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Tag: Olympics

  • Olympics: Team Nigeria’s Toko misses out on quarter-finals in rowing competition

    Olympics: Team Nigeria’s Toko misses out on quarter-finals in rowing competition

    Nigeria’s Esther Toko could only qualify for the repechage stage of the women’s single sculls event in the rowing competition at the Tokyo Olympic Games on Friday.

    Toko who was on lane five of the six-woman heat one of the event’s opening round at Sea Forest Waterway could only finish fifth in eight minutes 58.49 seconds.

    The 21-year-old was 1:08.78 behind fourth-placed Alejandra Alonso of Paraguay (8:11.88) and 2:28.56 ahead of Esraa Khogali of Sudan (10:18.27).

    But all three rowers could only qualify for the classification series, after the first three rowers in the heat had clinched the tickets to the quarter-finals from their heat.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kara Kohler of the U.S won the heat in a time of 7:49.71.

    Tatsiana Klimovich of Belarus (7:51.86) and Nazanin Malaei (7:59.01) of Iran joined her in heading to the last eight.

    Toko will now take part in Saturday’s repechage 2 at the same venue.

  • Djokovic faces tough draw at Tokyo Olympics

    Djokovic faces tough draw at Tokyo Olympics

    The road for world men’s tennis number one Novak Djokovic to the Golden Slam looks not an easy one at the Tokyo Olympics.

    This is because there lies ahead of the Serb possible matches against Andrey Rublev and Alexander Zverev in his path.

    Djokovic, representing Serbia, has won the season’s first three grand slams and could become the first male player ever to win the Golden Slam if he first captures gold in Tokyo.

    Then all that is left is winning the U.S. Open in August.

    Steffi Graf is the only player to have ever done it, in 1988.

    However, Djokovic has just one bronze medal to his name in three previous Olympics.

    He lost to Juan Martin del Potro twice, in 2012 (London) and 2016 (Rio), after capturing bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

    Djokovic, 34-3 this ATP season, opens against Bolivia’s Hugo Dellien, ranked 139th in the world.
    But then things could get harder.

    Djokovic could face Italian Lorenzo Musetti in the third round.

    Djokovic trailed Musetti 2-love at the French Open last month before rallying for the victory.

    Djokovic could face world number seven Rublev of Russia in the quarter-finals, and it would be the first match between them.

    If he wins there, he could face the fifth-ranked Zverev of Germany in the semi-finals.

    World number two Daniil Medvedev of Russia makes his Olympic debut against Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan.

    The tennis event is being held at Ariake Tennis Park, site of the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships which is an ATP-500 event scheduled for October.

  • WHO predicts more COVID-19 deaths by the end of 2020 Olympics

    WHO predicts more COVID-19 deaths by the end of 2020 Olympics

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has predicted 100,000 deaths from COVID-19 by the end of the Tokyo Olympics.

    The Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, started today after a delay a year ago due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

    The number of COVID-19 cases in Japan linked to the Games now stands at 79, NAN reports.

    World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus advised the public not to disregard that the Covid-19 pandemic is still plaguing the world and an event like this could be a super spreader.

    “By the time the Olympic flame is extinguished on the 8th of August, more than 100,000 more people will perish,” Tedros, said on Wednesday in Tokyo.

    He warned that “the pandemic is a test, and the world is failing.

    The WHO chief stressed that anyone who thinks the Coronavirus pandemic is over is living in a “fool’s paradise.”

    There has been a surge in COVID-19 cases continue in Japan. Tokyo on Wednesday reported its highest daily increase of new infections since mid-January.

  • Tokyo Games official not ruling out cancellation amid rising coronavirus cases

    Tokyo Games official not ruling out cancellation amid rising coronavirus cases

    Tokyo Olympics organising committee chief, Toshiro Muto, has not ruled out cancelling the Games at the last minute should there be a surge in coronavirus cases.

    Officials announced a further nine positive cases among those linked to the Games on Tuesday, taking the overall number of people infected since the start of July to 71.

    That total includes South Africa’s male footballers Thabiso Monyane and Kamohelo Mahlatsi testing positive while inside the athletes’ village over the weekend.

    A number of other athletes have been forced to isolate after coming into close contact with an individual that has contracted the disease.

    With just three days to go until the global sporting event’s opening ceremony, and with the first events starting as soon as Wednesday, director-general Muto will continue monitoring infection levels.

    But this will be with the hope they do not spiral out of control.

