Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games To Serve Up Beach Volleyball Competition

In a Commonwealth Games first, Beach Volleyball has scored a spot in the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) sports program.

The historic agreement between the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), the Queensland Government, the Australian Commonwealth Games Association (ACGA) and the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) will extend the Games sports program for the first time from 17 to 18 sports.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk welcomed the decision to include Beach Volleyball in the Gold Coast 2018 Games which was approved by the CGF Executive Board following a special request from the Minister for the Commonwealth Games and GOLDOC.

“I am proud my Government has been able to work with the Commonwealth Games Federation to expand the sports program and add Beach Volleyball to the GC2018 schedule,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“The Gold Coast’s beautiful beaches are a huge Games drawcard and Beach Volleyball is the perfect sporting fit for the 2018 program.

“The Games is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to showcase Queensland to the world and with Beach Volleyball now locked in to make its Commonwealth Games debut, vision of the Gold Coast’s iconic beaches will be beamed to an audience of over 1.5 billion people around the world.”

CGF President Louise Martin CBE also endorsed the decision to add an iconic sport like Beach Volleyball to the GC2018 program.

“The CGF Executive Board is delighted to approve the inclusion of Beach Volleyball in the sports program of the XXI Commonwealth Games, which will allow nations to compete in more sports, engage and inspire spectators, broadcasters and commercial partners, and create a spectacular sporting showcase for the Gold Coast, Queensland and Australia on the world stage.

“This innovative, collaborative initiative, undertaken and initiated by the Gold Coast 2018 delivery partners with support from the CGF, is a fantastic example of the collective ambitions set out in the CGF’s Transformation 2022 strategic plan and we look forward to experiencing Beach Volleyball for the first time ever at a Commonwealth Games.”

Commonwealth Games Minister Stirling Hinchcliffe said Games partners are in the process of assessing suitable Gold Coast locations.

“The Gold Coast has some of the best beaches in the world, which is why we have campaigned strongly to the Commonwealth Games Federation to include Beach Volleyball as part of the sporting program in 2018,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“Games partners will scout a location that showcases our magnificent beaches, but also is accessible and has the capacity to house the temporary infrastructure needed to meet international federation guidelines.

“I am confident that preparations will proceed quickly in full consultation with the community and key partners.”

GOLDOC Chairman Nigel Chamier AM welcomed the decision and said Games preparations were on track with arrangements well advanced on the sporting, commercial and infrastructure programs.

“This announcement is a great outcome that will only add to what is already an exciting program,” Mr Chamier said.

“The people of the Gold Coast, Queensland and Australia can expect amazing venues, incredible sport and a lifetime of memories.”

ACGA President Sam Coffa AM JP was pleased to support the inclusion of Beach Volleyball in the Commonwealth Games.

“Beach Volleyball is a perfect addition to the 2018 program. We know it’s popular throughout the Commonwealth, particularly with our neighbours in the Pacific,” Mr Coffa said.

Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games to serve up Beach Volleyball competition

Volleyball Australia President Craig Carracher said he was very excited about the expansion of the Games program to include Beach Volleyball.

“There is no better cultural fit for this sport than the beautiful beaches of the Gold Coast and this will provide a great opportunity to contribute to the Australian medal tally,” Mr Carracher said.

“We are very thankful for the strong support shown by the Premier and Minister for the Commonwealth Games, GOLDOC, the ACGA, the CGF President and Executive Board, and the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).”

The GC2018 sports program will include the following 18 sports: Athletics, Aquatics (swimming and diving), Badminton, Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Cycling (road, mountain and track), Gymnastics, Hockey, Lawn Bowls, Netball, Rugby Sevens, Shooting, Squash, Table Tennis, Triathlon, Weightlifting, and Wrestling.

The final GC2018 full integrated Para-Sports program will be announced later this month.

