3
52	Ethiopia	0	2	0	2
53	Poland	0	1	3	4
54	Turkey	0	1	2	3
55	Kosovo	0	1	1	2
55	Kyrgyzstan	0	1	1	2
55	Thailand	0	1	1	2
58	Armenia	0	1	0	1
58	Colombia	0	1	0	1
58	Fiji	0	1	0	1
58	Mongolia	0	1	0	1
58	Tunisia	0	1	0	1
63	India	0	0	3	3
63	Tajikistan	0	0	3	3
65	Dominican Republic	0	0	2	2
65	Lithuania	0	0	2	2
65	Malaysia	0	0	2	2
65	Moldova	0	0	2	2
69	Austria	0	0	1	1
69	Cape Verde	0	0	1	1
69	Egypt	0	0	1	1
69	Grenada	0	0	1	1
69	Indonesia	0	0	1	1
69	Iran	0	0	1	1
69	Portugal	0	0	1	1
69	Slovakia	0	0	1	1
77	Afghanistan	0	0	0	0
77	Albania	0	0	0	0
77	American Samoa	0	0	0	0
77	Andorra	0	0	0	0
77	Angola	0	0	0	0
77	Antigua and Barbuda	0	0	0	0
77	Aruba	0	0	0	0
77	Bahamas	0	0	0	0
77	Bangladesh	0	0	0	0
77	Barbados	0	0	0	0
77	Belize	0	0	0	0
77	Benin	0	0	0	0
77	Bermuda	0	0	0	0
77	Bhutan	0	0	0	0
77	Bolivia	0	0	0	0
77	Bosnia-Herzegovina	0	0	0	0
77	Botswana	0	0	0	0
77	Brunei	0	0	0	0
77	Bulgaria	0	0	0	0
77	Burkina Faso	0	0	0	0
77	Burundi	0	0	0	0
77	Cambodia	0	0	0	0
77	Cameroon	0	0	0	0
77	Cayman Islands	0	0	0	0
77	Central African Republic	0	0	0	0
77	Chad	0	0	0	0
77	Comoros	0	0	0	0
77	Congo	0	0	0	0
77	Cook Islands	0	0	0	0
77	Costa Rica	0	0	0	0
77	Ivory Coast	0	0	0	0
77	Cyprus	0	0	0	0
77	Djibouti	0	0	0	0
77	DR Congo	0	0	0	0
77	El Salvador	0	0	0	0
77	Refugee Olympic Team	0	0	0	0
77	Equatorial Guinea	0	0	0	0
77	Eritrea	0	0	0	0
77	Estonia	0	0	0	0
77	Eswatini	0	0	0	0
77	Finland	0	0	0	0
77	Gabon	0	0	0	0
77	Gambia	0	0	0	0
77	Ghana	0	0	0	0
77	Guam	0	0	0	0
77	Guinea	0	0	0	0
77	Guinea-Bissau	0	0	0	0
77	Guyana	0	0	0	0
77	Haiti	0	0	0	0
77	Honduras	0	0	0	0
77	Iceland	0	0	0	0
77	Iraq	0	0	0	0
77	Jordan	0	0	0	0
77	Kiribati	0	0	0	0
77	Kuwait	0	0	0	0
77	Laos	0	0	0	0
77	Latvia	0	0	0	0
77	Lebanon	0	0	0	0
77	Lesotho	0	0	0	0
77	Liberia	0	0	0	0
77	Libya	0	0	0	0
77	Liechtenstein	0	0	0	0
77	Luxembourg	0	0	0	0
77	Madagascar	0	0	0	0
77	Malawi	0	0	0	0
77	Maldives	0	0	0	0
77	Mali	0	0	0	0
77	Malta	0	0	0	0
77	Marshall Islands	0	0	0	0
77	Mauritania	0	0	0	0
77	Mauritius	0	0	0	0
77	Micronesia	0	0	0	0
77	Monaco	0	0	0	0
77	Montenegro	0	0	0	0
77	Morocco	0	0	0	0
77	Mozambique	0	0	0	0
77	Myanmar	0	0	0	0
77	Namibia	0	0	0	0
77	Nauru	0	0	0	0
77	Nepal	0	0	0	0
77	Nicaragua	0	0	0	0
77	Niger	0	0	0	0
77	Nigeria	0	0	0	0
77	North Macedonia	0	0	0	0
77	Oman	0	0	0	0
77	Pakistan	0	0	0	0
77	Palau	0	0	0	0
77	Palestine	0	0	0	0
77	Panama	0	0	0	0
77	Papua New Guinea	0	0	0	0
77	Paraguay	0	0	0	0
77	Peru	0	0	0	0
77	Puerto Rico	0	0	0	0
77	Qatar	0	0	0	0
77	Rwanda	0	0	0	0
77	Samoa	0	0	0	0
77	San Marino	0	0	0	0
77	Sao Tome and Principe	0	0	0	0
77	Saudi Arabia	0	0	0	0
77	Senegal	0	0	0	0
77	Seychelles	0	0	0	0
77	Sierra Leone	0	0	0	0
77	Singapore	0	0	0	0
77	Solomon Islands	0	0	0	0
77	Somalia	0	0	0	0
77	South Sudan	0	0	0	0
77	Sri Lanka	0	0	0	0
77	St Kitts and Nevis	0	0	0	0
77	St Vincent and the Grenadines	0	0	0	0
77	Sudan	0	0	0	0
77	Suriname	0	0	0	0
77	Syria	0	0	0	0
77	Tanzania	0	0	0	0
77	East Timor	0	0	0	0
77	Togo	0	0	0	0
77	Tonga	0	0	0	0
77	Trinidad and Tobago	0	0	0	0
77	Turkmenistan	0	0	0	0
77	Tuvalu	0	0	0	0
77	United Arab Emirates	0	0	0	0
77	Uruguay	0	0	0	0
77	Vanuatu	0	0	0	0
77	Venezuela	0	0	0	0
77	Vietnam	0	0	0	0
77	British Virgin Islands	0	0	0	0
77	American Virgin Islands	0	0	0	0
77	Yemen	0	0	0	0
77	Zambia	0	0	0	0
77	Zimbabwe	0	0	0	0

