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Tag: Olympic Games

  • South Africa set to bid for Olympic Games

    South Africa set to bid for Olympic Games

    South Africa plans to bid for the 2036 or 2040 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the government said, aiming to bring one of the world’s biggest sporting events to Africa for the first time.

    The country was the first on the continent to host the football World Cup in 2010.

    “South Africa initiates its intention to bid for the 2036 and 2040 Olympic Games,” minister in the presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said in a press briefing.

    She said Pretoria had entered into “continuous dialogue with the International Olympic Committee”, headed since June by Zimbabwean Kirsty Coventry.

    It is as a “preliminary and exploratory engagement that is critical to advance South Africa’s intention to bid for the hosting rights of the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Ntshavheni said, without specifying the potential host city.

    Cape Town had bid to host the 2004 Games, which ultimately went to Athens in a 1997 vote.

    Ntshavheni said South Africa wouldn’t require significant investment to improve its already available infrastructure.

    “Even if we are offered the games tomorrow, cabinet is confident that we should be able to host them with our facilities,” she said.

    In a visit to South Africa in October 2024, former IOC president Thomas Bach had said the country had “the stability, the infrastructure and vision to stage an Olympics”.

    Read Also: Ballon d’Or: NFF congratulates Nnadozie, Madugu

    Senegal’s Dakar will next year be the first city on the continent to host the Youth Olympics, from October 31 to November 14, 2026.

    The next Summer Olympics will be held in Los Angeles in 2028, and the 2032 Games have been awarded to Brisbane, Australia.

    In October, Munich voters approved a plan for a bid to host the Summer Olympics in 2036, 2040 or 2044. The German city last hosted the Games in 1972.

    South Africa has been putting its weight behind international sporting events, and has bid to host a Formula One Grand Prix at its historic Kyalami track near Johannesburg from 2027.

    Africa’s most industrialised economy is also the main organiser of the 2027 men’s Cricket World Cup.

  • Miss-K stuns at Olympics in Paris

    Miss-K stuns at Olympics in Paris

    Afro-Caribbean-Latina beauty and multi-award-winning entertainer, Miss-K, returned to the United Kingdom yesterday.

    However, her exclusive appearance and performance at the recently concluded Olympic Games in Paris, France will continue to linger on.

    Miss K, who is also a promethean artist and  supermodel, was seen encouraging some Olympians at the well-attended event.

    She was also spotted posing by the famous Eiffel Tower and enjoying a little sightseeing around town.

    Read Also: Ojelabi to Nigerians: together we can achieve greatness

    Miss-K showcased her phenomenal and amazing curves, posing spontaneously and happily for the cameras while being surrounded by the same bodyguards who protected Tennis star, Serena Williams, just a few days back.

    Miss-K is the first international face to have ever been contracted by MTN, for which she gracefully appeared on billboards, scratch cards, calendars, and digital adverts.

  • Ashton Mutuwa: How Serbian friend inspired me to fight for Nigeria

    Ashton Mutuwa: How Serbian friend inspired me to fight for Nigeria

    Almost four years ago, our son Ashton Mutuwa graduated as an All-American wrestler, a title that spoke volumes about his dedication, talent and hard work. But life, as it often does, took him on a different path, and wrestling took a back seat to his full-time career as a cybersecurity analyst at Yum! Brands. While focusing on his career, he stayed connected and plugged in to the sport by coaching and mentoring younger wrestlers. That is until last fall when the dream of competing at the highest levels of wrestling was ignited.”

    This is how Sanusi Mutuwa, Nigerian father of Paris 2024 Olympic Games-bound wrestler, Ashton Mutuwa captured his son’s journey to Paris in a tribute dedicated to his son after he picked a ticket to the 2024 Olympic Games in France.

    Despite spending most of his life in the US, Ashton Mutuwa defied all odds to return to his country of birth and compete against some established national champions in his bid to pick a ticket to the 2023 African Games and Olympic Qualifiers.

