The Ministry of Youth and Sports says only three persons approved for 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing

The Winter Olympic Games comes off in Beijing this month with Ghana expected to have a participating team at the event.

In a press statement released on Monday, February 1, the PR Department of the Ministry said only three persons have been approved for the Winter Games Beijing 2022.

The Ministry will fund the athlete, coach, and leader of delegation, Bobie Osei who is the deputy Minister.

Other members will be financed by the International Olympic Committee, they are Mohammed Baadae Sahnoon - NOC SG and CDM, Farida Ayishatu Iddriss - Accreditation Manager/ Proxy CDM, Abdul Aziz Issah – CLO and Ben Nunoo Mensah - NOC President

Ghana will be represented by Alpine skier, Carlos Maeder who is coached by Marc Gehrig.

The Games will commence on Thursday, February 4 and end on February 20.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The Black Stars 2022 World Cup qualifier against Nigeria scheduled for the Baba Yara Sports Stadium has been rejected by CAF.

Ghana host Nigeria in the first leg of the 2022 World Cup play-offs next month with reports of the game being moved to Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.

The Ghana FA had submitted two home venues that is the Cape Coast Sports Stadium and the Accra Sports Stadium for the World Cup qualifiers.

However a statement released by the National Sports Authority on the unavailability of the Cape Coast Sports Stadium to pave way for preparations ahead of Ghana’s Independence Day celebrations on March 6 means the game must be played at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Baba Yara Sports Stadium will not be able to host the games per the statement from CAF.

Below is a full statement from CAF:

"The Fifa World Cup 2022 preliminary competition regulations in its article 21 venues, kick-off times and training sessions stipulates that “The venues of matches shall be set by the host association and/or by the confederation, as applicable, and the matches may only be played in stadiums that have been inspected and approved by the confederation concerned. The opponents and the Fifa general secretariat shall be notified by the host association and/or by the confederation, as applicable, at least three months before the match in question is due to be played."

"24th of December 2021 was the deadline set by Caf for the participating national associations to select and communicate to Caf their preferred venue for the playoff round of the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 African qualifiers.

"On the 23rd of December 2021, GFA informed Caf that Cape Coast Stadium was the venue selected for the playoff round of the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 African qualifiers.

"Based on the venue selection received from each of the participating national association, Caf has timely concluded the assessment of the selected stadium(s) and communicated to Fifa the venue decisions for the upcoming Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 African qualifiers playoff round.

"Considering that matchday is in less than 30 days, Caf is not in a position to delay any further the confirmation of the match venue. As you are aware, the selection of the venue, respective date, and time of the match, has to be set well in advance having a direct impact on the preparation of match logistics and operations by all the concerned parties.

"Besides, please note that Kumasi Sports Stadium is currently non-homologated by Caf to host international matches, since it has been under renovations and no Caf inspection was conducted to the stadium to re-assess the level of stadium compliance.

"Considering the above, the request of change of venue is not accepted, hence the match Ghana Vs. Nigeria for the playoff round of the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 African qualifiers should be maintained at Cape Coast Stadium.

"In case your association reiterate the position to change the venue since there is no other approved venue in Ghana, your national team will be requested to play its upcoming Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 African qualifiers playoff round match in an approved stadium outside its territory, and the venue must be selected from among the stadiums approved by CAF."

Source GhanaSoccerNet

The Ga Mashie Boxing Heritage exhibition has opened at Museum of Science and Technology in Accra from January 27th to February 4th, 2022.

The exhibition dubbed ‘James Town - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow’ is directed by Professor Kodzo Gavua. The programme  has attracted some guests including the Technical Director and Head Coach of the Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF), Dr. Ofori Asare who commended the organisers and urged all boxers, coaches and boxing fans to visit.

He said the exhibition teaches many things including history and discipline.

He congratulated  Professor Kodzo Gavua and advised him to bring such laudable programmed closer to the people.

He hinted that it is about time journalists are supported to document facts about Ghana Boxing, so that they are kept for posterity.

