World Athlete of the Year 2015 women’s finalists: Dibaba, Schippers and Wlodarczyk

Genzebe Dibaba, Dafne Schippers and Anita Wlodarczyk are the three women’s finalists for the 2015 IAAF World Athlete of the Year award.

Dibaba won the 1500m title at the IAAF World Championships Beijing 2015, having broken the world record in the event one month earlier with her time of 3:50.07 in Monaco. The Ethiopian also set a world indoor 5000m record of 14:18.86 and took the bronze medal at that distance at the World Championships.

Schippers clocked a European and championship record of 21.63 to win the 200m title in Beijing to go alongside the silver medal she took in the 100m where she set a Dutch record of 10.81. Earlier in the year, she set a world-leading mark of 7.05 over 60m.

Wlodarczyk was utterly dominant this season in the hammer. The Pole won all 11 of her competitions, including the IAAF World Championships Beijing 2015. She also became the first woman to throw beyond 80 metres, setting a world record of 81.08m in Cetniewo in August.

WORLD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR 2015 WOMEN’S FINALISTS: DIBABA, SCHIPPERS AND WLODARCZYK
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Last month the IAAF Family* was asked to select nine men and nine women from each of the following categories: sprints, hurdles, middle and long distance, road running, race walking, jumps, throws, combined events and multi-terrain.

The top-voted athletes in each category formed the longlist, from which an international panel of 10 experts** selected the three finalists. The men’s finalists will be announced tomorrow.

CAS dismisses an appeal against the re-election of Olegario Vazquez Raña as ISSF President

In a decision released on 16 November 2015, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) based in Lausanne, Switzerland, the highest judicial authority for sport in the world, dismissed an appeal against the re-election of Olegario Vázquez Raña as President of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF).

In a decision released on 16 November 2015, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) based in Lausanne, Switzerland, the highest judicial authority for sport in the world, dismissed an appeal against the re-election of Olegario Vázquez Raña as President of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) on 3 December 2014. The appeal was filed by the Kuwait Shooting Federation and former ISSF Vice President Sheikh Salman Al-Sabah, who was also a candidate for ISSF President. Their appeal asked the court to cancel the election. The court rejected the arguments brought forward by the appellants and confirmed the validity of Mr. Vazquez Raña’s election as ISSF President.

“I am very satisfied with the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport. This decision clearly vindicates us from the accusations made by my opponent in the ISSF elections, who did not agree with a democratic and constitutionally valid ISSF election process,” said Vázquez Raña after CAS announced its ruling. “I wish to express my gratitude to the ISSF family for electing me and for their support throughout all of my presidency.”

Vázquez Raña was elected to the highest post of the world governing body of the shooting sport when he received 165 votes against 128 for his opponent, Kuwaiti Sheikh Salman Al-Sabah, whose Ministry in Kuwait sent several letters to sports leaders in various nations in an attempt to influence their vote and take advantage of his position as Minister of Information and Youth Affairs in Kuwait.

CAS dismisses an appeal against the re-election of Olegario Vazquez Raña as ISSF President

After the ruling by CAS, Olegario Vázquez Raña stated, “It is now time for the entire shooting sport family to unite for the benefit of the sport and our athletes. Together, we can help our sport continue to grow in popularity and develop around the world. Furthermore, we have a major contribution to make in helping IOC President Dr. Thomas Bach achieve his vision under Olympic Agenda 2020.”

The Mexican businessman, who had an outstanding career as an athlete and participated in four Olympic Games from 1964 through 1976, said, “now that this appeal against our elections has been dismissed, it is time for all members of the ISSF family to come together in our common cause to promote the shooting sport and its athletes, and to unite behind our common values of sport for all, inclusivity and respect for the human right to practice sport.”

NFF Appeals For Release Of Siasia’s Mum

The Nigeria Football Federation has appealed passionately to kidnappers of the 72 –year old mother of U-23 National Team Head Coach, Samson Siasia, to release the old woman.

On learning of the unfortunate incident on Tuesday morning, NFF President Amaju Pinnick was downcast. “This is quite disturbing. We are just preparing for a crucial 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match, and the U-23 boys are already in The Gambia for a pre-Cup of Nations training camp. Why this?

“All we can do is to appeal to the kidnappers to free Samson Siasia’s aged mother. Samson is on a critical national assignment presently and the last he needs is this kind of distraction.”

The 72 –year old Mrs Ogere Siasia, according to Samson, was abducted in the village of Odoni, Bayelsa State by three men on motorbike. A distressed Siasia said his mother happened to be the only one at home in his village taking care of his father who is visually impaired.

