Ghana born, Rida Haisam was the breakout star at the just ended IBJJF USA National Tournament bagging a gold medal in the super heavyweight division and coming in third place in the absolute division.

A loss to Gabriel Almeida stopped Haisams double gold campaign. He won 5 matches via submission. Four via armbar and the last one via rear naked choke. The loss to Almeida was via decision.

By George Nipah

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has advised National Olympic Committees (NOC) including the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) to hold their elections after the Tokyo Games.

In a letter dated April 23, 2020 to all Presidents and Secretary Generals signed by James Macleod, Director of NOC Relations and Olympic Solidarity, he said:

Following the rescheduling of the Olympic Games, Tokyo 2020, which will now take place from 23 July to 8 August, 2021, we understand that, among the many implications of this postponement, the election cycle of your NOC may be affected, since most NOCs usually hold their regular elections during the year following the Games of the Olympiad.

The circular letter aims to provide guidance to the impacted NOCs (ie those NOCs whose quadrennial elections are (or /were) due to take place between August 2020 and August 2021 in order to best address the issue at their respective levels.

Pursuant to the Olympic Charter, the election cycle of the NOCs is not expressly linked to the holding of the Olympic Games. The only requirement is that the term of office of the elected officers of an NOC must not exceed four years, as stated under paragraph 1.5 of the Bye-law to Rule 27 and 28 of the Olympic Charter, which reads: “The officers and members of the executive body of an NOC shall be elected in accordance with the NOC’s status for a term of office not exceeding four years: they may be eligible for re-election.”

Under these extraordinary circumstances, where the cycle of the specific edition of the Olympic Games and the four year term of office no longer coincide, we understand that most of the impacted NOCs will love to decide – subject to what is explicitly specified in their respective statutes, as approved by the IOC – whether to:

1. Follow the four – year term of office and hold their elections by the end of the four year term of office, ie prior to the Tokyo Games in 2021 or
2. Follow the Olympic Games cycle and hold their elections after the Olympic Games now taking place in 2021 which would automatically involve an extention of the current term of the elected officers. In this case, and considering that the main priority is to enable the NOCs to best prepare their respective teams for the Olympic Games, the IOC, on an exceptional basis, consents to an extension of the initial term of office beyond four years, as decided by the impacted NOC’s. If the decision to postpone the elections and extent the current term requires an interpretation of or a derogation to the NOC statutes, such decision should be confirmed as early as possible after the Tokyo Games in 2021 and the election cycle should be returned to normal after the Olympic Games in 2024.

The IOC’s NOC Relations Institutional and Governance Service team, led by Jardine Povey will be fully at your disposal to address your concerns, examine the specific situation of your NOC and help find appropriate solutions on a case-by-case basis. Please inform them directly if your NOC is impacted by this situation and if so, of the solution that your NOC is considering.

We sincerely hope that this flexible approach will help you take appropriate decisions, in the best interest of  your NOC and ensure the best preparation possible for your teams and athletes for the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Thank you once again for your understanding and much appreciated collaboration  during these challenging times.

Yours sincerely

James MACLEOD

Director of NOC Relations and Olympic Solidarity

Copy: ANOC, EOC, Panam Sports, ANOCA, OCA, CNOC

Thirteen Olympic sports, two non-Olympic sports and three individual votes have agreed to the resolution of The Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC) board to postpone the NOC’s elective congress until after the Olympic Games in August.

Two associations voted against the resolution to postpone the elections.

Four Olympic sports and six non-Olympic sports did not submit their votes.

Under the GNOC constitution Olympic sports have two votes while non-Olympic sports have one vote. Vie virtue of such the resolution to postpone the elections until after the Games holds.

It could be recalled that GNOC office was closed due to covid-19 but on 1 October its management decided to fully operationalise the office again.

Briefing members of the media on the decision, Abdoulie MB Jallow, GNOC secretary general said their management had a meeting and made some decisions that were to be taken to the board.

He added that among those decisions was about a letter from the International Olympic Committee (OIC) captioned “Postponement of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 to 2021- potential implications on the NOC election cycle”.

He said at the board meeting held on 17 October 2020 they reviewed the letter from IOC and unanimously decided to postpone the elective congress of the GNOC till after the Olympic Games in August.

