Minister for Youth and Sports Hon. Mustapha Ussif announced at the Minister’s Press Briefing that Ghana will be organising and hosting the 13th edition of the African Games.

A total of 22 sports disciplines comprising of Olympic and Non-Olympic sports will be competed in.

The Minister also disclosed that six Youth and Sports Centres are nearing completion, with an average rate of 92%.

These state-of-the-art facilities are located in Axim, Dunkwa-on-Offin, Dormaa Ahenkro, Wa, Koforidua, and Ho.

The Minister further mentioned that these six centres are scheduled to be officially commissioned by the end of this year.

Simultaneously, efforts are underway to resume work on phase two of the project for the remaining four centres, which include the centres at Nyinahin, Yendi, Navrongo and the renowned Azumah Nelson Sports Complex situated in Accra.

The briefing was moderated by the Deputy Minister for Information, Fatimatu Abubakar.

From Elizabeth Alhassan Gyamfi

Mr. Mustapha Ussif, the Minister of Youth and Sports, says Ghana will derive some socio-economic benefits from hosting the 13th edition of the African Games.

The 13th African Games, scheduled from March 8–24, 2024, would witness athletes from 55 African countries compete in 22 sporting disciplines, which include Badminton, Cycling, Swimming, Athletics, and Tennis, among others.

Speaking at a press briefing in Accra, the Sport Minister disclosed that an estimated 2.5 billion TV and online viewers would watch the African Games over the two-week period.

According to Mr. Ussif, the African Games would improve the sporting infrastructure while increasing foreign direct investment inflows, which would help strengthen the Ghanaian cedi.

“The main aim of hosting and organising the 13th African Games is to use sports to achieve national and continental development goals. Specifically, to contribute to Ghana’s transformational Agenda and the African Union Agenda 2063, ‘The Africa We Want,” he said.

The Sports Minister added that Ghana would save money in terms of pre-tournament camping for teams, and some facilities after the tournament will frequently host international games.

Mr. Ussif also stated that games will help unearth talents in various disciplines and encourage the development of sporting careers.

In the area of tourism, the Minister stated the African Games would help promote Ghanaian culture, including dance, music, and food to the outside world.

Ghana will host the African Games for the first time since it started in 1965, with a 50,000-seat Olympic Stadium currently under construction at Borteyman, while facilities at the University of Ghana are expected to be completed by December 2023.

Newsghana

The Bahati Foundation is pleased to announce its “Ride to New Horizons African Cycling Initiative” in partnership with the University of Ouagadougou Cycling Team based in Burkina Faso, West Africa, at a special launch event during the upcoming CycleGhana 2023 trip in Accra, Ghana, on July 27-30, 2023.

The Gladiators Cycling Club, Ghana Cycle Federation, Burkina Faso Cycling Federation, and the University of Ouagadougou are excited to welcome 10-time USA Pro Cycling Champion Rahsaan Bahati to Ghana for his first visit to West Africa.

He will participate in multiple cycling events and activities, including planned meetings with the Ghanaian Minister of Sport, local cycling enthusiasts, students, and coaches.

The Gladiators, one of the most respected Ghanaian cycling clubs, and the CycleGhana Team from the US will facilitate Bahati's various activities during the trip.

The Bahati Foundation's “Ride to New Horizons African Cycling Initiative” aims to promote and develop Cycling in Africa by supporting and empowering local communities through biking education, better equipment, and sustainable sports training opportunities.

The partnership with the University of Ouagadougou Cycling Team aligns with one key aspect in the initiative: Identifying and developing talent is fundamental to the continued growth of Cycling in West Africa.

With the announcement by the governing body of international Cycling, the UCI, that the 2025 UCI Road Cycling Championships will be held in Kigali, Rwanda, the Bahati Foundation seeks to assist in cultivating the next generation of competitive African cyclists.

