by Kelly Eric Ehor | Nov 6, 2024 | Athletics, International, Other Sports
HRH Nii Kojo Ashifi Papanyira I, also known as Ben Nunoo Mensah, President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), attended the 27th Annual General Meeting of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) held in Portugal. The meeting brought together leaders from over 200 National Olympic Committees to discuss key issues, including preparations for the Paris Olympic Games, promoting global peace, and strengthening support for athletes worldwide.
In his address, IOC President Thomas Bach emphasized the Olympic Movement’s role in fostering peace and unity amid current geopolitical tensions. ANOC President Robin Mitchell expressed gratitude for the support of local partners like Visit Cascais, Visit Portugal, and RTP, whose collaboration was instrumental to the event.
The GOC President had the opportunity to exchange ideas with other NOC presidents, including Sheikh Joan Bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar. The meeting also celebrated outstanding achievements from the Paris 2024 Olympics, recognizing top athletes and teams across various categories.
Key ANOC Award Winners from Paris 2024:
Best Male Athlete: Letsile Tebogo
Best Female Athlete: Julien Alfred
Best Male Team: Denmark Handball (Award collected by Hans Lindberg)
Best Female Team: Italy Volleyball (Award collected by Carlota Cambi)
Best Male Team in Individual Sports: Japan Artistic Gymnastics (Award collected by Kaya Kazuma)
Best Female Team in Individual Sports: Team GB Track Cycling (Award collected by Katy Marchant, Sophie Capewell, and Emma Finucane)
Best Mixed Team: Austria’s Lukas Mähr and Lara Vadlau
Male Outstanding Career: Ma Long
Female Outstanding Career: Lisa Carrington
The next ANOC General Assembly will take place in Hong Kong, China, in 2026.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Nov 6, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, International, Other Sports
Young inmates from Ghana’s Senior Correctional Centre in Accra showcased remarkable skill and resilience at the 4th Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners, reaching the quarterfinals before a narrow loss to a strong Indian team. Led by David Acheampong, founder of Mentors Chess Academy, the Ghanaian team excelled in Group 2, securing second place behind Serbia after victories over Ukraine, Kenya, Romania, and Malawi. This year’s event, the largest so far, brought together 115 teams from 51 countries under FIDE’s Chess for Freedom initiative, promoting rehabilitation through chess.
Mentors Chess Academy is now seeking partnerships to expand prison chess programs across Ghana, offering inmates a path to social and educational empowerment. Key support for the program has come from sponsors like Cave & Gardens, Development International, ICFAD, and Blazing Dreams, an organization founded by Kimathi Y.D. Kuenyehia II, dedicated to uplifting underprivileged youth through mentorship and financial assistance.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Nov 6, 2024 | Africa, Boxing, Ghana, International, Other Sports
John “Expensive Boxer” Laryea returned to a celebratory welcome in Accra on Tuesday, November 5, following his successful international debut in the United States. The 22-year-old Ghanaian boxer, along with his coach Lawrence Carl Lokko, outclassed Nicaragua’s Alexander Mejia in their lightweight match at Royale Caribe in Orlando, Florida, last Friday.
Laryea dominated the bout from the start, knocking down Mejia in the first round and maintaining control throughout, resulting in a sweeping 80-69 unanimous decision on all three judges’ scorecards.
This victory further strengthens Laryea’s ambition of achieving a world title. The WBO Africa featherweight champion, who aims to rise in the global rankings, is confident about his prospects. “First, I thank God for making this victory possible, as well as my coach, management, and fans for their unwavering support and prayers,” Laryea shared with the Daily Graphic on his arrival in Ghana.
Reflecting on his pledge to his supporters, Laryea added, “I promised Ghanaians I’d give my best, and now we’ve secured this win in America. Our focus is now set on the world title, and with my team’s full support, I’m confident that we’ll achieve it by 2025-26.”
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Nov 6, 2024 | Africa, Boxing, International, Other Sports
Controversy has reignited over Olympic gold medalist Imane Khelif after a purportedly leaked report suggested she may be biologically male, leading to renewed calls for her medal to be revoked. Khelif, along with fellow boxer Lin Yu-ting from Taiwan, faced scrutiny after competing in the Paris Olympics despite previous issues with gender eligibility tests at the 2023 World Championships. Although both athletes claimed top medals in their categories, the recent report, allegedly authored by French and Algerian medical experts, suggests Khelif exhibits “male characteristics.”
Following the report’s surfacing, public figures like Piers Morgan and Martina Navratilova expressed outrage on social media, calling for the IOC to strip Khelif’s medal. Morgan tweeted his 8.8 million followers, insisting, “The gold medal should now be stripped and awarded to the best actual woman.” Navratilova echoed his sentiment, saying many people had previously voiced concerns only to face backlash.
Sports commentator Laura Woods also weighed in, advocating for the inclusion of transgender athletes in sports, though not at the expense of fairness or safety in women’s categories, calling for “protected categories” to uphold these principles. Woods revealed her strong stance on gender eligibility in sports had cost her friendships.
Despite the criticism, Khelif has firmly asserted her identity, stating, “I am a woman like any other. I was born a woman, I lived as a woman, I competed as a woman,” and has described her critics as “enemies of success.” Khelif’s lawyer in Paris, Nabil Boudi, has since confirmed a lawsuit was filed with French authorities regarding defamatory remarks on her gender.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Nov 6, 2024 | Athletics, Ghana, Other Sports
The University of Cape Coast (UCC) officially launched the mascot and logo for the 2024 Ghana Universities Sports Association (GUSA) Games, marking the start of the countdown to the event, scheduled for January 3-18, 2025. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong, unveiled the mascot, “Oguaa Suapon Okori,” designed by UCC staff members Nathaniel Ampah and Mrs. Lauren Doku, emphasizing that it represents UCC’s spirit and commitment to excellence in sports.
With the theme, “Repositioning university sports for national development,” the GUSA Games aim to bring together students from public universities across Ghana to compete and demonstrate their talents in various sports. Prof. Boampong stressed that university sports play a crucial role in fostering unity, discipline, and excellence and are vital in nurturing future leaders and innovators. He noted that sports develop values such as teamwork, perseverance, and resilience, all key drivers for national progress.
Shaibu Ibrahim Tanko, President of GUSA, praised UCC’s dedication to preparing facilities that inspire and support athletes to reach their full potential. Prof. Rosemond Boohene, Pro Vice Chancellor and Chair of the Local Organizing Committee, highlighted the extensive efforts already invested in logistics and venue preparations, calling the games a celebration of competition, resilience, and academic growth.