    “We can’t predict what will happen with the number of coronavirus cases. So, we will continue discussions if there is a spike in cases,” he said at a news conference.

    “We have agreed that based on the coronavirus situation, we will convene five-party talks again.

    “At this point, the coronavirus cases may rise or fall. So, we will think about what we should do when the situation arises.”

    Around 11,000 athletes from 205 national Olympic committees are expected to stay at the Olympic Village over the next three weeks.

    The 2020 Games, delayed by a year due to the global health pandemic, will be held mostly without spectators due to a state of emergency being declared in Tokyo.

    The number of new coronavirus cases in the Japanese capital topped 1,000 for five days running before dropping to 727 on Monday.

    Amid concerns from the wider population over the Games going ahead, Japan’s chef de mission Tsuyoshi Fukui insisted a number of safety measures are in place to stop the virus spreading.

    “Under these circumstances, we must admit that COVID-19 is not subsiding,” Fukui said on Tuesday. “We have to pay tribute to many people that enabled us to start the Games.

    “We will give our utmost efforts so that the athletes can do their best. We will, as Team Japan, never forget the sense of appreciation.

    “As of Monday night, the Japanese athletes staying at the Athletes’ Village is 236.

    “We have seen more and more athletes from other nations enter the Village, but there are rigorous COVID-19 counter-measures enforced and, so far, there has been no major issues.

    “Including myself, athletes and other members are taking antigen tests every day, as well as using an app to monitor our health situations.

    “Every time we enter the Athletes’ Village, our temperatures are checked, and we disinfect our hands.

    “In the dining hall, each seat is separated by acrylic boards. Also, everyone is also wearing face masks.

    “So, we have a strong sense that rigorous measures against the spread of COVID-19 are in place by the organising committee.”

    He added: “There are various opinions regarding the Games and we are aware of that. We will like to earnestly listen to and take these opinions into account.

    “But, at the same time, the mission of the Japanese delegation is to establish an environment where an athlete could focus on sports.

    “So through sports we want to deliver hope and bravery and to make sure that each athlete can do their best in their performance.”

  • U.S. first lady Jill Biden to attend Olympics opening ceremony

    U.S. first lady Jill Biden to attend Olympics opening ceremony

    U.S first lady Jill Biden will attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Tokyo on July 23, the White House said on Tuesday.

    Further details will be announced at a later date.

    Her husband, President Joe Biden, is not expected to be at the Games, according to the Washington Post.

    White House spokeswoman, Jen Psaki said last week that Biden supports the Olympics in Tokyo and the protective measures taken there to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

    The announcement of the first lady’s trip to Tokyo comes a few days after local organizers confirmed that spectators won’t be allowed at the Olympic events, due to the rising coronavirus infections and the spread of the highly contagious delta variant.

    Tokyo and neighbouring regions are under a fourth state of emergency that will run provisionally until Aug. 22.

  • SHOCKER! Nigeria defeat USA in basketball friendly

    SHOCKER! Nigeria defeat USA in basketball friendly

    Nigeria defeated the United States men’s basketball team 90-87 in their first tune-up game ahead of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

    Point guard, Gabe Vincent, Caleb Agada and forward Precious Achiuwa were the stars for the Nigerian team.

    Nigeria converted 22 three-point throws in the game. It was the country’s first win over the No. 1 ranked nation in the world.

    “We just wanted to compete,” said Nigeria’s Gabe Nnamdi, who goes by Gabe Vincent when playing for the Miami Heat. “We know what USA Basketball means around the world and what they’ve stood for for so long.”

    The U.S. had lost 11 games before Saturday in major international play — Olympics and World Cups, mostly — since NBA players began filling the American rosters with the first Dream Team in 1992. None of those losses came against a team from Africa.

    “I thought that the Nigerian team played very physically, did a great job in that regard and knocked down a lot of 3s,” U.S. coach Gregg Popovich said. “Give them credit.”

    Nnamdi led Nigeria with 21 points. Caleb Agada scored 17 points, Ike Nwamu added 13 and Nigeria outscored the U.S. 60-30 from 3-point range.

    Kevin Durant, who had never before played in a loss for USA Basketball in 39 senior international games, had 17 points. Jayson Tatum added 15, Damian Lillard had 14 and Bam Adebayo 11.

    “Just goes to show that we have to play better,” Tatum said.

    A lot better.

