World fencing governing body, FIE would next month take the all-important decision on whether Russian and Belarusian fencers would feature in international fencing competitions ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics. According to a report by inside the games, FIE members would during its online extraordinary congress on March 10 cast vote on whether Russian and Belarusian fencers should be allowed to return to international competition. A vote on their participation was originally scheduled to be held at the FIE Congress in the Swiss city of Lausanne last November only to be postponed until March. At the time of the decision, Joonas Lyytinen, who is head of the Finnish Fencing and Pentathlon Federation, described the extension of the ban as a “weak victory”. The matter is now set to be discussed at next month’s Extraordinary Congress with Russian and Belarusian fencers hoping the restrictions will be lifted to ensure they can vie for qualification places at next year’s Olympics in Paris. Under FIE rules, Paris 2024 quota spots for individual and team competitions will based on ranking points earned between April 3 in 2023 and April 1 in 2024.

Athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus have been barred from international competition since last March when the FIE adhered to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) recommendations to impose the ban due to the war in Ukraine. The IOC is exploring a pathway for Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutrals with the Olympic Council of Asia offering them the chance to participate in its events to qualify for Paris 2024. The move has prompted criticism from many nations while Ukraine remains under attack from Russian forces. It would be noted that Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on IOC not to allow Russia to be part of the Olympics next year insisting that doing so would amount to an endorsement of Putin’s invasion of his country.

NFF chiefs, NIKE top officials meet in Amsterdam

In another round of sponsor-appreciation, top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation visited the Euro-Africa headquarters of sports kit manufacturing behemoth, NIKE in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on Friday. Discussions centred around the support that the bodywear and footwear giant has been providing for the National Teams of Nigeria since its latest partnership with the NFF, and assurance by the football-governing body that it will put measures in place to ensure that NIKE nets even more leverage and exposure from the partnership. President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau and the General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi met with NIKE’s chieftains at the company’s Amsterdam headquarters, with Uwe Gartner, who replaced Ms Tina Salminen as Sports Marketing Director (Africa), also present. Both teams discussed the various assignments of the National Teams of Nigeria this year, including the Super Falcons’ participation in the FIFA Women’s World Cup finals; the Super Eagles’ 2023 AFCON qualifying matches; Olympic Eagles’ U23 AFCON qualifying matches and tournament proper; the Flying Eagles’ U20 AFCON participation in Egypt and probable outing at the FIFA U20 World Cup in Indonesia and; the Golden Eaglets’ U17 AFCON participation in Algeria and probable outing at the FIFA U17 World Cup in Peru. It would be recalled that NIKE returned as Nigeria’s official kit sponsors in April 2015, following the departure of German behemoth Adidas. The partnership agreement was signed in London, and has been renewed a couple of times since then. In November, the NFF President and General Secretary, alongside the Director of Communications Ademola Olajire, met with top officials of a number of the company’s partners and sponsors in Lagos, including MTN, Premier Lotto, AITEO Group and Stanbic IBTC, in a first round of sponsor-appreciation by the new NFF administration. A fortnight ago, Gusau met with the Chairman/Chief Executive of GIC Motor (distributors of GAC Motors in Nigeria), Chief Diane Chan in Lagos to also appreciate the company for its support to the Federation and the National Teams.

Bayelsa Sports: Gov Diri wants sponsors for SDD annual marathon, others

Bayelsa state governor, Senator Douye Diri has tasked corporate bodies doing business in the state to sponsor sporting activities, especially the annual 15 km marathon named after him. Diri who spoke after yesterday’s race directed his deputy and the state sports commissioner to scout for corporate sponsors for sporting activities in the state, even as he directed that the marathon be incorporated into the state’s sports calendar. Hamadjan Yaya from Cross River State and Lidiah Akuaho from Plateau State on Saturday emerged winners in the male and female categories of the 15km marathon race which is in its third edition. The race was part of the activities commemorating the third anniversary of the Governor Diri administration. Other winners in the male category are Tosin Adedeji from Ogun State, who came second while Wadata Barau from Bauchi came third. In the female category, Patience John also from Plateau placed second and Charity Agofure of Delta State came third. The competitors took off from Akenfa and concluded the race at the Peace Park in Yenagoa. The governor stressed the need to develop the sports sector, describing it as a money-spinning venture as well as a veritable tool to foster peace and unity among the people.

His words: “Let me call on those who are doing business in Bayelsa, particularly those doing business with the state government, that by next year I want to hear that a particular company has taken over the sponsorship of this marathon. “Today, we have winners that are not from Bayelsa but from other states such as Plateau, Bauchi, Cross River and Edo. That is why we are one country and we will continue to live together and compete very favourably to ensure this country produces top athletes in world marathon. “Going forward, this marathon should be in the calendar of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. “I also commend Comrade Igbeita Idonkumo, a young man from my local government who initiated this race out of his emotion on my emergence as governor of this state. “He trekked with a few others from Kaiama to Yenagoa to show solidarity and happiness with the government and that was how this race started from 2020.”

Also, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Daniel Igali, said the SDD Marathon is to encourage young Bayelsa athletes to compete in long distance races both at the national and continental levels. Congratulating winners and all participants, Igali appreciated Senator Diri for his unflinching support to the sports ministry. “I want to use this opportunity to thank you for always making sure we achieve giant strides in sports and making the state the leading sports destination in Nigeria in just three years in office as governor. “As a result of your leadership style, you always back it up with action and that is why we see the results. “We started this marathon event three years ago. Hopefully next year we will ensure it gets a bit longer because now it is about a quarter mile. “Since we are not good in the long distance race, this is one opportunity for some of our young athletes to begin to compete in this sport in order to come out tops nationally and even at the continental level.” The winners in both categories got N400,000 each while second placed winners got N200,000 each and third placed N150,000 each.