    Read Also: Olaore picks third boxing ticket to Paris Olympic Games

    NOT WITHOUT CHALLENGE 

    Though the road to the top was not without its challenges, Mutuwa was determined to achieve his dream of competing at the Olympic Games that when he arrived Nigeria under a scorching 37 degree weather, coming from a -14 degree, he adjusted to this torrid situation that he never nursed an idea of giving up.

    “I have always been really proud to be a Nigerian because of reasons I won’t get into. I didn’t have the opportunity to visit much growing up and I feel like I missed out a lot in many ways; the culture, the people, and especially my family. I will forever be grateful to America for teaching me the sport and the opportunities I have had to wrestle, but I thought it would be really special to represent Nigeria at the Olympics. To do that for my dad and family just feels incredible. My parents met in Nigeria so I know it’s special for my mom too. When I saw an opportunity to represent Nigeria I didn’t hesitate, it allows me to visit the country while doing what I love, it allows me to fully dive into the culture and see various parts of Nigeria, and it allows me to reconnect with family I haven’t seen in years. There is no doubt I am blessed to live this life.”

    On what it takes to pick the ticket to represent Nigeria, he said: “For me it was a pretty easy decision, as I stated before I am very grateful to be a U.S. citizen as well as a Nigerian citizen and it is by no means a jab at the US. However for all the reasons listed above I really wanted to represent Nigeria. Also, I was not forced at all to represent Nigeria but it actually took a lot of work to coordinate and plan my trip to represent Nigeria. It was expensive, stressful, and time consuming, it’s just something I wanted really bad.

    HOW SERBIAN FRIEND INSPIRED HIM

    On his inspiration to pitch his tent with Nigeria, he said: “Seeing my friend from my hometown in the US represent his country of heritage, Serbia, is what initially inspired me.”

    However, Mutuwa admitted that representing Nigeria was not without its hassles, his words: “The experience of the national trials was unforgettable; I was very sick the days leading up to my travels and my wrestle offs. I was very nervous my body would let me down. I was very weak, and the weather was very hot. When I left the States it was 14 degrees when I landed in Yenagoa it was 37 degrees so my body was really struggling. I just had to remind myself how badly I wanted it. The environment was awesome and the event ran smoothly, I will never forget the national trials. Of course I had some people who were upset I was there but the majority of people were super supportive. But the Nigeria wrestling team is like a family.”

    “Wrestling in Nigeria is very tough. There is something about Naija blood that breeds strong people. The strength combined with the determination of these athletes is a deadly combination. I would like to see Nigeria become a nation that regularly wins medals at the world and Olympic levels. I think as the sport grows we may begin to see that, and I am not sure if there are many opportunities for youth wrestling but maybe when there is or if there is we will start to see a dominant trend.

    “I had no expectations before coming to Nigeria but I remember the first person I wrestled was the 86kg champion Harrison, and as soon as we started wrestling I knew that there were some talented wrestlers in Nigeria. I was happy to see how good they were.

    “I must admit that it was not easy at all competing against some of the established wrestlers in Nigeria like one of them called Progress is a very strong athlete and he’s experienced in multiple grappling sports, traditional wrestling, judo, and freestyle, maybe even more. I love tough competition and that’s what I got so it was great that I had a tough match to qualify.

    AFRICAN GAMES

    Despite making his debut at the 13th African Games in Ghana, Mutuwa was able to mount the podium with a silver medal to show for his effort. “The African Games was decent. I think Ghana ran into a few issues which is understandable as hosting the games is a very strenuous task. Overall I had a good time but there were some things that could have been handled better.

    “At the African Games I knew that wrestling is never easy, but I struggled in my first match just because I didn’t warm up properly and in my next few matches I dominated which felt good but even then it’s not easy. I was not surprised that I made the podium in Ghana at all; if anything I was hoping to take was gold.”

    From the African Games, Mutuwa took his campaign to the African Championships where he lost 12-0 superiority to YoussifHemida of Egypt in the 125kg final to settle for the silver medal in readiness for the Olympic Games qualifiers.