    The Americans had gone 39-0 in their last three Olympic seasons — including pre-Olympic exhibitions — on their way to gold medals and had been 54-2 in major exhibitions since NBA players began playing for USA Basketball in 1992. Plus, they’d beaten Nigeria by a combined 127 points in their last two meetings, one at the 2012 London Games, the other a warm-up for the 2016 Rio Games.

    Nigeria lost to the U.S. at the 2012 Olympics by 83 points. Lost to the Americans again four years later in an exhibition, that time by 44 points.

    Not this time.

    “Nigeria’s come a long way with their basketball,” USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo said.

    Ike Iroegbu — a former Washington State player who some time in the G League — hit a 3-pointer with about 1:15 left to put Nigeria up 88-80. Durant scored the next seven points for the U.S.; a 3-pointer, two free throws following a turnover, then two more from the line with 16.5 seconds remaining.

    Nnamdi made two foul shots with 13.2 seconds left to restore Nigeria’s 3-point edge. The Americans ran 9.7 seconds off the clock on the ensuing possession without getting a shot off, and Zach LaVine missed a pair of free throws — the second intentionally — with 3.5 seconds left.

    Precious Achiuwa got the rebound for Nigeria, and that was it. It’s only an exhibition — but the upset was still of the massive variety, the 22nd-ranked nation by FIBA beating the No. 1-ranked team and three-time reigning Olympic gold medalists.

    Popovich heard the final buzzer and shook hands with Nigeria coach Mike Brown, the Golden State assistant, as the Americans walked off stunned.

    “At the end of the day, it doesn’t mean much in the standings as far as where we’re trying to get to,” Brown said. “But it’s a good win for us. I don’t think any African team has been able to beat USA Basketball in an exhibition game or a real game. … We’re trying to get a little bit of momentum for Nigeria and for the continent of Africa.”

    The U.S. led 43-41 at the half, then pushed the lead out to 52-43 early in the third. But the Nigerians connected on 3s on their next three possessions — Vincent, Achiuwa and Nwamu all connected — and just like that, the game was tied.

    Achiuwa took one 3-pointer all season with the Heat. It missed. But he connected in this one, as did Miye Oni — who made two 3s in the fourth quarter, including the one that put Nigeria up for good with 6:08 left. Oni averaged all of 1.9 points per game this season for Utah, and made two enormous shots late Saturday to help seal the U.S. fate.

    “We kept the game simple,” Nnamdi said, “and came out on top.”

  • Barca should block Pedri from Olympics – Guardiola

    Barca should block Pedri from Olympics – Guardiola

    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has urged Barcelona midfielder Pedri to snub the Olympics Games.

    Pedri, currently with Spain at the Euros, has been selected by Spain for the Tokyo Games.

    But Guardiola said: “I think that a competition in the summer is enough. Messi went to the Olympic Games (in 2008) because he had neither the World Cup nor the Copa America.

    “Ferran Torres and Rodri could have gone to the Games and they don’t go, but they’ve already gone to the Euro. It’s too much. They should turn it down. We pay them very well and they serve the club.

    “Going to the Euro is very good for them, they are doing very well.”

  • Olympics: Chioma Ajunwa gets 3-bedroom flat from Lagos Govt, 25 years after

    Olympics: Chioma Ajunwa gets 3-bedroom flat from Lagos Govt, 25 years after

    Chioma Ajunwa gets 3-bedroom flat from Lagos Govt, 25 years after Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday fulfilled government’s pledge of a house to Chioma Ajunwa-Oparah, 25 years after winning Gold medal for Nigeria the Atlanta Olympic Games of 1996.

    Ajunwa-Oparah, the first African woman to win a gold medal in the Olympic Games field event, was gifted with a three-bedroom apartment in the Babatunde Raji Fashola Housing Estate, Iponri.

    Ajunwa-Oparah is now an Assistant Commissioner of Police in Lagos Police Command.

    Sanwo-Olu made the presentation at a reception held for Lagos State’s athletes who participated in the recently concluded National Sports Festival in Edo State.

    Lagos State won 125 medals, including 32 gold and 27 silver medals. in the contest.

    Ajunwa-Oparah, a long jump athlete, put Nigeria on the global radar after she won a gold medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.

    She was promised a house by the then military government but the pledge was not fulfilled before the country returned to democracy in 1999.

    The governor also presented cheques to the medal winners, some of whom would be going to represent Nigeria in the forthcoming Tokyo Olympic Games in Japan.