August 7, 2024

“Unbelievable” – Messi’s cryptic response following Argentina’s Olympics opener against Morocco

Lionel Messi shared a one-word message after Argentina’s Olympic opener against Morocco turned chaotic.

Argentina’s first game of the Paris Olympics ended in a 2-1 loss to Morocco following a tumultuous match in Saint-Etienne.

The Albiceleste equalized in the 16th minute of stoppage time, prompting fans to storm the pitch, leading to a suspension of play for over an hour.

VAR later disallowed the goal for offside, and Morocco maintained their 2-1 lead after the match resumed.

Messi posted on social media after the final whistle. The Argentina legend wrote simple “insolito” which translates to “unbelievable” coupled with a flushed emoji.

The Paris Olympic football tournament got off to a rough start, with incidents of fans throwing objects onto the pitch.

The situation was further marred by the booing of Argentina’s national anthem by the crowd, who appeared to be upset by footage of Enzo Fernandez and his teammates participating in a racist chant during their Copa America celebrations.

Argentina manager Javier Mascherano was also furious after the final whistle. “The biggest circus I’ve ever seen in my life,” he said.

Argentina will on to play Iraq on Saturday in Group B, while Morocco return to action on the same day against Ukraine.

July 26, 2024
Canadian soccer assistant coach, analyst sacked over drone usage

Canadian women’s soccer team assistant coach and an analyst have been kicked out of the Olympic squad after New Zealand said their team had their training session disrupted by a drone flown by a staff member of their Group A opponents, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) said Wednesday.

Head coach Bev Priestman has also removed herself from coaching the team against New Zealand in Group A on Thursday, the COC added.

“Joseph Lombardi, an unaccredited analyst with Canada Soccer, is being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and will be sent home immediately,” COC said in a statement.

“Jasmine Mander, an assistant coach to whom Mr. Lombardi reports to, is being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and will be sent home immediately.”

“On behalf of our entire team, I first and foremost want to apologize to the players and staff at New Zealand Football and to the players on Team Canada,” she said.

“This does not represent the values that our team stands for. I am ultimately responsible for conduct in our program.

“Accordingly, to emphasize our team’s commitment to integrity, I have decided to voluntarily withdraw from coaching the match on Thursday. In the spirit of accountability, I do this with the interests of both teams in mind and to ensure everyone feels that the sportsmanship of this game is upheld.”

The drone was flown on Monday and the incident was reported by the NZOC to the police and to the International Olympic Committee’s integrity unit.

“The NZOC and New Zealand Football are committed to upholding the integrity and fairness of the Olympic Games and are deeply shocked and disappointed by this incident, which occurred just three days before the sides are due to face each other in their opening game of Paris 2024,” NZOC said in a statement.

“At this time the NZOC’s main priority is to support the New Zealand women’s football athletes and wider team as they start their campaign.”