Source Bahati Foundation

Bahati Foundation To Support Ghana Cycling Federation

The Bahati Foundation based in California, Los Angeles, USA is to partner the Ghana Cycling Federation (GCF) to nurture and groom young cyclists who can compete and mount the podium at big international events like the Olympic Games and World Championships.

On Thursday, July 27, Mr. Rashid Bahati and his son Rahsaan Bahati, a former member of the United States Cycling team and former President of the South African Cycling Federation, William Newman were led by some executive members of the GCF to introduce the foundation to the Director General of the National Sports Authority, Professor Peter Twumasi.

According to Mr. Shabaan Mohammed, Secretary General of the GCF, they have had positive discussions aimed at strengthening the youth in Ghana who love cycling and providing equipment and coaching. He said Ghana will benefit with the introduction of exchange programmes.

Professor Twumasi congratulated and commended the Bahati Foundation for choosing Ghana, which is the gateway to Africa and as Ghana hosts the 13^th African Games in Accra, much attention will be shifted on the country.

Also with the future in mind, especially LA 2028 Olympic Games, he hinted that catching the cyclists young and preparing them can yield the desired results.

Mr. Kwame Amponfi Jr. Technical Director at the NSA said taking cycling to the schools and getting the right training locally and abroad will bring out the best in those who will represent the national team. He welcomed the exchange programme idea proposed by the Bahati Foundation as it would serve Ghanaian top cyclists well as they will train on some of the best facilities.

Rahsaan Buhati, founder and chairman of the Foundation whose mum comes from Alabama started the sport at 11years and has now retired from professional racing said he is prepared to support the Ghana Cycling Federation.

He has been ten times USA champion, and now wants to give back to society.

He said when he was in competition; there were no blacks and he wants more Africans to be among the best when he comes to cycling at the world level because they have the power to do bigger things.

William Newman said its time for Africa to shine in cycling, and take advantage of the many opportunities, but they have to start from somewhere.

He called for the need to develop structures and target the many medals at stake at the Olympic Games.

Meanwhile, a group of student cyclists from Burkina Faso will visit Ghana to initiate the collaboration with the Bahati Foundation.

The University of Ghana is planning to have a cycling team, with the support of the Foundation who will present 10 bicycles to a school in Peki in the Volta region to demonstrate their commitment.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

All registered participants of the 2nd Accra Inter-City Homowo Marathon (AICHM) will enjoy free medical examination before the race.

This follows the partnership deal between HealthTech Ghana Limited a Medical Technology Distributor and vendor of choice for hospitals and clinics across Ghana and Medivents Consult – Media, Public Relations, Marketing Agency and Events Management outfit – the organisers of the race.

HealthTech Ghana Limited have thus become one of the new sponsors of the race as well as the lead sponsor for the first ever Sports Expo to be organized by Medivents Consult.

The deal would see HealthTech Ghana Limited provide two days of free and thorough medical examination for all registered participants of the race at the Media Center of the Accra Sports Stadium during the Sports Expo fixed for August 2-3.

All participants would have the opportunity to undertake screening in blood pressure measurement, body mass index calculation, glucose level monitoring, hepatitis B and C, Syphilis and ECG.

This according to HealthTech Ghana would help participants to assess cardiovascular health, identify potential risks for chronic diseases and provide insight into their overall well-being.

A statement signed by Mr. Henri Senyo Penni – General Manager of Medivents Consult expressed appreciation to HealthTech Ghana Limited for their support.

The statement said the medical examination would help prevent health issues during the race as it seeks to give athletes clean bill of health for all participants.

Abigail Akua Amoah Head of Sales, HealthTech Ghana in the statement said they were delighted to be part of the two events.

She urged participants to take advantage of the exercise to examine themselves ahead of the race.

The Accra Inter-City Homowo Marathon is fixed for Friday, August 2-3, 2023. It would commence at the Accra Sports Stadium, and end at the Mantse Agbona.

Over 1000 participants are expected to participate in 21, 10, and 5 kilometres with attractive prizes to be won.