    Needing only two wins to secure his place at Paris Olympic Games, Mutuwa produced à spirited display in the deciding bout to overpower South African Justin Van Zyl in a 16-8 pinfall to secure the Olympic slot. “Qualifying for the Olympic Games was not easy at all because the first guy I wrestled was incredibly strong. Luckily I was able to use my speed and technique to secure a pin. My second opponent I had beaten 12-1 the week before but I was over thinking my match and he started out with a 7-2 lead. I knew I could come back and win but by the time I pinned him I was exhausted,” he said.

    GOING FOR OLYMPIC MEDAL

    Aside from hoping for a medal at the World Championships, competing and medalling at the Olympic Games are priorities for Mutuwa.

    “The Olympics is one of the biggest things you can accomplish in wrestling. It meant so much to achieve that. It still feels unbelievable.”

    On his Olympics goal, he said: “My goal is to always have fun, I usually find success when I do that. I want Olympics medal badly and I have a lot of work to do before accomplishing that. For now I’ll put in the work and when I get there I’ll have fun.

    On his preparation, he said: “Lots of wrestling, lifting, and eating. I need to sharpen up a few skills and get stronger, I’ll put in the work.”

    Mutuwa is an accounting graduate who started with Truman State university and he later moved to Campbellsville where he bagged his first degree and he started his MBA in cybersecurity that he now has in the bag. He’s a cybersecurity analyst with Yum! Brands in the U.S.

  • Brazil convicts eight for planning attack on Rio Olympic Games

    A federal court convicted eight Brazilians on Thursday for planning an attack on the Rio Olympics inspired by Islamic State; and sentenced them to between six and 15 years in prison.

    The eight men were arrested in July, two weeks before the Games opened in Rio de Janeiro, raising fears of an attack on the global sports event.

    Authorities said they were a loosely organised group of amateurs barely connected by social media.

    The leader of the group, Leonid el Kadre de Melo, 33, was convicted of recruitment with aim of practicing acts of terrorism and was sentenced to 15 years and 10 months in prison.

    The other seven were convicted of criminal association and promoting a terrorist organisation and sentenced to six years and five months in prison.

    Brazilian government officials said the group had not met in person; lacked funding and did not actually had contact with Islamic State, though they had tried to purchase guns.

    Evidence in the sentencing included photos of members of the group posing with black Islamic State flags and a chat page discussion on how to make a bomb using charcoal, fertiliser and sulfur.

  • “Boxers train under mango tree in Delta”- Okorodudu

    “Boxers train under mango tree in Delta”- Okorodudu

    Nigeria’s boxer in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, Jerry Okorodudu,  has condemned how existing and up-and-coming boxers train under a mango tree in Asaba, Delta.

    Okorodudu said this was due to the absence of a boxing gymnasium in Delta that could enhance the promotion of the sport.

    He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos that the boxers usually trained under a mango tree at a corner beside the Asaba Township Stadium.

    “It is a shame for Delta not to have a standard boxing gymnasium where its boxers can use for practice; instead the boxers and their coaches train under a mango tree.

    “I am calling on the present administration in  Delta State to visit this issue, and pay adequate attention to the plights of existing and upcoming boxers,” he said.

    He said that such a problem should not be identified with a state that had produced boxers that had represented the nation at in international competitions.

    “Many of the country’s boxers at the Olympics were from Delta State. We are a force to reckon with also at national championships.

    “The records are there for anyone that wants to verify.

    “We have William Azanor, (56kg) in 1980 Moscow Olympics, Christopher Ossair, (60kg) two-time Olympian, 1980 Moscow and 1984 Los Angeles, in which I also featured.

    “Joe Orewa (52kg) and Peter Konyegbachi also represented the nation at the 1984Olympics, while Gabriel Onoko, (52kg) was in Barcelona Olympics.

    “The most recent boxer is Efe Ajagba ( +91kg) category who was at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

    “With all these stars, Delta should have a standard gymnasium,’’ he said.

    The Brisbane Commonwealth bronze medalist was optimistic that the state would produce more boxers that would make the country proud at national and international scenes, if provided with a modern gymnasium.

    Such gymnasium must be equipped with modern facilities such as a boxing ring, boxing bags, assorted guards and coaching/training pad to enhance their training, he said.

