· Club Administrators for understudy programs in Madrid
· Players’ development, Stadium Security on the cards
Following discussions finalized at the sidelines of the 2nd World Leagues Forum in Paris, France between the League Management Company (LMC) and the Spanish La Liga, Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Clubs’ officials will early next year undergo capacity building programs through conferences and workshops on sports development, marketing, financial control, club administration, stadium security and players’ development.
Chairman of the LMC, Shehu Dikko, who was one of the 23 heads of leading global national leagues in attendance at the meeting held on December 1, said the program is the outcome of his meeting with Javier Tebas, chairman of La Liga.
Further to the discussions which pre-dated the meeting in France, Dikko disclosed that “the LMC has already received a working document and what we did at the meeting in Paris was to agree to next steps including the arrangements to send our delegates to Madrid. They are also waiting on our dates which I think we are considering early February”.
Giving further insight into the contents of the agreement, the LMC Chairman said, “we concluded collaboration between the NPFL and the La Liga towards assisting the NPFL in its developmental programs in areas of capacity building that will be achieved through conferences and workshops on technical matters such as Coaching, match administration, marketing, financial control, stadium security and players’ development etc”.
He said there also will be programs on knowledge exchange between the La Liga Clubs and the NPFL Clubs, noting that “this will involve the participation of club administrators, coaches and technical personnel from the NPFL Clubs to Spain for technical understudy with La Liga Clubs. They also will from time to time send their own officials here”.
Initial contact with the La Liga was made at the first World Leagues Meeting in England and while extensive discussions were held between officials of the LMC and the La Liga, the Spanish league extended an invitation to the LMC for concretization of the mutual pact.
Dikko said, “The LMC will continue to explore bilateral beneficial pacts for the growth of the league and more especially for our Club Managers who are the spine of the structure of any successful league. We must translate the leaps at the LMC to administration at the club level and this we seek to achieve through collaborations with some of the world acclaimed successful leagues”.
The LMC Chairman was among the 23 Chairmen of the leading world leagues that met in Paris, France on Tuesday, December 1 to form the World Leagues Association, an umbrella body that will interface with FIFA on matters relating to professional football in the world. Five members led by the head of the Mexico’s Liga MX, Enrique Bonilla were selected to develop a final framework for the association. Other members are Commissioner of the United States’ Major League Soccer, Don Garber, Mitsuri Murai of Japan’s J-League, Christian Seifert, the Chief Executive of German Football League and Frederic Thiriez, the President of the French League
There is great anticipation as the FEI World Cup™ Vaulting 2015/2016 season gets underway with a double-bill of events in Paris (FRA) and Madrid (ESP) next weekend. This sport, which has grown massively in terms of public and media support and appeal in recent years, will be showcased over five qualifying rounds this winter, and the stars will be out in force when the action gets underway in Madrid on Thursday evening.
Vaulting demands outstanding physical fitness from the athletes and a harmonious relationship with the horse that carries them through their routine. Mounting and dismounting, shoulder and handstands, kneeling and standing exercises and carrying or lifting another vaulter are just some of the tests. The key to success is a lot of hard work and dedication along with artistic flair and gymnastic ability. And team-work is also crucial, with a lunger ensuring the horse maintains a steady canter on a circle no smaller than 15 metres.
At its best, Vaulting is a joy to watch, with grace, energy, power and discipline combined with a huge sense of drama and entertainment. The buzz of excitement created in the Vaulting arena at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy (FRA) last year was unforgettable, and indoor audiences will enjoy lots more of the same over the months to come.
Three categories
There are three categories of competition in the FEI World Cup™ Vaulting series, Individual Male, Individual Female and Pas-de-Deux.
The Female line-up is headed by Switzerland’s Simone Jaiser who claimed individual gold at the FEI European Vaulting Championships in Aachen (GER) this summer. The 29-year-old, who was individual bronze medalist at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy (FRA), clinched it with a performance that oozed comfort, confidence and class, and she will be the one to beat when the first of the two Freestyle competitions kicks off at 19.00 local time at the Spanish venue on Thursday.