The AICHM is in partnership with the Ga Traditional Council (GTC) and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).

Other sponsors of the race are; Allied Consortiums, HD Plus, G4S, Serene Insurance, mybet.africa.com, Happy Fm, Harmony Haven, 442Images, Aqua Blue Mineral Water, Indomie, and Dannex Aryton.

Medivents Consult

New Boxing promotions outfit, Silver Black Promotions will stage their first professional event at the Lord's Wembley, at Shukura in Accra on Saturday, August 19, 2023.

Featuring on the 10 bouts bill are fans favorite boxers like National Super Lightweight Champion,  Faisal Abubakar, former WBO Global Bantamweight Champion, Wasiru Mohammed aka Gyatabi who has moved to the Featherweight division, stylish Gabriel Coffie and rising star, Africanus Neequaye of James Town Boxing Club.

Mr. Daniel Ablorh Sowah, CEO of Silver Black Promotions addressed a media gathering that he had learnt a lot while staging amateur bouts during Homowo Festival in the neighborhoods of Osu and La.

He noted that there are challenging moments for promoters but he has the passion because he has a Boxing background and wants to bring entertainment to the people, while unearthing and grooming world class talents.

He disclosed to be only promotions and welcomes managers who wish to push their wards on bigger platforms.

He thanked the President of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) for supporting him to acquire his promotions license in a short while.

Mr. Abraham Neequaye, the GBA President who was at the launch of the new promotions outfit and announce the bill said they are ready to work with every promoter in good standing and all Boxing stakeholders to make Ghana Boxing better.

He commended Silver Black for coming up with some fine boxers on the bill.

"The boxers on the bill are potential world champions and I urge the fans to come and support them on August 19" he said.

Present were other GBA executives; Vice President Roger Barnor, Director of Promotions Alhaji Toffik and his vice Michael Tetteh aka 'Golden Mike', Derek Ankrah of the GBA media  as well as Mohammad Amin Lamptey, Communications Director.

Faisal 'Poncho Power' Abubakar will face Emmanuel Arday Aryee of the Ghana Prisons Service, while Wasiru Africanus and Coffie await the names of their opponents.

Wasiru Mohammed used the platform of the Press Conference to apologize to his fans for his absence in the ring and promised to be better and bigger. He assured boxing fans of something new and special.

Gyatabi is now coached by Paul Dogboe who guided Isaac Dogboe to become a WBO Super Bantamweight champion.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

IOC President Thomas Bach invites nations to Paris 2024 ©Getty Images

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach today invited 203 of the 206 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to take part in the Paris 2024 Olympics that start in a year's time.

The question of whether Russian and Belarusian athletes can take part as neutral individuals is expected to be decided at the IOC Session in Mumbai in October.

Russia and Belarus were two of the NOCs not to receive invitations, while Guatemala, which is currently suspended, was also not sent an invitation.

"The mission of the Olympic Games is to untie the entire world in peaceful competition," Bach told gathered guests here.

"In our fragile world with conflicts and divisions and wars, we need this unifying power more than ever.

"The Olympic Games must always build bridges.

"The Olympic Games must never erect walls."

Referencing the earlier playing on violin - by French classical musician Marina Chiche - of John Lennon’s Imagine, Bach added:

"Imagine - you may say we are dreamers.

"That is why the IOC today will extend invitations to 203 National Olympic Committees around the world.

"And I will have the great privilege of handing over today to nine NOCs and to the IOC Refugee Olympic team."

Earlier, speaking mostly in French, Bach welcomed all guest to "this important and symbolic ceremony ahead of the Paris 2024 Games a year from now."

Citing the French founding father of the modern Games, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, and the hosting of the Paris Olympics in 1924, he added:

"Today we celebrate a new Paris Games, another chapter in this noble history.

"Paris 2024 has an exceptional spirit.

"There has been excellent work from the organisers to prepare these Games.