The events will be staged across 18 competition venues with 14 sports on the Gold Coast, two in Brisbane (Shooting and Track Cycling), one in Cairns (Basketball) and one in Townsville (Basketball).

The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games will be staged from 4 – 15 April 2018.

RANGERS READY FOR NPFL BATTLE AGAINST ABIA WARRIORS

Players and Technical Crew of Rangers Int’l FC of Enugu on Tuesday, intensified training and preparations towards
the local derby against neighbours, Abia Warriors FC on Sunday at the Umuahia township Stadium.

A release by the media officer, Foster Chime says the teams Technical crew concentrated on the tactical and
physical fitness of the players by training on a natural pitch to get used with the Umuahia pitch for Sundays match.

The Team now basking in the euphoria of leading the NPFL league table with ten points from five games is concentrating on maintaining their position on the league by wining all the remaining Premier League games inoder
to qualify for the CAF Champions League this year.

Rangers Int’l FC looked to have found a rythym in the league with the lone gaol victory over Wikki Tourists on Saturday, midweek games draw against Warri Wolves and the two straight wins against Niger Tornadoes and Plateau United.

Enugu Rangers fc

The Rangers Management has reasured players and the technical crew of State Governments continued support and motivation to sustain the winning streak in the remaining matches in the league, assuring that efforts have been intensified towards encsuring that monies approved are released soonest.

General Manager of the team, Ozor Paul Chibuzor expressed gratitude to the Board Chairman, Chief Festus Onu for support of providing a Luxuous Bus to convey Rangers fans and supporters to Umuahia and back on Sunday for the Abia Warriors VS Rangers match and appeled to other philantropists in the State to emulate Chief Onu’s shinning example and magnanimity.

USA’s Emmons claims the Gold at the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men final, Bangkok’s last match

The American shooter beat Ukraine’s Kulish in the last medal match of the 2016 ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Cup in Bangkok (THA). The People’s Republic of China finished atop of the overall medals standings of the competition. The ISSF World Cup Series moves now on to Nicosia, Cyprus.

The 2016 ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Cup in Bangkok finished in style, with an exciting 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men final, today.

London 2012 Olympic Bronze medalist Matthew Emmons (34) finished in the spotlights, winning the match with a score of 458.6 points.

Ranked second in the world in this event, Emmons closed the Kneeling series in third place with 151.7 points, and then climbed up in second after the Prone series with 307.8 points.

Fighting neck and neck against the 2010 Youth Olympic Games bronze medalist Serhiy Kulish of Ukraine (22) through the Standing series, Emmons moved into the lead and gained a narrow margin of 1.7 points on his opponent before the last shot.

Closing the match with a 9.6, the American athlete left no chances to Kulish, securing the Gold and leaving the Ukrainian shooter in second with 456.8 points.

“You never know what’s going to happen at the last shot, but I have been working on that,” said Emmons. “As I get older and shoot more finals, I can never say that it gets easier. It’s always challenging when you’re standing up there, going for the medals. Luckily, recently I have been shooting a lot of good shots,” continued the US athlete, who had won last year’s ISSF World Cup Final title in Munich.

Emmons is now working on the road leading to Rio 2016, “every cycle you learn what was good and what was bad. I wouldn’t say there’s anything particularly unique that I am doing to prepare for Rio. There’s pressure on everyone going into the Olympics. I want to go there, and just be prepared and feel that I am in control of what I am doing. I never would say that I am going to go there to win, because at the highest level there are so many guys that are very very good.”

The 2006 Junior World Champion, Cao Yifei of the People’s Republic of China (27) joined Emmons and Kulish on the podium, collecting Bronze with 445.6 points.

Matthew Emmons

The 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men Final concluded the 2016 ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Cup in Bangkok, Thailand.

The competition, which started on the 1st of March, saw 330 athlete from 49 countries competing in the 10 Rifle and Pistol Olympic shooting events at the NSSAT Shooting Range of Bangkok.

