CMSPORTS

Organisers of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon have announced a $20,000 bonus for world-class performances at the 2020 edition of the race. In a statement signed by Olukayode Thomas, Head Communications and Media Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, Bukola Olopade, who is the consultant for the race which now has the prestigious IAAF Silver Label, said the aim is to encourage excellent performances at Africa’s biggest and best one-day event. According to the CEO of Nilayo Sports Management company, runners who run 2 hours.10 minutes and below will be entitled to a share of the $20,000 bonus. Said Olopade: “As we have earlier promised, the 2020 edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon will witness a lot of innovations; one of which is the introduction of the $20,000 bonus for world-class performances. Hon. Bukola Olopade addressing the media “We are already bringing in some of the best runners from across the globe and we are confident that this unique bonus will fu...

As a fallout of the Inter Ministerial Technical Committee Session convened by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development in collaboration with the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), the Ministry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the NESG with a view to breaching the magnitude of the funding gap that has held back sports in the country. Speaking at the signing in Lagos on Tuesday, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development Mr. Sunday Dare said with the reality of government’s dwindling resources as a problem, it equally presents an opportunity for private sector participation and ownership of the business associated with sports. He said, "It is an opportunity that is demanding attention in the face of shrinking resources. It demands a review of the current situation where government views and treats sports as a social service when in reality it is a multi-billion-naira industry". Speaking on the NESG, he said, "The NESG is an important stakeho...

The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) will hold its Annual General Meeting on December 12, 2019 at the Starview Palace Hotel, Gwarimpa Estate in FCT, Abuja. Coming on the heels of hosting the Internattional Olympic Committee President, Dr Thomas Bach and his entourage for the commissioning of the Association of National Olympic Committee of Africa (ANOCA), secretariat, the NOC will discuss amongst other issues the level of preparedness for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. The AGM will also feature a Patrons forum where the NOC will interact with distinguished Patrons and further highlight their roles and responsibilities. According to the notice of meeting signed by Olabanji Oladapo, Secretary General of NOC, the Patrons Forum is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, December 11, 2019 by 2.00pm at the same venue of the AGM while the Congress comes up on December 12. In view of the above, all members of the Executive Committee are hereby invited to be part of the Forum as de...

President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach has congratulated the Nigeria Olympic Committee led by Engr. Habu Gummel for making the headquarters of the Association of Olympic committees of Africa, ANOCA a reality.  Thomas Bach, President International Olympics Committee The IOC president, Bach was in Nigeria for the historic launch of the headquarters of African Olympic house, where he assisted in officially opening the house in Abuja, Nigeria. "It was a great honour to join you at the official opening of the new ANOCA headquarters and i would like to reiterate my thanks to you for all your support to make this new home for all the National  Olympic Committees in Africa a reality." In an official letter to the NOC, the former Olympian also shares his delight at his visit to Nigeria where he visited and made a promise he was going to fulfill to Aduvie International school and also an official visit to the Vice president where he learned a great d...

Another $150,000 scandal surfaces in the AFN, as Solomon Ogba announces his resignation from the board.  The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) is enmeshed in another $150,000 scandal as grant received from World Athletics to assist the Federation in the hosting of the 21st African Athletics Championships held in Asaba in August 2018, remains unaccounted for. Recall that the AFN had been embroiled in a grant overpayment scandal which was recently repaid to the World Athletics body by the Minister of Youth and Sports Development. The recent scandal involves a $150,000 (N54,000,000,00) the World Athletics had sent to assist the AFN in preparation for the championships last year, but the money remains unaccounted for and board members of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) will be looking to unravel the mystery surrounding the money when they hold their board meeting in Abuja on Tuesday. It has been widely reported that the alleged money went through an improper c...

Founder of Ayisat Yusuf – Aromire Foundation, Mrs Ayisat Yusuf – Aromire has pledged to continue promoting women’s football and footballers through her foundation. Ayisat, who is an Ex – Falcon International, said, Anew dawn is here for female football through my foundation as we plan to take our contributions to NEXT LEVEL this year with Awards of Scholarships to female footballers in higher institutions.    Ayisat Yusuf-Aromire “It has become imperative to empower upcoming Stars to climb the ladder, we cannot ignore the fact that the road was tough and rough for most of us who are up there today, reason why we need to look back and make positive contributions to a game that gave us lives”.  She explains SheFootball Conference 2020 will address some challenges facing women’s football development with the Theme: Advancing Women Football beyond Peripheral. This year’s event will feature about 500 girls from across the country to chart a new way for women’s footbal...

The Nigeria Football Federation has hailed the move of the Honourable Minister of Sports, Mr. Sunday Akin Dare to request for a report on the performances of the various National Teams in recent weeks, just as the football governing –body submitted the requested report on Monday. “It was a good move by the Honourable Minister to request for the report. As he said, there has to be stock taking and after that, accountability. The NFF is enamoured by the move and we have submitted the requested report. “For us, there is nothing to hide. We have detailed all the issues and the forces at play, and explained that in so much as these tournaments are important, they are mainly and strategically developmental. Even at that, we approach every match/tournament with the intention of winning, but it is practically and absolutely impossible based on indices, records and scientific laws of probability,” President of NFF, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, said on Tuesday. In a 15 –page letter signed...