"These Games are more inclusive, more young and more durable.

"For the first time, we will have a perfect parity of gender.

"And we see that these Games fit exactly with the Agenda 2020.

"It is therefore my great pleasure to mark this important milestone today by inviting the nations to Paris to celebrate the Games of the 33rd Olympiad and to celebrate the Olympic motto: Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together."

Tony Estanguet, Paris 2024 President, commented:

"In a year’s time we will be just a few hours away from the Opening Ceremony - and maybe a bit stressed out!

"A Ceremony that just might be, as the fastest man in the world, Usain Bolt, said on the boat yesterday in the presentation of the Torch, the most beautiful in Olympic history.

"Welcome to Paris 2024.

"We are very pleased that you are with us and are here for this very symbolic moment.

"This one year to go is very important for Paris 2024.

"A big thank you to Thomas Bach for your constant support since the beginning of the Paris 2024 project.

"A project that is aligned with the 2020 IOC Agenda.

"We have been showing our Games presentation.

"We have announced a new premium partner who will help us show the best of France.

"We have unveiled the Paris 2024 Torch, which is absolutely magnificent.

"We have also unveiled the Omega countdown clock by the Eiffel Tower.

"And yesterday we presented the Torch with Usain Bolt.

"It is beginning to taste like Paris 2024.

"Last week we showed Chefs de Mission around the site and they gave us a great feedback.

"I am very confident about the future and the year to come."

Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet said at the IOC Invitation Ceremony:

Pierre-Olivier Beckers-Vieujant, chair of the IOC’s Coordination Commission for the Games, added: "There will be a lot of firsts in Paris next year, but it has started from the first day of preparation for these incredible Games.

"The first time there is a perfect equality in gender.

"Never before will the Games be so urban and directed to the heart of the city.

"And of course there will be the unique Opening Ceremony on the Seine and in the Place de la Concorde.

"Emblems and mascots are the same for the two Games.

"Never before has there been such commitment to climate issues.

"And never before has a city organised 95 per cent of its infrastructure from existing buildings, reducing the need for new construction.

"The number of firsts is very high.

"What we need to remember is through all these firsts these will be the Games of a new era.

"They will be an inflection point showing there will be a before and an after for the Games of Paris 2024."

By Mike Rowbottom at the Paris 2024 headquarters in Saint Denis 

Ferdinand Omanyala celebrates after winning the Monaco Diamond League on July 21. Photo by Johnny Fidelin.

Source: Getty Images

Ferdinand Omanyala won his first-ever Diamond League race on July 21

He beat Letsile Tebogo by a hundredth of a millisecond to win in Monaco

The African champion has now regained the top position in the standings

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Ferdinand Omanyala took another huge step in realising his dream of winning this season's Diamond League trophy after he stormed to a close victory at the Monaco Diamond League.

The fastest man on the continent beat Botswana's Letsile Tebogo by a photo finish to become the first Kenyan to ever win a 100m race at a Diamond League event.

Ferdinand Omanyala, Akani Simbine, Diamond League Standings, Fred Kerley, Noah Lyles, World Athletics Championships

He finished in 9.92 seconds, while Tebogo was adjudged to have recorded a time of 9.93 seconds.

It has been a slow but steady improvement from Omanyala, who finished third at the Rabat Diamond League before back-to-back second-place finishes in Florence and Paris.

The Commonwealth Champion was the outright favourite to win in Monaco after his fellow heavy hitters, like South Africa's Akani Simbine, withdrew.

Following his win, the 27-year-old has now reclaimed the top spot, tied with Simbine, who beat the World Champion Fred Kerley in Silesia last week.

The American now drops to third. Omanyala has now guaranteed his place in the Diamond League finals in Eugene, Oregon in September.

What next for Omanyala?

The African record holder will now head to Austria, where he will take part in the Joskolauf meeting on July 29. Afterwards, he will head to Budapest, where he will attempt to become the first Kenyan to medal in the 100m.