The People’s Republic of China finished atop of the medals standings, collecting an impressive number of 12 medals, including 5 Gold, 3 Silver and 4 Bronze. USA followed in second, with 1 Gold (won by Emmons, today) and 1 Silver medals, while Brazil, Denmark, Germany and India all secured 1 Gold medal each. A new Junior Final World Record was scored during the competition by Yang Haoran of the People’s Republic of China (209.6 points) during the 10m Air Rifle Final.

The ISSF World Cup Series will now move on to Nicosia, Cyprus, where the first ISSF Shotgun World Cup of the season will be held from the 17 through the 25 of March.

ITTF to Set up Working Group to Review Structure of Major Events

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) have decided to set up a working group to study the structure and format of the ITTF’s future major events.

The decision was made at the ITTF Board of Directors (BoD) meeting held during the Perfect 2016 World Team Table Tennis Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Board of Directors also decided that the ‘Planning and Promotiom’ group will have to come up with a proposal to the Executive Committee by the end of this year on the concept and direction the ITTF wishes to take.

Following the creating of the working group, ITTF’s CEO Judit Farago stated: “During the 2016 World Championships, it became more apparent that the ITTF needs to take a look at it’s major events to ensure they arestructuredin a way to ensure the maximumcommercialand promotional benefits to the ITTF and international table tennis.”

Based on the Swedish 2018 World Team Championships organizers’ latest update report on the conditions in Halmstad, the Board decided that a maximum of 72 Men’s and 72 Women’s teams will participate at the 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships.

At the same time, the Board did not exclude further changes if the working group comes to such conclusion within its mandate.

At the meeting, the Board confirmed the allocation of several upcoming major junior events:

*2016 World Cadet Challenge allocated to Shanghai, China

*2017 World Cadet Challenge allocated to Suva, Fiji

*2018 World Junior Championships allocated to Riva del Garda, Italy

The Board of Directors also gave the mandate to the Executive Committee to approve the ITTF Code of Ethics and Code of Prevention of Manipulation of Competitions documents, and to add them to the ITTF Handbook with effect of 1st September 2016.

Rivers United’s Yaovi Douhadji Gets Togo Call Up Versus Tunisia

Rivers United defender, Yaovi Douhadji has been included in the Togo squad for the country’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifying double header against Tunisia this month.

Douhadji was named in the 25-man squad made public by the head coach of the Hawks, Tom Saintfiet on Tuesday.

The big defender has played twice for United in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) this season (against Enyimba and Mountain of Fire and Miracles FC) and is now in line to make his international debut.

“I am very happy to get this chance to play for my country. It is the dream of every footballer to defend the colours of his country.

“This is the first time I will be playing for my country and the games against the Tunisians will be big matches.

“I thank the coach for his faith in me and I promise not to let him down,” the defender told Rivers United media.

Togo’s Hawks will meet the Carthage Eagles in the first of the two Afcon 2017 qualifiers between March 23-26 at the Stade Olympique de Radès, Radès with the reverse fixture taking place at Stade de Kégué, Lomé between March 26-29 .

The Hawks are currently in first place in Group A of 2017 Afcon qualifying with maximum points after two games.

Unveiling of Official Emblem and Slogan marks key milestone in lead-up to FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Papua New Guinea 2016

The Official Emblem and Slogan for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2016 was unveiled in an event held today, 8 March, at the Laguna Hotel in Port Moresby. The event coincided with International Women’s Day, which was a perfect fit for the tournament that aims to inspire and encourage girls and women through football.

”With Papua New Guinea hosting this important tournament for the first time, we are thrilled to see the excitement and enthusiasm that this year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup will bring to the nation,” said Thierry Weil, FIFA’s Director of Marketing.

“Gender equality remains a significant social challenge in Papua New Guinea but we hope that through this tournament we will create further awareness and promote change towards a more egalitarian society,” said David Chung, President of the Papua New Guinea Football Association.

