Governing Bodies
TRUMP CONFIRMS US GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR LOS ANGELES 2028
Donald Trump has promised that the United States Government will provide “tremendous support” to the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.
The American President confirmed that assistance would be given in key areas including security.
Trump was briefed by organisers during a trip to Los Angeles and described the Games as a “big deal”.
An agreement was signed at the Montage Beverly Hills, with the Government also pledging to help with transportation, communications and environmental contributions.
Los Angeles 2028 is due to be a privately-funded Games with a proposed $6.9 billion (£5.3 billion/€6.2 billion) balanced budget, with revenues coming from sponsorship, television deals and ticket sales.
However, the US Government was still expected to contribute several million dollars which has now been agreed.
The Games have been designated as a “National Special Security Event” which prompts political involvement.
“We’re going to give them tremendous support,” Trump said.
“You need the support of the Federal Government to make it really work.”
A formal commitment to the Games by the Federal Government is a requirement of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The White House had previously promised to back the Olympics when Los Angeles was bidding for 2024, but had not yet officially agreed to support them now the Californian city is hosting in 2028.
It followed a unique deal confirmed at the IOC Session in Lima in September 2017 that saw Paris awarded the 2024 Olympic Games and Los Angeles the 2028 edition.
Organising Committee chairman Casey Wasserman was among those to meet with Trump, alongside the chief executive of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee Sarah Hirshland.
“Our goal is to create a safe, successful and secure Olympic Games,” Wasserman said, according to the Los Angeles Times.
“And that’s not possible without the support you and the Federal Government have provided us.”
Trump is hoping to win a second four years in office in November’s elections.
This would see him reach his term limit, meaning he would not be in power when Los Angeles plays host.
“It is a great pleasure to meet with the leaders of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Committee,” he said.
“They have done a fantastic job in bringing the Olympics here.
“They called me when I was President elect, that was quite a call.
“They asked me if I could get involved because the other administration refused to call the Olympic Committee, which is the people who make the decision.
“It was a little hard for them to make the decision.
“I did make the call, and it was a very long call, they were starving for love and we gave them the love.
“Casey, you and everybody else have done a fantastic job, we got the Olympics to come to Los Angeles.
“It was a big moment.
“Because of your hard work and dedication the United States will once again proudly host the Olympic Games, how exciting is that?
“From the day I took office I’ve done everything in my power to make sure LA achieved the winning bid.”
-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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