The World Athletics Championships are slated for August 19 to 27.

Wanda Diamond League rules

Sports Brief also previously reported on the rules of the Diamond League, which consists of around 15 meetings in different countries throughout the year.

In each of these meetings, the top eight athletes are awarded points based on their finishing position: number one gets 8 points, two gets 7, and so on.

For the final in Oregon, the USA, the top six in the field events and the top ten in the long-distance events compete based on the points they tallied.

What Diamond League winners earn

In news related to the track and field event, Sports Brief also reported on what Diamond League winners earn, following Omanyala and Faith Kipyegon's Monaco victories.

Several records have fallen this season, setting up a super finale at the Prefontaine Classic in Oregon, on September 16 and 17 - the first Wanda Diamond League final in the USA.

Sports Brief

Bastie 'Doobia' Samir (20-0-1, 18 KOs) returns to the ring in far away Colorado, USA this Friday, 28 July against veteran American, Cleotis Pendarvis.

Cleotis Pendarvis, a south paw who has a record of 21 – 16 – 2 hopes to give the Ghana a good show.the 37 year old also known as Mookie has lost12 of his last bouts.

Cleotis Pendarvis (born June 22, 1986 in Los Angeles, California) is a professional boxer in the Welterweight division and was one of the Sparring partners of Antonio Margarito for his November 13, 2010 fight with Manny Pacquiao.

He said this bout is special in his career and he must win to keep his form and focus on becoming a world champion.

Bastie ‘The Beast’ Samir, a former skipper of the Black Bombers and gym member of Wisdom Boxing Club is undefeated, and remembered for stopping Bukom Banku at the Bukom Boxing Arena.

He hope to add the American to his victims.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, says the 13th African Games will feature 22 different sporting activities with seven set to be qualifiers for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The Minister met with the media earlier on Wednesday, July 26, as part of a briefing to provide updates on Ghana’s preparations to host the games.

The Games which was initially scheduled for August 2023 will now take place in March 2024 with the infrastructure expected to be completed before then.

Among the 22 sporting events, seven will serve as qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, while the remaining 15 will be Non-Olympic qualifiers. Additionally, five sports disciplines will be showcased as demonstration sports during the event.

The Olympic Qualifiers include Badminton, Cycling, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Triathlon, and Wrestling. These events present a significant opportunity for Ghanaian athletes to secure their places in the prestigious global sporting event, the Olympic Games.

Speaking about the aim of hosting and organizing the 13th African Games, Hon. Mustapha Ussif emphasised the event’s role in contributing to Ghana’s transformational agenda and the African Union Agenda 2063, “The Africa We Want.”

The Games also seek to improve sports infrastructure in the country and position Accra as a Sports Hub in West Africa.

In terms of infrastructure development, significant progress is being made with the construction of world-class facilities at various locations. These include the University of Ghana Sports Stadium, the Rugby Pitch, the Games Village, and the Borteyman Sports Complex, which is set to be converted into a University of Sport for Development in the near future.

The Minister expressed confidence in the collective effort of all stakeholders, emphasizing the Government of Ghana’s unwavering commitment to host a successful and memorable African Games in March 2024. He called for a unified and collaborative approach to overcome challenges and ensure the Games celebrate African unity, diversity, and progress.

Ussif highlighted the benefits of hosting the 13th African Games, including financial gains from increased TV and online viewership, strengthening of the Ghana Cedi, foreign direct investment inflows, and potential savings in pre-tournament athlete camping.

The African Games, Accra 2023, are poised to be a remarkable event that showcases Ghana’s commitment to sports development and leaves a lasting legacy of environmental consciousness through the adoption of a “Green Game Strategy.”

With just seven months to go, the nation is eagerly anticipating the opening ceremony, scheduled for March 8, 2024, which will set the stage for an extraordinary celebration of African unity and sporting excellence.

Source myjoyonline