NigeriaNews24

Category: Sports

  • Olympic torch relay to have low-key presence in Tokyo

    Olympic torch relay to have low-key presence in Tokyo

    The Olympic torch relay will soon arrive in Tokyo, host of the delayed 2020 Games, but will have a low-key presence when it goes through most of the Japanese capital.

    With the exception of small island areas, the relay from July 9 to July 16 will take place on streets that are closed, amid rising coronavirus cases.

    The Olympic flame will have passed through Japan’s 46 prefectures since beginning its journey in March, before arriving in Tokyo ahead of the Games which begin July 23.

    Tokyo is in a quasi state of emergency, until at least July 11, after the previous full state of emergency was lifted on June 20.

    But since then the city has seen an increase in infections and many people fear the Games could turn out to be a super-spreading event.

    Organisers, however, insist the Games can go on safely and fans —- up to 10,000 Japanese residents —- can even attend venues according to current plans, though this could change.(dpa/NAN)

  • We’re used to being underdogs, Bale says before Wales’ clash with Denmark

    We’re used to being underdogs, Bale says before Wales’ clash with Denmark

    Gareth Bale has embraced Wales’ underdogs tag, with Euro 2020 rivals Denmark counting on support from all over Europe following Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest.

    Inter Milan midfielder Eriksen collapsed on the pitch during Denmark’s tournament opening goal against Finland in Copenhagen on June 12 and is currently recovering at home.

    Denmark qualified for the knockout stage on a wave of emotion and have become a lot of people’s “second team” after what happened to Eriksen.

    But skipper Bale, speaking ahead of Saturday’s round-of-16 clash in Amsterdam, said Wales were familiar with being underdogs.

    “That’s normal anyway,” said the Real Madrid forward.

    “We’re always the underdogs and (are) used to that tag. It doesn’t make a difference to us.

    “Obviously we understand the situation that happened with them and we’ve sent all our best wishes to Christian.

    “What a great job the Denmark team did with that. But it won’t have any bearing on the game.

    “The players have been in situations before, where teams are favourites and supported more.

    “Against Turkey they had 18,000 fans in the stadium (when Wales won their group game in Baku 2-0). So, it makes no difference.

    “When it comes to kick-off, it will be just us players on the pitch focusing on the game.”

    Eriksen was the star performer in both games when Denmark completed a UEFA Nations League double over Wales in 2018.

    The Danes triumphed 2-0 in Aarhus and 2-1 in Cardiff and have won six of the 10 games between the two countries.

    “The last time we played them we were in more of a transition and younger players were coming in,” Bale said.

    “With the time that’s passed, we’ve got better and improved as a team.

    “We’ve got more players now and we’re more comfortable with each other.

    “Hopefully, we can prove on the pitch that we’re a much better team.”

    Wales must attempt to claim a first-ever win in the Netherlands without any of their fans present in a 16,000-strong crowd at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

    Supporters coming from Wales are banned because the United Kingdom is not on the safe list of countries.

    Denmark, as a country in the European Union, are able to have their citizens avoid quarantine in Holland by spending less than 12 hours in the country.

    Around 4,400 Denmark fans are expected in Amsterdam.

    “We don’t have our fans in the stadium, which is disappointing,” said Bale, who confirmed that Wales had practised penalty kicks in the event of a shootout contest after extra-time.

    “But, as players, that’s something we’re a little bit used to.

    “We know the occasion we’re in, at a big tournament, and every game we play we feel it’s a big game.

    “We just have to play the game and not think of the occasion.”(dpa/NAN)

  • Alcohol to be banned at Tokyo Games venues

    Alcohol to be banned at Tokyo Games venues

    Tokyo 2020 organisers on Wednesday said the consumption of alcohol at Olympic venues would be banned as part of efforts to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, the Kyodo news agency reported.

    The Health guidelines released also said that people with COVID-19 symptoms or a body temperature above 37.5 degrees Celsius would not be allowed into Olympic venues, the agency said.

    The Olympic competitions will be held in about 40 arenas in Tokyo and other Japanese regions.

    The Games was delayed by a year because of the global health crisis.

    The Olympics are set to take place from July 23 to Aug. 8 with foreign spectators banned.(dpa/NAN)

  • Dalung urges FG to concentrate on developing grassroots sports

    Dalung urges FG to concentrate on developing grassroots sports

    The former Minister of Youth and sports, Mr Solomon Dalung, on Friday in Abuja urged the Federal Government to concentrate more in developing grassroots sports.
    Dalung said this at the closing ceremony of the third edition of the AMAC Football Coaches Councils #Unity Cup at the Area 3 Football pitch.
    He said the youth should be engaged in football competitions to keep them busy.
    “The oganisers have a wonderful visions on what it takes to developed sports in Nigeria.