July 24, 2024
Paris police are investigating the alleged ‘gang rape’ of an Australian woman

French authorities are probing an alleged rape of a 25-year-old Australian woman by five men in central Paris. The woman reportedly sought refuge in a kebab shop in the Pigalle area on Saturday morning, with her dress partly torn, according to local media.

While no arrests have been made, prosecutors have confirmed the investigation is being treated as a “gang rape.”

The incident occurred just days before the opening of the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Le Parisien reported that restaurant owners called for assistance upon seeing the woman’s condition.

Firefighters attended to her immediately after the alleged assault, and she was subsequently taken to Bichat hospital for a medical examination.

The Paris Prosecutor’s Office has stated that police are examining CCTV footage as part of their investigation into the allegations.

“The investigation into the charge of gang rape likely to have been committed on the night of 19 to 20 July has been entrusted to the second judicial police district,” it said.

In preparation for the upcoming Olympics, Paris is seeing a significant police presence to ensure safety. Officers have been patrolling the city in large numbers since last week, with armed guards stationed around the River Seine.

Several security zones have been established, dividing Paris into different areas.

To enter specific zones, such as the one around the Eiffel Tower, individuals must apply for a special games pass through a platform managed by the police. The Olympics begin on Friday, prompting these heightened security measures.

July 24, 2024
French cyberwarriors set to put defences against hackers to test during Olympics

Similar to the Olympic athletes, the cyberwarriors who are important for the Paris Games‘ success are training hard for the event.

They asked nice hackers to test their online security, like boxers practicing with partners to get ready for a big fight. They have looked carefully at their opponents’ strengths, tactics, and weaknesses. These people could be teenagers who show off, criminals who hack into computer systems and demand money, or Russian soldiers who have a history of doing harmful things online.

Unlike the 10,500 athletes going to Paris in July for the Olympics, the cybersecurity engineers working on the Games want to avoid attention. For them, the biggest achievement will be completing the Olympics and Paralympics without any big problems. This would mean that their digital defenses are strong enough to stop any attempts to shut down important computer and information systems for the Games.

Jérémy Couture, who leads the Paris Games organizers’ cybersecurity hub, hopes that at the Olympics, there won’t be any talk about technology and cybersecurity. This would mean that they are not a problem. The job of finding, studying and dealing with cyberdangers is really important for the Games to be successful, so the event organizers are keeping its location a secret.

The people responsible for stopping cyberattacks during the Games expect to be kept busy by hackers this summer, but they don’t want to share too many details about their work. These people could be cybercriminals, teenagers looking for thrill, or Russian military intelligence with a history of causing damage in cyberattacks.

Goals for the Games include more than just the events. They also include important things like transportation and supply systems.

Attackers might be activists who hack to make a political point, or they could be people trying to steal money through cyber extortion. These days, it’s hard to tell if a cyber attacker is working for a government or is simply a hacker activist.

Most dangerous online enemies

Some of the most dangerous cyber enemies are countries that want to embarrass France and the International Olympic Committee by using their proven hacking skills to cause trouble and cost them money. Russia is at the top of the list of people who might have done it.

Due to Russia’s war in Ukraine, the Olympic organizers have stopped Russia from participating in team events at the Paris Games. Some individual Russians will be allowed to compete as neutral players. Russia is upset with France because they are giving weapons and training to Ukraine. Also, France is one of Russia’s biggest critics in Europe.

Vincent Strubel, the person in charge of France’s national cybersecurity agency, called the level of cyber threats facing the Games very serious and unlike anything seen before.

“There will be computer attacks during the Games and the Paralympics,” Strubel said at a meeting on Friday. “Some people won’t take it seriously. ” Some people will take it seriously, but it won’t make a difference in the Games. And maybe some things will be important and could affect the Games.

He said the agency has trained a lot and more than ever before, so things will go well. “I believe we have been able to outsmart the attackers. ”

Strubel said Russia sometimes attacks France, but it’s not helpful to only focus on Russia. “We are getting ready for everything. ”

Western countries blame a very aggressive part of Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency called Sandworm for using a harmful computer program called “Olympic Destroyer” to mess up the start of the 2018 Winter Games in South Korea. This group is accused of causing problems for Ukraine’s power grid and creating a virus that cost over $10 billion in damages.

The cybersecurity teams in Paris are talking to technicians who worked in Pyeongchang to learn from their experiences.

The cybersecurity company Outpost24, based in Sweden, gave a positive review of Paris’ preparations for the Games in a report this week. However, they also found some weaknesses in the online infrastructure for the Games. The rating was like winning a silver medal, not quite a gold.