Super Eagles Can Recreate October ’77 feat – Siasia

Samson Siasia says he believes the Super Eagles can give Nigerians joy on Friday, March 25 by winning and picking all three points in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Pharaohs of Egypt in Kaduna.

All the 19 expected home boys were in camp as at Tuesday afternoon, as no other person wanted to suffer the fate of Segun Oduduwa, Usman Mohammed and Stanley Dimgba, who were on Monday barred from showing up at the Bolton White Apartments after reporting late to the camp of the intermediate squad.

Siasia told thenff.com Tuesday afternoon that discipline, strong mentality, self-belief and support of Nigerians can steer the Eagles to heights attained by their predecessors, who pounded the Pharaohs 4-0 in a FIFA World Cup qualifier in Lagos in October 1977.

“We can recreate October 1977; why not? The home –boys have come in and full training has commenced. Everyone is rearing to go. By the time the foreign –based players arrive, the competition will be what we want.

“I insist that we have invited the players who are capable of giving us the three points in Kaduna and another three points in Alexandria.”

Apart from being two points behind the Egyptians on the Group G table, the Eagles also lag behind the Pharaohs on goals scored. The Pharaohs have scored eight while Nigeria have scored two in the two matches played by each team, meaning the Nigerians have to start racking up the goals.

On October 8, 1977 the Eagles thrashed the Pharaohs 4-0 in a 1978 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the National Stadium, Lagos, with the inimitable Segun Odegbami bagging a brace. Skipper Christian Chukwu and John Nwadioha got the other goals.

The Nigeria squad of October 8 1977:

Emmanuel Okala, Annas Ahmed, Samuel Ojebode, Mudashiru Lawal, Christian Chukwu (c), Godwin Odiye, Olusegun Odegbami, Aloysius Atuegbu, John Nwadioha, Godwin Iwelimo, Adokiye Amiesieamaka

Players in camp: Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Olufemi Thomas, Emmanuel Daniel, Kalu Orji Okogbue, Chibuzor Okonkwo, Mathew Etim, Austin Oboroakpo, Sincere Seth, Chima Akas, Chris Madaki, Oke Ogogatewho, Ifeanyi Mathew, Etebo Oghenekaro, Yau Hassan, Ezekiel Bassey, Prince Aggrey, Bright Onyedikachi, Chisom Chikatara, Godwin Obaje

LAGOS FA CUP: FREESTAN SPORTS CLUB SPANK BURUJ FC 3-1 By Akeem Busari

The preliminary round of the 2015/2016 Winners Golden Bet sponsored Lagos FA Cup, continued this morning at the Agege Stadium, Lagos.

In the first game played on a water-logged pitch, it was the highly rated Ajegunle based non-league, Freestan Sports Club, that took the game to Buruj fc, dominating and bombarding the defence line of their opponents. And in the 12th minute, skillful Samuel Ogu Beto fired a freekick from 30 yards that was spilled by Buruj’s keeper and duminitive attacker Kunle Iriyemi, was quick to tuck in the rebound into the net for the first goal in favour of Freestan fc.

They continued in search of more goals with obvious difficulty on the wet and heavy pitch and in vain, until Buruj fc, got the equalizer in a rare attack to end the first stanza 1-1. The second half began on a faster tempo, with the hardworking midfielder and captain of Freestan fc, Felix Iriete, marshalling his side in search of the winner. The goals were to come ,as one of the inspired changes by Freestan fc, Stephen Agha, ceaselessly tore at the opponents and scored the second goal through a solo effort. And that,truly took the winds off the sails of their opponents.

The third and final goal was soon to come from Iriyemi, who made it a brace for himself after a mazy dribbling run left the entire defence of Buruj stranded. Speaking to the press after receiving the WGB sponsored prize of N15,000,as the MVP , Stephen Agha gave thanks to God for the victory. He also expressed his gratitude to the sponsors of the competition,as well as the Lagos