    “Competitions like this will minimise some of security challenges confronting us in the country.

    “I think every government should look into this direction of grassroots sport development than spending so much money on professional or elite football which more or less is an investment on people who can stand on their own,” he said.

    The former Minister said investment on the development of grassroots sports was need in all parts of the country.

    “I think if we take our investment in sports industry, grassroots development will minimise the security challenge confronting us.
    “You could see the youth population here that was engaged and at the end of the match you could see the joy into the match.
    “I’m happy to see these youth, talented young players, playing in this final competition. This gives me hope for the future,” the former Minister said
    He congratulate the winners of the third edition of the competition for the work well done.
    “The second runners up, they have to work hard and to come back next time the sky is their stepping stone,” he said
    NAN reports that while only two teams participated in the female competition, 20 teams participated in the male competition.
    The third edition of the AMAC football coaches councils #Unity Cup 2021 started on May 18. (NAN)

  • Sports Ministry appoints Mikel Obi as Ambassador

    Sports Ministry appoints Mikel Obi as Ambassador

    The Minister for Youths and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, on Friday commended the dedication of former Super Eagles Captain, John Mikel Obi.

    He also announced Mikel Obi as an Ambassador of the sports ministry..

    The minister gave the commendation at a press conference held in Mikel-Obi’s honor at the National Stadium, Lagos.

  • Kaduna speaker calls for investment in sports to end insurgency

    Kaduna speaker calls for investment in sports to end insurgency

    The speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon.Yusuf Ibrahim-Zailani, said investment in sports would help in ending insurgency and other forms of insecurity in the country.

    Zailani described sports as a veritable tool, that if well explored, could bring an end to insurgency, banditry and other forms of insecurity bedeviling the country.

    He said this while declaring open a three-day workshop on Coaching Management and Psychology, organised by his Special Assistant on Youth, Sports and Culture, on Thursday at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.

    Represented by his Special Assistant (SA) Media and Publicity, Ibrahim Dahiru-Danfulani, he said to end the growing army of willing tools in the hands of bandits and criminals, the country’s leaders needed to put in more efforts.

    “All available options must be explored, including the economic angle, which will put food on more tables of our citizens and youth,” he said.

    He explained that the workshop was another milestone achievement of the Malam Nasiru El-Rufai-led administration in the area of job creation and youth empowerment.

    “I am highly delighted to be part of yet another historic moment.

    “This is because sports, besides ensuring that we remain healthy, is a huge income earner and has potential of employing several youths,” he added.

    Zailani said he approved the programme in view of the impact it would have on the immediate society and Nigeria at large.

    “This three-day workshop is one veritable tool that will not only train, but will serve as an avenue of training the trainer,” he said.

    The Speaker, therefore, urged all the participants to concentrate and learn all that the resource persons would be teaching them.

    “I have full confidence in the resource persons, knowing that they are coming all the way from the National Institute of Sports (NIS) and the certificates the participants will be issued will be accepted anywhere in the world,” he added.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop had in attendance 409 participants and was a collaboration between the National Institute of Sports (NIS) and the office of the Speaker, Kaduna State House of Assembly. (NAN)

  • NLO urges FG to use sports to promote unity, peace

    NLO urges FG to use sports to promote unity, peace

    The Nigeria Nationwide League One (NLO) has called on the Federal Government to use the core values of sports to promote national unity, peace and progress.

    Ebere Amaraizu, South-East Director of NLO, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Wednesday.

    According to Amaraizu, sport is globally acknowledged as a potential tool for unity, socioeconomic and national development.

    He called for organisation of inter village/community sports competitions to enhance grassroots engagement of the youth, thus fishing out young fresh talents.

    “However, not much can be said to have been done to optimise full potential of sports considering the abundance of human and material resources in our society.

    “It is pertinent to point out that current challenges confronting our youths must be tackled through sports by understanding and reflecting on its core values,” said Amaraizu.

    According to him, these core values are: fair play, social justice, discipline, self discovery, creation of employment opportunities, promotion of culture, means of enhancing education, instrument for driving national ideology and rebranding.

    “Others include promotion of sports business for economic development, promotion of gender equality and women empowerment, promotion of sustainable fitness and good health, enhancement of nation’s international image and provision of entertainment,” he said.