The report said that just like pickpockets and people who sell fake tickets target tourists, cybercriminals will also be aware of more people going online for the Paris 2024 games and will try to take advantage of it.

May 4, 2024
Macron asserts he is certain Russia will attack Olympics in Paris

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that he is sure Russia will try to cause trouble at the Paris Olympics this summer. This shows that the games are taking place in a tense global situation.

Macron said he has no doubt, even about information, when asked if he thinks Russia will try to target the Olympics.

The Russian embassy in Paris didn’t reply right away to a request for comment.

Macron spoke at an event in Paris for the opening of the new Olympics swimming center and said that he is now more aware of foreign dangers that could affect the security and organization of the games.

The big event is happening while there are many problems in the world, like Russia fighting in Ukraine and Israel having a conflict with Hamas in Gaza. This makes it hard to keep the Olympics safe.

A person who works for Macron said they can’t say if the President was talking about specific information that shows Russia might try to interfere in the future.

Instead, she said: “Russia has been getting tougher, and we’ve been noticing it for a few months. ”

Macron is now being more firm with Russia and said that he is determined to beat them. He also mentioned that European soldiers might go to Ukraine in the future. But he made it clear that France does not want to start a fight with Russia.

His government has also started to take a harder stance against what they believe are false information campaigns from Russia in Europe.

Earlier this week, the Foreign Minister of France, Stephane Sejourne, said that France will suggest that all countries in the European Union should put sanctions on people who are spreading false information. This is because France thinks that Russia is trying to make the European Union weaker.

Russia and the International Olympic Committee

Russia and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are not getting along well before the Paris Olympics. Russian and Belarusian athletes will compete without their flags and anthems, and they won’t be in the opening parade.

At first, they were not allowed to compete in other countries because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Russia announced last year that it wants to bring back the ‘Friendship Games’ in 2024. The International Olympic Committee is not happy about it and sees it as a political move.

Dmitry Peskov, who speaks for the Kremlin, said this week that the IOC’s treatment of Russia’s plans to host sports events for the world was not okay. He also said that the IOC is harming the Olympics by not staying away from politics.

April 5, 2024
Canadian figure skater lost her life in car accident

The life of Alexandra Paul, a Canadian athlete who participated in the Olympics as a figure skater, was cut short at 31 years old in a fatal car collision.

The police said that a truck crashed into some parked vehicles in Ontario on Tuesday and as a result, she lost her life.

Her baby, who was with her in the car, survived and went to the hospital to be treated for injuries that were not life-threatening.

Skate Canada said that Ms. Paul was very talented and had a big impact on figure skating.

In her career, she got second place at the World Junior Figure Skating Championships in 2010 and she represented Canada at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

With her husband Mitchell Islam, she won many medals in international competitions before she stopped competing in 2016.

Skate Canada said in a statement that they are sad to announce the sudden death of a beloved member of our skating community, Alexandra Paul.

As we think about the things Alexandra did for the sport, we also think about how she showed friendship and fair play.

She was not just a skilled athlete but also someone who others looked up to as an example. She showed the importance of bouncing back from challenges, continuing to try when things get tough, and being fair and respectful in sports.

“Our hearts go out to Alexandra’s family, friends, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing her during this challenging time. ”

Sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) that Ms. Paul was very successful and talented.

August 28, 2023
Russia cannot be allowed at Olympics, Zelensky says

Allowing Russia to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, would amount to demonstrating that “terror is somehow acceptable.”

He mentioned that he had discussed the matter with Emmanuel Macron, the president of France.

He continued, “Moscow must not be permitted to use the Olympics for propaganda.”

According to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), athletes from Belarus and Russia may participate in the Olympics as neutrals.

But Ukraine has threatened to boycott Paris 2024 if Russian and Belarusian athletes are allowed to compete.

Attempts by the IOC “to bring Russian athletes back into the Olympic Games are attempts to tell the whole world that terror is somehow acceptable”, Mr Zelensky said in his nightly video address.

Russia must not be allowed to use the Games “or any other sport event as propaganda for its aggression or its state chauvinism”, he added.

The IOC said this week that Russian and Belarusian athletes could compete as “neutral athletes”, stating that “no athlete should be prevented from competing just because of their passport”.

But Mr Zelensky says there can be no neutrality in sport while his country’s athletes are dying on the battlefield.

He also drew comparison with the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin when the Nazis were in power.

