French President Emmanuel Macron.(photo:Twitter/@EmmanuelMacron)
Macron also made reference to the ambitious 1.4-billion-euro scheme to clean the polluted waters of Paris’ main river artery…reports Asian Lite News
French President Emmanuel Macron launched the 500-day countdown to the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics on Tuesday, bringing the public up to date with his government’s hopes for the Games, including the ambitious use of the Seine.
Macron addressed hundreds of officials at a “speech of thanks” in the Paris police headquarters, saying that though plans are advancing “nothing should be taken as a guarantee.”
“All that remains for us are 500 short days that separate us from the extraordinary events that are the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games, (where) we are going to host the world,” Macron said.
In the speech and on Twitter, Macron thanked the 45,000 volunteers mobilizing to make the Games “a success” and again trumpeted the 5,000 new sports grounds that are in the works. Officials are pushing to get infrastructure and sites ready in time, with projects pockmarking many of Paris’ boulevards.
Macron also made reference to the ambitious 1.4-billion-euro scheme to clean the polluted waters of Paris’ main river artery.
“The Seine and the Marne (rivers) will be made swimmable,” he said.
🔴 #LIVE: 🇫🇷 French President Emmanuel Macron launches the countdown to the 2024 Paris Olympics on Tuesday.
Several events are to be held in the Seine, including the 10-kilometre swimming marathon — in a mirror of the first Paris Olympics in 1900.
Macron also hopes to ditch tradition by staging the opening ceremony on water in an ambitious plan that will see craft floating on the Seine by the Eiffel Tower — as millions watch.
The Paris Games’ budget is at 4.4 billion euros, according to an Elysee official who spoke anonymously in line with the French presidency’s customary practices.
“The first phase of ticket sales is encouraging,” the Elysee official said. He added that the huge demand for tickets during the first phase of sales earlier this month, when more than 3 million tickets were sold, has made Macron confident that securing the funds for the Paris Games is on track.
Macron has not yet weighed in on a Ukrainian-led call for a blanket ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes.
The giant that is the T10 hopes to proactively attract various nations around the globe so as to further grow the cricketing family, and inspire youngsters to take up the sport…reports Asian Lite News
After the successful completion of the sixth season of Abu Dhabi T10, the fastest format in the game of cricket is looking to grow and leave its imprint globally, with continents like Asia and Africa earmarked as the next pit stops in what is set to be a storied journey.
The very exciting T10 which is the brainchild of TTen Global Sports’ Chairman Shaji Ul Mulk is taking serious steps in terms of expansion and have already announced a tournament in Sri Lanka while another in Zimbabwe, which hopes to bring together more than 30 nations from the continent, is also locked in and ready for roll out.
“This is a very unique time for African nations, and when we think of how we are going to be part of this, to grow the game, we are very excited. For us in Africa, the franchises coming here would open up the doorway for all of us to grow much better. In a few years, with the help of this partnership, we should be able to compete with the big guys. The most important thing is to give the youngsters a chance to play at the highest levels, with their icons,” said Kwame Asare, Chairman of the African Cricket Association.
“This is a new brand of cricket that is coming to the continent of Africa and the country of Zimbabwe. All the sportspersons and stakeholders, men and women have embraced this format and we want this movement to grow from here. And on the other side, qualification for the T20 World Cup after a while was a big thing for us too, it has captured the mood of the nation and the fans, especially after the win against Pakistan. The addition of T10 has just brought more excitement among the fans and the cricket family,” said Dr Tevengwa Mukuhlani, Chairman of Zimbabwe Cricket.
The giant that is the T10 hopes to proactively attract various nations around the globe so as to further grow the cricketing family, and inspire youngsters to take up the sport. While bringing more cricketers into the sport is one aspect of the movement, the T10 bandwagon is also keen on attracting more fans to the sport, especially the newer generation.
In Africa, the high-octane brand of cricket that is the T10 is not going to be restricted to only the men’s game but also in the works are plans for the women’s tournament. Over the last few years, franchise cricket and leagues in T20 and T10 have taken the world by storm, with cricketers and fans taking to it like a fish does to water.
Speaking about the rapid growth and expansion, Shaji Ul Mulk, Chairman of the TTen Global Sports, said, “I think league and bilateral cricket are both very different and hold their own place in the hearts of the fans. Our objective, with the T10, is to draw a new crowd, attract more of the youth and also there are a lot of countries that don’t follow cricket as closely. With a 90-minute format, we hope to develop the sport in these countries.”