    Amaraizu, who is also the Manager of Crime Buster FC, Enugu, called on all tiers of government, community leaders and philanthropists to give more attention to sports and its numerous benefits.

    “Stakeholders must adopt best practices in the administration of sports in the country.

    “Another area is statutory financial provisions to enhance sports development in schools and communities,” he said.

    He also advised that professionally trained sports personnel should administer sports at all levels to ensure adherence to the core values of sports, statutes and to maximise use of talents.

    (NAN)

  • Japan doubles vaccination doses to 40,000 for Olympic workers

    Japan doubles vaccination doses to 40,000 for Olympic workers

    Japan is doubling its coronavirus vaccination doses to 40,000 for people working at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, having secured another 20,000 jabs.

    Olympic Minister, Tamayo Marukawa, said on Tuesday that the government has reached an agreement with U.S. company, Pfizer.

    The deal comes after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had agreed with Pfizer over a similar amount of jabs.

    The vaccination programme for people working at the Games from July 23 to Aug. 8 is to start on Thursday.

    The latest agreement allows offering vaccination to volunteers in the athletes’ village, members of the organising committee and Japanese media representatives.

    The IOC says it expects some 80 per cent of the 10,900 athletes to be vaccinated when they arrive in Japan.

    Vaccination of the Japanese public has had a slow start compared to other nations.

    A majority of Japanese oppose the Games being staged soon, after they were postponed in 2020 owing to the pandemic.

    Japanese organisers and the IOC had pledged to stage safe Games, with the final edition of the playbooks for all stakeholders at the Games to be released later on Tuesday.

    Tokyo remains under a state of emergency until at least Sunday, and the government is reportedly considering placing Tokyo under a quasi state of emergency during the Games. (dpa/NAN)

  • Japan to further reduce number of foreigners at Olympics

    Japan to further reduce number of foreigners at Olympics

    Olympic hosts Japan want to further reduce the number of people from overseas for the upcoming Tokyo Games, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Wednesday.

    Suga said in parliament that the number of officials, other staff and journalists from outside Japan will be further reduced for the July 23 to Aug. 8 games owing to the Coronavirus pandemic.

    The initial figure of 180,000 accredited people has already been more than halved, and foreign fans are not allowed into Japan.

    Suga also reaffirmed that Japan remains committed to stage the Games which have been postponed by one year over the global health crisis.

    “I want to send a message from Japan that the world has faced the difficulties that the coronavirus brought with it and has overcome them through unity,” Suga said.

    He also pledged that all residents who wanted to be vaccinated would get the jab by November.

    The slow start of the vaccination programme, a rising number of infections and the extension of a state of emergency in Tokyo until at least June 20, have all contributed to calls to cancel the Games or postpone it.

    According to surveys at least 60 per cent of Japanese don’t want the Olympics and Paralympics to take place this year.

    But the government, local organisers, and the International Olympic Committee are moving ahead and determined to stage safe and secure Games.

    Critics also say that Suga hopes the Games will be successful to boost his chances in the general eletions set for autumn. (dpa/NAN)

  • D’Tigress whip Puerto Rico in friendly ahead of Tokyo Olympics

    D’Tigress whip Puerto Rico in friendly ahead of Tokyo Olympics

    Nigeria’s senior national women basketball team, D’Tigress, on Friday in Kortrijk, Belgium defeated Puerto Rico 89-63 points in a friendly match.

    The friendly match played at the Lange Munte arena was lined up by the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) to prepare the team for the Olympic Games.

    The team which arrived in Belgium from Las Vegas in the U.S. earlier in the week showed their intention early in the game as they raced to a 13-9 lead in the first quarter.

    They dominated all through 17-13, 31-16, 24-19, 17-15 to start their friendly match series on a winning note.

    Amy Okonkwo who recently had a training camp stint with Dallas Wings contributed 14 points and six rebounds, with a 50 percent field goal percentage.

    Fifteen minutes were all 23-year-old Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpannah needed as she dropped 14 points and three rebounds on an evening when she made five out of seven attempted shots.

    Adaora Elonu dropped 14 points and 2 steals as the team closed out the game in an emphatic fashion.

    With all the players in camp, except Victoria Macaulay who watched from the bench, all getting good playing time, it was a dominant performance for D’Tigress.

    All the players got at least two points.

    Atonye Nyingifa had 10 points, three rebounds and two assists, while Promise Amukamara scored eight points and five steals.

    The team continue their preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on Saturday with a game against world number eight Serbia at the same venue.(NAN)