“There was a major Olympic mistake,” he said. “The Olympic movement and terrorist states definitely should not cross paths.”

The UK government has also condemned the plan to allow athletes to compete neutrally as a “world away from the reality of war”.

Image caption,Russian forces have been bombarding Kherson all weekend

Mr Zelensky’s comments came as Russian forces continued to bombard the Ukrainian region of Kherson into the night, after a day of attacks which left at least three people dead.

Six others were wounded, two of them when a hospital was hit, local officials say.

The Kherson regional administration said the region was shelled almost 40 times on Saturday and was pounded continually on Sunday.

Kherson was the only regional capital to have fallen to Russian forces since the February 2022 invasion, but they were forced into a humiliating retreat in November.

President Zelensky said Russia had also stepped up its attacks in the eastern Donetsk region. He said his forces needed new weapons to confront a “very tough” situation of constant attacks.

“Russia wants the war to drag on and exhaust our forces. So we have to make time our weapon. We have to speed up events, speed up supplies and open up new weapons options for Ukraine,” he said.

January 30, 2023
Sekondi-Takoradi Marathon gets sponsorship

The first-ever Sekondi-Takoradi Marathon has received further support from one of the leading betting companies in Ghana; mybet.Africa.

The betting company is now the official betting outfit of the competition, slated for December 26, from Sekondi Sports Stadium to Amanful covering a distance of 21-kilometres.

mybet.Africa has donated GHC 10,000 towards the organisation of the event.

The donation makes the betting company the official betting outfit for the historic event that is also part of activities planned for the 2020 Ankos Festival.

Mr. Henri Penni Marketing and Sponsorship Coordinator of the event who received the cheque expressed appreciation to the betting company for their support.

He said they would ensure the company gets the needed mileage for the support.

It is under the auspices of the Western Regional Coordinating Council (WRCC) with Medivents Consult and Total Marketing and Tours Limited.

Over 1000 athletes are expected to participate in the 21-Kilometer race from the Sekondi Stadium in Essipong to Amanful in Takoradi.

Athletes all over the country and the sub-region are expected to participate in the historic event.

Information from the organisers indicates that five Kenyans have registered for the. marathon and are expected in the country on December 25.

The event would be sponsored by Ghana Gas Company, Africa World Airlines, mybet.Africa, Cowbell, Aqua Blue Mineral Water, Lakeside Estate, Goil, STMA, Halfan Ghana Limited, Escort Security Services, The Inquisitor Newspaper, and Sportenetgh.com.

Source: GNA

December 23, 2020
Semenya ‘up for fighting court decision’

The lawyer for South African athlete Caster Semeny has said she is “up for further fighting” after she lost her appeal in Switzerland last month against the restriction of testosterone levels in female runners, AFP news agency reports.

Semenya is not allowed to compete in events between 400m and a mile without taking testosterone-reducing drugs, following a 2019 rule change by governing body World Athletics.

Lawyer Gregory Nott told AFP that the runner was prepared to go to the European Court of Human Rights to challenge the ban. That process could take a few months, he added.

Athletics’ governing body brought in a rule that athletes with differences of sexual development (DSD) like Semenya must either take medication in order to compete in track events from 400m to the mile, or change to another distance.

Athletes with DSD have higher levels of natural testosterone, which World Athletics believes gives them a competitive advantage.

Source: bbc.com

October 1, 2020
GOC spent $20,000 on Black Bombers during the Olympic qualifiers – Nunoo Mensah

Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) President, Ben Nunoo Mensah, has disclosed to Happy Sports that his outfit had to spend close to $20,000 on the national boxing team, the Black Bombers during their participation in the Africa Olympic qualifiers held in Dakar, Senegal in March.

According to him, the GOC was able to secure some funds from ANOCA to help some Federations participate in the Olympic qualifiers.

Samuel Takyi and Suleman Tetteh were the two Ghanaian amateur boxers to book a ticket for the Olympics at the qualifiers.

After securing qualification, the two boxers are yet to receive their bonuses from government and are even struggling for meals as they prepare ahead of the Games.

Speaking in an interview with Odiasempa Kwame Oware on Wamputu Sports on Happy 98.9FM on the efforts made by the GOC to help the two athletes qualify for the Olympic Games the GOC president said,â€œEven when the boxers were to compete in the qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal it was the GOC that had to help them with their finance including their accommodation. We spent close to $20,000 to get the two boxers to qualify for the Olympic Gamesâ€.

â€œWe were able to secure some funds from ANOCA to help our Federations during the qualifiers. That is not the work of the GOC. I want to make that clear. The duty of the national team is the responsibility of the government and the various federations.

