2025-04-02

SPORTS WORLD

Paris Olympics: Fanzone celebrates African cultures and athletes

Africa Station is the place to be to celebrate African athletes and cultures during the Paris Olympics.

The fan zone is located in the north of the French capital and will host locals and tourists.

In addition to keeping up with the competition, visitors will enjoy African music, food and art and discover works by African craftsmen and women.

All 54 African countries have sent delegations this 33rd Olympiad.

Ivorian participant Okeleye akin Yao hopes many African athletes will win medals: “In the Olympic Games we know that Africa has a special particularity with lots of trophies and medals and Ihope we’ll have more medals like European and American countries and others. This is our wish.”

The Stade Robert Cesar has been transformed into an African village. Stalls shine a light on dozens of countries from the continent including the DRC, Cote d’Ivoire and Morocco.

The initiative is championed by the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) and the city of Ile-Saint-Denis.

“We are here to share with visitors the Algerian heritage and culture which are of abundance. We want to show our “kaada” (traditional evenings) where all our families gather,” Khoudri Hakima said.

According to ANOCA, it is estimated that Africa Station will welcome more than 1,300 visitors daily.

All entertainment will be free of charge, although some concerts will be ticketed.

The Africa station will host shows, exhibitions, and meetings with athletes throughout the Olympics. Special events will also be held during the Paralympic will also be held.

Olympic flagbearer Gauff ‘nervous’ of meeting LeBron

Tennis star Coco Gauff will join LeBron James as a flag bearer for the U.S. Olympic team at Friday’s opening ceremony.

“I’m truly in shock and I don’t take it for granted,” Gauff said on Thursday during a press conference in Paris.

Gauff, the reigning U.S. Open champion, is set to make her Olympic debut at the Paris Games and will be the first tennis athlete to carry the U.S. flag.

“Most excited…I think meeting LeBron James, that’s the most exciting part about it. Most nervous, I’m just hoping is not too hot. You know, I know we’re going to be in the water and we’re going to be in those blazers. So I’m just hoping I don’t, you know, sweat too much. And and I look a little bit, distressed in the photos,” said Coco.

The U.S. player mentioned her admiration for legends Serena and Venus Williams.

“I almost feel like I’m having a little bit of imposter syndrome (for being chosen as U.S. flag bearer), but I am going to try to just take it in and be happy for myself.”

The 20-year-old Gauff made the American team for the Tokyo Games three years ago as a teenager but had to sit out those Olympics because she tested positive for COVID-19 right before she was supposed to fly to Japan.

Kenyan Kipchoge ready to make history at Paris Olympics

Two-time champion Eliud Kipchoge is ready to create history at the Paris 2024 Summer Games by becoming the first man to win three Olympic marathon gold medals.

Kipchoge, the former world marathon record holder, will write another chapter in his unprecedented running career in France when he becomes the first and only Kenyan to compete at five Olympics.

But he says, for him, the Olympics are about much more than just winning.

“The Olympic Games wants everybody to associate, it promotes freedom of association whereby all of us, about 100 countries will be there competing together and shaking hands at the finish line,” he says.

“You know it’s not only about winning, but the important thing at the Olympic Games is also about participation. Personally, I want to make my country a running country and make the world a running world.”

Tokyo Marathon winner, Benson Kipruto, and London Marathon champion, Alexander Munyao, will run alongside Kipchoge in the Kenyan men’s marathon.

And he has tipped them to go for an unprecedented Olympics podium sweep in Paris.

“I think my teammates actually are very good, they are high class, energetic, and disciplined athletes. I trust we will compete in a good way and make the podium for all of us,” he says.

The two-time Olympic winner is, however, wary of the threat posed by rivals, especially athletes from Ethiopia, Uganda, and runners with roots in East Africa who will be running for Bahrain, Qatar, USA, and Kazakhstan among others.

“I respect all other competitors. Everybody who is in the Olympics is an Olympian and they represent their country. I cannot underrate anybody,” he says.

Kipchoge first competed for Kenya at the Athens 2004 Olympics where he won bronze in the men’s 5,000m.

