Giants of Africa, GOA, the non-profit organization co-founded by NBA side Toronto Raptors’ president, Masai Ujiri, returned to Lagos, Nigeria to host a youth basketball clinic at Ilupeju Grammar School where they unveiled a basketball court in 2021.
The clinic welcomed Prince Harry and Meghan, respectively The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who shared remarks with the youth and participated in on-court activities.
Through their their non-profit organization, the Archewell Foundation, the British Royal Family made a commitment to donate to GOA by supporting the construction of a new basketball court in Abuja, Nigeria.
This contribution bolsters GOA’s ambitious initiative, ‘Built Within,’ a multi-year, 100-court investment in sports infrastructure across Africa.
“We are grateful to be joined by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at this basketball clinic here in Lagos,” said Masai Ujiri.
“Basketball has the power to unite communities and inspire young people to reach their full potential. Teaming up with the Archewell Foundation, we look forward to creating experiences for young people, empowering them to become leaders, while also fostering pathways to opportunity and hope.”
The basketball clinic participants included boys and girls from Ilupeju Grammar school, along with wheelchair basketball athletes from the Spinabifida and Hydrocephalus Association in Nigeria.
Indigenous Giants of Africa coaches, and Team Nigeria Paralympian and GOA board member, Dennis Ogbe, led the young athletes through activities that not only focused on athletic skill development but also emphasized the importance of inclusivity, teamwork, perseverance, and community engagement.
Prince Harry said “What you guys are doing here at Giants of Africa is truly amazing. The power of sport can change lives. It brings people together and creates community.”
Megan, The Duchess of Sussex added, “We are thrilled to be here. I lived in Toronto for seven years and that was the first time I’d heard of Giants of Africa – talk about full circle– never did I think we would be able to be here all those years later supporting the expansion of this incredible organization, through our foundation, the Archewell Foundation. We’re so grateful and proud of all the work that you’re doing.”
The Giants of Africa basketball court in Nigeria, sponsored by the Archewell Foundation and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will serve as a testament to the power of sports in transforming lives and communities.
Tag: Para Sports
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The Organising Committee of upcoming Olympic Games has chosen Victor le Masne to be the musical director of the four ceremonies.
Masne has also been commissioned to compose the official musical theme of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Renowned for his talent and innovation in the field of music, Victor le Masne has written and composed a captivating official musical theme that subtly blends symphonic and electronic sounds to embody the dynamic and universal spirit of Paris 2024.
The official musical theme of the Paris 2024 Games, entitled ‘Parade’, will be performed live for the first time by the Orchestra of Marseille at the Palais du Pharo on 8 May at 19:30, when the Olympic Flame arrives in Marseille aboard the ‘Belem’ to mark the start of the Games celebrations in France.
The flame arrives in France this Wednesday after a long journey that began in Olympia on 16 April to mark the 100 days until the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.
This musical theme, which will be played throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games, was recorded with the Orchestre National de France and the Chœur et Maitrise de Radio France.
It will capture the emotion of sport in a rousing melody that will accompany all the highlights of the Games, from this Wednesday 8 May to the competition.
It will be available in several versions, with sounds and rhythms that will change according to the occasion.
Victor le Masne said, “I am honoured and excited to contribute to the unforgettable experience of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games as composer of the Official Musical Theme and musical director of the Ceremonies. My aim is to create an original soundtrack that will not only accompany the most memorable moments of these Games, but will also remain etched in the memories of all generations.”
“Victor le Masne sets all the magic of the Paris 2024 Games to music with vivacity, composing both the values of sport and the ambitions of Paris 2024 to set the pace for the coming months,” said Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024.
Victor le Masne is also working with Thomas Jolly as the composer of the four Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games Ceremonies, each of which will have its own sonic identity inspired by the official musical theme. -
Athletes representing various companies in the 19th Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Games have heightened preparations ahead of the competition kicking off from 21 to 27 April 2024 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
As a result, various teams currently in camps at different locations have started putting finishing touches and perfecting their plans for what promises to be a well attended showpiece.