He added: â€œother athletes in the other disciplines are also suffering and if they get to share their problems you will be amazed. Most of the other disciplines are neglected without any bonuses given to them when they participate in competitionsâ€.

Source:Â happyghana.com

June 30, 2020
Samuel Takyi’s fears ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games

Samuel Takyi – one of Ghana’s candidate for the 2020 Olympic Games is harboring fears of battling with his weight following the postponement of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Takyi qualified at the Africa Olympic Qualifier in Dakar, Senegal early this year as a featherweight boxer but with the postponement of the Games in Tokyo due to the coronavirus pandemic, the young boxer is afraid he might not make the exact weight next year.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) together with the Local Organising Committee (LOC), called off the Games due to the coronavirus pandemic that has hit the world.

Takyi said in an interview with the GNA Sports that, after explanations from his coaches on the need to postpone the Games, he came to the realization that life was more important but added that, he may struggle to make weight in 2021.

The featherweight boxer said, he was worried about his weight but was encouraged to train daily and keep on checking on the scale regularly to ensure he was within weight each day.

Takyi, 19, said he cannot afford to miss the Games due to challenges with his weight hence had been regular at the gym to ensure he was in the best of shapes and within his weight whilst he awaits 2021

“It’s a difficult thing to do especially when you have to make sure you are within weight but that is my profession I have to remain disciplined and ready for battle all the time,” he stated.

Takyi, also known as the “The Ring Warrior” said boxing is my talent and now my profession and I do it with passion.

â€œQualifying into the national team was a surprise, but with hard work and determination I made it to the Olympics and I will not let anything to distract me,” he added.

Takyi has over amateur fights to his credit and remains one of Ghana’s medal hopeful for the Games.

Source:Â GNA

April 26, 2020
Dan Quaye excludes Don Bortey from his best XI

Former Ghana defender Dan Quaye has excluded ex-teammate Bernard Don Bortey from his list of best eleven players.

Quaye was expected to name Don Bortey in his team after chalking several successes with the winger during his days at Hearts of Oak.

However, the ex-Olympics star named Bortey’s rival Charles Taylor in a squad that also included former teammates Amankwa Mireku and Sammy Adjei.

The 39-year old named himself in a defence that had Jacob Nartey, Michael Donkor and Amankwa Mireku.

His midfield was made up of Michael Essien, Stephen Appiah, Joe Ansah and Sulley Muntari with Emmanuel Osei Kuffuor playing as a false nine.

Below is Dan Quaye’s best XI

Sammy Adjei

Amankwaah Mireku

Jacob Nartey

Dan Quaye

Michael Donkoh

Joe Ansah

Charles Taylor

Michael Essien

Emmanuel Osei Kuffuor

Stephen Appiah

Sulley Muntari

Source:Â GHANAsoccernet.com

April 22, 2020
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games postponed

The organisers of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, schedule for July,24 have agreed to a one-year postponement of the event because of the global Coronavirus pandemic.

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the International Olympic Committee had agreed to the delay the event.

“I proposed to postpone for a year and [IOC] president Thomas Bach responded with 100% agreement,” he said.

A one-year delay would also apply to the Tokyo Paralympic Games.

Prime Minister Abe added: “This will make it possible for athletes to play in the best condition, and will make the event a safe and secure one for spectators.”

The agreement comes as the British Olympic Association (BOA) was meeting on Tuesday to discuss the matter.

BOA chairman Hugh Robertson had already said Great Britain was unlikely to send a team to Tokyo this summer.

Source: Primenewsghana.com

March 25, 2020
Coronavirus: Olympic doubts grow as Canada withdraws athletes

The 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo have been thrown into further doubt after Canada became the first major country to withdraw.

Their announcement came shortly after the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, admitted for the first time that the games could be postponed.

Meanwhile, the Australian team has said it was “clear” the games could not go ahead, and told its athletes to prepare for a 2021 games.

The games are due to begin on 24 July.

What did Canada say?

The country’s Olympic and Paralympic committee said it had taken “the difficult decision” to withdraw after consulting athletes, sports groups, and the Canadian government.

It then “urgently called” on the International Olympic Committee, International Paralympic Committee, and World Health Organization, to postpone the games for a year.

“While we recognise the inherent complexities around a postponement, nothing is more important than the health and safety of our athletes and the world community,” their statement said.

The Canadian later posted a message on Twitter saying: “Postpone today. Conquer tomorrow.”

