Sport

Ondo, Lagos partner on sports development

Published

2 months ago

August 6, 2023

Ondo, Lagos partner on sports development

The Ondo State Government and its Lagos counterpart have expressed readiness to collaborate to facilitate the development of sports to ensure more talents were discovered for national assignments.

The two states made the resolution in Akure on Sunday, at a maiden meeting to kick-start arrangements on partnership that would benefit athletes from both states.

Bamidele Ologunloluwa, the Ondo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development and Sola Aiyepeku, the Executive Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, represented the states respectively.

Ologunloluwa said the successful hosting of the Aketi Bowl 1 of the Nigeria Secondary School Flag Football (NSSFFL) season 2 at the Ondo State Sports Complex, birthed the sports development partnership between the states.

NSSFFL which ended on Saturday was organised by the Nigerian American Football Association.

The commissioner said that such sports development partnership would help in the discovery of talents from both states and make sports a means of engagement, development, self-reliance and source of livelihood for the youth.

Ologunloluwa expressed optimism that the partnership would succeed and also reiterated the readiness of Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s administration to give maximum support to ensure that the partnership achieved its set goals.

“The sports development initiative is a laudable one that will help discover and develop talents in the states.

“We are ready to collaborate because any initiative that will bring development to the youth in our state is always welcomed by us,” he said.

Aiyepeku on his part said that the Lagos State Government was also ready for a robust sports developmental partnership with Ondo State.

He commended the Ondo-Lagos Sports Development Partnership Initiative and described it as a plan coming to life at the right time.

“The Ondo-Lagos Sports Development is a forward thinking development that will help promote interstate competitions and equally necessitate regular sporting activities for talented youths of the states.

“Both states stand to benefit mutually from this laudable initiative,” he said.

Aiyepeku also said that the partnership had set plans in motion for the hosting of interstate competitions in various track and field games and other individual sports in a couple of weeks.

Sport

16th INAC: Indian instructor educates Nigerians on benefits of Yoga

Published

2 weeks ago

September 8, 2023

Desmond Ukafor

The Indian High Commission in Nigeria on Friday in Abuja urged Nigerians to embrace Yoga as a means of exercise for their overall well-being..

Diptiranjan Mohanty, Teacher of Indian Culture, High Commission of India in Abuja, gave the advice during the 16th International Arts and Craft Expo (INAC).

Mohanty, who demonstrated the exercise , said that Yoga is an aspect of Indian culture known to reduce stress, anxiety as well as improve brain function.
He said that practicing Yoga also improves cardiovascular function, quality of sleep, bone health and reduces inflammation.

“Yoga is part of our culture, we want our Nigerian friends and people across the globe to practise it as a lifestyle.
“It improves body flexibility and balance.

“Yoga is known to harmonise the mind, body and soul, and it is a method to detoxify theo body and make a healthy mind and a happy soul,” he said.

Mohanty said that Nigerians who were interested in learning how to practice yoga could attend free classes for the execise at the Indian High Commission in Abuja.

According to him, this is held Monday to Friday, from 4.00p.m. to 7.00p.
He said that India was at the expo to showcase its arts and crafts like Saree fabric, Masala Chai (indian tea), locally prepared to reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol.

In the course of the expo, delegates from Taraba, Kaduna, Borno, Katsina, Ogun and Rivers states presented colourful dance performances.

Ogun and Rivers as well as Cuba presented cuisines peculiar to their culture, which delegates from other nations savoured.

Sport

UEFA to raise payments for clubs not in European competition

Published

2 weeks ago

September 7, 2023

Fellow Press

Clubs that fail to qualify for UEFA’s competitions are set to receive a greater share of revenue from the European governing body from next season.
The arrangement is under a new distribution model announced on Wednesday by UEFA.
UEFA and the European Club Association (ECA) signed a renewed working agreement until 2030 which will “bolster long-term stability and sustainable growth in European club football,” the governing body said in a statement.

The change will be effective from the start of the 2024-25 season, coinciding with a new format in UEFA’s Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League.

Under the new model for the 2024-2027 cycle, seven per cent of the revenue UEFA earns from the three competitions will be distributed to clubs not competing in them, up from four per cent.

The European Leagues Association, which represents professional soccer leagues in Europe, said the change would result in 308 million euros ($330.02 million) being shared among non-participating clubs, up from the current 175 million euros.

“Today’s announcement … will help all clubs across Europe to safeguard their competitiveness on and off the pitch while keeping investing in youth and talent development,” it said in a statement.

UEFA said further details of the new system would be unveiled at a later date.