“After the board meeting a resolution was sent to all national associations and qualified individual decision makers at GNOC which includes athletes’ representative, IOC member and anybody serving a continental body”, he explained, saying they gave associations the option to agree or disagree with the resolution made by the board to postpone the elections till after the Olympic Games.

Presidents or Secretary Generals of associations decided on behalf of their respective associations agreed to the postponement of the elective congress by voting, he went on.

He highlighted that the GNOC board gave consideration to athletes when they were making the decision to pass the resolutions, noting that they are currently preparing the five athletes that were at the high performance center in Dakar, Senegal to go back.

He said they are also waiting on associations with potentials to qualify and are monitoring the situation of their qualifiers.

Mr Jallow expressed GNOC’s readiness to continue to closely work with all associations including those that voted against the board’s resolution and those that did not submit their votes, saying they did not vote against the executive but against a resolution.

“The executive will not hold it against you”, he added, noting that it is a democracy and they respect all those that voted and those who did not.      

By Cherno Omar Bobb

Ghanaian Weightlifter Christian Amoah – Ranked 4th on the Commonwealth Games List of 25

Ghana’s top weight lifter Christian Amoah is excited to be rated at number 4 in the current Commonwealth Games list of category 96 kg athletes.

On top is Canadian Boadv Santavv (CAN), with Don Opeloge (SAM) at second and Vikas Thakur (IND) taking the third place.

Christian Amoah (GHA) who is at the fourth position says he is happy to be in the best 25 weight lifters in his division and the position will inspire him as he trains towards the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

He said making it to the top three will be very easy very soon as he feels the pressure of being among the best in the world.

According to Amoah, on a good competition day, anything can happen and if luck smiles at him, he can become the champion.

He called on Ghanaians to support sports like weightlifting because Ghana is capable of winning medals in the discipline.

He hailed the President of the Ghana Weightlifting Federation (GWF), Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah for his moral and financial support for the athletes.

“We are most grateful to our President for his support’ he said.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Taro Kono acknowledged the uncertainty lingering over the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games ©Getty Images

Japanese cabinet minister Taro Kono has admitted a decision on the holding of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics "could go either way" as the coronavirus pandemic continues to leave doubts hanging over the Games.

Kono, Japan's administrative and regulatory reform minister, spoke at the Reuters Next conference amid concerns that the coronavirus pandemic could prevent the Games from going ahead.

He said the country is still continuing efforts to host the delayed Games, set to open on July 23, but admitted it was far from certain that the event would go ahead.

Earlier this month, a state of emergency was declared in Tokyo in a bid to curb a spike in coronavirus cases in the Japanese capital.

Tokyo today reported a total of 1,502 new cases, with the nationwide figure hitting 6,566.

"We need to do the best we can to prepare for the Games at this moment, but it could go either way," Kono told Reuters.

"Anything is possible, but as the host of the Games we need to do whatever we can, so that when it’s a go, we can have a good Olympic Games.

"The Olympic Committee must be thinking about Plan B, Plan C.

"But the situation is not easy."

The spike in coronavirus cases in Tokyo has coincided in decreasing support in Japan for the Olympic and Paralympic Games going ahead later this year.

A recent Kyodo News survey found around 80 per cent of Japanese people want this year's Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo to be cancelled or postponed.

Despite the slump in support, Takeshi Niinami has called for Japan to continue to make every effort to host the Games.

Niinami serves as head of Japanese beverage group Suntory Holdings and acts as an economic advisor to Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

"I’m not sure whether we’ll be able to hold the Tokyo Olympics or not," Niinami told Reuters.

"But it’s a great message to the world, as overcoming the battle against COVID.

"Definitely, we should make every effort."

Niinami suggested the fate of the Games was likely be decided by the end of March, where the results of Government efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus are expected to be known.

March has also been earmarked as a possible month for the decision on whether spectators will be permitted to attend the Olympic Games.

Tokyo 2020 President Yoshirō Mori claimed earlier this week a decision would be taken in the next two months.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics are scheduled to run from July 23 to August 8, with the Paralympics due to follow from August 24 to September 5.

By Michael Pavitt 

Ghana Premier League side, Accra Great Olympics aka ‘The Wonder Club’ have appointed Yaw Preko as their new head coach.

The 46-year-old will take over from coach Annor Walker, who has been missing in action in Olympics last two matches.