Siasia Samson Nigeria U23 Coach credit fifa.com

Siasia said: “Right now I am confused, from the story I got, three men on motorbike stormed my parents house in my village Odoni in Bayelsa State, shot sporadically into the air before taking my old mother away on a bike.

“What do they expect from me? I don’t have money, I am right now on national duty, and need all the time to concentrate on this very important national task, so I beg them to please release my mother so that I can concentrate on this task of qualifying the U-23 National Team for the men’s football event of the Rio Olympics.”

Coach Siasia confirmed that the incident has been reported to the police in Bayelsa State.

Dalong, Yakmut, Others Confirms for 2015 Nigerian Sports Award…As Supersports Beams Event Live

The newly appointed Honourable Minister of Youth & Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalong and the Director General, National Sports Commission, Alhassan Yakmut are among dignitaries that have confirmed to grace the 2015 edition of the Nigerian Sports Award slated for this Friday, November 20, 2015.

The spokesman for the award and the Executive Director, Unmissable Incentives Limited, Mr. Kayode Idowu, disclosed this immediately after the final meeting of the panel held on Tuesday November 17, 2015 in Lagos.

Nigeria Sports Awards

“I am very proud to announce to you that the new Minister of Youth & Sports Barrister Solomon Dalong and the Director General of the National Sports Commission have confirmed to be at the event on Friday” he said.

Idowu noted that the organizers and the award panel are very excited that the Honourable Minister has chosen the 2015 Nigerian Sports Award event as his first major official event.

He also revealed that several other dignitaries including State Governors, Commissioners, Captains of Industries, past and present athletes as well as Nigerian top celebrities have confirmed to attend the event.

Director General of the NSC, Alhassan Yakmut

Meanwhile, Idowu also hinted that the leading Sports TV Channel- Supersport is set to cover and broadcast the event live for two hours on Supersports 9 with several repeat broadcast.

The 2015 Nigerian Sports Award event is schedule to hold on Friday, November 20, 2015 at the Marquee, Oceanview, Eko Hotel, Lagos.

My Next Opponent With Regret Fighting Me, Boasts Winner of GOtv Boxing Night N1m

Otto “Joe Boy” Joseph, best boxer at the fourth edition of the GOtv Boxing Night, has vowed that whoever fights him next would wish he never did. Otto, who knocked out National Lightweight champion, Nurudeen “Prince” Fatai in the fourth round of their national challenge bout at the GOtv Boxing Night last month and was adjudged the best boxer at the event, is slated to fight for a national title at the next edition of the event in December.

“I am training hard and taking instructions from my coach. Whoever my opponent is, he will regret ever daring to fight me. Fatai, I am sure, regrets doing that. If he comes again, he will regret it. I am motivated to do more and will do more,” he said.

The soft-spoken boxer, 22, is one of the rising stars of Nigerian boxing. He made his professional debut at the first edition of the GOtv Boxing Night last year after a stellar career in the amateur ranks, where he was an eight-time Lagos State champion. He attributes his swift rise to his commitment and the support the sport is getting from GOtv, headline sponsors of the GOtv Boxing Night, and Flykite Productions, promoters of the event.

“However good you are and however good you have trained, you need a platform to show it. Without GOtv Boxing Night, promoted by Flykite, I would not have had the opportunity I currently have. There are many good boxers finding it difficult to get fights.

We are all depending on GOtv Boxing Night for the opportunity to show what we can do. Before GOtv Boxing Night started, boxers waited for as many as three years to get fights. I know a boxer who hasn’t fought since 2011. That’s the truth,” he said.

Vitali Klitschko Re-elected as Mayor of Kiev

Former World Heavyweight Champion Vitali Klitschko has been re-elected as the Mayor of Kiev after second round runoff votes which he claimed 66.6% of the votes.

The Brother of the current Heavyweight Champion defeated former Paramilitary ultra-nationalist Boryslav Bereza to re-elected as Mayor.

Klitschko have been criticized for failing to deliver his promises of developing the ageing infrastructure constructed by the Soviet, but due to his closeness to the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and his popularity as a boxer, he was able to defeat Bereza.

Vitali Klitschko
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The 44 year old was first elected as the Mayor of Kiev in May 2014 defeating Viktor Yanukovych in the process.

Begium vs Spain Game Cancelled

The Friendly game between the No.1 ranked team in the world Belgium vs Spain has been called off due to security concerns.