The first ever edition of this dynamic tournament was held in 2017 with the International Cricket Council officially giving their nod for the Abu Dhabi T10. The league has seen significant year-on-year growth in viewership and economic value, with the 2021-2022 edition of the tournament having reached 342 million viewers through television and digital streaming compared to roughly 37 million viewers in the 2017 edition. Furthermore, such has been the T10’s popularity that the sixth season of the tournament in Abu Dhabi was graced by two new franchises from the USA in the New York Strikers and the Morrisville SAMP Army, who finished second and third, respectively.
“The T10 is hoping to make its presence felt in at least five continents. While the Middle-East, Asia and Africa are already locked in, we also want to bring under our umbrella the Americas and Europe,” Shaji Ul Mulk added.
After the successful completion of the sixth season of Abu Dhabi T10, the fastest format in the game of cricket is looking to grow and leave its imprint globally, with continents like Asia and Africa #T10Leaguehttps://t.co/Ior85Sg1HB
The T10 movement aims not only at bringing on board more countries who aren’t traditionally nations that play cricket but also has one eye on the Summer Olympics, the very pinnacle of sporting excellence.
“For cricket to be part of the Olympic family, it will only be a good thing. The whole thing is time-bound as the ICC can’t be there beyond a certain number of days. So, I believe, it is inevitable that, T10 is going to be the answer to this due to its shorter duration, especially because it is a 90-minute overall game,” said Cassim Suliman, CEO of the African Cricket Association.
Organisers said the LA28 Games will use existing world-class stadiums and sports venues across the Los Angeles region, ensuring a sustainable and fiscally responsible event…reports Asian Lite News
The Opening Ceremony of the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympic Games is set for July 14, 2028, with the Games running through July 30, organisers of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic events announced on Monday.
In addition, the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games will kick off August 15, 2028, and close August 27, said LA28, the Los Angeles Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2028.
“Today marks the official countdown to the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said five-time Olympic medallist and LA28 Chief Athlete Officer Janet Evans in a statement.
“The LA28 Games will be unlike any other, showcasing the best of Southern California’s exceptional stadiums and world-class culture to athletes and fans alike. This milestone makes the Games real for every athlete actively training for their LA28 dream and the fans who follow the journey,” Evans added, reports Xinhua.
“LA is an ambitious city of endless possibilities and the Games will reflect our community,” said LA28 Chairperson Casey Wasserman in the statement, noting that Los Angeles will provide the perfect backdrop to host the biggest cultural, sporting and entertainment event in the world.
Organisers said the LA28 Games will use existing world-class stadiums and sports venues across the Los Angeles region, ensuring a sustainable and fiscally responsible event.
The LA28 Games will feature more than 3,000 hours of live sport across 800 events in more than 40 sports. 15,000 athletes are expected to compete in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, according to LA 28.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced in Lima, Peru on September 13, 2017, that Paris will hold the 2024 Olympic Games and gave 2028 to Los Angeles. The IOC decision has made both the cities three-time Summer Olympics hosts as Paris hosted the games in 1900 and 1924 and Los Angeles hosted the games in 1932 and 1984.
While most of the selections were on expected lines, some decisions raised eyebrows — like the omission of long jumper Jeswin Aldrin, who was left out despite qualifying for the event…reports Asian Lite News
Olympic gold medallist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, top male steeplechaser Avinash Sable and long jumper M Sreeshankar will lead the Indian charge at the World Athletics Championships to be held at Eugene, Oregon in the US, from July 15-24.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) on Thursday announced a 22-member squad, including five women, for the biggest competition for athletes this year.
Neeraj, who recently finished second in the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, setting the national record of 89.30 metres in the process and then won a gold medal at the Kuortane Games with a creditable effort of 86.60m in horrible conditions, will be India’s main hope for a gold medal in Oregon, continuing his surge from Tokyo.
AFI president Adille J. Sumariwalla said the team has been selected from among those who had either attained the entry standard set by World Athletics or qualified based on their world rankings.
Seven of the 16 athletes, who will compete in individual events, are National Record holders. They include Sable, Sreeshankar, Tajinderpal Singh Toor, Neeraj Chopra, Sandeep Kumar, Annu Rani and Priyanka Goswami.