Teams re-presenting NNPC, SHELL, TOTAL ENERGIES, NCDMB, NMDPRA, NUPRC, ARADEL, OANDO, SEPLAT, NLNG, CHEVRON, PTI and EXXONMOBIL will vie for honours in thirteen sports including Athletics, Golf, Chess, Football, Table Tennis and Tennis.
Other sports to feature in the week-long event include Squash, Badminton, Swimming, Basketball, Volleyball, 8-Ball Pool and Scrabble.
Highpoints of the final day’s activities will be finals of the men and women’s 100 and 200 metres dash, the 4×100 metres relay and the final football match between NCDMB and NLNG.
The preliminaries of the football event took place at the Shell Residential Area, Port Harcourt in March.
NCDMB defeated NNPC 1-0 in a highly contested semi final duel while NLNG defeated NMDPRA 1-0 in the another last four matchup.
Meanwhile one of the stars to feature in the Table Tennis event for Team NCDMB, Joe Adebayor has since relocated to Lagos, training for long hours daily at the Knock-up hall, National stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
“We don’t want to take any chances. We hope to compete well and win medals for our company. That’s why I am training. hard,” Adebayor said. -
Nigeria’s elite talents like world record holder over women’s 100mH Tobi Amusan and long jumper Ese Brume could be set to cash in on a landmark decision by World Athletics to reward champions at 2024 Olympic Games.
The athletics governing body’s decision breaks a 128-year Olympic tradition by becoming the first sport to offer prize money to gold medallists.
According to World Athletics president Lord Coe on Wednesday, each athlete who wins an individual track and field event in Paris will receive $50,000 (£39,400) which is about N62m.
Silver and bronze medallists will not be financially rewarded this summer, but they will be at the next Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.
Since the modern Games were founded as an amateur event in 1896, athletes have never received prize money from a sport’s governing body.
Coe, though, insists World Athletics’ radical move does not go against the spirit of the Olympics.
‘I don’t believe this is at variance with any deeply held philosophical commitment to the Olympic movement,’ said the 67-year-old, who won 1500metres gold for Great Britain in 1980 and 1984.
‘I think this fits very much with a contemporary template that we should do everything we can to recognise the performance and the primacy of athletes.
‘The world has changed. It is a completely different planet from when I was competing, so it’s really important that where possible we create a sport that is financially viable for our competitors. This is the beginning of that.
‘If I thought athletes were only competing because there was a financial pot at the end of the day, then I might take a very different view – but they are not.’
The $50,000 offer is for all 48 athletics events in Paris.
In relay races, the money will be shared between the winning team members.
Athletes will only be paid once they have cleared the usual anti-doping procedures.
The total $2.4m (£1.9m) prize pot will come from World Athletics’ share of the IOC’s broadcast revenue, which they are entitled to spend how they choose.
An IOC spokesperson said: ‘The IOC redistributes 90 per cent of all its income, in particular to the National Olympic Committees and International Federations.
‘This means that, every day, the equivalent of $4.2m goes to help athletes and sports organisations at all levels around the world. It is up to each IF and NOC to determine how to best serve their athletes and the global development of their sport.’
While World Athletics will be the first sport’s body to directly offer prize money at a Games, around 60 per cent of countries already reward their medallists, including the USA, who paid their champions £29,500 at Tokyo 2020.
Many athletes also receive bonuses from sponsors if they win medals.
World Athletics’ move follows Britain’s world indoor and outdoor champion Josh Kerr who slammed the prize money on offer at major events as ‘crazy.’
It also comes after USA legend Michael Johnson announced plans to launch a big-money breakaway track league next year.
But while Coe has promised to increase the prize pot further for LA28, he insists this is not a response to Johnson’s series or the Enhanced Games, which is offering major financial rewards for athletes to take drugs to try and break world records.
‘As we grow the sport in the next few years, I want the athletes to benefit even more from that,’ said Coe.
‘You can assume that we will do what we possibly can to increase that price pot.’
Coe also says he would like to see the Paralympians rewarded in the future, although his governing body is not responsible for para athletics. -
Nigeria men’s and women’s teams will aim to rebound from opening day losses as they continue their campaign today in the 2024 Africa Sitting Volleyball championship in Lagos.
The country’s women’s team will play Rwanda at 4PM while the men’s squad face their Moroccan counterparts in the competition which is a qualifier for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris France.