He upgraded to silver at the same race at the Beijing 2008 Summer Games, but failed to qualify in both the 5,000m and 10,000m teams for the London 2012 Olympics.

It was to prove to be a turning point in his career.

Failure to qualify for London prompted his decision to switch to road running and in 2013 he won on his marathon debut in Hamburg.

What followed thereafter is an unmatched record in the marathon with 15 victories in 18 marathons, including 12 wins in the Marathon Majors and setting the world record twice.

In Brazil, Kipchoge became only the second Kenyan after the late Samuel Wanjiru to win men’s marathon gold before returning to successfully defend his title at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics in 2021.

Kenya’s marathon team competes on 10 August.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons lose by lone goal to Brazil in Olympics opener

Super Falcons of Nigeria lost their 2024 Olympics opener against Brazil by 1-0 after a tight affair at the Bordeaux Stadium, in France on Thursday, July 25.

A 37th-minute goal from Gabi Nunes was all that was needed for Brazil to deny the Super Falcons three points in their first game at this year’s Olympics.

Randy Waldrum, Nigeria’s head coach, opted to leave Asisat Oshoala on the bench and instead named Chinwendu Ihezuo as the team’s centre forward.

Skipper Rashidat Ajibade made several attempts to drive the team’s attack, including setting up Ihezuo with a well-placed cross and forcing Brazil’s goalkeeper Lorena into a save. Christy Ucheibe also tested Lorena, but Nigeria’s efforts were not enough.Brazil’s Marta, a six-time Women’s World Footballer of the Year, initially thought she had scored in the 36th minute, but the goal was disallowed for offside after a VAR review.

Shortly afterward, a lapse in concentration allowed Nunes to capitalize on a chance, driving the ball past Nigeria’s goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and into the net.Nigeria will now shift their focus to their second group game against Spain on Sunday.

7 athletes, 67 officials: Size of Zimbabwe’s 2024 Olympics delegation sparks controversy

Zimbabwe on Thursday, July 25, sought to dampen a controversy sparked by reports that scores of officials accompanied a meagre seven-athlete Olympics team to Paris, saying most were not part of the official delegation.

The Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) said only nine staff, including coaches and officials, travelled to France with the squad ahead of the opening ceremony on Friday, after many had vented their anger online at the alleged waste of public money.

“We are aware though that there are many other technical officials, dignitaries invited to the games directly to officiate and as guests and many other hundreds of Zimbabweans in Paris in various capacities,” said ZOC president Thabani Gonye.

“These are not part of Team Zimbabwe delegation but Zimbabweans all welcome and free to cheer our athletes on.”

The statement came after reports that the impoverished nation had sent, in some cases via private jet, a bloated delegation of more than 60 people, including Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and Sports Minister Kirsty Coventry.

“The sheer size of the official delegation, particularly in contrast to the small number of athletes, raises serious questions about the government’s priorities and resource allocation, especially at a time when it is begging for drought relief assistance from countries that sent huge teams of athletes with very few officials,” prominent journalist and activist Hopewell Chin’ono wrote on X.

Former education minister Jonathan Moyo described it as an “embarrassing dent on Zimbabwe’s reputation”, while opposition politician Fadzayi Mahere argued taxpayers’ money could have been better spent.

Government spokesman Nick Mangwana said Vice President Chiwenga was in Paris for the Olympics’ official opening and “other business” including luring investments, and Coventry was there as a member of the International Olympic Committee.”It is not just about the Olympics, there is other work,” he wrote on social media.

Zimbabwe is one of a band of countries in southern Africa experiencing food shortages due to a prolonged, severe dry spell. In May President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared a state of disaster, saying it needed at least two billion dollars to respond to the drought.

‘It’s not normal’ – Hearts boss Ouattara blasts unprofessional contracts in Ghana football

Hearts of Oak head coach, Aboubakar Ouattara, has ripped into football administrators for the kind of contracts players in the Ghana Premier League sign.

According to him, the nature of the contracts agreed between clubs and players is not professional and does not happen anywhere.