The AFI informed that quarter-miler Amoj Jacob has been selected for the 4x400m relay subject to fitness. “Arokia Rajiv will replace Amoj in case he does not regain fitness,” Sumariwalla said.
Similarly, women 400m sprinter Aishwarya Kailash Mishra’s selection was subject to a fitness trial — with electronic time and dope testing. Recently, there were reports of her evading a dope test, though the athlete has denied the allegation.
Aishwarya Mishra clocked 51.18 seconds in the Federation Cup in Kozhikode on April 3 and has not completed a lap in a competitive event since. She entered the National Inter-State Athletics Championships in Chennai earlier this month but was disqualified after making a foul start in the 400m heats.
Asked what explanation she gave for not being available for the dope test, Sumariwalla said the athlete informed that she was at her native place where her grandmother was unwell and had also lost her phone.
While most of the selections were on expected lines, some decisions raised eyebrows — like the omission of long jumper Jeswin Aldrin, who was left out despite qualifying for the event.
Sumariwalla and chief national coach Radhakrishnan Nair explained that Jeswin Aldrin was excluded as his form has declined since he achieved the qualification.
“He attained the entry standard by jumping 8.26m in the Federation Cup on April 3 but his graph has shown only a downward trend since. He jumped 7.82, 7.69 and 7.51 in the last three meets,” Sumariwalla said.
AFI President said shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor was picked despite the Asian Champion not looking in good form. According to Sumariwalla, the Asian Champion was staging a comeback from wrist surgery and had kept improving his performances.
“In the Inter-State Championships, which was a selection meet, Toor won with a 20.34m effort. He is the best we have in the shot put,” he said.
The teams:
Men: Avinash Sable (3000m Steeplechase), MP Jabir (400m Hurdles), M Sreeshankar and Muhammed Anees Yahiya (Long Jump), Abdulla Aboobacker, Praveen Chithravel and Eldhose Paul (Triple Jump), Tajinderpal Singh Toor (Shot Put), Neeraj Chopra and Rohit Yadav (Javelin Throw), Sandeep Kumar (20km Race Walking), Amoj Jacob*, Noah Nirmal Tom, Muhammed Ajmal, Naganathan Pandi, Rajesh Ramesh and Muhammed Anas Yahiya (4x400m).
Women: S Dhanalakhsmi (200m), Aishwarya Kailash Mishra (400m), Parul Chaudhary (3000m Steeplechase), Annu Rani (Javelin Throw) and Priyanka Goswami (20km Walk).
Saurabh shot 562 in the T4 60-shot series to leave behind Kunal Rana of the Indian Navy, who shot 555. The same score in the junior Men’s event meant Punjab’s Arjun Singh Cheema with a 547 had to settle for silver…reports Asian Lite News
Former world number one and Tokyo Olympics finalist Saurabh Chaudhary of Uttar Pradesh swept the Men’s 50M Pistol trials at Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range winning three gold medals and a silver across the senior and junior categories.
On Day 5 of the National Selection trials 3 & 4 for pistol events, Saurabh won both the Men’s and Junior Men’s 50M Pistol T4 trials, after he had won bronze in the Men’s T3 event while maintaining gold in the Junior Men’s T3 competition.
Saurabh shot 562 in the T4 60-shot series to leave behind Kunal Rana of the Indian Navy, who shot 555. The same score in the junior Men’s event meant Punjab’s Arjun Singh Cheema with a 547 had to settle for silver.
Saurabh had come third behind the seasoned Gaurav Rana of the Air Force and Om Prakash Mitherval of Rajasthan in the Men’s T3 competition earlier. Gaurav had shot 553 for gold, Om Prakash 553 for silver while Saurabh came third with 552.
Late on Sunday evening, Vijayveer Sidhu of Punjab had bagged the Junior Men’s Rapid-Fire Pistol T3 trials over the Haryana pair of Anish and Adarsh Singh who came second and third respectively. The T4 Rapid Fire results are expected on Wednesday.
The Chinese figure skater Zhu Yi, who fell during her performance, faced tremendous backlash and hate posts prompting social media giants in China including Weibo and Douyin to delete tens of thousands of posts…writes N.C. Bipindra
The recently concluded Winter Olympic Games in Beijing were in the news for many reasons. While a Russian biathlon participant took her grievance about meagre and unpalatable food to social media, another fellow Russian courted controversy after she tested positive for a banned substance. The journalists who first reported the story of Russian skater Kamila Valieva’s positive drugs test faced death threats and abuse.