    Presenting the apartment’s key to Ajunwa-Opara, Sanwo-Olu said that the feat achieved by athlete helped redeem the country’s image and raised the hope of young people seeking to improve their sporting skills.

    ”When Dr Chioma Ajunwa-Oparah represented the country in the 1996 Olympic Games, some promises were made and very typical of us as a people, we forget.

    ”I have met and kept the promises of my predecessors in ensuring that our athletes get what they deserve.

    ”The promise of a befitting shelter to Chioma Ajunwa-Oparah could have been delayed for 25 years, but today she will be a proud owner of a three-bedroom apartment in the famous Babatunde Raji Fashola Estate in Iponri.

    ”She has remained a good reference point for sport, journalism and everything that relates to sport in our country. She is a true demonstration of can-do spirit, which reflects her decision to serve the country as a police officer after attaining a coveted position on an international sporting platform.

    “We will continue to use her as a testimony to give women strong voice and good representation in our sport organisations. We have made it compulsory to reserve 30 per cent of positions to our women in boards of sport organisations in Lagos,” he said.

    Earlier, Ajunwa-Oparah decorated the governor with a replica of her 1996 gold medal.

    She described the gesture as a ”motivation” to fulfil her dream in raising a new generation of athletes, adding that the governor’s action had further reinforced her belief in the country.

    Presenting cheques to the successful Lagos athletes, Sanwo-Olu urged them not to rest on their oars in excelling and achieving greater feats in the Tokyo Olympics.

    The governor said that there would be a new beginning for sports in Lagos, as the amended Sport Commission Law, which he signed earlier in the day, was initiated to promote sporting activities at the grassroots.

    Sanwo-Olu disclosed that he had given an approval for the upgrade of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere to make it a standard sport centre.

    He added that the state government was set to commence the concurrent construction of eight new mini-stadia across the state, to further improve youth participation in sports.

    ”We have just signed an amendment on Sport Commission Bill into Law after the House of Assembly adjusted the law for us.

    ”With the new law, we will have more robust grassroots sport competitions and it will take sport to a granular level where we will have a lot more participation and infrastructure development at the grassroots level.

    ”Our youths have brighter days ahead and I enjoin them not to give up on their skills. There is a reward for hard work, but sometimes the reward may be delayed. You should not be discouraged because people are watching. At the right time, God will come through for you,” Sanwo-Olu said.

    The Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr Segun Dawodu, thanked Sanwo-Olu for prioritising youth development activities, describing the governor’s gesture as unprecedented.

    Sanwo-Olu rewarded the Lagos representatives at the National Sport Festival with N146 million, he also presented cheques ranging from N300,000 to N5 million to winners of medals in the contest.

    Ahmed Koleosho, a para table tennis player and Lagos team captain, received a cheque of N2.5 million from the governor as prize for his feat. He will also be representing Nigeria at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

  • 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.

  • D’Tigress to face Puerto Rico, Serbia, Belgium in pre-Olympic friendlies

    D’Tigress to face Puerto Rico, Serbia, Belgium in pre-Olympic friendlies

    D’Tigress, the senior national women’s basketball team, will be in action this weekend in three Grade A friendlies as part of their preparations for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

    Afolabi Oni, the Media Officer of Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), in a statement on Thursday said the team have already arrived in Belgium for the matches.

    The team had earlier resumed the second phase of their pre-Olympic camping in Las Vegas on May 8.

    They are now scheduled to take on Belgium, Puerto Rico and Serbia at the Lange Munte arena in Kortrijk.

    Ezinne Kalu, Adaora Elonu, Promise Amukamara, Sarah Ogoke, Sarah Imovbioh and Aisha Balarabe are among the players in camp.

    Others are Oderah Chidom, Amy Okonkwo, Atonye Nyingifa, Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah and Nicole Enabosi, who are all jostling for a slot on the team to Tokyo.

    Ify Ibekwe and Victoria Macaulay, who could not join up with the team during the February camp in Atlanta due to COVID-19 protocols in Europe, complete the list of players in camp.

    The team which have 13 players currently in camp will face world number 23 Puerto Rico on Friday, before taking on Serbia who are ranked eighth in the latest FIBA ranking.

    The team will conclude their series of friendlies with another tough game against world number six Belgium on Sunday.

    D’Tigress are drawn in Group B at the Tokyo Olympics, with hosts Japan, France and world champions U.S. as opponents at the games starting on July 23.