In recent times, players have left Ghanaian clubs at crucial times of the season due to the contracts they signed when joining and Ouattara didn’t shy away from bashing them.

“It’s only in Ghana that I see a player’s contract end in September or December,” he said during a media briefing on Thursday, July 25. “It’s not normal for a contract to end just a week before the league starts. It’s not professional.”

Ouattara is determined to fine-tune Hearts’ squad not to repeat their performance from the 2023/24 season where they finished in the bottom half of the table.

Paris 2024: Team Ghana to wear fugu for Olympic Games opening ceremony

Ghana’s contingent at the 2024 Olympic Games will wear ‘fugu’ for the opening ceremony of the championship.

The team will wear the beautiful handwoven fabric to display and promote the diverse Ghanaian culture during the games.

“We are going to wear our traditional fugu and a black down as well as special footwear,” Ghana’s media attache, Benjamin Willie Graham, told Joy Sports.

“Also, five athletes from us will be at the opening ceremony because the opening ceremony will be on the river. So five of them will be there to ensure they hoist the flag of Ghana.”

The opening ceremony of the Games will be held on Friday, July 26, on the colourful river Seine, making it the first time the procession is being held outside a stadium. The Seine, the city’s main water artery, will substitute for the traditional track, the quays will become spectator stands, while the setting sun reflecting off famous Parisian landmarks will provide the backdrop for the event.

This outdoor concept also makes Paris 2024 the largest Opening Ceremony in terms of audience and geographical coverage.

Keely Hodgkinson reveals a serious impact Mary Moraa has made on her road to Paris 2024 Olympics

Keely Hodgkinson discusses lessons from her loss to Mary Moraa as he aims for gold at the Paris Olympics.

Olympic and world 800m silver medallist Keely Hodgkinson is gearing up for the Paris Olympics with a resolute focus on clinching the gold.

At just 22, she has already made significant strides in her athletic career, breaking records and overcoming challenges.

But as she prepares for the upcoming games, Hodgkinson reflects on a particularly tough race that has fueled her drive for victory.

“If you want to watch a bad race, watch Lausanne,” Hodgkinson says in an interview with the Telegraph, recalling the June competition where she found herself boxed in and then out-thought and out-paced by Kenyan Mary Moraa in the 800m. Hodgkinson’s journey has been marked by impressive accomplishments, including a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics at the age of 19 with a personal best of 1:55.88.

More recently, she broke her own 800m record in front of 60,000 fans at the London Stadium leg of the Diamond League, becoming the sixth-fastest woman in history.

Despite these successes, Hodgkinson admits that post-Tokyo, she faced emotional challenges.

Running approximately 35 miles each week, Hodgkinson focuses on building power and muscle strength, training more like a sprinter. Gym sessions, swimming, and cross-training have been crucial in enhancing her endurance and performance.

“I spend a lot of time on a cross-trainer,” she notes. “If I was to factor that in, my running mileage would go up.”

Preparation for a race, for Hodgkinson, resembles getting ready for a night out.

“The process starts two hours beforehand – I just enjoy it,” she explains.

Her routine includes a shower, fake tan, music, and doing her hair and make-up. “There’s nothing really to do on race day, especially if I’m racing at 10pm.” Visualizing different race scenarios with her coach Painter is another key aspect of her preparation.

“Let others dictate your race and that’s when silly mistakes happen; panic after getting boxed in and you can bolt too early,” she cautions.

Reflecting on the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Hodgkinson recalls hitting a lactic wall with 300m to go.

“The pack was so fast through the first lap. It really made us all hurt. We’d never done it that fast before.” On that occasion, it was her main rival, Athing Mu, who set the pace with Hodgkinson finishing as runner-up.

Despite the camaraderie with her fellow athletes during training camps, Hodgkinson remains competitive.

Scottish side Aberdeen tracking Ghanaian youngster Nurudeen Abdulai

Scottish powerhouse Aberdeen FC are keeping tabs on talented Ghana and Medeama defender Nurudeen Abdulai, GHANAsoccernet.com can report.