In yesterday’s double blow at the Molade Okoya Thomas Indoor Sports Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium, the Nigerian ladies slumped 0-3(25-15, 25-6, 21-15) to their Kenyan counterparts in the tournament opener while the men fell 2-3 to the same opposition.
The female visitors were convincing in their display as they gave their Nigerian opposition no chance despite the cheering home crowd at the arena.
However the Nigerian men put up a brave performance, rallying from a two set down, 25-22, 25-13, to level scores, only for the Kenyans to rally back to win the deciding set, 15-12.
More exciting action is expected today in the seven nation Paralympics 2024 qualifying. -
The African Volleyball qualifiers for the 2024 Paralympic Games will kickstart tomorrow at the Molade Okoya Thomas Indoor Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun stadium Lagos.
Eight countries will battle for the ticket to the Paris Paralympics following the last-minute withdrawal of Zimbabwe.
Speaking at the press conference held in Lagos at the weekend, the President of the Nigeria Para-Volleyball Federation (NPVF), Kayode Ladele, confirmed the readiness of the federation to host Africa between Monday 29 January and Saturday 10 February 2024.
Reacting to questions about the Nigerian teams’ readiness ahead of the qualifiers, Ladele said the NPVF had ensured that the country’s men and women squads prepared within available financial strength.
“Team Nigeria is very prepared for this qualifier; we have what it takes with our level of preparedness that we started years back. We are popular in other para-sports like Powerlifting, but Para Volleyball is ready to rival that sport in picking an Olympic medal because this is a sport we are well prepared for,” he said.
In another reaction Mr Mohammed Sovabi, Head of Media and Communication in the Para-Volleyball Africa described the qualifier as a big platform to build awareness around the sport in Nigeria and elsewhere on the African continent.
According to him, the Nigerian media will have to play a role in getting para volleyball the attention it deserved.
On the court of play Nigeria is grouped with Egypt, Morocco pool A while Kenya will square off against Rwanda, Algeria, and Libya in Group B.
The women’s team will face competition from Kenya and Rwanda for a historic qualification for the 2024 Paralympics. -
Team Nigeria volleyball sides will embark on a historic qualifying campaign Monday 29 January for this year’s Paralympic Games in Paris France.
The Molade Okoya Thomas Indoor Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium will host the qualifying where Nigeria’s men’s and women’s teams are expected to punch their first ever tickets to the prestigious global sporting event.
Organised by the Nigerian Para Volleyball Federation, NPVF, led by Kayode Ladele, the event welcomes teams from Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Algeria, and Libya, all vying for a chance to participate in the Paralympic Games in Paris.
Reviewing the origins of this journey, Ladele disclosed that upon assuming the board’s leadership, they identified the imperative of establishing a sustainable structure.
Consequently, they enlisted the expertise of Egyptian coach Elaiuty Mosaad to create a comprehensive technical framework for players and coaches.
Speaking ahead of the qualifiers, he said, ‘In preparing them for this, when we started, we got a foreign coach to come from Egypt who was one of the best coaches in the world in sitting volleyball.
He spent a month with players and selected coaches, to prepare them.
Explaining the choice of Mosaad who led Egypt to a bronze medal finish at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, the NPVF president said getting one of the best coaches in the world with a proven track record was non-negotiable.
He praised the players in camps for their commitment as he said their mental and technical readiness will go a long way in guaranteeing their chances at the Paralympic Games later this year.
In Group A, Nigeria is paired with Egypt, Morocco, and Kenya for the men’s team, while the women’s team will face competition from Kenya, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe.
The Nigerian men’s team will get their campaign underway with a game against Kenya, and the women will square off against Zimbabwe. -
The president of the Nigeria Paravolleyball Federation Kayode Ladele has appealed for funding support from the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Sports and Corporate Organisations to ensure the successful hosting of the African qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
With barely nine days to the commencement of the qualifiers, he expressed that the federation was currently at a 45% readiness level as funding remains at the centre of all necessary arrangements for a colourful event.
“Everything that we need in terms of the arrangements is in place. We cannot do it alone. We need corporate sponsors and organisations to support us in this movement,” Ladele stressed.