Other high officials like former Minister and Member of Parliament for Ablekuma South, Mr. Fritz Baffour was at the Museum of Science and Technology to encourage patrons, guests and visitors.

Sponsors and supporters of the exhibition include the University of Ghana, University of Exeter, Imaging Futures, the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA), Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF), Box Office Promotions, Wisdom Boxing Gym, 29 Photo Studio and the Black Panthers Boxing Foundation.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The Olympic Truce Murals at the Olympic Villages of the  Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022  were inaugurated today during a ceremony at the Flag Mall of the Beijing Olympic Village. Participating athletes and officials are invited to show their commitment to building a peaceful world through sport by signing the Mural.

Placed at the heart of all Olympic Villages since the Olympic Winter Games Turin 2006, the Olympic Truce Mural is a strong symbol of the power of sport to bring the world together in peaceful competition and create opportunities for dialogue and reconciliation. The concept of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Truce Mural, named “Light of Peace”, is inspired by traditional Chinese lanterns symbolising light, peace and reunion.

On the symbolic date of the Chinese New Year, the inauguration of the Mural took place during a ceremony attended by IOC President Thomas Bach and Beijing 2022 Vice-President Yang Shu’an, along with the IOC Vice-Presidents, members of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, and representatives of Beijing 2022 and the Beijing Olympic Village.

The two leaders were the first to sign the Mural. “It is a truly auspicious moment to inaugurate the Olympic Truce Mural today on Chinese New Year,” said the IOC President in his speech.

Addressing the winter sports athletes who are competing at Beijing 2022, President Bach acknowledged them as ambassadors to promote peace and human understanding: “Over the coming days, you will compete fiercely against one another. At the same time, you will be living together peacefully and respectfully under one roof, in the Olympic Village. In this way, you will show us what the world can look like if we all respect the same rules and each other. This is the true Olympic spirit. This is the message of the Olympic Games: bringing the world together in peaceful competition. In this Olympic spirit, I invite you to leave your signature on the Olympic Truce Mural to show your commitment to this mission of peace of the Olympic Games.”

The IOC President also addressed political leaders by saying: “Today, we call on all political leaders around the world to observe their commitment to this Olympic Truce.”

Beijing 2022 Vice-President Yang added: “Setting up the Olympic Truce Mural and encouraging all ‘villagers’ to express their wish for peace by signing is the best implementation of the United Nations [UN] Olympic Truce Resolution.

“I hope the ‘Light of Peace’ will bring the warmth of home to everyone in the cold winter, light up new hopes and convey our good wishes of pursuing peace, enhancing mutual understanding and working together for a shared future.”

The Olympic Truce for Beijing 2022 was established in the UN resolution entitled “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal”, which was adopted by consensus at the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York on 2 December 2021. It was co-sponsored by 173 UN Member States, demonstrating the widespread support and recognition by the international community of the power of sport and the relevance of the Olympic Winter Games to bring the world together in peaceful competition, providing hope for a better future.

The resolution calls for the Olympic Truce to be respected from seven days before the start of the Olympic Winter Games, which open on 4 February 2022, until seven days after the Paralympic Winter Games, which close on 13 March 2022. On 28 January, to mark the start of the Olympic Truce, UN Secretary-General António Guterres sent a message to “call on everyone to observe the Olympic Truce during the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games”.

The tradition of the Olympic Truce, or “Ekecheiria", dates back to the 9th century BC in Ancient Greece as a period during which war and conflict ceased to allow for safe travel to and from the ancient Olympic Games.

IOC

FINA has announced that the 19th FINA World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, have been rescheduled for 14-30 July 2023, with the 20th FINA World Championships in Doha, Qatar, moved to January 2024.

The 19th FINA World Championships in Fukuoka were initially scheduled for 13-29 May 2022. However, following close consultation with key stakeholders of the Fukuoka 2022 Organising Committee, all parties have agreed to reschedule the competition to 14-30 July 2023 to ensure a safe and successful event for everyone involved. Subsequently, the 20th FINA World Championships in Doha, Qatar, originally scheduled for November 2023, will be held in January 2024.

