IOC And Omega Watches Marks One Year To Paris 2024 Olympic Games

To mark exactly #1YearToGo to the #Paris2024 Opening Ceremony, the IOC officially invited the National Olympic Committees and their best athletes to take part in the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, at a ceremony held in the host city.

The Olympic legend, Usain Bolt of Jamaica was invited to Paris to celebrate and unveil the new baton.

Omega, the Official Timekeeper at the Olympic Games also joined the celebration of OneYearTo Go until #Paris2024 by unveiling the official countdown clock at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.

IOC President Bach & OCOG President Tony Estanguet cut the ribbon with Raynald Aeschlimann, President and CEO of Omega Watches.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

To mark exactly #1YearToGo to the #Paris2024 Opening Ceremony, the IOC officially invited the National Olympic Committees and their best athletes to take part in the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, at a ceremony held in the host city.

Paris 2024 Olympic Games - One Year To Go

Ghana prepares for 2024 Paris OLYMPIC GAMES

According to Mr. Isaac Duah, Deputy Treasurer of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) and Chef de Mission for Paris 2024 everything is going on smoothly.

He and Alhaji Hayye Yartey, Chairman of the Communications Committee of the GOC recently toured facilities for the Games in France.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Noah Lyles celebrates 

Noah Lyles pulled clear of Usain Bolt for the most wins under 20 seconds in 200-metre races

He won the London Diamond League on Sunday ahead of the World Athletics Championships

The American star also set the fastest time in 200m events this year to shatter his own record

Noah Lyles registered another brilliant run to win the London Diamond League on July 23. The American sprinter set a new World Lead in the 200-metres in a time of 19.47 seconds.

He broke his own record of 19.67 seconds that he set at the Kingston Grand Prix in May and is looking in fine shape to complete a double at the World Athletics Championships next month.

In London, he held off World U-20 Champion, Letsile Tebogo - who crossed the line at 19.50 seconds to set a new African record - as Zharnel Hughes set a new national record to complete a podium place at 19.73 seconds.

Lyles' win saw him pull off clear of Bolt's record for most wins under 20 seconds in 200m races. Before the race, the duo were tied at 34 each.

With the American only 26 years old, he could widen the gap over the Jamaican legend even further.

Lyles also set a new meet record, breaking Bolt's standard of 19.76 seconds he set on the same course in 2008.

In the same event, Femke Bol ran the third-fastest time ever in the 400m hurdles race, with the Dutch star clocking 51.45 seconds to set herself behind Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone's times of 50.68 and 51.41 seconds.

Five facts about Noah Lyles

Turning attention back to Lyles, the 26-year-old has already declared his intentions to attempt a double at the World Athletics Championships later this year.

He will be aiming to join Bolt (four times) and Allyson Felix (triumphs in 2005, 2007, and 2009) as the only athletes to win three consecutive gold medals in 200m.

The straight-talking American sprinter is often spicy in his interviews, calling it as he sees it. Sports Brief takes a look at some unknown facts about Lyles.

Sprint legend comments on Lyles

Sports Brief also reported on sprinting legend, Michael Johnson commenting on Lyles breaking Bolt's record after the American's victory at the London Diamond League.

The former athlete explained that the sport had been searching for 'the next Bolt', but Lyles was forging his own path as a sprinter and on a path to new world records.

Sports Brief

Exclusive: Al Hilal have submitted world record fee formal bid to Paris Saint Germain for Kylian Mbappé ????????

◉ Saudi club have offered €300m fee to PSG in order to open negotiations to sign Mbappé immediately.

◉ It’d be world record fee, biggest ever in football.

◉ NO negotiations on player side at this stage as sources believe Kylian Mbappé wants to stay in Europe.

⚪️ Paris Saint-Germain remain convinced that Mbappé has already an agreement to join Real Madrid.

◉ Mbappé remains for sale and available on the market — PSG expect other clubs to bid soon, up to Real now.

By CRISTINA DISSAT Jul 21, 2023 in DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Four female sports journalists

The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup officially kicked off on Thursday, with 32 national teams descending on Australia and New Zealand to compete for the sport’s ultimate prize. Unlike in past years, all eyes in Brazil are on the competition.

