Governing Bodies
Bombshell! Japan’s top shot wants IOC president banned from Tokyo 2020
Japan’s opposition leader believes International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach should be banned from attending Tokyo 2020, along with others who are not “essential” for the Games.
Yukio Edano, the head of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, said the German, world leaders and other VIPs could take part in the Olympics remotely.
He argued that only athletes, referees and support staff should be allowed to attend while warning that Tokyo 2020 could cause an “explosion” of new coronavirus infections.
Edano’s words come amid high levels of opposition to Tokyo 2020 going ahead in Japan, due to fears the Games could be a COVID-19 “super-spreader” event.
The 57-year-old is due to challenge Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, and his ruling Liberal Democratic Party, at this year’s Japanese General Election which is due on or before October 22.
The success or failure of Tokyo 2020 will likely be a key campaign topic as politicians scramble for votes.
“We shouldn’t let anyone into Japan other than those who are absolutely essential for the events,” Edano said to Bloomberg.
“That means athletes, referees and support staff.
“Leaders and President Bach can take part in the Opening Ceremony remotely.
“It’s perfectly simple in this day and age.”
Bach said yesterday that he would not travel to Japan this month as had previously been suggested.
He instead plans to arrive in the “middle of July”, with Tokyo scheduled to hold the IOC Session and Executive Board meetings before the Olympics, which are due to open on July 23.
The IOC, Tokyo 2020 and Suga have insisted they are pressing ahead with the Games, which are scheduled to run until August 8, despite the fears among the local population.
Tokyo remains under a state of emergency after a spike in infections, with more than 2,000 cases recorded in Japan yesterday.
Vaccine roll-out has also been slower than in other developed countries, which has exacerbated anxiety.
The programme is picking up speed which has seen opposition to the Games decrease, although it remains at a significant level.
The IOC claimed this week that the number of athletes set to compete at Tokyo 2020 who have either been vaccinated or are “in the process” of being inoculated is now “over and above 80 per cent”.
International fans have already been banned, and a decision on Japanese spectators is due to be made by the end of the month.
“If you hold the Olympics, people will move around, everyone will relax,” Edano said.
“Unfortunately, there is sure to be an explosion of infections.”
-insidethegames
The president of the Confédération of African Football, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, has announced five new CAF Vice Presidents. They are:
- CAF First Vice President: Mr Fouzi Lekjaa (Morocco)
- CAF Second Vice President: Mr Kurt Okraku (Ghana)
- CAF Third Vice President: Mr Pierre-Alain Mounguengui (Gabon)
- CAF Fourth Vice President: Ms Bestine Kazadi Ditabala (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- CAF Fifth Vice President: Mr Feizal Sidat (Mozambique)
In addition, the CAF President has co-opted Yacine Idriss Diallo, President of Fédération Ivoirienne de football, into the CAF Executive Committee.
The CAF Executive Committee also approved the names to fill vacant positions on several CAF Committees.
Organising Committee for the African Nations Championship (CHAN)
- President: Pierre-Alain Mounguengui (Gabon)
CAF Technical and Development Committee
- President: Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
- Vice President: Malouche Belhassen (Tunisia)
CAF Medical Committee:
- President: Dr. Mohammed Bouya (Mauritania)
- Vice President: Dr. Thulani Ngwenya (South Africa)
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Governing Bodies
Nigeria becoming an epicentre of global badminton as Francis Orbih enters the Badminton World Federation Council
Laurels on the courts and now glory in the boardroom sums up the mark that badminton is making in Nigeria.
The President, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih, has been elected as a council member of the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
The election took place during the BWF Annual General Meeting on Saturday in Xiamen, China.
Orbih emerged victorious over top contenders from other African countries.
He will join Cameroon’s Odette Assembe Engoulou on the council, while Chipo Zumburani (Zimbabwe) and Hadia ElSaid (Egypt) missed out.
An elated Orbih expressed his gratitude to fellow badminton presidents across the globe for their trust and support.
He said, “I am deeply honoured by the trust placed in me by my peers across the badminton world.
“I look forward to quality representation, driving development initiatives, and strengthening badminton’s global reach over the next four years.”
Orbih also acknowledged the support of the Federal Government of Nigeria, particularly the National Sports Commission (NSC), which he said played a significant role in his successful bid.
“The Chairman and the Director General of the NSC monitored the entire process. I’m grateful for their involvement and confident Nigeria will benefit from this,” he stated.
He further appreciated the BFN board members and the Nigerian badminton community for their prayers and continued belief in his leadership.
“From the day I declared my intentions, the board members of BFN have been supportive, and I promise not to disappoint them,” Orbih concluded.
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A former member of the FIFA Council, Mamoutou Toure, has been released from jail in Mali after almost two years in detention for alleged corruption, Malian media reports said on Wednesday.
Toure, president of the Malian Football Federation since 2019, was released after 622 days in prison on Tuesday.
He served on the FIFA Council, world football’s all-powerful decision-making body, for four years until last month when he lost his seat after failing to contest new elections.
The 67-year-old was arrested in August 2023 on allegations of embezzling $28 million of public funds but was granted a provisional release order by the Malian courts, reports said.
He was accused of misconduct during his time as the National Assembly’s financial and administrative director from 2013-2019.
Toure denied all charges and, during his time in jail, was last August re-elected as Malian Football Federation president for a second consecutive term, with his supporters claiming he was a victim of a conspiracy fuelled by detractors.
While in jail, he received a letter of support from FIFA president Gianni Infantino. However, as of last month, Toure is no longer a member of the FIFA Council or the Confederation of African Football’s executive committee.
-Reuters
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