Coach Walker has been unwell for the past weeks which has prevented him from sitting on the bench of the club.

The former Berekum Chelsea gaffer has transformed Great Olympics from a relegation battler to a decent mid-table side.

Olympics have been churning out some decent results in th ongoing Ghana Premier League under Annor Walker who took in February 2020.

However, the two times Ghana Premier League champions have suffered back to back defeat against Aduana Stars and Ashgold without the guidance of Annor Walker.

However, due to the condition, Yaw Preko has been named as the new head coach of the side.

He will be assisted by dedicated Godwin Attram as the deputy to Walker is also unwell.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Asante Kotoko’s Brazilian player Fabio Gama has been named the sixth most attractive players in the GPL.

Gama who played his first game at the Accra Sports Stadium where his two assists resulted in two goals against Liberty Professionals on Monday.says there is more to come as he was not worried with the Ghanaian temperature, food and culture.

There is the possibility he can improve to be among the top three or the best if he continue to work hard and score goals.

Fans of Kumasi Asante Kotoko are head over heels with the Brazilian midfielder Fabio Gama following an impressive performance.

The 28-year-old joined the club on a free transfer. "I feel good about my performance but I believe I need to improve on my performance and continue to work hard to help my teammates," he said after the Liberty game.

Ghana football legend Asamoah Gyan aka “Baby Jet’ emerged as the most attractive player in the Ghana Premier League (GPL)  this season.

The Legon Cities striker who has barely played games for his side remains the player with the most attention.

Gyan pulled out an incredible 52% in a survey report conducted by Ghanaian data and research firm African Sports Centre for Data, Research & Technology.

The 35-year-old came top ahead of Medeama SC midfielder Justice Blay, Felix Annan, Yahaya Mohammed, Patrick Razak, Fabio Gama and Emmanuel Gyamfi.

Since joining the Ghana Premier League side, the ex-Sunderland and Udinese star has been able to make just three appearances for the Club so far this season.

Asamoah who has been combining tennis and football to maintain his fitness has also been nominated for the Athlete of the Month (December) 2020 by the popular African Sports Media Network, producers of the African Sports Monthly Magazine.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Fitrace is a reality competition that test your physical strength, endurance,  creativity and intelligence.  A lot of people contested for the first round but I managed to make it to the final 16 participants.  There'll be a series of drills and challenges to test us further but we will not be graded 100% from that. Viewers will also have the opportunity to grade as well by voting. To keep me in the competition I'll need your votes.

*HOW TO VOTE*

 please dial  * 365* 300#. There'll be a prompt to enter a fitcode.  You then type fit5 and send. Our rep’s name (George Apau) will appear and there'll be a prompt asking the number of votes you'll want to give. A vote costs 1gh using mobile money for all networks. 

Thank you all for your votes❤. God richly bless you The finale will be public

For now the challenges are at the gym.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghana’s Winter Olympian, Akwasi Frimpong is shocked and sad on hearing the death of Mr. Henri Wientjes of African Tiger and Cocoa From Ghana fame.

He was supported by the late Mr. Henri Wientjes when he represented Ghana at the 2018 Pyeong  Chang Games in 2018.

“Sad day as I just found out that Mr. Henri Wientjes who supported my 2018 Olympic dreams via Cocoa from Ghana has passed away & also Joost Bellaart who initiated the sponsorship. To their families - I would like to offer my deepest & most sincere condolences. May your souls rest in perfect peace. #RIP” he posted on his social media pages.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Former Ivory Coast international Didier Drogba has confirmed that he and his wife, Lalla, have divorced after 20 years of marriage.

Didier Drogba and his wife divorce after 20 years of marriage

The couple has been together for two decades, having officially tied the knot in a colourful ceremony in 2001.

However, there were rumours that they were having some misunderstandings in recent months, leading to their divorce.

In a statement post on Instagram, Drogba confirmed their divorce, adding that it was a mutual agreement between himself and his Lalla.

“I'm not in the habit of discussing my private life,” the 2012 UEFA Champions League winner wrote.

“But because of speculation in the media today, I can confirm that sadly, after 20 years together, Lalla and I took the difficult decision to separate last year.

“We remain very close and our main priorities have been to protect our children and our family's private life. May God bless you.”

Drogba and Lalla are blessed with three kids.

Pulse