But what about the women journalists covering the World Cup, and women sports journalists in general? Has progress been made with regard to the representation of women in sports journalism? Can the World Cup help speed up positive change?

Brazilian media is covering the World Cup this year like it never has before. Similarly, the Brazilian national team’s appearance in this year’s World Cup has been deemed historic by the Brazilian Soccer Confederation, prompting notable changes. The team, for instance, trained at the Granja Comary football complex – where the men’s team traditionally trains – ahead of the World Cup, they will be wearing newly designed jerseys, and they now have dedicated personnel assisting them with health and performance.

“Painstaking work”

While there has been growth in women's representation in sports journalism, it has come with its share of struggles, explained journalist Vanessa Riche. "It has been painstaking work, kickstarted by the first female announcers,” she said.

Riche has come a long way to improve this situation. In 2002, she was invited to take part in pilot projects to work on the Men's World Cup coverage. "We did all the tests in secret because the idea was to launch a female announcer in a soccer match. Just look at how long it has taken for us to be where we are now."

For the 2018 Men's World Cup, Riche created a training program for women commentators, attracting nearly 300 applicants. "When FOX Sports and TNT launched the program, all the other stations felt obligated to have female announcers. But only in 2021, when Renata Silveira, one of my trainees during the program, became an announcer at TV Globo, were we able to actually establish a female voice in soccer matches."

Riche recalls the hardships faced during her coverage of the 2018 Men’s World Cup. "We would get comments devaluing our work, like: 'well, you kind of get the game,' and 'we're not used to your voice.'"

Although some progress has been made, there remains a culture around sports that is hard to get through. "Women have not had a place secured in sports journalism,” said Riche.

Progress in Brazilian soccer

Progress is also being realized within Brazilian soccer clubs themselves, which now have women’s teams competing in national tournaments.

Today, a woman named Laura Zago is the Brazilian Soccer Confederation’s press agent, working on all matters related to the Women's World Cup. She believes that this is the moment for women to consolidate their place in the field.

"Clearly we don’t have the numbers yet that we'd like, but there are some women at very stable positions in the market," said Zago, adding that these changes can inspire young women journalists and journalism students.

With more representation, they will feel encouraged to start a career in the sports market, she added: "There’s no going back. It's time to pave the way for the women who are coming next."

Planning for a Women's World Cup in Brazil

Former professional soccer player Rachel Motta, who played for Madureira, a soccer club in Rio de Janeiro, retired from the sport to pursue a career in media. Today, she is a journalist and sports commentator.

"One of the strategies for developing women’s soccer is the work that has been made by the Sports Ministry. They are mapping the primary needs, from preparation, the fields and professionalization, to the players and staff," said Motta.

She added that FIFA is looking at all investments being made in women’s soccer. The developments in Brazil have been realized with an eye toward making it the host country of the 2027 Women's World Cup.

"It's not only about where you play and why you play, but also what is done to make women's soccer possible," said Motta.

Growing representation

Women reporters and announcers are gaining ground in sports journalism, and as a result the media is paying more attention to women’s sports.

"There is an audience for this market and outlets are finally realizing it," said Riche. "TV Globo broke several viewing records by airing the female National League and Libertadores Cup finals."

She also noted how women's soccer is occupying new spaces in media. One example is Casé TV, one of the most popular YouTube channels in Brazil today, which will be covering the World Cup.

Luiza Sá, a journalist at UOL who is reporting on this year’s World Cup in person, has been covering the Brazilian national team’s training at Granja Comary. She noted a large presence of women journalists compared to their male counterparts, including at the press conference where the Brazilian roster was announced.

"There is still a lot to do to gain ground, because media outlets don't pay attention to women's soccer as they do with men's soccer. The number of professionals sent to [women’s sports event] coverage is way smaller," said Sá. "But I believe that we made a lot of progress, and we expect that more women will be working in [sports] media coverage. At the press conference where the roster was announced, most of the questions were asked by women."