What did Shinzo Abe say?
For weeks, Japanese officials have said the games will go ahead as planned.

But, speaking in parliament on Monday, Mr Abe admitted for the first time that Tokyo 2020 may have to be delayed.

“If it is difficult to hold (the games) in a complete way, a decision of postponement would be unavoidable as we think the athletes’ safety is paramount,” he said.

But he insisted the games would not be cancelled altogether.

The Olympics have never been postponed or cancelled in peacetime. The 1940 Olympics – which were called off because of World War Two – were due to be held in Tokyo.

What is the International Olympic Committee’s position?
On Sunday, the IOC said it had given itself a deadline of four weeks to make a decision on the 2020 games.

It said postponement was one “scenario”, but insisted that cancellation “would not solve any of the problems or help anybody”.

In a letter to athletes, IOC president Thomas Bach said: “Human lives take precedence over everything, including the staging of the games…

“At the end of this dark tunnel we are all going through together, not knowing how long it is, the Olympic flame will be a light at the end of this tunnel.”

What do other countries and athletes say?
On Monday, Australia told its athletes to prepare for an Olympics and Paralympics in the northern summer of 2021.

“It’s clear the games can’t be held in July,” Australian chef-de-mission Ian Chesterman said.

On Sunday, the head of World Athletics, Sebastian Coe, wrote to Mr Bach to say holding the games in July was “neither feasible nor desirable”.

USA Track and Field has called for a postponement, as has the competitors’ group Global Athlete.

“As the pandemic gets worse and worse and there are more and more societal restrictions put in place, I think the call needs to be made now,” said British cyclist Callum Skinner, who fronts the Global Athlete.

Source: Primenewsghana.com

March 23, 2020
Tokyo governor says cancelling Olympics ‘unthinkable’

Doubts are increasingly being raised over whether the Olympics can be held as scheduled from July 24 to August 9.

Cancelling the 2020 Olympics is “unthinkable” although the classification of the coronavirus as a pandemic will likely have some impact on the Games, the Tokyo city governor said on Thursday.

“It can’t be said that the announcement of a pandemic would have no impact… But I think cancellation is unthinkable,” Yuriko Koike told reporters.

Doubts are increasingly being raised over whether the Olympics can be held as scheduled from July 24 to August 9.

Organisers have insisted the Games will go ahead as planned and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), with whom the final decision rests, has said there has not yet been any talk of cancellation or postponement.

The IOC has said it will coordinate closely with the World Health Organization, which has now officially classified the outbreak as a pandemic.

Koike vowed to work with the IOC and Tokyo 2020 organisers on what she described as a “global issue”, promising to devote her “utmost efforts” to hold the Games.

But coronavirus has already taken a huge toll on sport across the globe with a long list of competitions affected.

US basketball was the latest sport to be hit, as the NBA said it would suspend the season starting on Thursday after a preliminary test on a Utah Jazz player came back positive for COVID-19.

In Italy, the hardest-hit European country, all sporting events including Serie A football have been suspended until April 3.

Arsenal’s game at Manchester City on Wednesday was the first Premier League football fixture to be called off, while Champions League matches have been played behind closed doors and Indian Wells, one of the biggest events of the tennis season, was cancelled.

‘Global problem’

Coronavirus has already had some impact on the Games, as the traditional flame-lighting ceremony in Olympia, Greece is expected to be held without spectators after dozens tested positive for the virus nearby.

The torch is due to arrive in Japan on March 20 but the arrival ceremony has also been downscaled, with some 200 children originally scheduled to attend now expected to miss it.

Olympic qualifying tournaments in several different sports have also been cancelled, postponed or moved to different countries.

Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori said on Wednesday that the Games would go ahead as scheduled although he admitted organisers are “concerned” about the virus, which has infected 124,000 people with 4,500 deaths.

Mori made the comments after a member of the organisers’ executive board sounded the alarm, warning postponing the Games for two years might be the best option under the circumstances.

But Mori dismissed that option, as did Japanese Olympic minister Seiko Hashimoto, who told a parliament committee that postponing or cancelling the Games was “inconceivable”.

Executive board member Haruyuki Takahashi had told Japan’s Asahi Shimbun daily it would be ideal to hold the Olympics as planned but “there has to be an alternative plan”.

“Coronavirus has become a global problem. We can’t just hold it (the Olympics) because Japan is OK,” he told the daily on Wednesday.

Takahashi said the summer two years from now “offers the best possibility” for a postponement, given the international sporting calendar, adding that “preparation must start now” if a delay is on the cards.