He lamented the negligence of People With Disabilities (PWDs) in contravention of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) on inclusion as he highlighted the significance of para-volleyball as a family-oriented team sport.
“So much attention has been given to football in the past. We at the para-volleyball federation are seeking support and help from the government and corporate Nigerians.”
Speaking on the readiness of the National teams (men and women), Ladele revealed that both squads had been in camp for over a week and were in high spirits.
He confidently declared, “I can put my money on it that Nigeria is going to pick up a ticket for the 2024 Paralympic Games.”
Nigeria will host the African qualifiers between January 29 and February 3, 2024, at the Molade Okoya Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Nigeria will compete against Egypt, Morocco, and Kenya in group A for a chance for a Paralympic Games ticket.
Zimbabwe will square off against Rwanda, Algeria, and Libya in group B.
The Nigerian women’s team will compete against Kenya, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe as two teams will qualify from each category.
The Nigerian men’s team will get their campaign underway with a game against Kenya, and the women will square off against Zimbabwe. -
In an bid to ensure a vast improvement in the Nigeria’s performance at the forthcoming African, Olympic/Paralympic Games 2024, the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh has called for a collaboration between his office and presidents of various National Sports Federations.
Speaking during a technical meeting
With presidents, Senator Enoh outlined the focus of the meeting to include, each Federation’s roadmap, medals projection, challenges and the way forward towards podium performances at the games.
He expressed the hope that the meeting will be inclusive, participatory and productive, adding that ultimately the gathering is all about the country’s sports and its performance.
Senator Enoh reiterated his commitment and determination to take the nation’s sports to greater heights and sued for the cooperation of the various stakeholders.
Building on this commitment, Senator Enoh expressed his preparedness to explore all available options including holding periodic meetings with stakeholders and encouraging processes that will lead to amendments of relevant laws to ensure that sports receives the desired injection for better performance.
He said, “looking at where we are coming from, there is no reason why we should not hold periodic meetings between the Ministry and the various sports federations. On our part, the Ministry is fully committed to ensure that these meetings take place on a periodic basis because we have a shared responsibility with the sports federations.”
The Minister who identified funding as the greatest challenge facing sports in the country for the past 30 years, said that he would do everything within his power to surmount the problem.
He also stated that his engagement with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the issue of adequate funding of sports strengthened his resolve and commitment to solve this problem.
The Minister commended the Ministerial Podium Performance Advisory Team led by Professor Ken Anugweje and the Presidents of the various Sports Federations for the work they are doing in the different bodies.
The technical meeting which took place at the media center of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja was well attended by the presidents, their general secretaries and the evaluation team.For support and news stories: woramangra@yahoo.com or via WhatsApp on +2348084193706.
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The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh has stated that the second edition of the National Para Games holds immense potential for discovering and unearthing new talents that will represent the nation with pride in the world of para sports.
The Minister made the statement during a briefing in Abuja, as the nation eagerly awaits the opening ceremony of the 2023 National Para Games on Friday, December 8.
“The National Para Games is not just about competition and winning medals,” said Senator Enoh. “It is a platform to showcase the incredible talent and determination of our athletes with disabilities. We are confident that this event will unearth new stars who will go on to achieve great things for the nation on the international stage,” Senator Enoh said.
“Stars like Yakubu Adesokan, Lucy Ejike, Esther Onyeama, Eucharia Iyiazi and others have been successful for Team Nigeria over the years, but they are approaching the twilight of their careers. We will need other athletes to fill the void and take over.
“We believe that every individual, regardless of their physical abilities, deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential in sports,” he added. “The National Para Games is a testament to this belief, and we are excited to witness the emergence of future champions.”
The minister expressed his confidence that the event will be a resounding success, further fostering inclusivity and promoting para sports in the country.
Nigeria has won a whopping 80 medals at the Paralympic Games, which comprises 40 Gold, 19 silver and 20 bronze medals from the Barcelona 1992 Paralympic Games till date.
Senator Enoh thanked all athletes for their hard work and consistency.
The Games will be held between December 8-14 in the capital city of Abuja, with athletes from across the federation conglomerating at the Center of Excellence.