The 19-year-old, who is a subject intense interest from Clubs in Europe, has attracted the lenses of the Scottish giants.

A glowing scouting reports point to a promising footballer who will develop and thrive in Europe over time.

The Scottish side are believed to be prepared to discuss a complete package hinge on a developmental path for the highly-rated Ghanaian centre-back, who has a knack for scoring goals.

However, Aberdeen FC, will not have an easy route to the youngster’s signature with a lots of clubs in England, Denmark and Norway keeping tabs on his progress at 2023-24 CAF Champions League campaigners, Medeama SC.

Abdulai, 19, has captured the attention and imagination of Ghanaians since bursting onto the Premier League scene just two seasons ago- culminating into a call up into the senior national team, the Black Stars.

The fast rising defender, who has been included in Medeama’s pre-season squad, will likely depart the Ghana Premier League before it kicks off on September 6, 2024.

The 19-year-old has consistently been one of the best defensive players in the Ghana Premier League over the last two seasons. He played a pivotal role in Medeama SC winning the Ghana Premier League for the first time in the 2022/23 season.

Interest in the versatile youngster is growing and it is expected he will depart the Tarkwa based club this summer.

According to transfer experts FootballInsider247.com, Abdulai is on the radar of several Premier League and Championship clubs in the ongoing summer transfer window.

Following a stellar 2022/23 season, Nurudeen received his debut call-up to the Black Stars squad that faced Madagascar and Comoros in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in November last year.

Former Ghana coach Chris Hughton included him in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations provisional squad but missed out on the final squad with a shoulder injury.

Former Accra Shooting Stars wonderkid Godswill Vadze joins Serbian giants Čukaricki

Ghanaian prodigy, Godswill Vadze is set to take the Serbian Super League by storm after completing a 3-year deal with Čukarički.

The white and black were reinforced by the signing of the offensive midfielder Godswill Vadze, a youngster who was one of the best individuals in the Zvijezda 09 team in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina last season.

Vadze was born on September 4, 2001 in Tefle, Ghana, and after a 3-year spell with Accra shooting stars FC, he began his European adventure with Austrian third-tier club, Pinzgau Saalfelden, from where he moved to Zvijezda 09 from Stanišić.

While at Republika Srpska, he was very noticeable, in 49 games he scored eight goals and assisted six times.

“I am very happy that I became a member of Čukaricki. I can’t wait to meet my teammates, to do the first training and I hope to be in competition for games very soon. I am grateful to God and to all the people in Ghana who believed in my talent. I promise to give my best for this club, to which I am very grateful for the fact that they signed me. It is a privilege to play for Čukarički” – said Vadze after being introduced to the club from Banovo brdo.

Vadze was assigned the number 11 jersey. On Monday, he underwent medical examinations and he will begin first training session with the team today.“We followed several guys who were on our radar for a long time, including Vadze. We did a detailed analysis of his qualities, with the help of the club’s scouting service, together we came to the conclusion that this is the ideal profile of a player who fits the system and idea of ​​the game that our head coach Goran Stanić is looking for.”

“We expect the boy from Ghana to quickly adapt to the requirements and to play for the team as soon as possible, and the fact that he has already played in these areas will be of great importance” – said Goran Grkinić, the technical director of Čukarički.

“Our goal is to produce top level players who are capable of competing at the highest level and we are most definitely on that path having produced a couple of youngsters including Vadze in whom I am confident in the next couple of years, will be rubbing shoulders with the best in the world of football” – said Isaac Ansah, Vice president of Accra Shooting Stars FC.

GSN24LIVE NEWS

Yamal and Lewandowski help Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao

Fulham vs Leicester: Alex Iwobi’s winner helps Cottagers triumph over Ndidi’s Foxes

Arsenal survived their latest severe examination from bogey side Aston Villa to emerge with a statement victory after a thunderous encounter at Villa Park.

Roglic wins stage to close on Vuelta leader O’Connor

Baba Yara Stadium will be ready for Ghana vs. Angola AFCON qualifier, assures NSA chairman