No going back

Women telling the stories of other women is key because they look at things differently, said Sá: "Now we have the opportunity to tell our story. It's still a long way, but I see significant progress. There is no going back. We got in, secured our place, and we are not going away – ever."

Women don't want to turn sports journalism into a bubble just for themselves, added Riche.

"We want to be respected and have more women being a part of it. All of this is related to what is happening to the Brazilian team, to the hiring of coach Pia Sundhage, to not labeling the players as 'poor girls,'" she said. "The investors are showing up, too. When we look back, we can see the growth. But now we have to ask: how much time until we have a woman as the director of a sports broadcast?"

Photo courtesy of Vanessa Riche, Luiza Sá, Rachel Motta, Laura Zago and by Celso Pupo.

This article was originally published on IJNet Portuguese and translated by Priscila Brito.

Paris 2024 Olympic Games – One Year To Go

African Union and African Olympic Committee check on Ghana's preparations  for 13th African Games

African Union and African Olympic Committee to check on Ghana's preparations for the 13th African Games, Accra 2023 which will be from March 8th to March 23rd 2024.

This is the Olympic Games of Africa with ALL 55 Countries participating in 21 sports disciplines including athletics, boxing, cycling, badminton, weightlifting, judo, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball and football.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Italy-born Ghanaian forward Godberg Barry Cooper scored his very first competitive goal for new side UTA Arad when they succumbed to CFR Cluj in the Romanian Liga 1.

Cooper got the consolation for UTA as they lost 3-1 to Cluj in a matchday two fixture at the Arena Francisc Neuman in Arad on Friday evening.

The bulky Ghanaian opened the scoring of the match to give UTA the lead when he finished off a pass from Slovakian midfielder Andrej Fabry in the 27th minute.

Cluj drew level two minutes afterward when Romania U21 international Daniel Birligea found the back of the net.

UTA midfielder Catalin Carp scored an own goal to send Cluj into the lead before the break.

Ghana U23 star Emmanuel Yeboah rounded off the victory five minutes from time for the visitors after coming on in the second half in place of Spanish forward Jefte Betancor.

Cooper switched camp from Chindia Târgoviște to UTA this summer on a short-term deal after a decent campaign in the Romanian top flight last season.

Speaking to a member of the management team of Godberg Barry, Mr. David Derhnick Coffie CEO of Zion Management Africa Ltd(Zmal Sports) and also  General Manager of Akosombo United Fc a division 2 club base in Akosombo said, Ghana needs a killer striker like Asamoah Gyan and that’s is what Godberg process.

Source Gabriel Amoakoh

Kenyan's Martin Kimurgo confirms participation in Accra Inter-City Homowo Marathon

Kenyan long distance runner Martin Kimurgo will partake in the second edition of the Accra Inter-City Homowo Marathon, scheduled for  Friday, August 4, 2023.

Kimurgo made history last year by becoming the first athlete to win the first edition of the Accra Inter-City Homowo Marathon with an impressive time of 1:04:45.

The Kenyan athlete has vowed to retain his title, to ensure his dominance on the Ghanaian space.

The Kenyan athlete would be looking to win the GHC 10,000 ultimate cash prize for the second time running, but faces stiff competition from Ghana's Koogo Atia, who placed second last year.

Over 1000 athletes are expected to compete in the 21-kilometre, 10-kilometre, and 5-kilometre race categories, with over GH70,000 in cash prizes to be shared.

With other high-profile runners from other countries expected to partake in this year's marathon, the winner will get a fully sponsored trip to compete at the Soweto Marathon later this year.

This year's Inter-City Homowo Marathon is part of activities to mark the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, and the race day will be honoured by the mayor, Madam Elizabeth Tawiah Sackey.

Organised by Medivents Consults in collaboration with the Ga Traditional Council, sponsors for the second edition of the marathon include HD+, HealthTech Ghana Limited, Serene Insurance, Allied Cosortiums, Aqua Blue Mineral Water, mybet.Africa.com, G4S, TXT Ghana, Harmony Haven, 442 Images, and Happy FM.

Source William Ezah / Medivents