Also lining out in the Female division will be Austria’s Isabel Fiala and Daniela Fritz, while French vaulter, 30-year-old Anne-Sophie Musset, who was a winner at CVIO4* Saumur (FRA) in April and runner-up at the CVI3* in Moorsele (BEL) in May, will be hoping to put the pressure on Jaiser. The Swiss athlete, her lunger Rita Blieske and her horse Luk have enjoyed a fabulous year with wins at Moorsele, Bern (SUI) and Wiesbaden (GER) in the lead-up to Aachen however, so is firm favourite at the opening leg.
Strong contenders
The Individual Male competition in Madrid has attracted three strong contenders including Switzerland’s Lukas Heppler who just missed a medal when finishing fourth at the FEI World Cup™ Vaulting 2015 Final in Graz (AUT) earlier this year and another 22-year-old, Italy’s Francesco Bortoletto who was individually sixth at last year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Caen (FRA).
At 29 years of age, Germany’s Daniel Kaiser has a lot more experience under his belt however, and the vaulter who came out on top at Ermelo (NED) in August and who has a European bronze medal in his trophy cabinet, will be putting the pressure on his younger opponents.
At the same time as the second and deciding competitions take place at the Spanish fixture, the first of the two Freestyle competitions will be getting underway in Paris on Friday evening. And with The Netherlands’ Clair de Ridder and Carole Sneekes, Switzerland’s Pascale Wagner and Nadja Buttiker and Italy’s Anna Cavallaro all vying for the Female honours this is going to be another hard-fought affair.
20.-21.02.2015, Graz / AUT, FEI World Cup Vaulting Final. Wild, Lisa Nina Rossin Robin 482 Foto: Daniel Kaiser – impressions
A real battle
And Paris promises a real battle in the Male division, with Czech Republic’s Lukas Klouda, Hungary’s Balazs Bence and Switzerland’s Andrin Muller taking on the host nation’s Clement Taillez and Vincent Haennel.
French spectators truly love this sport, and especially the emotion of the Pas-de-Deux. America’s Kimberly and Cassidy Palmer have enjoyed a spectacular year, with four CVI victories to their credit, and Germany’s Jolina Ossenberg-Engles and Timo Gerdes, who missed out on a spot at the European Championships this year, will be doing their very best to please the judges knowing that the French brother-and-sister duo of Lucie and Simon Chevrel will have the home crowd right behind them.
The FEI World Cup™ Vaulting season will continue with legs in Salzburg (AUT) on 4 and 5 December, at Mechelen (BEL) on 26 December and in Leipzig (GER) from 14 to 16 January.
All competitors have had to qualify for entry to the series so top-class competition can be expected, and the excitement is just about to begin…..
“We look forward to the start of this new World Cup season in a discipline which has now secured its place at the forefront of equestrian sport, and we are very pleased to welcome two new venues, Madrid and Mechelen, to the series this year”, says FEI Director for Driving, Reining and Vaulting, Bettina de Rham.
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.”
“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
following multiple terrorist attacks around Paris, France on Friday with the France vs Germany friendly game at the Stade De France also witnessing an attacked outside the stadium during the game that also had french president Francois Hollande in attendance The English FA as decided to go ahead wit plans to play the French National team at the Wembley Stadium.
The FA has taken this decision following consultations with the Fédération Française de Football and the British Government.
Both FA’s have confirmed that the game will go ahead in London as originally planed.
A panorama of Wembley Football Stadium in London, England, U.K photo credit: Ian Wilson License : Creative Commons (http://creativecommons.org/licenses)
The FA Chairman Greg Dyke is quoted to have said:
“After consulting this morning with the French Football Federation and the British Government, we have decided together that the match between our two countries at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday night should go ahead. We will use the opportunity to pay our respects to all affected and also to express our solidarity with the people of France.”
The Official twitter of the wembley as also tweeted a confirmation of the friendly game which come up on Tuesday, after tweeting a picture of the stadium which is now adorned in the Tri Colours of France.
The thoughts of everyone at Wembley Stadium are with the people of France at this extremely difficult time pic.twitter.com/MSbrDRPbVk
These attacks are deeply shocking. The IOC condemns these barbaric and cowardly acts.