The statement released Nov 16 by the Belgian FA read:

“At the very end of the evening, the Belgian FA was contacted by the government,who made the recommendation not to play tomorrow’s match. This is because the the terror alert level is high and with the current leakage of a suspicious person. We deeply regret that such a friendly match between two motivated teams has been cancelled so late and we understand the disappointment of many fans. However, taking into account the exceptional circumstances,we cannot take any risks with players and fans”.

Belgium National Team
photo credit: Erik Drost
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This development comes in the wake of deadly attacks in bars,restaurants and concert hall in Paris, while France were playing Germany at the Stade de France in an international friendly on Nov 13.

Defeated UFC Champion Ronda Rousey Assures Fans She’s Fine…

Ronda Rousey has assured fans that she is fine after been knocked out in her Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight title fight against Holly Holm in Melbourne, Australia.

She wrote on social media: “I appreciate the concerns about my health but I’m fine. I’m going to take a little bit of time but I’ll be back.”

Just posted a photo https://t.co/DVuvFGj27Y

— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) November 16, 2015

Ronda Rousey required medical attention after her defeat – her first in 13 bouts in the sport.

Holly Holm, a former multiple boxing world champion remains undefeated in UFC, with a record of 10-0.

Meanwhile the UFC women’s bantamweight boxer has been on the receiving end of Various jokes, chief amongst whom is Rapper 50cents who posted a photoshopped picture of “Rocky Balboa” (played by Sylvester Stallone) from the movie Rocky tending to a battered Rousey on Instagram, the rapper insinuated in the caption that Mayweather Jr had asked to post it.

Rousey had thrown several challenges at Mayweather, Claiming that she would defeat him if they ever met in a bout, both fighters have been in a war of word for some months now and Holm’s defeat of Rousey was enough to spark another round of the ongoing verbal feud.

Ronda Rousey
photo credit: zuko1312
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But it was social media that went into overdrive, and Rousey got trolled so much that we had to bring this to you. Many believe that the outspoken Former UFC Champion is just reaping the “fruits of her labour”

Below is another meme that’s making the rounds on social media after Rousey’s was knocked out by Holm in Australia.

Another twitter handle @WORLDSTAR however posted what seems like a word of encouragement for the defeated UFC star from the most unlikely source… Floyd Mayweather :

Floyd Mayweather on Ronda Rousey pic.twitter.com/0sqEICj5A7

— WORLDSTARHIPHOP (@WORLDSTAR) November 17, 2015

Well you be the judge.

Lionel Messi Back In Full Training With Barcelona

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi returned to full training on Monday five days before the first Clasico of the season, the club said.

Messi has not played since tearing a ligament in his left knee back in September.

“The session included Leo Messi, who is continuing his recovery from the left knee injury he picked up on Sept. 26,” Barcelona revealed.

Also back in training is Croatia midfielder Ivan Rakitic who has been injured since November 4th.

Lionel Messi
credit: hy.wikipedia.org

Barcelona go into this weekend’s El Clasico leading Real Madrid by three points, with Atletico Madrid a further point behind in third.

Forwards Luis Suarez and Neymar have held fort for the Catalan giants in the absence of the Argentine and his return will definitely be a welcome development, some doubts still surround his availability for El-Classico.

France To Host Euro 2016 As Planned- UEFA

France will remain the host of Euro 2016, UEFA has announced.

The country’s hosting of the tournament has come under scrutiny since Friday’s terrorist attacks in Paris, which killed 129 people with many more seriously injured.

A statement from UEFA on Monday said the tournament organising committee was standing firm.

“For over three years now, Euro 2016 SAS has been working closely with the relevant authorities to develop the most appropriate mechanisms in order to guarantee there is a safe and secure tournament and we are confident that the necessary measures will be taken to ensure that is the case for all involved,”

“The Euro final draw will go ahead as scheduled on Dec. 12 at the Palais des Congres in Paris and the final tournament will be played in France from June 10 to July 10, 2016.”

Aerial view of stade de France, Paris
photo credit: Citizen59
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“Following the dramatic events that occurred last Friday in Paris, UEFA and Euro 2016 SAS wish to reaffirm their
commitment in placing safety and security at the centre of their organisational plans while there is no reason to believe that the Euro might become the target of any attack, the potential terrorist threat has always been taken into account since the beginning of the project.

Euro 2016 SAS and all stakeholders involved in the organisation of the tournament will continue their joint work and will regularly monitor the level of risk for the tournament and their respective organisational plans.” the statement said