The Chinese figure skater Zhu Yi, who fell during her performance, faced tremendous backlash and hate posts prompting social media giants in China including Weibo and Douyin to delete tens of thousands of posts. But perhaps the most significant development was the diplomatic boycott by some countries, led by the United States, of the Winter Olympic Games due to China’s ‘egregious’ human rights violations in the Xinjiang region against Uyghur Muslims.
In fact, in the report titled World Report 2022, Human Rights Watch has accused China of ruthless repression of civil liberties and human rights in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, even under the guise of COVID restrictions.
This systematic suppression and ‘re-education’ of China’s Muslim population is but a mere strand in President Xi Jinping’s grand design of renewed drive towards Sinicization – a term that euphemistically implies a process by which non-Chinese societies come under the influence of Chinese culture. In practice, however, the reality is much harsher and more unpalatable.
Take for instance the Chinese government’s efforts to erase the unique identity of Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims. In January last year, a CNN investigation examining satellite imagery concluded that over 100 traditional Uyghur cemeteries had been destroyed. In August, another satellite imagery revealed that Xinjiang authorities had built over 260 “massive” detention structures, lending credibility to accusations of arbitrary detention of Turkic Muslims. Imagery also points to large-scale ‘re-styling’ of mosques where the domes and minarets have been removed in several places.
The story repeats in Tibet where China’s incessant authoritarianism has led thousands of Tibetans, including their spiritual leader the 14th Dalai Lama, to seek asylum in progressive societies. The devastation of Tibet by Chinese military that started with an unprovoked invasion in 1950 has been described in graphic detail in Heinrich Harrer’s memoir Seven Years in Tibet which was later made into an award-winning eponymous feature film.
Seventy years later, things have not changed much and Tibetans continue to suffer China’s repressive regime as the Dalai Lama spoke about “too much control” by “narrow-minded Chinese communist leaders” in November 2021. Coincidentally, March 10 was the 63rd anniversary of the Tibet Uprising Day, in which thousands of Tibetans gathered in defiance of Chinese invasion in 1959. This peaceful protest was violently crushed by the Chinese government.
Hong Kong too has a similar narrative where the pro-democracy activists are systematically targeted under Draconian laws. In Inner Mongolia, where the four million ethnic Mongols are in minority, the Chinese Communist Party has adopted less indurate but nonetheless oppressive measures.
In October 2020, the Chinese government intervened to stop an exhibition on Mongol history and culture in France, following which the Director of that museum complained of “tendentious elements of rewriting aimed at completely eliminating Mongolian history and culture in favour of a new national narrative”. Earlier in April, Xi Jinping warned a delegation from Inner Mongolia, which had protested against switching of medium of instruction in schools from Mongolian to Chinese, of ‘consequences’.
China uses state machinery not only silence ethnic minorities but also mainstream dissenters. China’s #MeToo movement gained new traction after more women came forward to accuse well-known men of sexual harassment. In November 2021, tennis star Peng Shuai went missing and was silenced after alleging that she had been sexually assaulted by former vice premier Zhang Gaoli.
Jack Ma, Alibaba founder and former chairman, has not made any public appearance since January 2021 triggering speculations about his disappearance after he criticised China’s financial regulators and banks in a speech. It is also rumoured that he was forced to step down by the authorities.
In the aftermath of Covid-19, the CCP’s censorship around the Wuhan anniversary sought to purge voices that questioned the official narrative. Activists were detained and outspoken relatives of people who died from the virus were harassed. Foreign media persons have been routinely prevented from reporting facts, as evident most recently in reporting of the floods in Zhengzhou this July 2021.
In sum, the Sinicization playbook has three steps – One, the Sinicization of religion. This is evident in Chinese efforts at ‘re-styling’ Buddhism and Islam with ‘Chinese Characteristics’. Two, ideological ‘re-education’, which implies snuffing out ethnic identities and imposing communist ideology. This ‘re-education’ will obviously begin in schools by typecasting impressionable minds. Three, China will isolate dissenters. This is done by actions such as banning of social media platforms like Twitter, imposing restrictions on, including policing of, the internet, incarcerating popular leaders, denial in international forums, and weaving a miasma of misinformation.
Why the World Must be Wary?