This is not only an attack on the people of France and Paris, this is an attack on humanity and all humanitarian and Olympic Values
We stand united with all people from all around the globe. Our thoughts are of course with the families and friends of those who have been killed or wounded.
We support also the outstanding work of so many men and women in the medical and security fields who are assisting the population in these very difficult moments.
In these dark times, we should remember the unifying power of sport to unite people and communities and to bring peace and reconciliation. Today all people of goodwill will say: We are all French.
Today, I have sent a letter of condolence and support to President Hollande and I have ordered that the Olympic flag be put at half-mast to remember this tragedy.
The Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final and the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final 2018 will be held in Paris (FRA), marking the first occasion that the French capital has had the opportunity to stage equestrian sport’s most prestigious double indoor Finals.
The decision was taken today by the FEI Bureau at its in-person meeting held in San Juan (PUR) at this year’s FEI General Assembly.
Gothenburg (SWE) and Las Vegas (USA) had also submitted bids to host the double Finals.
“We are delighted that the FEI World Cup Finals will be taking place in the vibrant French capital,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez (previously Zeender) said. “This will be the first time the dual Finals have been held in Paris, although the Finals were held separately in 1987 for Jumping and 1991 for Dressage, so the time is right to return to this wonderful international city.
“Last year France hosted the largest Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games to date, and we are confident that GL Events, the team that organised brilliant double Finals in Lyon in 2014, will take the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final and the FEI World Cup Dressage Final 2018 to a new level of excellence.”
The Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final and the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final 2018 will take place from 10 to 15 April at the AccorHotels Arena, formerly known as Paris Bercy Arena, located on the Boulevard de Bercy in central Paris.
The indoor arena, known for its pyramidal shape and walls covered with sloping lawn, is one of France’s biggest concert venue and has hosted global megastars such as Madonna, Céline Dion, Tina Turner, Kylie Minogue, and U2 among many others. Major sporting events, including the ATP Tour tennis tournament Paris Masters, have also been held at this venue.
The Bureau also allocated 14 FEI Championships and Finals in 12 countries for 2016-2017:
2016
FEI Balkan Jumping Championship, Adunatii Copaceni (ROU), 1-4 September
FEI South America Jumping Championship for Young Riders, Juniors, Pre-Juniors & Children, Sao Paulo (BRA), 7-11 September
FEI World Jumping Challenge Final, Rabat (MOR), dates to be confirmed
FEI Balkan Dressage Championship, Thessaloniki (GRE), dates to be confirmed
FEI Balkan Driving Championship, Floresti (ROU), 30 September – 2 October *subject to the signature of the Host Agreement
FEI European Endurance Championship for Young Riders and Juniors, Rio Frio (POR), 2-4 September
FEI Balkan Endurance Championship, Kukavica (CRO), 6-9 October
FEI European Reining Championship, Givrins (SUI), 11-13 August
FEI European Championship for Ponies (Jumping, Dressage & Eventing), Vilhelmsborg (DEN), 17-21 August
Germany’s Daniel Deusser and Cornet d’Amour, winners of the Longines FEI World Cup™Jumping Final 2014 in Lyon, organised by GL Events, the company that will be organising the dual FEI World Cup™ Finals 2018 in Paris following today’s allocation by the FEI Bureau. (FEI/Dirk Caremans)
2017
FEI European Endurance Championship, Brussels (BEL), 20 August
FEI World Breeding Endurance Championship for Young Horses, Brussels (BEL), 21 August
FEI Pan American Endurance Championship for Senior & Young Riders, Costa Azul, Canelones (URU), April (exact dates to be confirmed
FEI World Driving Championship for Ponies, Four in Hand/Pairs/Singles, Minden-Kutenhausen (GER), 24-27 August
FEI World Cup™ Driving Final, Gothenburg (SWE), 22-26 February *subject to the signature of the Host Agreement
The Bureau re-opened the bid for the FEI World Breeding Endurance Championship for Young Horses 2018.