  • ITTF Africa celebrates Quadri’s Rio Olympic feat 

    ITTF Africa celebrates Quadri’s Rio Olympic feat 

    For becoming the first player in Africa to make it to the quarterfinal stage of the Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil, the executive council of International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa has acknowledged the feat of the Nigerian with an award of outstanding performance.

    The presentation of the award was performed by the ITTF Africa President, Khaled El-Salhy including Vice President of ITTF, Cherif Hajem.

    The ITTF boss said it was coincident that two Nigerians – Segun Toriola and Aruna Quadri put Africa on the world map in Rio and for this, the Executive Committee agreed at their meeting that the two players must be acknowledged and honour in order to motivate upcoming players to aim high like them.

    “We were overwhelmed with the huge publicity that Africa got in the table tennis event of Rio Olympic Games because of the performance of Aruna Quadri because, in the history of table tennis, no African has made it to the last eight of the Olympic Games.

    “Players like Aruna Quadri are very rare and I know his performance was due to his commitment and hard work which were obvious in his performance. This honour is not just to celebrate him but to also inspire other players to work hard because without hard work and discipline it will be impossible for any player to make it to the world stage,” he said.

    “From his performance at the 2014 World Cup in Germany where he became the first African to make it to the quarterfinal round of the competition to being named the 2014 ITTF Star Player at the Star Award, Aruna Quadri has raised the bar for others to aim at and with his performance of record, more people in the continent are now paying attention to the sport and we hope he will continue to move up and other African players will surely come through,” El-Salhy added.

  • Quadri leaps to 25th in the world

    Quadri leaps to 25th in the world

    … Sets new African record

    Few weeks after setting the continental record as the first African to berth in the quarterfinal of the table tennis event of the Olympic Games, Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri has again inked another feat after leaping to 25 in the world in the September ITTF ranking released late on Monday.

    Quadri who two years ago was listed in top 300 has defied all odds to prove bookmakers wrong with his extra-ordinary performance on the global stage which has made him the outstanding African table tennis player in the world.

    Prior to being named the 2014 ITTF Star Player, Quadri in Dusseldorf, Germany became the first African to make it to the quarterfinal stage of the ITTF World Cup and since then, his world rating has continue to soar.

    At the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, he played his heart out beating some of the world’s best including former world number one, Germany’s Timo Boll to make it to the last eight of the Olympic Games as the first African to attain such height in table tennis.

    In August 2016, Quadri was ranked 40th in the world with 2305 points, but his scintillating outing in Brazil earned him 152 points for him to garner 2457points in the September  to become the first player in Africa to be rated among the top 25 in the world.

      Beyond his world rating, Quadri is also listed among the most active players in the world based on his latest points.

      Africa’s most decorated table tennis star and a member of the ITTF ‘7’ Club, Segun Toriola’s efforts at Rio were rewarded as the seventh time Olympian moved from 120 to 106 in the ranking, while Egypt’s Omar Assar remains the continent number two. Assar who was edged out in the second round of the Rio Olympic Games by Ukraine’s Lei Kou dropped from 55 to 56 in the world.

      Despite dropping to 118 from 110, Egypt’s Dina Meshref remains the top ranked African female player, while Nigeria’s duo of Edem Offiong and Olufunke Oshonaike were not lucky as well with Offiong dropping from 120 to 129 while Oshonaike dropped from 241 to 251.

  • I’m not done with national team – Toriola

    I’m not done with national team – Toriola

    • Targets Tokyo 2020

    The first African to feature in seven Olympic Games, Segun Toriola believes he still a lot to offer in terms of his experience.

    The former African champion told NationSport on Monday in Lagos that his decision to continue with the national team was based on his passion for the sport that has brought him fame and fortune.

    “I think I can still continue playing for the national team because this is all I know how to do. Table tennis is my passion and I cannot be specific on when I would stop playing because my body can still carry me. I might be old in terms of age but when it comes to the game I am active. The motivation of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) coupled with the need to support the upcoming players is some of the things that inspired me to continue playing the game,” Toriola said.

    However, Toriola is hoping to be part of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan. “I am still one of the best in my sport despite my age and my consistency in table tennis which sees me playing in two top regular clubs in Europe would remain an added advantage for me as I continue to play in world class competitions,” said Toriola.