It will be simplistic to assume that the process of cultural and ideological ‘assimilation’ that Xi Jinping has embarked upon will be limited only to China. To be sure, the primary focus of Sinicization is indeed the dissenting minorities within China. However, it is evident that China is applying the rules from its playbook to other countries as well, with modifications, of course. One major inclusion is the use of economic muscle to influence susceptible countries. This is evident in the inroads China has made consistently in South East Asia, Central Asia, South America and Africa. Backed by economic power, the CCP machinery is gradually re-shaping the world in its own image.
The Chinese, at an estimated 11 million overseas population, currently comprise the third largest ethnic diaspora globally. Unlike other ethnic migrants, the Chinese diaspora serves as a tool of influence, not only for the promotion of China’s culture and language, but also for the facilitation of lobbying for business purposes, economic growth and diplomatic purposes.
Traditionally, they form big communities to enhance relations within their members and feel at home in a new country. One main challenge is on the economic level; the power of the business of the Chinese migrants has increased and sometimes it has overcome the economy of the host country. In South-East Asia, for example, Chinese migrants dominate business despite forming only a small minority of the population, controlling around 60 percent of the region’s private corporate wealth.
China has succeeded to an extent in its Sinicization effort. It has silenced several countries with huge loans that have now turned into spiralling debt traps. Eventually many debtors would risk sacrificing their sovereign decision-making ability and be beholden to the CCP. Why else would an Islamic country like Pakistan acquiesce in face of the brutal repression suffered by Uyghurs. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) will likely promote China’s strategy of Sinicization with the outward flow of Chinese labour and loans to vulnerable regions across the globe. The world must take note of the insidious designs of the CCP before it is too late.
(N.C. Bipindra is Chairman, Law and Society Alliance, a New Delhi-based think-tank. He can be reached at ncbipindra@gmail.com)
Kim made the remarks in a verbal message to Chinese President Xi Jinping, congratulating him on the successful completion of the Beijing Olympics…reports Asian Lite News
North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to boost cooperation with China and together “crush” threats and hostile policies from the United States and its allies, state media reported on Tuesday.
Kim made the remarks in a verbal message to Chinese President Xi Jinping, congratulating him on the successful completion of the Beijing Olympics, state news agency KCNA said.
Meanwhile, after an Olympics spokeswoman used a news event for remarks on Taiwan and Xinjiang, Taipei rebuked Chinese ‘propaganda’ at Beijing Winter Olympics.
Yan Jiarong, a spokeswoman for the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG), on Thursday, spoke of China’s position regarding Taiwan at a news conference attended by International Olympic Committee (IOC) spokesman Mark Adams, reported Taipei Times.
“What I want to say is that there is only one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. This is a widely recognized principle of international relations and a consensus in international society,” the former UN envoy said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping
Yan also responded similarly to questions concerning Xinjiang, calling reports about forced labour camps in the region “a lie” told by “some groups with malicious intentions,” reported Taipei Times.
Rebuking China, the Taiwan government said that Beijing is for using Winter Olympics to assert its claims of sovereignty over Taiwan, saying that China had “cast a shadow” over the peaceful spirit of the event to spread propaganda.
The Ministry also criticized China for spreading “inappropriate” political propaganda at the Olympics, saying that Beijing had breached the rule of political neutrality enshrined in the Olympic Charter.
“No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas,” the charter says.
Mainland Affairs Council said that “the people of Taiwan firmly oppose” Beijing’s “one China” principle, reported Taipei Times.
“The Republic of China is a sovereign state, and Taiwan has never been part of the People’s Republic of China,” the council said, adding that it condemned China for interfering with international sports activities by asserting its politics.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also rejected Yan’s claims as untrue and said that the remarks “undermined the integrity of Taiwan’s sovereignty,” reported Taipei Times.
Yan’s comments have also caused concern for IOC president Thomas Bach, who sidestepped questions about Xinjiang at the Games’ opening ceremony, citing political neutrality, reported Taipei Times.
“We were in touch with BOCOG immediately after this press conference,” the New York Times cited Bach as saying on Thursday.