Three major cities are vying to host the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final and FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final in 2018, with Paris (FRA), Las Vegas (USA) and Gothenburg (SWE) all bidding for the global indoor season finale. The deadline for receipt of bids expired at 12 midnight last night, 1 October.
Two of the venues – Las Vegas and Gothenburg – are regular hosts of the FEI World Cup™ Finals, but this is the first time that a bid has come in for the Finals to be staged in Paris.
GL Events, organisers of last year’s widely acclaimed FEI World Cup™ Finals in Lyon, as well as major annual events in Lyon and Paris, are bidding to host the 2018 Finals in the newly refurbished Palais Omnisport de Paris Bercy (POPB).
Olympic champion, Switzerland's Steve Guerdat, pictured with Casper Gebeke, Longines Sweden country manager, after winning the twelfth and final qualifying round of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2014/2015 Western European League with the mare Albfuehren's Paille at Gothenburg, Sweden today. (FEI/Roland Thunholm)
Las Vegas Events (LVE), which hosted this year’s FEI World Cup™ Finals at the Thomas & Mack Center, have come back to the table with the same venue for 2018 after attempts to find an alternative location were unsuccessful, although LVE are looking at other options for future bids. LVE have now hosted six hugely popular FEI World Cup™ Finals, two in Jumping and four combined Finals with both Jumping and Dressage, at the Thomas & Mack Center, which is currently undergoing extensive refurbishment.
The Scandinavium Arena in Gothenburg, which hosted the first FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final back in 1979 and a further 21 Finals since then, is now bidding for its 23rd Final and is considered by many to be the home of the FEI World Cup™ Finals. The joint Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final and Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final are already booked to return to Gothenburg next year, and Gothenburg is also the host city for the FEI European Championships 2017, when athletes in Jumping, Dressage, Para-Equestrian Dressage and Driving will be battling it out for the medals.
World champion Joanne Eccles (GBR) captivated crowds at the FEI World Cup™ Vaulting 2014/15 second qualifier at the Salon du Cheval in Paris where, on WH Bentley and lunged by her father John Eccles, she won the female individual competition and the Pas-de-Deux with her sister Hannah. (Eric Malherbe/FEI)
“We are delighted to have three global cities bidding to host the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final and FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final in 2018”, FEI Secretary General Sabrina Zeender said. “The FEI has a long-standing partnership with both Gothenburg and Las Vegas, but it is also very exciting to see Paris entering a bid. We look forward to announcing the successful host city next month.”
The bid process for the 2018 Finals was reopened in August to allow LVE to come back with a revised proposal. Bidders will present to the FEI Evaluation Commission later this month, and an announcement on the successful host city for the dual Finals will be made after the FEI Bureau meeting during the FEI General Assembly in Puerto Rico on 10 November.
IOC to contribute USD 1.7 billion to the local organising committee
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is delighted to announce a very strong field of candidates for the Olympic Games 2024. Five cities – Budapest (HUN), Hamburg (GER), Los Angeles (USA), Paris (FRA), and Rome (ITA)* – will compete to host the Olympic Games 2024 after submitting their applications to the IOC by last night’s midnight deadline.
In line with Olympic Agenda 2020, the Host City Contract 2024 was published today. The IOC will contribute USD 1.7 billion in cash and services to the organising committee for the Olympic Games 2024.
“We are welcoming five outstanding and highly qualified Candidate Cities,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. “Olympic Agenda 2020 has shaped the Candidature Process more as an invitation and the cities have responded by engaging with the IOC through dialogue and cooperation. In the new invitation process the IOC learnt that all the candidates are embracing Olympic Agenda 2020 from their respective vision for the future of their city. Sustainability and legacy are the cornerstones of each candidature.”
In keeping with its commitment to good governance, transparency and ethics, following Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC today published all the documents related to the Candidature: Candidature Process Olympic Games 2024, Candidature Questionnaire Olympic Games 2024, Host City Contract Principles, and Host City Contract Operational Requirements. This is the first time that the full package of documentation has been made public at the very outset of the process.