FINA is in constant dialogue with athletes and coaches regarding the upcoming international aquatics competition calendar, with the goal of minimising the impact on athlete preparation and performance, while acknowledging the current health impacts of the Omicron COVID-19 variant.

“Given the current pandemic situation and the measures currently in place in Japan, FINA and key stakeholders of the Fukuoka 2022 Organising Committee have agreed to reschedule the 19th FINA World Championships to 14-30 July 2023. The 20th FINA World Championships in Doha, Qatar, will now take place in January 2024. These decisions have been taken in the best interests of everyone involved,” FINA President Husain Al-Musallam said. “FINA will continue to prioritise the welfare of competition participants and take decisions as early as possible given the circumstances, in order to provide a measure of certainty to aquatics athletes and those who support them.”

Revised dates for the FINA General Congress, FINA Technical Congresses and the 19th FINA World Masters Championships 2022 will be announced as soon as possible.

FINA will soon announce an updated 2022 international aquatics calendar that will offer athletes additional opportunities to compete at the highest level. More information on the 20th FINA World Championships in Doha, Qatar will follow as soon as possible.

Source AIPS

Ghana’s performance at the 2021 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament was the biggest disaster since the May 9 disaster, this is the verdict given by renowned sports administrator Herbert Mensah.

Speaking to the media in an interview, the former Asante Kotoko chairman indicated that this is the worst disaster that has happened in Ghana since the May 9 tragedy that killed so many supporters at the Accra Sports Stadium

“People have got to understand that the right thing needs to be done. People who are trying to cover up the biggest national disaster since May 9, in my view should be ashamed of themselves,” Herbert Mensah said in an interview with GTV Sports Plus and Joy Sports reporters.

He continued, “We need to look and build, say this was a disaster, we have Nigeria next, and we have a country that traditionally we beat or we frustrate. Do we have what it takes to beat Nigeria? I think we do.”

As part of a good preparation for the World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria, Herbert Mensah stresses that it is crucial the Ghana Football Association (GFA) gives the Black Stars job to a competent coach.

Source Modern Ghana

According to the Ashanti Regional Sports Director, the newly renovated Baba Yara Sports Stadium Tartan track is now open for athletics activities to take place after almost 2 years of closure. This is good news for Ghana Athletes and Ghana Athletics in general.

On Friday, 28th January 2022, the Ashanti Regional Athletics Association organised its second Executive meeting at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium Conference Centre.

The Executive Members have a discussion on a lot of issues on the state of Athletics in the region and how it can be improved.

According to the Director of Sports in Ashanti Region – the Baba Yara Sports Stadium (Tartan track) is now open for all athletes to use for training. But advised it should be used with care because we all know the amount of money the government has spent on the renovation.

The tartan track at the Baba Yara Sports is a World Athletics Standard which was disclosed by the National Sports Authority in a post.

The 2nd Vice-Chairman Mr Akwasi Duodu popularly known as Mr Odike also pleaded with the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS), and the National Sports Authority (NSA) to help build more of the tartan tracks across the country because the athletes find it very difficult to train due to lack of facilities

He was proposed that at least during our Ghana Premier League games when it’s half time – the athletes can run 800 metres – 1000 metres race to entertain the fans which will also prompt them about the athletics in the country.

Unfortunately, not all the stadia in the country have these tartan tracks but he said especially at the various stadia that have them and Baba Yara Sports Stadium can be used as a start.

www.athleticshour.com

Ghana boxing can be better with new plans and new ideas - Coach Ofori Asare

“I expect Ghana Boxing to do well, with the election of new executives in the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) and Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF) I think they want to succeed with their new plans and ideas, we will always be there to support to make Ghana Boxing better” said three star rated Coach Ofori Asare in an exclusive interview with Yours Truly.

He called on Boxing people and the government to support the new leaders in Ghana Boxing so that the game and business develops to be one of the best in the world.

Coach Asare urged the people in the helm of affairs in boxing to unite and work together. He wished that Ghanaians will take up positions at the international level, so that they will be at the decision making level, at Africa and world level.