“Both organizations, BOCOG and the IOC, have restated the unequivocal commitment to remain politically neutral, as it is required by the Olympic Charter,” said IOC president, reported Taipei Times. (with inputs from ANI)
The session, to be held in the summer of 2023, will be hosted at the Jio World Convention Centre (JWC) in Bandra Kurla Complex at Mumbai. The JWC will start operations in early 2022…reports Asian Lite News
The city of Mumbai on Saturday was announced as the host of the 2023 International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) session after successfully bidding for it in the 139th IOC session being held in Beijing alongside the ongoing Winter Olympics. This will be the second time India will host an IOC session after hosting it in New Delhi, 1983.
Leading the Indian presentation in Beijing were Abhinav Bindra, the country’s first individual Olympics gold medallist in 2008, IOC Member Nita Ambani, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Narinder Batra and Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur.
Mumbai received 99 per cent of the votes from the delegates participating in the process, with 75 members endorsing its candidature to host the IOC session in 2023.
“I thank Mrs Nita Ambani for her vision and leadership and also thank all my IOC Member colleagues for their support, I cannot wait to see you here in Mumbai next year. This is the start of a new era for India sport — an era that features the long-term goal of hosting the Olympic Games in India. We are ambitious and recognise our objectives are bold,” said Batra.
The session, to be held in the summer of 2023, will be hosted at the Jio World Convention Centre (JWC) in Bandra Kurla Complex at Mumbai. The JWC will start operations in early 2022.
“But India is on an exciting journey and we want the Olympic Movement to play a central part in building a brighter future for our next generation. Delivering a truly memorable IOC Session in Mumbai in 2023, with a strong emphasis on youth potential, sustainability, and innovation, will be one of the first steps to showcase India’s new sporting capacity,” added Batra.
An IOC session is the annual meeting of the members of the IOC, comprising 101 voting members and 45 honorary members. It discusses and decides on the key activities of the global Olympics movement including adoption or amendment of the Olympic Charter, election of IOC members and office bearers and election of the host city of Olympics.
“The Olympic Movement is back to India after a 40-year wait! I am truly grateful to the International Olympic Committee for entrusting India with the honour of hosting the IOC Session in Mumbai in 2023. This will be a significant development for India’s Olympic aspiration and will herald the start of a new era for Indian sport,” said Nita Ambani.
“Sport has always been a beacon of hope and inspiration for millions around the world,” she added. “We are one of the youngest countries in the world today and I’m excited for the youth of India to embrace and experience first-hand the magic of the Olympics. It is our dream to strengthen this partnership further and host the Olympic Games in India in the years to come!”
In her speech to the IOC delegates in the virtual session, Nita said, “Nearly half of India’s population, over 600 million, are under 25 years of age. This makes India one of the most crucial and exciting places to nurture and grow the Olympic Movement. Inspired by the Olympic Values Education Programme, it is our mission to identify potential talent and guide them to greatness in the world of sport. To coincide with the Olympic Session 2023, we propose to launch a series of elite sports development programmes for youth across deprived communities.”
Estanguet revealed how the Paris 2024 organisers came up with the plan to hold the opening ceremony on the Seine…reports Asian Lite News
Paris is determined to hold the 2024 Olympic Games in some ways never tried before, Tony Estanguet, head of the Paris 2024 organising committee, has said. The 2024 Olympics will be games open to the public, said Estanguet, who won Olympic gold in C1 canoe slalom at Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and London 2012.
“Through an open Games, we have the ambition to bring sport into the heart of Paris, closer to the fans. The first-ever mass participation marathon on the same day and same course of the Olympic marathon, and an Opening Ceremony on the River Seine, are just some of the ways we plan to open up the Games to a wider audience than ever before,” he told Xinhua in an interview.
“As of today, I can say that we haven’t lost sight of that ambition and that our preparations continue to be on track and on budget,” said the former Olympic champion.
Some competitions of the Paris Olympics will take place in the spectacular heritage, culture and historic landmarks of Paris. For example, The Grand Palais will hold fencing and taekwondo, the Champ-de-Mars Arena will stage judo and wrestling.
“We know we are blessed with one of the most beautiful cities in the world and so our ambition right from the very start was to integrate the Games into the City of Paris as much as possible,” said Estanguet.
“Paris is our field of play, and we plan to make the most of it. This will also create some iconic backdrops for television for the benefit of all fans watching from home,” he said.
Estanguet revealed how the Paris 2024 organisers came up with the plan to hold the opening ceremony on the Seine.
“The idea of holding a ceremony in the city itself, on the Seine, arose from the ambition shared by all the stakeholders involved to produce a ceremony that is spectacular, accessible, open to as many people as possible, and which will mark a turning point in the history of the Games,” he told Xinhua.