With their candidatures, the five cities commit themselves to respect the Olympic Charter and the Host City Contract for all participants of the Games and all Games-related matters. In this context, the IOC made changes to the Host City Contract, including:
– Reference to sexual orientation in the non-discrimination clause as part of the Host City Contract Principles with overarching significance for the entire Olympic Games’ project. The IOC is clear that sport is a human right and should be available to all regardless of race, sex or sexual orientation as stated in the Olympic Charter
– The freedom of media to report on the Olympic Games is now integrated in the Host City Contract Principles
– An amendment on labour law compliance that states: “The City, the NOC and the OCOG shall take all necessary measures to ensure that development projects and other projects necessary for the organisation of the Games comply with local, regional and national legislation and international agreements and protocols, applicable in the Host Country with regard to planning, construction, protection of the environment, health and safety, labour and anti-corruption laws.”
In light of Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC has distilled down over 7,000 pages of Technical Manuals into fewer than 350 pages of contractually binding Host City Contract Operational Requirements. For the organisation of the Games, the IOC is providing the future organising committee an extensive transfer of knowledge including the Olympic Games Guides.
With their applications, the cities have to follow the strict Rules of Conduct for Candidate Cities, which regulate all forms of communication between the Candidate Cities, IOC Members and oth
The Draw for the 2016 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas will be held at the FFT Museum at Roland Garros in Paris on Wednesday 3 June at 12:00 local time (10:00 GMT). The Draw will be streamed live on the official Fed Cup website: http://www.fedcup.com
The 2015 finalists are automatically the top two seeds in the 2016 World Group, while the remaining seeds are based on the latest ITF Fed Cup Nations Ranking of 20 April 2015.
The four seeded nations in the 2016 World Group are: Czech Republic (1), Russia (2), Italy (3), Germany (4).
Each of the seeds will be drawn against one of the following unseeded nations: France, Netherlands, Romania, Switzerland.
The four seeded nations in the 2016 World Group II are: Australia (1), Serbia (2), Poland (3), Canada (4).
Each of the seeds will be drawn against one of the following unseeded nations: Belarus, Slovakia, Spain, USA.
The 2015 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Final between Czech Republic and Russia will take place in Czech Republic on 14-15 November.
Fed Cup by BNP Paribas is the World Cup of Tennis. It is the largest annual international team competition in women’s sport, with 99 nations entered in 2015. The event celebrated its 50th birthday in 2013 in the ITF’s centenary year. The title sponsor is BNP Paribas, the Official Bank of Fed Cup. Adecco (Official HR Sponsor) is an international sponsor and beIN SPORTS is the Official Global Media Rights Partner.
The second Grand slam of the year takes center stage in France in a couple of hours away. Newfanzone.com takes a look at the chances of the big boys,possible upsets and how it will all go down I’m Roland Garros.
The man of the moment on clay Novak Djokovic goes into Roland Garros as the favorite to win it for the first time in his career.
This is the Serb French Open title to lose as he is playing at a different level now defeating players like Nadal, Federer, Murray and Nishikori in the process.
He is on a 22 match unbeaten streak and 10-0 on clay. If form is anything to go by ,then Novak Djokovic will take home French Open title.
King of clay Rafael Nadal won’t have a shortage of challengers this year as he has not won any European ATP clay court title in the lead up to the French Open for the first time in ten years.
Nadal defeated Djokovic in last year pulsating final but this time he doesn’t look like he might make it into Roland Garros final but never bet against the Madrid born star.
Roger Federer is another player to always look out for in big competitions such as Grand Slam tournaments. The second seed almost won the Rome Masters before succumbing to eventual winner Novak Djokovic in the final. The world No.2 will not be meeting either of Djokovic and Nadal before the final which means the Swiss Master might get to the final once again and might nick the second French Open title of his career.
Newly Married British No. 1 Andy Murray also looks favorite for the Roland Garros title as the Scott has performed well in the Masters competition leading into the competition in Paris. Murray has already defeated earlier this month in Madrid and could defeat any one who underestimate him on clay.
Newfanzone.com Player to watch for 2015 Kei Nishikori will also pose some threat in Paris. The Japanese who won the Barcelona Open can take any of the big boys on and could just get to play in the Final of the French Open.