According to the man who led the Black Bombers to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games to clinch a bronze medal through Samuel Takyi, Ghana still has potential for world champions like Richard Commey, Isaac Dogboe Joseph Agbeko and Emmanuel Tagoe.

He named other young pugilists like Jessie Manyo Plange, Alfred Lamptey, Emmanuel Martey, Octupus Dzanie, Sherrif Quaye and experienced Bastie Samir, Obodai Sai, George Ashie, Michael Ansah aka One Bullet, who are capable of becoming world champions, because they have capability and can explode in their prime time before they fade away.

He was happy with the new title belts introduced by the GBA and suggested that national champions should be allowed to defend and go for other continental titles, like Africa and Commonwealth belts.

He said a star boxer like former IBF Lightweight champion, Richard Commey who lost to Ukranian Olympic champion Lomachenko should not be discouraged, but must have the vim and determination to return better and bigger.

He was optimistic that Ghana can do well at both professional and amateur stages, so experienced boxers should be supported to come back and represent the nation.

He hinted that winning an Olympic medal for the first time in over 40 years is no mean achievement, and people involved in boxing must be respected.

He called for encouragement, recognition, appreciation and monuments for great sports men especially boxing heroes, so that they can do it again and also encourage their children to continue.

He suggested that there should be a new look at boxing because boxing has made Ghana proud, as they swept most of the awards at the last SWAG awards.

He appealed to the media to support with historical facts and figures to make generations know what Boxing people have done.

Coach Asare disclosed that there would be a ‘Justify Your Inclusion’ Event at the D. G.Hathiramani Sports Hall of the Accra Sports Stadium from February 15 to 17, 2022 to pick boxers for the Black Bombers who will be selected to represent Ghana at the next Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

He revealed that so many things go into the selection, so potential amateur champions must come well prepared with their fight records, passports, medical reports and others.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghana and AS Roma teen sensation Felix Afena-Gyan has been named as the fastest player in Serie A for the month of January.

The highly-rated teenager came in first place ahead of Lazio striker Ciro Immobile and Juventus star Juan Cuadrado.

Afena-Gyan had an average velocity of 35.6 kilometres per hour in the league matches he played this month.

The youngster played three Serie A matches for AS Roma in January, against Juventus, Cagliari and Lecce.

He narrowly edged Immobile and Cuadrado, who both had an average velocity of 35.3 kilometres per hour.

This comes after the Ghanaian striker’s second goal against Genoa was voted by fans of AS Roma as the club’s goal of the year (2021).

The 18-year-old started 2021 playing non-league football in Ghana but has quickly risen to the very top.

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He has made a massive impact in the Serie A since making his senior debut for Roma last October.

Afena-Gyan’s stock rose further after he netted a sensational double as Jose Mourinho’s team beat Genoa 2-0 in November.

His second goal came courtesy of his individual brilliance as he pounced on a loose ball before unleashing a curling effort from 35 yards that left the net bulging.

The goal was announced as the fans’ goal of the year at the Socios End of Year awards in December.

Reigning Ghana Premier League champions, Hearts of Oak are expected to announce the signing of Sulley Muntari.

The former Ghana midfielder has been training with the Phobians for the past weeks to keep fit.

As reported on Sunday by this portal, the former AC Milan midfielder will sign a one year deal with the capital club.

Muntari has been without a club after parting ways with Spanish side Albacete in the summer of 2019.

This is the second time that the midfielder is training with the Phobians after first training with the club three years ago.

Muntari started his career with the Ghana Premier League side Liberty Professionals before moving abroad.

He has since lined up for the likes of AC Milan, Sunderland, Pescara, Deportivo La Coruna and Inter Milan, where he won the European Champions League. Muntari formerly played for Sunderland and Portsmouth FC, when he won the English FA Cup.

He was part of Ghana's squad that played in the 2006, 2010 and 2014 World Cup in Germany, South Africa and Brazil respectively.

Source - Modernghana.com