    He added: ““Being 42 years old is one thing-being fit enough to continue playing top table tennis is another.” He continued, “I am very discipline and I religiously follow the things that will continue to aid my fitness in the game. Come Tokyo 2020, I will still be good to represent Nigeria in top grade international competitions until after the Tokyo Olympics.”

    It would be recalled that Toriola was one of the stars at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as the Nigerian was honoured by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) for his feat as the first table tennis and African athlete to compete at seven Olympic Games.

     

  • Olympics: Dream Team’s sacrifice gave Nigeria medal- Danagogo

    Olympics: Dream Team’s sacrifice gave Nigeria medal- Danagogo

    Tammy Danagogo, immediate past Minister of Sports, says Dream Team’s efforts and sacrifice in the midst of nothing is responsible for their victory in the just concluded Rio Olympics.

    Danagogo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Port Harcourt that Coach Sampson Siasia and the players deserved commendation for their fighting spirit and determination to succeed.

    “First, I congratulate the boys and the coaches, I think it is their efforts and sacrifice that has given Nigeria honour. I commend them for their sacrifice to the nation.

    “I believe that from what we saw, and what we know, we have the potentials to win even gold medals, if we had given all what we should have given into the competition.

    “But nevertheless, the boys in the midst of nothing were able to make water out of the rock with the rock situation they found themselves,” Danagogo said.

    According to the former minister, there is need to do more as a country, government and as managers of sports to better maximize the potential materials we have.

    He said as a Nigerian, he was happy that at least, the nation would not be coming back with nothing but the country needed to sit up.

    “This is because the nation is supposed to do better in this Olympics, if we had taken the last six months seriously,” he said.

    Danagogo stated that Nigeria got it wrong in several ways, especially in preparation for the Olympic Games.

    “Olympics competition is like World Cup. It is the best competing against the best. It is an assembly of champions. There is nobody in Olympics that is an average person.

    “What differentiates one champion from another is preparation and motivation,” he said.

    The former Minister said that Nigeria was having an unfortunate situation repeatedly by not harnessing her potentials, which came to the fore in a brazen manner this time.

    “We have the champions, boys and materials but when the time comes, you will discover that we are always unable to harness them.

    “I expected that athletes and footballers should have gone for their foreign camping long ago and get the best treatment,” he said.

  • Olympics: Nigeria missing as taekwondo event begins

    Olympics: Nigeria missing as taekwondo event begins

    For the first time in the last three editions of the Olympic Games, Team Nigeria will be conspicuously missing from the taekwondo event of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as 63 countries begin fight for medals.

    Since taekwondo became a medal hauling event at Sydney 2000 Olympic Games in United States, Nigeria has not missed out from competing at the tournament after the trio of Princess Dudu, Chika Chukwumerije and Martins Obiora featured at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games in Greece.

    Nigeria failed to feature in the qualifiers for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games but in 2004, the team presented three athletes – Dudu, Chukwumerije and Obiora for the games but they were knocked in the first round of the games.

    Chukwumerije and Isa Mohammed Adam qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in China with Adam making it to the quarterfinal while Chukwumerije claimed bronze medal.

    Against, it was Chukwumerije and Adam that qualified for the 2012 London Olympic Games with both athletes being edged in the first round.

    But as one of the Africa’s powerhouses in the sport, Nigeria could not win a slot to the Rio Olympic Games in Brazil at the qualifiers held in Morocco and this automatically prevented the team from the Brazil party.

    And when the taekwondo event begins today at the Carioca Arena 3 in Rio, nine African countries will be battling it out with 54 other nations across the world.

    The men’s taekwondo competition will pit a field of legendary fighters against an up-and-coming contingent of hungry young guns as the sport prepares to rock Rio with a “Festival of Fight.” The 2016 Olympic taekwondo competition takes place over four days, from August 17 to August 20, at the Carioca Arena 3. One men’s and one women’s weight category, each containing 16 fighters, will be contested on each day. The four men’s weight categories are: -58kg, -68kg, -80kg and +80kg.