Other Exciting Players to watch in France include; Stanislas Wawrinka, Thomas Berdych, Gael Monfils, Grigor Dimitrov and David Ferrer.
NOTABLE ABSENTEE
Sixth seed Milos Raonic will miss the French Open tournament due to a lingering foot injury.
Rafael Nadal goes into this competition as the defending champion but looking at the form of all the players going into Roland Garros Novak Djokovic has to be the favorite.
Serena Williams looks like the woman to beat in every Grand Slam competition as she will go in as favorite in Roland Garros once again.
The American top seed who pulled out of the Italian Open will look to still tell the world that she is the best when it comes to women tennis.
Serena will want to reach the magical 20 milestone but she will need to start well in Paris as she was defeated last year in the early rounds by Garbine Muguruza.
Maria Sharapova is in good form and might well retain her French Open title. The Russian who lost in the Australian Open final to Serena will once again hope the American suffers a shock exit in the hand of one of the exciting youngsters.
As defending champion Sharapova cannot earn any fresh ranking knowing that an early exit might see her drop from her No.2 spot in the world.
Petra Kvitova’s form in Madrid might mean that she is ready to fight when it comes to the Grand Slam for this year. The defending Wimbledon champion form in Paris does not look encouraging as her beat ever finish has been the semis in 2012.
Kvitova will have to bring her Wimbledon form back if she wants to at least get to the semi- final of Roland Garros.
Newfanzone.com player to watch for 2015 Simona Halep continues to improve as she has won three competitions earlier on this year but the world No.3 has been disappointing in the clay ATP competitions leading to the French Open. Simona Halep got to the final of this same competition last year and she might yet again just go a notch higher by winning the coveted prize.
Caroline Wozniacki is another player that has experienced a bit of resurgence since last year that got her to the US Open final. The former world No.1 might have lost to Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka in the build up to Roland Garros but underestimate her at your peril!
Other exciting names to look out for in Paris include; Carla Suarez Navarro, Eugenie Bouchard, Ekaterina Makarova, Agnieska Radwanska, Ana Ivanovic and Svetlana Kuznestova.
Serena Williams has won the Australian Open this year but it seems she might not get to win Roland Garros as Maria Sharapova looks sharp and primed to defend her title in Paris.
President Bach says Paris would be a ‘very strong’ contender
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and French President François Hollande met again today at The Olympic Museum in Lausanne. On the agenda a possible French Olympic bid from Paris for the Olympic Games 2024.
Paris moved a step closer to bidding for the 2024 Olympic Games earlier this month after the city council adopted a resolution in favour of hosting the Games.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for the entire nation to be ready for 2024,” said President Hollande. “We know there are steps and procedures to follow. Like in all competitions, there are rules to be respected. We received a lot of information today and we are thankful to the IOC,” he added.
“France has a lot to offer to the Olympic Movement and already gave a lot thanks to Pierre de Coubertin. The entire country is behind this candidature. We also learned today that Paris 2024 will focus on the post-games legacy of the venues. This approach fits perfectly within the spirit of Olympic Agenda 2020”, said the IOC President.
IOC President Thomas Bach hosts an official visit to President Hollande of France at the Olympic Museum. Photograph by Ian Jones/IOC
President Bach was able to update the French President on the progress being made on the implementation of Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC’s strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement, in particular the new Invitation Phase of the bidding process. President Hollande stressed the commitment of the French sports and political leaders and added that innovation and technology will play a great role in any bid.
The Invitation Phase is designed to give the IOC the opportunity to ask potential bid cities how they see the Olympic Games best fitting into their long-term social, sports, ecological and economic environment. It also gives the cities an opportunity to receive information and advice from the IOC on how best to achieve such legacies. President Bach recommended that those responsible for considering a 2024 bid from Paris take full advantage of the Invitation Phase.
During this meeting between the two presidents, the French President also invited the IOC to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference will take place in Paris at the end of the year.
President Bach said: “It is a great pleasure for us to accept this invitation. Through Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC has strengthened its commitments to sustainable development in sport. It is very important for us to make our contribution and efforts for the future of our planet.”