He insisted that it would be “impossible” to cancel the Games altogether, and said he was speaking out as “a warning bell” for the organising committee, adding that he would raise the issue at a board meeting later this month.

Source: AFP

March 12, 2020
Cancellation of the Olympics would be ‘unacceptable’

Japan does not expect to receive a cancellation notice from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said Olympics Minister Seiko Hashimoto on Thursday according to a Reuters report.

The Olympics minister said a “cancellation or delay of the Games would be unacceptable for the athletes”.

Earlier this week, she had said that Tokyo’s contract with the IOC called for the Games to be held within 2020. She said this “could be interpreted as allowing a postponement”.

Source: bbc.com

March 5, 2020
Legon Cities coach confident of Olympics scalp

Goran Barjaktarevic, Head Coach of Legon Cities FC, remains optimistic his side will pick all three points, when they face Great Olympics in the week ten league game of the Ghana Premier League (GPL).

The match-day ten encounter slated for the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday, would witness an enthralling city derby with so much at stake for both sides.

Each of the sides would need a win to keep a comfortable place on the league table as the competition gets keener.

Ahead of the big city derby, Coach Goran is confident about defeating the counterparts despite their rich stature in Ghana’s football.

â€œGreat Olympics are certainly one of the most popularly clubs in Ghana and have great tradition but with challenges over the past years, but we are focused on the derby and games like this are very open.

â€œWe need to do anything to get all three points considering our position on the league table and for me that’s very important,” he said at pre-match press conference.

Commenting on the quality of his side, Goran said, ”we have been working on building a strong team in all departments by having a good defense and efficient attack.

â€œMost of the players are playing Premier League football for the first time and have not played together for a long while, so it would take time for us to become a better side,” he said.

The Royals are placed 15th on the league log with 10 points from nine matches scoring six goals and conceding 11 goals.

Source:Â GNA

February 14, 2020
We will go for the 3 points against Olympics on Friday Legon Cities coach

Head coach for Legon Cities FC, Goran Barjaktarevic has emphasized that his team will go into their fixture against Great Olympics with the aim of bagging all 3 points at the end of the 90 minutes.

The two clubs have been inconsistent since the 2019/2020 Ghana Premier League started. After playing 9 matches each, both clubs are just a point away from the relegation zone.

In dire need of points to climb away from the red zone, they are set to come up against each other on Match Week 10 which has been scheduled for this weekend.

In a pre-match press conference to the match, Legon Cities FC coach Goran Barjaktarevic say they are hopeful of getting the needed win.

â€œNo team prepares to lose a match, every manager goes into a game to get the full 3 points. That’s the same for my team on Friday. Everyone is ready to die on the pitch and it’s something, I’m happy aboutâ€, the German tactician said.

He added, â€œI came here to work and that’s my aim. I am living every day to that. Football is why I’m here and that’s it. Nothing elseâ€.

The big game will be played at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday, February 14, 2020, and will kick off at 19:00GMT.

Source:Â footballghana.com

February 13, 2020
GHC 10,000 for Special Olympics team

The Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA),?Professor Peter Twumasi, has promised to reward the Special Olympics team with GHC10,000 for winning 16 medals at the just-ended 2020 Pan African Special Olympic Games held in Egypt.

Ghana won three gold, seven silver and six bronze medals at the Games which ended on Friday January 31.

The athletics team won three gold in two different categories in the 200 metres male event as well as the 4×100 metres male event.

The football team added a silver to the medal haul after losing 0-1 to Algeria in the final at the Military Stadium in Cairo on Wednesday January 29.

When the team presented their medals after arriving in Ghana on Friday January 31, the NSA boss said he was overjoyed at the outstanding performance of the athletes, describing the feat as gains for Ghana at the international level.

He commended them for flying the flag of Ghana high and assured them of financial support in future assignments.

A Board Member of Special Olympics Ghana, Nana Wereko Ampim-Opoku, told the Graphic Sports Online that but for financial constraints, Ghana would have won more medals.

â€œSpecial Olympics has always had difficulty in mobilising funds to participate in such international tournaments, so we always go with a few athletes.

“The team depends solely on the board, so if it does not put resources together, we cannot participate in such tournaments,â€ he explained.

He added: â€œGhanaians have now shown much appreciation for the outstanding performance of Special Olympics Ghana after our feat in Cairo at the just-ended Pan African Games.

“They have also shown appreciation to the board for nurturing the potential of intellectually disabled athletes through sports over the years.â€

Source:Â Graphic.com.gh

February 4, 2020