“It is an ambition that has been welcomed by the IOC, with its President Thomas Bach encouraging Paris 2024 to work towards such a ceremony.”
“Then, after many months of research and work, the idea became more concrete and with the encouraging results of the feasibility studies conducted over recent months.”
“We are planning a spectacular concept for the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony that has never been done before: the first to take place out of the stadium, in the heart of the city, on the River Seine, attended by 600,000 people (10 times more than in a stadium) with free access,” Estanguet said.
He said the Paris Olympic organisers are determined to push ahead with their plan despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
“As of today, our primary focus is to deliver on our ambition. We must not lose sight of it. Of course, we have to plan for, and be ready to adapt to a whole multitude of different potential scenarios in 2024,” he said.
“However, we take great encouragement by the fact that sporting events in France and all around the world are today able to take place in packed stadia. We remain optimistic that COVID-19 will not have a material impact on the successful delivery of our Games in 2024,” he added.
Estanguet ensured that the athletes who will compete in the Paris Olympics will have an enjoyable experience thanks to the involvement of some former Olympians in the management of these Olympics.
“As athletes, we have experienced what it is like to compete on the greatest stage of all. We also understand how important it is for athletes to have a smooth and enjoyable Olympic and Paralympic experience so that they can focus on what really matters — their performances,” he said.
“That’s why right from the very start, we have included Olympians and Paralympians at the very heart of our concept, planning and decision making.”
“Our project is all about putting on an event that is designed both for the athletes and by the athletes. That’s why we’ve set up an 18-member Athletes’ Commission to give them a voice”
“As a former athlete, I often did not get to enjoy the cities I competed in as much as I would have liked. However, thanks to our innovative ceremony, Olympians competing in 2024 will be able to travel on boats 6km up the River Seine and experience many of Paris’ most historic and spectacular landmarks,” he added.
There are four Arjuna Awardees, one Dhyanchand Awardee and one Dhronacharya Awardee among those who have been selected for the positions…reports Asian Lite News
In a major step that will strengthen the coaching facilities in India, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) has extended offers of employment to 398 coaches at various levels in 21 disciplines.
Many among them are ex-international athletes and Arjuna awardees who have competed or won medals in elite competitions such as the World Championships and Olympics. Of the total number of 398, 101 coaches are joining on deputation from PSUs and other government bodies.
The recruitment comes in the wake of the efforts of the Ministry of Youth Affairs of Sports to provide 360-degree support to athletes as they prepare for important national and international competitions, including Olympic 2024, 2028.
“I am happy that a number of ex-athletes who have competed at the highest international level of competition and won medals have applied for these posts and have been selected,” Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur said in a statement.
“Former international athletes’ inclusion in the system will mean that besides training athletes in the sport itself, they will be able to train them for mental toughness which is the key to success when competing at the world stage” he added.
The new batch of coaches and assistant coaches has a host of eminent names, including Padma Shri awardee and Arjuna Awardee Bajrang Lal Thakar, who is a gold medallist at the Asian Games and joins as a rowing coach, Shilpi Sheoran who has won the gold in the Commonwealth Games in 2011 and joins as an assistant coach in wrestling, Olympian Jincy Phillip who joins as an athletics coach, Pranamika Borah multiple medallists in leading international championships who joins as a boxing coach.
Speaking about what he looks forward to in the new assignment, Arjuna Awardee Bajrang Lal Thakar said, “I am grateful to the Sports Authority of India for giving me a chance to give back to sports as a coach especially at a time when water sports in India has a great chance of making an impact at international competitions. I am training the team for the Asian Games and I am confident that by fielding athletes in a maximum number of disciplines we will be able to add to the country’s medal tally in the upcoming Asian Games.”
Thakar added that water sports in India have got an added push with SAI’s National Centres of Excellence in Jagatpura and Alleppey which are world-class infrastructure for water sports training.
There are four Arjuna Awardees, one Dhyanchand Awardee and one Dhronacharya Awardee among those who have been selected for the positions.
Besides ex-international athletes, those who have completed their Diploma in Sports Coaching from NSNIS Patiala or a recognized Indian or foreign University have also been inducted. Several SAI coaches who were previously on contract, but whose contracts had ended, have been recruited back in service, as per their eligibility.