IOC President Thomas Bach hosts an official visit to President Hollande of France at the Olympic Museum. Photograph by Ian Jones/IOC
Before leaving the Olympic Museum, President Hollande reiterated his support to the Olympic Movement: “With all my support to the Olympic Movement and the values it promotes. I am proud to be welcome here in Lausanne at the IOC by its President Thomas Bach”, he wrote in the Golden Book.
Today was the third time the two leaders had met since President Bach was elected to his post on 10 September 2013. The two first met at the Élysée Palace in Paris and more recently at the Sommet de la Francophonie in Dakar, Senegal.
It is now obvious that African players are no pushovers considering the performance of Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri at the 2014 World Cup as well as the top 32 finish achieved by Egypt’s Omar Assa at the 2013 World Championships in Paris, France. And when the 2015 ITTF World Championships serves off in Suzhou, China on April 26, these players will also be aiming for good finish on May 3.
Also, the likes of Egypt’s Dina Meshref and Nadeen El-Dawlatly are players who are capable of making the continent proud in China.
However the number one table tennis citizen in Africa, Khaled El-Salhy believes Nigeria and Egypt have the wherewithal to finish among the top 16 at the tournament scheduled to hold in China.
Khaled El-Salhy, photo credit ITTF
The African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF boss conviction was based on the performance of Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri and Egypt’s Omar Assar in recent times, which he said has made the players to be popular globally.
“We are sure that some top players like Aruna Quadri and Omar Assar are very well known now in China and Europe, and I am sure they will be supported by many spectators especially when they are playing against European players. We also hope that the performance of other African players through ITTF website will be highlighted to the continent in order to increase the support for the teams for them to finish in better position,” he said.
El-Salhy admitted that the seeding of three players from Africa in the singles event confirmed the relevance of the continent at global level.
“Actually Africa have three players seeded among all top participants and this indicates a good sign that Africa is on the map of the top 64 players in each category. We are sure that these players will try their best to represent their continent and their countries as well as going as far as possible to the top stage,” he said.
“ATTF is pushing all participating teams and also do a special follow-up on the top three like Egypt, Nigeria and Congo Brazzaville. We trust that they preparing well for the tournament in order to have their best outing either as a team or individually and we are confidence that they will finish among the top 16 this year,” El-Salhy said.
Also, Dina Meshref says her target is to make the last 16 as well as win medals in doubles events. “My Target is to enter round of 16 in singles, and win a medal in Women’s doubles and in Mixed doubles,” she said.
Meshref however admitted that being seeded has put some pressure on her.
She said: “Yes I am seeded, of course it is a little bit of pressure because there are many very good players behind me; however, I am also very motivated to play well and work hard as I am excited to be seeded at the world championships for the first time in the African history.”
Dina Meshref at the International Table Tennis Federation, ITTF World Tour, Lagos Open, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos,
“I expect that African players would perform very well this year in the World championships and will stay in the competition till late stages. Also, I believe that nothing is impossible since Aruna Quadri and Omar Assar were able to lose so closely by 4-2 against Zhang Jike and Fen Zhendong, the chinese players who are dominating table-tennis, I believe they are close to win the World championships,” she enthused.
A confident Aruna Quadri believes he would surpass his World Cup outing in China.
“I will be going to China to enjoy myself and feel relax during my matches. I will be very happy if I can surpass my previous records of world championships because I never qualify to the main draw in any world championships before in my career. I am very happy to be seeded in the main draw this time around and I will be very happy if I can do so much better than my World Cup performance. I also think it is very possible and this will really depends on how I feel during and before the tournament. I hope and pray to feel so much better. Being one of the seeded players has really boosted my morale and I have no pressure for being one of the seeded players,” he said.
Nigeria’s Quadri is biggest mover in ITTF latest ranking, now world’s 73rd
The ITTF Star Player added: “I have total confidence in African players because we have really improved in previous years. Egypt’s Omar Assar got to round of 32 in France and I believe that any of us can emulate his performance and I seriously believe that we can shock the world in China this time around.”
Over 12 teams from Africa will be taking part in the global competition, which involves over 500players from 100 countries across the globe.
newfanzone 